Repentance is a change of heart and mind that brings us closer to God. It includes turning away from sin and turning to God for forgiveness. It is motivated by love for God and a sincere desire to obey His commandments. Turning away from sin is just the tip of the iceberg. True repentance means a complete change. A metamorphosis of the mind, attitude, and belief resulting in godly action. 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;” Paul declares, “I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds” Acts 26:20 “ But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.” The biblical definition of repentance is “a change of mind that results in a change of action.”
The topic of repentance crops up throughout the Bible’s Old Testament — the part of the Bible written before the life and ministry of Jesus. Ezekiel was an Old Testament prophet, He records God’s words about repentance in Ezekiel 18:21-23 “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. 22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. 23 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? “
While the idea of repentance in the Old Testament wasn’t focused on eternity, many of the critical elements were still in place. For Israel to experience God’s forgiveness, they needed to demonstrate remorse, make restitution for wrongdoing, and reform their conduct. In the New Testament, repentance is a major part of Jesus’ message. His death and resurrection make a relationship with God possible, and repentance is an essential step in beginning that relationship.
In Luke, we learn that Zacchaeus was confronted with his sin of defrauding the people and his need to repent and receive Jesus Christ as Lord. And we find out that is exactly what he did. Zacchaeus stood up and said, “Behold, Lord.” Zacchaeus is submitting himself to Jesus Christ, and notices that true faith does not come in mere words, but in action. Verse 8 “And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.” Repentance is a genuine change of heart and resultant action.
Here we find, the desire to change, repent, acknowledge sin, accept the Lord, and finally willingness to go the extra mile by returning the ill-gotten gain and thus seeking forgiveness. Zacchaeus repented. He changed his behaviour. True belief always comes with a perceptible change of heart and behaviour.
Dr Ashwin Drummond
laddertoheaven.co.in