Four Things to Know about Repentance

“I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3 

Repentance is a biblical command. “Therefore, say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Repent, turn away from your idols, and turn your faces away from all your abominations.” Ezekiel 14:6. “And saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” Matthew 3:2. “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” Acts 2:38. Repentance is a prerequisite for receiving the Holy Ghost baptism.  “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19. 

What are the four things to know about repentance?  It’s very simple.  1. Repentance is something you think. 2. Repentance is something you say. 3. Repentance is something you stop doing. 4. Repentance is something you start doing. 

1. Repentance is something you think.  Start thinking differently.  Think differently about yourself. Think differently about the world around you. Think differently about God. Understand that you are entering into a totally new world with different values, goals, and relationships. “Then Job answered the LORD and said: ‘I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’ I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:1-6.  

2. Repentance is something you say.  Express to God your shame and sorrow.  Admit your sins to him. “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight— That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.” Psalm 51:2-4. 

3. Repentance is something you stop doing.  We never stop repenting, but we stop doing wrong things. “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14. Stop entertaining false ideas about God. “Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.” Hebrews 6:1.

4. Repentance is something you start doing.  “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.” Acts 26:19-20.  What works?  Worship and praise. Seeking after holy and Godly things. Submitting yourself to the will of God instead of the will of the flesh.  World Evangelist Billy Cole saw nearly a million people receive the Holy Ghost during his fruitful missionary career.  He began every Holy Ghost crusade with a call to repentance.  God begins his re-creation of the soul in the repentant heart.