Repent
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1
Throughout the Old Testament, we see that God tells his people if they turn from their wicked ways and return to him (sometimes by just looking at him), they will be forgiven. (Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Intercede with the LORD so He will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses interceded for the people. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will live.”Numbers 21:7-8 (BSB), But if from there you will seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His voice. For the LORD your God is a merciful God; He will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers, which He swore to them by oath.Deuteronomy 4:29-31 (BSB), and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.2 Chronicles 7:14 (BSB), Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.Isaiah 55:6-7 (BSB), “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.Joel 2:12-13 (BSB), So tell the people that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Return to Me, declares the LORD of Hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of Hosts.’Zechariah 1:3 (BSB))
In the New Testament, we learn that we can be forgiven of our sins and receive God's gift of salvation if we simply believe in Jesus Christ. This allows us to spend eternity in heaven with God after we die. (Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life.John 5:24 (BSB), They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.”Acts 16:31 (BSB), that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.Romans 10:9-10 (BSB), For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.Ephesians 2:8-9 (BSB), Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.Revelation 3:20 (BSB))
Repent
When trying to turn from our sin, we should be cautious of false, self-centered repentance. This repentance often includes phrases like, “I'll try harder next time”, “That's not actually who I am”, “It was just a mistake”, “I'm a sinner, so how could I resist?” These thought patterns, or excuses, lead us to avoid accepting that we need a Savior to save us, by avoiding acceptance that we committed the sin.
Instead of excusing our sin or falling into patterns of remorse and resolution, true gospel repentance moves us to realize and repent. Realize: “I did do that.” Repent: “Lord, forgive me. You are my only hope.” As this becomes normal for us, we stop being surprised by our sin, so we can admit it more honestly. And we stop believing we can fix ourselves, so we turn to Jesus more quickly.
True, Biblical repentance follows these criteria:
Aimed at God, not at yourself.
The worst thing about your sin is not what it cost you. It is that you sinned against Him. (Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be proved right when You speak and blameless when You judge.Psalm 51:4 (BSB))
Godly sorrow, not selfish regret.
Regret wants the consequences gone. Godly sorrow grieves the sin itself. (Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.2 Corinthians 7:10 (BSB))
About your heart, not just your behavior.
He wants your heart, not your performance. (For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.Psalm 51:16-17 (BSB))
Looking to Jesus for rescue from the penalty and the power of sin.
He saves you from what the sin deserves, and gives you power and sanctifies you. (For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.2 Timothy 1:7 (BSB))
Guiding steps for Biblical repentance:
Acknowledge that you have sinned against God.
Not that a mistake happened, but that you did it.
Confess any ways you are falsely repenting.
For example, “I will try harder next time.”
Explore what your heart was chasing underneath the sin, and bring that to Him too.
Receive God's forgiveness by faith.
Trusting what Jesus already finished.
Rely on God's power to turn away from the sin.
Rather than your own willpower.
It's important to avoid doing these steps compulsively. As humans in a fallen world, we can make these steps into a fear-driven process that says, “I must do these steps in order, or God hasn't forgiven me.” This would not be Biblically true. Instead, this Biblical process should help to sanctify and feel God's grace and love, in that even though we turn away from him to sin, he is merciful to forgive us and accept us as his sons and daughters.
As a final reminder, you don't have to try harder after you sin. The Christian life is about running to the cross. Cody Carnes puts it well in his song Run to the Father.
The characteristics and steps above are adapted from The Gospel-Centered Life by Robert H. Thune and Will Walker.
Be encouraged
After repenting, our previous ways and old habits can tempt us to turn away from God. In times like these, it's important to be encouraged and reminded of God's character and promises.
He does not love you less when you fail.
(if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.2 Timothy 2:13 (BSB))
You are not alone as a sinner, and God still loves you.
(I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do. And if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.Romans 7:18-20 (BSB))
You are forgiven if you are in Christ.
Not because you are going to try harder next time, but because of Jesus' finished work on the cross. (What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I serve the law of God, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.Romans 7:24-25 (BSB))
God knows and understands where you are.
(For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.Hebrews 4:15 (BSB), Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.Matthew 10:29-31 (BSB))
Nearness to God is good and comforting for us.
(But as for me, it is good to draw near to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may proclaim all Your works.Psalm 73:28 (BSB))