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Repentance from
sin.
Repentance means to change one's mind which affects the direction; this
change of mind involves both a turning from sin and a turning to God.
It is turning from evil ways (sin) to God's just ways, from idols to God, from
being spiritually dead to
new life in Christ Jesus. It is
commitment to a faith and way of life that involves turning from an old way, to
a new way, that changes the total direction of one's life.
Faith in a biblical sense is commitment, not just “belief” about something. One
who repents has faith, for it is faith in God that we can make a decision, to
turn from our old ways, and commit ourselves to God's ways.
In the Bible, in the call to conversion, both the word
"repent" is used and at other times the word "believe" is used. Yet also other
times they are both used together. But both words involve a change of heart
towards God.
We must recognize that we are all sinners in God’s eyes;
The bible says: “ for
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
(Rom 3:23).
In our sinful condition we have all turned our back upon God our Father.
There
is a gap between God and mankind and are separated from God. We must
stop, and change our mind, a change of heart and a change of direction.
Recognizing that we are sinners in His sight and need forgiveness. This
essential act is called "repentance" and is the first move we must make to be
reconciled to God.
An example of repentance:
The prodigal son Luke 15:11-32: He had turned his
back on his father and his home to waste his life in sin. Eventually he came to
himself and made a decision to arise and go back to his father and home. He
first had a change of heart, and then acted by carrying out his decision. He
returned to his father and home, and confessed; “Father I have sinned!"
God has provided only one solution to sin and separation from Himself.
For God Sent Jesus as the sacrifice for sin and we are forgiven
when we believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, by shedding his blood. (Rom
3:25)
Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sin and rebellion against God by dying on
the cross, shedding His blood, and rising from the dead to justify and reconcile
us back to God the Father.
Mankind may seek other solutions and worship other gods, but Jesus Christ,
alone, died on the Cross for our sins and rose triumphantly from the grave
defeating death.
For in John 14:6 Jesus says: “I
am the way, the truth, and the life: no one comes to the Father, except through
me.”
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