True Repentance
Learning to use the atonement of Jesus Christ Daily
Repentance means to turn, or to return. “True Repentance” is permanently turning away from sin, and doing what we must, so we can return to our Father. Sin being the major obstacle that prevents us from being reunited with our Father. Due to our fallen nature we are prone to sin. And before we can address overcoming sin. We must understand some basic principles of sin.
Sin, willful disobedience
Each of us know to varying degrees the commandments of God. Due to our fallen nature we are prone to sin. Some would think, “if I can not sin without knowledge than ignorance is safety”. To that thought, remember the scripture.
It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance.
Doctrine and Covenants 131:6
So we must learn of God, and His commandments. As we learn of Him, we will learn that there are required ordinances and covenants to reach heaven. (This is a whole topic unto itself). As we come to a greater knowledge of God and his commandments, it brings the opportunity to take part in ordinances and enter into covenants. Allowing us to become like God. But it also brings added accountability.
For of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation.
Doctrine and Covenants 82:3
The problem we run into is because of our fallen state, we are prone to choosing that which is wrong. We knowingly disobey God, and we sin. By sinning we disqualify ourselves from receiving many blessings. Namely salvation and exaltation. As we do this our spirit mourns, for our spirit desires to dwell with our Heavenly Father. Our spirit knows that it must be clean from the stains of sin to live with Him again.
Being permanently separated from our Father, and the denied living a life-like unto His… It would destroy the hope of our soul, it would be demoralizing. Our spirit would cry out in despair.What father ever wants to see his child in pain, grief or despair? Would you or I? No, we would want to give comfort, and offer a path for our child to become clean, and come home.
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Matthew 7:11
True Repentance, turning from sin and returning to God
“Repentance is the first pressure we feel when drawn to the bosom of the God” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (Oct 1996).
Our Father loves us. Let that simple phrase sink in… Our Father the God of the universe loves us! He is the Father of our Spirits, He is a perfect Father. He Loves us, and because of that love He wants us to return to Him. To do so, He has offered a pathway home. He has provided a Savior. Jesus Christ a Lamb without blemish. One that has paid the price for sin. Jesus Christ preformed the ultimate sacrifice called the atonement. By so doing He became the only One that can cleanse us from our sins.
Our spirit wants to return to heaven, and experience the life that our Father does. Jesus Christ has offered a path, to do so. Jesus Christ came to earth to die for our sins, so he could offer a way to return to heaven. But before we can return, we must first turn away from our sins and unto Him. He has suffered and paid the price of our sins so that He can “redeem” us. And He has been given power to redeem only the repentant sinner. Or in other words the sinner who has turned from his sin to Him.
And he hath power given unto him from the Father to redeem them from their sins because of repentance; therefore he hath sent his angels to declare the tidings of the conditions of repentance, which bringeth unto the power of the Redeemer, unto the salvation of their souls.
Helaman 5:11
Repentance is not only to help us to turn from their sins, but also to help us along the pathway of returning home. Repentance is the act of accessing the atonement of Jesus Christ. And the purpose of the atonement is to help us return home and enjoy the presence of God. And until we are perfect like our Father we must strive for perfection, repentance is the lifeblood of striving for perfection. President Spencer W. Kimball taught
“When most of us think of repentance we tend to narrow our vision and view it as good only for our husbands, our wives, our parents, our children, our neighbors, our friends, the world–anyone and everyone except ourselves. Similarly there is a prevalent, perhaps subconscious, feeling that the Lord designed repentance only for those who commit murder or adultery or theft or other heinous crimes. This is of course not so. If we are humble and desirous of living the gospel we will come to think of repentance as applying to everything we do in life, whether it be spiritual or temporal in nature. Repentance is for every soul who has not yet reached perfection.”
TotP SWK Chapter 4: The Miracle of Forgiveness.
True repentance has 6 steps
If you don’t recognize that you have sinned either great or small a sin, is a sin. You can not start down the path to repentance. You first must recognize and realize you’ve disobeyed. Once you have done that, it can lead to remorse and “Godly Sorrow”. You will realize that You’ve inflicted damage to your relationship with Christ and the Father, and it will cause your soul to weep (Godly sorrow).
9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
2 Corinthians 7:9-10
True repentance requires more than just remorse, it requires Godly sorrow (that is an entire topic unto itself). But to be brief. Remorse is fleeting, and Godly sorrow will have a lasting impression and a strong foundation to build true repentance on. It is your Spirit deciding “It is time to act once and for all”.
Godly sorrow will cause us to endure a suffering for our sins, which pain will lead is not just to temporarily stop, but to forsake it forever. Never to return to that sin again. When we forsake we are willing to do all we need to avoid repeating the sin again, and it leads us to the next step confession.
Contrary to popular belief “confession” is not just telling someone you did something wrong. It include that, but it also included apologizing, and asking what you can do to repair the relationship. It is being honest to yourself and all others you sinned against.
You need to confess to everyone you sinned against. If you lied. Tell the person you lied to, and God. If you broke a covenant entered into by the Priesthood Authority of God, you need to confess to someone who is a representative of the Priesthood (Your Bishop). And do all you can to make restitution.
Restitution or the act of trying to repair the damage you’ve done. This is commonly the step people try to skimp on. They will say sorry, but rarely do thy try to repair the damage done. This part is hard to do but is fulfilling as you try your best to fix the problem but recognizing that no matter what you do, you’ve sinned against God and the only way to repair that relationship is to use the atonement.
- 5th Making or Renewing Covenants.
The next step is applying the blood of Christ in our life (the atonement). We apply the atonement by using His Priesthood Authority. Jesus Christ has provided His Priesthood Authority on this earth, so that man can act in His name, and perform sacred ordinances that allow us to enter into covenants. The first Priesthood Ordinance that has a Covenant associated with it is Baptism, for the remission of sins.We promise to keep the commandments, and to follow Christ. And in exchange He promises us that we will be forgiven of our sins, and made clean!
And the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins
Moroni 8:25
As we follow Jesus Christ example and are baptized, we enter a path that will lead us to making additional covenants in the Temples. When we fail to perfectly live up to any these covenants we have violated our end of the deal, and the covenant is voided. But as our Father loves us perfectly He has provided a way to renew all the covenants we’ve entered into.
The sacrament allows us to renew all covenants that we’ve entered into. When we have prepared for the sacrament (repented of our sins), as we partake of this powerful and sacred ordinance we renew our baptismal covenant, and we are once again made clean. It also is the only way to renew our Temple covenants.
Now that you’ve done all that you can do, you qualify for Grace. And through and only through the grace of Jesus Christ can we receive a remission of our sins. No amount of effort on our part can ever make is clean, but our efforts can turn us to Christ, and He can cleanse us. If repentance is true, it will bring a lasting conversion and commitment to the covenants you’ve entered into. And it will allow us be reconciled with God.
For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.
2nd Nephi 25:23
As President Ezra Taft Benson so perfectly puts it.
For those who pay the price required by true repentance, the promise is sure. You can be clean again. The despair can be lifted. The sweet peace of forgiveness will flow into your lives.
Conclusion
True repentance brings about the hope and desire of our souls. It allows us to return home. It allows us to once again be clean and pure. I close with the words of Alma, I hope they can inspire us to true repentance.
10 …and it was on account of their exceeding faith and repentance, and their righteousness before God, they choosing to repent and work righteousness rather than to perish;
11 Therefore they were called after this holy order, and were sanctified, and their garments were washed white through the blood of the Lamb.
12 Now they, after being sanctified by the Holy Ghost, having their garments made white, being pure and spotless before God, could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence; and there were many, exceedingly great many, who were made pure and entered into the rest of the Lord their God.
13 And now, my brethren, I would that ye should humble yourselves before God, and bring forth fruit meet for repentance, that ye may also enter into that rest.
Alma 13:10-13
Marilyn Taplin
Tuesday 15th of December 2020
Love your content Jeremy, very well-written! James 5:16, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.” Hope this will also help. Thank you