Towards the end of the first part, we saw how repentance is largely a secretive transformation constantly taking place deep in the essence of a man’s heart. Yet, this bubbling lava of change now bursts through the crust and exhibits it in outward emotions, actions and faith. Firstly, how does it manifest in our emotions? This is how the apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 7:10: For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. The larger context of Paul writing this is in sequence to his first epistle to Corinth, where he bluntly and boldly addresses sin, purity and righteous order within the church. Paul wasn’t intending to cause sorrow through his letter, though it did (2 Corinthians 7:8, 12). And equally he wasn’t also trying to be politically correct or to appease men while exercising his authority (Galatians 1:10). Such a stern, raw, unminced presentation of the Gospel truth brought about Godly sorrow that produced repentance in the humble soul. Maybe the word sorrow stirs the image of mourning and weeping over our sins – arising through inner brokenness. And while this is true. Sorrow also is referring to pain, grief, annoyance and affliction. All these emotions can serve as a hallmark of true repentance in one’s life. Is your soul afflicted? Is it grieved by sins? Are you annoyed by the very presence of sin in your inner life? Or does everything carry on blissfully, even in sins that the Holy Spirit has convicted you on? While I do not assert that emotions are always a reliable indicator of true repentance. Yet, if we find that we are not able to even remember the last time we have weeped or grieved in our sinfulness – it is a call for serious self-examination of our hearts in fasting. And allowing the Word of God to once again convict our hardened hearts (Hebrews 4:12).    

Repentance then has to move from this mental and emotional realm to the tangible realm of deeds. This inner change of attitude towards sin entails the leaving behind of your old self or the old man. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us: Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Not that you become sinless immediately, but a process has begun within you that is perfecting unto Holiness (Philippians 3:12-14). A process of leaving behind the old and walking in the new things. Or in more Biblical lingo – the death of the carnal man (Romans 8:10, 13) and the birth of the new spiritual man (Colossians 3:10). And this incident of death and new birth is what Jesus teaches is to be born again (John 3:3, 5), to a Pharisee named Nicodemus. The death to self – signified by the active and militant resistance of a man’s will to the temptation to sin. John the Baptist terms this as the fruits of repentance (Matthew 3:8, Luke 3:8-9) and unequivocally demands it before the publicly conspicuous and witnessing act of baptism of repentance or immersion (Baptizo – immersion or submerged). And the second part of being born again is God’s filling of the Holy Spirit – which happens at the moment of faith (Ephesians 1:13-14). The Holy Spirit then empowers (by grace) us now to a new life pressing on to more Christlikeness (Colossians 3:9-11). This now leads us to inherit the kingdom of God.

And finally, our repentance must always be in view of what Jesus said at the very beginning of His public ministry in Matthew 4:17: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The kingdom of heaven or God, which is God’s eternal kingdom is near. It is within hand’s reach to grasp and take a hold of, to the one who is found with a contrite (repentant) heart (Psalm 34:18). It is also a reminder, the time for repentance is always NOW! The wicked city of Nineveh would be saved because as soon as they humbled themselves, God would relent of the judgement proclaimed upon them (Jonah 3:10). I leave you with this quote from Gorham Dummer Abbott, a Presbyterian minister in 19th century America.

“Sincere repentance is never too late, but late repentance is seldom sincere. The thief on the cross repented, and was pardoned in the last hour of his life.  We have one such instance in Scripture – that none might despair; and only one – that none might presume.”

Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.

– Isaiah 55:6-7