Tagged: repentance

Remorse VS Repentance – the difference REALLY matters…REALLY

I’m taking a rest-break (sabbatical) – so this is pre-scheduled
post for your encouragement! 

In almost 20 years of Pastoral teaching and counseling, I’ve come to see the difference between remorse and repentance very clearly.  But sadly, many people don’t see the difference – ever.

Do you know the difference?

Remorse is bad feelings, regret, even depression because of something you’ve done or allowed.  It’s a nagging, gnawing feeling of personal “darkness” you can’t shake.  And it can haunt you for years, decades… a lifetime.  Remorse is the feeling you have because of guilt – REAL guilt – for an action or inaction that you KNOW was wrong.

But remorse is supposed to lead somewhere… somewhere important, somewhere vital!  I can’t recall where I read it, but I remember Martin Luther saying (paraphrased here) that guilt’s purpose is to lead us to repentance, to the cross; and that once it has served that purpose, we should be rid of it.  THAT is what we need to make sure we understand… remorse/guilt are intended by God to lead us to repentance.  What is repentance?

Repentance is coming to a place of sorrow over your wrong/sin – to the point that you are broken, contrite, and ready to change.  It’s not enough to feel sorry only… many people do that but never change the attitude, thinking, or actions that caused the action they are sorry about.  Repentance is humbling yourself, confessing your wrong, turning to Christ for forgiveness, and trusting in Him alone to help you make a change in your thinking and direction.

Mark Driscoll makes the point very strongly by comparing Judas with Peter.  It’s short, well worth watching…

Things you don’t repent of… but should – #8

I came across a very helpful list in Murray G. Brett’s book “Growing Up In Grace” that is taken from the Church of Scottland’s 1651 “Humble acknowledgement of the sins of the ministry.”  The list struck me as important, VERY important… so I’m going to make a series of posts, each containing 1 or 2 of these things you and I don’t typically repent over, but should.

  1. No change of life after solemn acknowledgements of wrong.
  2. Not learning the fear of God when others fall into sin… not mourning and praying for them.
  3. Neglecting the preparation of my mind and heart for gathered times of worship with God’s people.

Are there any you would add?

Things you don’t repent of… but should – #7

I came across a very helpful list in Murray G. Brett’s book “Growing Up In Grace” that is taken from the Church of Scottland’s 1651 “Humble acknowledgement of the sins of the ministry.”  The list struck me as important, VERY important… so I’m going to make a series of posts, each containing 1 or 2 of these things you and I don’t typically repent over, but should.

  1. Abusing our time in frequent recreation and pastimes and loving our pleasures more than God.
  2. Coveteousness, worldly mindedness, and an inordinate desire after the things of this world.
  3. Artificial confession of sin without repentance.

Are there any you would add?

Things you don’t repent of… but should – #6

I came across a very helpful list in Murray G. Brett’s book “Growing Up In Grace” that is taken from the Church of Scottland’s 1651 “Humble acknowledgement of the sins of the ministry.”  The list struck me as important, VERY important… so I’m going to make a series of posts, each containing 1 or 2 of these things you and I don’t typically repent over, but should.

  1. Seeking my own pleasure when the Lord calls for self-denial… for His sake.
  2. Being least careful of those things which are most remote from the eyes of others.
  3. Not mourning for our own and others’ guiltiness and great backsliding.

Are there any you would add?

Things you don’t repent of… but should – #5

I came across a very helpful list in Murray G. Brett’s book “Growing Up In Grace” that is taken from the Church of Scottland’s 1651 “Humble acknowledgement of the sins of the ministry.”  The list struck me as important, VERY important… so I’m going to make a series of posts, each containing 1 or 2 of these things you and I don’t typically repent over, but should.

  1. Speaking of Christ more by hearsay than from personal experience and knowledge.
  2. Not watching over my heart nor the things my mind most often goes to when in neutral.
  3. Not studying self-denial, nor resolving to take up the cross of Christ.

Are there any you would add?

Things you don’t repent of… but should – #4

I came across a very helpful list in Murray G. Brett’s book “Growing Up In Grace” that is taken from the Church of Scottland’s 1651 “Humble acknowledgement of the sins of the ministry.”  The list struck me as important, VERY important… so I’m going to make a series of posts, each containing 1 or 2 of these things you and I don’t typically repent over, but should.

  1. Negligence in entertaining a sense of sin’s guilt, misery, tyranny, and corrupting influences.
  2. Not given to reflect upon my own ways.
  3. Not allowing conviction to have a thorough work upon me.

Are there any you would add?

Things you don’t repent of… but should – #3

I came across a very helpful list in Murray G. Brett’s book “Growing Up In Grace” that is taken from the Church of Scottland’s 1651 “Humble acknowledgement of the sins of the ministry.”  The list struck me as important, VERY important… so I’m going to make a series of posts, each containing 1 or 2 of these things you and I don’t typically repent over, but should.

  1. Studying more to learn the language of holiness than the exercise of holiness.
  2. Glad to find excuses for the neglect of spiritual exercises and duties.
  3. Using entertainment which hinders my communion with God.

Are there any you would add?

Things you don’t repent of… but should – #2

I came across a very helpful list in Murray G. Brett’s book “Growing Up In Grace” that is taken from the Church of Scottland’s 1651 “Humble acknowledgement of the sins of the ministry.”  The list struck me as important, VERY important… so I’m going to make a series of posts, each containing 1 or 2 of these things you and I don’t typically repent over, but should.

  1. Practical legalism – offering fleshly, dutiful, legal obedience rather than gospel obedience, that is, the obedience that comes from faith in Christ.
  2. Not preaching the gospel to myself daily, nor taking delight in it for my own holiness
  3. Ignorance of God, His holy character, and His holy and just ways.

Are there any you would add?

Things you don’t repent of… but should – #1

I came across a very helpful list in Murray G. Brett’s book “Growing Up In Grace” that is taken from the Church of Scottland’s 1651 “Humble acknowledgement of the sins of the ministry.”  The list struck me as important, VERY important… so I’m going to make a series of posts, each containing 1 or 2 of these things you and I don’t typically repent over, but should.

  1. Acting to, from, and for ourselves rather than to, from, and for our God.
  2. Seeking a name for self rather than the honor of Christ.
  3. Trusting our natural abilities or past successes rather than depending on the Spirit.

Are there any you would add?

Repentance – one mark of a REAL MAN

Being man in our day and age can be a bit confusing.  Who is a good role model?  With many men coming from broken homes, with no dad in sight, sometimes the only role model is what comes out of Hollywood.  Lord… help us!

I came across this article today from theresurgence.org… a very good one… good enough to repost in its entirety.  ENJOY and be BLESSED!

Machismo

Growing up in Santa Fe, N.M. I was exposed very heavily to the “machismo” type of masculinity. A man is defined by how many fights he has been in, how many girls he has slept with, and how much liquor he can consume. This is handed down from father to son, generation after generation. I can’t count how many times growing up that I watched my dad either getting drunk or getting into street fights.

As a matter of fact, one time when he found out that a neighbor kid was picking on me, and I had done nothing about it, he drove me over to his house and forced me to fight him. My dad was as tough as they come. When he was only 16, he wrecked my grandpa’s car, and rather than face the beating he knew was coming, he pushed the car into the driveway and walked to California with only a dollar in his pocket.

What It Meant To Be a Man

The sad thing is this is how he would lead our family as well. Our home was filled with violence and alcohol abuse. I simply thought that this was what it meant to be a man. Therefore, this is what I was aiming for. My father had taught me well, and I was well on my way to walking in his footsteps. But little did I know that God in his grace was calling my father. He would teach him what it really means to be a man. It would be radically different from what he had learned, and what he had taught me.

As my father began to walk with Jesus, I saw him do things that he had never done. These are things that I was taught that real men were never to do. I’ll never forget the first time I saw my dad reading a bible, or the first time I saw him cry, or the first time I saw him actually avoid a fight. It blew me away. I had no neat little box to put this in. I knew that this had to be God working in my father’s life.

I had no neat little box to put this in. I knew that this had to be God working in my father’s life.

Respect and Confession

This began to teach me that there was more to being a man than I was taught. The violent and proud man I once knew was gone, and in his place was a humble and gentle man. A man who still commanded respect, but not through fear. It came through friendship.

I’ll never forget the day my dad came to me and confessed his sins against our family and me. He admitted he was wrong in so many areas of his life, and that by God’s grace he would be a better example of what a man truly is. He didn’t only do this with me, but also with so many people he had wronged throughout his life. It was in that moment I learned one of the most important things about being a man.

Real Men Repent

The bible says in Proverbs 28:13, “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” My father taught me the meaning of true repentance. Through this lesson I was able to win the biggest battle I had ever been in. My entire life I battled sin, and I always came up on the losing end. When I placed my faith in Jesus Christ and through the repentance of my sins, I received the mercy of God and acceptance as his son.

Jesus now becomes for me the ultimate example of what it truly means to be a man.

Jesus gave me the victory over sin that I could never have experienced on my own. Meaning that sin became for me something I do, instead of something I am. And when I do sin, I can confess and repent of my sin, and God will be faithful and forgive and cleanse me from all my unrighteousness.

Jesus now becomes for me the ultimate example of what it truly means to be a man. By God’s grace I live to his glory daily in my life and plan to pass this on to my son behind me.