True Repentance

What does the Bible teach about repentance? Is repentance simply feeling sorry for sinful actions? Many view repentance as a convenient way to willfully and purposely sin against God, then go and “repent”, thinking that God will forgive such behavior. True Biblical repentance is much more than feeling sorry for what we have done. Repentance is a complete, total, and permanent change of action.

The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the church at Corinth to set them straight regarding sin and immorality. Paul wanted them to get right with God and live good, moral lives. Paul stated, “I now rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye were made sorry unto repentance; for ye were made sorry after a godly sort, that ye might suffer loss by us in nothing” 2 Corinthians 7:9. Paul rejoiced because his letter had the desired affect. The people did not just feel sorry for what they had done, they felt so sorry they repented, or changed, the way they were living. It was not Paul’s intent to make these people feel bad about themselves, but to make them realize they needed to make things right with God.

Paul continues by saying, “For godly sorrow works repentance unto salvation, a repentance which brings no regret: but the sorrow of the world works death” 2 Corinthians 7:10. When a person truly repents of sin in his or her life, they have no regret about what they are leaving behind. True Godly repentance means changing one’s life in order to be saved by God. Notice also that simply feeling sorry for what you have done but not changing your actions, “the sorrow of the world”, brings spiritual death to people. A person is sadly mistaken if they think they can go out and sin willfully, then go to church the next morning and “repent” of their sin, just to go out and do it again and again. The Bible teaches that repentance is a change of action that leads to salvation.

Paul’s God given ministry was to “[declare] first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance” Acts 26:20. This verse demonstrates that true repentance is a permanent change of behavior: Sinful actions must cease and Godly actions must begin. Jesus declares the vital importance of repentance when he stated, “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” Luke 13:3.

God wants people to feel sorry for the sinful mistakes they make. However, God also expects a change in our behavior. “Performing deeds in keeping” with our repentance means changing our lives to live the way God wants. The words of Hebrews 10.26 serve as a sobering reminder: “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins”.