What's Repentance?

What's repentance? The Bible uses the term a lot. What does it mean? In this post we'll look at 5 things repentance means. I got this from Mark Driscoll and I think it's quite good. Although I wish he didn't use repentance as both the overall descriptor and #3 but it's still the best explanation I've ever come across.

Here's the 5:

1. Conviction
2. Confession
3. Repentance
4. Restitution
5. Reconciliation

1. Conviction.
   This a work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin. We feel bad because we've done bad and that's good.

2. Confession.
   This is what we do. We confess to God that we've done bad. Lord, I have sinned against you. No excuses. No explanations. No blaming others. Lord, I have sinned against you and have done what is wrong in your sight.

3. Repentance.
   We change our minds and agree with God. Repentance starts in the mind. We agree in our minds that's God way is the right way. And then our feelings and actions follow. The reason this is so crucial is that many people go through the first two steps without the third. They feel bad and confess but they never are changed in the mind. Basically, they're sorry they got caught. They wish they could sin without feeling the consequences of sin. But in repentance we say God's way is the right way.

4. Restitution.
   This is a seriously neglected part of repentance. You try and make things right. If you've stolen, you return. If you've slandered someone, you work to rehab the reputation you destoryed. You go out and try to fix as best you can the damage you have done.

5. Reconciliation.
   If you've sinned against someone. You ask for forgiveness from them and make an attempt at reconciliation. Forgiveness takes one. We are always to forgive. But reconciliation takes two. Sometimes the person won't want to be reconciled. Other times it's unwise for us to reconcile. No one should enter back into an abusive relationship with an unrepentant person. Don't do it. Reconciliation is the restoration of relationship. It's the goal, but it's not always possible.