We often think of repentance as something we ‘do’ – after all, we are called to repent.

It, like faith, is a gift to us that flows from the cross of Christ and is worked in fellowship with the Risen Christ. It goes against all that we are by nature as sinners. I like the following statements about repentance and think they are down-to-earth, understandable, and helpful.

It indicates a break from the direction of our life by nature in sin – “Turn around”!

It is also a release from the domination of sin in our lives – as Eugene Peterson has written,

We cultivate the resurrection life not by adding something to our lives but by denouncing the frenetic ego life, clearing out the cultural and religious clutter, turning our backs on what we commonly call ‘the world, the flesh and the Devil’ (Living the Resurrection)

One clear mark of God’s saving work in our lives is the presence of genuine, godly repentance.  This is vital for spiritual reality and health and will be truly blessed because it issues in resurrection life!