Our English word ‘repentance’ is the translation of a Greek noun that signifies ‘having a change of heart, a change of lifestyle, or a change of direction’.
The Bible uses this expression for someone who is conscious of his rebellion against God and decides to abandon his sinful lifestyle, to return to God and seek his forgiveness.
The biblical characteristics of ‘repentance’ normally include two facets:
1. A turning away from a rebellious lifestyle: (a) remorseful acknowledgment of our wrongdoings, (b) a radical break with our sinful past;
2. A turning towards God: (a) a wholehearted decision to love, obey and follow the Lord whatever the consequences and (b) if necessary, a recompense for injury or loss.
(1a) Repentance: a remorseful acknowledgement of our wrongdoings.
Here follow four of the many biblical examples of remorseful acknowledgement of wrongdoings:
David, king of Israel (ca. 1000 B.C.) sought God's mercy following an extramarital affair, praying: “Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my shameful deeds-- they haunt me day and night.
Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. For I was born a sinner-- yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
But you desire honesty from the heart, so you can teach me to be wise in my inmost being.
Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:1-11).
The prophet Isaiah (ca. 700 B.C.) pleaded with God on behalf of his rebellious people, saying: “You welcome those who cheerfully do good, who follow godly ways. But we are not godly. We are constant sinners, so your anger is heavy on us.
How can people like us be saved? We are all infected and impure with sin. When we proudly display our righteous deeds, we find they are but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall. And our sins, like the wind, sweep us away. Yet no one calls on your name or pleads with you for mercy.
Therefore, you have turned away from us and turned us over to our sins. And yet, LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We are all formed by your hand. Oh, don't be so angry with us, LORD. Please don't remember our sins forever....” (Isaiah 64:5-9 )
Jesus gives an example of repentance in the parable of the rebellious son who left home, wasted all his money on wild living, and ended up in the gutter. “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, 'At home even the hired men have food enough to spare, and here I am, dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, "Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son” (Luke 15:17-19).
Jesus also told the story of a remorseful tax collector, well-known for his corrupt dealings: “The tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, 'O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner” (Luke 18:13).
(1b) Repentance: a radical break with our sinful past.
Many texts in the Bible speak about the necessity of radically breaking with our sinful past if we want to follow Jesus. Here are some examples:
The book of Proverbs warns: “People who cover over their sins will not prosper. But if they confess and forsake them, they will receive mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).
The book of Acts tells the story of people who acknowledged their wrongdoings remorsefully and broke radically with their sinful past: “Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. A number of them who had been practicing magic brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars” (Acts 19:18-19).
The apostle Paul encourages those who want to follow Jesus Christ: “Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.”
(Romans 12:2)
The apostle Paul reminded the followers of Jesus in Ephesus (modern Turkey) of the sinful past they had given up: “Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.
All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God's anger just like everyone else.
But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's special favor that you have been saved!)” (Ephesians 2:1-5).
Later, in the same letter, the apostle urges his readers to stay with their initial decision to abandon their former godless lifestyle: “With the Lord's authority let me say this: Live no longer as the ungodly do, for they are hopelessly confused.
Their closed minds are full of darkness; they are far away from the life of God because they have shut their minds and hardened their hearts against him.
They don't care anymore about right and wrong, and they have given themselves over to immoral ways. Their lives are filled with all kinds of impurity and greed.
But that isn't what you were taught when you learned about Christ.
Since you have heard all about him and have learned the truth that is in Jesus, throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception. Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes...” (Ephesians 4:17-23).
In the next meditation we will continue with the characteristics of biblical ‘repentance’. So hold on!
All Bible verses are quoted from the ‘New Living Translation’ except Luke 9:62 (‘New International Version’).
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