Many people think of repentance as a turning away from sin. Regretting sin and turning away from it are both related to repentance, but they are not the same thing. The term repent means “the act of leaving what God has prohibited and returning to what he has commanded” in the Bible. True repentance, according to the Bible, will result in a change of behavior, Luke 3:8–14; Acts 3:19. “I proclaimed that they should repent and turn to God, and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds,” Paul summarizes his preaching, Acts 26:20. Repentance, according to the Bible, is a change of heart that leads to a change of behavior.

Recognizing that you have thought incorrectly in the past and deciding to think correctly in the future is what repentance entails. The contrite individual is having “second thoughts” about the mindset he previously held. There is a shift in attitude and a new way of thinking about God, sin, holiness, and carrying out God’s purpose. True repentance is caused by “godly grief,” and it “leads to salvation,” 2 Corinthians 7:10.

Faith and repentance can be viewed as two sides of the same coin. It’s impossible to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior without first changing your mind about your sin, as well as who Jesus is and what He’s done. It is a change of mentality, whether it be repentance for willful rejection or repentance for ignorance or apathy. In terms of salvation, biblical repentance is shifting your thinking from rejection of Christ to faith in Him.

We do not repent in order to obtain salvation. Unless God draws a person to Himself, no one can repent and come to God, John 6:44. God grants repentance; it is only possible because of His grace, Acts 5:31; 11:18. No one can repent unless God gives them the ability to do so. God draws us, opens our eyes, and changes our hearts, which results in all of salvation, including repentance and faith. God’s patience, as well as His love, bring us to repentance, 2 Peter 3:9, Romans 2:4.

The parable of the prodigal son shows God’s love and the power of forgiveness. No matter how far you’ve drifted from the Father, there’s always an outstretched arm waiting to embrace you and forgive all of your transgressions.

In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, one of the two sons had abandoned the family in order to live his own life. He reached rock bottom in a pig enclosure, where he actually came to his senses. “I will arise and go to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,” he said when the time to return to his father arose Luke 15:18. When you’re getting set to visit your father, he’ll be waiting for you to arrive, eager to accept you and show you the same affection he had for you before. His love is always unconditional whenever he expresses it. Luke 15:20 plainly quotes it. “But his father saw him and was overwhelmed with sympathy for him; he raced to his son, put his arms around him, and kissed him when he was still a great way away.” The father didn’t wait for his son to apologize when he saw his. He dashed over to meet him. After the embraces and kisses, the son was finally able to apologize. That is, indeed, his affection.

You can’t take his love and forgiveness for granted all of the time if you have the perspective that you can sin and beg for forgiveness. “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy,” Proverbs 28:13. Yes, you must confess as well as renounce in order to receive God’s mercy, care, and forgiveness. In Matthew 12:31, Jesus says “And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.”

There is someone standing among you whom you do not know, John the Baptist declared to the people in John 1:26. It is possible to forgive those who have wronged Jesus, especially those who crucified Him on the cross. Remember Jesus words just after He was nailed to the cross. “Father, pardon them since they have no idea what they are doing,” Luke 23:34. Because they had no idea what they were doing, God can forgive them. They acted in a state of denial.

This indicates that the sin against the Holy Spirit, on the other hand, cannot be committed inadvertently. You are no longer in the dark when you commit such a sin. So, the distinction here is between failing to identify Jesus and deliberately rejecting Him after He has been identified. In a minute, we’ll return to the sin against the Spirit.

It is obvious that repentance is the only way to regain God’s entire favor, love, and concern. Repentance leads to sin forgiveness. Repentance is what will bring you closer to the Father, as the prodigal son says, “I sinned against heaven and before you.”

Jesus forgives all sins, casts them into the sea, covers them up so He won’t see them again, and welcomes you back into the family as His son or daughter. One is considered to be unable to change one’s history. No, but God has the power to intervene. He is an expert on the history. All my sin is blotted out by the shadow of the Cross. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more”, Hebrews 8:12.

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