Repentance and Our Relationship with God Biblically Explained
Repentance is a fundamental concept in the biblical understanding of humanity's relationship with God, signifying a profound change of mind and purpose that leads to a transformed life [2]. The New Testament uses two primary Greek words for repentance: metamelomai, which denotes regret or remorse for sin but not necessarily a change of heart, as seen in Judas's repentance (Matthew 27:3); and metanoeo (verb) and metanoia (noun), which refer to a complete change of mind, purpose, and life, to which the remission of sin is promised [2]. This true repentance is often called "repentance to life" or "repentance to salvation" [3].
Biblically, repentance is not merely an emotional response but an active turning away from sin and toward God. It is commanded to all people by God (Ezekiel 18:30-32; Acts 17:30) and by Christ (Revelation 2:5, 16; 3:3) [3]. This turning is a recognition of God as the party dishonored by sin, leading to acknowledgments and compunctions directed toward Him [7]. The long-suffering and goodness of God are intended to lead individuals to repentance (Romans 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9) [3].
Repentance is intrinsically linked with faith in Jesus Christ. Acts 20:21 speaks of "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ," indicating that both are necessary for salvation [7]. While repentance acknowledges one's contrariety to God's righteous demands, faith embraces Christ as the solution [7]. God grants repentance (Acts 11:18; 2 Timothy 2:25), and Christ came to call sinners to it (Matthew 9:13) and was exalted to give it (Acts 5:31) [3]. The operation of the Holy Spirit is also involved in bringing about repentance (Zechariah 12:10) [3].
This process of repentance leads to reconciliation with God. Reconciliation signifies a change from enmity to friendship [1]. It is a mutual process, though the primary change is wrought in the sinner who ceases to be an enemy to God by wicked works and yields full confidence and love to Him (Colossians 1:21-22) [1]. The apostle Paul beseeches people to "be reconciled to God," meaning to lay aside their enmity (2 Corinthians 5:20) [1]. This reconciliation is made possible through the atonement of Christ, which exhibits God's grace, mercy, and love (Romans 5:8-11; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; 1 John 4:9-10) [4, 8]. Through Christ's blood, believers receive redemption and the forgiveness of their trespasses (Ephesians 1:7) [5, 6]. When faced with God's judgment, repentance and prayer are presented as proper responses (Lamentations 2:18-19) [9].
Sources
- 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”
- 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”
- 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”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Atonement, The — Explained -- Ro 5:8-11; 2Co 5:18,19; Ga 1:4; 1Jo 2:2; 4:10. Foreordained -- Ro 3:25; 1Pe 1:11,20; Re 13:8. Foretold -- Isa 53:4-6,8-12; Da 9:24-27; Zec 13:1,7; Joh 11:50,51. Effected by Christ alone -- Joh 1:29,36; Ac 4:10,12; 1Th 1:10; 1Ti 2:5,6; Heb 2:9; 1Pe 2:24. Was voluntary -- Ps 40:6-8; Heb 10:5-9; Joh 10:11,15,17,18. Exhibits the Grace and mercy of God. -- Ro 8:32; Eph 2:4,5,7; 1Ti 2:4; Heb 2:9. Love of God. -- Ro 5:8; 1Jo 4:9,10. Love of Christ. -- Joh 15:13; Ga 2:20; Eph 5:2,25; Re 1:5. Reconciles the justice and mercy of God -- Isa 45:21; ”
- Ephesians “in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, -- Ephesians 1:7”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Redemption — The purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom. The Greek word so rendered is apolutrosis, a word occurring nine times in Scripture, and always with the idea of a ransom or price paid, i.e., redemption by a lutron (see Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45). There are instances in the LXX. Version of the Old Testament of the use of lutron in man's relation to man (Lev. 19:20; 25:51; Ex. 21:30; Num. 35:31, 32; Isa. 45:13; Prov. 6:35), and in the same sense of man's relation to God (Num. 3:49; 18:15). There are many passages in the New Tes”
- 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”
- Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 5:11: And not only so, but we also joy--rather, "glory." in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by--"through" whom we have now received the atonement--rather, "the reconciliation" (Margin), as the same word is rendered in Rom 5:10 and in Co2 5:18-19. (In fact, the earlier meaning of the English word "atonement" was "the reconciliation of two estranged parties") [TRENCH]. The foregoing effects of justification were all benefits to ourselves, calling for gratitude; this last may be termed a purely disinterested one. Our first feeling towards God, after we h”
- 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.”