BIBLE INTRODUCTION COURSELesson 19

The word of God is…sharper than any two-edged sword…

Hebrews 4:12

The RestoredChurch of God

REPENTANCE –TURNING YOUR

LIFE AROUND

REPENTANCE –TURNING YOUR

LIFE AROUND

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Introduction

The previous lesson showed how this present world is con-trolled by “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2). Wesaw that Satan influences the moods and outlook of humanbeings individually and collectively. Every individual hashuman nature, which is essentially Satan’s nature acquiredthroughout one’s entire lifespan.

Overcoming human nature is a process that begins byrealizing the futility of the world with its satanic influences,and the futility of one’s own conduct and tendencies. This isthe first step toward genuine, true repentance. This opensthe door to real and lasting change. This transition is alwaysaccompanied by an opening of the mind to the truth to whichthe world has been blinded.

Upon learning of the soon-coming kingdom of God,which will rule earth in peace and equity, one begins tograsp the reality of this promise and grows in excitement.The very words of Christ that encompass this change arereflected by the admonition: “The time is fulfilled, and thekingdom of God is at hand: repent you and believe thegospel” (Mark 1:15). As stated in earlier lessons, the gospelis the good news of the coming kingdom of God.

The world has come to accept a form of penitence—usu-ally a form of self-denial accompanied by temporary remorse.However, genuine repentance is far different. It encompassesa comprehensive change in the outlook, values and directionin one’s life. This lesson will cover many of these vitalaspects.

LESSON 19

The Meaning of Repentance

(1) Notice the dictionary definition of penitent: “contrite;sorry for sin or fault and disposed to making amends.” TheRoman Catholic Church defines it this way: “one who con-fesses sin and submits to a penance—disciplinary punishmentimposed by Church authority.”

Comment: Penitence originates from the proscribed prac-tice of the Catholic Church and most dictionary definitionsreveal this association. The words penance, penitent or peni-tence do not appear anywhere in the Bible.

(2) The dictionary defined repent this way: “to feel self-reproach, compunction, or contrition for past conduct; changeof one’s mind with regard to past action in consequence of dis-satisfaction with it; to feel such sorry for sin or fault as to bedisposed to change one’s life for the better.”

Comment: This definition is much closer to the meaningof the term used in the Bible. The terms “repent” and “repen-tance” occur a combined total of 72 times in the Bible.

The Hastings Dictionary of the Bible also contains help-ful insights into the subject:

“Repentance for sin is commonly expressed by ‘turn’ or‘return’ [in the OT]. Repentance [in the NT] is also consideredas ‘an indispensable condition of salvation.’ The [Greek] wordordinarily used (metanoia) means literally ‘change of mind.’The change, however, is one in which not the intellect only,

but the whole nature (understanding, affections, will), isinvolved. It is such an altered view of God and sin as carrieswith it heartfelt sorrow for sin, confession of it, and decisiveturning from it to God and righteousness.”

Repentance—A Gift from God

(1) Is repentance a state of mind that one chooses to adoptor is it a gift from God? Acts 5:31.

Comment: Note the term “to give repentance to Israel.”This shows that God has given this to Israel—not that theIsraelites had worked it up by their own initiative.

(2) When the apostle Peter was relating how it was shownto him that God had opened salvation to the Gentiles, did theyinitiate their own repentance? Acts 11:18.

Comment: As with Israel, repentance was granted by God.(3) When the apostle Paul was instructing Timothy that

the servant of God must not strive, but be apt to teach andpatient when instructing those that oppose themselves, to whatend was this precaution taken? II Timothy 2:25.

Comment: Here, we find the same condition in whichGod gives repentance as opposed to the individuals working itup on their own. Something given is a gift. Repentance is agift from God. Yet, we see another connection, which wasmentioned earlier—repentance being accompanied with theacknowledging of the truth or the opening of the mind. Godoften grants these gifts at the same time.

(4) Does God ever grant repentance to people as a resultof their own goodness in seeking the truth? Romans 2:4.

(5) How do God and the angels react when someoneresponds to the repentance that God offers? Luke 15:7.

Comment: This is cause for joy and rejoicing. Thephrase at the end of verse 7, “just persons which need norepentance,” could only refer to those who have alreadyrepented.

Recognizing the Need to Repent

(1) When God opens one’s mind and grants repentance,why is it so often a struggle to stop clinging to the ways of thisworld? Romans 8:7; Jeremiah 17:9.

Comment: Human nature, which is Satan’s nature, resiststhe ways of God-the natural, carnal mind is enmity with God.This struggle is compounded by the fact that the human mindis exceptionally deceitful and desperately wicked.

(2) Although Job defended his own righteousness at first,what was his view of himself once he came to a repentant stateof mind? Job 42:6.

Comment: It is crucial to recognize that although Job wasattacked by the devil, wrongly accused by his friends andabased by God, not until he humbled himself before God andrecognized the futility of his existence was his mind able toexalt God rather than justify himself. Repentance truly is amiracle granted by God so one can begin to see himself in theway that God does.

(3) Why should someone being granted repentance cometo detest his own carnal nature? Psalm 14:3; 39:5; Romans7:18; 8:7.

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(4) When the Jews gathered for Pentecost in A.D. 31,many saw the manifestation of God’s Holy Spirit and heardPeter’s inspired message. Some were deeply moved andasked what they should do. What were they told to do? Acts2:38.

Comment: Thousands were baptized at that time. TheseJews already understood the Sabbath and Holy Days, the lawof clean and unclean meats and the basic ways of conductingthemselves, yet they had to repent of their carnal sinfulnatures as everyone must do.

(5) Is repentance from dead works a foundational doctrineof Christ? Hebrews 6:1-2.

Comment: Hebrews 6:1-2 names six foundational doc-trines, listed in chronological sequence as an overview of theprocess of salvation. They consist of (1) repentance from deadworks, (2) faith toward God (this includes the understandingof the existence of the true God and that His promises aresure), (3) baptism, (4) laying on of hands (to receive the HolySpirit), (5) the resurrection of the dead (the future hope ofevery Christian) and (6) eternal judgment (eternal life forthose who overcome).

Repentance Involves Turning from Sin

(1) When one repents, from whose way does he turn?Ezekiel 33:9; 14:6; Proverbs 16:25.

Comment: Repentance means turning from our ownway—the way that we are naturally inclined to follow.

(2) Why did Esau find no place of repentance though hesought it carefully with tears? Hebrews 12:17.

Comment: Repentance means change, and this alwaysinvolves a change in one’s mind. Esau was sorry for havingcommitted the action of trading away his birthright. Hisrepentance was only sorrow over a past mistake—not achange in direction in life to turn from sin and follow God.

(3) Is God willing to offer mercy and forgiveness to thosewho turn from their former sins? Ezekiel 18:21-22.

(4) Why does God express His desire to grant repentanceboth to Israel and to all mankind? Ezekiel 18:30.

Comment: The last part of verse 30 reads, “so iniquityshall not be your ruin.” This shows God’s concern for allmankind.

(5) What did John the Baptist tell the multitudes whocame to him to be baptized? Luke 3:8.

Comment: To “bring forth fruits worthy of repentance”means to show evidence that one is in the process of changingfor the better. This is done by conscientious effort to turn fromsin to righteousness.

(6) What are some of the examples that John the Baptistprovided to explain his point of “fruits worthy of repentance”or evidence of a change in direction? Luke 3:10-14.

Comment: When the people asked John what they shoulddo, he charged them to be ready and willing to share suchnecessities as clothing and food with those in need. Here, hewas pointing out their responsibility to focus on the needs ofothers as opposed to selfish concerns. He charged the publi-cans or tax collectors to be scrupulously honest in their col-lection of taxes. Likewise, he charged the soldiers not to use

violence or to bring false charges against the people and to becontent with their wages. He was proposing a radical turn-around from the usual conduct of those to whom he wasaddressing. The people were, by nature, selfish and inward;the publicans were extremely partial in how they exacted andcollected taxes; the soldiers intimidated the citizens with vio-lence and false charges while unhappy with their own wages.John never demanded that the people just “repent,” as somevague theological term calling for temporary remorse. Hecharged them to change the way they conducted their businessand the way they lived their lives.

(7) Besides repenting and turning from sinful nature, canwe continue to set our affection upon the world? I John 2:15-17.

(8) Where is one to set his affection after having repent-ed? Colossians 3:1-4.

(9) Did Israel always listen and heed God’s warning torepent and turn from their ways? Zechariah 1:4.

(10) What do the nations of modern Israel bring uponthemselves for not repenting and turning from their ownways? Amos 4:11-12; 5:1-3.

Comment: These verses apply to prophecy yet to be ful-filled. Because of Israel’s refusal to turn from their own way,their penalty will involve chastisement from God, in whichonly one-tenth of the population will survive to see the arrivalof God’s kingdom. The vast majority will have succumbed tofamine, disease, natural disasters, warfare and captivity. Theiriniquity will have turned out to be their ruin (Ezek. 18:30).Much of the rest of the world will also suffer during the com-ing end-time disasters. Yet, repentance is still an option, andthose who seek to turn to God’s way with all their being willbe protected from the hour of sore trial to come upon all theworld (Rev. 3:10).

Repentance as a Way of Life

(1) When someone has come to detest his own carnalnature and seeks to follow God’s way, what does the Bibleinstruct him to do? Acts 2:38.

Comment: As stated earlier, this is the sequence thatGod has established in order for one to receive the HolySpirit and become a true Christian. Repentance must precedebaptism, which is followed by the receiving of the HolySpirit.

(2) Is this process of repentance a one-time event preced-ing baptism or is it something that a true Christian shouldpractice as a way of life? Ephesians 4:31-32.

Comment: Paul admonished Christians to put away (turnfrom) all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speech.Verse 32 shows that Christians are to turn from (to change orrepent of) certain conduct. Repentance is not complete uponbaptism—it must continue throughout one’s life.

(3) Do converted Christians occasionally slip and sinwithout willful intent? I John 2:1-3.

Comment: Even though one “sins not” and keeps God’sTen Commandments as a way of life, it is possible to slip andsin.

(4) Are there some converted people who never slip andstumble in sin? I John 1:7-10.

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Comment: The answer here is a resounding NO. Everytrue Christian sometimes sins.

(5) Since God is willing to pardon those who repent andseek forgiveness, should this approach not deserve greaterfear than if God was closely “keeping score” of every infrac-tion that man committed? Psalm 130:3-4.

Comment: This principle shows much about how Godexpects us to appreciate His forgiveness. The repentance weshow toward God (Acts 20:21) must lead us to grow in grati-tude and fear.

Repentance Begetting Forgiveness

(1) What attitude does God honor when one seeks for-giveness? Psalm 51:16-17.

Comment: God desires for one to come before Him griev-ing and very sorry for having sinned.

(2) Is God responsive to someone’s contrite state of mindas when one is repentant, to the point that this commands Hispersonal attention? Isaiah 66:1-2.

Comment: God declares that the things of His creation,including His throne in heaven and the earth, do not commandHis attention as much as a man with a poor and contrite spir-it who trembles at His word. A truly repentant and humbleattitude commands God’s special attention.

(3) Is God more willing to forgive someone with a con-trite spirit than one who maintains his own righteousness?Luke 18:9-14.

Comment: The Pharisee in this parable was commendinghis own achievement of righteousness, while condemningthose he felt he surpassed. The publican, by contrast, felt onlyshame and unworthiness before God. This man was the one towhom God granted forgiveness. Genuine repentance andhumility go hand and hand, just as do self-righteousness andself-exaltation.

(4) What did Christ mean when He said that He came tocall sinners to repentance rather than the righteous? Mark2:17.

Comment: Just as someone who is sick could use theservices of a physician, someone who is aware of his sins isreceptive to true repentance. These are the ones receptive tothe calling of God. However, just as those who are well do notneed the services of a physician, those who (think they) arerighteous feel they have no reason to repent. Truly, there arenone righteous (Rom. 3:10), and the righteousness mentionedin Mark 2:17 actually means self-righteousness.

Since all have sinned, Christ came to call those capable ofrepenting as opposed to those who feel they have nothing ofwhich to repent.

(5) Are there times when God corrects His people in orderto impress upon them the extent of their negligence and sin sothat they are moved to genuine repentance? II Corinthians7:8-11.

Comment: In this case, Paul wrote a corrective letter tothe Corinthians that moved many of them to a state of sorrowand repentance. Note this important phrase: “godly sorrowworks repentance to salvation.” Repentance is so crucial inGod’s sight that salvation is not possible without it. Sorrowwas necessary to drive home the seriousness of the matter andto seek forgiveness. The Corinthians were properly indignantagainst themselves and moved with fear (as we observed inPsalm 130:3-4). They were moved with vehement desire andzeal to “get it right” from that time forward—not to makeexcuses or blame someone else, but to hold themselvesaccountable to make amends for their thoughtlessness andiniquity.

In Summary

As quoted earlier, repentance is “an indispensable conditionof salvation.” It serves not only as a transitional state of mindfor those who come to God’s way, but must be internalizedand practiced throughout the Christian life. Our booklet Justwhat is SALVATION? explains this crucial step of repentancein the process of salvation.

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