Repentance

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 
 Romans 15:13

Repentance is determined action that follows Jesus

Question: Have you ever apologized to someone – but didn’t really change your behavior or character? Has someone done that to you?

There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was a short man. Luke 19:2–3

When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today it is necessary for me to stay at your house.” Luke 19:5

But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord. And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much.” Luke 19:8

Repentance isn’t’ saying, “I’m sorry.”
Repentance is walking out the a change of direction. 

There is something about the presence of Jesus that calls us to change.

 “Today salvation has come to this house,” Jesus told him, “because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:9–10

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Question: Jesus’ response is not what anyone expected. Do you think that Jesus would be willing to come to your home and be in your life? 

How to Repent

Determine to Live for God’s Purpose
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

Determine to Obey Jesus.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5

… love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:18

“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. John 13:34

Determine to be in Community
With God
With other Believers

Determine to work out.
Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12, CSB

22 For in my inner self I delight in God’s law, 23 but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Romans 7:22-24 

 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! Romans 7:25

A life of repentance doesn’t mean we are sinless, it means we strive to sin less. 

Repentance is a determined action that follows Jesus.

#Reflection
What daily steps are you determined to take to follow Jesus?
Who are the people in your life who help you?