Repentance

Christians tend to talk about repentance a lot, probably because we need to repent often. In my most recent encounter with repentance, I realized that I may have been getting it wrong.

1. Repentance is not feeling bad or guilty about what you've done, however, those feelings can be used to guide us to repentance.

I think this might be one of the biggest misconceptions about repentance. Just because you feel a pang of guilt or sorry for doing something you know you shouldn't have or vice versa doesn't mean you have repented. Those feelings though can help lead us to acknowledge that we were indeed in the wrong and to see our need for repentance.

In 2 Corinthians 7:9-10, Paul says, "As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death."

2. Repentance is not a prayer, it's an action.

When a lot of people think about repentance, they think about a prayer that may go something like this, "Lord, please forgive me for the sin I have committed. Help me not to do it again, in Jesus' name. Amen."

While this might be the preamble, ultimately, repentance refers to what comes after you say that prayer. Acts 3:19 says, "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out." The key phrase here is "turn back." Matthew 3:8 also says, "Bear fruit in keeping with repentance." These verses tell us that action must follow! In repenting, we must make the decision to turn from whatever sin and to God. He is able to help us overcome temptations and break strongholds those sins may have over us!

3. Finally, you've not sinned too many times for God to forgive you again. I don't know if you've ever thought that way; I know I have a couple of times. But don't let the devil get to you with his lies! He's tried separating you from God through sin, and he doesn't want you to repent and go back! 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." There is no sin too big for God to forgive! Never forget that. So today, right now, whatever it is that you've been holding on to for so long, confess it to God, ask for forgiveness, and repent!

May the peace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ forever be with us all!