Corporate Repentance - Robert J. Wieland

we have begun to take an abrupt about-face, and
now the truth is openly recognized that "we" did
not accept it. This new candor is phenomenal and
refreshing.
But surely Christ doesn't tell us now that we
still need that "gold" of genuine faith? Yes, He
says that in order for us to heal Him of His painful
nausea we need the "gold" of genuine faith, and
furthermore we need to buy it—that is, pay
something in exchange for it.
But why doesn't He give it to us? He insists that
we exchange for the genuine our helpless views of
righteousness by faith which have nurtured our
lukewarmness. We are caught in an obvious
contradiction, claiming that we adequately
understand and preach righteousness by faith, when
its proper fruits have been too sadly lacking. This
is attested by the pervasive lukewarmness of the
church. As lukewarmness is a mixture of cold and
hot water, so our spiritual problem is a mixture of
legalism and a poorly understood gospel.
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