Is Repentance A Requirement For Salvation?

“Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:15 NIV)

Jesus said, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Rev 3:19-20 NKJV).

Some teach that repeating a simple ‘sinners’ prayer will somehow make a person a Christian. The “repenting” of sin alone does not make them Born-Again. The Bible says "repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15 ESV), “...turn back, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19 ESV), “and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:28 ESV).

Repentance is most often thought of as ceasing to sin, doing penance, and turning around and going the opposite way. Many think that repentance is how you measure up to the high standards of God. It’s their way of saying, “I'm deeply regretful, and am sorry what happened and promise to never do it again.”

The sense of remorseful "regret" is common to New Testament uses. A son "changed his mind" about doing his father's bidding (Matt 21:29). Judas Iscariot was "seized with remorse" after betraying Jesus (Matt 27:3). Paul did not "regret" the sorrow caused by his severe letter to Corinth (2 Cor 7:8); instead, the pain brought "repentance" that leads to salvation, and leaves no "regret" (vv. 9-10).

Webster's Dictionary defines the word repent: 1) to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life; 2a) to feel regret or contrition; 2b) to change one's mind.

The first definition is what many believe that Jesus taught - that only people who repent (stop sinning and change their ways) will enter into the Kingdom of God. Actually, many non-Christians do this all the time as they realize it will benefit their lives.

Jesus began His public ministry proclamation as the promised Messiah with the call "Repent" (Mark 1:15; Matt 4:17). The word ‘repent’ comes from the Greek word ‘metanoeo’ and means to change one’s mind, opinion, or purpose with regard to sin and to withdraw from, reconsider, think differently and turn away.

In the New Testament, the verb form of repent is ‘metanoeoo’ and occurs once only (2 Cor 12:21).

Both 'metanoia and 'metaneo' occur 56 times in the New Testament and express intentional and genuine repentance in the full sense of a person’s complete radical transformation of their way of life emotionally, intellectually, spiritually, and in their outward behavior, as they surrender to God (Matthew 3:2; Mark 1:15; Acts 2:38,3:19,9:35, 11:21,26;20; Rom 2:4; 2 Cor 7:9,10; 2 Tim 2:25).

'Metanoia" is used frequently in the book of Revelation, often as part of God’s exhortations to the churches (Rev 2:5,16,21-22; 3:3,19). It expresses the true New Testament idea of the spiritual change implied in a person’s commitment to follow Jesus. It was used by John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Apostles (Matt 3:2; Mark 1:15; Acts 2:38). Every Born-Again Christian is called to repent (turn away from) throughout their life of various behaviors and thoughts so they can grow and mature in their previous faithfulness. Repentance involves a person thoroughly understanding that sin is unutterably heinous before the Holy God.

Another Greek word ‘epistrophe’ is used to bring out more clearly the distinct change required by New Testament repentance. It means "to turn over," "to turn upon," "to turn to.” It is used to strengthen the primary role grace through faith in Jesus plays in salvation, and the positive change that comes as a result of repentance as a person spiritually transitions from sin to God (Acts 9:35, 11:21, 26:20; 1 Thess 1:9).

The Greek term for ‘repenting’ is “metamelomai” which occurs six times in the New Testament. It signifies having a feeling of care, concern, or regret. It expresses the emotional aspect of repentance.

These Greek words emphasize the will to change one’s mind for the better and think differently about and reconsider what they are doing or what they have done by completely and sincerely turning to God, which involves both the apprehension of the nature of sin and the consciousness of personal guilt (Mark 1:15; Acts 2:38; 2 Cor 7:9-10).

True and genuine repentance is a gift of God (Acts 5:31; 11:18; Rom 2:4). The biblical demand for repentance implies human free will and individual responsibility, but it is equally made clear that God takes the initiative in repentance which contains three essential elements;

(1) a genuine sorrow toward God on account of sin (2 Cor 7:9-10; Matt 5:3-4; Ps 51:1)

(2) an inward hatred of sin necessarily followed by the actual forsaking of it (Matt 3:8; Acts 26:20; Heb 6:1)