Repentance

Definition

Repentance is widely seen as expressing remorse or saying sorry for your sin, but that's not quite what it means. The word literally means: "To change one's mind".

In the bible it's more specifically to change your mind about the direction your heart is going and changing your ways to follow God.

Of course remorse and being sorry for your sin is necessary, but let that lead you to true repentance.

Let's continue to break down what repentance looks like...

Dying to self

It is the act of laying down your life before God, dying to yourself, and making God Almighty the god of your life instead of being your own god.

It is like saying:

Thy will be done

Instead of:

My will be done

Following God

The other side of dying to yourself and laying down your ways is actually following God's ways, obeying Him, and seeking Him.

The direction you're going

Repentance is the posture of your heart; the direction you're going in your heart. There's only two directions you can be going in; toward God or toward anything else which is toward destruction. You can only serve one master;

• Cannot serve two masters (verse)

Repentance is required

Repentance is required to enter into the Kingdom of God and recieve salvation. Without true repentance you're still your own god and you're still trapped in your old ways.

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart,
and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles,
“Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them,
“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off,
as many as the Lord our God will call.”

• Repent for the kingdom is at hand

True repentance

• True repentance is shown by one's actions (Luke 3:8–14; Acts 3:19, Acts 26:20)
• 2 Corinthians 7:10

Faith

• Two sides of same coin
• It is the kindness of God that leads man to repentance
• 2 Peter 3:9