By  Pastor Chinedu Emmanuel

Heb 6:1  “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God”.

Biblical repentance is a continuous process of aligning ourselves with God’s will and turning away from actions that lead to spiritual death. It is not a one-time event but a daily practice. When we realize that we have gone astray, we immediately ask God for forgiveness and commit to changing our ways. Repentance is a fundamental teaching in the Church and the Scripture, emphasizing the need to turn away from deeds that do not contribute to our life in Christ Jesus. It involves forsaking the works of the flesh that lead us away from Christ and towards worldly desires. By practicing repentance, we stay connected to God and maintain a fruitful relationship with Him.

Rom 8:12-14 “Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.”

WHAT IS REPENTANCE

Repentance, as defined by the dictionary, involves experiencing genuine remorse, regret, and a heartfelt desire for change when we have done wrong. It is accompanied by a sincere commitment to take actual actions that demonstrate a transformation for the better.

TWO VITAL COMPONENTS OF REPENTANCE:

• Genuine remorse and regret: True repentance includes feeling godly sorrow for the wrongs committed. This godly sorrow leads to salvation and is characterized by diligence, self-examination, indignation, fear, zeal, and vindication. It goes beyond mere worldly sorrow, which leads to death (2 Cor 7:10-11).
• Genuine Commitment and Action: Repentance is not just about feeling sorry; it involves a firm commitment to change and taking tangible actions to turn away from the wrongs committed. The evidence of repentance is seen in the way we live our lives, proving that we have truly turned to God and away from sinful behavior (Matthew 3: 8-9).

If either of these components is lacking, it cannot be considered true repentance. Genuine repentance encompasses both heartfelt remorse and a genuine commitment to change, leading to a transformative journey toward righteousness. False repentance lacks genuine remorse and true change. It involves insincere sorrow, merely expressed through words, without a heartfelt commitment to transformation. This superficial form of repentance, known as worldly sorrow, does not lead to genuine change and often results in offense when exposed.

2 Cor 7:10 “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted, but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

Acknowledgment of our sinful acts means recognizing and knowing what wrongs we have committed. This acknowledgment is essential as it leads to remorse and a genuine desire to change. Without acknowledging our mistakes, there is no basis for feeling remorse or repentance. Taking responsibility for our wrongs involves directly owning up to our actions without blaming others or making excuses. It is a crucial step towards true repentance and seeking forgiveness.

REPENTANCE FOR THE UNBELIEVER IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM REPENTANCE FOR THE BELIEVER.

FOR THE UNBELIEVER WHO HAS NOT KNOWN JESUS CHRIST YET

Luke 24:47 states that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in Jesus’ name to all nations, starting from Jerusalem. In Ephesians 2:3, we understand that all people, by their nature, lived in sin, subject to God’s anger. They were spiritually dead in sin and trespasses. Confession of sins does not bring life to a dead person; life is found only in Christ through grace and faith, not by our own efforts (Ephesians 2).

One sin the Holy Spirit convicts people of is the rejection of Jesus (John 16:8-11). If someone accepts Jesus, all their sins are washed away, but without receiving Jesus into their life, their sins remain. No amount of confessing or acknowledging sins can save them; only through faith in Christ can they be saved (John 16).

Jeremiah 13:23 says that a sinner cannot change their sinful nature any more than an Ethiopian can change their skin color or a leopard its spots. Only Jesus has the power to save, as stated in Jonah 2:9, salvation comes from the Lord.

So repentance for an unbeliever means turning away from one’s own ways and following Jesus, who is the only way to God. To be saved, all one needs to do is believe in Jesus as the Christ, Savior, and Lord. Rather than confessing sins, they confess that Jesus Christ is their Lord. This belief and confession lead to salvation.

1 John 5:11-13 “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”

What was the purpose of John the Baptist’s baptism of repentance (Mark 1:4-5)?

John baptized people in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People from all over Judea and Jerusalem went to him, confessing their sins and receiving this baptism.

However, John’s baptism served as a symbolic gesture, preparing the people for the one who would truly take away their sins. He pointed them to the coming Savior who would be able to cleanse them completely. John himself declared, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). He knew that Jesus, the one who would baptize with the Holy Spirit, was the Son of God, and it is through faith in Him that sins are truly forgiven and removed.

According to the instructions of our Lord Jesus, only those who believe in the gospel will be baptized (Mark 16:15-16). Paul followed this instruction and baptized people who had come to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

In one instance, Paul encountered certain disciples in Ephesus who had received John’s baptism of repentance. However, they were unaware of the Holy Spirit. Paul explained that John’s baptism was meant to point people to the coming Savior, Jesus Christ, in whom they should believe. Upon hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Paul’s action of baptizing them again in the name of Jesus indicates that the baptism of John was symbolic and could not wash away their sins. Only faith in Christ can cleanse and save a person. Therefore, their new baptism signified their identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection—a transformation made possible by Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins. This kind of baptism was not available during John’s time, as Jesus had not yet died for humanity’s sins.

REPENTANCE FOR THE BELIEVER IN OUR LORD JESUS

1 John 1:-7-10 “ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

Walking in the light and truth involves acknowledging our sins when we commit them. It’s about recognizing when we’ve lost intimacy with the Holy Spirit and fellowship with God due to disagreements caused by our sinful actions (Amos 3:3). When we fail to walk in the light, we tend to hide and justify our sins in self-deception, refusing to acknowledge them. However, John reminds us that no one is sinless, and we should humbly confess our sins before God. By taking responsibility for our actions and confessing them, God assures us of forgiveness and cleansing from all unrighteousness. It’s crucial to follow this with actions that demonstrate our commitment to change, effectively managing our shortcomings. Moreover, since God has already cleansed us of all unrighteousness, we should also learn to forgive ourselves.

James emphasizes that repentance should not be taken lightly or joked about. Instead, it requires humbling ourselves before God, resisting the devil, and drawing near to God. This involves washing our hands and purifying our hearts as we recognize our loyalty divided between God and the world. True repentance includes genuine remorse and sorrow for what we’ve done, replacing laughter with sadness and joy with gloom. But in this humble state, God will lift us up in honor. The process of repentance is instantaneous—when we realize our sins, we promptly follow the scriptural instruction to confess and commit to turning away from them.

Regarding the sins we are unaware of, Luke 12:47-48 explains that there is a difference in accountability between those who know what is expected of them and fail to carry it out, and those who act wrongly out of ignorance. The servant who knows the master’s instructions but doesn’t fulfill them will face severe punishment. On the other hand, the one who unknowingly does something wrong will receive lighter punishment. However, it’s important to note that with greater knowledge and understanding comes a higher level of responsibility. If someone has been entrusted with much, they will be held to a higher standard.

In Acts 17:30, it is mentioned that God overlooked the times of ignorance, implying that He did not immediately hold people accountable for the sins they committed unknowingly. But now, God commands everyone to repent, indicating that with the revelation of truth, there comes an expectation of change and turning away from sin.

Repentance is crucial and should not be delayed for several reasons. Firstly, sin has an addictive nature and can easily lead us back into bondage if we don’t promptly address and turn away from it. Secondly, following our fleshly desires can result in spiritual death, and sin’s sting can be deadly. Walking in darkness due to unrepentant sin can blind us spiritually and disrupt our fellowship with the Holy Spirit, who dwells in the light. Furthermore, delaying repentance provides the devil with a foothold to work against us, undermining our spiritual growth and well-being. Moreover, the accumulation of seemingly small sins can gradually erode our fruitfulness and impact our testimony. Spiritually, procrastination in repentance can weigh us down, causing us to feel weak and disconnected from our passion for the Lord and His church. Therefore, it is essential to promptly acknowledge and repent of our sins to maintain a strong and vibrant spiritual life.