Asking forgiveness isn’t repentance. In fact, God doesn’t emphasize asking Him for forgiveness as much as He does telling us to confess our sins (Psalm 32:5, Psalm 38:18, 1 John 1:9) — then He will forgive us. Yes, we should ask God for His forgiveness, but He knows that words are cheap. How many times have you asked for forgiveness only to do it again…and sometimes again and again and again?
God demands repentance.
Repentance doesn’t begin with your MOUTH it begins with your MIND
Look at how God beautifully defines repentance and then gives us a beautiful promise through the prophet Isaiah. There are others like 2 Chronicles 7:14 and 2 Corinthians 7:10, but I love the way God says it here…I’m just going to let you read it and allow it bless you because the Word speaks for itself.
Isaiah 55:6-7 (NKJV)
6 SEEK THE LORD while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
7 Let the wicked FORSAKE HIS WAY,
And the unrighteous man HIS THOUGHTS;
Let him RETURN to the Lord,
And He WILL HAVE MERCY on him;
And to our God,
For He WILL ABUNDANTLY PARDON.
BE BLESSTIFIED!
Really great thoughts!!! It’s true, forgiveness can be given, but Christians can very well still backslide. Repentance leans more towards leaving the sin behind. Great post!
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Thanks! Just jumped out when I was reading Isaiah during lunch today:-)
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I have those moments too! It’s awesome when the Holy Spirit moves within us and inspires us.
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Amen! You feel can’t write it down somewhere fast enough…
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Amen!
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I agree. I think asking for forgiveness genuinely doesn’t make one go back to the sin. Asking for forgiveness all the time and going back to it, is to me not asking for forgiveness genuinely.
Repentance is once when we accept Jesus but asking for genuine forgiveness is what we live it, why? We are mortals heading for perfection, flaws are inevitable.
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Amen. Very well said!
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Repentance is giving up our will and allowing GOD’s will to prevail. Confessing of our sins to GOD can only happen when we recognize GOD as sovereign and worthy owning all that we are. Before that occured, we only depended on our own will and mindset. In repenting, we give all authority to GOD to conduct our lives as HE wills and we give our will…thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Confession puts us back in focus of who is now our Master…Jesus Christ, and upon Him hinges everything.
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Very well stated. Thanks so much for adding to the discussion.
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Awesome post! Yess the Word says we must TURN from our wicked ways! You are right, it’s more than us asking for forgiveness with our mouths but we must ask for it also with a change of heart and a change in our works/actions!… Keep up the good work, God bless!
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Thanks so much! Be Blesstified!!!:-)
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Ur welcome! 🙂
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