“What do you mean I need to repent? I'm already a Christian.”
The word “repentance” invokes images of sorrowful sinners turning from their wicked ways and being saved by grace. Jesus and His apostles repeatedly preached repentance to unbelievers. So, is repentance a one time thing or should it be continued throughout a believer’s life?
I won't speak for you, but I’m a wicked sinner. 1 John 1:8 says, “if we say that we have no sin we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.” I feel like I’m always at the throne of grace seeking forgiveness. How can a Christian be so sinful? I remember reading 1 John 3:6 - “No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.” I thought, “Oh no! Maybe I'm not saved! Aren’t we forgiven of our sins?” Then I noticed something. Throughout 1 John 3, John uses the word “practices,” thereby, referring to when a particular sin becomes a continued pattern of your life.
Our own Jack Hughes said that the difference between perseverance and practicing sin is in the former you swim upstream, making headway. In the latter you're being washed downstream and liking it. What then does a believer need to do in order to repent? At the risk of sounding overly simplistic, the first step is to stop sinning. Merely asking the Father for forgiveness is not repentance. Anyone can ask God for forgiveness. However, to continually return to a sin like a dog to its vomit shows no repentance. Hebrews 10:26 explains that if you deliberately keep on sinning, there is no sacrifice for sins, only a fearful expectation and a raging fire that consumes the enemies of God. Someone who practices sin and does not repent is an unregenerate sinner.
The Puritans were well aware of how sinful their repentance could be. One writer made that clear when he said he needed to “repent of his repentance;” the very tears he shed needed to be washed. Is it the pattern of your life to turn far from your sins, bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ? Know that if we ask for forgiveness and turn from our sins, God is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Isn't that glorious? Cleansed from all unrighteousness! This is why we persevere. This is why we repent. He that began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it.
Maturing faith brings an increase of hatred toward sin and a decrease in the amount of time it takes to fall on our knees. I pray that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will help all of us to take a hard look at our hearts and repent of our repentance.
Recomended books about repentance…
I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. — Luke 15:7
It is dangerous to procrastinate repentance because the longer any go on in sin the harder they will find the work of repentance. Delay strengthens sin and hardens the heart and gives the devil fuller possession. A plant at first may be easily plucked up, but when it has spread its roots deep in the earth, a whole team cannot remove it. — Thomas Watson
Ye who have tearless eyes, unbended knees, unbroken hearts, how can ye think ye are saved? The gospel promised salvation only to those who really repent. — Charles Spurgeon
Sin Calculator (if you live 80 years):
Take the Lord’s name in vain twice a year = 160 sins
Look on a woman with lust once a month = 960 sins
Think angrily against another once a week = 4160 sins
How generous are these numbers compared to your own life? Amazing what the blood of our Savior must cover!
Correction from last newsletter: 5 minutes = 300 seconds