Repentance

To Repent = means to change the mind, to turn the thinking in the opposite direction.

Man was going his own way. The old testament definition of sin is  . . . “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6)

Jesus came and preached  ‘And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.’

Jesus came declaring the gospel of the kingdom and coupled that declaration with the word ‘repent‘ —— > change your mind.

It does not mean curl up on the ground to beg and cry. It does not mean to tarry at the altar. It does not mean to tell God how your good days out number your sinful days. It does not mean to tell God you will never do it again.

It is not how skillful you are at persuading God to let you off the hook. It simply means to change your mind and commit to trying your best to do better.

The better is based upon the gospel or good news from God. The gospel of the kingdom functions to stir faith in the heart of man. The gospel empowers faith to be stirred in a man. Faith aligns a man’s thinking to follow after God’s thinking.

Repentance is a faith expression. It is brought about by observing God’s goodness.

Ro 2:4
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

It is the goodness of God that can be so overwhelming that it can ultimately produce godly sorrow. It is realizing that I don’t want to continue doing bad in the presence of God being so good. As you literally discover that God is so good it hurts you to wrong against Him.

2 Co 7:10
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

There is a difference between godly sorrow and the sorrow of the world. Godly sorrow produces true repentance and brokenness before God. The sorrow of the world is typically regret for getting caught, embarrassment to the ego or wounded pride, yet that there is no turning; whereas godly sorrow causes a person to turn right toward God.

It is importance to know that repentance does not pay for sin. It is the self-righteous mindset that thinks if he should sin, that he can repent it away. As if repentance pays for sin. This goes back to knowing that sin was already destroyed before it was committed and repentance is the door to enter in and take advantage of sins that were already paid for.

Love The Truth
Pastor Armstrong