When Repentance Is Necessary

If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.
–Matthew 18:15

Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change of direction. It means realizing you’re going in the wrong direction and deciding to turn around and start going in a new direction. Repentance is not a prerequisite for granting forgiveness. But there are a few instances in which the Bible says repentance is necessary.

First of all, repentance is necessary to receive God’s forgiveness. God took the first move in saving us when He sent Christ to die for us. Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” God made the first move, but we must repent in order to receive that forgiveness. We have to say to God, “I’m tired of arguing with You. You’re right; I’m wrong. I’ve been going in the wrong direction, and I’m ready to turn around. I’m ready to receive Your gift of forgiveness.” Only then are we truly forgiven.

Second, repentance is necessary to be reconciled with another person. While God requires me to forgive the business partner who cheated me, He doesn’t require me to stay in business with that person. In fact, I would be a fool to stay in business with an unrepentant cheat. Forgiveness has nothing to do with reconciliation, but repentance is necessary for reconciliation.

Third, repentance is necessary to be restored to a position we’ve lost. In Matthew 18, Jesus described two kinds of sins. When Peter asked, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him?” (v. 21), he was asking about personal offenses. Jesus didn’t say, “Demand repentance first.” He told Peter to forgive personal offenses.

But earlier, in verses 15–20, Jesus addressed sins against the body of Christ. What do you do with a Christian whose life is being destroyed by sin and whose sin is hurting the church and the reputation of Christ? Do you just let it go? No. Jesus gave a four-step process for handling that person. If they repent at any step, then they can be restored. If they don’t repent, then the final step is to turn them out of the church. The only way a sinning Christian can be restored is through repentance.

Today’s devotion is adapted from “Why the Words ‘I’m Sorry’ Are Highly Overrated,” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2015.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.