By Pastora Beth Lee
Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Nobody is right in the eyes of God. He is continually sanctifying you but no matter how hard you try, you will not reach His standards. God does not let His people stray continually. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” For example you mistakenly enter a one way street and people followed you. You stop but they are honking thei rhorns, asking you to move forward still. How would you feel? It is the same way with sin. Sometimes, you unknowingly take people with you. A person who is in sin has a clouded mind. He is spiritually blind at the moment.
What does it mean to repent?
When you sin, someties you just feel bad. But when you repent, you will feel a tug in your heart. Metanoia means “to perceive afterwards.” After you sin, you will feel like your innermost being is being perused. When you realize that you have sinned, you will want to change. Metanoia really means to change your perception. Sometimes, God is already showing you what you did wrong but you are ignoring it.
How can you change your perception?
If you did something wrong, you can be confronted by a person. Someone has to tell you what you did wrong. Also, everybody has a conscience. It will tell y ou what is wrong too. Lastly, the Holy Spirit can convict you. If you do not stop, something worse might happen. To repent is not just to feel guilty but to choose a new path. It is to make a 180 degree turn and walk in a different direction. If you are on the wrong path, turn and choose the right one.
Psalm 32:1-5 says, ”Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Interlude Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.” David wrote this psalm after his sexual sin with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah. Sometimes, God is already showing you what to do but you are not doing it. Nathan told David what he was doing wrong through a story. And when David realized that it was him in the story, he accepted his mistake. But to be able hear God, you have to be still first. Sometimes, God is silent because of your stubborness. If you keep on sinning for a long time, what do you think will happen? Your spirit will not be at peace. The Holy Spirit is grieving. You will not be able to do things normally.
The heart is the ost important thing to God. You can serve Him all the time but if your character is not changed, it is useless. Sometimes a person is born again on the outside but his heart is not worshipping the Lord. They only praise Him with their lips and not their heart.
What does a sinner need to do so God will forgive them?
Humble yourself before God. (Psalm 51:17)
Admit that you are guilty. (Psalm 32:5)
Turn away from your sin and return to God. (Nehemiah 1:9)
What will happen when you repent?
You receive forgiveness. (1 John 1:9)
Your fellowship with God is restored. (Jeremiah 15:19)
Repentance brings you to spiritual healing and relief for your whole being. (Psalm 32:1)
When you sin, God will not allow you to stay in your sin especially if you are His child. Sooner or later in life, you will go back to Him. You are chosen. He loves you so much. Will you continue to go against His will?