Repentance

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

II Peter 3:9

The message is clear: God wants everyone to repent. In fact, if you look at verses such as II Corinthians 7:10, it seems apparent that repentance is part of salvation. So what is Biblical repentance?

We see that repentance is not merely being sorry about having done wrong, but being willing to put it completely away from us. Let us follow the directions given to Timothy!

Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

II Timothy 2:22

That is the nature of repentance. It is not only that we feel sorry, but that we take action. It is a complete change of heart and of action. It is leaving sin and pursuing righteousness. Anything else is, at best, half-hearted and insincere. Acts 26:20 teaches that not only must we “repent and turn to God,” but that we must “do works meet for repentance.” Our actions, and everything else in our lives, must reflect the repentance that has taken place.

But our repentance must be complete. In Colossians 3:9-10, this process is described as putting off the old man and putting on the old man. In other words, it is a complete and total change in our lives. In repenting of the sins we have committed and dedicating ourselves to God's service, we are as a new creature. There is not even a resemblance to the life we once led in opposition to God.

Repentance is the turning away from sin and turning back to God's will. It is the putting away of what a person once was and the putting on of Christ. In I Corinthians 6:9-11, Paul writes,

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

You can see the extent of their repentance in these few verses. Although previously they had been disobedient to God's will, although they had committed grievous sins, they repented, turned to God, and their sins were washed away. Consider that: no matter how bad their sin was, they were able to repent and be forgiven by God. Truly, there is no sin that we commit that we cannot repent of, and have our repentance be accepting to God.

In Acts 17:30, there is a clear statement made. God commands all men everywhere to repent. Have you repented from sin? Have you put it away and decided to follow after Christ?