Is it necessary to repent of my sins after I commit them? Why can’t I just quit the sin and move on? Most people will forget about it in time and will no longer hold it against me. But does God forget? The scriptures teach that God is omniscient, that is, “all-knowing.” It refers to God’s ability to know absolutely everything. God knows when I sin and longs for me to repent and return to Him. Why is it so important to God that I repent? Because the scriptures teach that sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59.1, 2). Sin will condemn us to death if we fail to repent. Do you remember what Paul told the Christians at Rome about the price one must pay for sin? Paul said, “For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 3.23). James tells us that it is not sinful to be tempted; but, if we yield to the temptation and commit the sin, it will grow inside us and eventually lead to spiritual death (James 1.13-15). When the Jews on the Day of Pentecost heard Peter’s sermon, they realized they had sinned by crucifying the Son of God, then being “cut to the heart, said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’” (Acts 2.37). They realized how greatly they had sinned against God and knew they needed to make it right. What did Peter tell them to do? Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2.38). Is there something you need to make right today? Think about it!
