What Does Repentance Really Mean
Spiritual Disciplines 2
We have just begun a series on spiritual disciplines. We will be learning what they are and how they can impact our life. Today we are continuing our discussion on repentance.
I indeed baptize you in (with) water because of repentance [that is, because of your changing your minds for the better, heartily amending your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins]. But He Who is coming after me is mightier than I, Whose sandals I am not worthy or fit to take off or carry; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Matthew 3:11 Amplified
There are three aspects of repentance pointed out in this verse:
1. Changing your minds for the better - is the recognition that what you have been doing is not helping you.
When I first met Jesus, my life was a mess and I was miserable. I was a single momma who struggled with addictions and was just starting college. I had finally realized that I could not continue to live like I had been. I needed to make changes if I was going to finish school and take care of my daughter.
The decision to make Jesus Christ, your Lord and Savior is part of repentance. When we recognize that our problems are too big for us and that we cannot change on our own, Jesus is there to help us. He is our strength when we are weak. He is the only One who can take our broken hurting heart and heal it.
2. Heartily amending your ways - is the decision to ask for and receive help from Jesus Christ.
A lot of my struggles in life were the result of me trying to control everything. Surrender is the part of repentance that says "I am not in control." Making Jesus our Lord and Savior is not a one time decision that fixes all our problems. Rather, it is a daily commitment to follow after Jesus, to imitate Him, and to let Him be in control of our life.
The Bible says that no one is perfect apart from Christ. Because He was a perfect Man, His blood is enough to wash away the stain of all our sin. And our faith in what He did at the Cross on our behalf opens the door for us to be completely forgiven.
3. With abhorrence of your past sins - is deeply regretting all our sins.
All of us come to Christ with baggage from our past. Even if we knew Him as a kid but then made some bad choices and got lead astray, we still have the weight of our wrongdoing on our back. Until, that is, we give it to Jesus.
Part of giving Jesus control of our lives includes us asking God to forgive our sins. The Bible promises that when we allow it, the blood of Jesus will remove every stain of our sin. We cannot be forgiven though until we ask for it.
Recognizing that we have been making wrong choices and behaving badly paves the way for regret to rise up and compel us to turn to God. Our desire to be right with God pushes us to ask for forgiveness.
It would be really nice if we only had to repent once when we first give our lives to Christ but that is just not the case. Everyday, we all say, do, or think something that is in opposition to the Word of God. In other words, we sin everyday.
Repentance is a shower in the blood of Christ that cleanses us and makes us right with God.
We will finish up our teaching on repentance next time. For other articles about repentance or forgiveness, use the search box to the right. And don't forget to share this with family and friends.
Live God First!
Heidirn
The Bible says that no one is perfect apart from Christ. Because He was a perfect Man, His blood is enough to wash away the stain of all our sin. And our faith in what He did at the Cross on our behalf opens the door for us to be completely forgiven.
3. With abhorrence of your past sins - is deeply regretting all our sins.
All of us come to Christ with baggage from our past. Even if we knew Him as a kid but then made some bad choices and got lead astray, we still have the weight of our wrongdoing on our back. Until, that is, we give it to Jesus.
Part of giving Jesus control of our lives includes us asking God to forgive our sins. The Bible promises that when we allow it, the blood of Jesus will remove every stain of our sin. We cannot be forgiven though until we ask for it.
Recognizing that we have been making wrong choices and behaving badly paves the way for regret to rise up and compel us to turn to God. Our desire to be right with God pushes us to ask for forgiveness.
It would be really nice if we only had to repent once when we first give our lives to Christ but that is just not the case. Everyday, we all say, do, or think something that is in opposition to the Word of God. In other words, we sin everyday.
Repentance is a shower in the blood of Christ that cleanses us and makes us right with God.
We will finish up our teaching on repentance next time. For other articles about repentance or forgiveness, use the search box to the right. And don't forget to share this with family and friends.
Live God First!
Heidirn
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