Believers in Jesus Christ are called to seek forgiveness for
their sins — something that was made freely available by Jesus Christ’s death
on the cross. Jesus being the sacrificial lamb, took on all the sins of
man. In other words, if we sin, we can lay
our sins upon the cross. We do this by
repentance. Christian repentance is defined
as changing our sinful ways.
Repentance is an essential act that is covered throughout the New Testament scriptures, with believers embracing Jesus’ sacrifice and making a concerted effort to change their SINFUL ways. Forgiveness and repentance are fixtures in the New Testament.
Which of these sins apply to you? Sin becomes so common in us that it becomes our sinful nature. It does not allow us to distinguish right from wrong. Sin hinders our relations ship with God, His Son, and the Helper/Holy Spirit.
Repentance is an essential act that is covered throughout the New Testament scriptures, with believers embracing Jesus’ sacrifice and making a concerted effort to change their SINFUL ways. Forgiveness and repentance are fixtures in the New Testament.
John the Baptist preached repentance Matthew 3:1-2 In those
days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” and Mark 1:4 John came
baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for
the remission of sins. Jesus thought
repentance was very important, Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to
preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
The New Testament has many scriptures instructing us to
repent:
Acts 11:18 When they heard these things, they became
silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the
Gentiles repentance to life.”
Acts 17: Truly, these
times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to
repent,
Acts 20:21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance
toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 26:20 but declared first to those in Damascus
and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to
the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting
repentance.
Romans 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His
goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness
of God leads you to repentance?
2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to
salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces
death.
2 Corinthians 12:21 lest, when I come again, my
God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have
sinned before and have not repented of the
uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.
Hebrews 6:6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since
they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to
an open shame.
Hebrews 12:17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to
inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance,
though he sought it diligently with tears.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise,
as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing
that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Revelation 2:5 Remember therefore from where you have
fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly
and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
Revelation 2:21 And I gave her time to repent of
her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.
Revelation 3:3 Remember therefore how you have received
and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore, if you will not
watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I
will come upon you.
Yet, the church, the Body of Jesus Christ ignores this
important aspect of our Christine walk even though it is the first step in the doctrines
of Jesus Christ, Therefore leaving
the principles of the doctrine (teachings) of Christ, let us go on unto
perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead
works, and of faith toward God, Of the
doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands,
and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment, Hebrews
6:1-2. When was the last time your pastor preached on repentance?
The church has taught a false doctrine of all
sins are forgiven because Jesus died for all our sins and we don’t have to continue
to ask God for His forgiveness of our sins. It’s call the Grace theology. This is why you don’t hear a repentance
message by pastors or Christian leadership. This doctrine renders the need for repentance
as un-necessary. If you render one
scripture un-necessary, you render the entire Bible un-necessary. This doctrine tells the Body that because of
this Grace we can continue to sin, when in fact Romans tells a different story:
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2
Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Romans
6:1-2. Paul’s teaching in (Romans
5:20-21 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one
Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered that
the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more), that
increased sin brings increased grace was liable to distortion. Some might claim that if by sinning they were
providing God an opportunity to display the greatness of His grace then they
should sin more and more. The idea of
Christian continuing to sin is entirely contrary to the gospel. Sin is hateful
and destructive, and those who have died to the love of sin and the ruling
power of sin should never want to live in it any longer. False doctrine, which
is sin compromises our relationship with the Godhead. Sin as a whole
compromises our relationship with the Godhead.
This is why we need to repent.
At its core, repentance is a routine and consistent act that
includes not only an admission of wrongdoing, but also a pledge to do better.
According to Merriam-Webster, the repentance definition is “to turn from sin
and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life.” Since every human sins
every day, Christ’s death offers forgiveness to all those who are willing to
engage in repentance. The Bible makes this clear again and again.
Sin
First step is to understand how sin works in our lives.
We have to acknowledge that sin is a huge issue in our lives. We are oblivious
to how much we sin every day. In the world today, right has become wrong and
wrong has become right. Most of us are operating
in the gray area between right and wrong and if we don’t repent, we will become
slaves to sin, Romans 6:20-22 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free
in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which
you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been
set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to
holiness, and the end, everlasting life.
Second step is we must identify the sin. Sin will bring us into bondage and will compromise
our relationship with our Father. Sin
brings us into a gray area of not knowing right from wrong. Sin will affect our faith. This is outlined in Hebrews and it shows us
the progression of Jesus’s doctrines from repentance to faith. We need to repent so that we can have faith in
God’s truth leading to laying on of hands for healing of our sickness and
disease. Sin will not allow us move onto
and experience faith without getting rid of sin through repentance.
Commons Sins in Our Lives That We May Not Comprehend
God tells us not to worry three times in Mathew 6 (verses
25, 31, 34). We worry about our
children, jobs, finances, what people think of us, our health, fear of failure,
fear of not dieting and exercising, fear of rejection, traumas, fear of man,
fear, fear, and more fear. So, if we
have worry 25 times a day and this is a conservative number, without
repentance, then we have a problem. Multiply
25 times 365 days and we have 9125 un-repented sins. This is just worry (fear, anxiety, terror, stress). Which of these sins apply to you? Sin becomes so common in us that it becomes our sinful nature. It does not allow us to distinguish right from wrong. Sin hinders our relations ship with God, His Son, and the Helper/Holy Spirit.
Jesus Commands Repentance
Jesus himself made it clear that repentance is key to
changing our sinful ways and urging people to turn to God and ask for forgiveness
for their sins. Jesus was preparing us
prior to His death. The condition of taking
on all of mankind’s death on the cross is that we must repent (confess our
sinful ways and ask forgiveness for our sins) so that we can receive forgiveness
allowing Jesus to take on this sin.
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent:
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand- Matthew 4:17.
Like Jesus, John the Baptist also warned that the end was
drawing nearer and that it was essential to repent:
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the
wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is
at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The
voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His
paths straight.’ - Matthew 3:1-3.
Repent! Don’t Hide
Your Sins
The Bible also speaks of the importance of not hiding one’s
sins, noting that an admission of wrongdoing can help people find “mercy.”
He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever
confesses and forsakes them will have mercy Proverbs 28:13. I say to you that
likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over
ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. - Luke 15:7
Repentance Leads to Wiping Away of Sins
By admitting one’s sins and repenting, it is possible to be
spiritually refreshed and rejuvenated.
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be
blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
- Acts 3:19
In humility correcting those who are in opposition, if
God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,
- 2 Timothy 2:25. Note: We can’t
know the truth (right from wrong) if we don’t repent because sin keeps us in darkness.
Sin causes us to compromise God and His Word.
“But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has
committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall
surely live; he shall not die. 22 None of the transgressions which he has
committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he
has done, he shall live. 23 Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should
die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live? -
Ezekiel 18:21-23 (NIV)
A Failure to Repent
Can Be Damaging
According to the Bible, there are consequences to refusing
to repent one’s sins.
But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent (no
shame or regret) heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day
of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, - Romans 2:5
I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all
likewise perish - Luke 13:3 Perish from what? Sickness and disease.
God is Faithful and Just
Repentance and, in turn, forgiveness, shows God’s love for
us through his willingness to purify us from our poor choices and sins.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. - 1 John 1:9.
If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves,
and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear
from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land - 2 Chronicles 7:14.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
- John 3:16.
How Do I Truly Repent?
Repentance is an emotional, heartfelt, humbling, and
contrite attitude towards God.
Repentance is prayer and unfortunately, we as believers pray very little
for repentance or anything else for that matter. Muslims pray five set times per day to their god. How many times do we pray to God Almighty? Isn’t
our God greater than any earthly gods?
Repentance is a declaration to the heavens. Not only to God, but we are sending a message
to the spiritual realm, For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of
this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places Ephesians
6:12. This is where the real battle is being fought.
When we pray to God for anything, we are making a petition
or declaration. Prayer is spiritual
warfare and constant repentance during the day, every day, is key to coming out
from under our sinful ways. We certainly
can’t sin numerous times throughout the day and do nothing.
Repentance =
ZERO. Deliverance from sin = ZERO. Deliverance from sickness and disease = ZERO.
Forgiveness of sin = ZERO.
What kingdom is winning this battle? Are you getting the
point? If you sin all day long, you must repent all day long.
What I have learned about God and His Word is that His Word is
very basic. It simply requires us to
obey and submit to His righteousness. God and His Word is not complicated. Mankind
has made God’s Word complicated. So, I
am going to show you an uncomplicated way to pray for repentance that works,
but it requires consistency.
Based on the scriptures, it’s clear that God made a way for
salvation and forgiveness. That way is paved with acts of repentance with the
Bible repeatedly telling us that we should embrace Jesus’ sacrifice and speak
to God about our wrongs. This is as simple as speaking to our Lord God directly
and repenting of our sins and asking for God’s help because we can’t do it by
our own strength. This shouldn’t be done out of mere fear, but with heartfelt
sorrow. God calls us to Him, and repentance is simply the repeated act of answering
that call. A repentance declaration.
The three keys are: - Obedience – But
God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed
from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. Romans
6:17
- Submission to His Righteousness
– But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and
all these things shall be added to you Romans 6:33
- Declarations – Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing James 3:10. Declarations are extremely important. When you repent out loud, it is a declaration to the spirit world. You are sending the message that you want to change your sinful ways. Daily declaration, and it requires to be specific, will reverse your sinful ways. It’s God’s promise.
Prayer: Father,
in Jesus name, I come before Your thrown of grace and mercy to confess my sins
to you. Lord, I am truly sorry and I ask you to forgive me for these sins. I choose
to repent of my sins and I ask You to help me because I cannot do this by my
own power. I ask You to give me a new heart
and a new spirit so that I can be free from sins.
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer
I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh
I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me Galatians
2:20. Amen and Amen.
This is your daily prayer that we have NO choice, but to use
throughout the day to overcome sin. We
cannot afford to ignore repentance because time is getting short.
Final questions: If we don’t have to ask God for forgiveness
of sin because Jesus died on the cross for our sins, why do we still have
sickness and disease? Sickness and
disease come from disobedience (sin) Deuteronomy 28:15-68. Should we ignore
Jesus’s call to repentance? Why read the bible if all our everyday sin is
forgiven in advance? Why go to church? Why do we need to pray? Why are we born
sinners if the generations have been forgiven in advance? Why turn from our wicked (2 Chronicles 7:14)
ways if we are already forgiven prior to our sin?
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