I believe the basis and foundation of repentance as with many principles of the Bible is love. God is love therefore everything that He gives us is based on His unfailing never ending love! Jesus Christ died for our sins so that we could repent! So we don't even realise that we must thank God for the gift of repentance- we have the opportunity readily available to us to turn away from our sin and still be accepted! It is our lifeline to freedom, it's free and it's there if you want it, nobody can repent on your behalf it is a personal decision. This again is because God loves us so much and if you love someone you want to do right by them. In the area of repentance you must first acknowledge that you have offended the person and then sincerely apologise with the intention not to repeat that same action to cause re-offence and in return you expect the other party to openly not grudgingly accept your apology and move on??? Am I right? But I've mentioned love quite a bit which is a different topic so let us focus on Repentance!
Repent as we know in simple terms is to feel or express SINCERE regret about ones wrongdoings.
What does scripture say about Repentance?
I want to look at the angle of if our Father in heaven can forgive us of something as serious as SIN why can you not forgive your brother or sister for something they did to upset you?!
Scripture says in Mark 11:25-26 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
I often tell people that our relationship with God holds similar principles to our earthly relationships- it is about exchanging whether you realise it or not, many things with God is an exchange you reap what you sow if there is nothing planted don't expect to reap anything so if he tells you to forgive your friend so He will forgive you of your sins you better believe it! We are Kingdom children therefore we too have laws to follow. This is again emphasised in Matthew 6:14-15 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
The word of God is there to be studied and show us the way that's why in Matthew 18:21-22 when Peter asked Jesus how many times should he forgive his brother if he sins against him he replies 77 times emphasising that there is no limit to forgiveness you must forgive others just as God forgives you. When he forgives he "remembers no more" (Hebrews 10:17)
This is the great thing about the God that we serve no matter what we do as long as we are SINCERELY remorseful in Him we have redemption. He is a truly merciful God who does not stay angry forever (Micah 7:18-19)
If we confess our sins He is faithful and just and WILL forgive us our sins AND purify us from all unrighteousness it doesn't say maybe it says WILL it is a sure thing so when you come to ask for forgiveness many of us hold onto our guilt and don't even forgive ourselves perhaps feeling unworthy. Forgiveness has the power to hold your spirit captive on both ends if you choose to hold a grudge against someone you are not freeing yourself because you are holding it inside and not allowing your heart to heal. Same way if you ask God for forgiveness you need to understand that His word says once you are in Christ you are a new creation, old things have past and you are made new you cannot be made new with old pains in your heart the bible refers to pouring new wine into old wineskins it's just not something you do, so loose yourself from the trap that is unforgiveness, do you not notice the effort it takes to hold a grudge?! The anger inside you begins to boil. Relax and set yourself free.
God of course understands this the struggles that we face on earth so He has given us the choice of Life and death, blessing & curse He says we should choose life so that we may live (Deut 30:19).
This is why God is calling you to repent, in Isaiah 1:18 He calls us he says “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
Our sin is referred to as scarlet something that is very red but he has promised that he will make it as white as snow! Wow! That analogy is powerful!
I have touched on what is repentance now I want to briefly touch on what it is not! I feel like Christians believe that perhaps because they cannot see God they can trick Him! LOL He is all seeing, all knowing, he formed you he knew you in the womb like seriously!
Repentance is not a game where you do something whilst doing it you already have in the back of your mind that you know it's wrong but you will just ask for forgiveness after 👀 Pardon?! No no no! James 4:17 says “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”
It will just become a vicious cycle. Going back to the definition of repent it said sincere! I do not believe you can sincerely be sorry about something if you keep doing it over and over again---- a lot of young people I hear saying I'm not perfect let's be clear that is not a pass to sin freely of course no one is perfect but when you become new in Christ you are born with a change of heart and mind, with a new desire to do right by Him- to draw close to Him. The more excuses you make for your sin you need to question how renewed your mind is! You cannot repent and continue to live life as it were, you must be ready for a 360 rotation. You must be ready for old friends and even family to turn their back on you that is the depth of repentance you no longer are recognised as of the world but rather in it! Once that decision is made you no longer straddle the fence, one foot in, one foot out. You are now an Ambassador for Christ born to live a life of example.
We cannot take advantage, God is merciful but He is a God of principle.
The gift of repentance saved me now I am saved to serve!
Receive that gift today, you are forgiven you have been set free. God is about to turn your old life into your testimony for His name to be glorified. Nobody is too bad for God to use all He needs is your heart and a humble spirit!
God bless you for reading
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