Repentance Begins in the Heart

Repentance is something that is talked about less and less these days in the modern church. And many topics such as prayer, holiness, and repentance are not taught much. Many confuse confession as repentance. While confession does acknowledge your sin, it doesn’t mean you no longer love it or are ready to turn away from it. Repentance is not just the act of turning away from sin; but it is also a change of mind. When Jesus in Matthew 4:17 declared “Repent for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand,” the Greek word was metanoeo. It means to change one’s mind for the better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins. He was not just declaring that his people needed to stop sinning but change how they saw their sins. He wanted them to understand the meaning of Luke 6:45 (KJV):

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good: and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

Simply put, Jesus was saying that religious externals will not deal with a sinful heart. No matter how hard an apple tree may try to produce cherries, it never will. The roots of that tree will never allow it. You can claim you are not a complainer because you never outwardly speak of it. But do you complain in your heart? You may never actually commit adultery against your spouse. But do you have lust in your heart? Jesus said that makes you an adulterer. You may not kill those who have harmed you or physically seek revenge. But do you harbor bitterness or hatred in your heart towards them? Then according to the words of Jesus, you are a murderer. This was the common attitude of the Religious leaders in Jesus’ day. Jesus told the Pharisees they were whitewashed tombs because they had cleaned up the externals of their life which everyone could see. They would pray long, give more, teach the law, and refuse to associate with sinners. But inwardly like a grave, they were full of dead bones. The Lord could see their heart for what it really was. It was dark and dead from sin. These men were supposed to uphold the law, but failed at it at every point? They couldn’t see the heart and true intent of the law. And worse of all they rejected the only One who could give them new life and payment of their sins.

So, we can see by the example of the Pharisees that not sinning externally doesn’t mean we haven’t broken the commandments. The true heart of repentance is a changed mind and heart, something the Jews did not think was separate. Romans 12:2 (KJV) states:

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 When you draw closer to the Father, you begin to love what He loves and hate what He hates. How can you leave a sin if it still holds place in your heart? How can you have a single love for someone when your heart still lusts after another? You can say you love someone all you want but when you continue to cheat on them, saying sorry doesn’t mean much. If you are struggling with sin, just obeying the law will not free you. Only a true intimate relationship with the Father can change your heart. Jesus didn’t just die to forgive you of your sins so you would not go to hell. He died for all, so that those who lived would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose on their behalf (2 Corinthians 5:15). It was not just His death, but His resurrection that reconciled you with the Father. He bled for the forgiveness of your sins so that you would be in right standing with Father, now able to approach Him at the throne of grace. The heart of repentance is the Fear of the Lord. And it is the fear that our sin will hinder our communion with the Father. In Psalm 51:10-11 (KJV), David pleaded with the Lord:

Create in me a clean heart O God; And renew a right Spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; And take not thy Holy Spirit from me.

David knew confession was not enough. He also knew that being born into sin, he did not have the capability to clean the soul which he polluted. But He knew the one that could. David knew of the intimacy with the Father and he knew his heart. That is why he was so afraid to be shunned by the One he loved above all things. Our heart should be to never break our Father’s heart. But for that to happen, we need to seek our Father in heaven so that He may give us such a heart every day. If you are struggling with sin or have fallen, don’t run to the externals of religion. Run and fall at your Father’s feet. Let your heart be broken before Him. Then His Son Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit will give you His grace to walk in newness of heart. You will no longer have to live in a cycle of confessing and sinning, finding no freedom but only condemnation. By His grace you will truly be able to walk in a life of repentance with a renewed mind and a new heart. Peace be with you beloved.