Growing up in a Lutheran home and being a believer I felt like I always knew the real meanings of these words but it wasn't until I had to go through a few traumatizing experiences to really understand the meanings of these 2 huge words... REPENTANCE and FORGIVENESS.... and really truly be able to implement them in my life the way God wants me to.
I always said, "I forgive you" but still held on to a piece of it...which yes that is ok to do, to not forget it but I held on to the more tahn not wanting to forget; I held on to the bitterness part of it and it was destroying me.
I am so thankful that I finally know what it means to Forgive the way that Christ has forgiven me.
So here is what I got.. my understanding of these words:
REPENTANCE
Repentance IS...
1. Convection: Both in your mind and your mouth. You verbally have to say I can see and I know where I have sinned.
2. Contrition: This is the emotions and expressions you will feel that you did something wrong or that you had sinned.
3. Change: This is YOUR WILL and your works. Confessing that you want to stop doing this and being like this. That you want to be like Jesus and live your life for him.
To have true Repentance you need ALL 3 of the above steps to take place in your heart and life.
Repentance is NOT...
1. Getting caught but not coming clean: we need to invite God into our lives, ask him to help us overcome this sin
2. Blaming others, denying it, or making excuses... just admit of your sin and repent.
3. Worldly sorrow...only a Christian can start worshiping
the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin
when our kids sin... they need to name the sin that they committed. when asking for forgiveness they need to look in the eyes of the person they sinned against and ask for forgiveness for that sin.
Couples don't fall out of love as much as they fall out of repentance!
A marriage gets bitter or it gets better!
FORGIVENESS
Forgiveness is NOT...
1. Forgiveness is NOT waiting for someone to repent... in forgiving them you are leaving them for God's judgement and guarding your own heart from becoming bitter or from pain.
2. A 1 time event...they may do it again or the sin and pain may come up again, causing us to forgive that sin once again.
3. It is NOT reconciliation. If they have abused you and have not gotten help you can't trust them... until they have repented, reconciliation is NOT possible! You need to pray for that person!
This has helped me learn how to truly forgive and find peace in my heart. To read more about my story click here. Finally gives me the strength that I needed to know that I can forgive but I can protect myself and my family from any future pain until there is repentance from the other side. I am finally at peace with be able to forgive though there might not be any reconciliation.
I always said, "I forgive you" but still held on to a piece of it...which yes that is ok to do, to not forget it but I held on to the more tahn not wanting to forget; I held on to the bitterness part of it and it was destroying me.
I am so thankful that I finally know what it means to Forgive the way that Christ has forgiven me.
So here is what I got.. my understanding of these words:
REPENTANCE
Repentance IS...
1. Convection: Both in your mind and your mouth. You verbally have to say I can see and I know where I have sinned.
2. Contrition: This is the emotions and expressions you will feel that you did something wrong or that you had sinned.
3. Change: This is YOUR WILL and your works. Confessing that you want to stop doing this and being like this. That you want to be like Jesus and live your life for him.
To have true Repentance you need ALL 3 of the above steps to take place in your heart and life.
Repentance is NOT...
1. Getting caught but not coming clean: we need to invite God into our lives, ask him to help us overcome this sin
2. Blaming others, denying it, or making excuses... just admit of your sin and repent.
3. Worldly sorrow...only a Christian can start worshiping
FORGIVENESS
Forgiveness is NOT...
1. Forgiveness is NOT waiting for someone to repent... in forgiving them you are leaving them for God's judgement and guarding your own heart from becoming bitter or from pain.
2. A 1 time event...they may do it again or the sin and pain may come up again, causing us to forgive that sin once again.
3. It is NOT reconciliation. If they have abused you and have not gotten help you can't trust them... until they have repented, reconciliation is NOT possible! You need to pray for that person!
- Forgiveness is 1 person
- Reconciliation takes 2 people
- You know your not bitter when you want the best for them as God in Christ has been good to you.
This has helped me learn how to truly forgive and find peace in my heart. To read more about my story click here. Finally gives me the strength that I needed to know that I can forgive but I can protect myself and my family from any future pain until there is repentance from the other side. I am finally at peace with be able to forgive though there might not be any reconciliation.
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