by Keith Sharp
It was the plea of God’s prophets who boldly proclaimed the sins of the apostate Israelites. It was spoken by the ‘voice of one crying in the wilderness.’ It was the message of Jesus from the time he began to preach until he dictated the letters to the churches of Asia to the aged apostle John. It was a part of the news heralded by the first-century ambassadors of Christ. It is still God’s command to a modern world of rebels. ‘Repent!’ The cry of the ages.” (Steve Cawthon, “Westvue Messenger”)
The truth of these observations should impress vividly upon our minds the extreme importance of repentance. Indeed, the Lord’s command toward us is, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19). What then, does the New Testament teach about repentance?
What Repentance Is
The New Testament teaches us what repentance is. Many people think sorrow over one’s sins is repentance. But, since “godly sorrow produces repentance” (2 Corinthians 7:10), it could not be the same as repentance.
Others think repentance is a change of life, but a changed life is the fruit (results) of repentance. John commanded the Jews, “bear fruits worthy of repentance” (Luke 3:8). When they asked how to do this, he instructed them to change their lives for the better.
So the people asked him, saying, ‘What shall we do then?’ He answered and said to them, ‘He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.’ Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, ‘Teacher, what shall we do?’ And he said to them, ‘Collect no more than what is appointed for you.’ Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, ‘And what shall we do?’ So he said to them, ‘Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages’ (Luke 3:10-14).
The term “repent” means “to change one’s mind” (W.F. Arndt and F.W. Gingrich, A Greek- English Lexicon of the New Testament. 513). “Repentance,” therefore, is a change of mind, a mental about-face, produced by godly sorrow and leading to a changed life.
The Master taught a parable that explained repentance. “But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went” (cf. Matthew 21:28-29, King James Version). The English Standard Version says, “he changed his mind” in verse twenty-nine.
Repentance is a change of mind that leads to obedience.
The Lord declared, “The men of Nineveh … repented at the preaching of Jonah” Matthew 12:41). But Jonah 3:10 says, “Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way.” They had a change of mind that led to a change of life.
Necessity of Repentance
The New Testament also reveals that you need to repent. You should repent because God hates sin.
These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren (Proverbs 6:16-19).
The Lord hates sin so much He gave His only begotten Son to destroy it. “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).
One who walks in “darkness” (sin) has no fellowship with God. “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth” (1 John 1:6).
You should repent because you have sinned, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us (1 John 1:8-10).
You need to repent because Jesus did “not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Luke 5:32). “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
You must repent because “God … commands all men everywhere to repent.” (Acts 17:30) He did so in the Great Commission Jesus gave to His apostles, declaring, “that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). He also commanded all to repent through the preaching under that commission.
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 2:37-38).
“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19). “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). “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). Paul “declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance” (Acts 26:20).
How to Repent
Further, the New Testament tells us how to repent. The first step is to realize how good God has been to you. How can you continue to rebel against one Who has blessed you every day far more than you can realize and Who only seeks your own good? Indeed, “the goodness of God leads you to repentance.” (Romans 2:4)
Next, you must realize how severely God will judge and punish those who refuse to repent.
But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who ‘will render to each one according to his deeds’: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness–indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek (Romans 2:5-9).
This should lead you to have godly sorrow for your sins. “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death” (2 Corinthians 7:10). Godly sorrow is neither despair nor just sorrow over being caught, but true regret for wrongs done to a merciful Father.
This will in turn lead you to repent, to change your mind from a determination to follow your own self-will to a determination to do the will of God (Acts 26:20).
Results of Repentance
Finally, the New Testament teaches us the results of repentance. If you truly repent, you will abandon your old life of sin and rebellion against God (Luke 3:8-14). Furthermore, you will turn and obey the commands of Him Whose will you formerly disobeyed. You will “bear fruits worthy of repentance” (Matthew 3:8; Acts 26:20).
Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call’ And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, ‘Be saved from this perverse generation.’ Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers (Acts 2:38-42).
As the results, the Father will graciously forgive your sins (Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38; 3:19) and grant you spiritual life (Acts 11:18).
Conclusion
The story is told of a murderer who was condemned to die. His brother, a man admired and respected by the governor of the state, sought and won the murderer’s pardon. This brother entered the cell of his wicked kinsman and posed one question: “What would you do if you were released?” The brutal reply was, “I would kill the judge who sentenced me and the witness who caused me to be convicted.” The saddened brother arose, with the pardon still in his pocket, and left his loved one to die unpardoned. Where there is no repentance, there can be no pardon. I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 23:3, 5). “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).
