"All of life is repentance-" this is the statement Martin Luther chose to open his 95 theses with, the document that shook the world and started the Protestant Reformation. So, what did Luther mean when he wrote this statement? Did Luther intend to say that Christians can never get ahead of the curve? That Christians will always never be enough? Luther was not saying that Christians can never make progress towards being more Christ-like in their daily walk. In fact, he was saying quite the opposite. Repenting is not meant to condemn Christians. Rather, repentance daily allows believers' hearts to become more aligned with God's heart. Tim Keller said it this way:
"It is important to consider how the gospel affects and transforms the act of repentance. In 'religion' the purpose of repentance is basically to keep God happy so he will continue to bless you and answer your prayers. This means 'religious repentance' is a) selfish, b) self-righteous, c) and bitter all the way to the bottom. But in the gospel the purpose of repentance is to repeatedly tap into the joy of our union with Christ in order to weaken our need to do anything contrary to God's heart."
Unlike other religions, repentance of sins in Christianity is not intended to be done out of fear. As a Christian, a person does not need to be concerned about whether they have repented daily or not. Repentance is a gift, not a chore. It is meant to bring the sinner (us) closer to the sinless (Jesus). What happens to a person who does not repent daily for their sins? Punishment? No. Jesus paid it all. He will not punish you for not repenting. However, sin is not encouraged, and natural consequences may follow sin because we live in a fallen world. Romans 8:1-2 says "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death." We are free from the curse of the law, so repentance is not supposed to be a bribe to God in order to free us from death. Repentance is for the benefit of the believer and for others around him. It grounds his heart in purity because he seeks to be more like God. David Mathis, executive editor at desiringGod.com restated Luther's first theses like this:
"All of the Christian life is repentance. Turning from sin and trusting in the good news that Jesus saves sinners aren't merely a one-time inaugural experience but the daily substance of Christianity. The gospel is for every day and every moment. Repentance is to be the Christian's continual posture."
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