ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Wednesday March 22, 2017

“True repentance = a CHANGE of DIRECTION”

"For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death." - II Corinthians 7:10

True Repentance

The Nature of Repentance – continued (3)

This morning we continue our conversation about this most important topic in our Christian experience.

In some English version of the New Testament, two words are translated by ‘repent’: metanoeo, to change one’s mind and metamelomai, which really means to regret rather than then to repent.

True repentance (metanoia) is the return to God with which the Christian life begins, continues and ends. Repentance is the prodigal son making his way from the far country to the father, to serve him and receive his embrace. That return was certainly prompted by a sense of regret, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!’ (Luke 15:17). Repentance here, however, means more than regret. It means a change of direction.

The apostle Paul uses both words in the same context in 2 Corinthians 7, and this clarifies the distinction. He speaks there of a repentance which is not regretted (2 Corinthians 7:10), which is the product of sorrow. But he adds it is possible to feel sorrow without ever repenting towards God.

Challenge:

We come to an important fork in the road; repent & regret. Many times we find ourselves kicking ourselves for “misbehaving”. We “regret” doing that one action or deed or keep falling for that horrible habit… We keep falling short of “repentance” – why? NO METANOIA! NO CHANGE OF DIRECTION! Ask God’s Holy Spirit to cause change in you in order that you may experience true repentance and not merely “feel bad” or regretful. True repentance shows up in holy living!

Memory Verse:

Pea hae homou loto, ‘o ‘ikai ko homou kofu, pea mou foki kia Sihova ko homou ‘Otua; he ko e Angalelei ia mo e ‘Alo‘ofa, Tuai-ki-he-houhau, pea Fonu-‘i-he-kelesi, pea ‘oku ne momou ‘i he kovi. – Sioeli 2:13

So rend your heart, and not your garments;

Return to the Lord your God,

For He is gracious and merciful,

Slow to anger, and of great kindness;

And He relents from doing harm. – Joel 2:13

Bible Reading Plan: (52 weeks; 5 days a week)

Week 12 – Deuteronomy19-22; Psalm 6; Luke 10