The word Repentance in the Bible is mentioned 21 times by the Hebrew words Nachum or Shuv. The Hebrew word Shuv means to return or go back. Interestingly, there are TWENTY ONE judgments in Revelation. TWENTY ONE times that God is trying to get our attention saying…Go Back, Repent.
In the Greek, the word for Repentance is Metanoia. Meta means (after) and noia means (thinking/observing). Put the two together and it literally means AFTER THINKING about and OBSERVING your surroundings GO BACK!
It’s God’s will that each of us be set apart, sanctified. The Blood of Christ cleans our consciences from dead works to serve the Living God. Once a person hears the gospel and is convicted that their way of life is wrong, they must change their present behavior and “bear fruits worthy of repentance.” (Matthew 3:8). Repentance is not merely feeling remorseful or sorry, but it is a whole change of conduct, being so stricken in one’s mind and heart that one seeks to live towards His Purity, according to God’s eternal laws.
Repentance is not only essential for one’s Salvation, but also is a key spiritual discipline to bury the sins of the old self and begin to partake of His Holiness as a member of His Royal Priesthood. Jesus thus implores us, chastens us, and rebukes us, to be zealous to repent; to answer His knock on the door of our hearts so that His Holy Spirit can assist us in becoming overcomers to sit with Him on His throne. (Revelation 3:19-21).
We at NDR believe that the Christian Church today has over-emphasized the “Grace, grace and more grace” message. The Apostle Paul said:
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?
~Romans 6:1
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer in it?
~Romans 6:2
As long as we live on this planet, we will have a fallible body of sin. However, there is a HUGE difference between being a sinner saved by grace and a “presumptuous” sinner. Please take the time to read this blog on the difference between “Cheap Grace” and “True Repentance”.
God Bless you!
~Pastor Jeff Daly
jdalylaw@aol.com