Ellen Gould White über: "The difference between genuine repentance and mere regret"

Genuine repentance includes the sorrow over sin itself and a decisive turning away from it, which leads to a profound change of life. In contrast, mere regret is merely the fear of the negative consequences or the suffering that sin causes, without any abhorrence of evil or a heartfelt conversion. True repentance is the result of divine grace and is manifested in the restitution of wrongdoing and the sincere desire not to dishonor God any longer.

The difference between biblical repentance and mere regret

»Repentance includes sorrow over the sin and a turning away from it. We will not renounce sin unless we recognize its sinfulness; as long as we do not turn away from it in our hearts, there will be no real change in life. Many do not understand the true nature of repentance. In large numbers, people regret that they have sinned and even undertake an outward reform because they fear that their wrongdoing will bring suffering upon them. But that is not repentance in the biblical sense. They lament the suffering rather than the sin. Thus was Esau’s grief when he saw that the birthright was forever lost to him.«

1 - Ellen Gould White, Steps to Christ (SC 23.2)

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True repentance as a decisive turning away from evil

»True repentance is more than mere sorrow over sin. It is a decisive turning away from evil. ... The people mourned because their sins had brought suffering upon themselves, but not because they had dishonored God by transgressing His holy law.«

2 - Ellen Gould White, Patriarchs and Prophets (PP 557.2)

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The nature of divine sorrow versus worldly sorrow

»For godly sorrow produces repentance for salvation, which need not be regretted; the sorrow of the world, however, brings death.' ... This is the result of the work of the Spirit of God. There is no proof of genuine repentance unless it brings about reformation. When one returns the pledged item, restores the stolen goods, confesses his sins, and loves God and his fellow men, the sinner can be sure that he has found peace with God.«

3 - Ellen Gould White, The Great Controversy (1888 ed.) (GC88 462.2)

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Repentance out of fear of punishment is insufficient

»The confessing Christians who are unprepared for that final terrible conflict will, in their desperation, confess their sins with words of burning fear... These confessions are of the same kind as those of Esau or Judas. Those who make them lament the consequence of the transgression, but not its guilt. They feel no true contrition, no abhorrence of evil. They acknowledge their sin out of fear of punishment; but, like Pharaoh of old, they would return in their defiance against Heaven if the judgments were removed.«

4 - Ellen Gould White, The Great Controversy (1888 ed.) (GC88 620.3)

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Fruits of genuine repentance in life

»The confession will not be acceptable before God without sincere repentance and reformation. There must be decisive changes in life; everything that offends God must be removed. This will be the result of sincere sorrow over sin.«

5 - Ellen Gould White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5 (5T 640.2)

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