Learning to repent…again

“From that time on, Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” (Matt. 4:17)

Repentance involves a deep-seated transformation of attitudes, values, behaviours, etc.; a fundamental turnaround involving attitudes, values, and actions. Moreover, it is a recurring signpost on the Christian spiritual journey. Unfortunately, repentance can be communicated as tantamount to our initial confession of faith in Christ – as though repentance is a one-time event resulting in a sharp change of life direction. The figure below represents such an understanding:

Perhaps though, repentance is better thought of as something we face repeatedly as we journey the path of maturing in Christ. As the Spirit continues to remind us of Jesus’ ways (cf. John 14:26) we continually find new areas of our heart (and perhaps old areas again!) that need a course correction. The following figure represents this:

Genuine repentance always involves a sense of grief, earnestness, and desire to clear oneself (cf. 2 Cor. 7:11) that leaves no sense of regret. Such is the way of following Christ, again and again.

^“At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:66-69)