{"id":54528,"date":"2020-04-20T22:06:22","date_gmt":"2020-04-20T19:06:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=54528"},"modified":"2025-09-10T10:59:01","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T07:59:01","slug":"confession-is-not-repentance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2020\/04\/20\/confession-is-not-repentance\/","title":{"rendered":"CONFESSION IS NOT REPENTANCE"},"content":{"rendered":"

Confession is not the same as asking for mercy from God!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Blessed be the name of the Lord.<\/strong><\/p>\n

There is a clear distinction between repentance<\/strong> and merely asking for mercy<\/strong>. Many people today ask for mercy, but they do not repent<\/strong>.
\nBrother, seeking mercy without repentance is in vain<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Asking for mercy is no different than asking for forgiveness<\/strong>. When you ask someone to forgive you, you’re essentially asking them to have mercy on you. But repentance is not something you ask for it\u2019s something you do<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\n

What, then, is repentance?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Repentance means to turn away<\/strong> from sin and forsake it entirely.
\nImagine you are walking in one direction, then you suddenly realize you’re going the wrong way. So you stop, turn around, and walk back or take a different path.
\nThat change of direction, that decision to abandon the former path, is what we call repentance<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

But asking for forgiveness is not the same as repentance.<\/p>\n

To understand this more deeply, consider the following illustration:<\/p>\n

\n

A Child\u2019s Change of Heart<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A parent tells their child to go and run an errand. Instead of obeying, the child becomes disrespectful, talks back rudely, and continues playing. But as they walk toward their game, their conscience convicts them they realize their mistake. So they abandon their plan, turn back, return to the parent, kneel down and say,
\n“Mother, I am sorry for being disrespectful. Please forgive me. I\u2019m ready now to go where you sent me.”<\/em><\/p>\n

In this example, the repentance<\/strong> happened when the child turned around<\/strong> and went back. The request for forgiveness<\/strong> happened after<\/strong> the repentance.<\/p>\n

Do you see the difference?<\/p>\n

You cannot say you have asked for mercy while you have not repented<\/strong>.
\nRepentance must come first<\/strong>, and then the plea for mercy follows<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\n

Jesus’ Example The Two Sons<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This is exactly the lesson Jesus gave in the parable of the two sons:<\/p>\n

Matthew 21:28\u201331 (NKJV)<\/strong>
\n“But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, \u2018Son, go, work today in my vineyard.\u2019<\/em>
\nHe answered and said, \u2018I will not,\u2019 but afterward he regretted it and went.<\/em>
\nThen he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, \u2018I go, sir,\u2019 but he did not go.<\/em>
\nWhich of the two did the will of his father?\u201d They said to Him, \u201cThe first.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The son who initially refused<\/strong>, but later repented and obeyed<\/strong>, is the one who did the will of the father. This shows us that true repentance results in action <\/strong>a change of heart that leads to obedience.<\/p>\n

\n

In These Troubled Times Repent, Not Just Plead<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In these difficult times that have come upon the world, this is not just a time to ask for mercy <\/strong>it is a time to repent<\/strong>.
\nTo repent means to abandon sin<\/strong>, to renounce evil<\/strong>, and to change direction<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s time to:<\/p>\n