Repentance - Does It Absolve Us of Our Sin?

 

Repentance Definition - feel or express sincere regret or remorse about one's wrongdoing or sin.

Repentance in Christianity means a sincere turning away, in both the mind and heart from sin. It involves a change of mind that leads to action—the radical turning away from sin. A person who is truly repentant recognizes God the Father as the most important factor of our existence.  Repentance is a hatred of our sin as an offence against God. Repent means to change our sinful ways.

I have noticed that Believers can be confused with what repentance means.  Sinning and repentance are separate.  Repentance cannot take away your past or existing sins or the sins of the generations (Deuteronomy 5:9 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me).  Repentance dose not absolve you of your sins.

If we don’t address our sins, they will pile up making it harder to repent. Do you know someone who is so overwhelmed by fear they can hardly function?  Do you anyone who is so bitter and un-forgiving and you can’t reach them?  Then, how can you expect them to repent when they have become one with their sins?

Fear, as an example is a big sin issue with us all.  The Bible mentions fear 385 time in the Bible.  Is God trying to tell us something?  Like, it’s a big problem?  The Bible says in II Timothy 1:7 NKJV For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.  God tells us not to fear. Rather He wants us to have power over sin, to have love and a sound mind.  Fear causes us to have an unsound mind.  Most people have fear-stress-anxiety multiple times per day.  Let’s say we have fear 10 times a day times 31 days in a month, which is 310 unconfessed sins in one month.  What do you think will happen if you multiply this by four decades?  14,880 unconfessed sins. BONDAGE!  Each fear is its own sin that we need to address.  From ministry, I can tell you it is very difficult for people to change their ways (repent) on their own. Did you know stress, anxiety, worry, and fear causes depression?  That’s what the Bible tells us in Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression.  There is not one person who has not delt with depression.

Fear is the cause and the following are some of the effects (symptoms): panic attacks, insomnia, migraines, high blood pressure, constricted vessels, and contracted muscles rubbing against the nerves in the back, neck, and sciatica nerves.

So how do we get rid of our sins so that we can change our ways (repent)?

First, sin has to be identified and acknowledged as sin in our life. 

Second, we must confess or sin to God.  Not to Jesus.  Jesus says to pray to the Father in Matthew 6:9 In this manner, therefore pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

Third, we must ask God to forgive us for our sin. Jesus died on the cross for our sins. 1 John 2:2 And He Himself is the propitiation (atonement) for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.  Jesus Christ is the atonement for our sins.  1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.

It’s only when we confess our sins each day that we can be brought out of captivity.  It’s only when we confess our sins each day and to one another that we can be healed from sickness and disease.  James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James

We are called to bring everyone out of captivity whether it’s at home or at church. “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me. To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound Isiah 61:1.

Unfortunately, the church is not doing what God commands us to do.  When was the last time you heard a correct full-fledged message on repentance?  When have you ever seen a pastor at a church service lead everyone in a prayer confessing sin out loud?  I didn’t think so. Jesus Christ was the only one capable of carrying out the atonement for all of mankind’s sin.                   Tony Sanchez 1-17-22