Repentance is a lifestyle for believers in Christ!

From the heart of Dr. Robert L. Taylor, Th.D., Bible teacher & expositor. Repentance is one of the most powerful and beautiful themes in the Bible. It offers hope, renewal, and the promise of a fresh start. Yes, repentance is understood as an ongoing way of life for believers, not just a one-time event. While initial repentance is needed for conversion (being born again), ongoing repentance is necessary for spiritual growth and maintaining a close relationship with God. For many, a lifestyle of repentance is not something we normally practice or think about. Rather than a lifestyle of repentance, most of us live a lifestyle of “remorse and resolution.” Our usual approach to our sin may be summarized as follows: “I can’t believe I did that!” “What was I thinking.” This points to remorse. Next, we say: “I promise to do better next time!” “I won’t do that again.” This points to resolution. However, behind this way of living are two great misunderstandings about our hearts! First, we’re thinking too highly of ourselves. Thus, we’re constantly surprised at how angry, lustful, and hateful we can quickly become. Our response to our sin is then something along the lines of, “I can’t believe I did that.” That response shows we don’t believe what God says about our heart condition. He says, “The heart is more deceitful than all else, And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Second, we believe we have the power to change our hearts. So in response to our sin, we make resolutions on ourselves. Since we have a wrong view of our sin, we think that resolutions has power to change us. They don’t!! Given the state of our hearts, we shouldn’t be surprised that we’re called to live a lifestyle of repentance. This being the case, we shouldn’t be surprised that we sin daily, and therefore need to repent daily. Instead of the responses of remorse and resolution our response to our sin should be along the lines of: “I did do that.” “I can believe that I am like that!” This is the realization. “Lord, forgive me! You’re my only hope.” This is repentance! John reminds us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Be encouraged!