The Renewing of Repentance
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 will I hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14
Confession is the first step in God’s recovery program, but it is only a first step. We can’t just admit we are wrong and not take the necessary steps to correct what we believe and how we live. Those who don’t repent are caught up in the sin-confess-sin-confess-and sin again cycle. They will never get out of that cycle if that is all they are doing. We should sin, confess, and repent. Jesus said, “Repent and believe the good news” (Mark 1:15).
John the Baptist prepared the way for the coming of Christ by telling people to “repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 3:2). He baptized those who responded to his message, but to the morally self-righteous he said, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance” (versed 7-8). John insisted that a person’s repentance be accompanied by the fruit of that repentance: a changed life.
The word “repentance” literally means “a change of mind resulting in a change of living.” As we go through life, we all hold certain attitudes and beliefs toward God and ourselves and live accordingly. If one day we are enlightened by the truth or come under the conviction of sin, we may choose to confess our sins and decide to change. If we truly repent, we experience a change of mind and attitude and no longer live the way we did before. Others could witness the fruit of our repentance. However, if we do not change the way we live, we have not really repented of our sin.
Paul reaffirmed the necessity of repentance when he said to the Ephesian elders, “I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus” (Acts 20:21). Later, he told King Agrippa, “I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds” (Acts 26:20). In the Early Church, the members would literally face the west and say, “I renounce you, Satan, and all your works and all your ways.” Then they would face the east and make a public profession of their faith. They renounced their sin and false beliefs and expressed their new faith in God.
Genuine repentance is not just a matter of professing a decision to change or save ourselves from the judgment of God. Such was the attitude of some believers in the Early Church, who would say they had repented, but then continue to do the same things for which they had judged others. Paul said to them, “Do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” (Romans 2:3-4). God is the One who grants us repentance and enables us to escape the snares of the devil (see 2 Timothy 2:25-26).
God desires that all men and women be saved (see 2 Peter 3:9). The Lord said to the prophet Ezekiel, “I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!” (Ezekiel 18:32).
questions to consider:
Review 2 Chronicles 7:11-16. What three things does God require the people to do to receive forgiveness and healing?
Why is confession alone not enough?
What did John the Baptist mean in Matthew 3:8 when he told the Pharisees and Sadducees to “produce fruit in keeping with repentance”?
Why have you not truly repented if you say that you have repented, but continue to live as you always have?
How can you personally stop the sin-confess-and sin again cycle?