When we think about “repentance”, I think most of us think of it as a duty, something that is good and necessary, but certainly not as a “privilege”. This year I am reading through the Bible in the New Living Translation. As I was reading Acts 11:18 really struck me.
It is in the context of the Apostles hearing about how Gentiles had come to faith in Jesus from Peter, and says “When the others heard this they stopped objecting and began praising God. “We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life.”
I try to be careful with the NLT because it is a much more loose translation than others I have used in the past. So, when I come across something that strikes me as really different I cross check it with other more literal translations. (This is made really easy by using BibleGateway.com!)
Here are a couple of other translations of this phrase that I bolded above in Acts 11:18-
New International Version – “God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life”
New American Standard Version – “Well then, God has granted unto the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life”
English Standard Version – “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
In what sense is it a “privilege”, or in what sense has “God granted” repentance, you ask?
Though we are all, as human beings, commanded to repent of our sins, it is not merely a duty to do so, but a great privilege to be able to do so. To persist in stubborn rebellion is to be awaiting the rightful judgement of God. Praise God that he “grants repentance” even to us Gentiles!
In the past some people, have foolishly used this to truth of God’s role in repentance to wrongly teach that since God is the one who grants repentance then we might as well just not preach the gospel to people. This is lazy, foolish and disobedient to the clear charge of Scripture to go and preach the gospel. Beyond that, such an application totally misses the stunningly wonderful point of such a verse.
The point is that God is even more powerful and good than you may have ever imagined. He is the one that restrains evil hearts enough to grant the change of mind that takes place when a person truly repents. He is amazing and good and worthy of our praise, and our service, forever and ever.