Many Believers Never Actually Repented

As a Rabbi who leads a congregation, one of my focuses is on teaching people who attend my synagogue the ways of Torah. Torah isn’t simply a list of rules and regulations or do’s and don’ts. It is a way of life based upon our relationship with G-D. So when I share the teachings of the Scriptures with those who attend our synagogue, it includes teaching about sin. Now I know that sin is not a popular thing to talk about today, but the truth is I don’t think teaching about sin has ever been very popular, especially when we are speaking to those who don’t want to acknowledge that they are sinning. 

I believe part of the reason that people don’t like to hear teaching about sin is because they know they sin and don’t really believe they can be set free from their sins. Many feel the same way I did when I was addicted to cigarettes. I knew they were bad for me. I knew they caused sicknesses like cancer and emphysema. I can’t tell you how many times I crushed up a pack of smokes promising myself that I would never smoke another only to find myself back at the store buying another pack and lighting up. This pattern of promising to quit and returning to sin isn’t limited to tobacco. Being in bondage to other sinful acts can follow the same way whether it is alcohol, pornography, lying, stealing, greed, coveting, envy, lust, jealousy, or fear.

We know we are stuck in the depths of bondage and we sincerely try with all our strength and willpower to stop, while promising ourselves and those we love that we will never do it again. We then return to our slavery, to whatever sin or sins we are dealing with. But there is freedom and deliverance available from the list of sins above and every other sin we can imagine. This freedom can only come when we come to a place of faith in Yeshua and true repentance.

The first thing we need to come to terms with is that our flesh desires to sin. Without forgiveness and the power of the Holy Spirit, we cannot overcome and walk without sin. The second thing we need to realize is that everyone around us is either wrestling with sin or has accepted G-D’s forgiveness and repented from their sin. Every person who has ever lived has been tested by sin. This includes Yeshua as we read in the book of Hebrews:

Hebrews 2:18 Because He Himself suffered when put to the test, He is able to help those being tested.

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a kohen gadol who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all the same ways—yet without sin.   

Notice that Yeshua was tempted to sin but didn’t fall into sin. Unfortunately, you and I cannot claim the same. We have all sinned which is why Yeshua came so that we could be set free. So now that we know that we are sinners trapped in our sinfulness, how do we find deliverance and freedom? I believe we can find the answer in a few verses in the book of Luke chapter 22 where we find Yeshua speaking to Simon (Peter).

Luke 22:31-34 “Simon, Simon! Indeed, satan has demanded to sift you all like wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” But Simon said to Him, “Master, I am ready to go with You even to prison and to death!” But Yeshua said, “I tell you, Peter, a rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.”

First, we must remember that at the time when Yeshua was speaking these words to Simon, Simon was not yet born again. But the concept and pattern is consistent for those who are born again and those who are not. These verses start out with Yeshua warning Simon that Satan demanded to sift him. This statement is just as true for you and I today as it was for Simon, regardless of if you are born again or not. Satan wants to sift you. It is interesting to note the next few words tell us that Yeshua had prayed that Simon’s faith would not fail. But even though Yeshua prayed, Simon’s faith still failed. Not long after these words Simon betrays Yeshua by denying Him three times in front of a crowd of people, because Simon’s faith fell in a battle against his fear. Satan sifted Simon. I know that every born again believer reading this has had a similar experience. But read on because the good news comes next.

After Yeshua tells Simon that he was praying that his faith wouldn’t fail, Yeshua says some very important words as the verse goes on to say “And when you have turned back…” We don’t often pay much attention to those words. What Yeshua actually said to Simon was Satan wants to attack and challenge your faith. I have prayed for you, but you are going to sin even though I have prayed for you. But Yeshua’s words to Simon don’t end with Simon’s fall.

The words “when you turn back” is the definition of the word repent. What Yeshua said to Simon in these verses is that Satan is going to test you, I have prayed for you not to lose your faith, and you will fail and sin, but you will repent. What a blessing that Yeshua encouraged Simon. After falling into sin, we still have access to repentance and forgiveness. But Yeshua doesn’t stop there as He tells Simon "strengthen your brothers.” Yeshua’s statement ends with an instruction for Simon to use his victory over his sin to strengthen other believers. These words should remind you of the verse from Hebrews 2:18 above where it says: “Because He Himself suffered when put to the test, He is able to help those being tested.”

I believe that the way to be delivered from our bondage to sin is found in these verses I have stated in this blog. First, we need to know that Satan wants to sift us and cause us to sin. Second, we need to realize that as hard as we try, we may still sin. Third, we need to realize that if we sin, we must not just ask for forgiveness, but we must repent and turn back to G-D. Fourth, once we fully repent, we need to share the testimony of our overcoming so that we can strengthen other believers.

I wanted to go back to number three above for a moment as a reminder that repentance isn’t just feeling bad. Repentance isn’t just saying you are sorry. Repentance is turning back. It is doing all that you can to fix or undo whatever damage your sin caused. Many of us are still bound in sin because we have not truly repented.

We find a great example of repentance in the actions of Simon. In Luke 22, Simon falls into sin and betrays Yeshua by denying him in front of a large crowd of people. We find the fullness and fruit of Simon’s repentance in Acts 2 when Simon stands in front of a large crowd and proclaims his faith and belief in Yeshua. Simon shares his sermon on the day of Shavuot (Pentecost) as he proclaims to the crowd in Acts 2:36:  “Therefore let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him—this Yeshua whom you had crucified—both Lord and Messiah!”

I believe that the reason Simon spoke at the Temple on the day of Shavuot (Pentecost) was because his public betrayal in Luke 22 required a public repentance or turning around. Simon sinned as a leader by betraying and denying Yeshua out of fear. So in order to turn back (repent), Simon had to publicly proclaim his trust and faith in Yeshua as both L-RD and G-D. It wasn’t enough for Simon to just tell the other disciples privately that he had sinned and was sorry. Simon had to fully demonstrate his repentance by doing everything possible to repair the damage caused to all who were affected by his sin.

Like Simon, if we are going to overcome bondage to sin in our lives we must acknowledge that we were sifted, repent completely, and then share our testimony. Remember that Revelations 12:11 says we overcome Satan “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives even in the face of death.”