Chapter 3: Repentance
Once we recognize God’s true love for us and see the need of looking to Christ to change our
hearts rather than trying to do it on our own, we see our need of repentance, which involves a change of
direction, turning our back on previous intentions and actions, and seeking new direction in life.
Everyone of us commit any kind of sins. According to Matthew 21:32 “For John came to you to show you
the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And
even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.”
We repent for our sins that we commit but if we are repenting for our sins, we must be sincere. Instead
of making excuses, blaming circumstances and others, repentance means taking full responsibility. King
David, after committing murder and adultery appealed to Christ he prays for his sins and repent for this
"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalms 51:10). He accepted his
guilt and asked for a new direction from Christ.
This chapter makes me realize to see sin in its truly offensive, separating nature, to recognize
our own sinfulness in comparison with Jesus’, and to desire reconciliation with Him. Everyone of us not
perfect, we commit sins sometimes because we can’t control our emotions or because of some
circumstance. But if we desire to be with his side and we are sincere to repent for our sins, it’s not hard
and it’s easy for our Father to forgive us since he loves every one of us that he creates here above on
Earth.
He sacrifices almost everything he got for us to be save on our sins, that’s how God really loves
us. We seek to love and obey not from a fear of consequences, but from fear of hurting him. We are so
used to seeing, hearing, and partaking in sin that we are unable to recognize its true character. We
become hardened to sin. When we think about what sin did to Christ, how He was tortured, abused and
put to death, and that it all started with just eating a piece of fruit, we begin to see the enormity of each
sin and violation of God’s law. The sin of Human resulted to separated themselves closer to God. It
introduced pain, sorrow, sadness, guilt, death into the world. God is our best friend. He used to know
everything on us, as a best friend sometimes there are misunderstanding that may happen with each
other. God forgive us unconditionally because he loves us.
Chapter 4: Confession
Confession is somehow related to repentance, because as we repent our sins that we made, we
must confess our sins that we made, because we really cannot repent if we just repent and believe that
we really don’t make those sins. Repentance is not only feeling sorrow for sin, but it is accepting
responsibility and confessing to God. We confess, and God forgives and cleanses.
“He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" – 1 John 1:9
This chapter also talks about sins. Jesus knows what it is like to be tempted. They say “Tao lang
din naman tayo, nagkakasala din.” No matter how serious a sin we commit, when we confess, he opens
his arms of mercy as we repent our sins we commit, and he creates a new heart within us. Abide in
Christ, accept his promises for what it is, repeat it frequently, and trust that his promises are sure. This
chapter involves confession both to God and to those we’ve wronged, making restitution, accepting
Jesus’ forgiveness, and letting Him work His cleansing miracle in our lives.
Confession is not a light matter or something to be imposed on anyone against his or her will. It
is expressed from heartfelt sorrow for injuring someone rather than a forced exposure of facts. If
prompted by the Holy Spirit rather than by fear of punishment, it means we’ll humbly put the wronged
person first. If we sin against one or a few, we will confess to the few. If the sin was public, we confess in
public.
“…you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according
to the will of God…For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without
regret, leading to salvation…” (2 Corinthians 7:9-10).
