The Four Calls on Every Christian’s LifeShembull

Jesus Calls Us to Repent

While repentance may not be a popular sermon topic today, there’s no question it was a foundational requirement during Jesus’ ministry two thousand years ago.

The first command Jesus makes in all Scripture is a call to repentance. We see this in Matthew 4:17:

“From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’”

So what is repentance exactly, and how can we know if we’ve adequately repented?

Merriam-Webster defines the word repent as “to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one’s life.” Far more than simply admitting your sin or feeling sorry for what you’ve done, true biblical repentance also requires a deliberate change in action.

Think of repentance as doing a 180. Previously, you were headed in one direction. When you repent, you stop and instead turn and head entirely differently. This applies to sin, false beliefs, negative thought patterns, and any other actions or behaviors that are at odds with God’s will for your life.

Of course, repentance isn’t always easy. After thousands of years of observation and practice, Satan is an expert at making sin look, sound, and feel appealing—at least initially. Satan convinces us that minor sins are “no big deal.” Then he uses these small sins as leverage to gain even more impact and influence in our lives—often taking us where we never intended to go.

This is why it isn’t enough to sprinkle a few good deeds onto a life that’s otherwise full of sin and selfishness. Sin is like an untreated infection: allow even a little bit, and it’s likely to spread.

Jesus asks us to repent so we can make room for God’s full and abundant life for us instead. He promises: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

In 1 John 1:8–9, what two things does God do when we confess our sins and repent?