NO TURNING BACK

We are born into sin by default. We live in a world that is permeated with sinful behavior. Even as righteous as we try to be- we sin, make mistakes, and screw up royally; we then ask for forgiveness and turn around and repeat the same behavior. It is a vicious cycle that continues until we come to an understanding of true repentance. But what does it mean to repent if it isn’t asking for God’s forgiveness?

Forgiveness is certain. Christ died on the cross so that our sins would be forgiven, and that covered all of our sins. When we accepted Jesus as our Lord and personal savior, we received His grace and mercy. We can ask for forgiveness over and over again, and expect to receive it according to God’s word (see Luke 17:4). But repentance requires a change of heart, a changed mind and a change in behavior. Repentance means not having to seek forgiveness for a particular sin anymore; we have turned our backs on sin and headed in the opposite direction, towards a merciful God (see Acts 3:19).

Repentance means putting down the cigarettes and never smoking again. It means to quit going to the strip club every payday. It means to stop seeing someone's spouse. It means no longer using company resources for personal gain. It means no more cursing and using the Lord’s name in vain. It means abstaining from premarital sex. Repentance is going the right way down a one way street with no turning back.

Repentance is submitting those things in our lives that have us bound and turning them over to the power of the Blood of Jesus and trusting that our obedience will be blessed by Him. Totally surrendering our will to the will of God is the utmost expression of our repentance. Repentance is a call to our Savior to be faithful in sustaining us from temptation. God said in His word that temptation is common to man and He will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear (see 1 Corinthians 10:13). When we repent, we believe that God is going to uphold us when we are confronted with the sin that so easily ensnares.

True repentance is an act of faith, knowing that God promised to deliver us from evil. It means that we believe in God’s sacrifice and understand that it is His grace that sustains us (see 2 Corinthians 7:9-10). Forgiveness is automatic because of the loving sacrifice Jesus gave on the cross. There is nothing more we can do but accept it. But when we repent from our sins, we are telling God that we want to be closer to Him, and that we want nothing standing in the way of our relationship with Him. God and all of heaven rejoice when a sinner repents (see Luke 15:7). So stand on God’s promises, He is waiting to cheer us on!

Scripture:   …This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices! Ezekiel 14:6 NIV

Prayer: Father God we stand before you with repentant hearts, not just asking for forgiveness of our sins but turning our lives around to embrace you and your word completely. We praise and exalt you for your grace and mercy. Please continue to protect us from evil and deliver us from those things that tempt us. Fill us with the Holy Spirit so that our fleshly desires are weakened and destroyed. We pray that you will continue to guide us in the ways of righteousness and it is in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!

Read Acts 2: 14-41 to understand the significance of repentance.