Righteous Conduct, Repentance

What does Repent Actually Mean?

Say sorry and move on?

God says in Haggai 1:7

“Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways."

What does this mean? It pretty much means what it says. "Consider your ways." What is it you do on a daily basis? What Sin is in your life that you are battling with? What Sin was in your life when you were adopted into the Family of God? What is it that leads you away from God? Have you repented?

"Of course I have. I asked God into my life and heart. I asked forgiveness. I said the Prayer you taught me. you know? This one."

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

"So I'm good right?"

Well? Actually, it depends. When you say "I repented my Sins" what do you mean? Do you mean that you said "Sorry" and went right back to the bottle, drugs, porn, and living the same Sinful life style you were living before? Or have you actually repented?

"What does it mean to repent your Sins, if not, to asked forgiveness for them?"

The Bible says in Romans 3:23

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

"So that means you Sin too. Why are you being so judgmental?"

I'm really not. It's true that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." I do Sin daily. As do all of us. Remember what John said in 1 John 1:8-10?

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."

He was talking to Children of God. The Saved. The early "Christians" if you will. He was telling the truth. But he never meant for this to be translated, say sorry and do as you will. We all Sin because we are still in the flesh. We are to strive to be perfect. Strive to be more like our greatest example of how to live. That would be Jesus. But we are not Jesus. We are not perfect. We will Sin.

However, to repent is not to merely say "Sorry" and do as you will. It means to turn away from.

2 Chronicles 7:14

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

And in Proverbs 28:13

"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."

Again, to repent is to turn away from. To "forsake" the Sin. To stop doing what you were doing before you repented. Remember the story of the Woman caught in the middle of adultery?

"They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

Then Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." {John 8:4-11}

"Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." Jesus said that her Sin was forgiven. But He commanded her to truly repent. "go, and sin no more." He was not telling her, "I love you. I forgive you. Now, go and do as you will." No. He said to her to repent, to turn away from. To not do it again.

In Ezekiel 18:21-28

"But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.

Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal? When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.

Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die."

Now there is a wealth of information in this little passage. We need to spend some time here. First,

"But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live."

Pretty simple to understand. Right? Go and Sin no more. Once you are converted, adopted, and become a new creature, God wants you to learn Him, His Word, His ways. He wants you to seek out the Kingdom of His and follow the Gospel. He does not want you to simply walk out of His presence and go back to doing what you did before. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

It's like this. You commit a crime. You get arrested. You go to jail. Someone lets you out. You walk out of the cell, go and do the same thing that got you there to begin with. You will end up right back there. For a longer period of time at that. You only get one freebie. One time to have the slate wiped clean. One new beginning. Read the next part VERY carefully. He who has ears to hear, hear. Understand this truth....

"But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die."

Remember, according to the Word, and contrary to some popular teachings, you CAN lose your Salvation. God makes it pretty clear. "But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live?" This is talking about a conscious choice. You CHOSE to turn away from God and His will and His ways. You CHOSE to Sin. God tells us we will end up just like the Sinner. The Lost. The Unsaved. "All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die."

Now God is not talking about a stumble here or there. If you repent your Sin and do good for a time and then give in, and Sin, ask for forgiveness and attempt to move on. God know's your heart and if you are sincere. He will forgive you. This is not what we are talking about. So do not fear. Your Father, just like you love our kids, loves you.

However, if you think that being "saved" is a ticket to Sin. You got another thing coming. Do NOT Sin, go ask forgiveness and go Sin the same thing over and over again thinking, It's OK. It's fine. All I have to do is ask forgiveness and I can do whatever I want. No. You really can't.

"When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die. Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die."

So you see, to repent is not to merely say sorry, and live as you chose. God can't and will not help you if you do this. You risk falling into the same condemnation and the end result as the lost. It is by your own hand that you do these things. Your own mind that you control. More importantly, your own heart. God will not be mocked.

Again, God is not talking about stumbling, or slipping here and there. He sees you trying. He understands we are weak and in the flesh. He understands we will Sin daily. But He will not be mocked. He will not be used. He will not forgive you if you CHOSE to go and Sin. You CHOSE to walk out of His presence and knowingly and willingly commit that of which you know is Sin and think, "It's OK. All I have to do is ask forgiveness and all will be fine. I'm going to have fun first." That is not how it works..

Acts 3:19

"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord."

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray..

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus IS Lord of all!