How Does Repentance Lead To Love For God?
We’re continuing with our series on how we love God through our prayers. As you go through the month, remember our acronym on prayer. P-praise, R-repent, A-ask for others, Y-yourself.
What do you think of when you hear the word repentance?
Many of us are filled with shame, disappointment or regret due to past failures.
When we feel that way, how does that lead us to loving God through repentance?
Repentance is meant to be an act that builds our relationship with Christ. As a perfectionist, I can sometimes allow my sin to make me feel shameful and make me feel like I disappointed God. I hold onto my sin, acting as if it is a precious jewel I can’t let go of, and allow it to build a wall between God and myself instead of letting it build a bridge that bonds us together.
Repent in the dictionary means to feel sorry, self-reproach, or contrite for past conduct; regret or be conscience stricken for a past action or attitude. In order to build our relationship with God through our repentance, there is so much more involved. In the Bible, the word repent means “to change one’s mind.” This is where Biblical repentance becomes way more involved than just saying “I’m sorry.” Repentance leads to action in three different ways: salvation, faith, and deeds.
Repentance and salvation have a direct connection. In Acts, Peter says, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Before we repent, we first must admit we are sinful. We have to come to the reality that our sin is real, and we need to be rescued from our sinful desires. Our sinful nature is the very reason Jesus died on the cross. Without our sin, there would be no need for salvation. Through our repentance, we are granted the gift of salvation. Acts 11:18 tells us that God grants us repentance that leads to life through Jesus.
When we repent, we are humbly bringing ourselves before the Lord and admitting our sin. We are choosing to expose our sin to God, even though He already knows what it is. We are admitting that we need a Savior to free us from the bondage of sin and we are placing God back on His throne and we are taking our prideful selves off it. Through humbly recognizing our sinful ways and repenting, we are loving God. We are thanking Him for the death on the cross He endured for us. Through this recognition, we are turning towards God’s will in our lives and in His plan for His Kingdom.
The other action that repentance leads us to is faith. We cannot have faith in Jesus Christ, believing in who He is, without the repentance of our sins. Without admitting our sinful nature, we cannot fully believe in who Jesus was, is, and is to come. You cannot have repentance without having a change of mind about Jesus. My pastor once said that faith begins in the mind. I grew up thinking that my faith began in my heart, that my heart had to change and be softened for my faith to grow. But, as I walk through my daily life and see the sin around me, I see how my faith needs to be grounded in my mind and my beliefs. When our faith is rooted firmly in our mind, we are more aware of our sins, and we can guard our actions from sin. When we recognize our sin, our minds are changed towards Jesus and our faith is expanded. Once again, we grow closer to Him.
The last way repentance leads us to action is through a desire to change how we live our lives. Deeds cannot save us or grant us access into Heaven, but repentance that leads to salvation and faith can. Where deeds come in is the change of our minds and hearts that repentance brings. God pulls us to Himself and leads us to a desire to change the way we live. When we humbly admit our sins, repent, and turn to God, we grow a desire to do right in the eyes of the Lord. When we truly repent, it is evident in the way we live our lives. Not only can God see a change in us, but those around us can as well.
Sin is to be taken seriously. It is not something we should play with, ignore, or become accustomed to. We are not to change our lives around our sin, we are to change our sin around our lives. Our lives are based on the truth of God’s Word and our lives should reflect that. The God we repent to is a God who sits on the throne Most High. He is not to be mocked or ridiculed, He is to be adored, praised, and loved by all who believe in Him. Making a mockery of our sin, is making a mockery of our God who despises our sin.
No longer walk around with shame and failure from your sin, walk around with the truth that God has cleansed you through your repentance. He has made you new through His Son, Jesus Christ. You no longer have to feel the weight of your sin but can be free from that heavy burden. That is worthy of our praise, love, and adoration.
Digging Deeper:
Read Acts 9, the story of Saul’s conversion. Think of how Jesus pulled Saul to Himself and led him to repentance. Think of the freedom he had after his repentance and how Jesus worked in his life.
How do you feel God leading you to repentance?
Where in your life do you ignore your own sin but point your finger at other’s sin?
How can you change your thinking from shame in your repentance to loving God through your repentance?