Have You Repented Lately?

Repentance is a theme that is found repeatedly in both the Old and New Testaments. In Ezekiel 14:6, the prophet Ezekiel records the Word of God for us: "Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: Repent and turn away from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations." Jesus came to save us from our sins, and it is significant that He started His ministry with a call for repentance: "From that time Jesus began to preach, crying out, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17). In these and many other scripture passages, God is telling us that repentance is essential for our salvation.

So, what is repentance? For many, repentance means the act of confessing our sins and asking God to forgive us. True repentance, however, means more. In addition to acknowledgment/confession of sin, it includes a commitment by the sinner to "turn over a new leaf". Rather than repeatedly asking to be forgiven, the sinner resolves to change his/her behavior and to commit the sin or sins no more. The Hebrew word for repentance is teshuva, which derives from the verb "to return." Thus, when we repent, we have made a decision to not only regret our past sins, but to also "turn away" from sin in the future and to return home to God, who continues to effect change in us. This decision is all in accordance with God's will: "Even now," declares the Lord, "return to Me with all your heart..." (Joel 2:12).

The baptisms that John the Baptist performed were actually baptisms of repentance. He preached that it was necessary for us to repent in order to live as forgiven and to be ready for the coming of Christ and His Kingdom (Mark 1:4-5, Luke 3:2-3, Matthew 3:1-6). In other words, he preached that sinners needed to not only confess their sins, but to also commit to change their behavior for the better in response to the gift of forgiveness. After Jesus' resurrection, Peter also preached the baptism of repentance to the Jews: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).

Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son teaches us not only about God's unconditional love for His children, but also about His desire for us to repent and "return" to Him. When the son finds himself destitute and hungry in a foreign land, he realizes that he has sinned and resolves to return home to his father, confess his sins, and change his ways: "I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants" (Luke 15:18-19). The son has made a decision to change his behavior, as evidenced by his words that, going forward, he is ready to start a new life living like a servant in his father's household. He has fully repented and is ready to receive the loving forgiveness that has been waiting for him all along.

So, repentance is a fundamental part of God's plan for our reconciliation and salvation through Christ.  We should accept God's call for us to repent and stop sinning. The Disciple Group suggests that you reflect on your understanding of repentance and that you strive to be fully repentant so that you can claim the gift of God's forgiveness that has been extended to you in Christ. And we should each be inspired to action by Jesus' own words: "In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents" (Luke 15:10).