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Repentance Requires Forsaking Sin

Writer's picture: Jeff RossJeff Ross

(The following is the June 1 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read Acts 19 and pay close attention to verses 18-20.)


Repentance involves both sorrow for sin (2 Cor. 7:9-10) and changing one’s direction. We are not genuinely repentant if we willfully continue sinning as we did before professing Christ. Unless we forsake sin, we show no evidence of sorrow for sin and a saving relationship with Jesus. New creations are not enslaved to the old sinful nature (2 Cor. 5:17).


The effect of repentance was evident in Ephesus when many who practiced magic arts responded to the gospel. They knew they could not continue living as they had. They understood their livelihood from sorcery had to end. Consequently, they destroyed the means of their previous livelihood as a visible, meaningful act of faith. Doing so demonstrated genuine repentance, and “In this way the word of the Lord flourished and prevailed” (v. 20).


Spurgeon wrote about this incident: “It is a triumph of the gospel when people give up what they prize and suffer great loss in order to get rid of great sin. If we have come to trust in Christ, we will make short work of getting rid of all that is against that profession.” *


Paul implored the Galatians to “walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16). He listed several common sins (Gal. 5:19-21), followed by a list of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). After the lists, he wrote, “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Gal. 5:24).


Only through God's grace and the power of the Holy Spirit can anyone turn from sin and grow in holiness. We still have an active role in the process by surrendering our will to Christ and living in obedience to his Word.


Next Step:

What do you need to do or stop doing to demonstrate repentance? Do you have a close Christian friend who can help hold you accountable?

____________________

* CSB Spurgeon Study Bible, ed. Alistair Begg (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1494.

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