We often underestimate the importance of repentance.
Repentance is an essential part of salvation: Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15; Luke 5:32; Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19; Romans 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9; Isaiah 55:6-7. And it's an important aspect of Christian life after our salvation.
Addressing believers, 1 John 1:8-10 gives this warning:
“If
we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not
in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive
us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have
not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.”
James 4:8-10 gives this command:
“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you
sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and
wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble
yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
And 2 Corinthians 7:11 offers this example of genuine repentance:(1)
“Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right.”
Let's never underestimate the damage of unconfessed sin or the freedom and restoration of honest confession and forgiveness.
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(1) In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul rebuked the Corinthian church for failing to confront a church member who was living a sinful lifestyle. The leaders were ignoring the commands for confrontation as described in Matthew 18:15-17. When the church leaders repented, they expressed their sorrow to Paul for neglecting that important duty. That is the repentance Paul describes in this verse. I encourage you to read the full chapter in 2 Corinthians 7.
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