A Call To Repentance
“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. For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter”
(2 Corinthians 7:10-11).
We learned yesterday that genuine repentance of sin includes: agreeing with the Lord that our behavior or thought pattern is ungodly; establishing in our thinking that this sinful habit is displeasing to God; identifying – with the Spirit’s help – what would please Him; and taking steps under the Spirit’s power to turn from sin and walk in godliness. Whether we are nonbelievers starting to come to faith in Jesus or believers wrestling with sin, we all need to practice biblical repentance.
Three key words describe the process of repentance: recognition, agreement and commitment. Unless we recognize that our behavior or thoughts are sin, we will not see any need to confess them to God.
Recognition comes as we study God’s Word and learn what He identifies as sin. We must then agree that God’s pattern for life is correct and ours is wrong. The epistles to the Ephesians and Galatians are both helpful in revealing what pleases and displeases God.
Without agreement, our confession would be more of an “I am sorry about the consequences” statement.
Commitment is also necessary. Isaiah proclaimed, “Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame” (Isaiah 50:7 NIV). We must commit ourselves to turning away from sin and choosing God’s way.
We who belong to Jesus can change permanently. Remember Christ promises that those He sets free will be free indeed (John 8:36).
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This article was written by Charles Stanley. You can read more about this author by clicking this link:
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