I heard my daughter Kathryn getting onto one of her girls one day and she was repeatedly telling her Mama, “I’m sorry.” Kathryn told me that she thinks sorry fixes everything.
In everyday life we understand that feeling sorry and saying you’re sorry isn’t a complete solution. If you have someone that has a behavior in your life that is harmful or that you find offensive, a simple apology isn’t adequate. No, they need to change their behavior, they need to repent. Because repentance is not just asking for forgiveness but changing.
This is how repentance works in the kingdom as well. It is not just asking forgiveness, but an about face that changes your direction. This is why the Word says that we should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance (Act 26:20 KJV). You see there it says repent and turn to God. This means that we have to turn away from our sins and turn to God. It also says the phrase works meet for repentance. This is the outward actions that demonstrate a genuine change of heart and a commitment to a new path after acknowledging and forsaking sins. As one version says it: might give, in their works, the fruits of a changed heart (BBE). Because as it says by their fruits you will know them (Matthew 7:16 WEB).
Jesus came to set us free from sin, not free to sin. When we come to Jesus we must ask forgiveness and turn away and 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 (Ephesians 4:22-24 WEB). Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17 WEB). How can we be a new man, a new creation and not change? The answer is simple, we cannot. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19 KJV).
Romans 6:22-23 KJV 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.