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Repentance and Forgiveness for Those Guilty of Jude's Warning

Repentance and forgiveness are central themes in biblical theology, even for those who have committed serious transgressions. The prophet Jeremiah illustrates this by stating that if the people of Judah turn from their wicked ways, God will forgive their iniquity and sin [2, 11]. This divine willingness to forgive is not limited to specific types of sin, but extends to a broad range of human failings, provided there is genuine repentance.

Repentance, as described in various biblical texts, involves a turning away from sin and a turning towards God [4]. It is commanded by God to all people [4], and is a gift given by God through the operation of the Holy Spirit [4]. Christ himself came to call sinners to repentance [4]. The long-suffering and goodness of God are intended to lead individuals to repentance [4]. This turning involves a change of mind and heart, leading to a new way of life [4]. Forgiveness, in turn, is the divine act of pardoning sin, often contingent on this act of repentance and confession [3, 7].

The Old Testament provides examples of forgiveness for various transgressions. For instance, Numbers 15:26 states that forgiveness is granted to the entire company of the sons of Israel and to sojourners among them for sins committed in ignorance [1]. Similarly, Numbers 15:28 indicates that atonement made by a priest for a person erring in ignorance before the Lord results in forgiveness [5]. Another passage in Numbers 15:25 confirms that atonement by the priest for the congregation's error leads to forgiveness [6]. These passages highlight that even unintentional sins could be atoned for and forgiven.

However, the Epistle of Jude warns against certain individuals who have crept into the church, described as ungodly people who pervert the grace of God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ [9]. While Jude's epistle focuses on condemning these false teachers and their destructive influence, the broader biblical understanding of repentance and forgiveness still applies. The anger of God, provoked by disobedience [10], can be averted by confession of sin and repentance [3]. This is seen in passages like Job 33:27-28, Psalm 106:43-45, and Jeremiah 3:12-13, where God's anger is turned away when people confess and repent [3]. The prophet Joel, for example, urges the people to return to the Lord with fasting, weeping, and mourning, emphasizing that God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love [13].

True repentance is characterized by more than just sorrow for the consequences of sin; it involves a genuine change of heart and a forsaking of sin [7]. This is illustrated in Ezekiel, where the humiliation of Judah is seen as a type of future penitence, and God's goodness is identified as the catalyst for true repentance [12]. Confession of sin is also a crucial component, which God requires and regards [7]. Promises of pardon are given to those who confess their sins [7]. This confession should be accompanied by submission to punishment, prayer for forgiveness, self-abasement, godly sorrow, and the forsaking of sin [7].

Even for those who have "forsaken God" through idolatry or disobedience, the possibility of repentance and forgiveness remains [8, 10]. Jeremiah 36:3, for instance, shows God's desire for the people of Judah to repent from idol-worship, promising forgiveness if they do so [11]. This demonstrates God's persistent invitation to repentance, even in the face of severe warnings and impending judgment [11, 13]. The goodness and long-suffering of God are meant to lead individuals to this change of heart [4].

Sources

  1. Numbers “Numbers 15:26 (YLT) — and it hath been forgiven to all the company of the sons of Israel, and to the sojourner who is sojourning in their midst; for to all the company <FI>it is done<Fi> in ignorance.”
  2. Jeremiah “Jeremiah 36:3 (BSB) — Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about all the calamity I plan to bring upon them, each of them will turn from his wicked way. Then I will forgive their iniquity and their sin.””
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Anger of God, The — Averted by Christ -- Lu 2:11,14; Ro 5:9; 2Co 5:18,19; Eph 2:14,17; Col 1:20; 1Th 1:10. Is averted from them that believe -- Joh 3:14-18; Ro 3:25; 5:1. Is averted upon confession of sin and repentance -- Job 33:27,28; Ps 106:43-45; Jer 3:12,13; 18:7,8; 31:18-20; Joe 2:12-14; Lu 15:18-20. Is slow -- Ps 103:8; Isa 48:9; Jon 4:2; Na 1:3. Is righteous -- Ps 58:10,11; La 1:18; Ro 2:6,8; 3:5,6; Re 16:6,7. The justice of, not to be questioned -- Ro 9:18,20,22. Manifested in terrors -- Ex 14:24; Ps 76:6-8; Jer 10:10; La 2:20-22. Manifested in judgments and”
  4. 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”
  5. Numbers “Numbers 15:28 (YLT) — and the priest hath made atonement for the person who is erring, in his sinning in ignorance before Jehovah, by making atonement for him, and it hath been forgiven him;”
  6. Numbers “The priest shall make atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and they shall be forgiven; for it was an error, and they have brought their offering, an offering made by fire to Yahweh, and their sin offering before Yahweh, for their error. -- Numbers 15:25”
  7. 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 -”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Forsaking God — Idolaters guilty of -- 1Sa 8:8; 1Ki 11:33. The wicked guilty of -- De 28:20. Backsliders guilty of -- Jer 15:6. Is forsaking His house. -- 2Ch 29:6. His covenant. -- De 29:25; 1Ki 19:10; Jer 22:9; Da 11:30. His commandments. -- Ezr 9:10. The right way. -- 2Pe 2:15. Trusting in man is -- Jer 17:5. Leads men to follow their own devices -- Jer 2:13. Prosperity tempts to -- De 31:20; 32:15. Wickedness of -- Jer 2:13; 5:7. Unreasonableness and ingratitude of -- Jer 2:5,6. Brings confusion -- Jer 17:13. Followed by remorse -- Eze 6:9. Brings down his wrath ”
  9. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Jude, Epistle Of — Its author was probably Jude, one of the brethren of Jesus, the subject of the preceding article. There are no data from which to determine its date or place of writing, but it is placed about A.D. 65. The object of the epistle is plainly enough announced ver. 3; the reason for this exhortation is given ver. + The remainder of the epistle is almost entirely occupied by a minute depiction of the adversaries of the faith. The epistle closes by briefly reminding the readers of the oft-repeated prediction of the apostles--among whom the writer seems not”
  10. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Disobedience to God — Provokes his anger -- Ps 78:10,40; Isa 3:8. Forfeits his favour -- 1Sa 13:14. Forfeits his promised blessings -- Jos 5:6; 1Sa 2:30; Jer 18:10. Brings a curse -- De 11:28; 28:15. A characteristic of the wicked -- Eph 2:2; Tit 1:16; 3:3. The wicked persevere in -- Jer 2:21. Heinousness of, illustrated -- Jer 35:14. Men prone to excuse -- Ge 3:12,13. Shall be punished -- Isa 42:24,25; Heb 2:2. Acknowledge the punishment of, to be just -- Ne 9:32,33; Da 9:10,11,14. Warnings against -- 1Sa 12:15; Jer 12:17. Bitter results of, illustrated -- Jer 9:13,”
  11. Jeremiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jeremiah 36:3: 36:3 The Lord gave the people of Judah every opportunity to repent. God wanted the messages of judgment not just to alarm his people, but to awaken them to the judgment they would face if they did not turn from idol-worship. If they heeded the alarm, repented, and sincerely worshiped the one true God, he would forgive their sins and wrongdoings.”
  12. 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).”
  13. Joel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Joel 2:12: With such judgments impending over the Jews, Jehovah Himself urges them to repentance. also now--Even now, what none could have hoped or believed possible, God still invites you to the hope of salvation. fasting . . . weeping . . . mourning--Their sin being most heinous needs extraordinary humiliation. The outward marks of repentance are to signify the depth of their sorrow for sin.”
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