There are two biblical components to a true conversion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ; repentance and faith. Today, we concern ourselves with the biblical doctrine of repentance.
What is repentance? It is a change of attitude and action from sin toward obedience to God. The doctrine of repentance differs slightly in the Hebrew and Greek minds, but an emphasis upon right behavior is comprehensively consistent.
In the Old Testament, there is no Hebrew word that is an exact equivalent for the English term “repentance.” Repentance was expressed by a number of different actions that show a change in thinking and attitude toward sin and God.
Therefore, repentance may be demonstrated by (1) a public display of mourning over sin, such as weeping (Ezra 10:1), tearing garments and/or hair (Ezra 9:3), and wearing sackcloth (Joel 1:13); (2) making restitution for wrongs committed (1 Chr. 21:22–26); and (3) abasing oneself before the wronged party (Gen. 33:3).
In the New Testament, the sole word for repentance in the Greek is (μετανοέω; metanoeo). It derives from a verb meaning “to radically change one’s thinking.” “Repentance” is an event when an individual reaches a divinely provided new understanding of their behavior and is compelled to change that behavior and begin a new relationship with God (Heb 6:1; Acts 20:21). Examples of changed behaviors following repentance include:
- Zacchaeus making restitution for the fraud he committed as part of his occupation (Luke 19:1–10).
- Paul preaching the faith he once tried to destroy (Acts 9:1–28)
- Onesimus, the runaway slave, returning to his master, Philemon, to face the consequences of his actions (Phm. 8–16).
- Paul preaching the faith he once tried to destroy (Acts 9:1–28)
James 2:14–26 offers the most explicit comments in the New Testament regarding the relationship between repentance and appropriate actions. Without repentance, an individual’s professed faith in Christ is dead. It never existed.
What repentance is not. Repentance is not a reformation or the turning over a new leaf. It is not simply remorse or regret. These may be the fruit of repentance but it is not the root. E.g. Esau (Heb. 12:17; Judas (Matt. 27:1-10). It is not penance or penitence. Repentance is not the act or attempt to make up for one’s sins through good works. E.g. Roman Catholicism.
What repentance is. Repentance is a turning from specific sin(s). It is turning from a previous rejection of Jesus Christ. Genuine repentance results in a changed life.
“Repentance is a heartfelt sorrow for sin, a renouncing of it, and a sincere commitment to forsake it and walk in obedience to Christ,” explains Dr. Wayne Grudem.
“This definition indicates that repentance is something that can occur at a specific point in time and is not equivalent to a demonstration of change in a person’s pattern of life. It is an intellectual understanding that sin is wrong, an emotional approval of the teachings of Scripture regarding sin (a sorrow for sin and a hatred of it), and a personal decision to turn from it (a renouncing of sin and decision of the will to forsake it and lead a life of obedience to Christ instead).”
‘Repentance…involves a recognition of one’s utter sinfulness and a turning from self and sin to God (I Thess. 1:9). Far from being a human work, it is the inevitable result of God’s work in a human heart,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.
“Repentance is much more than a change of mind—it involves a complete change of heart, attitude, interest, and direction, It is a conversion in every sense of the word.”
Soli deo Gloria!
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