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Judgment and the Call to Repentance in Scripture

The biblical concepts of judgment and the call to repentance are deeply intertwined, with divine judgment often serving as a catalyst for repentance, and repentance offering a path to avert or mitigate judgment. God's judgment is presented as a fundamental principle throughout Scripture, predicted in the Old Testament and affirmed in the New [2].

The Old Testament frequently depicts God's judgments as direct consequences of human sin and disobedience. For instance, the prophet Joel describes an unparalleled devastation of Judah by locusts and scorching heat as a "judgment of God," which prompts him to issue an "earnest call to all classes of the nation to offer prayer to the Lord in the temple, together with fasting, mourning, and weeping, that He might avert the judgment" [8]. Similarly, Zephaniah, after predicting judgment upon the world and Judah, summons his people to repent, particularly exhorting the righteous to seek the Lord and strive for righteousness and humility [6]. These instances highlight that judgment is not merely punitive but also serves a redemptive purpose, aiming to bring people back to God [10].

Repentance, in this context, involves a turning from sin and a turning toward God [5]. It is commanded by God to all people (Ezekiel 18:30-32; Acts 17:30) and by Christ (Revelation 2:5, 16; 3:3) [1]. True repentance is characterized by several elements:

The long-suffering and goodness of God are presented as key motivators for repentance [1, 4]. Romans 2:4 states that "the goodness of God leads you to repentance," and 2 Peter 3:9 indicates that God is "long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" [1, 4]. This divine patience is intended to provide an opportunity for people to change their ways before judgment is fully executed [4]. However, there are limits to God's long-suffering, as seen in Genesis 6:3 and Jeremiah 44:22 [4]. Those who abuse or despise God's patience will face punishment (Romans 2:5) [4].

The New Testament further articulates the concept of a future, universal judgment. There is an appointed "day" for this judgment (Acts 17:31; Romans 2:16), often referred to as the "Day of wrath" or the "revelation of the righteous judgment of God" (Romans 2:5; Revelation 6:17) [2]. This judgment will be administered by Christ himself (John 5:22, 27; Acts 10:42; 2 Corinthians 5:10) [2]. The call to repentance is therefore urgent, as it is linked to salvation (2 Corinthians 7:10) and is a "repentance to life" (Acts 11:18) [1]. Christ came specifically to call sinners to repentance (Matthew 9:13) [1].

The relationship between judgment and repentance is dynamic. While judgment can be a consequence of unrepentant sin, the call to repentance offers a means to avoid or mitigate the severity of that judgment. Lamentations 2:18-19 suggests that "Repentance and prayer are the proper responses when facing the devastation of God’s judgment" [7]. The prophet Ezekiel emphasizes that true repentance involves remembering one's past sins with humiliation, even after receiving favor, leading to a genuine turning to God [9]. This demonstrates that God's goodness, when realized by the sinner, is the only thing that leads to true repentance [9].

Sources

  1. 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”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Judgment, The — Predicted in the Old Testament -- 1Ch 16:33; Ps 9:7; 96:13; Ec 3:17. A first principle of the gospel -- Heb 6:2. A day appointed for -- Ac 17:31; Ro 2:16. Time of, unknown to us -- Mr 13:32. Called the Day of wrath. -- Ro 2:5; Re 6:17. Revelation of the righteous judgment of God. -- Ro 2:5. Day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. -- 2Pe 3:7. Day of destruction. -- Job 21:30. Judgment of the great day. -- Jude 1:6. Shall be administered by Christ -- Joh 5:22,27; Ac 10:42; Ro 14:10; 2Co 5:10. Saints shall sit with Christ in -- 1Co 6:2; Re 20:4. Sh”
  3. 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 -”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Long-Suffering of God, The — Is part of his character -- Ex 34:6; Nu 14:18; Ps 86:15. Salvation, the object of -- 2Pe 3:15. Through Christ's intercession -- Lu 13:8. Should lead to repentance -- Ro 2:4; 2Pe 3:9. An encouragement to repent -- Joe 2:13. Exhibited in forgiving sins -- Ro 3:25. Exercised toward His people. -- Isa 30:18; Eze 20:17. The wicked. -- Ro 9:22; 1Pe 3:20. Plead in prayer -- Jer 15:15. Limits set to -- Ge 6:3; Jer 44:22. The wicked Abuse. -- Ec 8:11; Mt 24:48,49. Despise. -- Ro 2:4. Punished for despising. -- Ne 9:30; Mt 24:48-51; Ro 2:5. Illustr”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Backsliding — Is turning from God -- 1Ki 11:9. Is leaving the first love -- Re 2:4. Is departing form the simplicity of the gospel -- 2Co 11:3; Ga 3:1-3; 5:4,7. God is displeased at -- Ps 78:57,59. Warnings against -- Ps 85:8; 1Co 10:12. Guilt and consequences of -- Nu 14:43; Ps 125:5; Isa 59:2,9-11; Jer 5:6; 8:5,13; 15:6; Lu 9:62. Brings its own punishment -- Pr 14:14; Jer 2:19. A haughty spirit leads to -- Pr 16:18. Proneness to -- Pr 24:16; Ho 11:7. Liable to continue and increase -- Jer 8:5; 14:7. Exhortations to return from -- 2Ch 30:6; Isa 31:6; Jer 3:12,14,22;”
  6. Zephaniah (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Zephaniah 2 (introduction): Exhortation to Repentance in View of the Judgment - Zephaniah 2:1-3:8 Zephaniah, having in the previous chapter predicted the judgment upon the whole world, and Judah especially, as being close at hand, now summons his people to repent, and more especially exhorts the righteous to seek the Lord and strive after righteousness and humility, that they may be hidden in the day of the Lord (Zep 2:1-3). The reason which he gives for this admonition to repentance is twofold: viz., (1) that the Philistians, Moabites, and Ammonites will be cut off, and Is”
  7. Lamentations (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Lamentations 2:18: 2:18-19 Repentance and prayer are the proper responses when facing the devastation of God’s judgment.”
  8. Joel (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Joel 1 (introduction): I. The Judgment of God, and the Prophet's Call to Repentance - Joel 1:2-2:17 An unparalleled devastation of the land of Judah by several successive swarms of locusts, which destroyed all the seedlings, all field and garden fruits, all plants and trees, and which was accompanied by scorching heat, induced the prophet to utter a loud lamentation at this unparalleled judgment of God, and an earnest call to all classes of the nation to offer prayer to the Lord in the temple, together with fasting, mourning, and weeping, that He might avert the judgment. I”
  9. Ezekiel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ezekiel 20:43: there--not merely in exile when suffering punishment which makes even reprobates sorry for sin, but when received into favor in your own land. remember-- (Eze 16:61, Eze 16:63). The humiliation of Judah (Neh. 9:1-38) is a type of the future penitence of the whole nation (Hos 5:15; Hos 6:1; Zac 12:10-14). God's goodness realized by the sinner is the only thing that leads to true repentance (Hos 3:5; Luk 7:37-38).”
  10. Joel (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Joel 2:12: We have here an earnest exhortation to repentance, inferred from that desolating judgment described and threatened in the foregoing verses: Therefore now turn you to the Lord. 1. "Thus you must answer the end and intention of the judgment; for it was sent for this end, to convince you of your sins, to humble you for them, to reduce you to your right minds and to your allegiance." God brings us into straits, that he may bring us to repentance and so bring us to himself. 2. "Thus you may stay the progress of the judgment. Things are bad with you, but thus you may prev”
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