What Does It Mean To Repent?

What Does It Mean To Repent? (Mark 1:15)

Throughout the Bible the word "repent" is mentioned repeatedly. The purpose of this article is to discuss its meaning and importance as a fundamental teaching of Scripture.

Jesus began his ministry in Galilee by preaching a simple yet startling message which Mark calls "the good news of God" (Mark 1:14). And what was this good news? Jesus' preaching is summarized like this: "The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news" (Mark 1:15).

So Jesus issued the command to repent. What did he mean by that?

Repentance is not sorrow.

First, let's discuss what it does not mean. Repentance is often equated with sorrow feeling sorry for you sins or being distraught over doing something wrong. But in 2 Corinthians 7:9-10, Paul distinguishes between two types of sorrow worldly sorrow (which brings death) and godly sorrow (which brings repentance and salvation).

So it's important to note that sorrow is not the same thing as repentance. Rather, godly sorrow results in repentance. It's a sorrow because I have sinned against a holy God and have grieved Him. Worldly sorrow is feeling bad only because I got caught and I'm upset over the consequences this leads only to death.

Repentance is all about change.

To repent is to change your attitude toward your sin. It consists of genuine remorse over your sin, hatred of your sin, and a turning away from your sin to God and His ways. Repentance is the desire to renounce and forsake your sin because you no longer want to offend our holy God.

Proverbs 28:13 sums it up well "He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy." After realizing that my sin has displeased God, I both confess it (admitting to God that I have broken His law and thereby taking responsibility for my actions) and renounce it (expressing my longing to turn away from my sinful ways and embrace the path of God's righteousness).

Repentance is required for forgiveness and salvation.

The Bible is quite clear about this: no one receives forgiveness of sins, salvation from hell or the gift of eternal life without repentance. Jesus stated this most emphatically in Luke 13:3 without repentance, we will perish in hell.

Repentance is demonstrated by a change in behavior.

To repent means to change it consists of a dramatic change in attitude toward my sin that results in a change in my lifestyle. John the Baptist preached a message of repentance and told his audience to "produce fruit in keeping with repentance" (Luke 3:8). Note the distinction between repentance and its fruit. The truly repentant person will show the evidence of his changed heart with a radically different life.

Repentance is a gift from God.

We are required to repent in order to be forgiven and saved, yet the Bible also teaches that repentance comes to us as a gift of God. Both Peter (in Acts 5:31) and Paul (in 2 Timothy 2:25) refer to repentance as a something that God gives (or grants) to people.

How can repentance be both a requirement and a gift? Such is the paradox of salvation, which is the work of God from start to finish, yet we are commanded to do something (repent and believe) to receive it.

Repentance is needed by both believers and unbelievers.

Repentance is an entrance requirement into the kingdom of God. No one gets to heaven without it, for it is the initial act of the sinner (along with saving faith) to receive forgiveness and everlasting life. And so the Christian life begins with repentance and continues with repentance, for we will continue to sin and will need to confess and repent of our sins as often as is necessary to maintain and restore intimacy with our God.

The Christian life is a life of repentance from start to finish. This is why Paul told the Athenians, "God commands all people everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30). May God grant us the gift of repentance daily as we eagerly seek and pray for it.