What is the Meaning of Repentance?

The words “repent,” “repentance,” and “repented” are mentioned over 100 times in the Bible. Repentance is part and parcel of salvation. A person cannot be saved until he or she repents. Salvation cannot be given by God apart from the sinner’s repentance.

The meaning of repentance is found in the Hebrew and Greek words for repent. The Hebrew Old Testament word for repent is shuvah or t’shuvah and literally means “turn, to turn, or return.” This involves making a U-turn on the road of life—a complete 180 degree turn towards God and away from one’s sinful self. The command to return or repent appears some 32 times in the OT (Deuteronomy 30:2; Jeremiah 15:19; Malachi 3:7).

The New Testament Greek word mainly used for repentance is metanoia and means, “to change one’s mind and think differently about God, sin, and the need for Jesus Christ. Repentance is a change of mind that results in a changed lifestyle from sin to holiness, from unbelief to faith in Jesus Christ, from selfishness to a selfless service for God. Repentance includes the element of deep sorrow over sin against God.

Repentance means an admission of guilt and confession of sin to God that produces a complete change of direction in life by the Spirit of God that convicts and enables the repentant sinner to turn to God in faith toward Jesus Christ. Repentance is essential to saving faith. Thus, those who believe in Jesus Christ for salvation will repent; and those who truly repent of sin will trust in Christ.

Repentance is an indispensable part of salvation in Scripture. This is why John the Baptist and Jesus urgently commanded people to repent in order to bring a real change of life in loving, serving, and obeying God. Repentance is mandated for entrance into God’s kingdom (Matthew 3:2; Mark 1:14-15). Matthew 4:17 tells us that true repentance will bear the fruits of a changed life devoted to God (e.g., Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10). To repent means to be acutely aware of your own guilt and sinfulness before God (Psalm 51:4-10; 109:21-22). Hence, to repent involves confession of sin to God and belief in the Gospel of Jesus Christ at the same time (Mark 1:15).

Real repentance will produce by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit a transformed life from living an ungodly life to living a godly life devoted to Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 4:28). Repentance is a turning away from sin and disobedience to an abiding trust and obedience to God (1Thessalonians 1:4). Real repentance is a change of attitude and mind agreeing with God’s view on sin and the need for salvation in Jesus Christ. The attitude of the repentant sinner is truly expressed in the penitential plea of the publican in Luke 18:13—“God be merciful to me, a sinner.” The believer should live a life of daily repentance because in “many things we offend all” and fall short of God’s perfect standard (James 3:2).

Christians can ask God directly to forgive them with the assurance from His Word the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross cleanses from all sin (1John 1:7-10). Repentance is a necessary part of salvation. Jesus made repentance a part of preaching the Gospel to the nations in Luke 24:47. The need for repentance is seen throughout the book of Acts (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 11:17; 17:30; 26:20). Repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin. Repentance is not a work we do to earn salvation. Repentance is given by God and made possible by His grace (Acts 5:31; 11:18). Repentance is God’s kindness given to sinners so that they may trust in Jesus to be saved (Romans 2:5).

God commands all people should repent (Acts 17:30). Jesus said unless sinners repent they will all likewise perish (Luke 13:5)! So repent and trust in Jesus Christ for salvation so you will not perish!