Repentance
A New Direction!
“Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!”
Ezekiel 18:30b-32 (NIV)
A New Direction
You were once running from God, now you are walking with Jesus.
Driving the wrong way on a one-way street is both risky and unwise. Some may do it without knowing or because they want to break the rules. Either way, if you don't stop and change your direction and follow Jesus, every move will take you further away from Him.
Repentence
The Greek word for repentance— metanoia— means an inward change of ideas and thinking that affects a change of heart and implies a specific action.
Repentance means turning away from your bad choices and sin (acting against God and being independent from Him) and your attempts to save yourself through actions that don’t truly help (trying to prove your worth). Not only do you need to stop what you have been doing and turn away from sin, but more importantly, return to God.
““The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the gospel!””
A Gift from God
We are incapable of repenting by ourselves. It is the kindness of God that leads us to repentence.
God designed for you to feel regret over sin to guide you toward repentance, leading you to back to Him. Repentance builds trust in God and strengthens your commitment to God's Truth. Turning away from sin and false beliefs restores your relationship with God. When you realign your thoughts about Him, it brings your hearts closer, resulting in changes in your behavior.
“Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”
Involves All Aspects of Your Being
True repentance involves your mind, will, and emotions and makes no excuses.
True repentance goes beyond mere feelings and delves into your will, resulting in meaningful action that stems from the profound inward change of your heart and mind (Restitution = meaning to put things right in your life). Although it is not simply an emotion, it will indeed bring about a deep sense of godly sorrow that leads to transformation.
This godly sorrow does not make excuses but asks you to take full responsibility. It doesn't blame people, society, or situations. It involves realizing that your choices and actions have hurt those around you. You start asking yourself, "Am I aware that I have sinned against God and hurt others?"
“...but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”
Different from worldly sorrow
Worldly sorrow often causes people to make excuses when they feel bad about themselves. Rather than promoting real growth or understanding, this sorrow creates a cycle of blame and regret. It can stop us from taking the needed steps toward healing and change.
We must be cautious of self-pity, especially when facing consequences for our actions. The key difference between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow is the outcome. Worldly grief does not lead to a transformed life; it only brings spiritual death.
“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.”
Forgivesness & Repentance
The story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-24 shows true repentance. When the son realized his mistakes and left his sinful life to return to his father, the father forgave him and welcomed him back as his son. Similarly, God forgives us when we turn to Him and repent.
We are forgiven, so we should forgive others. If we don’t forgive, we risk becoming bitter. Repentance helps us stop living for ourselves and reconnects us with Jesus and our life's purpose. It means moving forward without looking back or feeling regret.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Personal Application
Is your life heading in a new direction?
Are there parts of your life where you still have trouble with sin?
Do you have any strong temptations or ongoing struggles that need prayer?
Do you have sins you've stopped doing but still feel guilty about?