Beyond Remorse: The genuine Path of Repentance & renewal
A Renewed Mind and Repentance, By Tom Smedley
Opening: Jesus cleansed the temple twice, once at the beginning of his ministry (John 2:13) and again after Palm Sunday (Matt 21:12, Mark 11:15-18, and Luke 19:45-47). As he entered Jerusalem, Jesus threw out the money changers and those preventing prayer, cleansing the temple of greed. How much more do we need Him to cleanse our hearts and prepare us for a life of victorious service to Him?
Point One:
We are Tri-une Beings "We are tri-une beings, a body, a soul, and a spirit. The soul of man is comprised of the mind, the will, and the emotions" (1 Thess 5:23).
Point Two:
Human Remorse vs True Repentance "Many times we attempt to add Christ without subtracting sin. This does not work, as lasting repentance cannot take root. True repentance is turning 'away' from sin, a 180-degree change. It involves constant transformation, daily walking with Him, and responding to His high calling. God's way is a 180-degree turn, while the devil's way is a 360-degree loop, leading us back into the folly we were delivered from, resulting in a fruitless life."
Point Three:
True Repentance and Lifestyle Change Here are five biblical examples of 360-degree behavior, where individuals initially acknowledged their sin but did not allow deep repentance to uproot it. Our daily relationship with the Lord will shine light on our issues (1 John 1:7), helping us overcome our stumbling blocks.
Pharaoh (Exodus 9:34): He said, "I have sinned," yet once the plagues ceased, he returned to wrongdoing, hardening his heart further.
Balaam (Numbers 22:34): Confronted by his talking donkey, he said, "I have sinned," but continued to be driven by greed.
Achan (Joshua 7): He hid stolen items from war and, when exposed, said, "I have sinned," showing remorse but not true repentance.
Shimei (2 Samuel 19:20): He threw rocks at David before he was king. Once David was crowned, Shimei said, "I have sinned," but continued to disobey the king's decree, showing lip service without heart change.
Saul (1 Samuel 15:30): He told Samuel, "I have sinned, but don't expose me to the people." Despite acknowledging his sin, Saul did not change inwardly. His heart and mind remained unchanged.
These individuals struggled with pride, power, greed, and ambition. They repented temporarily, seeking relief, but without true heart change, they returned to their sins. These issues, like bad seeds, were never fully dealt with. A life of surrender and true repentance is essential.
Conversely, here are two examples of true repentance where men allowed the Lord to cleanse their sin, change their hearts, and produce a complete turnaround, a 180-degree change:
King David (Psalm 51): David prayed, "Renew in me a right spirit... Take not your Holy Spirit from me... restore unto me the joy of your salvation." He reflected a repentant heart, showing true sorrow for his sin and grief over offending the Lord.
The Prodigal Son (Luke 15): In the parable, the prodigal son came to his senses and decided to return to his father's house, admitting, "I have sinned against God." True repentance brought about a lifestyle change, recognizing whom he had sinned against, arising from the inward heart, not outward show or religious rule-keeping.
Repentance is more than remorse. Remorse alone does not produce life-changing events. Judas felt deep regret for betraying Jesus but was not repentant (Matthew 27:3-10). Repentance is not a dirty word or an outdated concept; it is a lifestyle that honors the Lord we serve, producing fruit that meets repentance. This is where true victory resides and reigns.
