The problem of sin
Generally speaking, the word sin is an archery term and means “to miss the target” – to “sin,” a target means to miss the center of the target. Of course, we understand this word as a religious term that means moral and ethical failure. If we can consider God’s justice as the center of the target, then whenever we miss the center of the target, we sin. However, today we often treat sin as if it were a harmless misstep in cosmic space. We tend to think of sin as not a very serious matter. We misunderstand how serious it is and underestimate its power. Furthermore, what we consider a small sin is a gross assault on God’s righteous character. And so God punishes even the most minor violation with a severe morals judgment for an – eternity in hell. The Bible teaches that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) and further that “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23),
If the center of the target is God’s perfect holiness, then to “sin,” the target is to fall short of His requirement of righteousness. But it’s more than just missing the mark. The apostle John tells us that “sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4). Furthermore, “(sin) consists in doing, saying, thinking, or imagining anything that is not in perfect harmony with the mind of God and His law” (JC Ryle, Holiness: It’s Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots; 1879, reprinted; Darlington: Evangelical Press, 1979).
Sin is more than a few mistakes, missteps, minor slips, or stumbles. It is an insult to the goodness and holiness of God. It’s an attack on the King’s throne. For God, sin is not something unimportant. It is a tremendous evil that must be condemned and eradicated.
But if all are guilty of sinning against God, and God only responds with condemnation, is there any hope?
In the Lord Jesus Christ.
Forgiveness of sin through Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ, who himself is God in human flesh (John 1:1-3.14), came to earth and lived in perfect obedience to every law of God. And so he perfectly fulfilled God’s requirements. The Lord Jesus lived a sinless life (2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 4:15, 1 Peter 2:22), and therefore gave himself up to be killed as a propitiatory sacrifice – to propitiate His wrath for our sins (1 John 2:2). Since the Lord Jesus Christ was the only acceptable sacrifice for sin, he died a substitutionary death in place of sinners (1 Peter 2:24), paid the ransom to the Father, redeemed us from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13). Based on the death of the Lord Jesus, God can forgive us our sins (Colossians 2:13), and we are justified – God forgives us and declares us righteous, even though we are sinful and unrighteous (Romans 3:28, Galatians 2:16).
What the Lord Jesus did on the cross makes it possible for our sins to be forgiven. And this is not only about forgiveness but also about reconciliation with God – restoring the relationship with Him. Paul writes: “But God demonstrates his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. How soon shall we be saved from wrath through him, now that we are justified by his blood?! For if we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son even when we were enemies, how much sooner shall we be saved by his life when we are reconciled?!” (Romans 5:8-10)
How do we receive His forgiveness? This is done through repentance.
The need for repentance
The word commonly used for repentance in the Old Testament is shub, which means “to change one’s course of action, turn away, or turn back” (Sinclair Ferguson, The Grace of Repentance. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010), p 15-16). The word was often used for a physical return, as in the return of God’s people from captivity. But it was also used to express a spiritual return to God.
In the New Testament, the word repentance is the Greek word metanoia, which means “a change of mind,” and it refits a change of mind. Sinclair Ferguson defines repentance as “a change of mind that leads to a change of lifestyle” (Ferguson, The Garage of Repentance, p. 18). Puritan Thomas Watson notes that “repentance is the grace of the Spirit of God, by which the sinner is inwardly humbled and visibly changed” (Thomas Watson, The Doctrine of Repentance (1668, reprinted; Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1987), p. 18.). John MacArthur even offers a slightly different definition: “It is a reorientation of one’s will, a decision to forsake all unrighteousness and pursue righteousness instead deliberately” (John MacArthur, The Gospel According to Jesus (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1988), p. 178.).
Elements of repentance
While a definition of repentance is helpful and necessary, it will be of much greater value to us when we understand the various elements of repentance. It is important to note that merely feeling sorry for sinning is not repentance per se. Falling to the knees as a response to regret is often associated with the fact that one has been caught in sin and must now bear the consequences—not that one is sorry for the sin itself. And so, in order to properly understand repentance, we need to see that it has three main components.
The first is intellectual. At some point, a person needs to realize that he has sinned. He broke God’s commandments and committed rebellion. It is mental recognition; awareness. This is what it means to “enter into yourself” (Luke 15:17). After all, the New Testament Greek word metanoia primarily concerns the mind; it means awareness of sin, and a change in thinking occurs. When King David sinned with Bathsheba, he wrote, “Then I confessed my sin to you, and I did not hide my guilt” (Psalm 32:5). John MacArthur writes, “Repentance begins with the recognition of sin—the understanding that we are sinners, that our sin offends a Holy God, and more specifically, that we are personally responsible for our guilt.” (MacArthur, The Gospel According to Jesus, p. 179 ). One of the biggest problems we face is the inability and unwillingness to realize and admit our guilt when we sin. But we have to call it what it is and be ready to move forward based on what we have set out in our minds.
The other side of repentance is emotional. This is where feelings come into play. It is important to note that remorse over a given situation is not necessarily a sign of true repentance, but we should show sincere remorse for our sin and the fact that we have broken God’s law (2 Corinthians 7:9-11). As Christians, we should be deeply concerned that we have offended God with our transgression. Furthermore, because of sin, our relationship with Him is broken. David says to God: “Because You have no pleasure in slaughter… A contrite spirit is a sweet sacrifice to God. You, God, do not despise a broken and crushed heart.” (Psalm 51:18a.19). God wants us to be crushed and sad over our sin. That is a sign of true repentance. But there is more to it.
The third component is wanting. It is an act of the will. Indeed, the first step is the confession of sin, working in conjunction with the first part – the intellect – to realize and admit our sin. Louis Berkhof notes that there is “an element of volition which consists of a change of direction, an inward turning away from sin, and the ability to seek forgiveness and purification.” (Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology, (Grand Rapids, Ml: Eerdmans, 1939) p. 486 ).
When King Solomon decided to dedicate a new temple, the Lord came to him and confirmed the promise of the covenant – if the people obeyed, Gowouldll bless them. The Lord told him: ” If my people, who are named after me, will humble themselves, pray, seek my face and turn from their evil ways, I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2. the book of Chronicles 7:14). There must be complete turning away, or there is no visible evidence of repentance (Matthew 3:8)!
Repentance and faith
It must be realized that it is not repentance by which we are saved, but faith itself in the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 3:28, Galatians 2:16, Ephesians 2:8-9). Richard Owen Roberts writes, “Repentance is not a ticket to the kingdom of God, but a condition of citizenship.” (Richard Owen Roberts, Repentance: The First Word of the Gospel. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2002), p. 28). However, the connection between the two is unbreakable because “repentance and faith are married together and will never be divorced. True repentance never stands alone but is always connected with true faith. True faith does not stand alone, but is always connected with true repentance.” (Roberts, Repentance, p. 68.) By faith, turning away from sin becomes a step of obedience to God. Louis Berkhof writes: “True repentance never exists without not to be connected with faith, while on the other hand, wherever true faith is found, there is also true repentance. These things are just different aspects of the same turning away – turning away from sin towards the two cannot be separated. They are complementary parts of the same process” (Berkhof, Systematic Theology, p. 487).
By faith, we recognize and believe that God is who He says He I and that what He has revealed is good, correct, and accurate. By faith, we repent of breaking His perfect law. By faith, we believe that what He has promised to those who obey Him is greater than the short-term pleasure we get from sin because if we do not repent of sin in our lifetime, it will condemn us to hell. By faith, we regret; our repentance is the fruit of our faith. So it should be clear, as Roberts states, that “the presence of repentance, as well as faith, is necessary to salvation. You must turn from your sin to turn to the Lord Jesus Christ. You can only turn to Christ if you have turned from your sin. Repentance and faith go inseparably together. Any attempt to divide them is a sad mistake.” (Roberts, Repentance, p. 70.)
What is God’s promise to us regarding repentance? “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). This promise has two parts: He will forgive us our sins, remove our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12, Colossians 2:14) and cleanse us, washing us from the inside out, renewing our soul (Psalm 51:7, Ephesians 5:26- 27, Titus 3:5). While sin must be confessed because it grossly offends God, He is also gracious, willing to forgive us and restore us.
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