Genuine Repentance has two parts
1) Right understanding of the deep damage caused by sin and what we deserve (consequences) for the sin
2) Right understanding of who God IS and the true value (worth) of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
Genuine Repentance has two outcomes
1) A desire or a deep longing to see Jesus and desire to live a Holy life.
2) A deep hatred for the old sins because they would hurt our relationship with God
These days, these two parts and two outcomes are missing when people repent. They do go back to their old sins again and again like a circle. Their repentance does not last long and is short-lived.
Only when we understand the extent of the deep damage caused by sin, then only we will understand the need of the Savior. Without knowing the damage caused by sin – how it separated us from God, we will not understand the significance of the Cross of Jesus. The more deeper you understand the damage caused by sin, the more deeply you will understand what Jesus accomplished on the Cross. If one were to quantify the true cost of Jesus’ death on the cross, it would be incalculable (trillions of trillions of dollars). Without remembering the Cross, there is no genuine repentance. We won’t understand the need for the Savior until we realize the extent of the harm that sin has caused.
This generation don’t understand the true value of the sacrifice of Jesus, so they take sin very lightly. A person who understands the value of Cross correctly, will not take sin lightly. We need ask Holy Spirit to open our eyes to understand the true worth of the sacrifice of Jesus, so that we will appreciate Jesus for the Cross.
But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:40-43
The thief on the cross did not enter heaven by mistake. He had a change of heart and genuine repentance. He realized that he deserves judgment or punishment for his deeds, but he also realized that Jesus was a King, had a kingdom, He is Holy and did not deserve to be punished. He understood who Jesus was.
The thief eyes were opened to see the true nature of Jesus – a king who had come to die for sins of humanity. He got a glimpse of Jesus as the unblemished lamb of God who came to die for the sins of humanity. He saw his own wickedness, and he also saw the true nature of Jesus. His heart was changed. He acknowledged his own sin and Jesus is the king.
Genuine repentance – after you repented, will make you turn to Jesus. It will create a desire or longing to seek Jesus and lead a Holy life. Nowadays, repentance means confessing one’s sins but there is no turning to Jesus and no living a Holy life. People also don’t know the deep damage caused by sin, so they don’t recognize the need of the Savior and the Cross of Jesus.
Today ask Jesus to give you a genuine repentance where you will see the deep damage caused by sin and realize how much you need the Savior. Let you experience genuine repentance where you will develop a deep longing to see Jesus.