Repentance
What is repentance?
Repentance, in common usage of the term, means (1) regret (in thoughts, action and behavior) and (2) to rue and turn away from what we were and what we did. It can also mean to stop what we used to do or think. Delving deeper, we can also understand it as turning away from what we did and aligning ourselves on the other side. The Webster Dictionary defines it as turning from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one’s life.
Mankind sinned against God. Jesus Christ called us to “repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Mat. 4:17). He commanded every sinner to repent and to return to the LORD. The sinner needs to change his mind. This is repentance: changing one’s mind towards sin and God and turn towards God and return to Him. Therefore, according to the Bible, repentance is to have contrition and to turn away from sin and live in humility and holiness according to God’s mercies and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
In the Old Testament
In the OT, two Hebrew words, “nacham” and “shuv” are used in relation to repentance. Nacham means to sigh (or breathe strongly). This leads to another meaning – to lament. Nacham is rarely used for men (Ex. 13:17; Jb. 42:6; Je. 8:6; 31:19), but is used extensively for God. This word (verb) pictures the mind of God jouncing and shifting in His dealings with His people. Frequently, the word is used when God changed His mind from punishing His people. But in Jeremiah 18:10, we see the word being used in God changing His mind from doing good to punishing His people. In 1 Samuel 15:11, 39, we also see God changing His mind about Saul. We see examples in Ex. 32:11-14, 2 Sam. 24:16; 1 Chron. 21:15; Am. 7:3, 6; Jer. 18:8; 26:3, 13, 19; Joel 2:13; Jonah 3:9; Jer. 42:10.
The other word used frequently is ‘Shuv.’ It means to regret and return. This is the true meaning of repentance. The prophets frequently used this term to call upon men to return to the LORD from their sinful ways (Deut. 4:30; Neh. 1:9; Ps. 7:12; Jer. 3:14). It is also used to refer to the relationship between men and God (Ex. 32:12; Jos. 7:26) and also restoration (Ps. 85:4).
In the New Testament
In the NT, two Greek words are used – metamelomai and metanoeo. They mean “changing of the mind’ and ‘regret (mostly in our thoughts and perception).’ Metamelomai generally points to the mind, and is also used to a regretful mind (Mat. 21:29, 32; 27:3). Though Judas Iscariot regretted his actions, the Bible does not tell us that he repented. The Apostle Paul also used it to describe what’s on his mind because of his deeds and to show what he thought about God’s mercies (2 Cor. 7:8; Heb. 7:21).
Metanoeo is used to describe returning to God and changes in the mind and spirit. This word describes a new or different life away from sin. As such, it is very close to ‘Shuv.’ John the Baptist and the disciples frequently use this term (Mat. 3:2; Mk. 1:15; Acts 2:38). They use it to articulate changes in the mind of the believer and his faith (Acts 20:21), return (Acts 3:19) and the blessings coming from God because of His forgiveness (Lk. 24:47; Acts 5:31). Sometimes, it is also used in relation to baptism of repentance (Mk. 1:4; Lk. 3:3; Acts 13:24; 19:4).
What’s included in repentance?
As we have said before, repentance is changing of the mind in relation to sin and God. This change brings us to God. Repentance changes the mind of the sinner.
- Repentance involves blaming ourselves for all the bad things that we have done against God. Therefore, the sinner turns to God and now stands in opposition to himself. In short, it is the realization of being a sinner and acceptance of being one.
- It is grief because of sin. 2 Corinthians 7:10 says, “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death.” Matthew 5:4 also says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
- Repentance brings about confession. We cannot hide anything from God. If there is repentance, it invariably leads to confession of sins.
- It is turning away from sin. A true sinner who repents leaves sin behind and does not want to return to it anymore. The Bible tells us that in repentance, a sinner stands before God and accepts that he is a sinner and he alone is to blame for it, and that he completely abhors the sin and really wants to get away from it. He grief because of sin and does not want to get back to it anymore. True repentance, therefore, is to look unto the LORD while following the right path and live a life of holiness. Matthew 3:8 therefore says, “bear fruit worthy of repentance.”
Repentance and faith
As we have understood, when someone believes in the Lord Jesus, he repents of his sin. In the New Testament, the word faith and its related words (pistis, pisteuo and pistos) is used some 240 times. They are mostly used in relation to the salvific works of Jesus Christ. Faith is putting down all of our abilities and trusting only on Jesus Christ knowing and believing that only in Him lies salvation.
Even though faith and repentance are different words, the fact is that where there is faith, repentance always follows. This is because when a sinner has faith in Jesus, repentance and change always follows. John 20:31 tells us, “these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in His name.” Without having to speak of repentance, it says that faith in Jesus leads to life, and in that life, there is no more space for sin. This implies repentance. In Romans 3:28 and 5:1, we see justification and salvation by faith. All this brings about repentance.
Repentance and judgment
Acts 17:30 says, “While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent.” Why did He give such a command? The reason is given in verse 31, “because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness.” He will someday judge the world. This is the reason.
God has total authority. He has authority over salvation too. He made a way for sinners to enter His kingdom. While the Bible tells us that He is merciful God, it also tells us that He is a consuming fire, holy and righteous. Therefore, He commands people to repent of their sins. Because of His mercies, He says, “this is the one to whom I will look, to the humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at my word.” Psalm 51:17 also says, “The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”
Praise be to God! He will not despise sinners who repent. Jesus came to save sinners. Let the sinner turn to God and change his heart and receive the salvation of God. Let us look at Isaiah 55:6-7: “Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near, let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
Repentance and salvation
From what we have seen so far, we can now clearly see that repentance is a change of mind that results in change of action. But how is this related to salvation?
When we read though Acts 2:38; 3:19; 11:18; 17:30; 20:21; 26:20 we see that it talks about repentance in relation to salvation. When Peter spoke (Acts 2), he told the people to repent. Reent from what? He told everyone who rejected Jesus to change their hearts and to accept Him. This means that Peter told them not to reject Jesus, but to be saved through their faith in Him. This is exactly the relation between salvation and repentance. Faith, repentance and salvation are all therefore intricately interlinked.
We are not saying that we are ‘earning’ salvation through repentance; but we are saying that those who are saved always repent. Where there is repentance, there is change. John the Baptist said, “bear fruit worthy of repentance” (Mat 3:8), and so, there is always change in a repentant person (2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 5:19-23; Jam. 2:14-26).
Acts 3:19 invites us to “repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out.”
Do we have such a life?
