In case you came up through the ranks without the benefit of the fine, far-reaching, and relatively thorough biblical education I had as a child, teenager, and college student, I thought it might be beneficial to remind of this:
Repentance, scripturally speaking, is not necessarily typified by downcast countenance or by the darkness of depressed regret. Nor is its antidote a rosary incantation or a hail-[important-woman-who-nevertheless-is-not-to-be-worshipped]. Repentance is, on the other hand, characterized by true, godly sorrow and an about-face.
This morning, I made a pot of special coffee. You know–the kind you pay a few extra $ for, just because of the taste. You get out your bean-grinder, and you make it a little stronger than usual, because you’re trying to create the odoriferous taste-experience of the coffee shop (in this case, Margie’s of Greeley, Colorado).
Karly: That smells amazing.
Me: It’s the Kenyan. (Softer now …) Do you want a cup?
Karly: Well, yeah!
Me: Ummm … I’m getting another cup now. It’s almost gone.
Karly: [jogs into the kitchen to guarantee her one cup’s presence]
Me: [warms up his cup by pouring another half-cup]
Karly: Hey!
Me: [smiles mischievously] Sorry. Wait. I guess “sorry” usually implies regret for the consequences one just caused!
We laughed together at my mock-selfishness. This was a fun little experience in our household, and there was actually a cup left for Karly. But it points up the spiritual reality that true repentance is not a feeling but a course of action. If I had said “sorry” after having poured myself the last cup and didn’t follow up with action, say, of giving the cup to Karly, my “sorry” would not have manifest repentance.
“What should we do?” they asked.
“Repent and be immersed for the forgiveness of your sins,” Peter exhorted.
And they followed up with action that manifest repentance–not mere sorrow, but sorrow followed closely by action that reverses sinful patterns. Being immersed is incredibly significant, but let us not leave out the repenting part. This repentance is significant not just in the initial phases of deciding to be a disciple, but every time sin is realized in my life.
Earnestly Speaking 