Still, I know what they mean, for in the days of my darkness I used to feel in the same way. I desired to repent, but I thought that I could not do it, and yet all the while I was repenting. Odd as it may sound, I felt that I could not feel. I used to get into a corner and weep, because I could not weep; and I fell into bitter sorrow because I could not sorrow for sin.
What a jumble it all is when in our unbelieving state we begin to judge our own condition! It is like a blind man looking at his own eyes. My heart was melted within me for fear, because I thought that my heart was as hard as an adamant stone. My heart was broken to think that it would not break. Now I can see that I was exhibiting the very thing which I thought I did not possess; but then I knew not where I was. Remember that the man who truly repents is never satisfied with his own repentance.
We can no more repent perfectly than we can live perfectly. However pure our tears, there will always be some dirt in them: there will be something to be repented of even in our best repentance. But listen! To repent is to change your mind about sin, and Christ, and all the great things of God. There is sorrow implied in this; but the main point is the turning of the heart from sin to Christ. If there be this turning, you have the essence of true repentance, even though no alarm and no despair should ever have cast their shadow upon your mind.“
I agree with Spurgeon here as I agreed before. I didn't need to post the whole sermon. But my understanding of his writing comes to a totally different understanding than some of you about what Mr.Spurgeon is saying. Spurgeon knows that:
We can no more repent perfectly than we can live perfectly. However pure our tears, there will always be some dirt in them: there will be something to be repented of even in our best repentance. But listen! To repent is to change your mind about sin, and Christ, and all the great things of God. There is sorrow implied in this; but the main point is the turning of the heart from sin to Christ
When a believer realizes that their life is IN Christ., they know their life is not secure in their feelings or their sorrow of their sin. We are no longer to live as we did in our former life and understanding. The "repentance" needed is the changed mind towards God. To see themselves and God and Christ in a new and living way. We look away "to" someONE., And that someone is NOT ourselves.
We look away to JESUS...The Author and finisher of our faith. As we were first saved by grace through faith., that is how we live here after.... by grace through faith. When we sin., we know now that we have an Advocate with the Father. We don't count on our own emotions and thoughts of sadness or regret so be be- self righteousness., we look away to the sacrifice of Jesus and the righteousness He gave us as a free gift. (just as we did when we first heard the good news) We bring to remembrance who we are now IN Christ.
And so., I and many other believers agree with Spurgeon. But not the way you and Angela see it. In the beginning of this writing., he is explaining the despair of he has of why his heart is not "feeling" the remorse he thinks he should for the lack of "spirituality" his mind thought he should be feeling. He is looking so much at himself and the feelings and emotions that he felt he should feel., that he missed the simplicity of Christ and of total forgiveness given to him from what he used to be. His old man is dead., his new man lives. Because Jesus lives., so do we. As He is., so are we in this world.
Romans 8:1-2 Explains it well., For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus sets me free from the law of sin and of death.
Spurgeon and I do see we are no longer under the law of sin and death that brings guilt and empty works stemming from our own righteousness of the flesh. but we now rest in the salvation Jesus died to give us and we do it each day. There is a rest for the people of God.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. [SUP]2 [/SUP]For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.