Dave Chanski

If repentance were compared to a flower, then the bud of the flower would be conviction of sin. Conviction of sin is the dawning of repentance in the soul. It is not the full flower of repentance, but it is the beginning of it. No one will repent unless he is convicted that he is a sinner. If he has no conviction of sin, he has no reason to repent. If a man is to repent of his sins, he must sense that his sin puts him in a place of genuine danger. The Lord warned Israel through the prophet Ezekiel, “Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin” (Ezekiel 18:30). God is saying that their sins will lead to their destruction unless they repent. The apostle Paul echoes the same truth in Romans 6:23 when he says that, “The wages of sin is death.” Sinners are in great danger according to the Bible. They face eternal separation from God and endless punishment in hell if they do not repent of their sins.

One who is truly convicted of his sin will not only sense his danger, but he will also realize that his sins are wicked and unclean. Listen to how God says his people will view their conduct and even themselves when He has mercy on them: “Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities and your abominations” (Ezekiel 36: 31). This is not the way that people in our self-esteem crazed generation like to think of themselves, but it is the way a sinner under conviction sees himself through God’s eyes. Paul says the same thing about himself, even as a believer, when he contemplates his ongoing battle against sin: “O wretched man that I am!” (Romans 7:24; see verses 14-25).

It is little wonder that genuine repentance is so rare in a day in which Biblical words such as sin, wickedness, iniquity, evil, transgression and uncleanness have been replaced with talk of poor choices, unwise choices, or not doing the right thing.

Someone who is truly repentant, in the Christian sense of the word, is not only convicted of sin—he is also ‘convicted’ of something else. He is convinced that God will be merciful to him in Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). A repentant sinner believes this, and therefore he confesses his sins to God—however shameful and painful that may be—and he asks for forgiveness for them. God freely and graciously forgives the repentant sinner. As we read in the prophecy of Joel,

“Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm” (Joel 2:12-13).

It is not gospel repentance that simply sees the ugliness of sin and regrets it. True Christian repentance not only sees how terrible sin against God is, but it also perceives the grace of God in Christ and lays hold of His mercy. There is a ‘happy ending.’

The difference between repentance and mere regret can be illustrated in the apostles Judas and Peter. Judas betrayed the Lord Jesus. Shortly afterward, Judas saw what a wicked thing he had done. He was grieved about it, and he even returned the money he received for handing Jesus over. But though he saw the ugliness of his sin, he never saw the beauty of the mercy of God, who forgives sins. In his bitterness he went out and hanged himself (Matthew 27:3-5). Peter also sinned grievously when he denied the Lord. He was also terribly grieved over his sin. However, Peter not only saw displeasure in the face of Jesus; he also saw compassion. He truly repented of his sin and found forgiveness (Luke 22:60-62; John 21:15-17). Are you guilty of sin, which you are ashamed to confess? Repent today, and Jesus Christ will receive you!

The word ‘repent’ in the New Testament means ‘change.’ Repentance is essentially a change of mind that results in a change of life. To begin, the sinner must have a change of mind and attitude regarding sin and regarding God. Listen to the confession of Ephraim in the book of Jeremiah:

You have chastised me, and I was chastised, like an untrained bull; restore me, and I will return, for You are the LORD my God. Surely, after my turning, I repented; and after I was instructed, I struck myself on the thigh; I was ashamed, yes, even humiliated, because I bore the reproach of my youth (Jeremiah 31:18-19).

Whereas the sinner used to love his sin and was generally unconcerned about his unrighteous way of life, now he hates his sin and is truly grieved over it (see also 2 Corinthians 7:10-11). Like a man who never wants to eat again the food that made him sick to his stomach, the repentant man loathes the sin which has made his soul sick. Ezekiel 36:31 presents a vivid picture of a repentant sinner: “Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities and your abominations.”

At the same time, repentance means a change in mind and heart toward God. When a sinner repents, he ceases to be God’s enemy (Colossians 1:21) and becomes His friend. He used to despise God, but now he loves Him (1 John 4:19). He desires to please Him and to walk in fellowship with Him. Just as love for sin and hatred of God are found together in the ungodly, so hatred for sin and love for God are always found together in the true Christian. As one Puritan writer said, “Christ is never loved till sin be loathed.” Professing Christian reader, have you truly repented? In your heart of hearts do you love God? Are you truly grieved over your sins? Do you hate them? Are you ashamed of them? If not, may God grant you repentance today!