Do You Know How to Properly Repent of Sin?

Your child goes into a store and they want something really bad. You say “no.” But he or she continues to carry on. They won’t stop until they get the object of their desire. Provided you don’t cave in and give them what they want, you might eventually lose your patience and temper. When you get to that point, many times the crafty child finally gets the message and that he or she better cut it out, or else! Often they will even say they are sorry right before you are about to take them to the woodshed and the board of discipline is called in to settle the matter. Those little sinners are often smart, knowing how far to push it before they have gone too far. But now, not long after the incident, the same thing might happen again with that little rascal. Have you been there? Why didn’t the previous time end the negative cycle of misbehavior?

Now, back to a grown-up application…did someone ever say they were sorry to you to get past a situation, but by human appearance it seemed like they did not mean it? In other words, did it seem like a mechanical action, versus a heartfelt one? Sometimes they might even wrong you again in the same exact way after saying they were sorry…what’s up with that??? When we ask for forgiveness from our loving Father, which is ALWAYS available, sometimes we might ask for that forgiveness in an ineffectual way also, just trying to get out of trouble like that child at the store. We might even do the same thing wrong again in time, because we said we were sorry but really did not fully mean it. Well, it’s a dangerous position to be in; thinking you’re forgiven by a holy God and that your sin is washed away, but you’re really not because you repented in an incorrect manner. Yes…let me repeat that…you can repent in an incorrect way! You must confess AND forsake (to renounce or turn away from entirely) of your sins (Psa 28:13). And your fellowship with Him, and others, remains broken when your repentance is faulty (1 John 1:6-10).

So then…what is true biblical repentance? How does it take place?? Well, it consists of three distinct parts:

1. An intellectual element (John 16:8-11) – acknowledgment of your sin
2. An emotional element (2 Cor. 7:10) – true Godly sorrow resulting from the sin. Godly sorrow should make you feel this way…sort of give you a sick feeling that you wronged a holy God after doing so. You should never want to do that again, that is, wronging a Father that loves you so much!
3. A willful choice element, which involves turning away from the sin entirely in your mind (Prov 28:13). In your heart, you must commit to start walking in obedience to God, truly desiring to forsake the same sin from taking place going forward, allowing the Holy Spirit to change you when He desires to do so. Change occurs by the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying work, and His work is accomplished through the application of the Word of God in your life (John 17:17).

Taking into consideration these three elements of repentance, have you properly asked for forgiveness for all those things you have done wrong against the Lord, including the things you have not done in which you are biblically instructed to have done (Jas 4:17)? Here is a good measure of a proper repentance: if you did not feel terrible about a sin you’ve committed when starting the process of repenting, or you continue to partake in the same sin without having a heartfelt desire to change and be transformed in regard to stopping the committing of that sin, you most likely have not properly repented of the sin. Additionally, still having regrets associated to a sin you have already repented of is a sure sign that a faulty repentance has taken place (2 Cor 7:10). After repenting, pray that God will do anything He needs to do to prevent you from committing the same sin again…ANYTHING! If you are not willing to pray that, have you truly forsaken the transgression? Think about it.

Here is the great news: after true repentance, it is God (not you) that will change you in order to stop committing the offense. The changing of yourself is way above your pay level; you cannot do it. It is the Holy Spirit that will make the necessary changes in you (in His timing), via His Word (John 17:17). Your responsibility is this: stay surrendered to God and allow Him to change you! And this is where God’s amazing grace comes in; He will always allow you to come back to Him for forgiveness. In fact, He wants that you keep on coming and coming and that you never stop, as the Lord desires to have intimate fellowship with you…that’s right, YOU!

You CANNOT be walking with God and have a close relationship with Him until you clear up your sin(s) and any improper repentance. Simply saying you’re sorry is just not good enough! The great news is; once you have truly repented and aligned yourself with the Lord in your heart, God’s forgiveness will be granted…praise Him! And it’s never too late to reconcile with the Lord any known sin in your life while your heart still beats within you. So repent appropriately, experience being filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18) once again. The fruit of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22-23) – all of them, will be demonstrated in your life as positive proof after repenting appropriately. It is a guarantee! 🙂

Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses AND forsakes them will obtain mercy. (Prov 28:13)