The struggle with True repentance

THE LANGUAGE OF FALSE REPENTANCE SAYS……...

·         It only happened one time.

·         The Lord knew how hard it would be; He made me this way.

·         If you were in my shoes, you would understand.

·         I work hard to show the Lord I am serious about my walk, but I am not ready to change in this one area. It is okay.

·         Many believers struggle with this; I am not the only person struggling with this problem. I am sure God understands.

THE ACTION OF FALSE REPENTANCE DOES……...

·         Minimizes and makes excuses for the sin.

·         Seeks to create a compromise instead of turning away from sin.

·         Demonstrates self-denial of the seriousness of their sin, and how it grieves God.

·         Expect understanding from the Lord and others.

·         Does not want to relinquish the sin or the practices/behaviors which led to the sin.

·         Wants to avoid the penalty, punishment, and anything painful resulting from the sin.

THE LANGUAGE OF TRUE REPENTANCE SAYS…….

·         I have sinned and my behavior is unacceptable.

·         My sin has dishonored God, and violated the standard He sets for those who believe in Him.

·         I realize my sin impacted me, my relationship with God, and anyone else who participated in my sin.

·         I want to be pleasing to the Lord; I will abandon my sinful behavior and yield to the instructions of the Lord.

·         I understand and accept the consequences of my sin, and the responsibility of restitution.

·         I need to gain a biblical understanding of the reasons why I have fallen into sin and learn to apply God’s principles to retain freedom.

THE ACTION OF TRUE REPENTANCE DOES…….

·         Accepts complete responsibility for sin.

·         Sees sin as a complete dishonoring of the Lord, and a violation of His Law.

·         Willingness to accept the consequences of sin.

·         Sees and accepts the impact their sin has on others.

·         Makes restitution.

·         Turns entirely away from sin, and the enticements which led to sin.

·         Establishes new biblical habits which include allowing God to facilitate heart and mind healing.

True repentance is God’s reminder to us of the boundaries He has set for our lives. These boundaries have not been given to us to destroy, punish, or to cause us to shrink. They are for our protection; they are a demonstration of His love for us. Each time we repent it reminds us Christ’s sacrifice. Repentance keeps us in right standing with God and is always for our benefit. Embody true repentance!

Romans 5:8-9 (AMPC)

8 But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.

9 Therefore, since we are now justified (acquitted, made righteous, and brought into right relationship with God) by Christ’s blood, how much more [certain is it that] we shall be saved by Him from the indignation and wrath of God.

2 Corinthians 7:9-10 (AMPC)

9 Yet I am glad now, not because you were pained, but because you were pained into repentance [and so turned back to God]; for you felt a grief such as God meant you to feel, so that in nothing you might suffer loss through us or harm for what we did.

10 For godly grief and the pain God is permitted to direct, produce a repentance that leads and contributes to salvation and deliverance from evil, and it never brings regret; but worldly grief (the hopeless sorrow that is characteristic of the pagan world) is deadly [breeding and ending in death].