Repentance is a very important theme throughout the Bible, and is critical to salvation. But if you're new to Christianity you may be wondering, "What is repentance?"
Biblical Definition of Repentance
The Greek word for repent is μετανοέω (metanoeō), and it is used 34 times in the New Testament. It's a change of the mind, involves regret or sorrow, and is accompanied by a true change of heart towards God.
So, true repentance is more than just feeling sorry for something you did wrong, it goes much deeper. It's a godly sorrow (II Corinthians 7:10) that leads to a complete change in your heart, mind, and purpose. When you repent, you turn completely away from your sinful nature and completely towards Jesus Christ without regret.
Using the apostle Paul's terminology, you put away the old man (sinful nature) and put on the new man or Godly nature (Ephesians 4:22-24). In other words, you are doing a complete 180 degree turn from sin, leaving it behind, and start going toward Jesus Christ.
4 Elements of Repentance
Genuine repentance has four elements to it: a recognition of sin, confession of sin, contrition for sin, and a decision to forsake sin.
Recognition of Sin
In Mark 2:17 and Luke 5:32, Jesus responded to the Pharisees who inquired about Him eating with publicans and sinners. He said, "They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Romans 3:23 lets us know that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." So, if everyone is a sinner and falls short, what did Jesus mean with his response to the Pharisees?
Jesus was responding to Pharisees, who thought themselves to be righteous. So Jesus was telling the Pharisees that He didn't come to call the self-righteous to repentance. The Pharisees thought they were already going to heaven so they had no use for what Jesus was telling them.
Jesus is calling the person who recognizes they are a sinner to repentance. Jesus expands on this theme again in Luke 18:9-14 with a parable about the prayer of a Pharisee and of a publican. The publican recognized he was a sinner and needed God's grace, the Pharisee, on the other hand, didn't.
The only way true repentance takes place is if we first recognize we are sinners in need of the one true God, Jesus Christ.
Confession of Sin
Once you recognize your sins, you need to confess your sins to God. By confessing sin, you put a voice to your recognition of sin. It's a verbal acknowledgement or admission of guilt to God.
A good example of this can be found in Mark 1:4-5. John the Baptist was preaching a baptism of repentance and many came to him to be baptized "confessing their sins."
This aspect of confession can also be found in Luke 18, the parable about the prayer of a Pharisee and publican I mentioned earlier. The publican recognized he was a sinner and confessed that fact by proclaiming, "God, be merciful to me a sinner!"
However, you can't just stop at confession. Your confession needs to be coupled with contrition, or a godly sorrow. If you're not truly sorry to God for your sins, then simply confessing will do no good.
Contrition of Sin
This element of repentance goes hand in hand with confession. Contrition is a genuine sorrow or true feeling of regret for the sins you've committed.
In II Corinthians 7:10, Paul stated, "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."
In other words, confessing your sins with a contrite heart is the true genuine repentance that leads to salvation through Jesus Christ. If you only feel sorry for the consequences of your actions but no sincere remorse for the sin, then your confession is just empty words.
The publican from Luke 18 was very grieved over his sins, which is evident from his actions. He had a godly sorrow, and is a great example of how we should feel when confessing our sins to God.
But biblical repentance doesn't stop at sincere sorrow over past sins, it also involves a determination to change directions.
Decision to Forsake Sin
This element of repentance is seen in Proverbs 28:13, "He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy."
It's good to confess your sins to God and be genuinely sorry for those sins. But if you don't also determine within yourself to turn away from those sins, you haven't truly repented.
In Matthew 3:8 and Luke 3:8, John told the Pharisees and Sadducees to "bear fruits worthy of repentance." They couldn't rely on their heritage. They had to change their behavior (actions) in order to truly repent.
Paul also taught the same concept in Acts 26:20. He declared that all should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.
Why is Repentance Important?
So far we've explored the definition of repentance, and what it looks like, but why is it important?
It's the First Step To Salvation in Jesus
The biggest reason is because repentance is the first step to salvation in Jesus.
Acts 2:38 reads, "Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
According to Acts 2, the only way to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost is to first repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus. The infilling of the Holy Spirit, evidenced by speaking in tongues, is the only way to be saved. And repenting for your sins is the very first thing you have to do in order to be saved.
So if you want to go to heaven, you have to first repent, which is why it's so important. Jesus couldn't make it any clearer in Luke 13:3, "unless you repent you will all likewise perish."
It's Needed Throughout Our Christian Life
In Romans 6, Paul lets us know that the born again Christian is no longer a slave to sin. If you have been filled with the Holy Spirit, sin's power no longer has dominion over you. But if you make a mistake and do sin, you can still repent and be forgiven (I John 1:9 - 2:2).
The goal as a born again believer is to exercise our spirit to the point that we are spiritually minded. Paul pointed out in Romans 8 that a spiritually minded person has life and peace (Romans 8:6). And the best way to become spiritually minded is through daily prayer.
Jesus wants a close relationship with us, but that doesn't happen if we neglect our prayer life and continually struggle with sin. We have access to forgiveness through repentance, but God's grace shouldn't be abused by continually sinning and asking for forgiveness.
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? (Romans 6:1-2).
Important Scriptures on Repentance
Mark 1:15, Matthew 4:17 "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."
These are the first instances where Jesus started to call for repentance in the gospel accounts. John was in prison at this point and Jesus continued preaching repentance to Israel.
Luke 3:8 "Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance..."
John was preaching repentance to a crowd of Israelites and let them know they wouldn't be saved based on their status. They needed to repent and show it through their actions.
Luke 24:46-47 "Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."
Jesus gave his followers the formula for salvation that Peter would preach in Acts 2:38 to the men of Judea and all who lived in Jerusalem.
Luke 13:3 "I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."
Jesus let the crowd he was speaking to know just how important repenting was.
Acts 2:38 “...Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Acts 26:20 "but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance."
Paul was talking to King Agrippa telling him about his conversion and the message he preached to the Jews and Gentiles.
II Corinthians 7:10 "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death."
Examples of Repentance
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14)
Jesus tells of two men who are praying. One of them is self righteous in his words to God, and the other is very humble and truly seeks after God's mercy for his sins. This parable gives you the perfect picture of what a true repentant heart looks like.
The Parable of the Lost Son / The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)
In this parable, Jesus gives us another great example of what true repentance looks like. The younger son left home, wasted his inheritance, and lost everything he had.
He came to the realization that he was better off at home in his father's house and humbly went back in hopes his father would take him back as one of the servants.
When the father saw his son coming home, he threw a celebration to welcome his son back home.
The son was going down the path of sin, made a complete 180 degree turn, and headed back to his father determined to do the right thing.
Final Thoughts
Repentance is the necessary first step in receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, which is the only way we receive salvation (Acts 2:38). True repentance involves a complete turn away from sin and turning towards Jesus.
Repentance isn't only limited to when you first receive the Holy Ghost. It's something we will need to do through out our Christian walk. Just like John said in I John 2:1, "My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."
It's how we identify with the death of Jesus, by dying out to our sins through repentance. It's also the initial step to becoming a new creature in Christ Jesus (II Cor 5:17).