What About Repentance?

First, let me define the term. It comes from the Greek metanoia which means to "think after," "after-thought," or to "change one's mind." Actually, it means to do a 180-degree turn or to do an about-face in military parlance. It is repudiating and renouncing sin; not doing it partway. It is not mere emotionalism but involves the mind or intellect, the will, and the emotions. It is the gift of God (cf. Acts 5:31; 11:18) and is a fruit of saving faith, not a condition for salvation; Reformed theologians do not believe we can do anything to prepare ourselves for salvation, because we are depraved people who cannot do anything meritorious. A dead man can do nothing! This U-turn or turnabout is a radical change of heart, mind, and will.

It is not a one-time event but is progressive and one is never through repenting as far as God sees it--it is progressive. It is not mere remorse, self-condemnation, regret, or feeling sorry, for Judas had these--it must be accompanied by saving faith. It is more than eating humble pie--it is coming clean with God. Surrender to the Lordship of Christ is implied and there can be no real repentance without it--there must be submission to the Lord's will and absolute surrender.

John the Baptist heralded Christ's coming with the message, "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand." This is also the first message Christ proclaimed. Repentance is a recurring motif in the Scriptures. "Unless you repent, you shall likewise perish," Christ warned. Ezek. 18:30 says, "Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin." "And the times of ignorance God winked at, but now commands all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30). "Repent, and be baptized every one of you...for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). Many see repentance as the prerequisite of salvation and the starting point. We must see our sin, our need, and then Christ can fill that need.

Faith and repentance are linked in Acts 20:21, which mentions "repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ." It is clear that repentance is a mandate. It is in the imperative case and everyone has to do it. Some say that the righteous have no need of repentance, but they are righteous because they have already repented or demonstrated saving faith. Spurious repentance or pseudo-repentance is like a child that just wants to be good enough not to be whipped (being sorry about the consequence not that he offended someone).

The Catholic Bible (Vulgate) translates "repentance" as "doing penance." They view it as a meritorious work and externalize it, and not as the gracious work of God in a person's heart. We do works fit for repentance, but repentance is an attitude that God grants us. "If perchance God may grant them repentance..." (2 Tim. 2:25). Acts 5:31 and 11:18 talk of God "granting repentance." There is no genuine repentance without saving faith, and likewise, no saving faith without genuine repentance according to Billy Graham; for they are complementary and go hand in hand. Repentance is the flip side of the coin of faith.

One must either have believing repentance or penitent faith, so to speak, as John Piper and Wayne Grudem phrase it. True repentance manifests itself in works that are appropriate (bringing forth fruit worthy of repentance), and I don't mean doing so many "Hail Mary's" or "Our Father's." Restitution or reconciliation is often called for, but to be sure we must see our sin as God sees it and that it is an offense against His holiness. (Confession (homologeo) means to "say the same thing as.)

Many preachers today do not preach repentance because it is such a killjoy word, and they want to tickle the ears of the church members. People listen to what their itching ears want to hear, and this is unpopular. Without repentance, there is no salvation, but God grants repentance in His grace. False repentance is attrition or simply regret.

Contrition is when we are truly sorry and don't intend to do it again. Judas was sorry and Esau was sorry, but they found no repentance. Whereas Peter was truly sorry for having denied the Lord and did find repentance and a change of heart, and thus forgiveness and restoration. Peter sincerely believed in the Lord--that is the difference. He believed the Lord could forgive him and never despaired.

In sum, saving faith is the flip side of true repentance--they go hand in hand; often it's not how big your faith but how thorough your repentance. (They are forever juxtaposed in Scripture in Acts 20:21) Soli Deo Gloria!

Did YOU Repent?

"Don't you realize that the kindness of God is meant to lead you to repentance?" (Rom. 2:4).
"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation" (2 Cor. 7:10).
"...In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength"  (Isaiah 30:15).

When we hear a sermon that dares to mention the killjoy word of "repent" (some preachers don't mention downer or bummer words like sin and repentance because they're after the big crowds and they don't want to offend anyone); we never seem to apply it to ourselves--"God doesn't let sin slide," my pastor says!  Repentance is a mandate or imperative for all.   There is ultimate retribution, though not always immediate, either in this life or at the Great White Throne Judgment and in eternity (like my pastor says, "You must personalize it; it doesn't come by osmosis!")  We must realize it is meant for us in particular--we too readily apply the message to others or think that we know someone else that should hear it.  The goal is to always apply it first to yourself, then you may qualify to apply it to others.

Providence leads us to believe that God meant for us to hear this, not others to point the finger at. The good preacher has already applied his sermon to himself and knows that he is preaching to himself too, not just for his health or to apply to others--there is accountability and he is judged more strictly.  [There comes a time of awakening when we realize that God is speaking to us personally and we finally get it, like realizing for the first time that Christ died for you!]  God is holy and has no dealing with sin; however, He has done something about it:

We answer the call of John the Baptist and Jesus:  "Repent: for the Kingdom of God is at hand!" (Matt. 4:17).   Jesus also admonished:  "...Unless you repent, you shall likewise perish" (Luke 13:5). Ezekiel says, "Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin" (chapter 18, verse 30).  "God commands all men everywhere to repent"  (Acts 17:30).

Repentance is not a one-time action, but a continual one,  according to Martin Luther first thesis in his 95 theses that he put on the castle church (All Souls Church) at Wittenberg, Germany, in 1517, to proclaim and initiate the Protestant Reformation.  We are to live in the attitude of repentance. Repentance is literally (from the Greek metanoia, (literally "afterthought or to think after") means really to change. to turn--in fact in the Old Testament it is translated usually as "turn") to do an about-face, a 180-degree turn, a U-turn, or about-face from sin to God.  It is the flip side of faith and the two go together like a horse and carriage, as it were.  The result will be a new attitude towards sin, a desire to obey and please God, and love for the brethren, et alia.

By definition, we are told to renounce sin, but Billy Graham says we must also renounce sins (plural).  "...That they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus" (Acts 20:21).  "Repent and be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit"  (Acts 2:38).  You cannot have saving faith without genuine repentance, and vice versa.  True repentance is not just an attitude adjustment, but demonstrated in deeds fit for repentance ("...That they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds" (Acts 26:20).  Just because God hasn't judged a sinner yet, doesn't mean He won't take action if we don't repent--He is just and must judge.  No one gets away with anything, but God is giving the sinner "time to repent" or space to repent, you might say.

I lived a long time in the church before ever hearing about repentance and it was the missing link in my walk to restore me after I had sinned and backslid.  In some places in the Bible, it stresses to have faith, in others, like Luke 24:47 merely mentions repentance for salvation:  "And repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all generations."  Acts 11:18 says, "...So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."   Acts 5:31 also:  "...That he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel."  Martin Luther, in contrast, saw Romans 1:17, and it opened his eyes to faith as the way:  "...The just will live by faith."  It is a story "from faith to faith."

"Repentance and faith go hand in hand," says Billy Graham [they can be distinguished but not separated.  And so there are two ways to look at salvation--some need to be reminded to have faith and others to repent.  "Therefore, being justified by faith, we peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 5:1).  Sproul says we either demonstrate believing repentance or penitent faith, whichever way one looks at it.   Soli Deo Gloria!