#306 REPENTANCE

Repentance is the act of changing one's mind.  Webster defines the word as, "to feel sorry for or reproachful for what one has done or not done." Webster also gives the definition as, "to feel such regret and dissatisfaction over some past action or intention, as to change one's mind about it and to change one's ways." Repentance involves changing one's affections from earthly things to heavenly things.  It involves turning to the living God from a god of self.  It’s looking unto Christ instead of looking unto another.  Repentance requires the right attitude toward sin, which is Godly sorrow.  Repentance is the right attitude toward God; it's a return to God.  Repentance is the right attitude toward self, the prodigal son came to himself.  Repentance is the right attitude toward others, the Philippian jailer took Paul and Silas and washed their stripes.

Repentance is not just Godly sorrow.  Paul told the Corinthians in II Corinthians 7:10, "That Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of." Repentance is not gloomy despair.  When Judas sold his master for thirty pieces of silver he was filled with gloom and despair, so much so that he committed suicide, but he did not repent.  Repentance is not quitting a sin for a season; it is totally turning from that act of sin.  It is a complete one hundred and eighty degree turn.  Repentance is not concealing sin.  David tried to conceal his sin, but God exposed it.  The story is told in Numbers 32:23, and we even know about David's sin today.  Concealing sin is like trying to cover up spilled seed in the edge of a field in order to hide it.  The seed comes up and is exposed.  Repentance must be followed by works, proving that change.  In Acts 19:19, the repentance was evidenced in the bringing of books valued at fifty thousand pieces of silver and burning them before all men.  This let all men know the change.  The Thessalonians showed their sincerity by turning from idols to serve the one true God, I Thessalonians 1:9.  Paul wrote the first letter to the Corinthians and included a scathing denunciation of their sinful deeds.  However, part of the second letter to them was written commending them for turning from their vile way of living.  A certain man had two sons, Jesus told us, and he said to one, "Go work today in my vineyard." He answered, "I will not." But afterward he repented and went, Matthew 21:28-29.  Whatever this young man did Jesus said he repented.  Jesus called his actions repentance.  The young man reflected over the matter, he came to know that he was wrong, realizing that he had sinned against his father and having arrived at this conclusion the young man faced about in an opposite direction and did according to his father’s request.  All people need to repent.  All people sin and as a result all people need to turn from sin and return to righteousness.  When Paul was speaking from Mars hill to the Athenians and reasoning with them concerning the living God, he told them that in times past God had winked at such ignorance as the Athenians were then involved in, but now he told them that they were commanded to repent everywhere, Acts 17:30.  Unrighteous people need to repent.  In Acts 8 the story is told of a man that obeyed the gospel.  He was baptized.  But later, for the love of gold and popularity he wanted to by the gift of the Holy Spirit.  At this time it seemed apparent that Simon's heart was not sincere and pure.  God knowing the hearts of all men, and certainly knowing the heart of Simon on this occasion, directed Peter by the Holy Spirit, to tell Simon, "to repent therefore of this thy wickedness and pray God if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.  "(Acts 8:22) Simon was not even directed to pray first.  The thing that was first and that was indispensable was to repent, or change his attitude and desire.  Simon was commanded to exercise proper sorrow for this act and to abandon his plan or principle action.  This lets us know today that all unrighteous men are exhorted to repent, this is their first work, they're not told to wait, to read, to pray, to receive an experience, to related a revelation and the expectation that repentance will be given to them.  None of these things.  Such unrighteous beings are to repent, to change their affection and to turn to the living God.  Then prayer will be acceptable, then and only when man repents will God hear and answer.

When man comes loving his sins and resolving to continue practicing them God will not hear him, John 9:31 and I Peter 3:12.  There's a great blessing in repentance.  For the one who has never be baptized into Christ turning to the living God is the initial step of his response to the love of God which has heard and believed by hearing of the life of Jesus Christ the savior of man.  For those who have, like Simon, have been directed by the love of power and the love of the world, it's that initial act that leads one to be restored to his former relationship with the father.  When man sins he must either repent or parish.  It's just that simple.  It's an either/or proposition.  Man must face judgment and that's the reason God has commanded all men everywhere to repent.

God has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness, "By that man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance to all men in that he hath raised Him from the dead."(Acts 17:31) The goodness of God should lead all men to repentance.  The apostle Peter in writing his second letter, chapter three, verse nine stated that God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.  This is the goodness of God; this is the love of God.

Repentance is a change of our affection; a turning to God, leaving Satan and serving the Savior causes one to avoid destruction.  Christ said, "I tell you nay, unless you repent you shall all likewise perish."(Luke 13:3) It is bad to sin, but it's even worse to sin and not repent.