Radical Repentance in the Christian Life and Discipleship
Radical repentance in the Christian life involves a profound change of mind, purpose, and life, leading to the remission of sin [2]. This concept is rooted in the New Testament Greek words metanoeo (to change one's mind and purpose) and its cognate noun metanoia, which denote true repentance, distinct from metamelomai, which signifies regret or remorse without necessarily a change of heart, as seen in Judas's repentance [2].
The call to repentance is a consistent theme in scripture. God commands all to repent [6], and Christ himself came to call sinners to repentance [6]. In the book of Revelation, Jesus directly admonishes churches to "repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth" [1, 7]. He also states, "As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent" [3, 8]. This divine command is given by God and enabled by the operation of the Holy Spirit [6].
Radical repentance extends beyond mere sorrow for sin; it encompasses a turning away from sin and a turning towards God. This is described as a change from enmity to friendship, a reconciliation where the sinner ceases to be an enemy to God by wicked works and yields full confidence and love to Him [5]. John Gill interprets the call to "repent ye therefore, and be converted" in Acts 3:19 as repenting of the sin of crucifying Christ, turning to acknowledge Him as the Messiah, receiving His doctrines, submitting to His ordinances, and reforming one's life and conversation to produce fruits meet for repentance [11].
Such repentance is often linked with self-denial, which Christ exemplified and which serves as a test of devotion to Him [4]. Self-denial is necessary for following Christ and involves denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, controlling appetites, abstaining from fleshly lusts, and mortifying sinful desires [4]. This radical turning is a response to God's long-suffering and goodness [6]. Repentance leads to life, while resisting God's will results in death [9]. When facing God's judgment, repentance and prayer are presented as the proper responses [10].
Sources
- 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”
- 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”
- Revelation “As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent. -- Revelation 3:19”
- 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 ”
- 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”
- 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 of John “Revelation of John 2:16 (Rotherham) — Repent, therefore, otherwise, I come unto thee speedily,—and will fight against them, with the sword of my mouth.”
- Revelation of John “Revelation of John 3:19 (BSB) — Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.”
- 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).”
- 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.”
- Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 3:19: Repent ye therefore,.... The Ethiopic version adds, "and be baptized"; see Gill on Act 2:38, and be converted. The apostle's sense is, repent of the sin of crucifying Christ, which is what he had been charging them with, and turn unto him, and acknowledge him as the Messiah; receive his doctrines, and submit to his ordinances; externally reform in life and conversation, and bring forth fruits meet for repentance, such as will show it to be true and genuine: that your sins may be blotted out; or forgiven, see Psa 51:9. Not that repentance and reformation procure the ”