True repentance is a gift from God (Acts 11:18). Sin’s hold is too great for anyone to break free from it by their own strength. The Arminians see it as our very own work, and therefore do not expect much. We see it as a quality act coming from the convicting power of the Spirit. Arminians see it as coming before conversion and so it is, but the convicting work of the Spirit has already begun then. The Arminians are in danger of having no repentance at all. The person who has been truly converted, but under a shallow teaching on repentance, will recognise the deeper teaching when it comes to them afterwards. They will be drawn to that deeper teaching as something which it is not safe to leave out.
What are the signs of inadequate repentance?
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1. No sufficiently strong desire to please God and to change. Sin is not seen as that serious (Genesis 19:20). This may be expressed in putting off changes which ought to be immediate (Matthew 5:25; Acts 24:25).
2. No desperate stretching forth for purity of life – hungering and thirsting after righteousness. Instead there may be a half-heartedness or lukewarmness which has not really severed former ties with the world (Matthew 6:24).
3. Insufficient yieldedness and obedience. In terms of the Lordship debate: a readiness to accept Christ as Saviour without also accepting him as Lord. This may be seen in self-deception which tries to claim there is obedience when there is really compromise (1 Samuel 15:20-22).
4. Insufficient readiness to serve the Lord. Service to God is part of obedience, and an unwillingness to serve him is evidence that the heart is not truly his (Deuteronomy 10:12-16).
5. Insufficient love for the Lord. This is seen in those who claimed to honour Christ, but who he faults with not having the love of God in their hearts (John 5:42).
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