What is "repentance"? Before I begin please know that I don’t care for man’s variously streamlined definitions of the word ‘repentance’, and would much prefer that the Father Himself would precisely define this for us, but in lieu of that, here’s my humble offering on ‘repentance’ from my own heart’s experience: Repentance is the heart’s greatest way of saying, “I am sorry”. It is an “I am sorry” that would be said with the utmost solemnity, “I am sorry that I had not to this point recognized the selfish ways that I was sinning against you my Creator, and you my fellow man”. Such a repentance is come of one’s deepest conscience in finally recognizing the moral absolutes of biblical truth, and is the most crowning achievement of maturity in any soul when realizing a true humble love for their Creator and brethren. True godly repentance therefore is the heart’s most sincere form of saying that one now all the more wants to go on living, but only if in a way that also does not in any way harm or offend the life of others according to the laws of that life’s Creator. In the Greek, repentance is µετάνοια or metanoia (pronounced met-an'-oy-ah) It means a complete reversal from one’s previous directions, not a partial or slowing of them. It means to turn around 180 degrees, not 40°, 90° or even 170 degrees, but the full 180°, and from all of the evil ways we were previously traveling. Why? Repentance unto salvation says that we have finally achieved a milestone of maturity in life where we recognize and submit to the ‘harmony of humility’ that was built into our world’s plan. It says that we are finally able to respect the responsible part that we ourselves must play in order to live and work alongside those who have also sought and found this level of maturity which allows for the Creator’s, “perfect law of liberty”, selflessly and endlessly giving one’s self in a then yearned-for societal accord where all then obey our Creator’s perfectly established laws against anything that would disrupt that harmony. It is a repentance that could only come from the deepest remorse. A remorse awakened by the sudden understanding of the wisdom in simply accepting an irreversible respect for one’s Creator and fellow man. I’m speaking of course of the “godly sorrow” that Paul spoke of in 2 Corinthians 7:10, that “worketh repentance to salvation”, not the “sorrow of the world that worketh death” (being merely sorry that one “got caught”, etc). True repentance therefore is a repentance that once attained, is never repented of, or never changed back again. It is a permanent step of brotherly maturity that is found in the heart of those who never want to go back to the selfish ways of their past. Thus, they are “born again” into a new life through Christ, never wanting to be seen as “evil” by one's God or brethren ever again. Why then do people fear that step of repentance unto a full conversion to the Creator’s Will? Could it be that they have not yet learned the importance of their own existence? An existence that would be far and above their otherwise certain demise in hell if they don’t wake up, mature, and repent? True biblical repentance therefore, is the ultimate way of saying “I love you, and so much so that I never again, ever want to hurt you”, saying this to both your Creator who has designed this perfected harmony for you, and also to your fellow man (who has also learned to embrace this perfected harmony, to live without hurting you, and wouldn’t that be a nice change of pace?), and all this felt to such a level of self-submission that it would never return to its old nature of self-centeredness. It is now YHWH-centered which humbly now, allows all other life within that design, to also live in peace along with them in that same final blend of perfect submission. It is a repentance that achieves that first stage of maturity that the Creator expects of His children before they can be properly admitted into such a perfect kingdom, to then infinitely grow in greater maturity from that point forward. We have, by this repentance, agreed to His covenant, a covenant offered under the conditions of His perfect love, to be His people, and thereby students of His ways of peace, leaving our own childish ways behind, having responsibly… “grown up”. —Dwaine Moore Biblical Correctness Ministries |
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