Jared Wilson shares 12 signs of someone who is truly repentant.
1. We name our sin as sin and do not spin
it or excuse it, and further, we demonstrate “godly sorrow,” which is to
say, a grief chiefly about the sin itself, not just a grief about being
caught or having to deal with the consequences of sin.
2. We actually confessed before we were caught or the circumstantial consequences of our sin caught up with us. (I would add on this one that I believe there are occasions when a person can be repentant even after having been "caught" as it were).
3. If found out, we confess immediately or very soon
after and “come clean,” rather than having to have the full truth
pulled from us. Real repentance is typically accompanied by
transparency.
4. We have a willingness and eagerness to make
amends. We will do whatever it takes to make things right and to
demonstrate we have changed.
5. We are patient with those we’ve hurt or
victimized, spending as much time as is required listening to them
without jumping to defend ourselves.
6. We are patient with those we’ve hurt or
victimized as they process their hurt, and we don’t pressure them or
“guilt” them into forgiving us.
7. We are willing to confess our sin even in the
face of serious consequences (including undergoing church discipline,
having to go to jail, or having a spouse leave us).
8. We may grieve the consequences of our sin but we
do not bristle under them or resent them. We understand that sometimes
our sin causes great damage to others that is not healed in the short
term (or perhaps ever).
9. If our sin involves addiction or a pattern of
behavior, we do not neglect to seek help with a counselor, a solid
twelve-step program, or even a rehabilitation center.
10. We don’t resent accountability, pastoral rebuke, or church discipline.
11. We seek our comfort in the grace of God in Jesus Christ, not simply in being free of the consequences of our sin.
12. We are humble and teachable.
Read the rest here: How Do You Know When Someone Is Repentant?: 12 Signs
No comments:
Post a Comment