Gods Grant of Repentence Part IV

God's Grant of Repentance

Part IV

Changing Your Mind about Sin

 

 

 

              Biblical repentance involves a change of mind about God, Christ, sin, and self. Repentance most certainly involves a change of mind about sin.

              On the day of Pentecost, the Jews were convicted by Peter’s sermon of their sin of crucifying our Lord Jesus. Luke documents their reaction, “Now when they heard {this,} they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" Acts 2:37. The word for “pierced” is the Greek word katanyssomai, which means to prick, to pain the mind sharply; it is especially used of deep sorrow. (Thayer’s A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament). True repentance always includes sorrow for sin.

              In my last article I said repentance is primarily the change of mind about the person of Jesus Christ. It is turning to Christ and away from sin. But turning to Christ must involve departing from sin because in it you are turning to Christ from a life of sin. You cannot turn to Christ and stay in a life of sin. This is impossible. As the apostle Paul said “For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God.” 1 Thess.1:9.  The repentance granted the Thessalonians by God would have involved deep sorrow for their life of sin in idolatry.

              The repentance God grants involves the whole human person, mind will, and emotions. In Peter’s sermon in Acts 2, each of these elements is evident. He presents to their minds God’s truth concerning Christ being the Son of God, their rejection and crucifixion of Him (vv. 15-36). They react with emotion of deep contrition and sorrow (v. 37). Peter then calls them to exercise their will by making a personal decision to repent. “Peter {said} to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (v. 38).

              The true repentance God grants involves a change of mind about sin that produces a godly sorrow in the hearts of those chosen by God that leads them to make a personal decision of repentance unto salvation.