The Importance Of Repentance

Decent Essays
“Repent! The end is near.” Over the past few decades of national crises, confusion and fear in a country have provoked certain Christians to create posters to prominently convey a message to the public. Often classified as fear-mongering, these signs will warn: “Repent! The end is near.” Though most people chuckle over the religious propaganda, these signs do warrant debate concerning a tenet central to Christianity. Putting aside the aspect of the sign referencing an apocalypse, the first word, “repent”, commonly garners confusion. What does it mean to repent? Why should humankind repent? Though this ambiguous word seems absent in today’s world, it is the key to lessen sin’s influence, leading to a more fulfilling life. Therefore, repentance …show more content…
Humankind is born chained to sin’s power, translating to an evil side separate of one’s good self. Repentance involves earnestly bringing these sins to God. Repentance is simply described in Rebecca DeYoung’s book Disciples: Overcoming Sin. She asserts that “The shift from a vice to a virtue is one part of the rhythm of dying to the old self and rising to the new” (DeYoung 11). As figuratively described, repentance involves knowing one’s sin, whether it be greed or lust, and handing it to God. Moreover, DeYoung utilizes the word “dying” to display the importance of repenting. She argues that one must “kill” their old, sinful selves, as living in a renewed life rooted in Christ warrants deep commitment and faith in God. When humans successfully and sincerely hand over their burdens to God, a more fulfilling life is …show more content…
A middle aged, stout man dressed in a cheap suit enters the room, examines her for a few moments, and begins to chuckle. He says, “So I’m supposed to believe that a woman who is a mother of four small children, the director of a community food pantry, and the wife of a preacher allegedly killed another woman because of some petty town gossip? My partner can really dream up some far-out scenarios.” Having a little fun with the situation and expecting a nervous response from the woman, the man inquires, “Why did you kill her?” The woman coldly

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