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"From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 4:17
In the English language, the simplest meaning of the word repentance is "to be sorry for your sins." Many people have confessed their sins to God, yet have not fully repented. Wait, how can someone confess their sins and still be considered unrepentant? What does it really mean to repent of your sins? Well, the Bible reveals a deeper definition of the word repentance.
Today's Church tends to use the words "repent" and "confess" interchangeably, but there is a difference between confession and repentance. To verbally say that you are sorry for your sins is simply a confession. It is the realization and acknowledgment that you have done something wrong. We are told to confess our sins to God (1 John 1:9); however, most people only apologize for their sins, but never truly stop sinning, yet claim they have repented. Saying you're sorry for your sins does not mean you have repented.
So again we ask the question: what does it mean to repent? In Greek, the word repentance is metanoia (met-an'-oy-ah) and it means "a change of mind." So whenever we see the word repent in the New Testament, it basically means "a change of mind about sin." Repentance is to change your view about sin. You begin to hate sin to the point that you stop sinning. We are not only to feel sorry for committing our sins, we are to change our minds about sin. We are to realize that sin offends God and destroys us, and we are to ultimately turn away from sin.
Why should we change our minds about sin, you may ask? Better yet, why does God want us to stop sinning? Well, God, the Creator of the universe, wants to spend eternity having a personal, intimate relationship with us. However, we cannot have this relationship with Him while living a life of sin. Sin is the opposite of the ways of the Lord, which are righteousness and holiness. God cannot and will not dwell in the presence of sin; this is why sin separates us from God.
Unfortunately, our sinful nature was passed down to all of us by our original parents, Adam and Eve, who disobeyed God by eating from the forbidden tree of knowledge (Genesis 3:6). Their disobedience separated mankind from God. Remember, sin is the breaking of God's commandments. We cannot be in the presence of God with sin in our lives. The only way we can be saved from our sins is through Jesus Christ, whose shed blood washed away our sins.
God has given us the avenue to experience eternal life with Him through His Son Jesus, who is the everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6). God has called all to repent. We are being called by God to return to Him and to live righteously for Him. This is what it means to repent.
But repentance isn't something that we do on our own. No man can truly repent on his own unless the Father prompts him. God's Spirit draws us to Him, as Jesus said:
"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:44
The Holy Spirit will convict us of sin and make us realize we are disobeying God. Studying God's word, especially His laws, makes us reflect on our own lives and makes us realize that we are fallen and our sinful lifestyles have offended God. When we acknowledge that we have offended God and that our sin will permanently separate us from Him, it should prompt a sorrow in our hearts that drives us to run back to Him. Repentance is prompted by godly sorrow, as Paul explained.
"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." 2 Corinthians 7:10
Repentance is a gift from God that leads to salvation and it is the result of God's grace. Repentance from sin results in the complete turnaround from a rebellious mindset and way of life to a life of holiness and right living with God. This is how we walk in the faith of the salvation provided by Jesus Christ.
Let us then examine our lives to find out if we have any unresolved sins that need to be addressed and repent of those things so we can live a life of righteousness that gives God the glory.