In this post we are going to go over what the bible says about repentance! We are going to cover what repentance is as well as why it is important for Christians to be against sin.
What Is Repentance?
I have heard a Christian say that repentance from man's perspective is grief and godly sorrow over wrongdoing, and when God repent's it means grief/sorrow. He doesn't believe that repentance means to turn because their are instances in the bible where it speaks of turn and repent and that kind of phrasing would be redundant (Jer 4:28, Jer 31:19, Eze 14:6, Eze 18:30, Joe 2:14, Jon 3:9, Act 26:20).
It's a good point, although I cannot say that I agree completely with him about man's part. I do think that he was accurate about God when he repents because if repentance meant "a change of the mind" as so many Christians affirm we would have God changing his mind and that wouldn't be correct. Why is that? Because God is omniscient, he is outside of time. He knows the end from the beginning (Isa 46:10, Act 15:18), and he doesn't change(Mal 3:6). So it would make sense! He also points out that if repent meant to turn then we have a problem because God turns (Jdg 2:18) but doesn't turn (Num 23:19, 1 Sam 15:29)?
It's a good point, although I cannot say that I agree completely with him about man's part. I do think that he was accurate about God when he repents because if repentance meant "a change of the mind" as so many Christians affirm we would have God changing his mind and that wouldn't be correct. Why is that? Because God is omniscient, he is outside of time. He knows the end from the beginning (Isa 46:10, Act 15:18), and he doesn't change(Mal 3:6). So it would make sense! He also points out that if repent meant to turn then we have a problem because God turns (Jdg 2:18) but doesn't turn (Num 23:19, 1 Sam 15:29)?
The Noah's 1828 Dictionary defines Repentance as REPENT'ANCE, noun
"1. Sorrow for any thing done or said; the pain or grief which a person experiences in consequence of the injury or inconvenience produced by his own conduct."
I believe that grief and godly sorrow over wrongdoing is the first part of repentance but it is also necessary to confess our sins(1 Joh 1:9, to God and to forsake them as well. Just as we are soul, spirit, and body, repentance is felt in our soul, pray about in our spirit, and followed through in our actions Rom 6:6, 2Cor: 5:17, Eph 4:22, Col 3:9. True Christians don't just believe in God like the devils do but have a faith that isn't dead because it is accompanied by works (Jam 2:19-20). Repentance isn't works salvation because it isn't a work, we know this because the bible tells us to bring fruits and do works meet for repentance (Mat 3:8, Act 26:20)
A Look at Repentance in the Old Testament
Even assuming that repentance doesn't mean to turn from sin, the bible still teaches us to turn from sin. Now let's go over some passages that instruct us to forsake our sin. I will begin in 1 Kin 8:47-50, 2 Chro 7:14, and Pro 28:13 where it shows God's forgiveness is conditional on whether the people would repent or turn, we learn in Psa 55:19 that God will afflict those that won't change because they do not fear him, Pro 16:6 further indicates what kind of changes take place in those that fear him, which is the departing of evil.
The prophet Isaiah writes and instructs to "cease to do evil" and "Let the wicked forsake his way" (Isa 1:16, 55:7). The prophet Jeremiah told Jerusalem to wash her heart from wickedness and also to turn from their evil way; This was so they may be saved and so the Lord may repent of the evil that he thought to do unto them, but they refused to hearken (Jer 4:14, Jer 26:3, Jer 8:6). Ezekiel was instructed to warn the wicked of their way, he also instructed them to turn from their idols, we also learn in Ezekiel that God doesn't take pleasure in the wicked's death but he would rather see them turn and live (Eze 3:18-21, Eze 14;6, Eze 33:11, 2Pe 3:9). The last verse from the Old Testament that we will cover on this topic today informs us that those who do wickedly will be burnt up when the day of the Lord arrives (Mal 4:1).
Repentance in the Gospels
Okay so it is pretty clear in the OT that God expected people to turn from their sin, but has this changed at all in the New Testament? Let's look at some more verses and find out. Matthew instructs us to be perfect (Mat 5:38), that many false converts will be told to depart because they work iniquity (Mat 7:22-23), Jesus came to call sinners to repentance (Mat 9:13, Mar 2:17), and there is no middle ground when it comes to following Jesus (Mat 12:30).
Matthew further shows us in Mat 21:28-31 that sinners such as harlots that turn from their sin go into God's kingdom before those that say they follow God but their actions show otherwise, and that unprofitable servants are cast into outer darkness as well (Mat 25:30).
In the Gospel of Luke we have John the baptist preaching that men should amend their ways and bring forth good fruit or be cast into the fire (Mat 3:1-10, Luk 3:3-13), Jesus likewise preached that men ought to repent or they would perish (Luk 13:3, Luk 13:5). We learn also in the Gospel of Luke that Jesus' brethren are those that hear and do God's word (luk 8:21), and Christians are taught to deny themselves and take up their cross (Luk 9:23-24). God also wants us to forgive those that sin against us even if it's seven times in a day, that is if they are repentant (Luk 17:3-4). Repentance isn't just for old testament Israelites but is also for us Gentiles under the New Testamnt (Luk 24:47, Act 11:18, Act 17:30).
In the Gospel of John we have Jesus telling the man he healed to sin no more (Joh 5:14) he said likewise to the woman caught in adultery (Joh 8:11). If we love Jesus we should do what he says (Joh 14:15, 1 Joh 5:3). Those that choose to not abide in him are cast into the fire (Joh 15:6, 2 Joh 1:9), in verses (Joh 15:10 and Joh 15:12) we learn that we abide in his love if we keep his commands, namely that we should love others as he loved us.
Repentance in the New Testament
The bible teaches us that it's a blessing to be turned from our iniquity (Act 3:26), and that the Holy Ghost is given to those that obey and if you don't have the Holy Ghost you are not his (Act 5:32, Rom 8:9). Scripture also teaches us that repentance is a gift from God (Act 5:31, 2 Tim 2:25), and that it leads to salvation (2 Cor 7:8-11). Peter tells Simon the sorcerer to repent of his wickedness (Act 8:20-23).
Romans 2:4-10 teaches us that God will reward every man according to his deeds, whether they be good or evil. The bible is crystal clear that just because we are under grace that doesn't give us a license to sin (Rom 6:15-16). We are to Abhor the evil and cleave to the good (Rom 12:9). 1 Corinthians teaches us that those who commit such things as fornication, reviling, idolatry, etc will not inherit God's kingdom ( 1 Cor 6:9-11), and that we cannot partake of God's table and also the table of devils (1 Cor 10:21).
2 Corinthians teaches us that those in Christ are new creatures, as well as exhorts us to examine ourselves to see whether we are indeed in the faith (2 Cor 5:7, 2 Cor 13:5).
Notice when Paul writes to the Ephesians and says that "in time past ye walked according to the course of this world," (Eph 2:2-3) this indicates that they don't anymore. Neither should things such as covetousness, foolish talk, jesting, etc be named among us even once (Eph 5:3-6). Further more we are told to Mortify our members and to depart from iniquity (Col 3:5-6, 2 Tim 2:19).
Titus reminds us that there would be those that profess to know God but deny him by their works, and that we should deny ungodliness and live righteously in the present (Tit 1:16, 2:12).
James tell's us that the man is blessed who endures temptation (1:12), that faith without works is dead (2:17), To submit and draw nigh to God and resist the devil, to cleanse our hands and to purify our hearts (Jam 4:7-8). We learn in 1 Peter 1:14-16 that we are to be holy, and not to be like the way we were before we got saved. It's a fact that God wants everyone to repent instead of perishing (2 Pet 3:9).
We learn from the epistles of John that those who profess to know God and yet don't keep his commandments are liars (1 Joh 2:4), and those that commit sin are of the devil (1 Joh 3:8), but those that do good are of God (3 Joh 1:11). Then we have Jesus warning those that commit adultery with Jezebel that they will go through great tribulation unless they repent of their deeds ( Rev 2:20-22)
So in conclusion we see that
repentance isn’t a work but rather a gift from God. It occurs when man is
humbled over is sin, his sins cause him to grieve. He then confesses his sins
to God and his attitude towards sins change so that he doesn’t want to do them
anymore. This change in one’s attitude will result in a change in action.
Instead of living a life sinning against God, the Christian will try to live a
life of obedience to him, and if or when he does sin it will cause him to
grieve and repent.
More verses where Repent, Repentance,etc is Mentioned
Exo 13:17, Deu 32:36, Jdg 21:15, Job 42:6, Psa 106:45, Psa 110:4, Jer 8:6, Jer 26:13, Mat 4:17, Mat 11:20-21, Mat 27:3, Mar 1:4, Mar 6:12, Luk 10:13, Luk 15:7, Luk 16:30-31, Act 2:38, Act 3:19, Act 19:4, Act 20:21, Rom 11:29, 2 Cor 12:21, Heb 6:6 -8, Rev 2:5, Rev 3:3, Rev 3:19, Rev 9:20 -21, Rev 16:11
More Relevant Verses: Luk 6:46, Luk 12:45-46, Joh 8:31, Act 10:35, Gal 6:15, Heb 5:9, Jam 5:20, Rev 22:14
No comments:
Post a Comment