Re-
REpentance R
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epentance comes from the Greek word metanoéō, meaning “to change one’s 1 mind.” We see one example of this word when John the Baptist says, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2, ESV). Repentance is a process that begins with the nonbeliever and continues into the life of a believer. It starts with the nonbeliever acknowledging that Jesus died and resurrected to save them from their sins. After acknowledgment follows true belief. When coming into belief, repentance continues as the individual recognizes sin in their life, which are actions that contradict God’s holy character as revealed through His laws. When the individual becomes self-aware of their evil sin, realizing it upsets God, it results in a change of mindset. Pursuing Christ produces greater self-awareness of one’s own sin. A self-aware individual instead pursues what is righteous before God, walking in a manner that is pleasing to Him. The story of the prophet Isaiah provides an example of repentance. When Isaiah received a vision from God, he recognized the holiness of God in contrast to his sinfulness, saying,
Having turned towards God, recognizing the dreadfulness of his own sin, Isaiah repents. He no longer carries the same mindset he had towards the sins he committed, but he accepts the task that God had given him of telling the people of Judah about their sins, deciding to walk in obedience before God. Repentance is a process I personally wrestle with, particularly as it relates to sharing the gospel. As Christians, God calls us to evangelize by sharing the gospel, which is the good news that Jesus died on the cross to bear the wrath of God that rightfully belonged to us because of our sins and that He resurrected on the third day for our justification (Romans 4:25). Evangelism can take many forms. For example, inviting non-Christian friends to church to hear the gospel or directly sharing this good news with a non-Christian. For many Christians, though, the difficulty in evangelizing to nonbelievers is often rooted in the fear of rejection and choosing to protect their own peace and comfort over sharing the good news. I recognized my inability to respond to God at the dining hall one day while waiting for food. I felt a desire to share the gospel with someone but could not bring myself to do it amidst the questions Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of racing through my mind: unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a Lord, can’t I simply make small talk with people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen them first? Can’t I first befriend them and eventually the King, the Lord of hosts! (Isaiah 6:5) bring them to church? Is it truly Your desire that, at
this moment, I share the truth about sin, separation
Isaiah, seeing God and understanding His from You, and what it means for those who don’t holiness, recognizes his own sin. In this vision, a put their trust in Jesus? seraphim, an angelic creature, touches Isaiah’s lips I ended up standing there, feeling nothing with a burning coal, uttering, but overwhelmed. In retrospect, I realize that my inability to share resulted from the potential pain Behold, this has touched your lips; your or embarrassment I would feel from rejection. I guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for. later felt the weight of shame for rejecting God’s (Isaiah 6:7) prompting to share the gospel, and I missed the