GENUINE REPENTACE

2 Corinthians 7:10 NLT

For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

Repentance is a feeling of regret or remorse for doing wrong or sinning.

Repentance is God's ultimate demand from mankind because mankind has gone in the way of sin. 

From the time of the Prophet God has always demand repentance:

Ezekiel 14:6 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations.

In the time of Jesus Christ he began His ministry by preaching repentance: Mathew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

In the time of the apostle, it was the base of their message: Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

The issue in our present world is that most purported repentance is not genuine. That is why someone will give is life to Christ today and in the next moment, he is back to his normal life. You can't remain the same when you genuinely repent.

Four truth about Genuine Repentance:

1. Genuine repentance starts with a conviction. Conviction is the act of proving or finding guilty or the state of being proven guilty. If you are not convicted about a matter it will be difficult not to repeat it again. The Holy Spirit does the work of conviction. And this happens from hearing the word of God. After Peter spoke on the day of Pentecost (Act 2:37) the people that listened to him having been pricked (convicted)in their heart said: "what shall we do". That is how convicted men speak.

2. Godly sorrow is the foundation of every true Repentance. When a man becomes convicted what happens next is Godly sorrow. This sorrow is what takes the repentance beyond the sphere of the body to the heart. II Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. Note that it is possible to be convicted and not exercise godly sorrow. When Paul was brought before Felix in Act  24:22-27, after hearing Paul he trembled (convict) but never allow godly sorrow to set in.

3. Brokeness of spirit is the result of Godly sorrow which is the driver of genuine Repentance. When a man continues in godly sorrow after being convicted his spirit will eventually be broken. When a man gets to the point of a broken spirit it will be difficult for such a man to turn back. Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. In repentance to get to the level of your spirit being broken is essential, it is at this point that every part of you is subdued in repentance.

4. Intentional and decisive action is the mark of genuine Repentance. Repentance does not end in being broken. Your brokenness must lead you to take a decisive decision. Inability to take this decision will lead to struggling. For example, the woman caught in adultery must cut the relationship with the man she had illicit relationship with. If she does not cut out from the relationship she may find herself back in the sin of adultery. Many people fail in this part and end up going back to their vomit. When a person repents and does not take an urgent and decisive action to close the door or cut the pipe that is fueling the flesh the person is leaving room for a greater and intense push from the devil to cause the fellow to fall deep into sin (Mathew 12:43-45). 

These four truths are the pillar of genuine Repentance. 

Have you truly repented? 

If you want to truly repent of your sins then you must follow these four truth to genuine Repentance that lead to Genuine Salvation.

Heaven awaits you as you make this all-important decision. 

God bless you.