1 Timothy 1:5 English Standard Version (ESV) The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

The issue for the need for repentance has to deal with a good conscience. Because God has justified us by faith in His Son’s work on the Cross and removed every sin, past, present and future. A one time sacrifice for sins that have not yet been committed must be able to acquit us of all sin.

Because we have been justified by faith, then the purpose of repentance cannot be for the acquittal of sins committed because they have already been justified before God. What repentance addresses is our conscience. We are human and we have feelings about what we have done that we know is wrong.

Shame keeps us from coming to those we respect and have a loving relationship. We allow shame to keep us from tending to those relationships. God knows them all and has forgiven them all so that sin is no longer a hindrance in relationships. Our shame for our behavior has become an obstacle in relationships. Repentance and forgiveness restores relationships for us. It did not and does not change God’s mind about us. It only affects how we feel about ourselves.

When we are in a relationship and we cannot honestly answer the other’s questions, then it shows that we do not value that relationship. When God the Father asks us on judgment day what we did with His Son Jesus Christ, we will be answering Him for every place we took Jesus. The abiding presence of Christ does not disappear or turn His back on us just because we go where we should not or sin at any moment. We take Jesus with us.

Our good conscience will remind us by faith that we have been down this road before and we know what lies ahead if we do not stop and turn around. We have to answer to God the Father if we do not heed the warning.