Learning Scripture and repenting go hand in hand. You can’t have spiritual maturity without both. This is something I am constantly learning. You cannot truly study the Word and remain the same. Changed behavior is a reflection of your belief and faith. It’s a tough process as you submit and allow Yahuah to discipline you and transform you. I think about how our Messiah died to give us this opportunity, which is why sanctification is a journey that requires endurance in which many people don’t want to submit to. The refining fire is necessary if you really want to follow Him. Repentance requires humility, especially as you unlearn things you thought were true.
An example of this is me using the name “Yahuah.” A little over a year ago, I was still using the titles “God” and “Lord,” and the Greco-Romanized “Jesus” as our Messiah’s Name (I use “Yahusha” now).
Why do I do that?
Because as I studied the Word and sought to put it in context to deepen my understanding, the Most High exposed the error in my thinking and theology. I learned that those words were not the names we were supposed to be using. I learned that men removed their names from our Bibles many years ago. And because I read in my Bible that we shouldn’t take His Name in vain (which means, make it meaningless), I repented and changed. The blessing that came as a result, was that repentance allowed me to grow in my understanding.
Another example that I publicly repented from on my podcast is my past teachings on the pre-tribulation rapture doctrine and the prophecy fulfillment of Israel becoming a sovereign nation on May 14, 1948. I was wrong about those and I taught wrong about it. Yahuah revealed some serious error in my thinking, and when He removed those scales, I repented from it and changed. Because of my willingness to be corrected, He blessed me with more clarity on the truth of prophecy according to His Word. I began to pick up a pattern...the more I repented, the more I was learning!
Repentance is a normal process, and I feel like it’s not talked about enough among the body. It’s okay to admit when you’re wrong. It’s okay to admit that you didn’t understand the Word at first, and then correct yourself once you’ve gained deeper understanding.
That reveals your growth—that’s your testimony!
The reason His grace is so good is because it sustains you while you’re learning how to be like our Messiah and walked as He walked. Repentance is only possible BECAUSE of His grace! Think about that.
If you go your whole life and you never begin to see things differently, your understanding of the Word doesn’t deepen, and there is never any evidence of changed behavior and greater obedience because of it, you might want to check your heart’s engine light.
Repentance isn’t a one-time thing—it’s a lifestyle. It’s a lifestyle that is difficult to get comfortable with because people naturally don’t like to admit that they are wrong. I’m here to tell you that I’ve been wrong about a lot! But it’s only through repentance that it has helped me grow and cultivate my heart so that I don’t harden myself to correction anymore. Too many of us hold ourselves back and we don’t even know it, all because we refuse to set down our pride and receive correction when needed.
Let this be your encouragement to seek the Father with all of your heart, and to cherish the gift of grace and His mercies that are new each morning. A lifestyle of repentance will create a meekness in you that only Yahuah can do, and you will begin to see things more and more from His perspective as you read the Word with greater clarity and understanding.
Repentance isn’t something to be ashamed about. It reflects the good work that Yahuah is doing in our hearts.
With love,
Stephanie