Benefits of Repentance

Repentance precedes God moving in revival and mercy that averts His furious judgment. Each one of us is due the wages of sin (Rom. 6:23), and our only hope is the mercy of Jesus. When revival comes, God’s mercy supersedes his judgment (James 2:13). Repentance puts us under the mercy of God. Similar to an individual, when a group stands before God, like a church or a nation, and confesses its corporate sins, God responds according to 2 Chronicles 7:14, hearing from heaven, forgiving our sin, and healing our land. When there is brokenness over sin, humility, confession to sin to God and one another, and serious intercession, God moves in a mighty way in revival. We see personal and corporate reconciliation, restitution for sin, and restoration of relationships. There are other benefits to repentance.

• God remembers his covenant, takes pity on his people, and has compassion for us – Leviticus 26:40-42; Joel 2:17-18; Luke 15:20
• God opens the way of the Lord to come in power – Psalm 24:7-10; Isaiah 40:3-5; 57:14-15; Matthew 3:2-3, 11; Mark 1:1-4
• God stops oncoming judgment – Jeremiah 18:8; 26:3, 13; 42:10; Joel 2:13; Jonah 3:9; Luke 10:13
• God saves us from the pit of destruction and grants a full pardon – Isaiah 38:17; 55:7
• God covers our sin, forgives our guilt, and justifies us – Psalm 32:5; 51:1-9; Ezekiel 37:23; Mark 1:4; Luke 18:13-14; 1 John 1:9
• God gathers us back to Him and upholds our cause – Deuteronomy 30:4; 1 Kings 8:49; James 4:8; 1 Peter 2:25
• God gives us a new spirit, a new heart, and new deeds evidencing new life – Ezekiel 18:31; Matthew 3:8; Acts 11:18; 26:20
• God restores the joy of relationship and communion with him – Psalm 32:1-5; 51:1-19; Isaiah 57:2; Habakkuk 1:3; Acts 3:19
• God gives mercy and rest for our souls – Proverbs 28:1; Isaiah 30:15; 57:15; Jeremiah 6:16
• God restores hope to other sinners through the truth – Psalm 51:13-14; 2 Timothy 2:25
• God brings rejoicing in heaven and glory to Himself – Luke 15:7; Acts 11:18