— Hebrews 9:22
Repentance is not just feeling sorry for sin; it is a complete change of mind and direction. In the Old Testament, repentance involved turning back to God from idolatry and disobedience. In the New Testament, it involves a transformation of thinking that leads to a new life in Christ.
A complete return to God, abandoning sin.
A fundamental shift in thinking about God, sin, and salvation.
Confession is agreeing with God about your sin. In both Testaments, true confession involves acknowledging sin specifically, taking full responsibility, and seeking mercy.
Examples like David and Daniel show confession as acknowledging sin against God and seeking His mercy.
Confession to God and sometimes to others, leading to forgiveness and restoration.
In the Old Testament, God forgave sins through the sacrificial system established at Sinai. Sin required blood sacrifice, and God provided the means for atonement through animal sacrifices that pointed to the coming Messiah.
If you lived in Old Testament times, the atonement system was the ONLY way God forgave sins. Without the proper blood sacrifice, sins remained unforgiven, and you would end up in hell. Even if one step in the sacrificial process was not done correctly or was skipped, there was no forgiveness.
The law was strict: "without shedding of blood there is no remission" (Hebrews 9:22)
Many people think they can earn forgiveness through their own efforts - praying, fasting, giving sacrifices, doing good works. But in the Old Testament, God rejected any approach that bypassed the required atonement system. Even worse, God does not listen to sinners. You must be sinless to approach God in prayer.
The Carnal Mind is Enmity Against God
Your natural human thinking is not just different from God's thinking - it is actively hostile to God. The carnal mind cannot and will not submit to God's law.
Your human reasoning CANNOT understand spiritual truth!
"My sins aren't that bad"
"I'm basically a good person"
"Everyone makes mistakes"
"God will understand"
"I can earn forgiveness"
"God is too loving to punish"
"I'll try harder to be good"
"My good outweighs my bad"
"I don't need anyone to save me"
"All have sinned and fall short" — Romans 3:23
"The heart is deceitful above all things" — Jeremiah 17:9
"There is none righteous, no, not one" — Romans 3:10
"Without shedding of blood there is no remission" — Hebrews 9:22
"The wages of sin is death" — Romans 6:23
"God's justice demands payment" — Romans 3:26
"Not by works of righteousness" — Titus 3:5
"All our righteousnesses are like filthy rags" — Isaiah 64:6
"Salvation is of the Lord" — Jonah 2:9
Stop trusting in your own understanding! Your human thoughts about God, sin, and salvation are completely wrong. You must humble yourself and accept what God says, not what feels right to you.
The primary Hebrew word for repentance means to turn around, to return, to go back. It implies a complete change of direction.
This word emphasizes the emotional aspect of repentance - genuine sorrow and grief over sin.
The Greek word means a complete change of mind, a transformation of thinking that leads to a change of behavior.
True repentance involves godly sorrow that leads to salvation, not worldly sorrow that leads to death.
Thinking differently about sin, God, and yourself
Genuine grief over offending a holy God
Abandoning sin and turning to God
Acknowledging and agreeing with God about your sin
After his adultery with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah, David wrote Psalm 51 as his confession.
David acknowledged his sin, took full responsibility, and cried out for mercy.
Daniel confessed not only his own sins but the sins of his people Israel.
Daniel acknowledged God's righteousness and their shame, taking full responsibility.
Jesus told this parable to show what true repentance looks like.
He came to his senses, acknowledged his sin, and acted on his repentance.
Name your actual sins, don't be vague
Take full responsibility, no excuses
Genuine grief over offending God
Acknowledge you deserve punishment
From the very beginning, God established that sin requires death. His holy law demands that sin be punished by death. This law has NEVER changed and will NEVER change.
Immediately after Adam and Eve sinned, God killed animals to make clothing for them. This was the first blood sacrifice - innocent animals died to cover the shame of sin.
God Himself performed the first sacrifice. Animals had to die because of human sin. This established the principle: sin requires death, blood must be shed for covering.
When Cain and Abel brought their offerings, God accepted Abel's blood sacrifice but rejected Cain's bloodless offering. This shows that God will NOT accept any offering without blood.
No blood = No acceptance by God
Blood sacrifice = Accepted by God
When God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac, He provided a ram as a substitute. This teaches us that God Himself will provide the sacrifice for sin.
The ram died INSTEAD OF Isaac. This is substitutionary atonement - an innocent life given in place of the guilty.
In Egypt, God commanded every family to kill a perfect lamb and put its blood on their doorposts. Only those covered by blood were saved from death.
No defects allowed
Blood must be visible
Blood saves from death
God's judgment passes over ONLY when He sees the blood of the sacrifice. No blood = death. Blood applied = life saved.
Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies with the blood of a perfect sacrifice to make atonement for the sins of all Israel. This was the most solemn day in Israel's calendar.
Goat #1 - Sin Offering: Killed and blood taken into Holy of Holies
Goat #2 - Scapegoat: Sins confessed over it, sent into wilderness
Only Once a Year: High priest entered God's presence only on this day
Blood on Mercy Seat: Sprinkled seven times before God's throne
Every single year, the same ritual
Sins were covered, not removed
Only lasted until the next year
Malachi was the last prophet God sent to Israel before 400 years of silence. His final message contained a stunning promise about a coming messenger who would prepare the way for the Lord Himself.
— Malachi 3:1
God promised to send a messenger who would prepare the way. This messenger would come before the Lord Himself arrived.
But notice - after the messenger prepares the way, "the Lord" Himself would come to His temple. The Messenger of the covenant would arrive.
Malachi warned that when the Lord comes, it will be a day of judgment. He will be like a refiner's fire and like launderer's soap - purifying and cleansing.
The coming Lord would bring both purification and judgment. The question is: who can stand when He appears?
After Malachi spoke these words, God went silent. For 400 years, no prophet spoke. No new revelation came. Israel waited... and waited... and waited.
The canon of the Old Testament was complete
God's voice was not heard in the land
The promise of the messenger remained unfulfilled
As the Old Testament ended, the great questions about salvation remained unanswered. The sacrificial system could only cover sin temporarily. Where was the perfect sacrifice? When would the promised messenger come?
You have uncovered the terrifying reality: your sins demand death, but no human effort can provide the perfect atonement. The Old Testament system screamed for a solution that only God could provide.
The suspense is unbearable: Who would be the ultimate sacrifice? When would the promised messenger appear? How could sins be permanently erased? The answer will shock you...
After 400 years of deafening silence, God shattered the darkness with the most astonishing event ever recorded. The messenger arrived. The Lord appeared. The perfect sacrifice was given. Everything changed forever.
Prepare to be amazed as every promise is gloriously fulfilled