The Response of Repentance
Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out.
Acts 3:19 (CSB)
The apostles highlighted the significance of proclaiming the need for repentance early in the Book of Acts. Their declarations reveal the importance of repentance and, within the context of each sermon, demonstrate the necessity to turn from sin towards the Lord. This act of turning is what we call repentance. In repentance, we chart a new course in life by following Jesus and allow the Lord to erase the debt of our sin and cleanse us of our guilt.
Turn Away From Sin. When we feel conviction, we reach a point where we must choose to either persist in our sin or turn away from it. In repentance, we decide to turn away from our sin. This turning away must be a complete and total departure from sin. It is characterized as immediate and not a slow, gradual shift; it represents a prompt and thorough rejection of our sinful ways.
Turn to God. The moment of repentance signifies a turn away from sin, as well as a turn toward the Lord. Repentance involves a directional change that shifts our focus from the flesh and the world to the goal of living for the Lord. When this turn occurs, our lives transition into a state of pursuing a life dedicated to honoring Christ completely. We choose to live for Him and abandon selfish ways. When we turn from sin to the Lord, we make a clear directional shift that guides us on a new course in life.
Journey to the New Course. The twofold turn in repentance is a departure from the old course of life and the beginning of a journey down a new path for life. We travel this new course under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, with our pursuit focused on the Lord. Our eyes are no longer fixated on the ideas and distractions of this world; instead, we set our sights on the truth and direction provided by the Lord. Turning to the new course means allowing the moment of repentance to redirect our paths.
Regeneration encompasses the act of repentance. Without genuine repentance, we cannot experience true regeneration. Through repentance, we embark on a new journey as a new creation with a new Master.
QUESTIONS
Why must we understand the two turn aspects in the moment and act of repentance?
How is repentance both the leaving of an old course and the beginning of the new course?
