Lesson 15: Repentance — Daily Repentance and Sanctification

Introduction

Repentance is a word you have probably heard many times. Perhaps when you think of repentance you think of the moment when you first came to faith — the moment you gave your life to Jesus. That is certainly an important moment! But in this lesson we want to go a step further. We will discover that repentance is not only the starting point of your faith, but a continuous process that lasts your whole life. Each day anew we are called to repent, to renew our thinking, and to grow in sanctification.

God's Word shows us that repentance and sanctification are inseparably connected. Repentance is the turning around; sanctification is the process of growth that follows. Together they form the heart of the discipleship life. Let us discover together what God's Word says about this.

Philippians 2:12-13 So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Paul calls us to actively work out our salvation — not because we can save ourselves, but because God Himself works in us. It is His power that changes us, but we must cooperate by continually turning to Him in repentance.

Metanoia: change of thinking

The Greek word translated in the New Testament as ‘repentance’ is μετανοια (metanoia). This word is composed of two parts: meta (change, turning around) and nous (thinking, mind, disposition). So it literally means a change of thinking, a turning around of your disposition.

Repentance is not merely being sorry for what you have done wrong. It is not only a feeling of remorse. Repentance is a fundamental change in the way you think, feel, and act. It is a completely new direction in your life — away from sin and towards God.

The verb μετανοεω (metanoeo) is used more than thirty times in the New Testament. It indicates an inward turning that leads to outward change. Your thinking changes, and as a result your behaviour changes. It begins on the inside and works outward.

Romans 12:2 Don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Paul uses here the word metamorphoo — the same root as in metamorphosis. It refers to a transformation, a change from within. And that transformation begins with the renewal of your mind, your way of thinking. This is metanoia in practice: your thinking is continually renewed by God's Word and by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus' first words: repent!

It is significant that the very first words of Jesus' public ministry were a call to repentance. Not a call to a better life, not a call to more religion, but a call to a radical turning around.

Matthew 4:17 From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

Jesus began His ministry with exactly the same message as John the Baptist. The Kingdom of God has drawn near — and the right response to that message is repentance. You cannot enter the Kingdom without repenting.

Mark 1:15 The time is fulfilled, and God's Kingdom is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News.

Here we see that repentance and faith go hand in hand. They are like two sides of the same coin. Repentance is turning away from sin; faith is turning toward God. You cannot have the one without the other. True repentance always leads to faith, and true faith always brings forth repentance.

Jesus also makes it clear that repentance is not an option, but an absolute necessity:

Luke 13:3 I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.

Luke 13:5 I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.

Jesus repeats these words twice to emphasize their seriousness. Repentance is not a non-binding offer — it is an urgent call. Eternal life or eternal lostness is at stake.

Peter on the day of Pentecost

After the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, Peter preached a powerful sermon. The people were deeply struck in their hearts and asked: ‘What shall we do?’ Peter's answer was clear and direct:

Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Repentance comes first here. Before there can be any talk of baptism, before there can be any talk of the gift of the Holy Spirit, there must first be repentance. Repentance is the door through which you enter the Kingdom of God.

Acts 2:40-41 With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.

Three thousand people repented on that one day! That is the power of the gospel when it is preached in the power of the Holy Spirit. And note: repentance is not only an inward event — these people also let themselves be baptized. Their repentance had immediate visible consequences.

Later, at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, Peter again preaches repentance:

Acts 3:19 Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.

What a beautiful promise! Repentance not only leads to the forgiveness of sins, but also to times of refreshing — times of renewal, of God's nearness. Repentance is not a heavy yoke, but the way to freedom and joy!

Repentance is not one-time but continuous

A common misunderstanding is that repentance is something one-time — something you do at the beginning of your faith and then never again. But God's Word shows us something very different. In the letters to the seven churches in the book of Revelation, the glorified Jesus Christ calls believers to repentance. These are not unbelievers — these are churches, people who already believe in Jesus!

Revelation 2:4-5 But I have this against you, that you left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I am coming to you swiftly, and will move your lampstand out of its place, unless you repent.

The church in Ephesus had left its first love. They still did good works, they still had sound doctrine, but the love had cooled. And Jesus calls them to repentance! Even a believer who is theologically correct but has lost the love for Christ must repent.

Revelation 2:16 Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth.

Revelation 3:3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If therefore you won't watch, I will come as a thief, and you won't know what hour I will come upon you.

Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent.

Five of the seven churches are called to repentance! This shows that repentance is a continuous part of the Christian life. It is not something you do once and then leave behind. It is a daily attitude, a daily choice to turn away from everything that is not according to God's will and to turn towards Him.

Godly sorrow versus the sorrow of the world

Not all sorrow over sin is the same. Paul makes an important distinction between two kinds of sorrow: godly sorrow and worldly sorrow.

2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world produces death.

This is a crucial verse. There are two kinds of sorrow:

1. Godly sorrow — This is real, sincere sorrow over your sin. Not because you have been caught, not because you feel the consequences, but because you realize that you have offended God. This sorrow leads to true repentance — a repentance you will never regret. This sorrow brings life and freedom.

2. Worldly sorrow — This is regret without real change. It is the pain of the consequences, the shame of being caught, the grief over what you have lost. But it does not lead to a real turning around. This sorrow ultimately brings death.

Think of the difference between Peter and Judas. Both had sinned against Jesus. Peter had denied Him three times; Judas had betrayed Him. Both had remorse:

Matthew 26:75 Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” He went out and wept bitterly.

Matthew 27:3-5 Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that Jesus was condemned, felt remorse, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? You see to it.” He threw down the pieces of silver in the sanctuary and departed. He went away and hanged himself.

Peter had godly sorrow — his remorse led to repentance and restoration. He was later restored by Jesus and became one of the greatest apostles. Judas had worldly sorrow — his remorse led to despair and death. The difference was not the size of their sin, but the kind of their remorse.

2 Corinthians 7:11 For behold, this same thing, that you were grieved in a godly way, what earnest care it worked in you. Yes, what defense, indignation, fear, longing, zeal, and vengeance! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be pure in the matter.

True repentance bears fruit: earnestness, zeal, longing for sanctification, abhorrence of sin. That is the mark of true repentance — it changes your life from within.

Fruits of repentance

True repentance is always visible. It bears fruit in your life. John the Baptist was very clear about this when he saw the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism:

Luke 3:8 Therefore produce fruits worthy of repentance, and don't begin to say among yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father;’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones!

It is not enough to say that you have repented. Your repentance must be visible in your life. There must be fruits — concrete changes in your behaviour, your attitude, your relationships, your priorities.

Luke 3:10-14 The multitudes asked him, “What then must we do?” He answered them, “He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise.” Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what must we do?” He said to them, “Collect no more than that which is appointed to you.” Soldiers also asked him, saying, “What about us? What must we do?” He said to them, “Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages.”

For each person the fruit of repentance looked different. For ordinary people: sharing with those who have less. For tax collectors: being honest in their work. For soldiers: not oppressing anyone. Repentance touches every area of your life — your relationships, your work, your dealing with money, your attitude toward others.

Paul describes his own ministry in the same terms:

Acts 26:20 but declared first to them of Damascus, at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.

Note the order: repenting, turning to God, and then works worthy of repentance. The works flow from the repentance, not the other way around. We are not saved by good works, but true repentance always brings forth good works.

Sanctification: set apart for God

Sanctification is closely connected with repentance. Where repentance is the turning around, sanctification is the process of growth that follows. The Hebrew word for holy, qadosh, means ‘separated, set apart’. To be holy means that you are set apart for God — that you no longer live for yourself, but for Him.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-7 For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality, that each one of you know how to control his own body in sanctification and honour, not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who don't know God; that no one should take advantage of and wrong a brother or sister in this matter; because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified. For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification.

Sanctification is not optional — it is the will of God for your life. God has not called you to remain as you were. He has called you to sanctification, to a life that increasingly resembles Christ.

Hebrews 12:14 Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord.

This verse is sober and motivating at the same time. Without sanctification no one will see the Lord. Sanctification is not a luxury for advanced believers — it is a necessity for everyone who wants to see God. But it is also a promise: whoever pursues sanctification will see the Lord!

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who will also do it.

What an encouragement! God Himself sanctifies us. It is not only our effort — it is above all His work in us. He who calls us to sanctification is faithful also to do it. We do not have to do it in our own strength. We work together with God: we make ourselves available, He does the work of transformation in us.

Be holy, because God is holy

The ultimate reason for sanctification is not that we benefit from it (although that is also true), but that God is holy. Because we are His children, we are called to resemble Him.

1 Peter 1:15-16 but just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all of your behaviour; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

This quote comes from Leviticus 11:44 and 19:2, where God says to the people of Israel: ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’ Peter applies this to all believers. God's holiness is not only an attribute of Him that we admire — it is an attribute we are to reflect in our lives.

1 Peter 1:13-14 Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober, and set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ — as children of obedience, not conforming yourselves according to your former lusts as in your ignorance.

We must no longer let ourselves be shaped by the desires of our old life. We are now children of God, and as children we are called to resemble our Father. As a child bears the features of his father, so we are to reflect the holiness of our heavenly Father.

2 Corinthians 6:17-18 Therefore ‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you. I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.

2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, beloved, let's cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Sanctification has two sides: cleansing yourself from the wrong (negative) and dedicating yourself to the good (positive). It is not enough merely to stop sinning — you must also actively begin doing the good. It is not enough to flee the darkness — you must also enter the light.

Take up your cross daily

Jesus makes it clear that following Him is not a one-time decision, but a daily choice:

Luke 9:23 He said to all, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me daily.”

Note the word daily. Not one-time, not weekly, not now and then — but daily. Every morning anew you take the decision to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Jesus. That is daily repentance in practice.

What does it mean to take up your cross? In Jesus' day the cross was the symbol of death. To take up your cross means that you nail your own desires, your own plans, your own will to the cross. You die to yourself so that Christ may live in you.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me.

Luke 9:24-25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, the same will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits his own self?

It is a paradox: whoever tries to hold on to his life loses it. But whoever lets go of his life for Jesus' sake finds the true life. Daily repentance means daily letting go and daily receiving. You let go of your own will and receive God's will. You let go of your own strength and receive God's strength.

Galatians 5:24 Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.

This is not a passive event — it is an active choice. We have crucified the flesh. It is something we do, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Each day anew we choose not to feed the desires of the flesh, but to nail them to the cross.

Fighting the good fight

The life of repentance and sanctification is not easy. It is a fight — but it is a good fight. Paul writes to Timothy:

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.

It is a fight, yes — but it is a good fight. It is worth it. You are not fighting for something perishable, but for eternal life. And you are not fighting in your own strength, but in the strength of God.

2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. From now on, the crown of righteousness is stored up for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day; and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing.

At the end of his life Paul could look back and say: I have fought the good fight, I have kept the faith. That is the goal of daily repentance and sanctification — that at the end of your life you can say that you have remained faithful. A crown of righteousness awaits everyone who endures!

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore let's also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let's run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

This is perhaps the most beautiful picture of the Christian life: a race. We lay aside every weight and every sin that entangles us. We run with perseverance. And we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus — the author and perfecter of our faith. He is not only our example, He is also the one who perfects our faith. He has begun it and He will complete it.

Philippians 3:13-14 Brothers, I don't regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I do: forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Even Paul did not say that he had already attained everything. He was still in the process of growth. But he had one focus: forgetting what lay behind and stretching out toward what lay ahead. That is the attitude of daily repentance: not dwelling on the past, but stretching out toward the future that God has for you.

God's grace is not only the ground on which we stand, but also the strength with which we fight. It is not your strength that carries you through the battle — it is His strength in you. And that strength is more than enough.

2 Corinthians 12:9 He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.

You do not have to be strong in yourself. God's strength is precisely made perfect in your weakness. When you are weak, you are strong — for then it is His strength that works, not yours. That is the paradox of the Christian life: the more you acknowledge your own powerlessness, the more God's strength can work through you.

God's patience and our repentance

It is important to know that God is patient with us in the process of repentance and sanctification. He does not expect us to be perfect from one day to the next. He knows our weakness and has patience with us.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but he is patient with us, not wishing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

God wants all people to come to repentance. His patience is not weakness — it is love. He gives us time to grow, to learn, to increasingly resemble Christ. But do not abuse His patience. Every day He gives you is an opportunity to repent more deeply and to grow more in sanctification.

Romans 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

It is God's goodness that leads us to repentance. Not His punishment, not His wrath — but His kindness. When you realize how good God is to you, how patient He is with you, how faithful He is despite your unfaithfulness — then you are motivated from within to repent. His love is the most powerful motivation for sanctification.

Putting off the old self and putting on the new self

Daily repentance and sanctification is essentially putting off the old self and putting on the new self. Paul describes this as a conscious, daily choice:

Ephesians 4:22-24 that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.

The image Paul uses here is that of clothing. You take off your old clothes — the old way of life with all its deceitful lusts — and put on new clothes — the new self, created according to God's image. This is not a one-time wardrobe change. It is a daily ritual: every morning you consciously put off the old self and put on the new self.

Colossians 3:9-10 Don't lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings, and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator.

The new self is being continually renewed — it is an ongoing process. You grow more and more into the image of Christ. Each day a little more. Each day a step closer to who God intended you to be.

Colossians 3:12-14 Put on therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do. Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.

This is the wardrobe of the new self: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and love. Those are the clothes you put on each day. And love is, as it were, the belt that holds everything together — the bond of perfection.

So repentance is not only unlearning the wrong, but also learning the good. It is not only stopping to sin, but also beginning to love. It is not only putting off, but also putting on. Both sides are necessary for a healthy spiritual life.

Practical sanctification in daily life

Sanctification is not a vague, mystical concept that is detached from daily life. Sanctification affects everything: your thoughts, your words, your deeds, your relationships, your work, your free time, your dealing with money, your use of time. Let's look at what God's Word says about some practical areas of sanctification.

Sanctification of your thoughts

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honourable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think about these things.

Sanctification begins in your thoughts. What you think determines who you are. Paul gives us a filter for our thoughts here: is it true? Is it honourable? Is it just? Is it pure? Every thought that passes through this filter you may cherish. Every thought that does not get through, you must take captive:

2 Corinthians 10:5 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

Sanctification of your words

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Your words have power. They can build up or tear down, heal or wound, encourage or discourage. Sanctification of your words means that you consciously choose words that build up, that give grace, that bring others closer to God.

Sanctification of your body

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Or don't you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. How you deal with your body is an act of worship or an act of contempt. Sanctification of your body means that you take good care of what God has entrusted to you, that you do not misuse your body for sin, but use it for the glory of God.

Repentance and sanctification are not one-time events. They are a lifestyle, a daily choice, a continuous process of growing toward Christ. And the wonderful thing is: you do not have to do it alone. God's Spirit lives in you and gives you the strength to change. His grace is new every morning.

Lamentations 3:22-23 It is because of Yahweh's loving kindnesses that we are not consumed, because his compassion doesn't fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.

Every morning is a new beginning. Every morning you may come to God anew, repent again where necessary, receive His grace anew. His compassion is new every morning. That is the gospel of repentance and sanctification: not our faithfulness, but His faithfulness. Not our strength, but His strength. Not our perfection, but His grace.

Memorization texts

Learn the following three texts by heart. Take your time and repeat them daily until you know them.