Repentance and Sin Repent Repent RepentWe hear it somewhere everyday, we hear it in church, we hear it here on the web. We hear it tossed around like the easy cure all. We hear someone say they sinned we tell them Repent, We sin we say we repented, We sin again we repent, We often commit the same sin over and over we say we repent.However we continue to commit the the same sin, again we say we repent again and again... But do we really Repent or just pay lip service to the word ? Do we really understand what Repent means or have we become so lax hear the Word so much we do not even consider what does Repent mean ...When the church began, Peter's first sermon aroused the question "What shall we do?" , to which the apostle responded, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:37-38)Paul, at Athens, even spoke of repentance to a non-Jewish audience, proclaiming, "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent" (Acts 17:30). He also spoke of the twin importance of "repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21). And in the book which records our Lord's final instructions to the seven churches, He speaks of repentance to five (Rev. 2:5, 16, 21-22, 3:3, 19). How has such an important New Testament topic become such an unimportant 20th Century reality? Oh, we still speak of repentance, but in many ways it has become the stepchild of doctrines (faith and love being more palatable, and hope more inviting). In fact, repentance has simply become a replacement word for "Sorry". Some of you believe it means just saying Im sorry One may feel sorrow over sin, but that doesn't necessarily equate with repentance. How little we know of what it means to repent. "Repent! The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!" is only a slogan yelled by wild-eyed sidewalk preachers of questionable theological background. We may think it means just walking down a church aisle somewhere or muttering a "sinner's prayer" under our breath. ...Well You would be mistaken.It means none of these things. So What does Repentance Mean?Repentance is the act of changing one's mind, to feel such regret and dissatisfaction over some past action or intention as to change one's mind about it or to change one's way. Repentance involves changing one's affections - from earthly things to heavenly things. It involves turning to the living God from a god of self.To understand repentance, we must come to a knowledge that it requires a change, not only a turning away from sin but a turning to God. David asked, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me" (Ps. 51:10). Paul described the effect of repentance on the lives of the Thessalonian church, expressing joy at ". . . how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God" (1 Thess. 1:9). We cannot truly come to repentance until we are willing to give up the sin, sometimes at great sacrifice. Repentance may indeed be a misunderstood concept today, but we cannot deny its importance. We must recognize the eternally deadly consequences of our sin, turn in mourning from it, ask God's forgiveness, and look to Him for strength in further temptation. That is true repentance. We must understand this, its not just saying I'm sorry....its realizing what sin is and.. mourning ...for having committed it .... its changing ..our mind set our behaviorsTo truly Repent we must be a in the right mind frame we must truly grieve for the sins we have committed against our Father. True mourning for sin does not seem to take place anymore, but it is clear that such was an integral part of the people of God's understanding. Isaiah even rebuked the children of Israel, saying that because of their sin, God had called them " . . . to weeping, to wailing, to shaving the head and to wearing sackclothAll sin, no matter how small, is against an infinite and eternal God, and is therefore worthy of an infinite and eternal penalty. Further, there is no sin too big that God cannot forgive it. Jesus died to pay the penalty for sin (1 John 2:2). Jesus died for ALL of our sins (2 Corinthians 5:21). Sin is a condition of the heart, the mind, and the inner man (Romans 7:22), which is manifested in our thoughts, actions and words. To truly Repent we must be willing to change the condition of the heart and mind and inner man. It is impossible to truly and fully change your mind without that causing a change in action. repentance results in a change in behavior. That is why John the Baptist called people to produce fruit in keeping with repentance (Matthew 3:8). A person who has truly repented from rejection of Christ to faith in Christ will give evidence of a changed life (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:19-23; James 2:14-26). Repentance,from sin likewise results in a changed man/mind/behavior. . Repentance properly defined, is necessary for salvation. Turning from sin is not the definition of repentance, but it is one of the results of genuine, faith-based repentance towards the Lord Jesus Christ. A notable example is King David of Israel who repented before God with all of his heart when his sin was exposed. Although he was truly contrite, he still paid a price for his sin. Read Psalm 51; his prayer to God and a hymn for all those poor in spirit. God is eager to forgive all who are truly repentant. Though we still may reap the penalty of our sin, God will work it for good.Saul, the King immediately preceding David also disobeyed the Lord, but when his actions were exposed by the prophet Samuel, his first reaction was self-preservation. "I have sinned," he said to the prophet. "But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel" (1 Samuel 15:30). He admitted that he had sinned, but his motives were only to save his own reputation and position of power. God was so displeased by Saul's drive to be admired by the multitudes that He took the Kingdom of Israel from him. Though Saul continued to reign for many more years, he was not led or empowered by the Spirit of God, and spent the rest of his life in insecurity and misery. How different his destiny could have been if he had only feared God more than man! How do we tell the difference? Here is the test: Those who are truly repentant will not care if they lose the respect of the entire world, as long as they make it right with God. They are glad that their sin was exposed so that it might be dealt with. Instead of scrambling to justify themselves, cover it up or attack the accuser, they will throw themselves on the mercy of God. They will be thankful to the instrument that exposed their sin, even if it caused them pain. Some think its better not to be honest in telling one they have sinned mistaken this for love, this is not love. If one has sinned you have a obligation to help them see it. So that they have the opportunity to Repent. and find Gods mercy"He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy"(Proverbs 28:13).At the other end of the spectrum, is a shift-the-blame mentality. Our talk shows overflow with it and our public schools teach it. Sin is referred to at worst, as a "dysfunction" and at best as a "lifestyle choice." Yet, even in this the Church is much to blame. In our eagerness to "save" people, how many people have we "led to the Lord" without teaching them what it means to repent? How many churches have we filled with people who have never shed one anguished tear over their sins, and are offended at the concept? Have we forgotten to preach that our forgiveness, which we receive so lightly, was purchased by Jesus Christ, through an agonizing and lonely death on the cross?RegenerationThis word is only found in Matt. 19:28 and Titus 3:5. This word literally means a new birth. The Greek word so rendered (palingenesia) is used by classical writers with reference to the changes produced by the return of spring. In Matt. 19:28 the word is equivalent to the restitution of all things (Acts 3:21). In Titus 3:5 it denotes that change of heart elsewhere spoken of as a passing from death to life (1 John 3:14); becoming a new creature in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:17); being born again (John 3:5); a renewal of the mind (Rom. 12:2); a resurrection from the dead (Eph. 2:6); a being quickened (2:1, 5).This change is ascribed to the Holy Spirit. It originates not with man but with God (John 1:12-13; 1 John 2:29; 5:1, 4).As to the nature of the change, it consists in the implanting of a new principle or disposition in the soul; the impartation of spiritual life to those who are by nature "dead in trespasses and sins."The necessity of such a change is emphatically affirmed in Scripture (John 3:3; Rom. 7:18; 8:7-9; 1 Cor. 2:14; Eph. 2:1; 4:21-24).The moral character of a man's actions is determined by the moral state of his heart. The disposition to sin, or the habit of the soul that leads to the sinful act, is itself also sin (Rom. 6:12-17; Gal. 5:17; James 1:14-15). Now we can choose whether or not to commit personal sins because we have the power to resist sin through the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, sanctifying and convicting us of our sins when we do commit them (Romans 8:9-11). Once we confess our personal sins to God and ask forgiveness for them, by true Repentance we are restored to perfect fellowship and communion with Him. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:7).. The cleansing of Gods forgiveness is available to you (1 John 1:9). The renewing capacity of Gods Word is at your disposal (Romans 12:1-2). Commit your mind and eyes to the Lord (1 John 2:16). Ask God to strengthen you and help you to overcome your sins. Ask God to protect you from further exposure to those things that may cause you to sin , and to fill your mind with things that are pleasing to Him. These are all requests that God will honor and answer.Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us (Ephesians 3:20).