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Updated:- Thursday, August 24, 2023

How to Repent – 7 Steps to Repentance

On the Internet, the topic of how to repent has become little more than a farce.

However, today, I desire, with this short Bible Study, to inject into this conversation on repenting, biblical concepts.

How do you repent according to the Bible involves seven main steps. These include hearing the Word; receiving; conviction; believing; obeying; turning and producing.

This is a rather broad topic; nevertheless, I will focus on these seven main aspects of repenting that we must take into account when we discuss this topic according to the Bible.

This Bible Study on repentance will present evergreen Bible principles that we could replicate multiple times in learning how to repent of any sin.

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What Does It Mean To Repent of Your Sins?

When we repent of a sin that means we have turned from it and will not revert to it, but we have turned to the Lord God.

We cannot repent of all our sins simultaneously. Repentance and repenting are more of a lifestyle than an act. Therefore, in examining how to repent according to the Bible, let us now focus on one sin that’s very common: lying.

I have already explained what it means to repent of our sins in another Bible Study. Click the link to read that then return here to continue reading steps to repentance.

“Repentance is a change of heart and change of direction. It involves a determination to stop sinning and not to sin in the future.”

This is the closest definition I found on the Internet to the correct thing in the Bible. It is never of the mind but of the heart.

7 Steps of Repentance

Step 1:- Hearing the Word of God

Now, I will demonstrate how to repent of lying according to Jesus Christ and the Holy Bible. Then we could apply the principles that we learn from this to all the other sins that we desire to repent of.

How Do I Repent?

We cannot repent of lying by ourselves. It may sound easy to do but it’s not that easy to achieve.

In order to truly repent of lying the Lord God has to intervene. He does this through our encounter with His Word.

So, He will send His Word to us. It is this Word of God that will initiate and motivate repentance in us to stop lying.

Here Are a Few Bible Verses About Repentance

How did these people repent? They repented when they heard and accepted the Word of God.

• The Ninevites (Jonah 1:1-11)
• King David (2 Samuel 12:13) and
• Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon (Daniel 4:34-37) 

Therefore, the Lord will send His Word via a preacher, teacher, or friend, or some other person but we must encounter the Word of God to achieve repentance.

Our job is to recognize it when we hear it. Because if we miss it we miss hearing from God.

3 Examples of True Repentance in the Bible

There are many examples of true repentance in the bible, but the citizens of Nineveh constitute a great example of repentance in the Old Testament.

• A nation repented and turned to God (Jonah 1:1-4:11).
• A persecutor of the Church of Jesus repenting and becoming a prominent and prolific Apostle of Jesus Christ (Acts 8:1- 28:31).
• A woman who repented of her ungodly lifestyle and became a successful missionary for Jesus Christ (John 4:1-42).

The Apostle Paul and “the Woman at The Well” are examples of repentance that we could learn from. Did any of these people repent multiple times for the same sin(s)?

Why Repenting Takes Place?

Repentance happens to save us from sin. If we never repent we would always live in sins. So, by repenting, we rescue ourselves from condemnation.

Consequently, we cannot hear the Word of God to stop lying without a preacher.

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? [A]nd how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? [A]nd how shall they hear without a preacher?”

Romans 10:14

The Lord sent all His prophets and Jesus Christ and the latter sent his disciples.

Therefore, whenever we hear the Word of God repenting should be a the front of our minds. Accept it and repent!

Step 2:- Receiving the Word of God

As a result, our attitude to the Word of God is vital. It’s the key that will unlock the door of repentance or secure the door of unbelief.

This alone determines whether or not we learn how to repent of lying.

Whenever we encounter a “preacher” of the Word of God, we should receive his or her words with joy. Acknowledge him or her as an ambassador of heaven.

“He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me”

Matthew 10:40

It is at this stage that the heart repents. Once we receive this Word of God as “little children” the heart repents.

“Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein”

Mark 10:15

How Should We Receive the Word?

Even when a little child is surrounded by danger he or she will receive the instructions of loved ones even when it’s scary and dangerous to do so.

At this point, we don’t receive the Word with skepticism but with faith. There is no doubt.

When the heart receives the Word of God as “little children”, it repents then it believes. All this happens in Nano-seconds.

Today is the day to put lying far from you. The Lord hates it.

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Step 3:- Conviction

The heart does not repent on its own accord. After we have heard and received the Word of God, then it begins to act on our hearts.

This is the step of conviction.

At this stage, the Word of God cuts us to the depths of our souls. It convicts us of our sins and we feel compelled to change.

But conviction is not salvation. Conviction always precedes actions and the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

A similar thing happened on the Day of Pentecost.

Listen as Apostle Peter (the Preacher) presents them with the Word of God.

“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?“

Acts 2:37

Then, the Word of God convicted them. They were uneasy. They couldn’t remain in their sins. Hence, they produced fruits of repentance.

It is during this phase that we will decide to stop lying.

It is during this stage that we decide to abandon our sinful deeds. Also, it’s during this phase that our faith in God surfaces.

Conviction Always Result in Actions

Both of these actions are interdependent.

I cannot put my faith in Jesus and continue in my sins. Simultaneously, it is impossible for me to stop sinning without putting my faith in Jesus Christ.

This is how the Lord confers His goodness on us through His Words which lead us to repentance (Romans 2:4).

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”

Romans 2:4

Repentance always starts with a decision. It begins with the mind but it ends with the heart.

Step 4:- Believing The Word of God

So, you have heard, the Word of God concerning lying and you have received it with joy, and you were convicted. Now, your next task is to believe it.

If you failed to believe that this word is from the Lord God, then everything done before this stage is lost and your subsequent activities relating to it are futile.

Therefore, to learn how to repent of lying we must believe the Word of God. He sent it. The key to passing this stage is not to harden our hearts.

Recall that repentance is all about the present state of our hearts.

“While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation”.

Hebrews 3:15

It is our faith that this word is from God and in the power of it that’s gonna keep us. It will prevent us from reverting to our old ways.

As long as we believe in the power of the Word of God. He will keep us from sins.

Step 5:- Obeying the Word of God

Your obedience to God’s Word is proof that you believed Him.

In order to learn how to repent according to the Holy Bible of lying, having heard, received, convicted, and believed the Word of God that he has sent to you, now you must obey it. 

Obey the agent of God.

Being convicted of the Word of God, the people at Pentecost, asked Apostle Peter, “What shall we do?“. Then, they obeyed him, for they got baptized (Acts 2:38).

“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

Romans 6:16

Step 6:- Turning to God

The next step in learning how to repent is to turn to God. This “turning to God” is of the heart. It’s of the spirit! It is the heart that is turning to God.

It’s only when the heart turns to God that we will learn how to truly repent! Moreover, it’s only when our hearts have turned to the Lord God that we really understand the Scriptures.

“But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.

But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away” (2 Corinthians 3:14-16).

If we never turned to the Lord God, we have aborted the repentance process. Turning to God completes it.

Because we have turned away from the sin (lying) and have turned to God we will hate lying.

For this reason, repentance could be correctly described as death to sin.

Step 7:- Producing Fruits Worthy of Repentance

While turning to God seals repentance, it’s the producing of fruits worthy of repentance which indicates that we have truly repented.

Because we cannot produce fruits worthy of repentance if we never repented. These only manifest after repentance.

Finally, since every tree is known by its fruits, then you cannot repent of lying and continue to lie. Every time you are tempted to lie, don’t yield to it.

Resist that urge and instead speak the truth.

The first time you resist the temptation to lie by speaking the truth it will feel great. And every time you overcome you will feel even better about yourself.

Learning how to repent of lying is not a destination; it’s a journey.  And one you will take every day.

By the fruits of the tree, we know the tree!

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How to Repent for Your Sins?

To recap, in order for any Christian or unsaved person to learn how to repent of lying the Lord God will send a preacher. He will make a “call” for you to stop a sinful deed. Obey it!

This person will explicitly explain that you should put lying far from you now. Repentance is always for now. It’s not for the future but now. Don’t procrastinate!

Invariably, those the Lord sends will come preaching and explicitly saying “Repent.

They All Preached Saying “Repent”

The Lord sent John and he came preaching saying: “Repent. Then He sent Jesus and he preached: “Repent. Later, Jesus sent his disciples and they too preached saying the exact word.

Hearing the Word of God is to become aware of it. Today, it takes many different forms. It could occur in conversations with others; in sermons; virtually, via the Internet and the World Wide Web; in books and magazines; and by reading the Bible.

Remember, because he or she is sent by God if you accept the preacher’s words you have accepted God. Such a one is God’s agent.

If we never repent of all our sins the Lord will not write our names in the Lamb’s Book of Life!

More Examples of Repentance in The Bible

Next, receive that word as the Word of God from heaven. The Bereans demonstrated the attitude you must emulate to learn how to repent.

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11).

This too must become your mindset. Instantly dismiss every doubter and negative talker. Immediately reject their words concerning your hearing, receiving, repenting, believing and obeying the Word of God. Refuse it!

Because you believed that the Lord sent the preacher and his/her words are God’s you will pray about it. And He promised to give you “all things” that you have asked for while praying and believing (Matthew 21:22).

Learning How to Repent According to the Bible?

Whenever your heart receives the Word of God as a little child: it repents.

And if you heard, received, convicted, and believed that word to stop lying, now you will obey it. It is your obedience to God’s Word that will trigger your turning to God.

That word is so sharp and powerful that it will descend to your core and ignite a fire of hatred for lying in you. You will hate to lie.

This will be the evidence that your heart has turned to God. And what better fruits could you produce than, praying about the ability to cease from lie and then to speak the truth? You will pray about it and you will fast about it.

How Many Times Should I Repent?

Consequently, learning how to repent according to the Bible is not a daily event. Resisting the temptation to lie is.

But once you have repented of lying your heart will abhor lying. You will hate to lie. That is, you will become dead to lying.

However, daily we continue repenting of other sins. Eventually, we will have fewer and fewer sins to repent for but we will always have sins!

Now hit repeat and follow this procedure for all other sins that you desire to eliminate from your life!

In closing, I hope you have learned how to repent (according to the Word) and will use this tool to aid you in repenting before the Lord God.

How Do We Repent to God?

Apostle Paul had a meeting in Miletus with the Elders of the Church in Asia.

During which he explained how he taught them everything without reservations.

He says, “And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house” (Acts 20:20).

“Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21).

This phrase has its genesis in the quotation above. It’s the only place in the Bible that you will find it.

But, to answer your question: How do we repent to God? We don’t!

Repentance is not directed to anyone not even to God. It’s the state of our hearts when we are broken before Him.

Repentance Towards God

However, after we have repented, we should turn to God. Thus Paul, in his unique style, says “repentance towards God” to indicate the direction our hearts should incline.

Faith Towards Our Lord Jesus Christ

Similarly, to show where (that is, which direction) we should focus our faith he also said “faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ”.

This latter translates as faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and the former as repent then turn to God.

So, we don’t repent to God or anyone else but we should repent, then turn to God which demonstrates to Him that we have abandoned our sins.

Conclusion

In closing, Dr. Luke SAYS IT BEST:

“But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance” (Acts 26:20).

If this short Bible Study helped you share it with others. Or leave a comment below or on my Facebook page.

Thanks! Nuff blessings!!

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Listen on the go! Listen to the Word as you do your daily chores!

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