The Way of Repentance: Embracing God's Gift for a Transformed Life PB

How Grieving Your Sin Brings Abiding Joy—A Practical Guide to Biblical Repentance People don’t usually associate the word “repentance” with happiness, but Scripture says it’s cause for celebration. Angels rejoice over sinners who repent. A once heartbroken father threw a party for his prodigal son. True repentance is “coming home” to find joy in God. Why do so many people today view it as a burden? Pastor Chris Brauns explains that deep, abiding gladness comes when we grieve sin and turn toward Jesus. This thorough study of repentance examines the Old and New Testaments as well as the Westminster Shorter Catechism. It is made practical with reflection questions, prayers, and advice for daily sanctification. As readers apply biblical principles, they will experience life-giving joy in their spiritual lives and restoration in their relationships. Practical Theology: Personal stories, reflection questions, short prayers, and advice help readers live out the doctrine of repentance Fosters Ongoing Growth and Sanctification: Urges readers to turn their hearts, minds, and wills away from sin and toward Jesus for faith that bears fruit Biblical Encouragement: Great for readers who want to experience personal spiritual growth as well as restoration in their relationships Biblical and Pastoral Counseling: An accessible resource for pastors and counselors to use in motivating and equipping counselees Features a Foreword by Rosaria Butterfield Table of Contents List of Tables Foreword by Rosaria Butterfield Introduction Part 1: Repentance unto Life Chapter 1: What Is Repentance unto Life? Chapter 2: Repentance Can Happen in a Flash Chapter 3: Why Repentance unto Life Is for Joy Chapter 4: A Good News Gift Chapter 5: A Saving Grace Part 2: The Life of Repentance Chapter 6: The Way of the Christian Life Chapter 7: Repentance and the Ordinary Means of Grace Chapter 8: Evaluating Repentance—1 Chapter 9: Evaluating Repentance—2 Chapter 10: Declaring Repentance Chapter 11: Receiving the Repentant A Final Repentance Thought Acknowledgments Appendix 1: Robert Reymond’s Summary of the New Testament Emphasis on Repentance Appendix 2: The Westminster Standards and Repentance unto Life Appendix 3: An Introduction to the Penitential Psalms Appendix 4: Memorizing Scripture Appendix 5: A Repentance-Strategy Example Recommended Reading and Resources General Index Scripture Index Endorsements “What leads to rejoicing not only for us but also for our Father in heaven? The repentance of one sinner. Grounded in the gospel, this book is filled with profound biblical wisdom on this often neglected subject. Read, mark, and inwardly digest this terrific study!” Michael Horton, J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics, Westminster Seminary California “Chris Brauns's The Way of Repentance makes a significant and helpful contribution to a conspicuously absent topic in modern evangelicalism. This book echoes Luther’s call for repentance, which both begins and marks the Christian life. I commend it to Christians and non-Christians alike, as the way of repentance is the way of salvation and eternal life.” Steve DeWitt, Senior Pastor, Bethel Church, Crown Point, Indiana “Chris Brauns, a skilled and experienced pastor-theologian, helps us understand what repentance is, how to repent, how to evaluate repentance, and how to receive the repentant.” Andy Naselli, Professor of Systematic Theology and New Testament, Bethlehem College and Seminary; Lead Pastor, Christ the King Church, Stillwater, Minnesota “The prospect of reading a book on repentance made me a little afraid. Would it expose my half-hearted apologies, my middle-aged complacency, my Christianly respectable ‘That’s the way I am’? But from first till last, Chris Brauns’s major note is repentance for joy. After all, he reminds us that the gospel announcement begins with repentance. And perhaps the prodigal son’s joyous welcome home is its most powerful illustration. Chris engages with vivid stories and explains things so clearly. And every time I think he has oversimplified something, he unpacks it with further hard-won simplicity. His work is Scripture-soaked and full of memorable quotes from classic authors and Christian standards, not least the prayers by which he ends each chapter. You will learn to navigate the daily necessity of repentance by reading this book.” Sandy Grant, Dean of Sydney, St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney, Australia