--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: True repentance is no light matter. It is…" description: "\"True repentance is no light matter. It is a thorough change of heart about sin, a change showing itself in godly sorrow and humiliation - in heartfelt ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/j-c-ryle-789_abiding_true-repentance-is-no-light-matter-it-is_2837679.jpg" --- # True repentance is no light matter. It is a thorough… ![“True repentance is no light matter. It is a thorough change of heart about sin, a change showing itself in godly sorrow and humiliation - in heartfelt confession before the throne of grace - in a complete breaking off from sinful habits, and an abiding hatred of all sin. Such repentance is the…” quote by J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/j-c-ryle-789_abiding_true-repentance-is-no-light-matter-it-is_2837679.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/j-c-ryle-789_abiding_true-repentance-is-no-light-matter-it-is_2837679.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/j-c-ryle-789_abiding_true-repentance-is-no-light-matter-it-is_2837679.jpg) > “True repentance is no light matter. It is a thorough change of heart about sin, a change showing itself in godly sorrow and humiliation - in heartfelt confession before the throne of grace - in a complete breaking off from sinful habits, and an abiding hatred of all sin. Such repentance is the inseparable companion of saving faith in Christ.” [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True repentance involves deep heart change, sorrow, confession, and abandoning sin, inseparable from saving faith. **In simple terms:** Repentance = heart change, sorrow, confession, sin‑abandonment, linked to faith. Key Takeaway Cultivate sincere repentance. Themes theology personal transformation faith Mood solemn encouraging Type religious didactic When to use this quote - personal confession - church teaching - spiritual counseling Key Concepts spiritual renewal moral reformation Questions to Reflect On - What hinders genuine repentance? - How does community support change? A Different Perspective Repentance can be superficial. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change of heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-of-heart/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Companion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/companion/) [Confession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confession/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Godly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/godly/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Hatred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Heartfelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heartfelt/) [Humiliation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humiliation/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Repentance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repentance/) [Saving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saving/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorrow/) [True repentance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-repentance/) ## Related quotes > [Repentance grows as faith grows. Do not make any mistake about it; repentance is not a thing of days and weeks, a temporary penance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/repentance-grows-as-faith-grows-do-not-make-any-mistake-about-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [True repentance involves a change of heart and not just a change of behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/true-repentance-involves-a-change-of-heart-and-not-just-a-change-of/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [True repentance begins with KNOWLEDGE of sin. It goes on to work SORROW for sin. It leads to CONFESSION of sin before God. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/true-repentance-begins-with-knowledge-of-sin-it-goes-on-to-work/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Remorse is impotence; it will sin again. Only repentance is strong - it can end everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/remorse-is-impotence-it-will-sin-again-only-repentance-is-strong-it/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [“How do we repent? We repent through faith . . . turning to God in faith and from sin in repentance are the same movement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-k-dodson/how-do-we-repent-we-repent-through-faith-turning-to-god-in-faith-and/) [Jonathan K. Dodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-k-dodson/) > [Repentance is being sorry enough to quit your sin. You will never know the forgiving mercy of God while you are still wedded to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-martin/repentance-is-being-sorry-enough-to-quit-your-sin-you-will-never-know/) Albert Martin > [“Likewise, we continue to follow Jesus as we struggle with sin. Repentance ushers us into a life of greater struggle, not out of one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-greear/likewise-we-continue-to-follow-jesus-as-we-struggle-with-sin/) [J.D. Greear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-greear/) > [Are we willing to risk being misunderstood and maligned in order that truth might be told and men might be saved? Identifying a malady…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/are-we-willing-to-risk-being-misunderstood-and-maligned-in-order-that/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [“It is now time for us to ask the personal question put to Jesus Christ by Saul of Tarsus on the Damascus road, ‘What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/it-is-now-time-for-us-to-ask-the-personal-question-put-to-jesus/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [Though man comes from the dust, sin is not a part of his nature. Man can overcome sin, and through repentance attain to at-one-ment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hertz/though-man-comes-from-the-dust-sin-is-not-a-part-of-his-nature-man/) [Joseph Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hertz/) > [You can manage your sin, but that's not repentance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-manage-your-sin-but-that-s-not-repentance/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Revival is a renewed conviction of sin and repentance, followed by an intense desire to live in obedience to God. It is giving up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-grandison-finney/revival-is-a-renewed-conviction-of-sin-and-repentance-followed-by-an/) [Charles Grandison Finney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-grandison-finney/) > [When I repent, here is where it starts. I try to name my sin as honestly and as specifically as possible. Here is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/when-i-repent-here-is-where-it-starts-i-try-to-name-my-sin-as/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [“In religion our only hope is to live a life good enough to require God to bless us, so every instance of sin and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/in-religion-our-only-hope-is-to-live-a-life-good-enough-to-require/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [True repentance never leads to despair. Its leads home. It leads to grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/true-repentance-never-leads-to-despair-its-leads-home-it-leads-to/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) ## More by J. C. Ryle > [When a person’s tongue is extensively wrong, it is absurd, no less than unscriptural, to say that their heart is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/when-a-person-s-tongue-is-extensively-wrong-it-is-absurd-no-less-than/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Love should be the silver thread that runs through all your conduct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/love-should-be-the-silver-thread-that-runs-through-all-your-conduct/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Amidst the flood of dangerous reading, I plead for my Master's book; I call upon you not to forget the book of the soul.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/amidst-the-flood-of-dangerous-reading-i-plead-for-my-master-s-book-i/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Persecution, in short, is like the goldsmith's stamp on real silver and gold - it is one of the marks of a converted man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/persecution-in-short-is-like-the-goldsmith-s-stamp-on-real-silver-and/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [The parent who tries to train without setting a good example is building with one hand, and pulling down with the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/the-parent-who-tries-to-train-without-setting-a-good-example-is/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [We are all naturally self-righteous. It is the family disease of all the children of Adam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/we-are-all-naturally-self-righteous-it-is-the-family-disease-of-all/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Sunday morning, before we go to hear the Word of God preached...let us not rush into God’s presence careless, reckless, and unprepared, as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/sunday-morning-before-we-go-to-hear-the-word-of-god-preached-let-us/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [The true secret of spiritual strength is self-distrust and deep humilty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/the-true-secret-of-spiritual-strength-is-self-distrust-and-deep/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [That Bible is read best, which is practised most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/that-bible-is-read-best-which-is-practised-most/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [O Christian, look up and take comfort. Jesus has prepared a place for you, and those who follow Him shall never perish, neither shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/o-christian-look-up-and-take-comfort-jesus-has-prepared-a-place-for/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Let your Christianity be so unmistakable, your eye so single, your heart so whole, your walk so straightforward, that all who see you may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/let-your-christianity-be-so-unmistakable-your-eye-so-single-your/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Let it be a settled principle ...that men's salvation, if saved, is wholly of God; and that man's ruin, if lost, is wholly of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/let-it-be-a-settled-principle-that-men-s-salvation-if-saved-is-wholly/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [That Bible is read best - which is practiced most!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/that-bible-is-read-best-which-is-practiced-most/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [If we would know whether our faith is genuine, we do well to ask ourselves how we are living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/if-we-would-know-whether-our-faith-is-genuine-we-do-well-to-ask/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [To be born again is, as it were, to enter upon a new existence, to have a new mind, a new heart, new views,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/to-be-born-again-is-as-it-were-to-enter-upon-a-new-existence-to-have/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) [Explore all 369 J. C. Ryle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) ## More Abiding quotes > [If there is an abiding theme in 'The Pursuit of Happiness,' it is the idea that you come into the world already shaped by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-kennedy/if-there-is-an-abiding-theme-in-the-pursuit-of-happiness-it-is-the/) [Douglas Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-kennedy/) > [Why is it, my shadow-striding friend, that we don't fear dreams? We lose consciousness, lose control, things happen with no apparent logic and abiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/why-is-it-my-shadow-striding-friend-that-we-don-t-fear-dreams-we-lose/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [I think that there is just a deep and abiding sexism that's part of your life from the moment that you're conscious as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-w-garcia/i-think-that-there-is-just-a-deep-and-abiding-sexism-that-s-part-of/) [Liz W. Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-w-garcia/) > [Faith is the capacity of the soul to perceive the abiding, the invisible in the visible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-baeck/faith-is-the-capacity-of-the-soul-to-perceive-the-abiding-the/) [Leo Baeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-baeck/) > [I think we have two conflicting traditions in this country. I think it's important for us to recognize that we've got a tradition of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-we-have-two-conflicting-traditions-in-this-country-i-think-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [A wicked mortal is not the idea of God. He is little else than the expression of error. To suppose that sin, lust, hatred,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-baker-eddy/a-wicked-mortal-is-not-the-idea-of-god-he-is-little-else-than-the/) [Mary Baker Eddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-baker-eddy/) > [When the penalty for a policeman's mistake is to put a criminal back out on the street, then we are hurting America; we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/when-the-penalty-for-a-policeman-s-mistake-is-to-put-a-criminal-back/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) > [The value of a dollar is to buy just things; a dollar goes on increasing in value with all the genius and all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-value-of-a-dollar-is-to-buy-just-things-a-dollar-goes-on/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The aims of these three groups are entirely irreconcilable. The aim of the High is to remain where they are. The aim of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-aims-of-these-three-groups-are-entirely-irreconcilable-the-aim-of/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [After more than two decades of trying to destroy the firearms rights of more than 80 million law-abiding American gun owners - and statistically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-gottlieb/after-more-than-two-decades-of-trying-to-destroy-the-firearms-rights/) Alan Gottlieb > [When you defile the pleasant streams, And the wild bird's abiding place, You massacre a million dreams, And cast your spittle in God's face](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-drinkwater/when-you-defile-the-pleasant-streams-and-the-wild-bird-s-abiding/) [John Drinkwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-drinkwater/) > [How can we hope to retain our freedom through the generations if we fail to teach our young that our liberty springs from an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-falwell/how-can-we-hope-to-retain-our-freedom-through-the-generations-if-we/) [Jonathan Falwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-falwell/) > [Love and friendship, two of life's abiding rewards, are endangered species in Hollywood. People crave both, mistaking alliance for friendship, lust for love, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-obst/love-and-friendship-two-of-life-s-abiding-rewards-are-endangered/) [Lynda Obst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-obst/) > [In a government like ours, the Crown is the abiding and unshakable element in government; politicians may come and go, but the Crown remains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/in-a-government-like-ours-the-crown-is-the-abiding-and-unshakable/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [I sometimes forget that life is fragile. The fact that I have more time to dream my dreams and take my ease is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luci-swindoll/i-sometimes-forget-that-life-is-fragile-the-fact-that-i-have-more/) [Luci Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luci-swindoll/) Browse all 387 Abiding quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "True repentance is no light matter. It is a thorough change of heart about sin, a change showing itself in godly sorrow and humiliation - in heartfelt confession before the throne of grace - in a complete breaking off from sinful habits, and an abiding hatred of all sin. Such repentance is the inseparable companion of saving faith in Christ.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J. C. 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