"Repentance involves a change of mind and heart and a change of direction in daily behavior and life. The full definition of repentance includes recognizing your sin as disobedience to God's commandments, feeling truly sorry for your sin, having the sincere desire to amend your sinful ways, and trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for forgiveness and salvation. Repentance is not a one-time act...Martin Luther declared that the entire life of a Christian is to be characterized by repentance. In his Small Catechism, Luther tells us that our baptism should remind us to drown our old Adam by daily contrition and repentance. There is no such thing as an impenitent Christian, and it is not possible to repent of only some sins. Repentance includes all our sins, even those of which we may not be aware, and Jesus' forgiveness is also total. When he forgives us, all is forgiven. Anything less would be of no value, for the guilt of a single sin would condemn the sinner to eternal torment in hell."
--The People's Bible
This commentary is based upon Matthew 3, in which John the Baptist calls the people of Israel to repent and prepare for the coming of the Messiah. I remember a chapel in which the speaker, I believe Mr. Springborn, asked us to consider the things in our lives that needed to be made ready for the coming of the Savior. Did we have heights of pride, or lows of depression*? This message is not just for the Advent season. We are constantly in need of preparation, not only for the second coming of Christ, but for the daily battle we face against the devil and our own sinful nature. What is in my life that I need to pray for help preparing?
*As clarification, I believe depression here is the depression found in everyone's life, such as the guilt over sin that can be calmed by the reading of the Word and knowledge of Christ's full forgiveness. Fits rather nicely with the general topic, no?
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