Repentance

Two main components of New Testament preaching are repentance and faith. Let’s examine how they go together.

Repent & Believe

What do repentance and belief have to do with salvation? Feeling sorry for ourselves but refusing to change does nothing. But, grief with repentance leads to salvation.

“For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief [worldly sorrow] produces death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10 ESV)

Trust in Jesus is the way to be saved?

“They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.’ ” (Acts 16:31 NIV)

If we lack salvation faith where do we go to get it?

“for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8 WEB).

Does Jesus’ resurrection play a part?

“... we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” (Romans 5:10 NKJV)

Many churches today are willing to talk about faith but not repentance. Instead, congregations are coddled like spoiled babies, because they can’t handle the truth and prefer a worldly message of so-called “love” for neighbor but disobedience to God. Let’s look at repentance. It was John’s message.

“In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ ” (Matthew 3:1-2 ESV)

John did not encourage people to turn to the vain traditions of men, but to turn to God and put their faith in Jesus.

“Paul replied, ‘John baptized people so they would turn to God. But he also told them someone else was coming, and they should put their faith in him. Jesus is the one that John was talking about.’ ” (Acts 19:4 CEV)

Repentance was also Jesus’ message.

“Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.’ ” (Mark 1:14-15 NKJV)

Notice that both John and Jesus coupled repentance with believing the good news.

What is Repentance?

What does the word repent mean? In Greek it is the word metanoeó and literally means a change of heart and mind. Does it stop there or are fruits required? In Hebrew the word shub (pronounced shoob) means to turn back or return, that is to God. Another Hebrew word is nacham (pronounced nah-kham) meaning to be sorry. These were key topics in Jesus’ preaching.

“From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17 KJV)

It remained a main theme of Peter’s preaching.

“Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’ ” (Acts 2:38 NASB)

Nowhere in the Bible is an exact mode or age of baptism specified or demanded. People often surmise a mode or age, but neither is explicitly commanded. For instance, at Jesus’ baptism, because He came up away from the water, some assume that means He was immersed. But, the water could have been ankle deep and He came up the river bank. Water is used in baptism in some manner. That’s it!

Turn

When speaking of repentance, Peter was inspired to include turning to God.

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19 NIV).

Repentance includes a change of direction, turning FROM something and TO something. We turn from sin to God, from the ways that lead to death to the way of eternal life.

“When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, ‘Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.’ ” (Acts 11:18 NKJV)

God’s Kindness

To whom should we be grateful for the ability to repent?

“Or do you have contempt for the riches of God’s generosity, tolerance, and patience? Don’t you realize that God’s kindness is supposed to lead you to change your heart and life?” (Romans 2:4 CEB)

Sorrow & Rebuke

Some people don’t like sermons that make them sad, but is sorrow a necessary part of the repentance process?

“Now I am happy, but not because I hurt your feelings. It is because God used your hurt feelings to make you turn back to him, and none of you were harmed by us. When God makes you feel sorry enough to turn to him and be saved, you don't have anything to feel bad about. But when this world makes you feel sorry, it can cause your death.” (2 Corinthians 7:9-10 CEV)