What is Repentance?

Yesterday, while doing street evangelism, I had the opportunity to apply verse 20 of the Great Commission. Matthew 28:20 says, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

That is when a couple humbled themselves enough to ask me, “What does repent mean?” And so, I paraphrased a definition of repentance from my memory. But perhaps it’s time for another blog post on repentance.

First, what repentance is not

The Bible warns us of a worldly sorrow or a worldly repentance. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 7:9-10,

“9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

In verse 9, these words, being ‘sorry’ or ‘sorrowful’ of sin, are the worldly repentance. This is the Greek word lupeō (λυπέω), which is applicable to being sorry that you got caught, or you’re sorrowful of the consequences, etcetera. Though he may “believe,” it can be evidence of a possible ‘false convert,’ and hell will be full of them (Matt 7:21-23).

But the ‘Godly sorrow’ in vs 10 is the Greek word lupē (λύπη), which is a Biblical sorrow that comes from salvation, and to a Biblical repentance. It is evidence of regeneration (a truly saved convert).

Though there’s a thin line between the similarities of appearance of these two words, lupeō and lupē. But their eternal destination is far from each other.

Though knowledge is not salvific, but once a person is truly saved by grace through faith in Christ (Eph 2:7-9), they are commanded to grow in knowledge, lest they fall.

“Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” – 2 Peter 3:17-18

Many professing Christians today are continually repeating their sins, rather than continually Biblically repenting, while turning from their sins. There is no salvation without repentance (Luke 13:3,5).

So, what is a Biblical repentance?

I’ve said before, repentance is not the cause of salvation, repentance is because of salvation. Biblical repentance is a fruit of salvation (i.e., Mark 1:15, Acts 3:19, 17:30 & 26:20).

Jesus said in Mark 1:15, “And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”

This word “repent” is the Greek word metanoeō. It is a verb and a double augment, which will increase over time. A true convert continually repents. That is why I often say, repent more and repeat sin less, though we will never be sinless.

As gleaned from my BDAG and Thayer’s Lexicons. This repent means to change one’s mind. “To change one’s mind for the better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins… To think differently or afterwards, i.e., reconsider (morally, feel compunction).”

And when God changes our mind, we change our mind about who God is (Theology proper), and who we are (a Biblical anthropology). God’s elect will now have a high reverential view of God and a lower view of man. That God is good, righteous, holy, and just. And man is sinful, bad, and wicked, and that none of us are good (Rom 3:10-12). I now see my sins as being worse than a felony crime against God. And that God’s monergistic salvation by grace will cause the new convert to turn away from their sins, while thrusting and trusting ourselves upon Christ. This repentance is the same repentance that God commands.

“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:” – Acts 17:30

Who is it that Biblically repents? God’s elect are the ones who Biblically repent, and it is God who grants them repentance along with their faith (2 Timothy 2:25).

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