Topic: Repentance

Ephesians 5:5-7 > 1 Nephi 10:21 > 2 Corinthians 7:10 > Alma 5:31 > 2 Corinthians 7:1 > 1 Samuel 15:24-28 > 2 Samuel 12:9-10 > Isaiah 1:16 > The Acts 8:1-3; 9:1-6 > Mosiah 27:9-16, 23-30 > Psalm 38:18 > 2 Corinthians 7:10 > Alma 36:12-16 > Ezra 10:10-12 > Nehemiah 9:2 > Doctrine and Covenants 58:43 > Numbers 5:5-7 > Mosiah 27:32-37 > Proverbs 28:13 > Ezekiel 18:21-22

A gospel principle tied directly and completely to the doctrine of the Atonement, just covered in the previous Scripture Train, is the principle of repentance. Without the atonement, repentance would be a useless gesture for it is the atonement that makes repentance possible or meaningful. The atonement is the key that makes it possible for us to reconcile ourselves with God and repentance is the tool we employ to put the atonement to work for us. Repentance is the cleansing of the human soul of sin. Is it important for us to be cleansed from sin? Let’s let Paul answer the question! In Ephesians chapter 5 verses 5 through 7, Paul teaches us that no unclean person has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. The Book of Mormon teaches the same doctrine! 1 Nephi chapter 10 verses 21 states, “No unclean thing can dwell with God”. With this understanding, we understand more fully why Paul in 2 Corinthians chapter 7 verse 10 and Alma in Alma chapter 5 verse 31, states that repentance brings to pass our salvation. Why? Because repentance cleanses us and makes us fit for the kingdom of God. With this understanding, we now understand Paul’s admonition to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness stated in 2 Corinthians chapter 7 verse 1.

What is it that we need to be cleansed from? What makes our souls filthy? It is sin! Saul, in 1 Samuel chapter 15 verse 24, stated that sin is the transgression of the commandments of God. Saul did not ignorantly transgress the commandment, rather he willfully transgressed; this is sin! We can learn this by continuing to read the conversation between Saul and Samuel in verses 25 through 28. Samuel said that Saul rejected the word of the Lord. Saul knew the word of the Lord, he knew the commandment, but with a rebellious spirit he rejected God! When we reject or rebel against the commandment of the Lord we also reject or rebel against God. So, what are the consequences of sin? What does Samuel tell Saul? Samuel tells Saul that in that day God also rejected him as king of Israel and that it would be given to another. In order for us to understand what the consequences of sin are to us personally, we should liken this to ourselves; each of us has a reward in heaven awaiting us if we prove ourselves worthy of it. Therefore, just as Saul lost his earthly kingdom through rebellion, we, too, can lose our heavenly kingdom, or our inheritance, if we willfully transgress God’s commandments or sin due to our rebellious nature.

In the story of King David, Bath-sheba and Uriah the Hittite, we learn that when we despise the Lord’s commandments, we also despise the Lord. See 2 Samuel chapter 12 verses 9 through 10. King David committed a terrible sin when he committed adultery with Bath-sheba and when he assured that Uriah, her husband, would be killed in battle. In his lust of Bath-sheba, he rebelled against and despised the commandment of God to, “Not commit adultery” and to not even lust after a woman. See Matthew chapter 5 verse 28. He doubled this despising of God and His commandments when he then ensured that Uriah would be killed in battle. See Exodus chapter 20 verse 13.

With sin comes the need for us to apply the atonement of Jesus Christ and repent. In Isaiah chapter 1 verse 16 we hear the call for repentance; says Isaiah, “Wash you, make you clean”. Repentance is the process by which we cleanse ourselves from sin and as stated, it is only possible through the atonement of Jesus Christ. So, how do we repent? There is not a single place anywhere in the scriptures that lists the steps, rather we need to search the scriptures to find and learn how to repent. We know of two great examples in scripture where wicked men were called to repent and did so. Both these examples serve to demonstrate two different situations or conditions of the individual. The first will be Saul of Tarsus. See The Acts chapter 8 verses 1 through 3 and chapter 9 verses 1 through 6. Saul, in his passion, to preserve the Law of Moses, was doing everything in his power to stop this blasphemous, new religion. He was acting upon what he firmly believed to be correct, true and right. He was not rebelling against what he knew was right or true. Thus, Saul’s change came when he was brought to understand, or came to know the truth through a conversion process. A heavenly manifestation, from God, convinced him of his error. Mind you, he was not forced, threatened or unduly persuaded, but rather he changed on his own choice, it was his decision. Thus, we see, one form of repentance comes upon conversion. The second example comes from the Book of Mormon, Mosiah chapter 27 verses 9 through 16 and 23 through 30. In this example, we learn of a young man named Alma who, with others, was numbered among the unbelievers, not because they had not heard the word, but because they rebelled against the teachings of their fathers. They even went so far as to seek to destroy the Church of God. Alma and the others were given a choice to stop their destruction and repent or be cast off. As with Saul, they were given a choice to make; they were not forced, threatened, or unduly persuaded, but rather they changed by their own choice when faced with the facts of their current dilemma. Whereas Saul was converted, these men were awakened. Whereas Saul had never been taught the truth, these young men had been taught and taught by very good parents, but had rebelled. Thus, they were awakened to the awful dilemma that they were in. Whatever the case we may be in, whether in a state of ignorance or in a state of rebellion, a change needs to occur; some event needs to take place to give us the choice to change or to repent. This, then, is the first step in the process of repentance, RECOGNITION. We need to recognize that we are in paths contrary to the will of God.

What happens, then, when we recognize that our lives are contrary to God’s will for us? What happens when we realize that we have hurt someone who loves us? One of two things will happen: One, we will feel sorrow or remorse for living contrary to God, or two, we will harden our hearts and not feel any sorrow or remorse for our contrary actions. There is probably not a person a live who has not hurt someone who they love; a parent, a spouse, a son or daughter, a brother or a sister or a friend. We have all felt the shame, the sorrow or the grief of knowing we have hurt someone. We should feel the same way when we sin against God! We have hurt the person who loves us the most, the person whose love for us is immeasurable. Remember that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son”; (See John 3:16). To sin against God or His Son, Jesus, is to sin against the other. God gave His Son to live and atone for us. Jesus came to live in this world in order to do the will of His Father, which was to pave the way for us to return to the Father and enjoy eternal life. (See John chapter 6 verses 38 through 40). Thus, we read in Psalms chapter 38 verse 18 that we should sorrow for our sins. A recognition that we have sinned against God should bring upon us a Godly sorrow as 2 Corinthians chapter 7 verse 10 teaches. A Godly sorrow will lead us to repentance for we feel remorse or sadness knowing that we have hurt our God who loves us or Jesus who died for us.  The great prophet Alma, in the Book of Mormon, not only suffered terrible sorrow for the sins that he committed against God and His people, but terrible pain, too; so terrible were his sorrows and his pains that he wished he could become extinct, in both body and spirit, rather than have to face God; Alma chapter 36 verses 12 through 16.

Having felt such sorrow or experienced such pain, it seems that any normal person would want to do something positive to reconcile themselves with God and to make up for what they did wrong. Ezra teaches us that we should confess and forsake our sins. In Ezra chapter 10 verses 10 through 12, we read his admonition to the people and the people’s resulting conviction saying, “As thou hast said, so must we do.” In Nehemiah chapter 9 verse 2, we see that the people confessed their sins and separated themselves from those who caused them to sin. Finally, in the Doctrine and Covenants section 58 verse 43, we are taught that those who repent will confess and forsake their sins. Does this not simply make sense? If we are truly sorry for offending God, hurting Him who lived and died for us, would we not then feel motivated to confess those sins and then put them behind us forever assuring that we would never offend or hurt Him again?

There is still one more vital step in our repentance process and that step is restoration. We must do all we can to restore to the person or persons who we sinned against that which our sin took from them. The book of Numbers chapter 5 verses 5 through 7, teaches this very principle. If I took money from someone and afterwards feel a Godly sorrow for that sin, if I am truly sorry and want to make it right before God and before the individual against whom I sinned, then I must confess my sin to that person and restore what I took. An excellent example of this is found in the story of Alma the younger and the sons of Mosiah in the book of Mosiah chapter 28 verses 32 through 37. Alma and the sons of Mosiah received an assurance from the Lord that their sins were forgiven; as a result of their feeling and receiving the mercies of God they, from that time forth, went about trying to repair the many wrongs that they had caused due to their wickedness. Certainly God would have never forgiven them of their many sins if He knew that they would not set forth to repair their many wrongs.

Up to this point, we have searched diligently the scriptures and what they teach us about repentance, its necessity for salvation and the steps we pass through in order to fully repent. Upon our completion of these vital steps, we receive the Lord’s mercy and are forgiven of our sins.  In Proverbs chapter 28 verse 13, we are taught that mercy will follow those who confess and forsake their sins. This mercy is Forgiveness! God promises those who repent of their sins that they will be forgiven; those forgiven are reconciled to God and are back on straight and narrow path to Eternal Life. Ezekiel chapter 18 verses 20 through 22 gives us an excellent overview of the gift of repentance. The call to repentance is unto all mankind, God does not take any pleasure in seeing any of His children dying spiritually. He who repents will be forgiven and will live. Verse 31 particularly helps us understand that through this entire process, we must have a complete change of heart. Feeling God’s love and mercy will help us gain this change of heart. It should motivate us to continue to set right the wrongs in our life.

As we come to understand the principle of repentance, we will come to understand its blessings. One of the important blessings is baptism; this will be our next topic of study.