"For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret..." (2 Cor. 7:10, ESV).
"... 'Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.'" (Acts 11:18, ESV).
"The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart And saves such as have a contrite spirit" (Psalm 34:18, NKJV).
Note that repentance (metanoia--to change your mind or "re-think"--in Koine Greek) is a recurring motif in the New Testament, mentioned seventy times and also in juxtaposition with faith so that the two complement each other and are both works of grace: true conversion involves either believing repentance and penitent faith if you will. True repentance has fruit as its poof: They are "[Performing] deeds in keeping with their repentance" (Acts 26:20, ESV). God doesn't want your apology, but your conversion! Note: there can be no genuine repentance without saving faith! If you don't believe it, it's because you won't repent, and vice versa.
According to Psalm 51:17, God doesn't despise a broken and contrite heart--no matter the sin! We can never exhaust the mercy of God, who delights in mercy because all of our sins were paid for at the cross and God knew about them before we were even saved--we don't surprise or shock Him with new sins! Jesus came to seek and to save those who are lost, and the prerequisite for salvation is to realize you don't qualify for it all; we ought to be like the publican who pleaded for mercy: "God me merciful to me, the sinner!" Salvation goes to the lowest bidder, i.e., the worse off we realize we are the closer we are to salvation (that's why Paul's estimation of himself was as "the chief of sinners!")--and that's why some prostitutes may be closer to the kingdom of God than respectable people who are self-righteous.
"... 'Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.'" (Acts 11:18, ESV).
"The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart And saves such as have a contrite spirit" (Psalm 34:18, NKJV).
Note that repentance (metanoia--to change your mind or "re-think"--in Koine Greek) is a recurring motif in the New Testament, mentioned seventy times and also in juxtaposition with faith so that the two complement each other and are both works of grace: true conversion involves either believing repentance and penitent faith if you will. True repentance has fruit as its poof: They are "[Performing] deeds in keeping with their repentance" (Acts 26:20, ESV). God doesn't want your apology, but your conversion! Note: there can be no genuine repentance without saving faith! If you don't believe it, it's because you won't repent, and vice versa.
According to Psalm 51:17, God doesn't despise a broken and contrite heart--no matter the sin! We can never exhaust the mercy of God, who delights in mercy because all of our sins were paid for at the cross and God knew about them before we were even saved--we don't surprise or shock Him with new sins! Jesus came to seek and to save those who are lost, and the prerequisite for salvation is to realize you don't qualify for it all; we ought to be like the publican who pleaded for mercy: "God me merciful to me, the sinner!" Salvation goes to the lowest bidder, i.e., the worse off we realize we are the closer we are to salvation (that's why Paul's estimation of himself was as "the chief of sinners!")--and that's why some prostitutes may be closer to the kingdom of God than respectable people who are self-righteous.
We ought to beware of thinking too highly of ourselves than we ought to, which is pride! Remember the Bill Gaither Trio song that goes, "Something beautiful, something good, all my confusion He understood, all I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife and He made something beautiful of my life..." Then, the more highly we estimate ourselves to be ("some who are first shall be last!"), the further we are to heaven's kingdom--we don't need self-esteem, but God-esteem; not self-confidence, but God-confidence.
The whole point of conversion is change, and change from the inside out, not self-improvement or reformation-- a transformation of the whole person so that we become a "new creation per 2 Cor. 5:17. After salvation, we have a change of heart, new convictions about what sin is, and a whole different worldview or frame of mind and mentality. We don't just change our opinion, but get convictions from the Holy Spirit--there's a difference: you hold opinions, while convictions hold you!
Repentance is one way of looking at conversion because it's the flip side of faith, whereby we turn from sin to God. It's a turnaround, an about-face, a 180-degree turn, or a U-turn! (Note that there is no genuine repentance without saving faith--they go hand in hand and are complimentary.) Repentance is not remorse nor fire insurance either! We come clean with God and own up to our sins, even being willing to right any wrong we've done by restitution. Jesus said, "that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations..." (Luke 24:47, ESV). We must realize that repentance is granted by God leading to a knowledge of the truth according to 2 Tim. 2:25, and it is a gift of God that comes with faith in God's work and act of regeneration, which is passive on our part.
There is contrition, which is true sorrow over sin, and then there's attrition--spurious repentance like Esau and Judas had--i.e., being sorry you got caught and don't want to be punished or the consequences (like getting caught with your hand in the cookie jar!). True repentance involves the whole heart: emotions, will, and intellect. We must be willing to resolve to turn from our sin and be aware of what they are by conviction with real heartfelt sorrow or regret.
The whole point of conversion is change, and change from the inside out, not self-improvement or reformation-- a transformation of the whole person so that we become a "new creation per 2 Cor. 5:17. After salvation, we have a change of heart, new convictions about what sin is, and a whole different worldview or frame of mind and mentality. We don't just change our opinion, but get convictions from the Holy Spirit--there's a difference: you hold opinions, while convictions hold you!
Repentance is one way of looking at conversion because it's the flip side of faith, whereby we turn from sin to God. It's a turnaround, an about-face, a 180-degree turn, or a U-turn! (Note that there is no genuine repentance without saving faith--they go hand in hand and are complimentary.) Repentance is not remorse nor fire insurance either! We come clean with God and own up to our sins, even being willing to right any wrong we've done by restitution. Jesus said, "that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations..." (Luke 24:47, ESV). We must realize that repentance is granted by God leading to a knowledge of the truth according to 2 Tim. 2:25, and it is a gift of God that comes with faith in God's work and act of regeneration, which is passive on our part.
There is contrition, which is true sorrow over sin, and then there's attrition--spurious repentance like Esau and Judas had--i.e., being sorry you got caught and don't want to be punished or the consequences (like getting caught with your hand in the cookie jar!). True repentance involves the whole heart: emotions, will, and intellect. We must be willing to resolve to turn from our sin and be aware of what they are by conviction with real heartfelt sorrow or regret.
We must renounce sin and hate it with no excuses! We must have relinquishment, surrender, and yielding to God's will for our life (i.e., put Him in charge)--that doesn't mean accepting the status quo in a complacent manner. What does God want? He wants you, and that you be faithful in what you have been given as a steward. This is our sacrifice to God in return: a broken and contrite heart. Our reasonable service is to "offer our bodies a living sacrifice," God doesn't expect us to die for Him, but to live our lives for His glory per Rom. 12:1!
We can relate to David asking for the joy to be restored, as Peter said: "Repent, therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord..." (Acts 3:19, ESV). Note that both the ministries of John the Baptist, Christ's herald, and Jesus both started out preaching repentance: "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand! [Jesus added that we believe in the gospel]."
We can never lose the Spirit though, for Jesus will never leave us, nor forsake us (cf. Heb. 13:8), but we can lose the joy of our salvation (cf. Psalm 51:12) and "joy of the Lord is [our] strength" (cf. Neh. 8:10). Christ gives joy that no one can take away! David prayed that he wouldn't lose the Spirit, as a consequence of his sin, but the Spirit never left him: "And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward..." (1 Sam. 16:13, ESV). We are in a similar condition since God has given His Spirit to us and Jesus will be with us, even to the end of the age (cf. Matt. 28:20). We can lose out on fellowship with God and believers when we sin, but we can be restored (cf. Gal. 6:1) by confession (cf. 1 John 1:9).
In summation, it is important to realize that repentance is progressive--not a one-time act performed at salvation--and we are to walk in the Spirit with a continual attitude of repentance and short accounts of confession of all known and convicted sin. Soli Deo Gloria!
We can relate to David asking for the joy to be restored, as Peter said: "Repent, therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord..." (Acts 3:19, ESV). Note that both the ministries of John the Baptist, Christ's herald, and Jesus both started out preaching repentance: "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand! [Jesus added that we believe in the gospel]."
We can never lose the Spirit though, for Jesus will never leave us, nor forsake us (cf. Heb. 13:8), but we can lose the joy of our salvation (cf. Psalm 51:12) and "joy of the Lord is [our] strength" (cf. Neh. 8:10). Christ gives joy that no one can take away! David prayed that he wouldn't lose the Spirit, as a consequence of his sin, but the Spirit never left him: "And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward..." (1 Sam. 16:13, ESV). We are in a similar condition since God has given His Spirit to us and Jesus will be with us, even to the end of the age (cf. Matt. 28:20). We can lose out on fellowship with God and believers when we sin, but we can be restored (cf. Gal. 6:1) by confession (cf. 1 John 1:9).
In summation, it is important to realize that repentance is progressive--not a one-time act performed at salvation--and we are to walk in the Spirit with a continual attitude of repentance and short accounts of confession of all known and convicted sin. Soli Deo Gloria!
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