Repentance is at the core of the Christian message and the subject of this podcast. It's different from confession. Confession means admitting you did something wrong. While confession is vital to Christians, it is not repentance.  Repentance is the decision to turn away from sin. It is a change of heart. It means feeling regret and deciding to change. The Bible emphasizes its importance for salvation.

John the Baptist and Jesus began their ministries by calling people to repent. The Apostle Peter told people to "Repent and be baptized" (Acts 2:38). Paul said God commands everyone to repent. This shows that repentance is central to obeying the Gospel. God forgives sins when people turn away from them (Acts 3:19). The angels in heaven rejoice when a sinner repents (Luke 15).

Many people think believing in Jesus is the only way to be saved. However, the Bible states that belief alone is not enough. True belief leads to repentance. Jesus warned that unless people repent, they will perish (Luke 13:2-5). God doesn't want anyone to perish. He wants everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

So, how does someone repent? First, recognize your sin. The Bible lists many sinful behaviors (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Everyone has sinned (James 4:17). God is holy. Those who follow Him must turn away from sin.

Genuine repentance starts with feeling sorry for your sin. Paul calls this "godly sorrow" (2 Corinthians 7:10). Godly sorrow leads to a change in behavior. Old habits must be replaced with new, righteous ones. True repentance means living for Christ, not ourselves (2 Corinthians 5:15). Our actions should prove our repentance (Acts 26:20).

If you believe in Jesus, have you repented? Are you living differently than before? The Bible is clear: To have your sins forgiven, you must turn away from them. It's a choice between repentance and perishing. Dedicate your life to righteous conduct. Change your mind and life today.