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Balancing Repentance with Legalism and Self-Righteousness in Christianity

Repentance, in its truest biblical sense, involves a fundamental change of mind and purpose that leads to a transformed life, often accompanied by the promise of remission of sin [1]. The Greek term metanoeo, and its cognate noun metanoia, convey this deep-seated change, distinguishing it from mere regret or remorse, which is captured by the Greek word metamelomai [1]. Judas Iscariot's sorrow, for instance, is described using metamelomai, indicating regret without a true change of heart [1]. True repentance is directed "toward God" as the one dishonored by sin, leading to acknowledgments and compunctions due to Him [12]. God may grant repentance to individuals, leading them to a knowledge of the truth [6].

Legalism, in contrast, emphasizes strict adherence to rules and external observances, often obscuring the heart of repentance. The Pharisees, for example, were criticized for their external cleanliness while their inner lives remained unpurified [10]. This focus on outward conformity can lead to self-righteousness, where individuals believe their own actions or adherence to the law make them righteous before God [3, 4]. The apostle Paul explicitly rejected "my own righteousness of Law," instead seeking the "righteousness of God on faith" [3, 11]. Self-righteousness is characterized by a human tendency to justify oneself, even before God and others, and to reject God's righteousness [4]. It is described as "hateful to God" and "no better than filthy rags" [4].

The concept of justification stands in opposition to self-righteousness. Justification is a forensic act of God where He pardons the sins of believers and accounts them righteous, not based on their own merit, but because the demands of the law are satisfied in Christ [7]. This divine act is rooted in God's justice, which is an unchangeable principle of His nature, requiring conformity to His moral law and dealing righteously with His creatures [8]. Reconciliation, a change from enmity to friendship, is also central, involving a change in the sinner's character to cease being an enemy of God [2].

Balancing repentance with these pitfalls requires understanding that while repentance involves turning from sin, it is not a means to earn salvation or God's favor through human effort. Instead, it is a response to God's grace, leading to a life of self-denial and devotion to Christ [9]. Christ Himself exemplified self-denial, and it is presented as a test of devotedness to Him, necessary for following Him and for the spiritual warfare of believers [9]. This self-denial includes denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, controlling appetites, and mortifying sinful desires [9].

The Old Testament also illustrates aspects of repentance and restitution. For instance, Leviticus describes making restitution for wrongdoing in holy things, adding a fifth part, and offering a trespass offering for forgiveness [5]. This demonstrates an early understanding that repentance often involves tangible actions to rectify wrongs, though not as a basis for earning forgiveness.

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Repentance — There are three Greek words used in the New Testament to denote repentance. (1.) The verb metamelomai is used of a change of mind, such as to produce regret or even remorse on account of sin, but not necessarily a change of heart. This word is used with reference to the repentance of Judas (Matt. 27:3). (2.) Metanoeo, meaning to change one's mind and purpose, as the result of after knowledge. This verb, with (3) the cognate noun metanoia, is used of true repentance, a change of mind and purpose and life, to which remission of sin is promised. Evangelical”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Reconcilation — A change from enmity to friendship. It is mutual, i.e., it is a change wrought in both parties who have been at enmity. (1.) In Col. 1:21, 22, the word there used refers to a change wrought in the personal character of the sinner who ceases to be an enemy to God by wicked works, and yields up to him his full confidence and love. In 2 Cor. 5:20 the apostle beseeches the Corinthians to be "reconciled to God", i.e., to lay aside their enmity. (2.) Rom. 5:10 refers not to any change in our disposition toward God, but to God himself, as the party reconcile”
  3. Philippians “Philippians 3:9 (LITV) — and be found in Him; not having my own righteousness of Law, but through the faith of Christ, having the righteousness of God on faith,”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Righteousness — Man is prone to -- Pr 20:6; 30:12. Hateful to God -- Lu 16:15. Is vain because our righteousness is But external. -- Mt 23:25-28; Lu 11:39-44. But partial. -- Mt 23:25; Lu 11:44. No better than filthy rags. -- Isa 64:6. Ineffectual for salvation. -- Job 9:30,31; Mt 5:20; Ro 3:20. Unprofitable. -- Isa 57:12. Is boastful -- Mt 23:30. They who are given to Audaciously approach God. -- Lu 18:11. Seek to justify themselves. -- Lu 10:29. Seek to justify themselves before men. -- Lu 16:15. Reject the righteousness of God. -- Ro 10:3. Condemn others. -- ”
  5. Leviticus “He shall make restitution for that which he has done wrong in the holy thing, and shall add a fifth part to it, and give it to the priest; and the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and he will be forgiven. -- Leviticus 5:16”
  6. II Timothy “II Timothy 2:25 (LEB) — correcting those who are opposed with gentleness, seeing whether perhaps God may grant them repentance to a knowledge of the truth,”
  7. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Justification — A forensic term, opposed to condemnation. As regards its nature, it is the judicial act of God, by which he pardons all the sins of those who believe in Christ, and accounts, accepts, and treats them as righteous in the eye of the law, i.e., as conformed to all its demands. In addition to the pardon (q.v.) of sin, justification declares that all the claims of the law are satisfied in respect of the justified. It is the act of a judge and not of a sovereign. The law is not relaxed or set aside, but is declared to be fulfilled in the strictest sense; an”
  8. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Justice of God — That perfection of his nature whereby he is infinitely righteous in himself and in all he does, the righteousness of the divine nature exercised in his moral government. At first God imposes righteous laws on his creatures and executes them righteously. Justice is not an optional product of his will, but an unchangeable principle of his very nature. His legislative justice is his requiring of his rational creatures conformity in all respects to the moral law. His rectoral or distributive justice is his dealing with his accountable creatures according”
  9. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
  10. Luke (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Luke 11:38: First washed - See on Mar 7:2-4 (note).”
  11. Philippians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Philippians 3:9: be found in him--"be found" at His coming again, living spiritually "in Him" as the element of my life. Once lost, I have been "found," and I hope to be perfectly "found" by Him (Luk 15:8). own righteousness . . . of the law-- (Phi 3:6; Rom 10:3, Rom 10:5). "Of," that is, from. righteousness . . . of God by faith--Greek, "which is from God (resting) upon faith." Paul was transported from legal bondage into Christian freedom at once, and without any gradual transition. Hence, the bands of Pharisaism were loosed instantaneously; and opposition to”
  12. Acts (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Acts 20:21: Testifying both to Jews and . . . Greeks--laboring under a common malady, and recoverable only by a common treatment. repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ--(See on Act 5:31). REPENTANCE, as distinguished from faith, is that state of the "honest and good heart" which arises from a discovery of one's contrariety to the righteous demands of the divine law. This is said to be "toward God," because seeing Him to be the party dishonored by sin, it feels all its acknowledgments and compunctions to be properly due to Him, as the great”
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