Repentance, More than a Moment

"Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin.” Ezekiel 18:30

The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary defines repentance this way. 

“In its fullest sense it is a term for a complete change of orientation involving a judgment upon the past and a deliberate redirection for the future.”

Repentance is a regular theme of the prophets in the Old Testament. In the New Testament the call for repentance is first uttered by John the Baptist. Matthew 3 records that John was preaching a message of repentance in the Judean wilderness. 

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

On the day of Pentecost Peter was the one making the plea to repent. 

“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Repentance is among the first steps for people who want to begin a relationship with Jesus. However, if we have been Jesus followers for any length of time, we know sin will continue to be a negative part of life. It is so wonderful to know that the simple step of repenting is the key to being restored in our relationship with God. 

Leading new Jesus followers in the need for regular repentance is a key aspect of being a disciple-maker. To be effective as a disciple-maker repentance needs to be a regular part of the disciple-makers life. 

New Jesus followers need to know that repentance is not a one and done event. A good disciple-maker will be honest about their own need for regular repentance and they will assure new Jesus followers that struggling with sin is normal and that sin is always trying to destroy our relationship with Jesus. 

Good disciple-makers teach that Jesus has already forgiven all our sins for our entire lives. Repentance is the way to be set free from sin and pave the way for intimacy with Jesus to be restored.