Out of the Depths

Out of the Depths: Restoring Fellowship with God by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones is a small book on repentance, and what that means for a non-believer or for a believer. Dr. Lloyd-Jones uses Psalm 51 to take his audience through the steps of repentance, and to show what repentance looks like and what is the result of it.

When a person repents, one sees these characteristics:
1. an awakening.
2. realization of the need for forgiveness; turning to God; desiring God's mercy.
3. knowledge of a need for rebirth and a new nature.

The consequences of repentance are these:
1. the possession of joy and gladness.
2. distrust of self and realization of the power of God.
3. desire to live for God's glory, and a longing for others to be able to do the same.

I think the book may have been intended primarily for non-believers, but I enjoyed it very much as a study aid in looking closely at Psalm 51.