In the first two stages we looked at conviction and confession. We have felt the weight of our sin by seeing it as God does and confessed it to Him and others. Before we move to the next stage, I want to warn you of turning these stages into a checklist.
A Warning Against Religious Repentance
Anytime there is a numbered list I am uneasy because I know our hearts tend towards trusting in religious acts. The purpose can quickly become doing this list trying to keep God pleased so he will continue to bless you and answer your prayers.
Tim Keller has said:
"Religious repentance is selfish, self-righteous, and bitter all the way to the bottom. Religious repentance says, 'I did something wrong. I violated a standard I believe in. Therefore, I will change so God will bless me and things will go better for me.' Gospel repentance says, 'I did something wrong. I hurt God. I grieved the one who loved me most. I will change not to get His favor, but because I've already got it. Out of love and gratitude, I want to please the one who did so much for me.'"
In the gospel (the good news of Jesus), however, the purpose of repentance is to repeatedly tap into the joy of our union with Christ to weaken our impulse to do anything contrary to God's heart.
The Gospel Changes Everything
The gospel dispels the lie that repentance is despairing. No! When we repent, we run to a loving Father, not away from an angry judge.
The gospel dispels the lie that we will never make much progress. The Spirit who raised Christ from the dead lives in us! We are being transformed from glory to glory.
The gospel dispels the lie that you should go inward with your conviction. Instead of isolation and shame, the gospel draws us into community and confession.
The truth is repentance is the way we become more like Jesus. Conviction is his kindness which leads to repentance. And a life marked by pervasive repentance is one of progress and joy.
STAGE THREE: REPENT
The act of repenting is turning from your idols to God (see 1 Thessalonians 1:9; 1 John 5:21). It's a total change of mind. A swapping of your love of false gods to the one true God made known to us in Jesus. It's turning your worship from creation to Creator.
Repentance turns your whole heart—your whole person—to God in love, trust, and obedience instead of to idols. It trades hates and loves, hating the sin you once loved and loving the God you've hated by your sin (Redemption, Wilkerson).
What Does Turning Look Like?
In turning we forsake our former love and become more enamored with Jesus than anything else. Our love for Him pushes out our love for idols. This is a miraculous work of the Spirit in our hearts (Romans 8:13). His grace propels us to worship him which is joyful.
You are turning from the lesser joy to the greater joy. You are beholding your Creator, King, and Redeemer. You are tasting and seeing that the Lord is good.
Repentance is not merely feeling bad about sin. It is not merely changing behavior. It is a reordering of loves. As Augustine said, our hearts are disordered—loving lesser things more than God. Repentance is the Spirit reordering our hearts, putting God back at the center where He belongs.
The Fruit of Repentance
The next three stages (restitution, reconciliation, rejoicing) are a walking out of this repentance. We are beholding the glory of God. And as we behold, we are transformed.
- Changed behavior (the fruit of the Spirit)
- A desire to make things right with those we've wronged
- Joy in God rather than guilt and shame
- Increasing hatred for sin and love for righteousness
- Growth in humility and dependence on God
As Martin Luther famously said, "All of life is repentance." This is not a one-time event but an ongoing posture. Every day we turn from self to Savior, from idols to the living God, from darkness to light.
