In confession and repentance we are reminded of our sinfulness and God’s grace that overcomes our sin.
Confession - admitting the truth of our sin Repentance - changing your mind and committing to living differently
Repentance begins with a Godly sorrow for our sin, which implies admitting that you have sinned. All of our sins are forgiven and we are given the righteousness of Christ when we believe in Jesus. So why practice repentance? A regular practice of repentance humbles us by reminding us of our current, ongoing struggle with sin. It helps us identify the sin we struggle with so we can intentionally seek help from the Spirit of God to remove it from our lives and lead us towards holiness.
Repentance also reminds us of God’s amazing grace. It leads us to appreciate his mercy, which we are so prone to taking for granted. The results are a deeper appreciation for the gospel, a soft heart towards the sin of others, and a longing for Christ’s return.
"Confession is not just a discipline; it’s the gateway to freedom." - John Mark Comer
“[Repentance] is about bringing yourself into alignment with God. When your heart, your behavior, your belief system, or your thinking deviates from God’s ways and doings, your soul gets out of alignment.” - Rob Reimer
“A soul in alignment is a soul without secrets.” - Rob Reimer
To Get Started
- Confess your sins to God
- Confess your faith in Jesus
- Thank God for his grace and mercy in forgiveness
- Ask the Spirit to help form in you the Godly virtue that counters the sin
- greed - generosity
- hatred - love
- anxiety and worry - trust and peace
- lust - holiness
Be specific here—not just “greed” but the specific time your greed led you to not be generous to a person in need. Not just “anger” but the hurtful words you said when you were angry.
Declare the core truth of the gospel—that Jesus has atoned for your sin on the cross and given you his righteousness. Declare that your righteousness is not in your own actions but in Christ’s imputed righteousness alone.
When we think of God’s forgiveness of our sin the appropriate response is gratitude.
A part of repentance is committing to turning away from our sin. Therefore, seek the Spirit’s empowerment to turn away from the sin you are repenting of. It’s usually not enough to try to stop doing something. Instead, think of the positive, kingdom virtue that counters that sin and seek to grow in that.
Scripture Reflections
- Daniel 9
- Psalm 51
- 1 John 1:9
- 2 Corinthians 7:2-16