How can our words indicate if we are truly repentant?

Sam Waldron explains in this video that although of course it’s not the same in every case, merely saying “I’m sorry that you’re upset” or “Well, I apologize” is generally not an indication that you are truly sorry for what you did to the other person.

It is oftentimes necessary to say words like: “I have sinned” and “will you please forgive me.” If we shy away or abstain from using those words, it might be an indication of unrepentance.

James 5:16 (NKJV) – “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

I think in terms of how you see repentance in the home that we'd be a little persnickety about the words that are used. It's not, I'm sorry that you're upset. It's not, well, I apologize. Now, that might mean in some context, I confess my sins and I ask you to forgive me. But I think in many cases it is necessary to say the words, I sinned, will you please forgive me?

And until those we get those words out of our mouths we probably aren't really repentant. So that's what it looks like in the home.