I want to repent. Can you tell me what I need to do?
Question:
I am a sinner. I have suffered too much in this life. I have committed too many sins. The reason why I am writing to you is that I want to give my life to God. I love my boyfriend so much, and I told him my darkest secret, but I am scared that he might use that against me and dump me. I told him I had sex with the owner of the place where I work. I couldn't keep the secret in me anymore. Though he said he has forgiven me, I don't believe him because I am still working with my boss, even though we have nothing in common. Please help me. I believe the world is about to end. I want to repent because I don't want to go to hell. Please help me, before I do something stupid. I have suffered too much in this life. Please, if you answer me I will tell you my life story, and you can tell me what to do.
Answer:
I don't have to know the details of your past. Your past doesn't matter. What matters is who you are now. "But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live. Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?" says the Lord GOD, "and not that he should turn from his ways and live?" (Ezekiel 18:21-23).
You've committed fornication with your boss and I won't be surprised to hear that you are also committing fornication with your boyfriend. The problem is that you can't have forgiveness for sins you won't let go of. "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God" (I Corinthians 6:9-10). God is able to forgive all sins, but first, you have to let those sins go.
The courage to give up those sins comes from faith. "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). You do things, not because you know that this is what God wants but because sounds roughly right to you. That needs to change. "Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked" (I John 2:3-6).
So to start the real journey, I invite you to read the following and read all the passages from your Bible:
