What Repentance Is and Isn't

 God's plan for your eternity kicks in when you

• Confess and repent,

• Accept Jesus' payment of your sin debt, and

• Surrender to His Lordship in and over your life.

That makes it important to know what repentance is and what it isn't. 

We'll start with a definition.

"Metanoeo" is the Greek word most frequently translated "repentance" in English Bibles. In the original Greek text, the word means to change your mind and purpose, turning from sin to God.

First, I've often heard poor explanations of what repentance means. I've even heard it taught that if you truly repent from something, you'll never have that problem again. According to that teaching, if you have that problem again, it means you didn't really repent.

BRRRZZZZZZ! That sound is a game show's very loud "wrong answer" buzzer.

 

Consider this example: if you repent from the sin of pride but later find you're still dealing with pride, that doesn't invalidate your earlier repentance. It just means that you and God still have work to do in that area.

In another example, we can all agree that the Apostle Paul was a great Repenter, one of the best ever. But even he wrote in Philippians 3:12 (Amplified Bible)

Not that I have already obtained it [this goal of being Christlike] or have already been made perfect, but I actively press on so that I may take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold of me and made me His own.

Paul knew his repentance hadn't yet crossed the goal line in his walk with Jesus, but he also knew it put him on the path toward it.

The Role of Confession in Repentance

Confession is vital for Christians. Let's start with a couple of verses.

Mark 1:5

And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

 

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

Confession of sin is a major component of repentance.

• Jesus already paid your sin debt. Confession of sin doesn't add to that payment.

• It does, however, tell God what you're turning away from and what you're asking to be cleansed from.

• Confession rounds out Repentance. 

Don't worry about listing every sin you've ever committed. You can try, but God knows you won't get that list 100% complete. He's looking at the thoughts and intent of your heart, not the perfection of your list.