Help understanding "Repentance".
Q: Help understanding "Repentance".
A: This is a good and important question to answer. Especially if you are going to obey the Gospel and come to Christ.
This addresses both what the Gospel is, and corrects the error some have over thinking repentance of sins is a work of man as if its adding works to the Gospel.
When you understand God's holiness and you are personally confronted with your sins, you are horrified by your sins (crimes against God), and in having a contrite heart about it, it produces godly sorrow, so you desire to immediately (once for all time) turn from your sins. You hate sin, dont want to do it anymore, and instead desire to live in the righteousness that Christ offers in salvation,... and the Fruit of the Spirit is given to you upon the moment of Salvation as is the Holy Spirit, so you live out life pursuing the correct design as an image bearer of God. You'll continue to fight temptation and sin, conquer and have victory over sins you find in your life, until you enter eternity. As you do this you become more like Christ as Scripture reveals, and you mature in the Faith.
2 Cor 7:10
For godly sorrow produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world brings about death.
2 Chronicles 7:14
if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin
To correct the error some have saying that repentance is a work of man, thus adding to the Gospel, this will give clarity. You'll see Scripture shows it's a work of God in you that with repentance of sin and trusting in Christ, together (they're two sides of the same coin), are both a work of God, and thus achieved at the same time. We obey in faith, receiving the Gospel, by God's leading. God converts us by His Will and Grace, for His good pleasure. Man can do nothing himself, as he's dead in his trespasses and sins, and thus can do nothing. Its the whole point of the Gospel. Our sins were laid on Christ. If you think you don't need to repent then your not following the Gospel, and are likely an unsaved false convert. An idolator who made up his own Gospel, or are just very much in need of discipleship to understand these truths.
Here are some Bible verses that speak about God granting us repentance:
Acts 11:18 "When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, 'So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.'"
Acts 17:30: "In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent."
2 Timothy 2:25: "Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth."
Romans 2:4: "Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?"
Ezekiel 18:30 "Therefore you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall."
Luke 5:32: "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
These verses highlight the theme of repentance as a gift from God, emphasizing His desire for us to turn back to Him.
Likewise repentance is about turning from sin and to righteousness.
Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
This passage indicates that the Law served to reveal sin and guide people toward the need for a Savior, highlighting humanity's fallen state due to sin. The "righteous nature" that man was designed to have is restored through faith in Christ, who brings spiritual life and reconciliation with God.
Additionally, it is good to know these related verses which also show repenting of sins and faith is by God.
Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." That glory is His perfection, showing man is a sinner headed to judgment and Hell fir his sin crimes against God. The Law points out our sin clearly as a mirror, showing our sinful wicked state as rebellion towards righteousness, showing we aren't holy now but need to be restored to that nature through Christ.
Romans 5:12 "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned."
But we know Salvation is offered and available. Jesus himself called us to "Repent and believe the Gospel" in Mark 1:15. He told us to do both. Sins here and in Scripture refer to crimes committed against God by us, in sin, as what we do is not in righteousness, but evil in rebellion against perfect holiness. Sin and repentance are very much connected. And need to be dealt with together.
Psalm 51 - read it to understand one of a repentant & contrite heart whom God has lead to salvation. God does the work to open our hearts, soften them, to reason with us, and reveal our sins so we can run to Christ. God leads us to repent, God does that work in us, and at the same time he saves us. It happens at the same time. Bith of which God does in us, as He is the one causing us to be born again.
In John 3:1-7 Jesus clearly revealed: 'Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again [from above].' And as 'Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.''
1 Peter 1:23 "For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God."
John 1:12-13 "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God."
Titus 3:5 "He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit."
2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
These verses collectively illustrate the transition from the state of sin and death due to the Fall to the new life and righteousness available through Christ, that He will restore us to the image of God whom He created and designed us to be.
This might help explain Repentance more:
Repentance clarity
The Doctrine of Repentance, by Thomas Watson (pdf book, free)
Why we need to repent and believe the Gospel of Jesus. (short video)
Hope that helps.
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