Understanding Repentance

Repentance…

Contrition…

I wanted to start with those two words, many times we hear people speak of “repentance” or even of a “contrite heart”, so what are these and how do they help, hurt or affect us.

First, let us look at the definition of each word, to get a firm foundation to begin our understanding of what these terms mean, how and what their affects on us will be. We will look at both side of these and the affects thereof.

Merriam-Webster’s defines “Repent” as 1 : to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life 2 a : to feel regret or contrition b : to change one's mind (transitive senses) 1 : to cause to feel regret or contrition 2 : to feel sorrow, regret, or contrition for. They define contrite as : grieving and penitent for sin or shortcoming 2 : proceeding from contrition


As we see, “Repentance” is a physical turning from sin, and an intentional dedicating of one’s self to the amendment of one’s life. In essence first we must have a deep rooted grieving for the sin that we commit against God and others, then we must confess and intentionally turn from these sins and never commit them again, so we may further a right relationship with God.

Let us take this a step or two further and dig deeper for a deeper meaning and an even better understanding of the true meaning of the word. Looking at the Easton’s Bible Dictionary, we find that there are three Greek words used in the New Testament to denote “Repentance”.
(1.) The verb metamelomai is used of a change of mind, such as to produce regret or even remorse on account of sin, but not necessarily a change of heart. This word is used with reference to the repentance of Judas. Matthew 27:3 (NASB95) 3 Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, (2.) Metanoeo, meaning to change one’s mind and purpose, as the result of after knowledge. This verb, with (3.) the cognate noun metanoia, is used of true repentance, a change of mind and purpose and life, to which remission of sin is promised.

For Judas (who betrayed Jesus) this would have been to turn away from his betrayal of Jesus before, not to take the money, or even after taking it, refusing to lead them to Christ, but as we know this was not to be.
So it is clear that one can have a form of repentance without saving knowledge, or as stated “to which remission of sin is promised” and in order for us to have this saving type one must have a firm grasp on their own sinfulness, their own guilt before God. However, it still goes deeper than just that; we must have hatred of sin and a rightly defined conception of God’s mercy in and through Jesus. Furthermore, you must turn in submission to God and from your evil sinful desires and actions. Scripture tell us in several passages how we should treat sin and repentance.

Psalm 51:1-4 (NASB95) 1 Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. 4 Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge.

Psalm 130:4 (NASB95) 4 But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared.
Psalm 109:21 (NASB95) 21 But You, O God, the Lord, deal kindly with me for Your name’s sake; Because Your lovingkindness is good, deliver me;

Psalm 119:128 (NASB95) 128 Therefore I esteem right all Your precepts concerning everything, I hate every false way.

Psalm 51:9-11 (NASB95) 9 Hide Your face from my sins And blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
2 Corinthians 7:9-10 (NASB95) 9 I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. 10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.

While we now have a better understanding, we must do a little more here, like application. God has called us to repent, to turn from our wickedness to Him who is Righteous, He is our creator and the day is coming that we will acknowledge Him and His Glory. Today we may do it by our choice but the day is fast approaching that we will do it before our judgment to eternal hell. “For every knee shall bow and every tongue confess” There are three things we must do “Believe, Repent and be Baptized”,

I want to leave you with several scripture texts that hopefully will convey the urgency for our need to “Turn” May the Peace of the Lord God be with you.

Romans 14:11 (NASB95)11 For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall give praise to God.”

Philippians 2:8-12 (NASB95)8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;

Revelation 3:15 (NASB95)15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.

Revelation 3:19-21 (NASB95)19 ‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. 20 ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 21 ‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Revelation 14:11-12 (NASB95)11 “And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” 12 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

Scripture plainly tell us that we will be a slave to sin or a slave to God. The big difference is being a slave to God has an inherent freedom, that is beyond reason and understanding, on the other hand being a slave to sin has also eternal consequences, while some might think hell is the worst of those, truly the worst is not hell but separation from God and His creation forever.

Next time we will look at why now is the time for repentance.