Monday: Repent
Recognizing our sins is not enough; it must be accompanied by repentance. The biblical meaning of repentance includes three aspects: acknowledgment of one’s sin, sorrow for having sinned, and the desire not to sin any more. If one is lacking, there is no true repentance. For example, Judas admitted his sin, but he lacked grief for having betrayed the Master (Matt. 27:3-4). He was overwhelmed with remorse, not with repentance. His confession was generated by fear of the consequences, not by his love of Christ.
We can see the importance of repentance by the fact that John the Baptist and Jesus began their ministry by preaching, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand! (Matt. 3:2, Matt 4:17, NKJV). Later, when Jesus sent the Twelve on their first missionary trip, they went out, preaching that people should repent (Mark 6:12, NKJV). And after Pentecost, Peter exhorted the crowd to do the same (Acts 2:38, 3:19).
Look at the strong words Jesus used to emphasize the universal need for repentance in order to be saved. What message is He giving us here? See Luke 13:1-5.
Image © Darrel Tank from GoodSalt.com
Jesus affirmed the sinfulness of all people. Therefore, He urged His hearers: unless you repent you will all likewise perish (vs. 5, NKJV). Without repentance, redemption is impossible, because the absence of repentance demonstrates that people refuse to surrender to the Lord.
Now, we have been told: the goodness of God leads you to repentance (Rom. 2:4, NKJV). What does that mean? A block of ice can be broken into small pieces, but the resulting pieces will still be ice. That same block of ice can be placed next to a heater, and it will melt away into water. The ice of our pride can be thawed only if we are exposed to the warmth of God’s goodness and love. Thus, how crucial for us to dwell, as much as we can, on all the evidences we have been given of God’s love for us.
“We do not repent in order that God may love us, but He reveals to us His love in order that we may repent.” — Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 189.
What are the evidences of God’s love? What have you seen and experienced and learned that gives you powerful reasons to trust in His goodness? Why is it so important always to dwell on those reasons, especially in bad times?
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Repentance is a gift (Acts 5:31) just like everything else in our salvation. “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom 8:26 NKJV). That is what made David’s repentance in what he did with Bathsheba so effective – God was interceding on his behalf. As Ellen White said so well, “A repentance such as this, is beyond the reach of our own power to accomplish; it is obtained only from Christ, who ascended up on high and has given gifts unto men” (Steps to Christ, p 25.3)
Yes, we must reach beyond ourselves to allow God to do the work within us. Then it will be natural for us to work out His work within.
True repentance which ensues from God's love is the most ardent need we have in this age! A lot of false repentance has the evil one used to blind fold many! Such false repentance is emotionally driven and it is simply a feeling! God help us!
I like what Job said in Job 42: 1-6 all of our righteousness is as filthy rags .It's the Lord that gives us the ability to live a good life. I like Psalms 103 David said Bless the Lord O my soul.
John, I think the text you are thinking of is Isa 64:6 rather than Job 42:1-6. But I could be wrong because that text in Job also has something to say on the matter.
So, what is this thing we call repentance? When the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin (ref. Jn 16:8-9) what then happens? It seems to me that we can go in one of two directions. We can raise our fist in defiance and declare that the conviction is wrong and that I am right or we can admit that the big I is the one that is actually wrong. But then there seems to be another fork in the road where we decide what we are going to do about our admission to wrong. We could simply say, “Ok, I am wrong” and leave it at that or we could decide to do something about it.
In David’s case he not only admitted that he was wrong and was fearful of the consequences but he also decided that he would never do anything like that again. To me that is a complete turnaround – that is real repentance. It does not seem to me that God is very happy when we admit our wrongs and yet don’t seem to care whether we do those things again or not. There needs to be a firm commitment to changing what we know is wrong and yet we do know that we will stumble somewhere along the line, perhaps many times but our commitment should never change. Our face should always be pointed in the right direction.
Of course we are unable to change ourselves but there is abundant power in Heaven to do what we can’t if only we would make use of it. That is where prayer comes in especially when we honestly choose to change.
Tyler,
In Zacheus' case, he also admitted that he was wrong and would make amends by giving back to those he had wronged. He honestly wanted to change and he chose to change.
sorry Tyler sometime I will give one bible text and use another quote from another text in the bible.Job42: 1-6 Job is repenting to the Lord for talking about things he couldn't give answer to and declaring self righteousness. That was what I was talking about. As a Christian I try and be carefull in proclaiming that my ways is the Lord ways. Iwant to live a life that's pleasing to HIM. A life of Love.So I'm willing to repent when I error.
Actually, John, I have made far worst mistakes than that. Besides, we are not perfect machines, we are humans with all of the liabilities that that brings and that means mistakes are a way of life. I accept the mistakes of other people because I make them too, far too many of them.
There is one, however, who doesn’t make mistakes and He is the one in control of everything. I think that is one of many reasons He deserves worship.
God knows our hearts ,and allows the spirit to help us in our needs ,when we sin and we realize that we are wrong ,we ask God to help us repent and wash away our wrongdoings,to make us as white as snow
This is such a very good subject ,Repentance,God knows us ,He is knocking on our doors ,Our Hearts ,to let him in ,so that we can be with him in Heaven,If only everyone turned away from fighting,war and such ,Death,hate for one another,and instead open up our hearts,wow what a difference our world would be,
John the Baptist said repent and be baptised. Why did he leave out believe(need), confess, and forgive?
Yes, the Holy Spirit assists us in the three aspects of repentence. Yes without Christ I can do nothing. What can I do? I do believe I can repent.