For Christians

By YBible

The root meaning of the word repent is “to turn” or “a change of mind that leads to a change of action.” (I Kings 8:47/II Chron. 6:37) (Ezekiel 18:30, Acts 17:30)

The first mention of repentance in the Bible is in Genesis 6:6 “And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” God repents in the Bible depending on mans free will choices. Not of sin like man does.

Salvation Repentance

This repentance only applies to man and has to do with salvation or being reconciled to God (Turning to God). The root meaning of this repentance is “turning to God from sin/self-righteousness” and “believing and obeying what God said.” It’s important to understand that someone does not need to turn from sin/self-righteousness for a period of time before believing the gospel. Believing the gospel itself will cause you to turn from what you know to be sin/self-righteousness in your heart and mind first (See turning from sin section below).

Salvation repentance often includes:

Sorrow for what you are towards God.

• “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” - 2 Corinthians 7:10 KJV

• “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.” - Luke 18:13 KJV

Confession of sin.

• “John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.” - Mark 1:4-5 KJV

Turning from sin/self-righteousness to God. Verses having to do with salvation in Jesus Christ.

• “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” - Matthew 7:23 KJV

• "I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance." - Luke 15:7 KJV

• “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” - John 3:20 KJV

• “…they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” - John 5:29 KJV

• “…And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” - John 8:11 KJV

• “…that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God…” - Acts 14:15 KJV

• “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” - Acts 20:21 KJV

• “…not knowing that the the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart..” - Romans 2:4-5 KJV

(IMPEN’ITENT, adjective Not penitent; not repenting of sin; not contrite; obdurate; of a hard heart. - Websters 1828 Dictionary)

• “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.” - Romans 6:17 KJV

• Paul says believers are those who turn from the sins listed. - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

• “And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” - Galatians 5:24 KJV

• “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” - 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV

• “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled” - Colossians 1:21 KJV

• “For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;” - 1 Thessalonians 1:9 KJV

• “…Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” - 2 Timothy 2:19 KJV

• “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,” - Hebrews 6:1 KJV

• "Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts." - Revelation 9:21 KJV

Believing.

• "Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.” - Acts 11:17-18 KJV

Works meet for repentance.

• “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 KJV

• “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.” - Matthew 3:8 KJV

Conclusion

Understand that all these aspects of repentance besides “works meet for repentance” can happen in someone’s heart in a moment when believing the gospel (Romans 4:5), however this is the exception to the rule, most people who get saved come into a state of repentance (Conviction of sin and turning from sin to God) leading up to their trusting the gospel of Jesus Christ for salvation (John 3:21, Acts 10:2, Romans 2:6-8.)

God’s prescription for believing on Jesus Christ was the law (Gal. 3:24), and John the Baptists repentance of sin preceding Christ’s ministry (Luke 3:3-14).

Note: A good example of repentance can be found in Jonah chapter 3. The Lord Jesus summarizes what the men of Ninevah did in response to the preaching of Jonah as repentance: “The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they REPENTED at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.” - Matthew 12:41 KJV

Turning From Sin

One of the most consequential debates amongst Christians today is whether or not someone turns from their sin at the time of salvation. Salvation is only by believing the gospel (1 Cor. 15:3-4), so then turning from sin is unnecessary is what you will often hear.

While someone does not have to turn from sin for a period of time before believing the gospel, believing the gospel itself causes someone to turn from what they know to be sin and their self-righteousness in their heart and mind first. Furthermore salvation repentance is different then other kinds of repentance in the Bible.

1. The gospel includes believing Jesus died for your sins. Question: Can someone sincerely believe Jesus died for their sins and that they are a sinner without having a will to turn from their sin? For example imagine a Christian confessing their sin to God (1 John 1:9) without having a will to turn from it, their confession would be vain.

Another way to put it, is it possible for someone to admit their a sinner to God without having a will to turn from their sin? Are they believing on Jesus Christ to save them FROM their sins or as a license to sin.

2. Many Bible teachers today are trying to convince the Church that deciding to eat a salad instead of a sandwich, and believing from your heart that your under the wrath of a Holy and Righteous God because of your sins and that you must believe His Son died on a cross for you and rose again to be saved from His judgment are the same. Both examples indeed fit scriptural definitions of repentance though of course they are not the same.

3. Question: Could someone intend to believe the gospel for salvation while also intending to sin against God? Imagine a murderer saying he was going to get saved by believing the gospel of Jesus Christ while also planning to murder someone afterwards.

4. Is the word Lord vain (Rom. 10:9, Acts 16:31)? When Lord is associated with Jesus Christ does it mean what it does throughout the rest of the Bible? If you believed on someone in your personal life as Lord what would that look like? Not only would you be submitting to them your life moving forward but you would also be willing to turn from anything in your past that contradicts them. I will also add this question: does someone believe on Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savoir or just Savoir?

5. Its indisputable that the repentance Jesus preached was turning to God from sin/self-righteousness:

You may say then Church age salvation repentance is different but Acts 26:20 and Matthew 3:8 shows turning to God is similar regardless of the dispensation:

Some are concerned that preaching turning form sin will lead to trusting in works. The truth is people will damn themselves in either direction.

How does someone forsake their own righteousness? By believing before God they are a sinner. How do they accept they are a sinner? By believing they have sinned.

“There are many people that have turned from sin, but they never turned to anything. There are many people that have turned to God without turning from sin. None of these people are saved.” – Peter S. Ruckman ("Real Repentance" TV for Christ)