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Introduction
The mention of the word ‘repentance’ sparks off different reactions from different people. To most believers, repentance means condemnation, negativity and judgmentalism.It is such an obnoxious word to the 21st century Christian mind that any preacher who insists on preaching undiluted repentance-oriented sermons is passing a death sentence on his financial upkeep! As you will discover in the course of this article, repentance is so crucial that without it, our relationship with God is technically impossible.

The Greek word for repentance is “Metanoia”, which simply translated means a change of mind. Repentance in the theological and ethical sense is a fundamental and thorough change in the hearts of men from sin towards God.

Although faith alone is the condition of salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9; Acts 16:31), repentance is bound up with faith and is inseparable from it since without some measure of faith no one can truly repent.

Repentance never attains to its deepest character till the sinner realises through saving faith how great the grace of God towards him who has sinned is. On the other hand, there can be no saving faith without true repentance.

Simply defined, repentance is a state that makes a person arrive at a decision that results in a change of mind and a subsequent change of purpose and action. When John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism and said to them, “…Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance.” (Matthew 3:7-8). Specifically, repentance must result in a change of purpose and confession and action in line with the teachings of the Word of God. Mere confessions and tears are not enough. The multitudes and the class of people repenting did not impress John the Baptist.

He squarely placed a demand on changed lives as proof that true repentance had taken place. I believe this is what is urgently required today. There appears to be many people repenting but the fruit is shockingly scarce!

There are three essential elements of repentance.

l Firstly, there must be a genuine sorrow towards God on account of sin (2 Corinthians 7: 9, 10; Psalm 51).

l Secondly, there must be an inward hatred of sin followed by the actual forsaking of it (Matthew 3:8; Acts 26:20, Hebrews 6:1).

l Finally, a person must project a humble self-surrendered life to the will and the service of God (Acts 9:6).

It should be observed that repentance has different stages of development:

Stage 1

In its lowest and most imperfect form, it may arise from the fear of consequences or penalties of sin.

Stage 2

If it goes on further than this, it is simply remorse, and must end in despair. Most religious people and carnal Christians operate on this level. It is common to keep on repenting of the same sin, for years without notable change — very frustrating indeed!

Stage 3

In the next level, repentance deepens in character with the recognition of the baselessness of sin itself. But, here again it is merely a burden of soul from which man seeks to free himself in vain until he recognises the great hope set before him in the gospel.

Stage 4

Finally, repentance becomes most complete and powerful in those who have experienced the saving grace of God, and thus realise more fully than ever, the enormity of sin and the depth of the divine compassion, which has been operative in their salvation.

Repentance is to be seen as a gift from God (Acts 5:31, 11:18; Romans 2:4). It is so because God has given the Word with its revelations concerning sin and salvation. He has also given us His Holy Spirit to impress the truth, awaken the consciences of men, and lead them to repentance. It is left with men to make for themselves this great decision.

 

The difference between repentance

and remorse

It is important to differentiate between repentance and remorse. Repentance is a gift from God that produces a lasting change and sets prisoners free. Remorse is a human feeling that never moves beyond guilt and regret. It keeps people in bondage although they think they are repenting dozens of times. If you have found yourself in this cycle, dealing with the same sins over and over, you need to honestly face issues and make yourself accountable to someone. There must be fruit borne if repentance has taken place.

Repentance is a very important spiritual function. Without it sinners cannot be regenerate and saints cannot be renewed. Think of it this way – repentance is the key that opens the door to the cleansing Blood of Jesus Christ.

The Blood of Jesus Christ is useless without repentance. Trying to apply the Blood of Jesus Christ and His grace before repenting is like putting the cart before the horse. Repentance is a wonder of God’s infinite grace. Only the imperfect are candidates for it!

The reason why many people have not fully partaken of the grace of God and the cleansing of the blood of Jesus is their self-righteous pharisaical arrogant attitude. Modern day mutant Christianity has classified repentance as destructive to people’s self-esteem and their sense of worth.

No wonder modern day Christians have a high self-esteem and a great sense of worth but they are hopeless slaves to sin and carnal addictions! Repentance is exclusive for those who have fallen short.Yes, for those people who know that they have not lived up to God’s expectations and standards. It is for people who acknowledge their need. Those who have turned away from God, and know that they are lost. My friend, repentance is for those who have sinned — people who know that sin will eventually destroy them no matter how long it takes. Repentance is for those who have strayed. They are not ashamed to admit they have been lost and they want to come back. They know there has been no good fruit in their lives and they want to bear good fruit.

Are you a candidate for repentance?

Repentance is God’s activating grace. It remakes, restores and repairs. Have you ever known that, of all God’s creation, only man can repent? Angels cannot repent. Satan, even if he wanted, cannot repent. It is such an amazing gift that God decided that only man will be able to repent. Repentance is God’s exit for man from the bondage of sin and despair. Repentance is the first step to redemption. It starts in darkness and ends in light. It begins in bondage and leaves the captives freee. Repentance starts in death and ends in life. It begins in uncleanness and ends in cleanness.

Repentance gives us an opportunity for an incredible exchange that favours us. Micah 7:18-19 says, “18 Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage. He does not retain His anger forever; because He delights in mercy. 19 He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” In repentance we come full of iniquity – but we leave with purity. We come weighed down by guilt and condemnation but we leave forgiven and justified. We come weeping and with heads bowed down in shame – we leave rejoicing! What an exchange!In the world we live in, most places we go rob us of our good things and leave us with destructive elements! Not so with the place of repentance. I encourage you to get to that place called repentance – you will be glad you did!

Biblical repentance has three implications. Firstly, it entails renunciation and reversal. The person repenting must renounce and turn away from the things that displease God and are leading him astray. Secondly, the repentant person must submit to spiritual authority and carry a teachable attitude. This allows for instruction and accountability. When we know that there are people watching out on us, it helps us to form the desired character that keeps us from going back to the things we have been doing right in the past.

Finally, the repentant person must accept continual shape-ability i.e. the willingness to continually be changed and molded. There should never come a time when someone feels that they have attained super spirituality and they are beyond repentance.

The first step to repentance is having our sin laid open and brought to light. Because of our sensitivity towards image and the desire to project an angelic lifestyle to impress our onlookers (read hypocrisy), any attempt to uncover our sin meets stiff self-opposition. You know what I am talking about, because if you ask a group of people to repent before the Lord, the noise level remains mumble and subdued!

The very thought of getting personal with God and confess, threatens us! We must open our hearts and allow God to expose the true condition of our hearts. For many of us, saying sorry is so hard that even when we are confronted with factual evidence of our shortcomings we come short of hiring a learned friend to argue out the case for us – if we do not forthrightly lie. David’s prayer will do us good: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me; and lead me in the way everlasting”(Psalm 139:23-24). David could not trust himself to search his own heart. Beware of the callousness of your heart. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it?” Only God claims sole dealership for the hearts of men. “I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings” (verse 10).

*Bishop Colin Nyathi is the Founder of Harvest House International Church he can be contacted on [email protected] or send all your comments to [email protected]