Repentance changes our hearts because we turn away from our sins and toward God. Because of our sinful nature, every person struggles with sin. Romans 3:23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.[1] Turning away from our sin is not returning to the broad road that leads to destruction but choosing to follow Jesus on the narrow road that leads to eternal life.
1 John 1:9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.[2] Sin is like a stain on our life; when we confess our sins, God forgives and washed our sin away. We sin daily and must continually ask our heavenly Father for forgiveness.
When we repent of our sins, the Lord makes us aware of how much we need Him, and only He can forgive us. Our heart is like a garden; when I repent each day, the Lord pulls the weeds of sin out of my heart, keeping it from getting hard.
John the Baptist Called People to Repent
John the Baptist knew that people’s hearts needed to be changed. Matthew 3:1In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, 2 “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.[3] God wants each person to repent of their sins and turn to Him to find life.
As John the Baptist proclaimed the message of repentance, the Holy Spirit moved people to confess their sins and receive a baptism of repentance. John wanted the people to know that they were sinners and how wrong sins were, and they needed to change their behavior. Some people thought being a descendant of Abraham was enough, but John’s preaching showed that to be faulty thinking. True faith is a personal relationship with God and not being a descendant of Abraham.
Seeking Forgiveness
Ephesians 1:7 Jesus is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.[4] As God’s children, we can come to His throne of grace with confidence and reassurance when we ask to be forgiven. The Lord is a forgiving God, full of grace and undeserved love.
Romans 5:8But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”[5] When we feel overwhelmed and find sin overtaking us, we can pray and seek the Lord’s help and forgiveness. When we find ourselves drowning in sin, we can either keep going or listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and make a U-turn away from our sin. With God’s help, call on Him in prayer and repent of your sins.
To hear how repentance changes our hearts, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/john-prepares-the-way
[1-5] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.