Repentance

Acts 3:19-20 ESV Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.

Repentance—it’s not a word we often hear these days; it’s almost considered old-fashioned. We much prefer messages that focus on the refreshing presence of the Lord yet ignore the critical step to receiving God’s promise of forgiveness, refreshing, and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Repentance is a central theme of the gospels, mentioned over 100 times in scripture. John the Baptist announced the coming Messiah with a call to repent, “Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (Matthew 3:1-2). Jesus emerged from his 40 days of prayer, fasting, and temptation by Satan, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). Jesus then preached the gospel across Galilee: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:14-15). Following the Day of Pentecost and the infilling of the Holy Spirit, Peter proclaimed, “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. This promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call. (Acts 2:38-39)

Repentance is far more than emotional sorrow, being remorseful, or making a promise to try harder. It’s a return to the life God intended for us from the beginning. It starts with confession, which means to agree with God. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). We are agreeing with the truth of God’s word that “all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory” (Romans 3:23), “there is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10), and we are helpless to produce our own righteousness, so Christ died for us (Romans 5:6-8). Repentance is not a one-time thing but the frequent discipline of anyone who desires to be a person after God’s own heart. David cried out, “Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.” (Psalm 51:1-2).

One of the greatest mistakes we make is comparing ourselves to others and believing someone else’s sin is worse than our own. Jesus addressed this head-on when, after hearing of people in Galilee being murdered for offering sacrifices at the Temple, he told his disciples, “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people in Galilee? Do you think that is why they suffered? Not at all! You will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God. And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you too will perish.” (Luke 13:1-5).

Whether in Hebrew: teshuvah (a conscious, active return to God’s word, will, and ways) or Greek: metanoia (a transformation of heart, mind, and direction), both represent a turning from our own thoughts, ways, and actions to God’s. It is a complete surrender of our mind, will, emotions, and actions. Laying down our perceived rights and choosing God’s ways in everything.

The promises of God associated with true repentance start with forgiveness and cleansing (1 John 1:9), canceling our debt (Colossians 2:14), blotting out our sins (Isaiah 45:45), casting them as far as the east is from the west, never to be remembered again (Psalm 103:12), and times of refreshing. Let us return to living a life of repentance, receiving His gifts of salvation, righteousness, and the Holy Spirit. Living in unity and oneness with Him, receiving His continual refreshment.

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Gary and Sandy Anthony

Mark 1:15 NLT The time promised by God has come at last! The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!

Psalm 38:18 ESV I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.

Psalms 32:5 NLT I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, I will confess my rebellion to the Lord. And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.

Mark 6:7,12 NASB And Jesus summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. They went out and preached that men should repent.

Matthew 12:41 NLT The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent.

Luke 15:7 NLT In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!

Acts 11:17-18 ESV If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way? When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.

Romans 3:22-24 ESV The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ is for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

James 5:16 NLT Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

1 John 4:2-3 ESV By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

2 Timothy 2:24-26 ESV And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

Romans 2:4 TPT Do the riches of his extraordinary kindness make you take him for granted and despise him? Haven’t you experienced how kind and understanding he has been to you? Don’t mistake his tolerance for acceptance. Do you realize that all the wealth of his extravagant kindness is meant to melt your heart and lead you into repentance?

2 Corinthians 7:9-10 NIV Now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

Revelation 3:19 NIV Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.

Isaiah 59:20 NIV The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins, declares the Lord.