Repentance, Pride and Judging

Article for Wednesday March 4, 2026

      Repentance extends beyond confession alone; true believers must desire reconciliation with God and resolve to cease serving sin, self, or other authorities, instead committing to live according to God’s will. Merely admitting wrongdoing while refusing to submit to God’s truth about change doesn’t constitute repentance—rather, repentance means agreeing with God’s evaluation of sin and willingly following His direction forward. Positioning yourself for repentance involves consistently engaging God’s truth through Scripture study, biblical teaching, and accountability within a Christian community. An Exploration of Christian Theology, 2nd ed.; Baker Academic Theological Studies Collection (5 vols.)

Luke 15:6–7 6And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

This is from the parable of the lost sheep.  It is that God looks for those who have separated themselves through unrepented sin.  These are the lost sheep who think they have nothing to repent when in fact they have through their pride, separated themselves from God.  Pride in oneself is sin and there are some who don’t even realize their pride has gotten in the way.

Repentance is a means God has given us to reconcile ourselves to Him.  Pride was a problem that separated some of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes from God.  They let their pride get in the way of understanding scripture so much that they wanted to and did try to destroy Jesus Christ.  I’m not sure if there was any repentance from these Pharisees, Sadducees, or Scribes.

Pride is a killer of churches as well.  I have seen it in three churches that I have served and several churches that I knew.  I said three churches that I served because I counted the church I served during my vicarage. Unfortunately, those who suffer from inflated pride never see it or they deny it.  Most forget that the church is Jesus Christ and the church belongs to God.

Romans 2:1 1Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.

Many who judge others do the same as those they judge.  We all suffer from having pride, but some suffer more than others.  Jesus did say judge not less you be judged.  (Matthew 7:1; Luke 6:37).  I think these verses are ignored more than other verses.  We find it too easy to judge one another and I’ll bet there are some who will try to either justify their judging or just deny that they do it.

I know what you are thinking, I am judging you.  If you feel judged by me maybe you are feeling the judgment that comes from God’s Holy Scripture.  I try not to judge but I am human and have a sinful nature like you and therefore I fall down as much as you.  Not that this justifies me it does not, but it means I need to repent, try harder, and turn away from pride and judgement as do you.

Romans 2:1–3 2We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who do such things. 3Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?

We need to know that we are judged every day and that is not just by each other but from the true judge which is the Word of God.  This is another reason we need to be in constant study of the Holy Bible.  So, if we are constantly being judged by God’s Word why do you think your judgement is justified?

And you who judge, do you think you have moved closer to God or further away?  For you who are judging will be judged more severely than you have judged others.  You are not moving closer to God, rather you are moving away from God as you are trying to act like a god.  Judging is like try to get vengeance, but God says vengeance is His. (Romans 12:19).  If there is judging to be done, then let the Word of God do the judging.

Romans 2:4–5 4Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

      Repentance is more than confessing, it is a means to assure the forgiveness that Jesus died to give us.  Jesus went to the cross to die for our sins.  Jesus Christ did not go to the cross so that we can continue to sin.  Jesus Christ went to the cross out of love for His Father in heaven and His love for us the adopted children of God. 

      Are we so far removed from this tragedy that shows God’s love for us that we have hardened our hearts from the crucifixion and resurrection?  We are given God’s word so that we can keep the crucifixion of Jesus fresh in our hearts as if it happened today.  And we are given God’s word so that we can also keep the resurrection of Jesus as if it too happened today. 

In His name, Amen.