What is Repentance?

And Why is it Necessary?

Read Psalm 38

Psalm 38:3

3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin.

I once knew a guy who believed all sickness and pain was a result of unconfessed sin in a person’s life. Whenever he saw someone suffering he blamed their sin and told them they brought it upon themselves. It didn’t take long for people to realize that he was not fun to be around. 

It is wrong for a person to pass judgement on another person and blame sin for every sickness. Sin is not always the cause of physical sickness, however, as we read in our verse for today, there are certain times when it can be!

We need to understand that sin comes with consequences, and if we are knowingly living a sinful lifestyle it can cause stress and anxiety in our flesh and can lead to “no health in my bones.” We are told in Scripture that the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23) The forerunners to death are pain, suffering, and destruction.

Sin acts like a poison in your body, slowly working its way through your spiritual system before eventually manifesting itself in physical ways. Sin separates us from God, and that’s the difference between life and death.

The key, my friends, is to come clean before the Lord and repent of your sin. (Psalm 51)

Repentance is a vital step in a thriving relationship with Jesus. To repent of sin means to literally “change your mind,” turn away from how you are living or what you are doing, and walk away from the very thing that is separating you from Jesus. Hear me when I say this, following Jesus must start with repentance. IT IS NECESSARY! We cannot continue to live our own way and follow Jesus’ way at the same time.

Psalm 38:18 says, “I confess my sin, I am sorry for my iniquity.”

Please hear me, sin is not always the cause of the problems you face. But at the same time, it could be. Which is why I believe it is always a good practice to examine your way of living and hold it up against what God says in His Word. Once you have done that, come clean before the Lord.

Scripture tells us that God has placed eternity into the heart of every individual. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) That means that deep down, every single person knows (whether they confess it or not) that something may be separating them from God.

Repent. Confess. Turn away. Walk away!

Oh Lord, forgive me. I have let my own personal desires sit on Your throne. It has caused pain and suffering in my life and it taunts me. Purify me from sin and cleanse me of all unrighteousness. In Jesus Name, Amen!

Josh Huisman is the senior pastor of Crosswalk Church in Brentwood, TN.

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