When it comes to repentance, secular people usually sway in one of two specific directions. One is that, compared to others, they are good people and do not need it. They rely on some of their good deeds or justify this by roughly following the Ten Commandments. Of course, not entirely (we know this is impossible for people), but they quote the familiar (and erroneous) proverb: "Even God is not pleased with an overly pious saint." This is actually a thought that contradicts what God says in His word: "Be holy, because I am holy" (1 Pet. 1:16*).
The second group of people, on the other hand, consider themselves too sinful, which also prevents them from reaching God for salvation. They may repent several times, but never accept forgiveness and do not change, continuing to wallow in sin and remorse. To them, the Lord Jesus wants to say what He said to the adulterous woman whom the crowd wanted to stone: "Neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin" (John 8:11*).
To have true repentance, there must be an awareness of one's sinfulness, but things should not stop there. Yes, we deserve to die because of our sin, but the Lord Jesus Christ has already died in our place. Once we have believed in Him and accepted Him as our Savior, we are saved. God already accepts us as His children and does not condemn us. He no longer holds us accountable for our sins. However, our life becomes different because we begin to think differently. The Greek word for repentance "metanoia" means "a change of mind."
Of course, we do not become perfect, but as the apostle Paul says, we must strive for it: "Not that I have already obtained all of this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead" (Phil. 3:12-13*). It is not enough just to have a good intention to change, we must make a firm decision and show determination not to sin. Good intentions don't play a decisive role in our lives as believers, but willpower does. And yet, if we err again, Apostle John encourages us: "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:1-2*). Amen!
*Biblical quotations are from the Bible, new translation from original languages © Bulgarian Bible Society 2013
Post comment
«1»