TRUE REPENTANCE
In all religions
that preach moral righteousness, there is also the teaching of repentance, to
feel sorrow with intention of reparation if possible, coming from the heart of
the offender, which is attained through different means according to their
confession, even with repayment done in the after life in some of them.
In Christianity
this is not exception.
Despite the mechanics
in which guilt is compensated, some invoking painful temporal punishment
(Purgatory), or eternal punishment (Hell), or simply an automatic
sanctification following a pardon by grace in the name of JESUS, as in the case
of most evangelical groups, all proclaim that repentance must pre-exist before
being forgiven. In most groups, a constant repentance after every time a sin is
committed, and a minority, a ‘once-in-a-life-time’ sorrow at the moment of
conversion that should cover all consequent sins automatically. But we all must
repent of our sins, sooner than later, if we aspire forgiveness from GOD.
HOWEVER, what we
consider to be repentance, even though it does not vary too much between different
groups in theory, it is practiced in totally different ways in the personal
life of the believers.
WHAT IS
REPENTANCE
Repentance is:
Reviewing one's
actions and feel regret for past wrongs, accompanied by commitment to don’t do
them again.
This is supposed
to be accompanied by an obligation to repair the damage done, if it is still
possible.
That is also taught
clearly in the Tanakh and the words of Jesus:
‘You will
never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins. Confess them and give them
up; then God will show mercy to you.’
Proverbs 28:13
‘From that
time Jesus began to preach his message: “Turn away from your sins, because the
Kingdom of heaven is near!”’
Matthew 4:17
A COMMITMENT
Whether we feel
pain or not for our faults, we MUST be totally convinced that what we did was
wrong.
To simply feel
sorry for the consequences, but without being convinced of what we did was
wrong, like in the case of the death of a child for being subjected to a
beating or neglect; or simply for fear of punishment, like when we are about to
get caught by the police after we have committed a crime, does not constitute repentance,
but is remorse, which is not enough to appeal to GOD for mercy. Neither is
simply the fear of Hell.
What GOD wants
is people who love righteousness and not who only follow Him for fear of doing
otherwise. If that was the case, He would have created angels and men already
in a glorious state, under punishment of being thrown out of his presence if we
fail, but according to the Bible that is not the case. We were created to prove
that we are fit for his company in eternity, in a secured state, through his grace
and mercy, and for this reason, GOD wants us to understand why what we did was
negative, and change our opinion in regards to our wrong actions.
He wants the
homosexual to understand that his attraction to people of the same gender is a negative
distortion of the natural order.
He wants the
adulterous to understand that our partners deserve love and respect, and that
sexual betrayal destroys our union to pieces and hurts them deeply.
He wants the liar
to understand that his life will become contaminated with falsehood that will
grow out of control and mentally disbalance him, and that truthfulness if light
and peace.
ONLY when we can
understand why our sins are wrong, we will feel regret for what we have done
wrong, and love the path of GOD, and become more like Him.
But also sins
constitute the commitment of things we know for certain are wrong, like
stealing money from a needed person, which increases the level of guilt in the
offender. Also in this case, we must come to the decision to stop doing this
because of the damage it causes to the victim, the deceitfulness of the robbery
that destroys our moral sensitivity, and above all, contradicts the will of GOD.
And of course,
to plan to sin and then repent is a blasphemous mockery to GOD, that sinks us
more into perdition.
CONCLUSION
GOD is merciful
and He shows that everyday we wake up alive, and every day this planet keeps
turning. And also, in the capacity and time He grants us to change our course
of life.
Repentance is
necessary every time we commit something wrong, and may be realize that as much
as bother us to be asking for forgiveness every time, is how much our sinfulness
bothers GOD to see us committing crimes every time. With the difference that He
does not need us, and we do need Him to live.
ONCE IN A LIFE
TIME repentance is not real repentance, unless we stop sinning forever, but that
is not the case.
Every time we
commit sins afterwards, we interrupt our relationship with our Father in Heaven,
even if the lie that ‘once forgiven, always forgiven’ comes to our consolation.
That is a lie, which becomes worse because is an abuse of the grace of GOD.
JESUS died for our sins to be forgiven every time we repent, not to excuse our
sinfulness.
TRUE REPENTANCE
is paramount in attaining GOD’s mercy, as it is the sacrifice of Lord JESUS
CHRIST.
The key to unlock
the atonement of JESUS, is through actual and real repentance every time we sin.
‘Do those
things that will show that you have turned from your sins.’
Matthew 3:8
OFR.
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