Insights into Repentance
Written August 22, 2022 by Genevieve Abalos
Insights into Repentance
When I was young, I had a conversation with my sister on the phone when for some reason we both became angry and after a short time of loud arguing she hung up on me.
I became irate! I grabbed my keys and drove across town to confront her. I yelled at her about how she should never, ever do that again! I went home without calming down at all. I felt that I was justified in my actions since that was an obvious act of disrespect.
But given enough time it was just a memory (and still is today for both of us). I knew she loved me and I loved her so it was all ok. and that was that.
There was never an apology but we both went on like nothing ever happened, except that she never did hang up on me again.
I was reminded of this story this past week as I heard of another example of an argument that just blew over and nothing was said past that moment.
Holy Spirit brought that terrible day back to mind again. He then told me that that is exactly how we treat God. We go about doing whatever we want even knowing that those things are against His commands. We ignore His Word and rebel against His commands then go about acting as though we had a right. We justify ourselves, believing that we can get by with everything. We know He loves us and that we love Him so it’s all ok.
So I began to research repentance. Decades ago, preachers would invite people to come forward and repent. Years passed and preachers would invite people to close their eyes and repeat a prayer in which they would admit that Jesus is Lord and ask Him to come into their hearts and that was that. Today, so many people are led to believe that because God is love He simply overlooks our rebellion and ignorance and accepts everything we do because we are like children.
According to the Strong’s Concordance, repentance incorporates both being grieved and being comforted. It includes all elements of one’s attitudes, thoughts, and behaviors. It is a verb which demands action. Simply “blowing it off” or “pretending it never happened” does not involve being repentant. It is an action that shows that the one that does wrong does not feel that they have done anything wrong. It clearly states that they believe they had the right to do whatever they did.
When we sin against God and are not grieved by that we simply imply that we have the right to do so. However, both John the Baptist and Jesus preached the same thing…Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
Matthew 5:22-24 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
Jesus expresses the need to be repentant and to ask for forgiveness from man and God. Without forgiveness offerings are not accepted by God.
Psalms 66:18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; This shows that without forgiving others we will not be forgiven. Repentance is a requirement.
So, honestly, the path to knowing you are forgiven and right with God is first admitting that you did something against God’s commands. Taking responsibility for such action, thought or behavior and asking God for forgiveness. We must understand that God gave His Son for us and that is no small matter. It was not so that we could “get away with anything” but so that we have the right to be forgiven for everything.
God promises that if we ask for forgiveness- we will be forgiven. Then we can accept God’s tenderness to wash over us and comfort the broken places and heal the once hardened heart.
The way to live this way is to live according to the highest and most important two commandments:
One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22: 35-40 NIV
For additional reading——
Psalms 10:13 Psalms 19 Psalms 24:3-6 Psalms 51:10-12
Psalms 41:13 Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.