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#6.4 BE SORRY FOR OUR SINS FOR FORGIVENESS

Greek Word Study on μετανοέω, metanoeo, 'to repent'
Greek Word Study on μετάνοια, metanoia, 'repentance'

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Introduction 6.4

If you are a Christian who has struggled with sin in your Christian walk, making the same mistakes over and over again, then this study on how to repent is of the utmost importance to you. The more you become like Jesus, the less sin will be a problem in your life. This process of repentance will take you through that transformation - but be warned: it is no quick fix. True repentance is a slow ongoing process, dealing with each sin in your life as God reveals them to you. Total and utter destruction of each sin is what is required.
This bible study gives the fourth of nine steps to repentance, and teaches us that we must be sorry for our sins to obtain forgiveness. Godly sorrow is necessary while we are confessing our sins to God and helps with the crucifixion of "our old man" (Romans 6:6, Ephesians 4:22), the death of our spiritual "self" (Galatians 2:20), and requires serious and deliberate intention on our behalf. It will prepare for the growth of "the new man" (Ephesians 4:24) in us, which is the spirit of Christ: "put on the Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 13:14), building us up in faith and love. A true repentance will break your spiritual chain and set you free. It will set in motion "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:2) which will set you free from the law of sin and death.

#6.4 Be Sorry for our Sins for Forgiveness

PSALMS 38:18 (David)
18 For I will declare my iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

ECCLESIASTES 7:3 (Solomon)
3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

2 CORINTHIANS 7:8-11 (Paul)
8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not regret, though I did regret it: for I perceive that the same epistle has made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you sorrowed to repentance: for you were made sorry after a godly manner, that you might receive damage by us in nothing.
10 For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world works death.
11 For behold the selfsame thing, that you sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it worked in you, yes, what clearing of yourselves, yes, what indignation, yes, what fear, yes, what vehement desire, yes, what zeal, yes, what revenge! In all things you have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

JAMES 4:8-10
8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Note: This weeping before God is an important part of repentance that many Christians ignore. Being sorry for what we have done, with tears, goes a long way to removing the sin and the desire to sin from our hearts. It makes the heart better (Ecclesiastes 7:3), and clears out (2 Corinthians 7:11) the cause of the trouble. There a a few examples of people who had sinned doing this in scripture. King David was determined to be sorry for his sin (Psalm 38:18), and expressed it like this:

(Psalm 51:1-3) "Have mercy on me O God, according to your loving kindness; according to the multitude of your tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me."

David was forgiven, and was restored to right standing with God. Peter "wept bitterly" (Matthew 26:75; Luke 22:62) after denying Jesus three times. He was restored to favour and became the chief speaker on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-40). Hezekiah was sentenced to death for something that he had done (Isaiah 38:1), but after a seemingly foolish boasting prayer, he turned his face to the wall and "wept bitterly" (Isaiah 38:3). God heard his supplication and added 15 years to his life (Isaiah 38:4-5). This being sorry for what we have sinned against God is not something to be ignored.

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