Biblical Urgency of Repentance Versus Daily Confession
Repentance, in its biblical sense, signifies a profound change of mind and purpose that leads to a transformation of life, often accompanied by the promise of remission of sins [4]. This is distinct from mere regret or remorse, as seen in the case of Judas [4]. The New Testament uses the Greek words metanoeo and metanoia to describe this true repentance [4]. God commands all people to repent [1, 13], and Christ himself came to call sinners to repentance [1]. The urgency of repentance is emphasized in passages like Revelation 2:16, where the church in Thyatira is warned to repent or face Christ's swift judgment [2, 6].
Repentance is directed "toward God," recognizing Him as the one dishonored by sin, and involves acknowledging one's contrariety to divine law [10]. It is a turning away from sin and a turning towards God [1, 11]. This turning is often prompted by God's long-suffering and goodness [1]. The prophet Joel, for instance, calls for sincere repentance and mourning, urging people to "rend their heart and not their garments" [11]. Repentance leads to life, while resisting God's will results in death [12].
Daily confession of sins, while related, serves a different function. Confession involves acknowledging sins to God and, when applicable, to those wronged [3, 5]. God requires and regards such confession, promising pardon to those who confess and forsake their sins [3]. This practice is often accompanied by self-abasement, godly sorrow, and prayer for forgiveness [3]. Augustine notes that the daily prayer of a believer can make satisfaction for the "trivial sins of daily life" [9].
John Calvin distinguished between repentance as a genuine turning to God and the external profession of repentance, which he considered an improper use of the term [7]. He also critiqued the idea that daily repentance only applies to venial sins, while mortal sins require a more severe, less repeatable form of repentance [8]. While repentance is a foundational turning point, confession is an ongoing practice for believers, acknowledging their continued need for God's grace and forgiveness in their daily walk [3, 9].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Repentance — What it is -- Isa 45:22; Mt 6:19-21; Ac 14:15; 2Co 5:17; Col 3:2; 1Th 1:9; Heb 12:1,2. Commanded to all by God -- Eze 18:30-32; Ac 17:30. Commanded by Christ -- Re 2:5,16; 3:3. Given by God -- Ac 11:18; 2Ti 2:25. Christ came to call sinners to -- Mt 9:13. Christ exalted to give -- Ac 5:31. By the operation of the Holy Spirit -- Zec 12:10. Called repentance to life -- Ac 11:18. Called repentance to salvation -- 2Co 7:10. We should be led to, by The long-suffering of God. -- Ge 6:3; 1Pe 3:20; 2Pe 3:9. The goodness of God. -- Ro 2:4. The chastisements of Go”
- Revelation “Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth. -- Revelation 2:16”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Confession of Sin — God requires -- Le 5:5; Ho 5:15. God regards -- Job 33:27,28; Da 9:20-23. Exhortation to -- Jos 7:19; Jer 3:13; Jas 5:16. Promises to -- Le 26:40-42; Pr 28:13. Should be accompanied with Submission to punishment. -- Le 26:41; Ne 9:33; Ezr 9:13. Prayer for forgiveness. -- 2Sa 24:10; Ps 25:11; 51:1; Jer 14:7-9,20. Self-abasement. -- Isa 64:5,6; Jer 3:25. Godly sorrow. -- Ps 38:18; La 1:20. Forsaking sin. -- Pr 28:13. Restitution. -- Nu 5:6,7. Should be full and unreserved -- Ps 32:5; 51:3; 106:6. Followed by pardon -- Ps 32:5; 1Jo 1:9. Illustrated -”
- 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”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Confession — (1) An open profession of faith (Luke 12:8). (2.) An acknowledment of sins to God (Lev. 16:21; Ezra 9:5-15; Dan. 9:3-12), and to a neighbour whom we have wronged (James 5:16; Matt. 18:15).”
- Revelation of John “Revelation of John 2:16 (Webster) — Repent; or else I will come to thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 58: be considered, I now dwell less upon it. 18. This much, however, I will add: when the name repentance is applied to the external profession, it is used improperly, and not 524 in the genuine meaning as I have explained it. For that is not so much a turning unto God as the confession of a fault accompanied with deprecation of the sentence and punishment. Thus to repent in sackcloth and ashes ( Mt. 11:21 ; Luke 10:13 ), is just to testify self dissatisfaction when God is angry with us for having grievously offended him. It is, indeed”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 59: other sins. Again, whether punishments divinely indicted are available for satisfaction. Again, whether repentance can be several times repeated for mortal sins, whereas they grossly and wickedly define that daily repentance has to do with none but venial sins. In like manner, with gross error, they greatly torment themselves with a saying of Jerome, that repentance is a second plank after shipwreck. 332 332 Latin, “Secundam tabulam post naufragium.”—French, “Une seconde planche, sur laquelle celui que estoit pour perir en lar mer,”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 3: Augustine — On the Holy Trinity — CHAP. 71.--THE DAILY PRAYER OF THE BELIEVER MAKES SATISFACTION FOR THE TRIVIAL SINS THAT DAILY STAIN HIS LIFE.: Now the daily prayer of the believer makes satisfaction for those daily sins of a momentary and trivial kind which are necessary incidents of this life. For he can say, "Our Father which art in heaven,"(4) seeing that to such a Father he is now born again of water and of the Spirit.(5) And this prayer certainly takes away the very small sins of daily life. It takes away also those which at one time made the life of the believer very wick”
- 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”
- Joel (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Joel 2:12: But there is still time to avert the completion of the judgment by sincere repentance and mourning; for God is merciful, and ready to forgive the penitent. Joe 2:12. "Yet even now, is the saying of Jehovah, turn ye to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning. Joe 2:13. And rend your heart and not your garments, and turn back to Jehovah your God; for He is gracious and merciful, long-suffering, and great in kindness, and suffers Himself to repent of the evil. Joe 2:14. Who knoweth He turns and repents, and leaves behind Him ble”
- Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 1:19: 1:19-20 Repentance leads to life, whereas resisting God’s will and turning away from him results in death (see Deut 11:26-28; 28:1-62).”
- Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 17:30: And the times of this ignorance God winked at,.... Not that he approved of, or encouraged such blindness and folly, as appeared among the Gentiles, when they worshipped idols of gold, silver, and stone, taking them for deities; but rather the sense is, he despised this, and them for it, and was displeased and angry with them; and as an evidence of such contempt and indignation, he overlooked them, and took no notice of them, and gave them no revelation to direct them, nor prophets to instruct them, and left them to their stupidity and ignorance: but now commandeth al”