Repentance is a foundational doctrine of following Jesus (Heb 6:1). The first sermon recorded in the New Testament was on repentance (Matt. 3:2). Jesus’ first recorded sermon was also on repentance (Matt. 4:17). Jesus told us that repentance must be preached to all nations (Luke 24:47). Both Peter and Paul fearlessly called people to repentance (Acts 2:28; 26:20). The Bible tells us that repentance actually leads to life (Acts 11:8, 2 Cor 7:10).
So what is repentance?
Repentance is a gift from God where a person feels conviction over their sins and they choose to turn away from them and follow after God.
It is a radical change of mind whereby a person chooses to turn away from all sin and worldliness and following their own desires and instead turn to God and follow Him and His desires. Repentance is turning away from sin but it is so much more than that. It is a full life surrender.
Adam and Eve sinned because they disobeyed God and chose to follow their will instead of God’s will. In essence, in the garden, they said “Not your will God but mine be done” and thus sin and death entered the world.
In the second garden, Jesus, the second Adam, said to God “not my will but yours be done” and thus he undid the sin of the first Adam.
Repentance is saying “I no longer will follow my own will, now my life belongs to God and I will follow His will.”
GODLY SORROW:
Repentance also involves a deep sorrow and contrition over sins. In repentance, the conscience is awakened by the Holy Spirit and thus a soul is distressed by their sins and chooses to turn from them and follow after Jesus instead. A soul realizes that their sins are separating them from God (Isaiah 59:2) and making them God’s enemy (Romans 1:30). A person also realizes that their sins are what sent Jesus to the cross to suffer a horrible death on their behalf. People realize the full evil and weight of their wickedness and they no longer make excuses for it or think “I’m a good person” because they realize how they have deeply sinned against God and infinitely offended Him. God is holy and a He is a consuming fire. He will burn up all sin. Either a person will repent of their sin now on earth and put their faith in Jesus to be forgiven or they will be destroyed with their sins in the flames of eternal judgment and torment.
2 Cor. 7:10 (NKJV)
“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
Repentance also includes a humbling of oneself in the sight of the Lord and asking for forgiveness. Real repentance does not involve making excuses as to why you sinned or blaming your sin on someone else. Instead, it takes full responsibility for your sin and puts the blame fully on yourself in humility, asking for forgiveness and cleansing.
James 4:9-10 (NKJV)
“Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
Repentance comes from the realization that you have sinned against the God who loves you and who made you and thus you have made yourself an enemy of God and greatly offended Him. You must make a choice to either follow your own will which leads to death or become obedient to God and follow His will which leads to life.
FRUITS OF REPENTANCE:
Repentance will result in “works befitting repentance” (see Acts 26:20) and it will have the fruits of repentance (see Matt 3:8). This means that your actions will radically change when you repent. If you stole something, you will give it back if able (Luke 19:8). If you mistreated people, you will want to humble yourself to apologize as the Holy Spirit leads you. It also means you will not continue doing the things that you repented for. Repentance involves forsaking your sin and resolving in your heart to never go back.
CONFESSION:
Confessing of sins is also a very important part of repentance. Confess to the Lord your sins and ask forgiveness and choose to turn form them immediately.
When we confess our sins, God promises to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
This is the promise of God:
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
SOFTENING YOUR HEART:
If your heart is hard and you do not feel the proper sorrow over your sins, please ask the Holy Spirit
to soften your heart and show you the true nature of your sins. Ask the Lord to give you that godly
sorrow that leads to repentance. Then take time to listen to this teaching by Charles Finney and
put into practice what he recommends.