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toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life” (Rom. 5:8-10).
There is only this one way to have our sins blotted out ‒ only one way to enter the Kingdom of God as a glorified member of the God Family. And this way involves repentance!
Acts 2:38 summarizes the salvation process in just one verse. And the very first word of that crucial passage is “Repent”! Recall also that Jesus declared: “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5). So repentance is a vital step to salvation.
But what is real repentance in God’s sight, as revealed in His inspired Word? What does it involve ‒ what must we do?
A Change of Direction
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, . . .” Peter told his listeners in Jerusalem (Acts 3:19).
God tells us there is something we must do before He will apply the sacrifice of Christ to pay the penalty of our sins. We must d emonstrate that we no longer wish to continue in the way of life that leads to eternal death. We do so by changing our way of living. That change of direction is “repentance.”
But what, exactly, do we repent of or change from?
Sin!
Actions and deeds which are contrary to God’s law are “sin.” Sin is the violation or transgression of any of God’s commandments. Notice the Biblical definition of sin: “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4).
To repent of sin, then, simply means to change. We turn from the way of self- indulgence and “get” to the way of “give.” We turn from selfishness to selflessness. We turn from our way to God’s way.
When we begin to demonstrate our heartfelt desire to change, and ask God to forgive our past way of life, He applies the sacrifice of Christ on our behalf. We are then forgiven and freed from the guilt and penalty of our past sins. The penalty of eternal death no longer hangs over our heads.
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