. . . Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (NIV) John 8:11
In the Old Testament, repentance was the acknowledgment of sin, accompanied by an acceptable sacrifice. The sin was then forgiven and the sinner restored to fellowship with God. Repentance was seen in external forms such as, fasting, sackcloth and ashes as well as general days of penitence intended to bring Israel to repentance. These public displays of repentance were often subject to criticism. God desired that the people genuinely repent, not partake in empty ritualism (Isaiah 58, Hosea 6:1-3, 6; 7:14, Amos 5:21-24).
God’s desire for us is that we not only confess our sins, but that we repent of them. The Greek word repentance translates, “a change of place or condition.” Repentance is more than a tearful apology, it is the abandonment of a course of action which defied God by doing what He dislikes or forbids. It shows a change of one’s mind or direction with the intent of never returning to the prior condition.
How are we partaking in empy ritualism rather than true repentance? Is there an area in your life that needs to be abandoned to return to following God? Is there a habit or a sin that needs to cease? When you repent of your sins is it with the mindset that you will never return to that sin again?
