All too often we see the
misunderstanding of what repentance truly is in the lives of those who claim to
have "repented." Many believe that all one must do to find forgiveness of sins
is to be immersed in water and from there, continue living the same lifestyle as
before, even if it is clearly condemned by God through scripture. An honest
seeker, however, after reading the bible will come away with a more accurate
understanding of biblical repentance. Zophar, one of Job's friends who tried to figure out why Job was suffering so much spoke of repentance and said, "If you would prepare your heart, and stretch out your hands toward Him; if iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away, and would not let wickedness dwell in your tents; then surely you could lift up your face without spot...and not fear" (Job 11:13-15).
Therefore, baptism or a deep feeling of regret, remorse, and sorrow is not enough to fulfill the requirements of salvation. One must experience biblical repentance as well. To repent then means to completely remove certain things from our lives and refrain from certain behaviors that have caused us to sin in the past or even presently. So, the man addicted to alcohol or tobacco hasn't repented unless he has quit, or is doing everything possible to stop. The couple living in adultery cannot repent unless they separate and remove the sin that is between them. The woman who was known for her revelry and late night escapades has to do something different on the weekends. Repentance reveals a change in attitude and lifestyle. Did you repent, fully repent?