For one to repent, according to Merriam-Weather’s dictionary, means to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life. Bible Study Tools adds that “one may detect two sides to this turning or converting. There is the free sovereign act of God's mercy, and a conscious decision to turn to God— a turning that goes beyond sorrow and contrition”.
It is not merely the sorrowful feeling of committing wrongdoings, but as well to renounce the action and commit to no longer participating in it. “It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.”— Isaiah 59:2 In the Bible, it states that sin is the only thing that separates God from relationship with human beings, and the only wage of sin is death (Romans 6:23). However, God sent Jesus to die for our sins so that we could have eternity to be in relationship with Him.
Repentance is a Change of Mind and Behavior:
The Church of God International wrote on “Ten Facts About Repentance”, the first being repentance as a complete change in mind and behaviour. ‘Repentance from sin is a change of mind that involves both a turning from sin and a turning to God’. This change of mind is also a change in one’s attitude leading to a shift in behaviour towards oneself and how they approach their peers and life situations. It is to turn from living life opposing God’s law and plan, to ways of living defined by His will and command. “Repentance means to surrender one’s life—one’s whole being, both mind and body—to God’s will as expressed in His revealed Word.”
Repentance is a Choice:
The CIG Int. also touches on ‘repentance being a gift from God’ (fact #5).
Though God commands repentance, He gifts us with it.
A gift cannot be forced onto someone, we have the choice to receive or reject it.
God does not force anyone to repent, but rather gives us the opportunity to.
In simply choosing to change, we must also put in the effort to follow through with actions
Fear of the Lord:
Fearing God is not simply being afraid of His glory and power, thus having in a relationship with Him based on fright or terror. Rather, fearing God means seeing His glory and power being unlike anything else considered mighty in comparison, and being in absolute awe that there is none like Him.
Because of our reverence and love for God, we cannot help but desire to do what He asks of us, and an aspect of that is to be righteous. A significant role of righteousness is to be free of sinful ways, thoughts or actions. Being human, we will sin regardless, although this does not mean we should not put the effort in fighting against it, and in order for us to be righteous we often have to repent and lay down our selfish ways daily.
Author Kathryn Albig of ActiveChristianity® describes in her article about fearing God what it looks exactly to fear Him:
To have the proper reverence and awe for Him, so we do whatever is required of us to serve Him. (Psalm 89:7; Hebrews 12:28-29)
To fear to act against His will.
To fear to dishonour Him with our actions. This will make sure that we act righteously and with love and goodness to our fellow man.
To fear to misrepresent Him or His Word in the world.
A hatred for sin; a seriousness about how enormously sinful it is. (Romans 7:13)
“If we don’t fear God, we will not take sin seriously enough. The consequences of sin are enormous. In God’s righteousness, even when we have been forgiven for our sins, we still have to reap the results of having committed sin.”— Kathryn Albig
The concept of repentance is beautiful and crucial in our relationships with God. We can learn plenty from changing our ways and behaviour, as well as what it means to fear God in order to make the conscious choice of expressing our remorse of our lawlessness. We are also aware that we must renounce such thoughts or acts of immorality to be right with God. His love for us goes so deep that He will continue to love us no matter the sins we commit, and whether we choose to repent or not. But it is as well that He loves us so immensely that He longs for relationship with us and desires us to be made righteous before Him. Perhaps He simply wishes for His creation to be good, not evil.
Questions for Reflection:
Is there anything holding me back from living life completely with God?
Has there been anyone I have wronged or been unloving to?
Who do I need to forgive just as Christ has forgiven me?
Have I asked God to join me in walking this journey through the difficulties and help me to turn to Him by His strength? ( I do not have to do this alone.)
Reference links:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repent
https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/repentance/
https://www.cgi.org/ten-facts-you-should-know-about-repentance
http://stgeorgegoc.org/pastors-corner/fr-ricks-sermons/gods-u-turn-repentance
https://activechristianity.org/what-does-it-mean-to-fear-god
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