“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)
(3) humble self-surrender to the will and service of God (see Acts 9:6)
Genuine repentance involves a change in emotional attitude towards sin. The proof of it is the producing of good fruit and holy behavior (Matthew 3:8, 7:17; Galatians 5:22).
Repentance involves turning from sin, but most importantly, it means turning to God. It’s not about a person working their way into heaven. The primary idea of repentance in the New Testament is a change of mind that leads to the abandonment of sin and turning to God for salvation through Jesus Christ. It is one thing for a person to know right and wrong and have a knowledge of sin without hating it and understanding that it dishonors God and is offensive to Him as well as its effects on humanity.
True repentance is manifested by the natural bearing of good fruit in the life of the Born-Again Christian (Matt 3:8). If there is no habitual bearing of good fruit, they are a "diseased tree" and simply experienced the light of God "enlightened" (Gk: 'photizo') and had a taste of "the heavenly gift" and goodness of the word of God," sharing "in the power of the Holy Spirit" without consistently doing "better things—things that belong to salvation" which is the proof of genuine conversion (Hebrews 6:4-5,9 ESV).
Jesus said "You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits." “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’ (Matthew 7:16-23 ESV).
The first Commandment states, "I am the LORD your God”…"You shall have no other gods before me. "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below..” (Ex 20:2-5 NIV).
The primary motives for repentance are found in the goodness of God and His divine love because He desires that all come to saving-faith in Jesus Christ. When a person makes that conscious decision, they will experience the hope and peace only He can provide through salvation as they gain citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven and the Triune God takes up permanent residence in their spirit, mind, and body, the new Holy of Holies (Mark 1:15; Luke 13:1-5; John 3:16; Acts 17:30; Rom 2:4; 1 Tim 2:4). They are no longer their own because they eternally belong to the Triune God who bought and paid for them (1 Corinthians 6:19). Jesus promised to never leave or forsake them (Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5).
Trusting-Faith alone is the condition for salvation (Eph 2:8-10; Acts 16:31). Yet, there can be no saving faith without true repentance. Repentance is bound up with faith and inseparable from it because without some measure of faith, no one can truly repent, and repentance never attains its deepest character until the person realizes through becoming Born-Again how great the grace of God is towards those who have sinned.
God desires to be the center of a person’s life. He longs for them to depend on Him to be their refuge, glory, and strength, not some “Idol.” Anything that keeps them from trusting Him exclusively He considers to be "other gods.” He is waiting for them to turn their heart away from those "other gods" and towards Him.
The reason a person should repent is that God wants to prove that He is a better refuge and strength than anyone or anything else. He is looking for people who will stop trusting earthly sources to fill their longings and desires. He is looking for people who will lean on and cling to no other but Him. He desires that they turn their affections towards Him and place their trust, confidence, security, and total dependence on Him, and be satisfied with nothing else, and no one else.
Repentance is a process of turning to God so a person can receive His presence in trade for what they normally try to receive by dependence on earthly sources. Repentance makes it easier to turn and draw near to the Lord and deal with the many reasons they tend to hold back from Him. It will take them from loving their earthly ways to loving God. It will also lead them to the place where earthly things become less and less attractive because the benefits of His presence far surpass anything this life has to offer.
GODLY SORROW
Repentance is not about following the “rules,” doing good things and not doing bad things, because “These are all destined to perish with use," because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence (Col 2:20-3:1 NIV).
Repentance is not how hard a person works at changing their behavior or feeling sorrow or regret because of sin. Repentance by regret over personal sins committed can lead to self-condemnation. Sorrow, “that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death" (2 Cor 7:10).
Repentance by regret is "...the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement” and is “of no value against fleshly indulgence" (Col 2:23). Making one’s self feel bad for what they did wrong is "self-made religion" because the pain they feel seems to justify their wrongdoing. Condemning themselves over something they have done will prevent them from putting their faith in the blood of Jesus because there is “now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1 NIV). The Cross is more powerful than their sin. No amount of feeling bad will ever make the payment or justify what they have done wrong. Self-condemnation gives a false sense of goodness before God, "for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God" (James 1:20). Self-inflicted pain won’t absolve a person before God because "God is the one who justifies" (Rom 8:33b).
Repentance toward God will result in good morals and good behavior but a person can’t measure true repentance by the absence or presence of good morals and behavior because anything short of perfection is unacceptable to God. In other words, no matter how hard they work at trying to live a truly 'repentant' life by behaving well and living 'morally,' they can never live up to being perfect and acceptable to God. It’s not about trying to prove their love to Him “but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins” (1 John 4:10 NLT).
Godly sorrow is repenting in full surrender, letting Jesus live His life through them by accepting that there is nothing within apart from Him that can make them acceptable. What truly matters is “whether they really have been changed into new and different people” (Gal 6:15-16 NLT).
God forgave all sins - past, present, and future - once and for all on the Cross. Repentance is putting one’s trust in God instead of in themselves. Living outside the realm of faith in God inevitably results in pride and independence from God. Repentance is about trusting Him and believing that He has forgiven them for their past, present, and future failures.
In the story of the Prodigal Son, we learn that the lost son “finally came to his senses” and decided to go home to his father and repent by saying; “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.” The lost son hoped that “his father would take him back,” even if only as “a hired man.”
Yet, even before the lost son had a chance to give his pre-planned “I’m so sorry” speech, “while he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.” The father, the one he had rejected and disgraced, had never stopped loving him passionately and unconditionally. He showed his acceptance and mercy before ever hearing his son’s words of contrition. The father knew that his lost son had finally come to the place of dying to self and now, by returning, had “come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!'" (Luke 15:11-16:1 NLT)
Repentance must take place before a person can be reconciled with God. "Except you repent you shall all likewise perish" (Luke, 13:5; Matt 12:41). The Psalmist says that the sacrifices of true repentance to “God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart” (Ps 51:17 NIV).
CONFESSION
When a person goes before the Father to confess their sins, failures, and weaknesses, they are admitting that they are human and in need of forgiveness. True confession is painful, but when they do, "He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9 NIV).
Confession is agreeing with God and others that you have sinned. 'Confessing' your sins is taking responsibility and acknowledging that you were wrong, then asking for forgiveness.
CONTRITION
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart -- These, O God, You will not despise.” (Ps 51:17 NKJV)
The word contrite is only found in four Bible passages (Ps 34:18; 51:17; Isa 57:15; 66:2). Etymologically the word implies a breaking of something that has become hardened. To be contrite is to be broken, crushed, and pulverized into little pieces, setting a person free from rebellion and resistance to His will. The Bible says “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Ps 34:18 NIV).
Contrition is that humble spirit that says, I am nothing, and He is everything. It is that inner brokenness that weeps over sin and sinners. This breaking doesn’t come about as a result of apologetic sorrow for a wrong committed, remorse of conscience, or fear of hell, it is experiencing the pain and sorrow of brokenness caused when a person stands naked and exposed before the one “whose name is holy” and recognize it is He who has been grievously offended.
The Bible says that not only does God “live in a high and holy place,” but also with “him who is contrite and lowly in spirit.” Having a contrite heart means there is an absence of personal pride and the absolute exaltation of God and His will. It is recognizing that one’s own righteousness is “as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isa 64:6 KJV). God promises to esteem the one who is humble and contrite in spirit and to revive their spirit and heart (Isa 57:15).
Having a contrite heart does not come by force of will. It comes to the one that “trembles” and has a reverence for God’s Word (Isa 66:2). When a person obeys His Word, they prove they love Him; "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him" (John 14:21 NIV).
When a person repents with a contrite heart, God “will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.” He will give you a “new heart and put a new spirit in you;” and He will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (Ez 36:25-27 NIV). This is the only way that they will be able to love God with their whole strength (Luke 10:27). Brokenness will lead them to hatred and horror for sin and will grow so strong that they will desire with all their heart to stop sinning.
God desires that all people would “be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:3-4 NIV). Salvation is conditional and comes about only “if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom 10:9 NIV). He passionately wants them to be converted and return to Him “with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.' They must "…rend" their "hearts and not" their "garments." “Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster” (Joel 2:12-13 ESV).
CONVERSION
Conversion happens when a person acknowledges with their mouth that Jesus is the mighty and majestic creator God of the universe, believes that He was literally raised from the dead, and covenant (make a contract) to entrust their spirit, mind, and body to Him. When they are truly converted they are Born-Again and a moral revolution takes place that causes them to turn away from, and quit their old behaviors and turn to God and obey His commands (1 Thess 1:9). Believing/trusting that Jesus is Lord means that they have been persuaded to continuously turn TO, and place ALL of their confidence, reliance, and trust in Him, and turn FROM reliance upon themselves. If a person says they are a Christian and does not habitually do those things they are a liar and the truth is not in them (1 John 2:4-5).
When they accept His conditions of repentance salvation is granted immediately, and they are delivered, or saved, from the bondage of sin and the wrath of God that will be poured out only on those who reject Jesus as Lord and Savior at the end of this age (1 Thess 1:10).
Those who entrust their entire life to Him will “never be put to shame" (Rom 10:10-12 NIV). Shame is a powerful and painful emotion. What this means is that God will never be disappointed with them and cause them to experience guilt so strong that they feel unworthy, condemned, or even embarrassed to call upon His name and stand in His presence
True conversion is coming to the realization a person is a sinner who needs God's mercy. Jesus said, “Repent and believe the Good News” (Mark 1:15). The message of the Cross will always offend the lost - for it is only through Jesus and His shed blood that a man can enter heaven and it will offend the "believer" because it demands holiness... bowing your knee in humility and obedience …crucifying the flesh... turning away from yourself …putting the old nature to death by esteeming others more highly than yourself and having a contrite and repentant heart that places all its trust in the precious shed blood of Jesus. Then and only then will a person find healing for their spirit, mind, and body.
CONSECRATION
The Bible says, "You shall consecrate yourselves therefore and be holy, for I am the Lord your God" (Leviticus 20:7). Consecration means to be set apart. When a person repents, they are setting themselves apart from evil by turning to the Lord. At the moment of salvation, they were cleansed on the inside and made holy. That is their 'position' or standing before God. Consecration was also for cleansing the outside of vessels. Daily experiences won’t affect their 'position,' but they will affect their daily 'condition.' The Bible says “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8 NKJV). By drawing near to God and letting Him draw near to them “with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith,” he will “cleanse” them “from a guilty conscience” (Heb 10:22 NIV).
Once a person has consecrated themselves “to the Lord" they are to "come near..." (2 Chron 29:31). Living a life of repentance opens the doorway to experiencing the presence and beauty of God in His secret place. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Ps 91:1 KJV).
Per the Bible, simply 'believing' in Jesus is not the same as receiving Him. Even the demons of Hell 'believe' in Him and they tremble at that truth (James 2:19). If a person genuinely repents of their sin, confesses with their mouth, and trusts in their heart and mind that Jesus was raised from the Dead as Lord of lords and King of kings and is now their personal Lord and Savior, then they received the permanent gift of the Holy Spirit” and are Born-Again (Romans 10:9-10; Acts 2:28).
