Repentance: Biblically Defined

It is important to note from the outset that the greatest of Satan's deceptions are very seldom direct frontal assaults. But his chosen method is, as the Scripture notes, “by subtlety” (2 Corinthians 11:3). Think of Eve in the garden, and the three temptations of the Lord. In both cases, Satan uses almost truth, or truth maligned, and such are the methods of all false prophets and apostles. In fact, we can say with absolute certainty that every major biblical doctrine is attacked in this way, and especially those that are critical to the salvation of every soul. By subtlety, Satan (the father of lies) has, without doubt, sewn his counterfeits concerning the doctrine of true biblical repentance. And so much so that even good, well-meaning men all over the world have begun to deny its necessity concerning true Biblical Salvation.

In his treatise on "The Necessity of Repentance," J.C. Ryle notes, “For one thing, without repentance there is no forgiveness of sins. In saying this, I must guard myself against misconstruction. I ask you emphatically not to misunderstand me: the tears of repentance wash away no sins. It is bad [theology] to say that they do. That is the office, that the work of the blood of Christ alone. Contrition makes no atonement for transgression. It is wretched theology to say that it does. It can do nothing of the kind. Our best repentance is a poor, imperfect thing and needs repenting over again. Our best contrition has defects enough about it to sink us into hell. 'We are counted righteous before God only for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, by faith, and not for our own works or deservings'—not for our repentance, holiness, almsgiving,—sacrament receiving, or anything of the kind.”

It is a sad reality that, as Jesus foretold, there will be many who, in the end, will not enter into the Kingdom of God because they sought it not by faith, but by their own works. These modern-day Pharisees, like those in the days of our Lord, are unfortunately going to find out when they get to hell that there is nothing they can do to merit the favor of God, including repent. That true biblical repentance is not turning from sins—and this is evident in the fact that God Himself can repent (Genesis 6:6, et. al.)—but rather it's a change of mind. It's coming into agreement with God about what you are and who you are (a sinner on your way to hell), and that the only way out is by the cross. And this is where Judas Iscariot fell short, and it is the reason the Scriptures record for us that he "repented himself" (Matthew 27:3) though he died and went to his own place. And notice what it says after that statement: "Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders". Notice he tries to earn the favor of God by making amends (by good works). And yet, we know by the Scriptures this is why he was ultimately rejected. And this is why that lost Pharisee stood in judgment of that saved Publican. He looked down on that man all the while gloating about all the things he had done. And the modern-day Pharisee is no different. He looks down on the people whose lives don't quite match up to his. He glories in the fact he is not a sinner as other men, rather than realizing that no matter how clean you can make the outside of the cup, it's the inside of the cup God's looking at. "...for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7).

And how many of you who are reading this know of people sitting in the church you go to right now who are exactly like that lost Pharisee the Scripture writes about? If the truth be known, the numbers would be staggering. It is the reason Jesus Christ says, "MANY will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:22-23).

How many times have we read concerning Judas Iscariot and the fact that he spent three and a half years walking with Jesus Christ (God Himself) and died and went to hell? And yet, how tragic it is that many people sit in church pews, under the preaching and teaching of the word of God, virtually their entire lives, and it never dawns on them that they are trusting in something other than the shed blood of the Lord Jesus to reconcile them to God? I mean, what part of "All our righteousness are as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6) is so hard for these people to understand? And what part of "And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:" (Philippians 3:9) don't they get? And yet, year after year and week after week, people sit under the clear preaching of the gospel of the grace of God and remain blind to it. And this proves how diabolical "another gospel" can be.

I remember one time dealing with a lady in a Pensacola nursing home who, after I was finished preaching, was in tears, saying she knew she didn't have peace with God. And though I and others tried to show her from the Scriptures how she could know she had eternal life, that woman could not be convinced, and neither could she be consoled, no matter how hard we tried. And this is exactly what the Scriptures reveal of Esau, who "sought repentance with tears" only to be rejected. As Ryle notes, "...the tears of repentance wash away no sins. It is bad [theology] to say that they do. That is the office, that the work of the blood of Christ alone. Contrition makes no atonement for transgression. It is wretched theology to say that it does. It can do nothing of the kind. Our best repentance is a poor, imperfect thing and needs repenting over again. Our best contrition has defects enough about it to sink us into hell. 'We are counted righteous before God only for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ..."

Now, it is clear from Scripture that, like the faith you exercise (Romans 12:3), true biblical repentance is supplied to us by God.

“Though repentance is an obvious and oft-commanded duty, yet it cannot be truly and acceptably performed except by the grace of God. It is a gift from heaven. Paul directs Timothy in meekness to instruct those that oppose themselves, “If God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth” (2 Timothy 2:25). Christ is exalted a Prince and a Savior “to give repentance” (Act 5:31). So when the heathen were brought in, the church glorified God, saying, “Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life” (Act 11:18).” —William S. Plummer, What Is Repentance

Now look carefully at 2 Timothy 2:25, and notice that repentance is "to the acknowledging of the truth", and not from turning away from any particular sins, or for trying to make amends for the wrongs you have done.

“When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles GRANTED repentance unto life.” (Acts 11:18).

“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God LEADETH thee to repentance?” (Romans 2:4).

"In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will GIVE them REPENTANCE TO THE ACKNOWLEDGING OF THE TRUTH;" (2 Timothy 2:25).

Now notice that in all three verses of Scripture, it’s God doing the granting, leading, and giving when it comes to repentance. And this right here is the heart of true biblical repentance. It's God, by the Holy Spirit, who is leading a person to the place where they see themselves as God sees them (a sinner on their way to hell), and when that lightbulb goes off, He gently and graciously points them away from their own works to what Christ did for them on the cross.

Now, notice in Genesis 3:7 that that was exactly what Adam and Eve tried. "And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons." Notice they tried to cover themselves before God. Brethren, that's religion. That's good works. That's almsdeeds. They tried to clean up the outside of the cup. But notice it wasn't good enough. If you keep reading in that chapter, God had to make them coats of skin. In other words, something had to die. "The wages of sin is death." And there, while our Lord was dying on the cross, and not for His own sins but for the sins of the world, notice what those self-righteous Pharisees said. "Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save." (Mark 15:31). That eternal decree had to be satisfied. "...for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." (Genesis 2:17)."All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6).

And this is exactly what Jesus said in John 10:9-11, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."

And again, we see this typified through Abraham and Isaac. "And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together." (Genesis 22:7-8).

Listen to me, your way and my way is the same as Adam and Eve's way. "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 14:12). It's in our fallen nature. And that's why we're all seeking to be justified in the sight of God by reformation. Unless you're saved, that is. But reformation is not salvation.

And this is what Jesus kept telling the Pharisees of His day. Over and over again, while talking with these self-righteous do-gooders, Jesus kept saying, "...THINK YE that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, EXCEPT YE REPENT, YE SHALL ALL LIKEWISE PERISH."

Notice here the clear connection to the mind (Think ye). Jesus was telling them in no uncertain terms, unless you come to the place where you see yourselves as they are, you're going to perish as they did.

Now, in Acts 16:30-31, we find the only account in the Scripture where a man asks the question, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" And notice the answer. And notice again, they didn't tell him to go home and clean all the beer out the fridge, or any other such thing. They simply said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved..." No more, no less. Hence the words of our Lord: "It is finished." (John 19:30).

Put it this way: you can either keep trying to earn your way to heaven by quitting this and doing that (works), or you can repent (change your mind) and simply trust Jesus Christ and what He did for you on Calvary.

Now, if we consider that Paul, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, declares he preached "repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21), and yet only mentions the word "repentance" in all its forms nine times, from Romans to Philemon. But when it comes to the word 'belief' in all its forms, he mentions it over 65 times in those same books. Now, folks, I don't mean to be Mr. Obvious here, but it would seem to me that the Holy Spirit, you know, the one who wrote the Word of God, has gone to extraordinary lengths to place an undue amount of emphasis on the word belief rather than repentance. And any fifth-grader could see that. It's only those who are blinded by Satan at the point of belief (1 Corinthians 4:3-4) who will end up in hell over their works, who the Bible says wrestle the Scriptures to their own destruction, and who continue to seek to be justified by their works rather than simply accepting what Christ has already done.

Now, for the brevity of this article, I will not here trace the use of the word repent in all its forms through the Scripture. However, I will mention that it is truly eye-opening for the individual who will take the time to do it. Perhaps, Lord willing, we will save that for another time.

May the grace of our Lord be with you all!