Repentance

1.  Introduction

Both Jesus and the apostles preached repentance differently from how modern Reformed and Pentecostal theology teaches it.  Many people say that repentance is mandatory for the preaching of the gospel.  Yet, in the Biblical Evangelism of Gentiles, we found this is not categorically essential. So how is repentance defined, or what does “repent” mean?

2.  Defining Repentance

In the original Greek, the word for “repent” is metanoia, which means “Change the Way you Think!”.

That’s it, nothing more, and nothing less.  It does not mean “turn away from your sins and turn to God”.  Although in the long term, it will be the outcome of repenting through the transforming process of salvation (See Transformation Through Salvation).

3.  The Message of Repentance by John the Baptist

Here is the first New Testament mention of the word repent:

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

Matthew 3:2

A. Who Is John the Baptist?

John is the last of the Old Covenant prophets (and the law):

For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

Matthew 11:13

John the Baptist was preparing the way for the one who would baptise in the Holy Spirit:

I indeed baptise you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Matthew 3:11

B. John is Preaching Repentance to Jews, not Gentiles

John aimed his message of repentance at the Pharisees, who sought to keep the law under the Old Covenant. However, the central theme of John’s message was that the Messiah is coming, and He will set up His Kingdom as promised.  The religious leaders’ view was that this would happen by obeying the Old Covenant.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Matthew 3:7

C. Preparing the Way

He talks about the religious system upon which wrath is coming.  The wrath John is referring to is the Great Tribulation, as prophesied by Jesus in Matthew 24:34, which would happen to that generation in 66-70CE, destroying Jerusalem:

For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be

Matthew 24:21

Therefore, John was preparing the way for the end of the Old Covenant and then the new birth that would come through the New Covenant.

John’s message to the Jewish leaders was:  

4.  Jesus Starts His Earthly Ministry- “Repent and Believe.”

Here is the second biblical mention of the word repent.

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Mark 1:15

Do you notice something powerful here? There is no message of ‘godly sorrow’ or of weighing people down with guilt and shame over their sins! It is simply, “Change the way you think and believe the gospel.” The gospel is about the Kingdom that is now in us, as we discovered in God’s Kingdom Here NOW.

5. Jesus’ Last Evangelism was without Preaching Repentance.

While Jesus was on the cross, a criminal next to Him was already soft-hearted toward God. As a result, Jesus did not include repentance in His message. His entrance into the family of God is based simply on his faith:

But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Luke 23:40-43

6.  Jesus Preached the Gospel, Which Means Good News.

Before I preach, I ask myself, “Is my message excellent news?”

As followers of Jesus, we are to do the same works he did.  Heal the sick, cast out demons, raise the dead and tell people to sin no more.

We only see Jesus rebuking the religious people for their sins.  He did not turn them away whenever anybody sincerely came to Him with a need.

Remember, we learnt that the Kingdom of God came when Jesus sat down at the right hand of the Father. In our study, God’s Kingdom is here now.

Some Christians expect new believers to immediately show godly sorrow as evidence of repentance.  And unless they do, they are not born-again, which is not a requirement of the born-again experience.

7.  Repentance and Godly Sorrow

Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.

2 Corinthians 7:9

A. Case-Specific Godly Sorrow

The scripture reference above is addressed to a church that was approving of sexual immorality.

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife!

In the first letter to the Corinthian church, Paul confronted believers who were straying from the truth. Some were in an incestuous relationship that even unbelievers would consider wrong. Moreover, the Corinthian church was not repentant but rather proud and eager to show unconditional “love.”

Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted, but the world’s sorrow produces death.

2 Corinthians 7:10

B. Repentance by Leadership

Church leadership’s expectation of repentance is different from the experience of a new believer being born again. In this instance, Paul was expecting to see godly sorrow from the Corinthian leadership. There is no biblical evidence that godly sorrow is a requirement for new believers.

 
C. Will People Have Godly Sorrow Before They Are Born Again?

Yes, absolutely, some will, because the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin. But that doesn’t mean that every person will show evidence of godly sorrow until after they are born again. And remember that “godly sorrow” was for the Corinthian church leadership for not addressing the sexual sin within the church.

8. The First Gospel Message Preached to the Gentiles Did Not Mention Repentance:

Please refer to Biblical Evangelism of Gentiles for a complete study.

9. The First Apostolic Message to the Jews Included the Word ‘Repent’

One of the most commonly used scriptures in evangelism today is the account of the Apostle Peter’s preaching on the day of Pentecost. But we need to remember who Peter is preaching to at that particular time.

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Acts 2:36

He was talking primarily to the Jews who had just crucified their Messiah.

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
For the promise is to you, your children, and all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

Acts 2:38-39

They needed to change their thinking (repent) because Jesus recently nailed the Old Covenant to the cross:

Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that were against us, which were contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

Colossians 2:14

The New Covenant is now in effect for those who believe it. Repentance required a complete change in the way that they thought.
Let us change how we think about sin, sickness, and torment through kingdom thinking. We should not look for sin in our lives unless God brings it to light. All we have to do is confess our sins, and He will forgive and FORGET them—we need to forgive ourselves and forget them once we have disclosed them. That may require repentance for some of us!

10. Repentance from Dead Works

In Hebrews 6, we find that repentance from dead works is one of the elementary truths:

Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

Hebrews 6:1

However, we need to read this in context. The whole book of Hebrews addresses Jewish believers who were still trying to keep the Old Covenant requirements. So the writer to the Hebrews (probably Paul) explains the superiority of faith in Jesus versus the law, angels, Moses, and the priesthood. Furthermore, he refers to the Old Covenant’s faultiness and the establishment of the New Covenant. He also teaches the superiority of faith in the letter to the Hebrews. So we need to have a closer look at the six elementary truths in total:

Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

Hebrews 6:1-2

We notice that the word AND compares faith to those of dead works. 

The finished work he is referring to is the law.  Paul wrote the entire letter to the Hebrews to encourage the Jewish believers to leave Jerusalem, because the Great Tribulation is about to start in a few years. 

Therefore, Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.

Hebrews 13:12-14

He says this because the sacrifices are no longer pleasing to God, Jesus has replaced the High Priest, and the temple is just a reflection of the Heavenly Temple. 

Moreover, the Old Covenant is faulty, and there is a New Covenant in place, which is the reason why Jesus died.

11. Change the Way you Think (Repent) about your Lifestyle

We need to change how we think about every aspect of our lives. Because it affects the way we speak, view ourselves, and treat others. Moreover, we need to change the way we think about sin, lying, thieving, addictions, and inappropriate relationships. 

Notice how it starts with changing the way you think; repentance!

12. Fruitfulness in the Kingdom is the Sign of True Repentance

The evidence of repentance is good fruit.

Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

Luke 3:8

A.  General Jewish Population – Be Generous to the Poor

So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?” He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”

Luke 3:10-11

A fruit of repentance is a change in our thinking regarding finances. For example, Jesus says if you have a surplus, you should share it with those who have none. 

B.  Jewish Tax Collectors – Do Not Steal.

And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”

Luke 3:13

The tax collectors were Jews working for King Herod and the Romans, stealing from people, exploiting the populace’s lack of mathematical skills.

C. Jewish Soldiers – Do Not Manipulate or Intimidate

Likewise, the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”

Luke 3:14

Some people think that this means John was also talking to the Gentiles. However, it does not say Roman soldiers – just soldiers. I like what John Gill’s Exposition says on the topic:

Some think these were Gentile soldiers, since it does not look so likely that the Romans would employ Jews as soldiers in their own country; though it is more probable that they were Jews, in the pay of the Romans, who belonged to Herod, tetrarch of Galilee, or to Philip of Ituraea, whose dominions lay near the place where John was: since it is certain, that many of the Jews betook themselves to a military life; and seeing John instructed them in no part of natural or revealed religion, but what was suitable to their character and employment

John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible:

D. Jewish Soldiers – False Accusations

Likewise, the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”

Luke 3:14

E. Jewish Soldiers – Financial Contentment.

Likewise, the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”

Luke 3:14

A simpler lifestyle, not chasing after getting money as your priority, is evidence of repentance.

It is interesting to ponder the things God hates – and falsely accusing is one of them.

These six things the LORD hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.

Proverbs 6:16-19

13. Preaching Repentance Is a Valuable Mass Crusade Message

Repentance is not essential to our gospel message. Most of Jesus’ messages on repentance were directed to the Jewish people, who were about to face divine judgement for rejecting both the prophets and the Son of God. This does not mean that repentance should not be preached to the Gentiles.

“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.

Acts 26:19-20

During one-on-one encounters, Jesus and the apostles did not always emphasise repentance in terms of sin. This scripture confirms what Jesus and John taught: “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand”. In other words we do works befitting kingdom truths.

However, in a crusade situation, there will always be individuals who require a clear message that they must change their thinking and lifestyle through works befitting repentance.

14. Using Repentance in Your Gospel Message.

I use repentance carefully in my crusades. The gospel is good news, so when using ‘to repent’, I am careful to define it, explaining that it means to ”change the way you think”. I talk about sin and its consequences – examples of broken relationships, loneliness, despair, and worry. The purpose of repentance is to bring liberty to the person because sin always has consequences. Everybody is aware of the consequences of sin. However, repentance is unnecessary for every person to be born again, as we saw with Cornelius in the Biblical Evangelism of Gentiles. 

A. Focus on what we will be ‘saved from’ when we repent.  

The focus may need to be on the individual’s illness and their perspective on God’s goodness. Alternatively, they may need to re-evaluate their understanding of torment and seek Jesus’s deliverance. Sin may be the central issue for them, in which case Jesus is the solution. The belief in Jesus is essential for the removal of sin.

Please look at Transformation Through Salvation for further teaching on these subjects. 

B. Focus on Becoming A Son or Daughter of God

If we have been a Christian a while then our mind will think that Jesus came to save us from our sins. However that is not the real reason why Jesus came. He came for God to have sons and daughters, Jesus will have a Bride, and the Holy Spirit will have Temples to dwell in.

just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

Ephesians 1:4-5

We have separate teaching on this cornerstone teaching: The Fellowship of the Mystery of His Will.

So repentance is not just about sin, it is about changing the way we think about the Kingdom of God and about ourselves and others.

© Use by Permission Awakening Impact Ministries/ Dr Neville Westerbeek van Eerten D. Miss. BVSc 2026