Repentance

"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Luke 13:3

"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead." Acts 17:30-31

Any serious student of the Bible knows that God requires repentance of man. What is repentance? Exactly what does God require when He commands men to repent? BDB/Thayer defines repent as: 1) to change one's mind; 2) to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins. This definition is similar to what we think of when we look at the word repent. If we want to know what God means by repent, though, we must go to the only source available to know God's meaning - the Bible.

"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. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him." Matthew 21:28-32

With this parable used to condemn the chief priest and elders of the Jews Jesus tells us what repentance means. Look again at verse 29. The first son said I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. His repentance was a change of mind that brought about a change of action. He did not just change his mind he acted upon that change.

Many today practice a repentance that is foreign to the Word of God. They consider repentance to just be an inward change. It is taught by many that you can repent of a sin yet still engage in that sin. Much of this teaching has to do with divorce and remarriage. Some teach that one in an adulterous marriage can repent and expect forgiveness from God yet remain in the sinful relationship. This would be comparable to Jesus teaching in His parable that the first son said "I will not: but afterward he repented, and did not go". You and I can see that such a statement would be ridiculous. But it is this very thing that many are teaching about adulterous marriages.

The Scriptures clearly show that repentance requires a change of action as well as mind. In his sermon from Solomon's porch, Peter told the Jews "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;" Acts 3:19. He told Simon the sorcerer to repent of his wickedness.

"Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee." Acts 8:22

Do you suppose Simon thought he could go ahead and buy the Gift after he repented? That is not what is shown in Acts 8. Simon was afraid God would destroy him for asking the first time, he certainly wasn't going to ask again.

Paul tells us that when he taught repentance it was to bring about a turn in the lives of his listeners.

"But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance." Acts 26:20

Not only were their lives to change, but their works were also to demonstrate their change of mind and attitude. This is not what we find so often today. We find the alcohol drinker repents and ask forgiveness for getting drunk then goes back to drinking. The liar repents of lying then lies again. The fornicator repents and asks us and God to forgive, then returns to the adulterous marriage relationship as if nothing is wrong. This is not repentance and God will judge.

"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead." Acts 17:30-31

"Repent ye therefore and be converted." Acts 3:19

Daniel Lee Henderson daniel@hendersons.net