“Say you’re sorry!”
We’ve all seen it. A child hits a classmate, says something mean to a friend, or steals a toy from a sibling, and the offended child runs to tell an adult. Then, the parent or teacher goes over to the offending child with, “Say you’re sorry!”
But how many children who mutter a begrudging “I’m sorry” are actually sorry? How many of these children will turn around and do the exact same thing again? These children may say that they’re “sorry,” but they’re often just sorry that they got caught, not that they did a bad thing. Because they are not truly sorry, they will go right back to hitting classmates, saying mean things, and stealing toys.
Adults do this, too. We confess to God and say we’re sorry for doing things like gossiping about a co-worker, putting ourselves first, and being envious of what others have. But then we turn around and do these exact same things the very next day. Why do we do this? Why do we continue to commit the same sins we just apologized for? Because we have not really repented.
Repentance is not simply feeling sorry or regret over something you’ve done; it’s turning away from that wrongdoing and turning towards the Lord. Theologian Millard Erickson once wrote,
“Repentance is godly sorrow for one’s sin together with a resolution to turn from it…Real repentance is sorrow for one’s sin because of the wrong done to God and the hurt inflicted upon him. This sorrow is accompanied by a genuine desire to abandon that sin,”[1]
This real repentance was a major part of Jesus’ earthy ministry. His goal was to call sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32), and He indeed exhorted them to repent and believe the good news of the gospel (Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:15). Repentance played such a big role in Jesus’ teaching ministry because it is necessary for salvation (Acts 3:19). Those who refuse to repent will die and will not enter the kingdom of heaven (Luke 13:3).
“For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10, ESV
God does not wish for any of us to die, so He shows kindness and patience towards us, allowing us many opportunities to repent of our sins and turn to Him (Ezekiel 18:32, Romans 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9). When we do really repent, He grants us mercy, forgiveness of sins, and spiritual healing (Proverbs 28:13, 1 John 1:9, 2 Chronicles 7:14). And heaven erupts with joy!
“In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10, NIV
Once we’ve repented and been forgiven of our sins, there are a few things we’re called to do. First, we are to proclaim the good news of the gospel to people of all nations (Luke 24:47). Second, when we face people who oppose the gospel message, we are to gently correct them with truth, in the hopes that they may repent (2 Timothy 2:25). Third, when somebody does really repent, we are to forgive them and welcome them into the family of God (Luke 17:3).
Lastly, we must continue repenting, continue turning from sin, and continue turning towards the Lord. We all know that when we’re saved and forgiven, we don’t stop sinning. We still face temptation and struggle with the sins we once loved. We must daily be in the Word of God, pray to our Father in heaven, and search our hearts to see if there be any sin in our lives. And when you discover some sin in your life (and you will!), I urge you to follow the guidance of Isaiah-
“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7, ESV
[1] Millard J. Erickson, “Chapter 44: The Beginning of Salvation: Subjective Aspects” in Christian Theology, 3rd edition (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2013).
