“Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away” (Acts 3:19).
Repentance is more than feeling sorry. It is more than admitting we did something wrong. True repentance means agreeing with God about our sin and turning away from it.
Before we can repent, we must understand that we have sinned against God. David understood this after his sin was exposed. He prayed:
“Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight” (Psalm 51:4).
David’s sin had hurt other people, but he understood that every sin is first an act of disobedience against God.
When I sin and the Holy Spirit convicts me, I become sad because I know I have grieved the God I love. I am not merely sorry because my sin caused trouble or because someone found out. I am grieved because I disobeyed God.
The Bible calls this godly sorrow:
“For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death” (2 Corinthians 7:10).
Worldly sorrow says, “I am sorry that I got caught.”
Godly sorrow says, “I am sorry that I sinned against God.”
Godly sorrow does not leave us sitting in guilt. It moves us to repentance.
Repentance begins when we honestly confess our sin to God. Confession means we stop making excuses and call our sin what God calls it.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
God already knows what we have done. Confession is not giving God information He does not have. It is admitting that He is right and we are wrong.
True repentance also includes turning away from sin. A person has not repented if he admits his sin but plans to continue living in it.
“He who conceals his wrongdoings will not prosper, but one who confesses and abandons them will find compassion” (Proverbs 28:13).
Repentance does not mean we will never struggle with that sin again. Some sins and habits may take time to overcome. However, the repentant heart does not defend sin, excuse it, or make peace with it. The repentant person wants to be free from it.
John the Baptist said:
“Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance” (Matthew 3:8).
Real repentance produces change. If we have been dishonest, we begin telling the truth. If we have been unforgiving, we forgive. If we have been living in sexual sin, we leave it. If we have been gossiping, we stop spreading the words that hurt others.
We do not make these changes to earn God’s forgiveness. We make them because we have repented and want to obey Him.
Repentance is necessary when we come to Christ for salvation. Jesus said:
“No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3).
Repentance is also part of the believer’s continuing walk with God. Christians still sin, but they should not become comfortable with sin. When the Holy Spirit convicts us, we should respond quickly.
We confess it. We turn from it. We accept God’s forgiveness. Then we continue following Christ.
After we have confessed and turned from our sin, we should not continue punishing ourselves. Jesus Christ paid for our sin at the cross. God’s forgiveness is not based on how terrible we feel. It is based on what Christ has done.
“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1).
God does not want us to sin. But when we do, we have an Advocate. Jesus Christ stands for us.
Repentance is not running away from God because we have sinned. It is turning away from sin and returning to God.
Confess it. Turn from it. Learn from it. Keep following Christ.