REPENTANCE

REPENTANCE
“Christian repentance
has its roots in God’s Grace”
Ian A. Fair

Scriptures
Mk 1:14
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel.”
Acts 17:30, 31
“The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all men everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all men by raising him from the dead.”

Repentance is a concept that does not always sit easily in the mind of many people, but we will learn that repentance was in fact part of the good news that Jesus preached. The good news is that God in his divine grace has provided for and permitted repentance.

Repentance has meaning only when we understand the serious nature of the human condition. To people who have little concern for sin and the lost condition of the human race, repentance is a distasteful word for it implies that we are not doing well or right and that we need a serious change in lifestyle.

However, to those who understand the lost condition of the human race, and in fact their own lost condition, repentance explains that God in his infinite love is giving us a fresh opportunity to get back into a right relationship with him, which we call righteousness.

A few thoughts and Scriptures will help us understand how important repentance is:

· The whole world is under the power of sin
After a serious look at humanity, specifically of the Jews and Gentiles he encountered, Paul wrote to the Roman Christians in Rom 3:9 (RSV)“What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all; for I have already charged that all men, both Jews and Greeks, are under the power of sin, as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands, no one seeks for God. All have turned aside, together they have gone wrong; no one does good, not even one.”

· The reason that all people are under the power of sin
Paul explains at Rom 3:23, is that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.

· Sin in the biblical context is not simply a mistake
The Greek understanding of sin or hamartia is that it is simply a mistake
The Jewish of biblical understanding is that sin is a powerful force that dominates and controls our lives

· Mark informs us at Mk 1:14 that “…after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, ¹⁵ and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel.”

· The gospel (good news) of God that Jesus preached was that the kingdom or reign of God was about to break in on them.

· God was about to usher in a change in world order that involved his reigning in people’s lives through Jesus.

· Because of this, the Jews who awaited the restoration of the kingdom of God needed a change in mindset and lifestyle in order for God to be able to reign in their lives.

· Matthew informs us at Matt 4:17 that “from that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”

Four basic Greek words are translated in the Bible (Greek Old Testament Septuagint and New Testament) that convey the meaning of repentance or conversion. They are:

· Metamelomai - μεταμέλομαι; to repent, change ones mind, feel remorse, regret. Metamelomai is translated in some passages as repent but this is not the usual word used in Scripture for repent. The primary meaning of metamelomai is to regret ones actions, but this does not necessarily involve changing ones lifestyle.

· Metamelomai is not common in the New Testament and is found only 5 times.
This is the word that is used of Judas Iscariot when he repented or regretted what he had done when he betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Matthew records that Judas “repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests…” Matt 27:3.

· In the Old Testament it is recorded that God repented of decisions he made, not in the sense that he needed to change his purpose but in the sense that he regretted the decision he had made.

· 1 Sam 15:35 records “And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.”

· Amos 7:3-6 records that God repented or regretted bringing judgment on Israel, but he brought the judgment regardless of his regret.

· Metanoeo – μετανοέω; to change ones mind or purpose, to repent. The noun form of metanoeo is metanoia – μετάνοια which means repentance.

· The history of use and development of metanoia and metanoeo is interesting. Both words were used in secular Greek in the sense of regret or to change ones mind and adopt another viewpoint.

· However, early on metanoeo and metanoia also adopted a cultic sense of doing penance for ones actions. As the words developed in Judaism and the Old Testament they took on a sense of conversion or a change of lifestyle.

· Jer 9:5. In his call to Israel to righteousness Jeremiah called them to repentance, “Every one deceives his neighbor, and no one speaks the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they commit iniquity and are too weary to repent.”

· Ezek 14:6. Ezekiel stressed the need for faithfulness to God and a rejection of idolatry, “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: Repent and turn away from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.”
In the New Testament repentance appears over 50 times, mostly in the sense of a change of life that involves a change in lifestyle. Repentance is a prerequisite to initial forgiveness and participation in the kingdom and a conditional of righteousness.

· Lk 13:3. When Jesus was spoke of Galileans who had died under Pilate he remarked that they were no worse than the present Galileans who needed to repent, “And he answered them, ‘Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered thus? ³ I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.’”

· Lk 24:46, 47. Luke records the Jesus’ great commission in this manner, “Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”

· Acts 2:38. When the Jews who heard Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost believed his message regarding Jesus, Luke records their response in this manner, “Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

· Acts 3:19. In his second recorded sermon Peter exhorted the Jews to “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord”.

· Acts 17:29-31. When Paul 3entered the city of Athens he notic3ed the many monuments erected to their many gods. He preached what has become known as Paul’s Sermon on Mars Hill, ^“Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the Deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, a representation by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all men everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all men by raising him from the dead.”

· Rom 2:4. Paul explained that Jews who judged others were likewise sinners who needed to repent. “Do you suppose, O man, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume upon the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not know that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”

· 2 Cor 7:9, 10. Paul had written tot eh church at Corinth encouraging them to withdraw from a brother who was living in sin. The brother repented and this was Paul’s response, “As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting; for you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death.”

· Rev 2:5. Jesus called on the church at Ephesus to return to its first love by challenging them to repent. “Remember then from what you have fallen, repent and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”

· A word or concept that is closely associated with repentance is epistrepho - ἐπιστρέφω to turn, to return, to turn back, to turn again, or to be converted. The best indication of this connection is seen in Acts 3:19 in Peter’s second sermon to the Jews, “And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…” The coupling of repent and turn again bring out the full meaning of repentance as a change in lifestyle. The meaning of spiritual and lifestyle conversion is emphasized.

· 1 Thess 1:9, 10. In his preliminary prayer and approval of the Thessalonian church Paul commended them for their radical turn about in life, “For they themselves report concerning us what a welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” The word turned here is a form of epistrepho.

· 2 Cor 3:15, 16. In an interesting discussion on the difference between being under Moses (the law of Moses) as opposed to being under grace and Christ, Paul explains, “Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their minds; but when a man turns to the Lord the veil is removed.” Again, here the word for turns is a form of epistrepho.

· 1 Pet 2:25. Peter has this to say about Christians, “For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.” Returned is a form of epistrepho.

From what we learn from the above Scriptures several salient points emerge from the discussion of repentance and conversion.

· Something (sin) has broken our blessed relationship with God and needs to be removed.

· This removal of sin and restoration of relationship with God (atonement) has been made possible by the grace of God in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

· Paul explains that before reconciliation with God can be possible there must be a sense of godly sorrow on the part of the sinner.

· This godly sorrow, which is predicated by a real faith in God and Jesus, results in repentance which leads to a changed attitude, mindset, and lifestyle.

· Fundamental to this whole process is a deep sense of faith in God, his grace, and the redemptive power of the cross. Without faith in God and his grace it is impossible to please God and impossible to come to true repentance (Heb 11:6), And without faith it is impossible to please him. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

· As the writer of the Hebrew letter explains in his great dissertation on faith, “faith is the assurance (KJV substance) of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen….” (Heb 11:1)

· Repentance involves a willingness to change ones thinking and lifestyle and be led by God.

· We must realize that although the word metanoeo or metanoia are built off the sense of a change in mind or thinking, repentance in the religious sense of both the OT and NT implies a resulting change in lifestyle or life orientation.

· When we repent our mind, thinking, and lifestyle must become reoriented to a focus on God and being led by God, not by self interest or the world around about us.

One passage in particular brings faith, repentance, baptism, forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit into focus:

· Acts 2:37, 38, “Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

· We must recognize that any forgiveness and restoration of a sinner to God is primarily due to the love of God for lost people and his unfathomable grace and working of salvation in Jesus’ cross.

· We are saved as a gift of God by his grace through our faith, Eph 3:8-10, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God—not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

· Because we believe we are sinners and that Jesus died on the cross as a gift of God’s grace for our atonement, and because we believe in God and his atoning grace in Jesus, we have faith in God and his powerful working in Jesus’ cross (blood). This causes us to repent of our sins and turn our lives over to God and Jesus. As an expression of this faith we surrender our lives to Jesus in baptism, are united with him in this baptism, rise to walk in a new life, and receive the powerful indwelling and working of the Holy Spirit in that baptism.

· In this process we see, grace, faith, repentance, baptism, forgiveness, and the working of God and the Holy Spirit in a new life of conversion.