Thursday 22 November 2018, 5:08pm
Lately, I have deeply reflected on the word “repent” and “repentance”. Is there a difference? Let me first tackle, the word “repent”.
In Luke 13:3 we are taught: “but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” – “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23
As a believer in Christ, repenting is necessary for a sin I had committed for Scripture teaches: “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8, which means I have discernment or the ability to know the difference between good and bad.
Scripture teaches “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38 – The Holy Spirit helps me in the discernment of good and bad and in any other aspect of my life. He is in and with me all the time.
Like many believers, if not everybody, I sin and confess in deep remorse praying to God and confessing my sins. I pray for His mercy and forgiveness; “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
Fortunately, I have been forgiven for my sins and unrighteousness because of Jesus Christ, who by the Grace of God, died on the cross for the sins of the world. Oswald Chambers writes about forgiveness in a realism that I sometimes overlook or forget: “Forgiveness means that I am forgiven into a newly created relationship which identifies me with God in Christ. The miracle of redemption is that God turns to me, the unholy one into a standard of Himself, the Holy One. He does this by putting into me a new nature. The nature of Jesus Christ.” (My Utmost for His Highest.)
What about the meaning of “repentance”. “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10
When I accepted Jesus Christ into my life and in my heart, thedeep remorse for the bad things I had done in my life embedded a great desire in not wanting to repeat those bad things. My desire is to change my life for the better. I pray for God’s wisdom and righteousness and for His guidance in living a righteous life; a life according to His will, His ways and understanding, not mine. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
With the help of the Holy Spirit, I am slowly changing from the “old” into the “new”. I am learning that my desire in “living righteously” takes patience and practice but, I trust God. My faith and my hopes are in Him for the success of living a righteous life.
My “obedience is out of love for God”.
https://billygraham.org/devotion/pure-hearts/
https://billygraham.org/decision-magazine/january-2007/true-repentance-real-change/
https://billygraham.org/decision-magazine/may-2009/does-the-holy-spirit-live-in-you/
