REPENTANCE
WHAT IS REPENTANCE?
PENITENCE / CONVERSION
Repentance is a fundamental change in thinking, attitude and approach to life (gr. metanoia).
Repentance is not becoming perfect, not deserved, not earning a relationship with God, not coming alone to some place from where we can come to the Lord!
The penance (repentance) that God requires should not be also understood as suffering for sins. The Lord Jesus suffered all suffering, took upon Himself all the guilt and sin.
what repentance is about
- Repentance is the cessation of knowingly sinning, a true will backed by action, not an empty declaration. Repentance is not just repentance and confession.
- Repentance is conscious submission to God’s Will, God’s commandments.
- Repentance is the willingness to leave everything for the Lord Jesus and the willingness to do everything.
- Repentance is true remorse and “weeping” over one’s previous life.
CONVERSION
SOMEONE WHO HAS REPENTED
DO I NEED TO REPENT TO BE SAVED
YES
The Lord Jesus is not tolerant of sin, he does not allow us to live in it and get used to it. His advice is to fight with all your might and seek by all means the freedom he wants to give you. The cessation of every sin is possible through the sacrifice and blood of the Lord Jesus. Salvation from sin (freedom from sin) is given to those who believe in the Lord Jesus, ie “crucified” and “buried” their sinful lives (see Gospel).
[1 Cor, 6:9-11 NKJV]
The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
[Matthew, 13:41-43 NKJV]
For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
[1 Peter 4:17-18 NKJV]
[Galatians 5:19-21 NKJV]
[Matthew 18:8-9 NKJV] also [Mt 5:29-30 and Mk 9:44-48]
So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. Tasteless Salt Is Worthless “Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
[Luke 14:26-27, 33-35 NKJV]
IS IT HARD TO REPENT?
Repentance and conversion can seem like a very hard, harsh, and full of sacrifice process. This is partly true. Remember that God is good and merciful! He blesses in turning away from sins: he gives strength, freedom, lightness, favorable circumstances. What seemed difficult comes easy. God takes you step by step. Thanks to being born again (see: Gospel) God enables us to stop sin. The repentant man receives a “heart of flesh” in place of a heart of stone, and the sinful body is buried by water baptism.
Conversion usually comes with a “price” to pay, especially in the beginning. You can lose certain relationships, experience persecution, lose your job, lose your influence, just lose in this life.
[Mark 10:21-22 NKJV]
Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
[Matthew 10:34-39 NKJV]
EXAMPLES OF LIVING IN SIN
You need to end with it.
- Hate, cursing another human being.
- Work based on fraud, extortion and others.
- Theft.
- Extramarital sex, fornication, pornography.
- Unforgiveness.
- Perpetuating a lie.
- Debauchery, drunkenness, revelry.
- Worshiping other spiritual beings, people, angels apart from God. Praying (asking) them for something.
- Abandoning the due responsibility towards another person – e.g. a child, a parent.
- Occult practices, practicing Eastern religions and philosophies, etc.
EXAMPLES OF SINS RESULTING FROM IMPERFECTION
Pray for them and try to improve them. However, you have to accept that they can appear and not walk around in self-incrimination.
PARTS OF REPENTANCE
1. Standing in truth with yourself and with God. Not making excuses.
2. Recognition of one’s faults towards God and people, one’s sinfulness.
3. Understanding separation from God because of sins committed and due punishment.
4. Confession of sins before God.
5. A firm resolve to live a holy life, to give up conscious sin.
Good practics:
* Atonement, repair of faults, apology (in accordance with the Holy Spirit, without imposing a law and burden contrary to His Will)
* It was also a practice among the first converts to confess guilt to other people. (Acts 19:18, Jacob 5:16, Mt 3:6, Mk 1:5)
REPENTANCE IN THE BIBLE:
Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?” He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.” Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.” Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”
[Luke 3:8-14 NKJV]
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart—These, O God, You will not despise.
[Psalm 51:17 NKJV]
[Acts 2:38 NKJV]
[Matthew 4:17 NKJV]
[Acts 3:19 NKJV]
To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.
[Acts 3:26 NKJV]
There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”
[Luke 13:1-5 NKJV]
and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
[Luke 24:47 NKJV]
I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.
[Acts 26:17-20 NKJV]
The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity. (…)
God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day. (…)
The Lord tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates. Upon the wicked He will rain coals; Fire and brimstone and a burning wind Shall be the portion of their cup. For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright. (…)
[Psalm 5:5 / 7:11 / 11:5-7 NKJV]
Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
[2 Timothy 2:19 NKJV]
HOW TO REPENT?
For example:
Kneel down and ask the Lord Jesus for forgiveness of your sins. Confess them, admit your guilt, open your heart to Him, don’t make excuses. Apologize for not looking for him, for not being Lord in your life. Confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and give him your whole life.
Ask Him for release from addictions, grief, hatred, bitterness, idolatry, bad religion, lust and other issues with which you have a problem. Ask the Lord Jesus to tear you out of this world, to live by the rules of this world, from living in your own way and your “I”.
If you have done it from the heart and faith, you can be sure of the forgiveness of sins and God’s acceptance. God will probably let you feel it with supernatural peace, tears and lightness, as if someone took a weight off your back.