Repentance is the initial step we take to accept the salvation that God graciously offers us through the Lord Jesus Christ.
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“‘… God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.’ When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven’” Acts 2:36-38 See also Acts 17:30.
A. WHAT REPENTANCE IS NOT
1. Not Just Feeling Guilty
Experiencing guilt for our sins is a precursor to repentance, but it is not the same as repentance itself. Repentance only occurs after one has first felt guilt over their sin; however, not everyone who feels guilty ultimately repents.
“As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgement to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you’” Acts 24:25
Felix felt guilty but did not repent.
2. Not Just Being Sorry For Your Sin
Many individuals express regret due to the fallout from their actions or because they faced the consequences of being discovered. Often, people feel remorse not for their wrongdoing itself, but rather for the punishment they incur when they are caught.
“Godly sorrow leads to repentance that brings salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” 2Corinthians 7:10
3. Not Just Trying To Be A Good Person
Numerous individuals attempt to improve themselves and transform their lifestyles through sheer willpower. However, such self-driven efforts often stem from a sense of self-righteousness that overlooks the necessity of repenting for one’s sins.
“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away” Isaiah 64:6
4. Not Becoming Religious
The Pharisees in the Bible were extremely religious in behaviour and practice.
They fasted and prayed and had many religious ceremonies, yet never repented.
“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father. ‘I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire” Matthew 3:7-10 See also Matthew 5:20.
5. Not Just Knowing The Truth
Possessing an intellectual understanding of truth does not ensure that it has transformed into a tangible reality in one’s life. There is a distinction between head knowledge and heartfelt belief (refer to Romans 10:10).
“You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that – and shudder. You foolish man, do you want further evidence that faith without righteous deeds is useless/” James 2:19-20
B. WHAT TRUE REPENTANCE IS
1. Being Sorry To God For Your Sin
True repentance is a sorrow not just toward one’s self, or toward another person, but first and foremost it is true sorrow toward God.
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight… ” Psalms 51:1-4 See also Psalms 38:8.
2. Being Truthful About Your Sin
“Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’ – and you forgave the guilt of my sin” Psalms 32:5 See also 1John1:9.
3. Turning Away From Your Sin
“He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whosoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy” Proverbs 28:13
4. Hating Sin
“Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity, therefore … God has anointed thee … Hebrews 1:9
5. When Possible, Paying Back To Others What You Owe
“But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount’” Luke 19:8 See also Leviticus 6:1-7.
C. WHAT REPENTANCE INVOLVES
1. Turning From Sin
“Don’t be like your fathers were! The earlier prophets pled in vain with them to turn from all their evil ways. ‘Come, return to me,’ the Lord God said. But no, they wouldn’t listen; they paid no attention at all” Zechariah 1:4 .
See also Galatians 5:19-21 and Ephesians 5:5.
2. Turning From The World
“Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love these things you show that you do not really love God” 1John 2:15 .
See also James 4:4.
3. Turning From Yourself
“He died for all so that all who live – having received eternal life from him – might live no longer for themselves, to please themselves, but to spend their lives pleasing Christ who died and rose again for them” 2Corinthians 5:15 . See also Luke 14:26.
4. Turning From The Devil
“… to open their eyes to their true condition so that they may repent and live in the light of God instead of in Satan’s darkness … ” Acts 26:18 . See also Colossians 1:13.
5. Turning To God
“Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return unto me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty” Zechariah 1:3
6. Turning To Right Living
“Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life, and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness” Romans 6:13
Today, I choose to seek forgiveness and will continue to turn away from sin as God reveals my wrongdoings to me.
