Repentance is not only a bible word but a bible doctrine and truth. Yet, false religion takes such bible words and gives them its own definition. Thus repentance becomes little more than a momentary emotion of guilt or the sorrow of this world over what one’s done. Men and women are told to “repent of their sins” when the truth is, they don’t even know all their sins! Growing up, I came along about the time that teaching the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic was giving way to new approaches, most of which have left many unable to read, write or count! Those old fundamentals were called the “3 R’s” for the natural sounds of “reading, ‘ritin and “rithmetic.” They may have been old fashioned but they are still essential. The same is true of the “3 R’s” of repentance. When you listen to Paul in Philippians 3, the theme of his repentance is not moral evils and deeds which he had committed. He viewed all his sins as loathsome in God’s sight. But the Holy Spirit of God had enabled him to see something far worse, things he had always trusted in, his self-righteousness, particularly in religion. Much can be said about repentance but the 3 R’s of repentance seem to be: REJECTION… A wholehearted rejection of all that is said and taught about God except what He Himself has declared in His written word! Every traditional thought, every man-made doctrine and every way of salvation except what God has revealed is thoroughly abandoned and rejected. All our false notions about God! After all, repentance is said to be “toward God.” It is to say with the Psalmist, “I hate every false way.” It is to submit to the truth of God alone and to reject every righteousness but the righteousness of God in Christ Himself. It is to regard every gospel except that “gospel wherein the righteousness of God is revealed” as a false gospel and reject it. The second R seems to be RENUNCIATION… That is, a full renunciation of all professions, all rituals, all religious experiences, all religious ties before Christ was pleased to reveal Himself to him through the true gospel. Paul did not simply add on to his false religion, he renounced it saying, “I was before a blasphemer.” In Philippians 3, he renounces any claim to acceptance before God based on his birth, family, nationality, zeal, religious affiliation or anything else, counting it all as refuse! He counted them all as evidence that he was then spiritually dead and as such works as only result in eternal death. What most people rejoice in and boast in, when God saved Saul of Tarsus, he renounced them all. And though his “heart’s desire and prayer to God was that Israel (his people) might be saved,” he yet renounced their teaching and their religion saying “they have a zeal for God but it is not according to knowledge.. because they’re going about to establish their own righteousness.” Also there seems to be RECEPTION… Inseparably joined are “repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.” Along with the rejection and renunciation which characterizes all who are born again of God’s Spirit comes that God-given faith that receives the “gift of righteous” in the Lord Jesus. Paul’s new desire was to be “found” in Christ and “made the righteousness of God in Him.” His hope was in a righteousness imputed to Him by a sovereign act of God’s grace. He looked by faith to Christ alone as “the Lord our righteousness.” That repentance brought peace to his conscience as it will to all that God gives it to. It is His to give, may He give it to us! The repentance He gives brings an “acknowledging of the truth.” The truth about God Himself, the truth about us, the truth about Christ who is the Truth and the truth about how He can be just and justify sinners only through the blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ.