TRUE REPENTANCE
The Bible says that we have all sinned and to obtain forgiveness of our sins, we must repent from our wrong ways and give our lives to Jesus so He can help us with our weaknesses.
Many times, we think we have repented, but we continue doing the same things that displease God. We need to evaluate ourselves to see if we’ve truly had a real repentance or it was purely out of emotion or religion. For this, we need to understand the difference between false repentance and true repentance: (Today we will learn what repentance isn’t, and tomorrow we will learn what it is.)
Repentance is not:
- Feeling only guilty.
Feeling guilty in regards to our sin comes before repentance, but in itself, guilt is not repentance.
- It is not only feeling burdened by sin.
Many people feel bad, not because of the evil they’ve done, but because of the punishment they receive when they are discovered.
- It is not only trying to be a good person. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Many people try to be better in their own strengths and change their lives, but the bible says that we are not saved by good works but by grace.
- It’s not being religious.
During Biblical times, Pharisees were extremely religious in their conduct and behavior. They would pray, fast, and do religious ceremonies. Regardless, they never repented and they provoke the crucifixion of the lord. It is not enough to be religious if our hearts are far from pleasing God.
Think about it:
Do you need to repent from anything?
Do you think you have truly repented from your sins?
In what ways have you demonstrated your repentance?
