When I was growing up in the church I was never really taught about the power of repentance.  During that time I thought that repentance was asking God for forgiveness of some sin that I had committed.  Naturally I was repenting almost about every Sunday; of course this was when I was still attending church.  No one ever told me that repenting was not about going to the altar and feeling guilty and apologizing to God for my shortcomings.   As believers in Christ we must know that forgiveness for sin is not something that you need to be forgiven of constantly, but rather it is something you walk in continually.  You have already been forgiven of your sins through the price that was paid on the cross.  Every sin, past, present, and future has already been forgiven so you can stop condemning yourself for your shortcomings and start thanking Jesus for what He has already accomplished.   So now we know that we have been freed from the bondage of sin we can now start to understand what real repentance is and where it leads.  

Acts 2:38 (KJV) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  

Here Peter is speaking to a group and telling them to Repent.  The word repent here is metanoeo which simply means to changes one’s mind for better.  To me being a follower of Christ is not merely about doing good deeds but more about the renewing of one’s mind and the fervency for God in one’s heart.  So in a sense Peter is saying wash your mind with Jesus Christ and then you will receive the power and guidance that Holy Spirit provides.   So you may be asking if repentance is not asking for forgiveness of sins than does that mean I will still commit sin.  The answer is yes.  The question is not will you ever commit sin again but it should be how will I let Holy Spirit mature me so I can resist those sins that I usually fall prey to.  When I was younger I used to commit all kinds of sin, from fornication to stealing. 

When I washed my mind with what Jesus did for me on the cross and received power and guidance from the Holy Spirit I soon began to see that the temptations I used to fall prey to no longer had power to influence my decision making.  As each day, month, and year past I grew stronger and stronger.  Does this mean that I am sinless, no not at all.  What I mean by that statement is this; I may no longer commit fornication but I may walk in unforgiveness even if it is for a short moment.  Sin is sin, no matter if it’s something as horrific as murder or something as subtle as envy, it all weighs the same.   Clearly no believer can live a successful life without the help from the Holy Spirit and the first step to this is repentance.  Remember not the repentance where you go up to the altar and ask for forgiveness and weep because of the guilt you carry.  I’m talking about the repentance where you decide that you will change your thinking and stance on the things and situations that have hindered you and you say once and for all that those things and situations will no longer control your thinking or actions.  


 The above scripture informs us that when we repent we shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit that will help us with this life here on the earth.  Now when you do go through that process Jesus says that you will be witnesses unto him all over.  And your life will be a testimony unto all the world of the goodness of God.

Acts 1:8 (KJV) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  

As believers we are witnesses unto Christ, not because we live perfect lives but because we were transformed by the blood of Jesus.   I hope that this has been a blessing to you.