Our Scripture for today is 2 Peter 3:9.
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
God wants everyone to come to repentance. Yes! But what is repentance? If you ask the people who sit in church pews, most will say that repentance means to stop doing wrong. That is only partially true. There are many murderers and thieves in prisons who have stopped killing and stealing. Did they repent? No. They are locked up, so they cannot murder or steal anymore. Repentance means more than just stopping the sin. Let’s look further into the meaning of sin.
In the Bible, the term “repentance” is derived from the Greek word “metanoia,” which means a change of mind or a change in the inner person. In a biblical context, repentance involves several key aspects. Chiefly among them:
1. Repentance Involves Recognition of Sin:
It begins with an individual recognizing the sin. You will not change what you deny is real.
2. Repentance Involves Sorrow for Sin:
True repentance involves genuine sorrow or remorse for having committed sins and for the separation it has caused from God.
3. Repentance Involves Turning Away from Sin:
It’s not just about feeling sorry; it involves a decisive turn away from sinful behaviors and attitudes. It means stopping the sin, even if you know that no one will ever know.
4. Repentance Involves Turning to God:
This aspect emphasizes turning towards God, seeking His forgiveness, and aligning oneself with His will and teachings.
5. Repentance Involves Transformation of Life:
Repentance in the Bible often leads to a transformation in a person’s life, evident in their actions, thoughts, and overall character. A person who repents is a changed person. They are no longer the old people they were.
Repentance is the Prodigal Son coming to himself, hating the sin, deciding to go home, and going home to his father. Repentance is a change of heart that leads to a change of action.
Lonnie Davis