Repentance

This post is part of my Steps to Christ series.

How shall a person be made righteous?

How can a sinner be just with God?

It is only through Jesus that we can be brought into harmony with God.

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 
-Acts 2:37-38 NKJV

Repentance includes sorrow for sin and turning away from it. If you are asking for forgiveness but already planning the next time you will commit the same sin you have not truly repented. We must turn away from it in the depths of our hearts. Many feel bad for their sins and try to make reparations but their behavior is based on the fear that their wrong-doing will bring them harm and suffering. Being afraid of suffering is not the same as lamenting the sin. Genuine repentance for sin includes a conversion of purpose and an abhorrence of evil. It is crucial for us to realize that it is not enough to lament the results of sin, we must sorrow for the sin itself.

The challenge is that we are unable to experience that. Our natural, fallen inclination wants to sin. It is only as we yield our hearts to the influence of the Holy Spirit that our conscience will become more sensitive and we begin to better discern something of the depth of the sacredness of God’s holy law, which is the foundation of His government.

That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
- John 1:9 NKJV

Without Jesus as our light, we can’t even notice our sinfulness.

1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit.
- Psalm 32:1-2 NKJV

There is a blessing in being forgiven, on having God cover our sin, but that comes when we repent.

1 Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
4 Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight—
That You may be found just when You speak,
And blameless when You judge.

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.

14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
- Psalm 51:1-14 NKJV

Notice how David’s repentance is sincere and deep. He does not try to blame anyone else for his sin. He does not make excuses nor does he try to escape the judgment from God. David realized the enormity of his transgression and noticed the negative impact it had on his life and loathed his sin. David did not just want forgiveness, he wanted purity of heart, he wanted the restoration of his community with God, he longed to experience the joy of Salvation.

The repentance that David experienced can only be experienced as a gift from God. Only the work of the Holy Spirit in one’s heart can bring about such a response.

So here is the big question.

Must the sinner wait until she has repented before she can come to Jesus?

Is repentance an obstacle between the sinner and the Savior?

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
- Matthew 11:28 NKJV

Jesus invites us to come to Him. When we are in a relationship with Him He begins to transform us and it is the virtue that comes from Jesus that leads to true repentance.

Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
- Acts 5:31 NKJV

Jesus gives repentance as well as the forgiveness of sins.

Practical Application:

When witnessing to someone, speak of Jesus dying on the cross for the sins of the world. When we behold the Lamb of God hanging on the cross of Calvary the mystery of redemption grabs a hold of our imagination and the goodness of God leads us to repentance. The sinner must behold the love that God has for us, the love that Christ manifested by dying on the cross for our sins. Only by beholding this love can our sinful hearts be softened, only then will our hearts be impressed and inspire contrition in the soul.

I will have one more post on this topic, but you can also check out Steps to Christ chapter 3.