Repent and Believe in the Gospel

By Donna Winchell

“ For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23, NIV)

The Lenten journey reminds us that we are sinners; and our call to repentance must be shaped by acknowledging that through our repentance we can fulfill our destiny. That is, to be our Heavenly Father’s own adopted children, to be by God’s grace what Jesus is by nature.

This past week, thanks to the excellent handouts Pat shared in her series of Lenten services –"The Journey to the Cross with Jesus"; I spent time in meditation on sin and how it impacts my heart and my appreciation of God’s love and grace. Some questions in the handouts asked if I felt sorrow, confusion, or had even been motivated to tears. It was powerful, and I found myself drawn toward the Psalms, especially Psalm 130, Song of Ascent, a prayer of repentance.

Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;

Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive

    to my cry for mercy.

If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,

    Lord, who could stand?

But with you there is forgiveness,

    so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,

    and in his word I put my hope.

I wait for the Lord

    more than watchmen wait for the morning,

    more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Israel, put your hope in the Lord,

    for with the Lord is unfailing love

    and with him is full redemption.

He himself will redeem Israel

    from all their sins.

As sinners we ask for mercy from God. We know He could judge us and we know that we are in need; and just like the psalmist, we cry out from the depths of our pain. We cry out for mercy. Thankfully, God does not keep a record of our sins that are repented. God comes with mercy and forgiveness –  “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” – (Proverbs 28:13)

When we cry out, our prayers need to be accompanied by a change in our lives and actions; an honest remorse over the offense to God; a turning away from the sinful things; and a turning towards a God-honoring way of life – a life with Christ. In the Old Testament, the prophets continually called the People Israel to repentance in order that the barriers of sin might be removed, allowing God's blessings to flow forth.

The Bible tells us how important it is to repent and not hide away our sins. It restores our hands-on communion with God. Knowing and acknowledging our wrongdoings will help us to be spiritually rejuvenated. Our hearts weren’t created to carry the burden of sin and all the things not of God. Go to Him and let it all out; repent, seek forgiveness, remember He loves you and let those times of refreshing come. “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” – (Acts 3:19, NIV)

When one truly repents with the right attitude, and not just going through the motions, there is an awareness that the sin committed, whatever its nature, was ultimately against God alone. In his famous psalm of repentance, Psalm 51 verse 4 (ESV), David declared, “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment,” and verse 17, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." 

Lent begins with a call to repent and believe in the Gospel, and our prayers this season should be for forgiveness; not motivated by fear of God’s retribution for our sins, but for the grief our sin causes God. Allow this Lent to take you through a spiritual journey. Kneel before the cross, meditate on your sins, then embrace God with fervent repentance – have pity on me O LORD; give me tears of true repentance; pardon me for I am Thy child.