| Repentance
Of all the commands of
the Bible, undoubtedly the hardest one is the command to
repent! The word "repent" is not frequently used in
common, every-day conversation, and thus has been
relegated to "religious" settings. This is unfortunate,
because many have no idea what the word means.
We are given a sense of the importance of this subject
when we see that the first recorded words of John, the
forerunner of Jesus, consisted of a command to "Repent.
. ." (Matt. 3:2). Likewise, the first public
proclamation of Jesus was "Repent. . ." (Matt. 4:17).
The urgency of repentance is emphasized when we see that
while the gospel consists of (1) facts to be believed,
(2) commands to be obeyed, and (3) promises to be
enjoyed, repentance falls under the commands to be
obeyed. Men are not given a choice as to whether or not
they should repent!
One of the clearest ways to understand what repentance
means is by first showing what repentance does not mean.
Some think that repentance is the same as being
convicted of sin. But in Acts 2:37,38 we see that the
people on Pentecost were convicted of sin by the sermon
Peter preached (thus the statement "When they heard
this, they were pricked in their hearts." Had they
repented? Obviously not, for Peter's next words,
answering the question, "Men and brethren what shall we
do?" are "Repent, and be baptized. . ." Though they were
convicted by the words of Peter, they were commanded to
"Repent!"
Others believe that repentance is fearing God, or the
punishment of sin. However, in Acts 24:24, 25 we read
where Paul preached to Felix regarding "righteousness,
temperance and judgment to come." Paul's words were so
convincing that Felix "trembled," apparently from fear.
But did he repent? No, rather he sent the preacher away
with a promise that he would call for him at a more
convenient time. There is no record that Felix ever
found that more convenient season! Repentance is not the
same as fear.
Still another view is that repentance is being sorry for
one's sins. But Paul, in 2 Corinthians 7:10, writes,
"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to
be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh
death." Notice the two kinds of sorrow, godly sorrow and
worldly sorrow. However, even the godly sorrow is not
said to be the same as repentance, but works repentance;
i.e., leads one to repentance. But it is not, of itself,
repentance.
Thus, it is possible for one to be convicted of sin, to
be fearful of the consequences of sin, and even to be
sorry for his sins, and yet fail to repent. What is
repentance?
Probably the best way to learn what is involved in
repentance is to see some examples from the Bible.
In Luke 15:11-32, Jesus tells the parable of the lost
son. When the son is far from home, penniless from
wasting his inheritance, in deep poverty because of a
famine, reduced to the degrading task of feeding swine
(remember the Jewish audience to whom Jesus told this
parable), and being so hungry that the husks he fed the
swine was looking good to him, we read in verses 17-20
the following: "And when he came to himself, he said,
'How many hired servants of my father's have bread
enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will
arise and go to my father, and will say unto him,
Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as
one of thy hired servants." And he arose, and came to
his father. . . ."
Here is a beautiful example of repentance. The son
changed his mind (attitude) toward his father, and
determined to change his behavior ("I will arise and go
to my father"). And then he acted just as he determined
("He arose and came to his father"). Repentance, then,
is a change of the will, followed by a change of life!
Someone has well said that to repent means one learns to
hate what he once loved, and to love what he once hated.
In repentance, one changes his outlook toward sin,
seeing it in all its ugliness; and is so disgusted by
sin that he is then willing to forsake it and turn to
the Lord. Repentance takes place within the will, but it
always results in a change of lifestyle. Failure to
change behavior signifies a failure to repent!
Repentance is followed by its fruit (Matt. 3:8; Luke
3:8-14).
But, who is to repent? Is repentance only for the
hardened sinner, the openly wicked, the stubbornly
rebellious? According to Acts 17:30, "God. . .now
commandeth all men everywhere to repent. . .". That
means every accountable person before God is obliged to
repent in order to receive the blessings of God. 2 Peter
3:9 tells us that "God is not willing that any should
perish, but that all should come to repentance." God
even rejoices when people repent (Luke 15:7,10). God
uses incentives to motivate men to repent: his goodness
(Rom. 2:4); fear of retribution for sins (Luke 13:1-5);
and the promise of reward (Heb. 11:10).
But, as important as repentance is, by itself it will
not save. Repentance is preceded by faith in Christ
(Acts 2:37,38); and is followed by a confession of faith
(Matt. 10:32,33; Rom. 10:9,10) and by being baptized
into Christ (Acts 2:38).
Kenneth W. Burton
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