REPENTANCE

Repentance is the first step we take to receive the salvation that God offers to us in Christ Jesus. Without repentance we cannot accept the Lord Jesus as our redeemer thus impossible to enter into the pearls gate of Heaven.

Those who will be in Heaven are those who repented and accepted the Lord Jesus as their Lord and personal saviour. But those in Hell will be those who refused to repent therefore it is very important that all people come into repentance.

No one repents unless they feel guilty about their sin, but not all who feel guilty actually repents.

The first word from John the Baptist was “REPENT” and the first word from Jesus was “REPENT”. Therefore it is essentially important topic for Christians and unbelievers.

Acts 2:38

Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

WHAT TRUE REPENTANCE IS?

1.     Being sorry to God for your sin

Psalm 51:1-4

¹ Have mercy on me, O God,
    because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion,
    blot out the stain of my sins.
² Wash me clean from my guilt.
    Purify me from my sin.
³ For I recognize my rebellion;
    it haunts me day and night.
⁴ Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
    I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say,
    and your judgment against me is just

2.      Being TRUTHFUL about the sin

Psalm 32:5

Finally, 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.

3.     Turning away from the sin

Proverbs 28:13

People who conceal their sins will not prosper,
    but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.

4.     Hating Sin

Hebrews 1:9

You love justice and hate evil.
    Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you,
    pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.”

5.     When Possible, paying back to others what you owe.

Luke 19:8

Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”

6.     Turning to righteous living

Romans 6:13

Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.