True Repentance Produces a Breaking Off From Sin by J.C. Ryle
True repentance shows itself in a thorough breaking off from sin. The life of a repentant person is altered. The course of their daily conduct is entirely changed.
A new King reigns within their heart. They put off the old man. What God commands they now desire to practice; and what God forbids they now desire to avoid. They strive in all ways to keep clear of sin, to fight with sin, to war with sin, to get the victory over sin. They cease to do evil. They learn to do well. They break off sharply from bad ways and bad companions. They labor, however feebly, to live a new life. When a person does this, you have the fourth step in true repentance.
Does it require much learning to tell a fellow-sinner that they are perishing? If their house was on fire, would it require much learning to wake the sleepers?
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17
Linger here and let it sink in that God is absolute Reality, before all creation, eternally. And that Reality includes loving his perfect image in the person of his Son. Love is part of absolute reality.
Our hearts were never designed to be followed, but to be led. Our hearts were never designed to be gods in whom we believe; they were designed to believe in God.
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