3 Marks of True Repentance

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. —Psalm 51:3–4 True Repentance Repentance lies at the heart of the Christian message and forms the rhythm of the Christian life. The Greek word metanoia, often translated as “repentance,” speaks of a turning, a genuine change of mind, heart, and life that is not a one-time act but a way of living.1 True repentance is more than simply acknowledging our wrongs and feeling sorry for what we have done; it is turning from our ways and returning to God with conviction of wrongs, contrition of heart, and confession of sin. In doing so, we receive the abundant mercy of God in Christ. It is important to understand that repentance does not begin with us; it begins with the gracious initiative of God, who turns our hearts from the things of this world back to himself. As Mark Boda writes, “God is in the process of transforming us from within—our behavior, our hearts, and our entire lives.”2 Thus repentance is more than a onetime action; it is a repeated act throughout the Christian life. ...