What I learned

Many of you know that I just came back from a trip to Alabama. I didn’t go down there just to have southern tea or even for the warmer weather but rather to attend a conference called, “True Church.”

The whole conference focused on “repentance.” That’s right - for three and a half days I sat under expository preaching that dealt with repentance. Can I just say that I have never enjoyed a conference so much! I learned so much about the Biblical grace of Repentance. I also learned some Biblical principles concerning the “True Church.”

As much as I would love to share everything I learned with you, this is neither the time or place. Besides that I would need a whole notebook to convey what I have learned. Let me though at least lay down some basic principles that I gathered.

Principle 1 There is a difference between grace wrought repentance and flesh wrought repentance.

The basis of this is that true repentance produces a sorrow from the heart that is joined by faith. It embraces Christ and it involves confession. Flesh wrought repentance does not necessarily do any of the above even though it may include feeling troubled over sin. In flesh wrought repentance the focus is on “me.” The premise is that God exists as a cosmic power to help me have a better life and that includes helping me get rid of certain sins that diminish my quality of life. Typically this type of fleshy repentance is found in the storms of life but it leaves during the calm. I should also mention here that true repentance is a gift from God, not something we can produce within ourselves.

Principle 2 Repentance is part of conversion.

If you look at the scriptures—especially the ministry of Jesus and John the Baptist, you will find that what one must do to be saved is to repent and believe upon Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are so joined together that there is no separating them.

Principle 3 There is a difference between a great church and a “True Church..”

There are a great many things that could be said here. However, let me just mention that a great church does not bring God glory like a true church. A True Church seeks to be a Biblical Church. It holds tight to Biblical principles even when it’s unpopular among people. For instance church discipline is a Biblical concept which most churches seldom practice and yet it is a commanded of us in the Bible to do such and such to those who are sinning members of the body of Christ.

Membership is also an area of profound difference between true and great churches.. Many churches hold membership roles for organizational and data purposes. However, Membership in a Biblical sense is primarily to hold people accountable to the Body of Christ and to allow for the recognition and submission to church leaders. Membership in this culture also protects the church legally when they have to administer church discipline.

This is all just the tip of the iceberg. However as you can see—I learned a great deal from my time at the “True Church Conference.” I trust that what I have learned will be of benefit to our church as we seek to be a true church so that God might be glorified more and more through us!