The Path of True Repentance

The Path of True Repentance

By Gary Palmer

One of the five steps to salvation is repentance. Many people would like to leave this duty out of Christianity. So, what is “repentance?” The word “repent” means: “Resolve to change one’s life; change ofmind” (Webster). A simple definition would be to “stop sinning.” It is a change of mind. As a individual accepts the teachings of the Bible. He or she will have to be determined to be a faithful disciple to that teaching. This requires honesty and discipline and hard work. We must put down our “old life style” of sin and start living the “new life style” of righteousness.
When we first become a Christian, we can not expect to know every thing the Bible teaches about holiness and righteousness. We have to learn as we go. The more you read the Bible, the more you will know, and the faster you will grow (2 Tim. 2:15). It takes time to absorb, comprehend and digest the bible’s teaching on daily life. Repentance is not a one time thing, but it is a life time responsibility for man. So, let us accept the word of God (...received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, (Acts 17:11). “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39). In order to repent we need to know what we are repenting of?
We are all sinners, “ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). The Bible says, “ Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor. 6:9-11). At one time in our lives we were just as lost as those people just mentioned. But, we decided to follow Jesus and keep his holy word. Then our sins were washed away by the blood of Christ. We do not need to point our fingers at those that are lost, because we all were once as lost as they are. We need to have compassion and humility on the lost. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). If we can be free, so can they, if only they will believe and obey? “ If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15)
We are foolish to think we can believe in God and not be productive servants. “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4 ), “….and his commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:3). God expects us to “... be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22). We also know the famous passages of (James 2:14, 17, 19-21, 24); “...faith with out works is dead, being alone”. James said, “...We can show our faith by our works” (James 2:18)
As we go through life we are going to stumble and fall in our spiritual life. It is a fact of life. Noah became drunk from wine, Abraham lied, Moses struck the rock with out giving God the praise, David killed a woman’s husband, and the list go on. Some of the greatest men and women of the Bible have fallen, only to rise up with an unyielding determination to do what was right. And to make amends to God for their short comings. God tells us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness “ (1 John 1:9). We must always confess our sins to God, when we realize we have sinned and ask his forgiveness. This is daily repentance at its best. One un-repented sin will keep us out of heaven. It is a life long duty and requirement. Let us always have a penitent heart?