弟兄姐妹们，今天和大家分享一下自己对信仰生活中有关悔改的话题，这几年的经历让我看到了读经、祷告、敬拜等等信仰生活在自己面对各样问题中所起的作用，它们都在渐渐指向同一个问题：悔改（Repent，שׁוּב，本意是to turn back (to God)，即向 神回转）。
    雅各书2:18中说道：“必有人说：‘你有信心，我有行为；你将你没有行为的信心指给我看，我便藉着我的行为，将我的信心指给你看。’” 这节经文直指信仰的核心问题——信心与行为之间的关系。作为基督徒，我们常常说要信靠神，但我们的生活和行为，是否藉着悔改体现出这份信仰的真实与力量了呢？当我们的行为无法与信心相称时，掩盖在悔改力量下内心的撒但会作何感想呢？

第一部分：信心与行为不可分割

    雅各书中明确指出，信心若没有行为是死的（雅各书 2:26b）。真正的信心不仅是内心的相信和口头的承认，更应当通过行为来体现。保罗曾说：你们该效法我，像我效法基督一样。(哥林多前书 11:1)，信心不仅仅是我们内在的信念，还必须体现在我们的日常生活中，成为我们行动的指南。只有这样，信心才是活的、真实的，才能在他人面前为神作出有力的见证。

    然而，许多基督徒在日常生活中，可能会不经意间忽视了信心与行为的一致性。我们可能宣称自己信靠神，但在生活中却缺乏悔改的行动。我们可能表现出温文尔雅的外表，似乎在遵守“爱人如己”的诫命，但我们的内心是否真正经历了悔改？

第二部分：最大的诫命与悔改的前提

    圣经明确教导我们，诫命中最大的是尊主为大和爱人如己：“你要尽心、尽性、尽意、尽力爱主你的神。其次就是说：‘要爱人如己。’再没有比这两条诫命更大的了。”（马可福音 12:30-31）然而，这些诫命的前提是什么？结合我的生活经历，我认为是悔改，没有悔改，所有的外在行为都可能变得空洞，甚至失去真正的意义。

    有时候，我们或许会误以为表现出温文尔雅的样子，就是主的门徒了。然而，魔鬼在行恶前也可能是这样子，耶稣教导我们，‘你们若不悔改，都要如此灭亡！’(路加福音 13:3b 和合本)，悔改是每一个基督徒必须经历的心灵转变。如果没有经历真正的悔改，我们的行为可能只是掩盖内心挣扎的外衣。这种情况下，我们对诫命的遵守可能变成形式化的表现，而失去了信仰的真诚。

    悔改意味着承认我们的不足，并愿意在神面前谦卑自己，接受祂的引导和改变。经历了悔改的信仰才能在我们的内心扎根，行为才会自然流露出基督的爱和真理。

第三部分：未悔改的结果：配偶（家人、亲朋）的不信

    在许多家庭中，夫妻中的一方信主多年，而另一方依然不信甚至不认可信仰。这种情况可能让信主的一方感到沮丧，但我们也需要反思：这种情况是否与我们自己未能完全活出真实的信心有关？有时我们会听到劝告：“继续祷告吧，主的时间还没有到。”然而，祷告的力量仍然来自于真心的悔改和交托，不是吗？

    当我们省察自己时，我们是否在生活中展现了基督徒应有的品格？这里讲的并不是单单指“耐心、温柔、爱心和谦卑”，而是深入思考：我们是否在基督里真正找到了自我认同？是否放下了过去的负担，将一切交托给神？是否在生活的挑战中，真正展现出基督所赋予的喜悦与平安？

    不彻底悔改的结果之一，就是我们可能未能成为配偶眼中的“活的《圣经》”。当他们看不到我们因信仰而产生的变化，他们可能就难以被信仰所吸引。展现出信仰的力量是基督徒生活的核心，当我们以谦卑和喜乐的心态生活时，我们的信仰就会自然而然地吸引他人，成为他们认识神的渠道。这一点也是我当前最大的功课，周围的同事、朋友、教会的肢体甚至是自己的至亲并没有从我的行为中看到完整的基督形象。

第四部分：悔改是信仰的根基

    有句话叫‘Think out of the box'即在盒子之外思考，意思是在遇到问题时，不能在问题本身以内的范围思考答案而是要站在‘上帝’视角思考：什么才是最重要的。门徒的信心与行为也是如此：在上帝那里寻找答案。
    悔改是信仰生活中亲近神极为重要的一部分。
    我意识到自己应该去悔改时不是一时的情感冲动，是发现在省察自己过犯时几乎自己所有的行为不可能通过更改其中的某一件事就可以达到完美，也就是说悔改不是单单省察某一件具体的过犯，而是自己需要每天都去寻求神的旨意，按祂的引导做事，并在做那些事情时不断放下自己引以为豪的所谓经验教训或情感依赖。
    悔改的样子不是像有人“捶胸顿足”那样，而是学会在生活的各个层面，逐渐将自己的主权交托给神，不是仅仅承认自己的不足，也不是按照世俗的行为标准去迎合表面的和谐，而是全然信靠神，相信祂的带领是我们的内心平安与喜乐的根基，相信祂才是我们悔改的标杆。

    所以，悔改是一种全面的心灵转变，是一种主权的交托，关乎每个人的思想、言语和行为。当我们真正悔改，信仰就不再是虚假的，行为也不会是徒劳的。我们的智慧和能力会在神的引导下，得到最恰当的使用-----在神面前谦卑自己，获取真正的力量。

悔改：痛改前‘非’转向 神

    如果我们发现自己的配偶（家人、亲朋）多年不信，我们不需要按照世人的标准去衡量自己是否活出了基督的样式。我们需要回转到基督面前省察，效法基督的实质不是模仿，而是仰望和交托。当我们把自己的一切主权一件一件交给祂时，悔改的成果就会‘水到渠成’，而不是教条式的纠正自己的言行。就像犹太人按照口传律法的613条去做时，依然很难达到“摩西”的要求，因为他们的心（思想意念）没有更换“掌权者”。
    所以，回到文章开头的话题，我们已经了解了悔改的作用，那给予我们悔改勇气的仍然是耶稣基督，仍然需要我们借助日常的读经、祷告、敬拜聚会等不断操练我们与主的关系。

    愿我们每位肢体都能拿出‘刮骨疗伤’式的勇气去悔改，以真实的信心和行动来践行我们的信仰。愿我们的生活成为他人认识神的渠道，荣耀神的名。

    让我们一起为此祷告！

（如有建议敬请留言讨论，邮箱：[email protected]）

What Role Does Repentance Play in a Life of Faith?

Dear brothers and sisters,

Today I would like to share my thoughts on repentance in the life of faith. Through my experiences over these past few years, I have witnessed how Bible reading, prayer, worship, and other spiritual disciplines all increasingly point to one central issue: repentance (repent, in Hebrew, originally meaning “to turn back [to God]”).

In James 2:18 it is written,

“Someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.” This verse goes straight to the heart of the matter—the relationship between faith and works. As Christians, we often say that we trust in God, but do our lives and actions, through genuine repentance, truly manifest the strength and reality of that faith? When our deeds fail to align with our professed faith, what does that say about the inner work of repentance that should be overcoming Satan’s influence in our hearts?

Part One: The Inseparability of Faith and Works

The book of James clearly teaches that faith without works is dead (James 2:26b). True faith is not merely an internal belief or a verbal confession—it must also be demonstrated through our actions. As Paul exhorts in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” Our faith should not reside solely in our inner convictions, but must guide our everyday life, serving as a compass for our actions. Only then does faith become living and genuine, powerfully testifying to God before others.

Yet many Christians, in their daily lives, may inadvertently overlook the consistency between faith and works. We might claim to trust in God, yet neglect to act with repentance. We may appear gentle and obedient, seemingly fulfilling the commandment “Love your neighbor as yourself,” but has our heart truly been transformed by repentance?

Part Two: The Greatest Commandments and the Prerequisite of Repentance

The Bible teaches that the greatest commandments are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:30–31). But what is the prerequisite for these commandments? Based on my own life experience, I believe it is repentance. Without true repentance, all external actions risk becoming hollow and meaningless.

Sometimes we may mistakenly think that merely displaying a refined and gentle demeanor means we are the disciples of the Lord. However, even the devil may appear dignified before committing evil. Jesus warned us,

“Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish!” (see Luke 13:3b, Chinese Union Version). Repentance is the essential inner conversion that every Christian must experience. Without genuine repentance, our actions may simply serve as an external mask that hides inner turmoil. In such cases, our observance of the commandments can become nothing more than a formal performance, losing the sincere core of true faith.

Repentance means acknowledging our shortcomings and humbling ourselves before God, accepting His guidance and transformation. Only a faith that has experienced repentance can take deep root in our hearts, and only then will our actions naturally reflect the love and truth of Christ.

Part Three: The Consequences of Unrepentance: Distrust Among Loved Ones

In many families, one spouse may have been a believer for many years while the other remains unresponsive or even rejects the faith. Such a situation can be deeply disheartening for the believing partner. But we must also reflect: could this condition be partly due to our own failure to fully live out an authentic faith? Often, we hear advice such as, “Keep praying—the Lord’s time has not yet come.” However, the power of prayer stems from heartfelt repentance and total surrender, does it not?

When we examine ourselves, are we exhibiting the qualities that characterize true disciples of Christ? This is not merely about “patience, gentleness, love, and humility” but involves a deeper reflection: Have we truly found our identity in Christ? Have we let go of past burdens and entrusted everything to God? Are we, in the face of life’s challenges, truly manifesting the joy and peace that Christ imparts?

One outcome of incomplete repentance is that we may fail to become a “living Bible” in the eyes of our spouses. If they do not see in us the transformation wrought by faith, they might be less drawn to it. Demonstrating the power of faith is central to a Christian’s life. When we live with a humble and joyful heart, our faith naturally attracts others and serves as a channel through which they can come to know God. This is, for me, my greatest ongoing challenge: many of my colleagues, friends, fellow believers, and even close family members have not seen in my behavior a full reflection of the image of Christ.

Part Four: Repentance Is the Foundation of Faith

There is a saying: “Think out of the box”—meaning that when faced with a problem, one must not confine one’s thinking to the boundaries of the problem itself but must consider it from God’s perspective: What truly matters? The same applies to our faith and works: the answers come from seeking God.

Repentance is an exceedingly important aspect of drawing near to God in our spiritual lives. I came to realize that my need for repentance was not just a momentary emotional impulse—it became clear when I examined my faults that no single change in a particular misdeed could make me perfect. Repentance is not simply about recognizing one specific sin; it means that every day we must seek God’s will, follow His guidance, and continually cast aside the pride we clung to as if it were a badge of honor or an emotional crutch.

The posture of repentance is not a dramatic “chest-beating” outburst, but a gradual, holistic surrender of our own authority in every area of life. It is not merely an acknowledgment of our shortcomings, nor is it an adjustment to meet worldly standards of superficial harmony. Rather, it is a complete trust in God—the firm belief that His guidance is the very foundation of our inner peace and joy, and that He alone is our ultimate standard of repentance.

Thus, repentance is a comprehensive transformation of the heart—a complete surrender of our own control over our thoughts, words, and actions. When we truly repent, our faith ceases to be superficial, and our actions are not in vain. Under God’s guidance, our wisdom and abilities will be used appropriately—by humbling ourselves before Him and obtaining genuine strength.

Repentance: A Radical Turn from Past Unrighteousness toward God

If we discover that our spouse, or other family or friends, have remained unbelieving for years, we should not measure ourselves by worldly standards of whether we are living as Christ’s true disciple. Instead, we need to return to Christ in self-examination. Emulating the essence of Christ is not mere imitation but involves looking to Him and surrendering to His will. When we relinquish every part of our personal authority to Him, the results of repentance will come naturally and organically, rather than as a form of rigid, dogmatic self-correction. Just as the Jewish people struggled to meet Moses’ standards by strictly following the 613 oral laws—often falling short because their hearts and minds were not renewed by a new “ruler”—

So, returning to our opening topic, we now understand the role that repentance plays. It is Jesus Christ who gives us the courage to repent, a process that is continually fostered through daily Bible reading, prayer, and worship gatherings to nurture our relationship with the Lord.

May every member of the body have the courage to undergo a “bone-washing” kind of repentance—letting their true faith manifest in word and deed. May our lives serve as a channel through which others may come to know God, and may all glory be given to His name.

Let us pray together!