[PREVIOUS] [NEXT] [UP] [HOME] [WORLDSCOPE] [FEEDBACK] [POST OFFICE] [RANDOM] [SEARCH]
"God...now commands all men everywhere to repent" Acts 17:30 (NKJB) (see also Romans 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9).
Repentance is at the core of the Gospel message (Acts 2:36; Hebrews 6:1). But many people have a misconception of what repentance really is. In order for us to understand what repentance is, we must first understand what it is not.
What Repentance Is Not
"The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" 2 Corinthians 4:4.
Satan concentrates all his efforts on blinding the minds of people so that they cannot see the light of the Gospel. This also involves blinding them from the true nature of repentance. He does not want us to understand that repentance is...
Not just conviction of sin
Conviction comes before repentance, but is not repentance itself. No one repents unless they are convicted, but not all who are convicted actually repent (Genesis 6:3; Acts 4:24-25).
Not just worldly sorrow
Some people are very sorry because of the consequences of their sin. Many peope are sorry, not for what they have done wrong, but for the penalty they receive in being caught (2 Corinthians 7:10).
Not just 'turning over a new leaf'
Many people try in their own strength to become a better person and change their way of life. Any self-effort has a root of self-righteousness in it, which does not entertain the need of repentance from sin (Isaiah 64:6).
Not becoming religious
The Pharisees were extremely religious in behaviour and practice. They fasted and prayed and had many religious ceremonies, yet never repented (Matthew 3:7-10; 5:20).
Not just mental acceptance of the truth
Having an intellectual head-knowledge of the truth does not necessarily guarantee that the truth has become a living reality in one's life (James 2:19-20).
What True Repentance Is
True repentance is a positive experience, not a negative one. It is the doorway into all the blessings of God.
"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord" Acts 3:19 (see also Revelations 3:19).
To understand real repentance, we must see things from God's point of view. True repentance is:
Godly sorrow for sin
True repentance is a sorrow not just towards one's self, or even towards another person, but first and foremost it is true sorrow towards God (Psalm 38:8; 2 Corinthians 7:10).
Confession of 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" Psalm 32:5 (see also 1 John 1:9).
Being willing to forsake sin
"He who conceals his sins does not propser, but whosoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy" Proverbs 28:13.
Having a hatred of sin
"...and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil you have done..." Ezekiel 20:43-44.
Restitution included
"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).
True repentance must involve faith, for this is the only thing that pleases God (Hebrews 11:6). In fact, repentance is really faith in action (Romans 14:23).
What Repentance Involves
True repentance involves a change of direction - a realigning of our lives away from that which God hates toward God Himself. This realignment involves:
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 (TLB) (see also Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:5).
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..." 1 John 2:15 (TLB) (see also James 4:4).
Turning from ourselves
"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" 2 Corinthians 5:15 (TLB) (see also Luke 14:26).
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 (TLB) (see also Colossians 1:13).
Turning to God
"The death [Christ] died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus" Romans 6:10-11 (read also verses 12-14).
True repentance has fruit (Matthew 3:8; Acts 26:20). This fruit is part of the work of God's spirit in our lives (read Galatians 5:19-23).
"...In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength..." Isaiah 30:15.
[PREVIOUS] [NEXT] [UP] [HOME] [WORLDSCOPE] [FEEDBACK] [POST OFFICE] [RANDOM] [SEARCH]
Copyright © 1995 Paul, Bunty and David Collins. All rights reserved. This study may be freely used and reproduced, wholly or in part, by the Christian Church for the non-profit purposes of study and training only, provided copyright and contact information is included.
Unless otherwise stated, all scriptures quoted in these studies are from the New International Version of the Bible, © New York International Bible Society, used by permission. Other versions referred to are: KJV (King James Version), NKJB (New King James Bible), TLB (The Living Bible), Amp (The Amplified Bible) and The Message. All versions used by permission.
For more information on Bible Studies available, visit the Churchlink site on the World Wide Web at <http://www.churchlink.com.au/churchlink> or write to:
Churchlink
P.O. Box 1033
Newcastle 2300
Australia.
Enquiries to: [email protected]