The Gift of Repentance
IMPORTANCE OF THE GIFT OF REPENTANCE
Repentance is not just a one-time experience that occurs when we first come to God. Repentance is a gift from God that we need to utilize every single day. Repentance is important no matter how mature you are as a Christian. In 1st Corinthians 15:3, Paul admitted that he repented every day. If the guy who wrote ⅓ of the New Testament repented every day, I think I probably need to as well.
When the Holy Spirit was first poured out, Peter stumbled out of the upper room and said we are not drunk with wine, but this is what the prophet Joel prophesied saying, “I will pour out of my Spirit on all flesh.” (Acts 2) After Peter preached Jesus to, they were moved in their hearts and asked what they needed to do to be saved. The first thing Peter instructed them to do was to repent.
TWO PARTS TO THE GIFT OF REPENTANCE
- Confession
- Gratitude
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness
APPROACH THE GIFT OF REPENTANCE WITH CONFESSION
Confession is when you admit that you did something wrong and acknowledge that there are consequences for your actions. Adam and Eve thought that they could cover up the result of their sin by wearing leaves. God instructed them to kill an innoicent animal and to use the hide to make appropriate clothing.
Could you imagine the process of killing the animal knowing it was because of your disobedience that the innocent creature had to die.
That is exactly what we are to feel like during the first part of repentance. We are acknowledging that an innocent man died because of what we did.
RECEIVE THE GIFT OF REPENTANCE WITH GRATITUDE
If you walk away from repentance feeling sorrowful, you didn’t finish. Once you have thoroughly confessed, you need to graciously receive forgiveness from God with gratitude. The gift of repentance is received just like any other gift, with gratitude. After confessing and denouncing your sinful behavior, spend some time thanking God for forgiving you. Thank Him for His amazing grace. Thank Him for making this amazing gift of repentance available to you by sacrificing His one and only son. This will turn your sorrow to joy and your morning to gladness. Then you are ready to realy begin praying. Once you have gotten yourself right with God, you are ready to go to battle for others.
THE GIFT OF REPENTANCE IN THE TABERNACLE PLAN
To better illustrate the dual nature of repentance, consider the way sin was remitted in the old Tabernacle plan. The first thing you would have seen as you entered the courtyard of the Tabernacle would have been the Brazen Alter. This is where the animal sacrifices were made. To us today, it is a sign of repentance. We are able to kneel before God and confess our sins and have them forgiven because Jesus was our sacrificial lamb.
After the Brazen altar was the Brazen Laver. This is where the priest would wash the blood off of his hands. He had to wash in the laver so that he could serve in the inner courts. For new Christians this represents water baptism. Once you have been baptized as a follower of Jesus by your own choice, there is no need to be baptized again.The way we continue to experience the Brazen Laver is by receiving the gift of repentance with gratitude.
TAKE AWAY
Repentance is such a vital part of a Christian’s walk of faith that it should not be thought of in a negative way. It is something that should bring us joy. It is the receiving of a precious gift. It is reconciliation to God. Get in the habit of repenting on a regular basis, and remember to always end by giving thanks.
Romans 5:20 Where sin abounds, grace does much more abound
Hebrews 4:16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Written by Mike Verdin
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