Repentance or Remorse

REPENTANCE OR REMORSE

Have you ever given any thought to why some bible characters seem to get forgiven, and others lose what they have? Take for example Jacob and Esau. Jacob tricked Esau into selling his birthright, when he tried to get it back God rejected him. And how about Judas Iscariot after betraying Jesus went out and hanged himself. Or, Peter for instance after denying Jesus went and wept bitterly, but in the next chapter we find him preaching the gospel.

So, I went into the scriptures to see if there was a reason for these actions. I found some interesting bible facts that may hold a answer to this question. Let us first, look at Matthew 27:3-5,

“Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that”.

In the KJV above, the word “repent-ed is used”, this is not a true interpretation of this word. Looking into the original meaning, we find the word Metamelomai,when interpreted, this word actually means regret. Did you ever stop and ponder, why Judas was condemned and Peter forgiven? I will cover that a little later.

Look at the confrontation between Jacob and Esau, Genesis 25:29-34. Esau

was the first born which gave him the birthright and best inheritence of his father’s estate. But he despised his birthright and sold it to Jacob for some red stew. When he tried to retrieve it with tears was denied.According to:

Hebrews 12:16-17, “Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears”.

Take notice of what the bible describes in Peter’s betrayal of Jesus. Peter was with Jesus when the guards arrested Him. Peter followed as they took Jesus to be condemned. He mingled among the guards, was close enough that he saw Jesus’ eyes as the rooster crowed for the third time. Then Peter went out and wept bitterly. This is where confusion comes in. Just because a person sheds a lot of tears, doesn’t necessarily mean that the heart has repented. Tears can be a heart felt sign of true repentance in a persons heart. In this instance, Peter did what Judas did not, Peter repented for his part in the betrayal of Jesus. How do we know this, John 20:2, Simon Peter and John ran to the sepulchre to see the empty tomb. More proof would be, in Acts 2:38, On the day of Pentecost, Peter launched his preaching ministry with the same requirement of repentance as John the Baptist and Jesus did.

Here Is the difference between repentance and remorse, guilt, regret and sorrow.

Guilt is a prison that will keep you perpetually bound and unchanged.

Remorse enslaves you in sorrow that engulfs you emotionally and leaves you feeling sad, depressed, hopeless, and unchanged.

Regret is self-pity that is focused more on your own personal loss than on the pain or loss you caused to others or the heart of God and leaves you unchanged.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 7:10, “For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world works death”. Peter repented to salvation. Judas’ remorse led him to his death.

This is possibly what Judas went through. Deep remorse for his part in the betrayal of Jesus. Had he repented, I don’t believe he would have hung himself.

The word for repentance is, Metanoeo. Which referring to a complete turn in the way one thinks, lives, or acts. For a person to repent, he must simply make up his mind to change. Esau did not repent of his selfish attitude but, sought it back with regret, not repentance.

Could this be the reason a person will go to the altar every time one is given. For regret, remorse or guilt, and not for true repentance?

If you are trapped in any one of these, there is healing for you today.

Real repentance is a mental choice to leave a life of sin, flesh, and selfishness, and turn toward God with all of one’s heart and mind to follow Jesus. The scripture verses below will help you find rest for your soul.

Romans 10:9-10, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation”.

Be blessed in Jesus.

Al S.