Repentance is one of God’s greatest gifts. Through repentance, we draw closer to God and grow in our relationship with Him. However, before repentance can take place, conviction must come. Conviction awakens our conscience to the truth and prepares our hearts to return to God.
God’s Word Cannot Be Broken
Jesus said:
“Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, You are gods’? If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken)…” (John 10:34–35)
God’s Word is unchanging because Scripture cannot be broken. We know a man of God by the words he speaks because his words reveal the desires of his heart.
When God said, “Let there be light,” there was light (Genesis 1:3). His Word accomplished exactly what He spoke.
In the same way, when words are spoken according to the truth of the Gospel and under the guidance of the Spirit of God, they carry God’s purpose. But when words are not according to the truth of the Gospel or the Spirit of God, they remain idle, meaningless, and can even become destructive.
The Holy Spirit Makes the Word Effective
It is the Holy Spirit who reveals Jesus Christ. It is also the Holy Spirit who makes God’s Word effective in our lives.
Without the Spirit of God, words alone cannot produce spiritual results. Even if the name of Jesus is spoken, it must be spoken in faith and in the Spirit of God.
The account of the seven sons of Sceva illustrates this truth (Acts 19:13–16). They attempted to use the name of Jesus without truly knowing Him or walking in His Spirit. The evil spirit responded,
“Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” (Acts 19:15)
This reminds us that spiritual authority does not come from repeating God’s Word without relationship with Him. God’s Spirit gives life to His Word and reveals Jesus to those who truly seek Him.
Realizing That God Is Reliable
When we encounter the true Gospel, we begin to realize that God is reliable. As this realization grows, our faith also grows.
Your faith, love for Christ, and desire for Christ will simultaneously grow. (Our love for Christ increases, and our desire to know Him becomes stronger. The more we discover God’s faithfulness, the deeper our relationship with Him becomes.)
Conviction Before Repentance
Before anyone can repent, conviction must come.
Conviction is the awakening of the conscience to the truth. It is through conviction that we recognize our need for God and begin the journey of repentance.
Each day, repentance brings us closer to God. It is one of God’s greatest gifts because it continually draws us back into fellowship with Him.
The Bible reminds us that:
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
God is greater than every problem we face. His character never changes, and His faithfulness remains constant.
When we understand this, our confidence in Him grows stronger.
Continue Growing in the Knowledge of God
Every believer should ask, “What is the next thing for me concerning God?”
No matter how much we have learned, there is always more to know about Him. Spiritual growth is a continual journey of discovering God’s greatness.
Sometimes we realize how little we know, and that realization should encourage us to seek Him more earnestly. As we continue to know Him, we discover that God is real, faithful, and greater than we ever imagined.
Conviction Before Repentance: Conclusion
The power of repentance begins with conviction. As the Holy Spirit awakens our conscience to the truth, we are drawn back to God in humility and faith.
God’s Word cannot be broken, and His Spirit makes that Word effective in our lives. As we continue to know God, we discover His faithfulness, our faith grows stronger, and our desire for Christ increases.
Each day, repentance draws us closer to God and helps us walk in the truth of His unchanging Word.