Regret is associated with regret for a mistake committed.
Regret is the regret that a person feels for something they have done, said or failed to do. Those who repent change their mind or stop being consistent with a certain commitment.
For example: "I have no words to express my regret: I swear that I will never do something like that again" , "The judge did not find any trace of regret in the condemned man's statements" , "Without repentance, there is no point in asking for forgiveness" , "The murderer's supposed repentance had no importance for the victim's family."
Understanding mistakes and regret
Repentance is a spontaneous act, which must arise from the legitimate understanding of one's own mistakes , although this does not mean that they will not be committed again. Broadly speaking, a distinction can be made between involuntary and voluntary faults, the latter being the easiest to avoid. Certain psychological disorders lead people to commit acts of varying severity that harm others, without really wanting to or, in some cases, without being aware of them.
In cases of this nature, there may be genuine regret even though the situation does not improve. It is important to note that some diseases give rise to the commission of crimes such as rape and murder against the will of those who carry them out; Needless to say, this is very difficult for victims and their loved ones to understand and accept.
The concept in religion
In a religious sense, repentance consists of acknowledging sins , changing one's attitude, and asking God for forgiveness . In the Catholic religion , repentance is associated with the sacrament of Confession or Penance , through which the faithful confess their sins to a priest, who imposes a penance as reparation for said sins and, finally, grants them absolution .
For religion, repentance is much more than simply turning away from sin and not committing it again, since it implies a true change in the mind of those who have done wrong. The Bible considers that repentance results in a change in behavior, an authentic conversion to God that is closely related to salvation.
Understanding the error and having the will to repair it are issues that are part of repentance.
Repentance and salvation
The connection between salvation and repentance can be seen, for example, in the Book of Acts; In several passages of the Bible it is expressed that repentance consists of changing one's mind regarding Jesus, to recognize him as the authentic son of God, the Lord and Christ. In fact, for the Christian religion this attitude and faith can be considered two sides of the same coin.
To obtain salvation it is necessary to believe in Jesus Christ as the Savior sent to Earth by God; Going through stages of doubt about your identity or your power, or lack of knowledge about your greatness forces you to go through true repentance to change your own mentality and stop rejecting Christ. It is important to understand that it should not and cannot be an act motivated by the interest of gaining salvation, but rather it must be granted by God.
The notion in law and art
Repentance can also be part of the law . In some legislations, when a person expresses his regret for having participated in a criminal act before the judge or a court, he achieves a mitigating factor in his punishment. The repentant is considered to be collaborating with Justice and, therefore, is recognized with a reduced sentence .
In art , finally, repentance is a correction or amendment that can be seen in the drawing or the composition of a painting. The artist, instead of erasing and eliminating the error, leaves it so that the development process of the painting in question can be known.