Jesus provides us with a way to have godly repentance, to be forgiven and change.
We can agree that sin is the sledgehammer that destroys the road to spiritual advancement. Therefore continual repentance leads to godliness, coupled with daily scriptural studies, prayer, and fasting—it takes work.
The scriptures reveal that although we were sinners, Christ died for us, thus making a way to repent and be forgiven. Furthermore, the only way to live honorably and as a born-again believer in Christ.
Repentance ushers in the possibility for us to grow through a progressive spiritual change that alters our minds and thought processes while, over time, purifying our hearts to live without giving into the fleshes sinful nature. The Holy Spirit makes it possible by being Christ’s Helper here on Earth.
Repentance, when seen as a privilege rather than a challenge, makes for a more significant set of moral changes in the lives of Christ’s followers.
Jesus made the way achievable through the atonement on the cross and when honored as sacred is more attainable.
By placing the sacrifice of Jesus first and living in gratitude for the gift of atonement through the work on the cross, we see things differently than, say, an unrepentant heart.
I say heart because genuine repentance comes from a heart that grieves hurting GOD by our wrongfulness and sin.
Psalms 51:7-17 NLT
7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me— now let me rejoice. 9 Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Paul shares in 2 Corinthians 7:10,
“Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation.”
What does he mean by “Godly sorrows?”
Often we experience feelings of self-disgust or shame for our sin, but without godly sorrow, it’s more a feeling of embarrassment in how we would look to others.
It’s like waking in the morning after doing something sinful the night before and worrying more about who saw it instead of GOD watching.
That is not repentance but shame.
Godly sorrow is the conviction that we have wronged YHWY. It’s deep sorrow and regret disappointing God and hurting our Father.
Conviction of sin is one of the most uncommon practices in a person’s life. At the same time, a heart convicted of sin makes way for an extreme change in our lives. Our walk with God becomes pure, and we are no longer after sin but Christ’s righteousness.
The fruits of a genuinely repentant person are easily visible in their lives and not only in what people say.
We begin understanding the scriptures more accurately because a clean vessel makes for a Spiritually present student.
Jesus told us that when the Holy Spirit comes, He will convict the people of their sins.
John 16:8
When He comes, He will prove the world to be wrong about sin and righteousness, and judgment.
Notice what Jesus says when he comes. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity of God. They are all the same together, and One yet omnipresent to be everywhere, going over all things.
The power of GOD is so incredible for us to understand completely, so don’t be too hard on yourself for not knowing everything, it takes time, and through learning in the study, we gain more wisdom. Still, none of us will ever have all the answers until the day we meet at the banquet.
We all have questions, I’m sure, but until that day of reward arrives, Jesus is the only Way; He made it possible through the work on the cross. So we repent and live right and wait.
Hebrews 11:1
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Holy Spirit brings to our attention the severity of our sin, and His awareness becomes our own, opening up a new ability to sense God’s presence.
Our sin becomes a burden because of anything that hinders our relationship with God—It begins to feel loathsome.
We no longer are about how we look to people but become virtuous in how we present ourselves before GOD—He is all that matters.
We become Christ-like.
Psalm 51:4 says,
Against You, You only, have I sinned and done this evil in your sight.
Conviction of sin helps us be more like Christ and, through Spiritual blessings, rewards our obedience to honor God and crucify our flesh.
Obedience pleases the LORD. It’s not about perfection but proficiency. Still, scripture teaches us to be ideal in faith and become more perfect in Christ.
Matthew 5:48,
“Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.”
Meanwhile, we become holy as Christ is holy, proving that Christ has done great work within us. We cannot attain godly repentance through religious traditions or sacraments that are man manufacturered but only through Christ.
1 Peter 1:16
For it is written: “Be holy because I am holy.”
We are saved by Grace and forgiven, changed, sealed, and sanctified only through the Grace of Jesus Christ.
Godly repentance brings us to the point of joyfully walking away from old patterns of a sinful lifestyle because we are a new creation in Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, and the new is here!
God reconciled the whole world to himself in Christ and not counting men’s sins against them. Jesus calls us to commit to us the message of reconciliation. It’s a Spiritual Covenant with GOD.
Romans 8:9
“However, you are not in the flesh but the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.”
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
Do you not know that you are God’s temple, and God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
We all must strive for godly repentance to be in the right standing with GOD. It takes humility to withstand the sudden sharp pains of repentance and follow through to allow Christ to bring about holiness, which pleases GOD.
Galatians 4:19
My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you.
I read about an old Puritan prayer when researching the teachings of repentance.
It’s called “The Gift Of Tears.” Please Google it. You will not be disappointed.
Finally, to enter Heaven, Christ is coming for a spotless Bride, and knowing that fact leaves us one step ahead. Still, knowing and not doing is not far enough. We can not do it alone; we need Jesus and the reason He sent the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 5:27 NIV
And to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
John 3
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth; no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying,
‘You must be born again. ‘
John 14:6
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the “truth” and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
We receive the Holy Spirit this way, and no ceremonies or religious rights of passage can do the same.
All thanks and praise belongs to Jesus Christ. I encourage all nations to run to Him and be saved and forgiven.
Blessings,
Sister Christine
C. Brejcha©️
http://www.Christianmix106.Com
Narcissist Abuse Series…” Today’s Heart Light,” hosted by Christine Brejcha, airs a live four-week topic series called Narcissist Abuse and Recovery Saturday nights at 9 PM EST on Christian Mix 106 Radio,