For Spurgeon the question is
needless, because the new life necessarily contains both – like the
spokes on a wheel, they move at the same time. Yet this is not always
apparent to the individual who is converted. An individual may be so
downcast in true repentance that he is not even conscious that he has
faith. Spurgeon, preaching on true repentance, can tell his hearers:
Repentance is the result of an unperceived faith.
When a man repents of sin he does inwardly believe, in a measure,
although he may not think so. There is such a thing as latent faith:
although it yields a man no conscious comfort, it may be working in him
truthfulness of heart, purity of spirit, and abhorrence of evil. No
true repentance is quite apart from faith . . . It is clear that no man
can repent towards God unless he believes in God. He could never feel
grief at having offended God, if he did not believe that God is good. To
the dark cloud of repentance there is a silver lining of faith; yet at
first, the awakened soul does not know this, and therefore laments that
he cannot believe; whereas his very repentance is grounded on a measure
of faith. [Charles Spurgeon, Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, 35:130. Read sermon online: Two Essential Things.] Continue at Thirsty Theologian
1 comment:
The true word is now delivered and proven by the woman of Rev 12. I am not a church, nor Mary, nor Israel. I am the prophet like unto Moses Num 12:3 raised up of my brethren to prove the power of God Matt 17:11, Acts 3:21-23, Luke 1:17 from the wilderness Rev 12:6 to prepare a people. God our true Father will not put any child of his into a hell fire no matter what their sins, no matter if they repent in this life or not Rom 14:11. It never entered the heart or mind of God to ever do such a thing Jer7:31, Jer 19:5. Turn your heart to the children of God. Begin here http://minigoodtale.wordpress.com. The proof is in the hearing; prove all things, God chose a woman.
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