What is true repentance?

[starrycc]

How can I know I'm forgiven if I don't understand what repentance is?
Forgiven does not mean excused! Saying sorry to God and asking for forgiveness sounds easy, but what evidence is there if bad attitudes still seem to wreck my life?

If a person has done damage, repentance would involve repairing or paying for repair. If they have stolen, they can give back, if they have uttered nasty remarks, they can say sorry and be careful to say good things in future, but how can a person repent of wrong attitudes? We can't stop negative thoughts popping into our minds! We can't do it !
What does it really mean to repent? Just saying sorry isn't enough! Something has to put things right... but what?

 

[JesusInMyHeart]

Hi...starrycc

Here is a page that will explain to you in detail what true repentance is:

http://www.wtcoc.com/Sermons/s71.html

 

[Rafael]

When you confess your sin to God, you are agreeing with Him that it is sin and that you desire to leave it behind and walk away from it. The Spirit of truth within you has brought you to this knowledge and repentence, however, the battle between the flesh and the spirit has not ended but continues to pressure your life until the day you go home to the Lord. We overcome by the blood of the lamb and our testimony. Your testimony is that you are fighting the good fight and are not being phony about your repentence and efforts to overcome the sin in your flesh. Paul says that when he sinned it wasn't he that sinned, but the sin that dwelled in his flesh. His inner man desired to not sin, but the flesh was there to always sin. It's a battle - fight the good fight, and grow in the grace God has given you. Here are some verses to meditate on:

Romans 7:14 ¶ For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

Romans 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

Galatians 5:17 (LIV) For we naturally love to do evil things that the Holy Spirit tells us not to do; and the good things we want to do when the Holy Spirit has His way with us are just the opposite of our natural desires. These two forces within us are constantly fighting each other to win control over us, and our wishes are never free from their pressures.

Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

 

[Yitzchak]

One common mistake that people make is assuming that repentance is always an instant thing. There are examples of instant repentance both in the bible and in the church. However , if a person follows up on these people they will find that on certain issues they have instant repentance and on others it is a process.

The hebrew word for repentance is "Teshuvah" which means to return. Return to the path which God has for us. The greek word also carrys the meaning of turning or changing direction.

So the question I might ask of you is are you turning towards The Lord in these areas or away? Sometimes the turning is a series of small decisions leading up to the one huge decision which we recognize as the repentance. I like to look at it as maturity or as the scripture puts it about many issues, in terms of growth of plants. There is a verse that says bring forth fruits meet for repentance. To my thinking fruit takes time to mature. But a person has their part to play which is watering and weeding, etc. So do your part and allow God to give the increase because only the Lord cna change a heart and bring about fruit from our repentance.

 

[IKTCA]

.

 

[Sketcher]

"He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy." - Proverbs 28:13

That's all you have to do, confess and renounce. This may involve actions, or it may not. Some people take it to the wrong extreme of believing you must pay a penance to be forgiven. That is not the case.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and will purify us from all unrighteousness" - 1 John 1:9

The important thing to remember is that Jesus bled and died to cover our sins and all we have to do is ask for forgiveness for it to be ours. God knows whether we mean it or not, and when we mean it, we are forgiven. As simple as that.

As for your thoughts, you are tempted with evil thoughts at first, but they become your sinful thoughts when you entertain them. I know this monster is a very tough one to wrestle; I find myself praying, turning on some music, playing a computer game - anything to change the thought channel of my mind sometimes. Thoughts are not undoable, but you can simply stop thinking them at that moment, ask for forgiveness, and the purity to do better next time. That's all we can do, and I thank God that He forgives and is patient with me.

 

[Alternate Carpark]

True repentance is the desire of your heart to stop doing something that you know is displeasing to God.
If you slip and sin again this does not mean that you are not truely repentant.
God doesn't look at our actions, He looks at our heart and sees what we would like to do but are ,sometimes ,unable to do.
God never requires us to behave perfectly, He knows we will make mistakes.
What He looks for in His children is a willingness to follow Him.
And when we fall by the way side, He doesn't turn around and condemn us for our weakness or error.
Instead, He comes to our side and stokes us on the head and says, are you okay, need a hand up, very impressed so far with how you want to follow me.

If we find that we are continually falling in a particular area no matter how much we try not to. There is usually something deeper that is causing the trouble.

Yes, we are to run the race with all enthusiasm and fervor.
This is our responsibility and task. But we are unable to do this perfectly and God knows this. That's why He says let Christ be perfected in you.
We cannot do this in our own strength, we have to allow Him to help us.

We are much loved by God and He does not condemn us anymore.
He is so happy to have found His lost children.
Look at the father's attitude and response when his prodigal son returned.
We will always do stuffups while we are on earth, yet this is not God's main concern with us.

 

[LifeInYou]

True repentance= A change of mind...leading to a change of action.

 

[PottersClay]

Actually, repentance isnt the turning away from sin, turning away from sin is the result of repentance. That's why some passages will say "repent and turn". And why we're told to ask that God would "grant repentance".

The word repentance in Greek is metanoeo which actually means to "think after". In other words, repentance is reliant on us seeing our sin from God's perspective. When we see that, we see the sin for what it is, and turn away from it (go the other way).

2 Tim 2:25-26 is the best demonstration of this "Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth" and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

I think this understanding of what repentance is is very important when praying for someone to become saved. It's one thing to pray they repent, but IMO is much more effective to ask the Lord open their eyes and allow them to see their sin as God sees it.

If you feel you're having a hard time truly repenting of something, ask the Lord to show you the sin from His perspective. When that really happens, letting go of that thing is not difficult.