Repentance and the Christian's New Nature in Scripture
Repentance in the New Testament involves more than regret. The Greek verb metanoeo and its cognate noun metanoia denote "a change of mind and purpose and life, to which remission of sin is promised," distinguishing true repentance from mere remorse [1]. This distinction appears in the contrast between Judas's remorse (metamelomai) and the repentance Scripture commands of believers [1]. The apostolic preaching consistently paired repentance with faith: Paul testified "both to Jews and Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" [9]. Repentance is "toward God" because it arises from recognizing one's contrariety to divine law and acknowledging God as the party dishonored by sin [9].
The Biblical Call to Repentance
Scripture presents repentance as a divine command. God commands all people everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30), and Christ came to call sinners to this turning [2]. The call appears throughout the New Testament: "Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out" [5]. Even the risen Christ addresses the churches with urgent imperatives: "Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly" [6]. This repentance is not self-generated but given by God [2]. Christ is exalted to give repentance (Acts 5:31), and it comes through the operation of the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 12:10) [2]. The sources describe it as "repentance to life" and "repentance to salvation" (2 Corinthians 7:10) [2].
The New Creation and Regeneration
The Christian's new nature is inseparable from the concept of regeneration. "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new" [3]. This transformation is described as a "new birth," from the Greek palingenesia, a term classical writers used for changes produced by spring's return [4]. Scripture elsewhere speaks of this as "passing from death to life" (1 John 3:14), "becoming a new creature in Christ Jesus," "being born again" (John 3:5), and "a renewal of the mind" (Romans 12:2) [4].
The new birth is effected by God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, working through the instrumentality of God's word and the resurrection of Christ [7]. It is "of the will of God" and "of the mercy of God," accomplished "for the glory of God" [7]. The corruption of human nature requires this regeneration, and none can enter heaven without it (John 3:3) [7]. This new nature is described as "a new creation" (Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 2:10), "newness of life" (Romans 6:4), and a spiritual resurrection [7].
Repentance and the Transformed Life
Repentance involves external reformation alongside internal transformation. The apostolic call was to "repent of the sin of crucifying Christ" 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" [8]. Yet this reformation does not procure forgiveness—sins are "blotted out" or forgiven by grace, not by repentance itself [8]. The relationship between repentance and remission of sins constitutes "the sum of the Gospel ministry" [10].
Repentance is both a gift and a blessing of the covenant, "in the hands of Christ to bestow," which is why the doctrine is published in his name [10]. Believers are led to repentance by God's long-suffering (Genesis 6:3; 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 3:9), by God's goodness (Romans 2:4), and by divine chastisements [2]. The new nature does not eliminate the need for ongoing repentance but establishes the capacity for it, as the regenerate heart responds to God's Spirit rather than remaining in enmity toward him.
Sources
- 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”
- 2 Corinthians “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. -- 2 Corinthians 5:17”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Regeneration — Only found in Matt. 19:28 and Titus 3:5. This word literally means a "new birth." The Greek word so rendered (palingenesia) is used by classical writers with reference to the changes produced by the return of spring. In Matt. 19:28 the word is equivalent to the "restitution of all things" (Acts 3:21). In Titus 3:5 it denotes that change of heart elsewhere spoken of as a passing from death to life (1 John 3:14); becoming a new creature in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:17); being born again (John 3:5); a renewal of the mind (Rom. 12:2); a resurrection from the ”
- Acts ““Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, -- Acts 3:19”
- 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: New Birth, The — The corruption of human nature requires -- Joh 3:6; Ro 8:7,8. None can enter heaven without -- Joh 3:3. Effected by God. -- Joh 1:13; 1Pe 1:3. Christ. -- 1Jo 2:29. The Holy Spirit. -- Joh 3:6; Tit 3:5. Through the instrumentality of The word of God. -- Jas 1:18; 1Pe 1:23. The resurrection of Christ. -- 1Pe 1:3. The ministry of the gospel. -- 1Co 4:15. Is of the will of God -- Jas 1:18. Is of the mercy of God -- Tit 3:5. Is for the glory of God -- Isa 43:7. Described as A new creation. -- 2Co 5:17; Ga 6:15; Eph 2:10. Newness of life. -- Ro 6:4. A spir”
- 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 ”
- 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”
- Luke (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Luke 24:44: And that repentance and remission of sins,.... Which are the sum of the Gospel ministry; see Act 20:21 the doctrine of "repentance" is not of the law, which neither requires, nor admits of it, but of the Gospel. The Persic version calls it, "the Gospel of repentance"; a doctrine preached by John the Baptist, Christ, and his apostles; and the thing itself is a blessing of the covenant, a gift of God's grace, and in the hands of Christ to bestow; and therefore the doctrine of it is published in his name, as well as remission of sins; which, though it springs from the fre”