Repent! If you would truly repent before God you must…
R
Realise you’ve been wrong.
Why? Because you’re locked into ways of thinking dictated by yourself informed by a corrupt establishment (mainstream media, BBC, secular education, pop culture, social media etc). You must be willing to read/recognise the signs of the times. The nation – indeed most of the world is under divine judgement as evidenced by the prevalence of lies (misinformation, fake news and pseudoscience) and consequential evil. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ (Colossians 2v8)
E
Embrace God’s salvation in Jesus Christ.
He is Lord; He is the Creator and Sustainer of this world. Therefore, His laws and commandments must constrain how we live. We are not at liberty to make up/choose our own preferred cultural values. Right and wrong, goodness & beauty, truth and falsehood are His alone to determine. Salvation involves recognising this and accepting His forgiveness for our denial of His kingship. Jesus’ perfect life, death and resurrection exclusively provide the basis for our reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God (2Cor 5:20)
P
Plan with renewed purpose to think, say and do all things with this newly informed way of thinking.
The Bible supplies us with corrective lenses through which we must focus our seeing. The Bible represents God’s mouthpiece. He communicates to us our responsibilities & duties as redeemed citizens of His kingdom. We are to work tirelessly to fulfil Christ’s Great Commission – to subdue all things under His dominion and control. Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matt 28 vs18,19)
N
Never give up! Never yield to pessimistic defeatism.
Never mind that the way ahead is difficult; never mind that you are in the minority; never mind that satanic schemes seem to dominate the cultural landscape; never mind that your friends and family may interpret your change of life/belief as temporary religious psychosis. Jesus urged His followers to take up the cross daily in conscious self-denial. He said, “Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (John 12v25). He plainly warned, “No one, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9v62)
T
Tell your friends & relatives about your faith in Christ!
Tell them of your determination to reverence God’s name. Trust God to supply your daily needs and thank Him routinely for doing so; adopt a selfless, loving attitude towards others. Be merciful and kind to all – even those who’ve offended you. Treat sin seriously; separate yourself from it and work towards its eradication in your community. We are all our brother’s keeper! Jesus recommended all these things in the prayer He taught us:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. (Matt 6vs9-13)
Westminster Shorter Catechism
Question 87
Q: What is repentance unto life?
A: Repentance unto life is a saving grace, 1 whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, 2 and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, 3 doth, with grief and hated of sin, turn from it unto God, 4 with full purpose of, and endeavour after, new obedience. 5
- Acts 11:18. When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
- Acts 2:37-38. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
- Joel 2:13. And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and re- penteth him of the evil.
- Jeremiah 31:18-19. I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God. Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.
- 2 Corinthians 7:11. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, whatfear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. Psalm 119:59. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
Thomas Watson’s Body of Divinity helpfully expounds true repentance.