Repentance is a misunderstood practice. Yes…practice! Repentance is not a one-time thing. Repentance is not something we only do at conversion. It is a practice of the Christian life (II Corinthians 7:9-10). When the Christian ceasing the practice of repenting, they also cease the process of being made holy. As Martin Luther reminds us, “We are born for repentance.”
Repentance is wrongly thought to be simply sorrow or confession. Repentance is acknowledged too quickly to those who make a few changes in their life that are temporary. Repentance is not just for those engaged in “gross sins” but for all sins.
Repentance is thorough. It is specific. It is convincing. It is a change of thinking, believing and doing. Repentance is a journey from sin to joyful obedience, and it the process of repentance looks like this.
“I know that I have sinned” (Psalm 51:3). It begins with an understanding of what sin is. It is not making excuses for sin. It is not calling sin something else (e.g., calling adultery an affair or drunkenness an addiction). Repentance is not a confusion of light with darkness. Repentance is the process of understanding the nature of our sin that we have committed and the demand of God for us to be conformed to His holy image.
“I am sorry that I have sinned” (Psalm 51:4). This is the point of conviction. It is what the Puritans called repentance “a vomit of the soul” and “holy agony.” This is true remorse that is not temporary. This is the stage when we feel the weight of sinning against a holy God and others. There is hatred for that sin. There is a loathing of darkness that has gained ground in the sinner’s heart.
“I acknowledge that God is right to call this sin” (Psalm 51:6). It is what we call confession. Confession is not admitting sin. It is agreeing with God that what He has called sin is actually sin. Part of this stage is also the willingness to accept any or all consequences of that sin (Luke 15:19). This is when the sinner takes real ownership of his sin.
“I seek your forgiveness for my sin” (Psalm 51:1, 7, 10-11). Once a sinner has reached a righteous understanding of his sin and why it is truly sin, it is time to allow contrition to invite a request for forgiveness. Whomever has been offended or harmed by our sin must be sought out.
“I will choose to leave my sin” (Psalm 51:13, 16-17). This is not the end of repentance or all of repentance. This is the cognitive choice that is produced by a broken heart. It is the decision to forsake the sin and choose obedience. As Sinclair Ferguson has written, “Biblical repentance is not merely possessing a sense of regret that leaves us where it found us. Biblical repentance is the radical reversal that takes us back along the path from which we have departed.”
“I know that God forgives and cleanses” (Psalm 51:2). This is the point of confidence the sinner reaches when he believes that he has been granted a pardon from his sin. The sinner is now back on the road to being sanctified.
“I enjoy the freedom from sin” (Psalm 51:8, 18-19). Once repentance has been completed and the sinner is now living in obedience, there is a joy that returns to the life that is free from sin and now pleasing God.
Christians should see these fruits of repentance in their life often. If they are not present, there is not repentance.
Worldly Saints 