What Does it Mean to Repent?

What is something you believed, liked or disliked in the past, but have since changed your mind?

What is a basic definition of repentance?

What is sin? What does it do to our relationship with God?

What do we deserve when we sin?

What is God’s standard and who is it that embodies that standard? How should God’s standard look in our own lives?

Why do we have to repent from our sins?

Why is it important to realize we cannot fix our sins on our own? How does humility play apart in this process? Who do we need to fix our sins?

Even after you become a Christian, you are going to make mistakes. 1 John 2:1 states, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” God wants us to live a life without sin, but he also knows we are human and are going to make mistakes. Read 1 John 1:5-10 & 3:9-10. The ESV uses the phrases “walk in the light,” “walk in darkness,” “practice of righteousness” and “practice of sin.” How does the idea of walking in light and practicing righteousness shape your understanding of the life we are to live? Does God expect perfection or faithfulness? What’s the difference?

Read Luke 19:1-10. What did Zacchaeus do in this passage that showed proper repentance? What must we do in order to practice proper repentance of our own sins?