Repentance is a central theme in the Bible, and, more importantly, it is a prerequisite of salvation. With that being said, what is repentance? Well, the biblical term literally means, “to change one’s mind.” It is frequently used in the Bible to signify a decision made by an individual or nation to change their allegiance from serving self and sin, to serving God. But, if it is so important, we want to make sure we do it right. The Bible warns us about the difference between genuine and false repentance. So then, what does this genuine repentance look like practically? Well I’m glad you asked. This article will look at the steps involved in genuine repentance:
Deep Sorrow for Sin
True repentance involves a deep sorrow for sin, realizing that we have despised the Holy One, our Father, and dishonored Him. We have been unfaithful, like an adulterer, and sought for fulfillment in something other than Him. We have broken His heart, caused Him pain and suffering, and ultimately the death of His Son. We have been ungrateful and unmindful of His abundant blessings. We have violated the principles of love and justice. We have gone contrary to the purpose of our creation and have separated our souls from our Creator. We should see the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and rend our hearts.
Confession
Once we have seen the enormity of our sin, we must confess it earnestly, honestly, and completely to God. We must not seek to hide, minimize, or shift the blame, but must take full responsibility for the wickedness of our deeds, and accept the full consequences of our actions. If our sin has been against others, we must confess it to them too and seek to make restitution. God will not turn us away, and He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Turn Away From Sin
After we have been broken over our sins and have confessed them to God, then we must resolve to turn away from choosing to sin forever, without looking back. We must make a commitment that we will stay away, not only from things that are bad themselves, but even from those things that lead us into dangerous paths. We must frequently examine our hearts, and cut out those things which are displeasing to God. We will still be tempted, but we must deny ourselves and refuse to do something contrary to God’s will, saying, ‘I will choose death before disobedience!’ This is not a one-time decision, but a moment by moment surrender of my will to God’s will, a daily decision not to listen to the desires of the flesh or the temptations of Satan.
Run to God
Right in hand with turning away from sin is turning towards God and running to Him. We cannot, in our own strength, stay away from sin; but in Christ, we have access to the Father and all the strength we need to follow Him. Just like we made a commitment to stay away from sin, we must make a commitment to stay close to Jesus. As we spend quality time with Him, through prayer, meditation, and the study of His Word, He will transform us and renew our minds; it is a principle that we become like what we dwell upon, and by beholding His glory, we will be recreated into His image. The more we are filled with His love and satisfied in His goodness, the less we will desire the sinful pleasures of this world; the more we walk in communion with Him, the less Satan can come to harass us with temptation; the more earnestly we strive to live for Him and be like Jesus, the less we will seek to live for ourselves and be like the world.
Serve with Others
As we seek to stay away from sin and stay close to Jesus, we should associate with those who are also seeking the same. We should often fellowship with other believers, building genuine friendships and helping each other along the Christian path. We will thus build groups of people who can help keep us accountable, encourage us, pray with us, and even call us out when necessary. We should also seek to share the love of Jesus with those who are still trapped in the snares of sin and self and Satan. Many souls are lost and perishing; Jesus died for them and loves them deeply, and our love for Jesus should lead us to love them deeply too and do all that we can to uplift them and be a positive influence in their lives. As we sacrifice our time and energy in loving service to others, we will experience the joy of being a blessing, and our love will deepen and broaden as it is shared.
As we continually practice each of these steps of repentance, we will begin to see the miraculous and transformative nature of God’s grace, forgiveness, and power to change our lives and recreate us. The only question is, are you willing to put in the work? Are you truly willing to forsake your sins and seek Jesus with all of your being? Are you willing to lose your life on earth, that you may gain eternity in heaven? I don’t just want a yes or no; You will prove it by your actions.
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