Discerning true repentance is a necessary but often difficult task in counseling. As Paul warns in 2 Corinthians 7, not all outward signs of repentance are genuine. Behind the tears and the “I’m sorry’s” can be a heart defined by either worldly or godly sorrow (2 Cor 7:10–11). Thankfully, J. C. Ryle helps pastors, counselors, and Christians discern true repentance from false repentance in the following excerpt from his sermon titled “Repentance.” For those who are interested in further reflections from J. C. Ryle, the following section is from the November 2nd entry in the daily devotional, Our Great Redeemer: 365 Days with J. C. Ryle.
Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance. — LUKE 3:8
True repentance begins with knowledge of sin.
The eyes of the penitent man are opened. He sees with dismay and confusion the length and breadth of God’s holy law and the extent, the enormous extent, of his own transgressions. He discovers, to his surprise, that in thinking himself a good sort of man and a man with a good heart, he has been under a huge delusion.
True repentance goes on to work sorrow for sin.
The heart of a penitent man is touched with deep remorse because of his past transgressions. He is cut to the heart to think that he should have lived so madly and so wickedly. He mourns over time wasted, over talents misspent, over God dishonored, over his own soul injured. The remembrance of these things is grievous to him.
True repentance proceeds further to produce confession of sin.
The tongue of a penitent man is loosed. He feels he must speak to that God against whom he has sinned. Something within him tells him he must cry to God and pray to God and talk with God about the state of his own soul. He must pour out his heart and acknowledge his iniquities at the throne of grace.
True repentance, furthermore, shows itself in a thorough breaking off from sin.
The life of a penitent man is altered. The course of his daily conduct is entirely changed. A new King reigns within his heart. He puts off the old man. What God commands he now desires to practice, and what God forbids he now desires to avoid.
True repentance, in the last place, shows itself by producing in the heart a settled habit of deep hatred of all sin.
The mind of a penitent man becomes a mind habitually holy. He abhors that which is evil and cleaves to that which is good. He delights in the law of God. He comes short of his own desires not infrequently. He finds in himself an evil principle warring against the Spirit of God.
