Repentance

Repentance is often misunderstood as either requiring deep remorse for having committed sin or as something that can be done every hour and confused with forgiveness.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him.  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.  For that person must not suppose that a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways, will receive anything from the Lord. (James 1:5-8)

These are blemishes on your love feasts, as they boldly carouse together, looking after themselves; waterless clouds, carried along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars for whom the nether gloom of darkness has been reserved for ever. (Jude1:12-13)

Simply put, when people are frequently changing their minds and are unable to work out what they need to do, it is obvious they are not looking to God to solve their dilemmas. Admittedly, comparing a person to “a wave of the sea” because of doubt, and suggesting that frequent repenting is equivalent to “casting up the foam of their own shame,” may come across as condemnatory—but not when one is at peace with God.

In the salvific process, which takes us from being born into depravity to perfection, there are altogether eighteen phases. These phases are not of my own devising. They were hammered out by someone I do not know and whose identity is unknown to me. For all I know, more than one theologian may have been involved. What I do know is that when doing a Master’s degree in theology, I chose as one of my electives to investigate and research soteriology. Fortunately, I did not repent of doing this. Resolute, I conducted the required investigations into the eighteen topics presented as the subject material—and uncovered much more than I expected.

There is a common view that the Lord God Almighty sits on a throne in Heaven like a tyrannical ogre, losing His temper with people who do not do what He wants them to do. This portrayal of God may seem offensive, but there is just cause for people to think this way—especially when they lack a full understanding of the truth. Many nominal Christians, who possess only a limited understanding of the plan and purpose of God and what salvation truly requires, struggle to reconcile what is written in the Old Testament about the Lord of Heaven and Earth with the New Testament account of the world being reconciled to God through the love of Lord Jesus Christ, as expressed in His suffering and crucifixion on the Cross of Calvary.

Contributing to this Old Testament quandary that perplexes many are the number of Scriptures that tell us God repents from doing evil—and there are quite a few.

When Moses stood before God and pleaded with Him not to destroy the people in the wilderness because of their evil, the Lord repented of the evil He intended to do (Exodus 32:14).

In 1 Samuel 15:11, the Lord repents for having made Saul king, because he did not do as directed and follow His commandments.

David, the man said to have a perfect heart before God, was incited by Satan to number the people, when this was against God’s directive not to do so. God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem. David repented, and the Lord repented of the evil of destroying Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 21:15).

In the book of Jeremiah (26:13), because of the actions taken by Hezekiah, God repents of the evil He had pronounced against the nation. Yet the people did not take much notice, and later God prompts Jeremiah to speak a message of impending judgment:

Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the Lord your God, and the Lord will repent of the evil which he has pronounced against you. (Jeremiah 26:13)

Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the Lord your God, and the Lord will repent of the evil which He has pronounced against you. (Jeremiah 26:13)

We also find God repenting of evil in Joel 2:11–13.

In Amos chapter 7, the Lord repents on two occasions of the evil He was going to bring upon Israel.

In the book of Jonah (4:2), Jonah expresses his disappointment in the fact that if people repent, God will repent of the evil He was going to bring upon them. Jonah obviously disliked delivering a message that might cause him to appear as though he had spoken falsely.

But the day comes when God executes judgment from which He will not repent:

I the Lord have spoken; it shall come to pass, I will do it; I will not go back, I will not spare, I will not repent; according to your ways and your doings I will judge you, says the Lord God.” (Ezekiel 24:14)

As we can see, God repents of bringing judgment upon people when they repent of the evil they are doing. Yet there comes a time when God does not change His mind about a situation, because the people have gone too far and refuse to listen. The fact that God repents from doing what people consider evil does not in any way mean His righteous judgments are compromised. Throughout the Old Testament, we read that God is merciful and shows lovingkindness—but He is also just and righteous.

One difficulty that arises when speaking of God repenting from doing evil is a Scripture found in the book of Isaiah that states God creates evil: 

I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things. (Isaiah 45:7 KJV)

Now, this Scripture some claim is proof that evil was created by God and did not exist until He did.

Whoever claims that God is the creator of evil overlooks that the Devil is the creator of evil. Whoever refuses to acknowledge that the Devil is the creator of evil becomes guilty of actually accusing God of evil.

This is what the Talmudists, Satanists, Illuminati, and all who worship the Devil do—regardless of whether they call him Lucifer or Satan. For evil did not exist until the Devil decided to sin against his Creator and against the Man (male and female) who was created in the image of God.

The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the Devil (1 John 3:8)—the evil that came into existence because of his sin.

Most translations opt for words that convey the idea that people are experiencing physical evil (e.g., calamity, woe, doom, disaster, trouble), and not “evil” in the sense of moral evil. Anyone who understands what “peace” means when contrasted with “evil” knows that what is meant by evil in Isaiah 45:7 is not moral evil.

This Scripture is not the Lord God saying, “I am the Creator of moral evil,” even if He created the one who caused evil to come into being.

The Creator God has established Himself in righteousness. This means every decision He makes is righteous.

That God might have cause to execute judgment upon anybody is not a matter of Him having a bad day and feeling the need to torture some poor individuals with woe, doom, and disaster.

Calamities and the trouble they bring occur mainly because of the behavior of humans. However, what we learn from the Old Testament is that God may cause physical evil because certain obligations are not being met by people who have entered into a covenant—a contractual understanding—to work together to further the plan and purpose He has for this Earth.

The aim of every person who names the name of the Lord is to depart from evil and conform to the plan and purpose of our Heavenly Father.

In the book of Jude, we read this:

But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;  they said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.”  It is these who set up divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit;  keep yourselves in the love of God; wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.  And convince some, who doubt; save some, by snatching them out of the fire; on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. (Jude 1:17-23)

Having come to understand how much God has done for us—and realizing that we ourselves have to do very little to effect our salvation, apart from looking to God—we may wonder: Why is there a need for us to repent, if we have already received the Word of God so that regeneration can begin, and are already in union with Christ? What would we need to repent from? Why would we need to change our mind about anything?

If we read what is written in Jude about being built up in faith, staying in the love of God, and being focused on readiness for the return of the Lord, we might begin to realize that by doing other things, we are in need of repentance.

Jesus said that the way is narrow, and few are they that find it (Matthew 7:13–14).

It is easy for us to point to God and accuse Him of being a tyrant—if we are scoffers.

Harder it is for us to admit that the things we do are not in accord with the ways of God.

Many claim to have repented from being part of a worldly culture, only to then join another form of worldly culture called Christianity.

When we read the book of Revelation, we find this:

I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot!  So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing; not knowing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may be rich, and white garments to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and chasten; so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. He who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Revelation 3:15-22)

What baffles most people is why anyone would need to repent if they are already attending church and partaking of the bread and wine in remembrance of Lord Jesus Christ.

Apply this to yourself, and add to it the understanding that if you have received the Word of God—that is regeneratively cleansing your heart—and are already united with Christ by virtue of what is occurring within you, what would you have to repent from if you are already looking to God?

Just acknowledging what Lord Jesus Christ has done on the Cross is, for many, assumed to be sufficient for securing salvation.

Fortunately, God overlooks ignorance. Unfortunately, as we see in the above-quoted text from Revelation, Lord Jesus is speaking to people and saying that they have a problem—because they are lukewarm about their relationship with Him.

Sure, the individuals being spoken to may have their house cleaned up inside, but Lord Jesus has not entered into the picture as Lord of their lives. This is the problem.

Maybe the scum around the door handle doesn’t permit them to open the door.

Could this have been the problem Judas had?

Judas Iscariot was part of Jesus’ inner circle. He was in charge of the money. Along with all who heard Jesus and decided to be followers, Judas was made clean by His word. However, instead of humbly coming to the feet of Jesus and repenting of his sin, Judas gave room for the Devil to enter (John 13:27).

Judas was unlike the woman who anointed Jesus with expensive oil. Many believe Judas Iscariot was probably one of those who said the oil could have been sold rather than poured over Lord Jesus, for he went to the chief priests and secured a promise of money if he betrayed his Savior and delivered Him into their hands (Mark 14:3–11).

Somehow, Judas got his wires crossed. He had received his bounty from the chief priests for delivering Jesus into their hands. But when he realized that his Savior was condemned to the Cross, Judas felt contrition for betraying an innocent man.

But having been captured to do the will of the Devil, even though he repented of taking the blood money by giving it back to the chief priests, his fate was sealed.

When a person is made clean and then taken over again by the Devil, the latter state is more severe than the first.

This is the account of Judas Iscariot’s repentance:

When Judas, his betrayer, saw that he was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “I have sinned in betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” And throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. (Matthew 27:3-5)

We may wonder whether Judas would have hanged himself if the chief priests had taken back the money.

The reality is, there comes a time when repentance is insufficient—especially if we have passed the point of no return and Satan himself has full possession of us.

Suicide is usually the fate of those who are not willing to call out to God for forgiveness.

Repentance is merely a matter of changing one's mind, but it is essential if we are to look to God rather than continue in the ways of the world.

The claim that we need to repent daily is absurd. Either we have repented of our sins or we haven’t. If we haven’t repented of our sins, we will continue to do them and act as we have always acted.

What many people do, though, is repent of not looking to God and make some changes in their lifestyle—such as attending Bible studies occasionally or going to church on a regular basis, if not weekly.

To say that no repentance has occurred would be wrong, because a change of mind has resulted in a slight change of activity.

Baptism is also associated with repentance. Indeed, baptism is classed as an act of repentance—from walking in the world to making a new life in Christ.

When John the Baptist came on the scene, he baptized people with a baptism of repentance. People were confessing their sins and vowing never to do them again.

When the Pharisees and Sadducees turned up to see what was happening, John called them a brood of vipers and asked who warned them to flee from the coming wrath.

He told them they needed to bear fruit of repentance rather than think that, because they were descendants of Abraham, their eternal salvation was secure (Matthew 3:4–11).

Once a person believes they were saved before they were born—as the Jews who reject Jesus appear to believe—there is little hope for them unless they recognize the fallacy of this idea and repent.

Fruits of repentance indicate true repentance when it comes to being a part of the Kingdom of God.

Actually, unless fruits of repentance are borne by us, we may find ourselves being cut off from having anything to do with Lord Jesus.

When Jesus said that He was the Vine (John 15:1–6), many think of this as merely an allegory relating to when the Son of God was on Earth and nothing else.

The reality of being part of the Vine, however, goes beyond being a mere allegory used to express an idea in respect to abiding in the Word of God from that time forth.

This is because the seed of the Vine to which Jesus was referring was planted in the man Abram, when he first received the Word of God—before he became Abraham, the father of many nations.

Like all grapevines, once they start to grow, they keep growing and bearing fruit in which there is seed to begin more vines.

Even though Israel is likened to a grapevine that came out of Egypt (Psalm 80:8) and was planted in the Promised Land, it did not prosper to the extent that it could have if the nation had become a light to the world.

The genealogy of Matthew, nevertheless, gives us an idea of how this vine survived until the birth of the Son of God in the form of the man Jesus of Nazareth.

What is interesting, a study of the kings in the genealogy reveals that many repented from their iniquity—for they were given to sin.

The grace of God overlooked their ignorance, and when they repented of their wrongdoing, their faith toward the Holy One saw them being accredited as righteous.

In all, there are forty-two generations, with Jesus being the forty-first and the Christ, identified as a separate entity to the Son of God, the forty-second generation.

What this list shows us is that sinners repented and became part of the vine that began when the Word of God was sown in Abraham—who was declared the father of many nations—and continued down to Joseph, the husband of Mary and stepfather of Jesus of Nazareth.

Clearly, Jesus wasn’t a descendant by physical birth. But being the Word of God made flesh (John 1:14), He was the Vine.

The new Vine then brought forth the Christ, which people became part of on the Day of Pentecost.

Christians (i.e., those belonging to Christ) are part of the new Vine, provided they are not one of the branches that is cut off because it hasn’t borne fruit.

Repentance and its fruit must glorify the Father; otherwise, He will cut the non-bearer of fruit off from the Vine.

Unless we understand what we are repenting from and the reasons why we have decided to repent, our repentance is not going to be done with conviction.

We can change our minds about participating in certain activities and later on discover that we enjoyed those activities, so we return to them.

This type of repentance has no lasting effect when it comes to desiring what God has for us.

The type of repentance most beneficial for us is that which is accompanied with the conviction that God knows more than us, and He alone can take away the futility of being born to die—and compensate us for the injustice of suffering as a consequence—by not only providing us with an eternal purpose but also causing us to experience what love really means.

Repentance from dead works (Hebrews 6:2) requires us to understand what things we are doing that are dead or will bring forth death.

Some of the things that produce dead works—or are dead works—include: anger, argumentativeness, astrology, carousing, casting spells, channeling, consulting familiar spirits, competitiveness, conflict, covetousness, debauchery, discord, disputes, dissension, drunkenness, drug use, enmity, envy, factionalism, feuding, fighting, fits of rage, fornication, fortune-telling, gambling, hatred, hoarding, hostility, idolatry, impurity, ill-temperedness, indecency, irresponsibility, jealousy, licentiousness, meanness, obsession, orgies, palm reading, party spirit, partying, promiscuity, rebelliousness, religiosity, riotousness, selfish ambition, selfishness, sensuality, sexual immorality, sorcery, strife, rivalry, revelry, vandalism, witchcraft, wizardry.

Bibliolatry is a form of idolatry that is not recognized as such.

Unfortunately, many people get caught up with reading books and become academically minded to the extent that book reading is put before a pure devotion towards God.

Many misinformed individuals believe the Bible to be the living Word of God.

Reading the Bible—or “digesting the Word of Life,” as some might be inclined to express this activity—when put before seeking a personal relationship with Lord Jesus is bibliolatry: a form of idolatry.

The Bible is not the Living Word of God. The Bible clearly states Who is the Living Word of God.

He was made flesh and dwelt among us as the Son of Man.

Revelation 19:13 says that His name is the Word of God.

People need to repent of false teachings, erroneous doctrinal beliefs, and holding to dogma that inhibits them from having a pure relationship with Lord Jesus Christ and receiving what God has in store for them.

The King James Version of the Bible tends toward a Calvinist bent and work ethic (King James II preferred this) and is written in such a way that people easily misconstrue what is meant.

This is largely because certain words have a different meaning today than when it was written, and the style of grammar used is different from modern English.

Nevertheless, this is not to say that the message of salvation and the plan and purpose of God cannot be understood from reading it—because it can.

This will be shown below by the verses quoted, which dispel the myth that the Bible is the Living Word of God.

In fact, the truth is the Bible, regardless of which version is used, testifies and bears witness to the Living Word of God: Lord Jesus Christ.

Beware of straining a gnat and swallowing a camel.

And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God (Revelation 19:13)

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. (John 5:39-40)

Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (Hebrews 4:11-13)

And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. (Revelation 2:23 KJV)

Below are the same verses from the translation that I use. What you should notice is that the meaning of the text is easier to understand.

 He is clad in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. (Revelation 19:13)

You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me; yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. (John 5:39-40)

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, that no one fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  And before him no creature is hidden, but all are open and laid bare to the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (Hebrews 4:11-13)

I will strike her children dead. And all the churches shall know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve. (Revelation 2:23)

In a nutshell, people search the Scriptures because they think they are alive and active and impart life, when they need to come to the Word of God, Lord Jesus Christ, to obtain eternal life.

In order to obtain the peaceful assurance of eternal life and enter God's rest, the Word of God needs to discern your thoughts and intentions to see whether you have been washed clean and are acceptable to Him.

Nothing escapes His eyes. He searches your heart and will give according to His assessment of your repentance from dead works.

An apt description of what takes place in Christendom is this:

• People are born from above and seek the Kingdom of God from afar.
• They head toward the light that is shining in the darkness.
• As they do, they begin to realize certain things tend to hold them back.
• These have to be shaken off—or repented from and forsaken.
• The more they do this, the closer they get to the light.
• They find themselves no longer in darkness but in twilight as they approach the great light.
• They realize that this is a city surrounded by an insurmountably high wall, with a lot of activity taking place some distance away.
• A marketplace initially lines the pathway. Then the path stops.
• The seekers either have to turn to the left or to the right and zigzag their way through a maze of tents, with people accosting them and making offers too good to refuse.
• The city is still some ways off in the distance.
• These offers suggest ways to get to the destination faster, or how to enjoy more of what is on offer without actually entering the gates of the Kingdom.
• There are Nestorians, Coptics, Roman Catholics, Orthodox, Episcopalians, Calvinists, Adventists, Sabbath-keepers, Baptists, Evangelicals, Methodists, Nazarenes, Pentecostals, Unitarians, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Moonies, and numerous other sectarians all claiming that they have the secret password and the keys to the Kingdom of God.
• One person in a million makes it to the gates of the Kingdom.
• A wide, deep canyon appears to surround the walled city of the Kingdom.
• The only way across is if the drawbridge is lowered.

Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”  They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham, and have never been in bondage to any one. How is it that you say, ‘You will be made free’?”

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, every one who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not continue in the house for ever; the son continues for ever. 36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:31-36)

Having received the word of regeneration and prompted to seek out the Kingdom of God, people repent from what they were doing and begin to push forward toward their destination: the City of God.

By doing this, people encounter others who are on the same journey. Together they press on until they encounter groups of believers who have gone ahead but have set up shop along the way.

The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16) are still very much a part of their makeup.

Reading the Bible and fellowshipping, they get sidetracked, yet all who have received the Word of God—the regenerative seed of life—agree that they are disciples of Jesus.

When it comes to repentance, unless it is thoroughly heartfelt, and each person has a hatred of evil, making it to the drawbridge to enter the City of God (Psalm 46:4; 87:3; Hebrews 12:22)—which is the doorway to the eternal Kingdom—is not going to happen.

The only way to truly enter the Kingdom is by the Son of God, Lord Jesus Christ, actually setting each person free from sin—not judicially, not positionally, not provisionally, but experientially (Deuteronomy 30:6)—so that the person loves the Lord God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30–31).

Indeed, many are called, but few are chosen.

As John the Baptist said: "Bear fruits of repentance!"

The importance of this cannot be understated.

For as the Apostle Peter states:

The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

Understanding that the road to securing salvation is a process—not an instantaneous occurrence once a person recognizes the need to look to God—sorts the sheep out from the goats, so to speak (cf. Matthew 25:32–34).

This is why, once a person has received the Word of Life, this does not necessarily guarantee eternal life.

Even though a person is automatically in union with Christ, repentance has to be understood as essential if we are to depart from the world and continue in the Word of Life (John 3:31–32), to the point that we secure our salvation.

Faith

Translations used:

World English Bible (WEB) by Public Domain. The name "World English Bible" is trademarked.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

RSV (Revised Standard Version of the Bible) copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 Used by permission.

Young's Literal Translation (YLT) by Public Domain

KJV (King James Version)

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