What is repentance? By definition:

1. To turn from sin

2. To feel regret

3. to change one’s mind/thoughts

Almost all of us have heard the concept of repentance, and when we give our lives over to Christ we repent for our sins.  But that doesn’t mean that we neither sin nor have to repent again.  Our heart should maintain an attitude of repentance - turning from sin!

That is a key point - turning away, it requires an ACTION. It’s different than just saying ‘sorry.’ It’s about the action of turning away, and realizing you did something wrong and want to change what you did, who you are, or part of your personality.

So in talking about repentance let’s look at 2 Corinthians 7:10:

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

So Godly sorrow brings repentance, and no regret. I want to live without regret! But in this you might think, why do I have to repent? Why would God want to have sorrow…doesn’t he want me to be happy?

Well, to answer that question we have to turn to Romans 2:4:

⁴Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?

GOD’S KINDNESS LEADS US TO REPENTANCE.

God wants to see us clean and holy - and that’s what happens when we repent. Jesus’ blood covers us and makes us clean.  It’s rooted in love and kindness.  Look at it this way:

If you are dirty or stinky, wouldn’t you hope that one of your friends, out of the kindness, not only tell you your dirty, but then give you soap or clothes, or whatever, so that you can be clean?  Well that’s how God works - out of His kindness He shows us things that we need to change and repent so that we TURN (there’s that action again) and no longer commit that sin.

Now that takes me to the final point - we must TURN from our sin.  God’s Word states that when we return to past sins that it’s like a dog returning to its own vomit. DISGUSTING! But how often do we return to past sins, temptations, etc - it’s difficult. But we must lay it down.

We must quit picking up what we already lay down at the feet of Jesus - so often we lay stuff down but somehow it’s still attached to us. It’s time to let it go.  Dealing with past hurt, let it go.  Dealing with sin that keeps happening again and again.  LEAVE IT AT THE FEET OF JESUS.

God wants to help us with this, and as we begin this process of turning away, when we finally decide to leave our sin at the feet of Jesus and let it go, the Holy Spirit begins to work in us and our thoughts - renewing them into holy, pure ways just at Ephesians 4:23-24 states:

throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. ²³ Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. ²⁴ Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.