True repentance is truly a gift of God. It’s what He equips us with to help us stay in perfect alignment with Him. “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;” 2 Timothy 2:25
In the dictionary repentance is defined as the action of repenting; sincere regret or remorse.
ü It’s also defined as the action or process of repenting especially for misdeeds or moral shortcomings.
ü
It’s
also defined as a summons to a personal, absolute and ultimate unconditional
surrender to God as Sovereign. Though it includes sorrow and regret, it’s more
than that.
Our tears,
though they may be sincere is not the action that God is looking for when it
comes to repentance. If it’s not crying
or sobbing, what are marks or evidences of true repentance in our, the
believers’ life? We’ve all seen people
who claim to follow Jesus but are lacking the fruits that prove the reality of
their faith. They do and say things that
are not God-worthy.
Repentance
is "an inward decision or change of mind that results in the outward
action of turning from sin to God and righteousness."
It’s easy to
make a claim or to have a profession of faith – we just open up our mouth and
speak it – but how does one know if it’s a reality? We may not always know, but
God does. Jesus said in Matthew
7:21-23 that many would come in his name
claiming to have a relationship with him but He replied, “Depart from me you workers of iniquity I never knew
you.” They had the talk but not
the walk! And even if they have the walk,
it doesn’t match the inner motives of their heart. Tainted fruit is being developed.
We can see
this with John the Baptist’s and also with Apostle Paul’s teaching. John the
Baptist said regarding repentance: . . . when he
saw the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them
. . . “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath?
Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to
God. Don’t just say to each other,
‘We’re safe, for we’re descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell
you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. Even now the ax
of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. . . every
tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the
fire. Matthew 3:7-10
Notice, John
the Baptist, in commanding repentance, didn’t say just simply “confess” or make
a declaration; prove it through your actions. True repentance always has the
corresponding fruits. Apostle Paul said the same thing:
. . . that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet
for repentance. Acts 26:20
Apostle Paul preached the need to repent, but like John, he also preached the necessity of proving one’s repentance. It’s not enough just to confess; confession has to be followed by the proper works.
Let’s look at what was going on with the children of Israel after their exile In the book of Nehemiah, there was a revival happening they were not just returning to their homeland, they were also being reacquainted to God. In chapter 8, the people listened and responded to Ezra’s reading and teaching of the Word of God. In chapter 9, the people put on sackcloth and ashes and repented of their sins and the sins of their fathers. They repented by renewing their covenant with God and committing to prove their repentance by their deeds. They started by acknowledging the sovereignty of God:
Now therefore, our God, The great, the mighty, and awesome God, Who keeps covenant and mercy: Then they openly confessed their sin: But we’ve done wickedly. Neither our kings nor our princes, Our priests nor our fathers, Have kept Your law, Nor heeded Your commandments and Your testimonies, With which You testified against them. For they have not served You in their kingdom. They spoke of bondage to their captors: Because of our sins; Also they have dominion over our bodies and our cattle At their pleasure; And we’re in great distress. And lastly, they recommitted themselves to God: And because of all this, We make a sure covenant and write it; Our leaders, our Levites, and our priests seal it.” Nehemiah 9:32-38
They made a commitment to God by renewing the Mosaic covenant. Eighty-four leaders of the community signed a document—a binding agreement. This document showed the priorities of their commitment to God. Even though we’re not a part of Israel’s Mosaic customs and traditions, we, as believers, should have the same commitments to turn back to God. These same fruits will prove the reality of our repentance and relationship with God.
So what are
the fruits; the marks of true repentance? What commitments did Israel make in
this chapter as a fruit of their repentance? Read Nehemiah 9:32-38
How can we
practice true repentance in our lives?
One of the things they did was hear the word of God, as should we, and
commit it to our hearts and then apply it to our lives. So #1 is:
√ True Repentance Includes a Commitment to
God’s Word
And the rest of the people, - separated themselves from the people of the
lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every
one having knowledge, and having understanding;
They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse,
and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of
God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and his
judgments and his statutes; Nehemiah 10:28-29
What is the
primary focus of this covenant community as seen in the signed document? The
primary focus was to submit to the law of God. Israel had disobeyed God’s
covenant.
So in this document, they renewed their commitment to God’s Word. They had faith to believe in God and His word and they committed to follow God’s Word.
Faith as
part of the bearing fruit action is a very important aspect of true repentance. Jesus taught that practicing God’s Word is proof
of true faith in the Sermon on the Mount. He taught that there are two types of
people who listen to his words. The one who listened and built the foundation
of his house on these words, and his house stood in the storm. But, the other one
didn’t build his house on Jesus’ words, and his house was destroyed. He said: “Therefore
everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a
wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose,
and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it didn’t fall, because it
had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t
put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. Matthew
7:24-26
It’s very
easy for us to look at the Scripture and say with awe, “No one ever spoke like this” as those in John
7:46 did, when listening to Jesus, and yet not submit to Him. It’s also
possible for us to pick and choose what we like about the Scriptures instead of
submitting to the whole counsel of it.
Apostle John
said the same thing as Jesus [John 14:15]: “We know that we’ve
come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, ‘I know him,’ but doesn’t
do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him” 1 John 2:3-4
If we’re not
committed to God’s Word and following it, we’re not truly saved and our
repentance is false.
Faith and
true repentance recognize Scripture as God’s Word and commits to studying it
and submitting to it. This should be the focus of the believer’s life, and it’s
evidence or the fruit of true repentance.
Israel
renewed their covenant to follow the laws of God which demonstrated true repentance.
Do we need to renew our covenant to God’s Word as well?
Here’s a
look in the mirror question: What are
your thoughts about commitment to knowing and obeying God’s Word as a proof of
genuine repentance? #2:
√ True Repentance Includes a Commitment to
Fearing God
They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a
curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the
servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our
Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;
Nehemiah
10:29
Not only did
they commit to following God’s Word but they also put themselves under a curse
if they failed to follow it. In those days when people made covenants, they
would often slay an animal and walk through the parts of the animal. By doing
this they were saying, “Let this happen to me if I don’t fulfill what I have
committed to.” This is what God did in confirming his covenant with Abraham in
Genesis 15. He walked through the cut-up bodies of animals, committing to
fulfill his covenant with Abraham.
God had
essentially promised Israel that if they didn’t obey His words, he would
severely discipline them. He said: Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you
today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.
However, if you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all
his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon
you and overtake you: You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country.
Your basket and your kneading trough will be cursed. The fruit of your womb
will be cursed, and the crops of your land, and the calves of your herds and
the lambs of your flocks. You will be cursed when you come in and cursed when
you go out. The LORD will send on you curses, confusion and rebuke in
everything you put your hand to, until you are destroyed and come to sudden
ruin because of the evil you have done in forsaking him. Deuteronomy
28:14-20
By binding
themselves to the curse, they recognized that God was faithful to his words and
that he would curse, discipline, and even destroy them for disobedience. What are you trying to say Pastor Candy? The
fear of the Lord should still be a motivating factor in our lives. “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always
obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to
work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians
2:12
We should
fear because God is a God of discipline.
“Since we have these promises, dear
friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and
spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 2
Corinthians 7:1
We must
remember God killed Ananias and Sapphira for lying about their offering in Acts
5. God brought sickness and death to some of those who were abusing the Lord’s
Supper in 1 Corinthians 11:26-32. God is still a God of discipline.
And
ultimately, it’s good to remember that even though we’re not under the law, we’re
still bound by the spiritual principle of “sowing and reaping” which God
oversees. We will reap what we sow, whether in this life or after. Do not be
deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to
please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who
sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Galatians
6:7-8
When the Israelites were recommitting, they recommitted not
only to the Word of God but to fearing the Lord, which should be a sobering
motivation for all believers “the Lord disciplines those he loves.” Hebrews
12:6
Discipline
is a major aspect of our sanctification, and we should recognize this everyday
as we’re confronted with temptation and opportunities to sin.
As believers, we’re called to “speak the truth in love” [Ephesians 4:15]. That means we must love people deeply, but we’re not called to redefine sin so that nobody feels uncomfortable. Understand:
v Love doesn’t require us to affirm everything we see and hear that is wrong
v Just as grace doesn’t require us to ignore repentance.
v And compassion doesn’t require us to compromise conviction.
The Bible
says, “Be ye holy; for I am holy” [1 Peter 1:16]. It also reminds us that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
[Romans 3:23]. So this is not
about pointing at one group of people as if anyone is beyond the need of grace.
This is about acknowledging that all of us need repentance, mercy, and
transformation.
Truth be told, none of us can live in an unrepentant state and expect God to adjust His Word around our comfort. Jesus said, “Repent ye, and believe the gospel” [Mark 1:15]. And Romans 6:1–2 asks, “Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.”
- continued
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