1. Introduction
Repentance lies at the centre of biblical faith. Both Testaments declare that restoration to God begins not with ritual but with an inward turning of the heart. In Hebrew thought the verb שׁוּב (shûb) means “to turn back,” while the Greek μετάνοια (metanoia) literally means “a change of mind.” Together they describe a decisive moral and spiritual transformation: a movement away from sin and towards divine fellowship (Morris 1992; Erickson 2013).
2. Definition and Nature of Repentance
Biblical repentance is more than emotion; it is a comprehensive change of intellect, will, and behaviour. It includes:
- Recognition of Sin – awareness of separation from God (Isa 6:5; Rom 3:23).
- Sorrow and Confession – acknowledgement of guilt (Ps 51:3–4; 1 John 1:9).
- Turning and Conversion – abandoning the old way for the new (Acts 3:19; 26:20).
- Renewal and Obedience – living consistently with the new direction (Matt 3:8).
Thus repentance is both event and process: an initial conversion followed by continual alignment of life with God’s will.
3. Repentance in the Old Testament
The prophetic call “Return to the LORD your God” (Hos 14:1) dominates Israel’s covenant story.
- David expresses genuine repentance in Psalm 51, appealing not to merit but to mercy: “Create in me a clean heart, O God” (v. 10).
- Nineveh demonstrates collective repentance in Jonah 3 — fasting, prayer, and behavioural reform. God’s response, “He relented from the disaster” (Jon 3:10), illustrates divine compassion towards authentic turning.
- Ezekiel proclaims, “Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so iniquity shall not be your ruin” (18:30).
For Israel, repentance restored covenant fellowship and averted judgment.
4. Repentance in the New Testament
The New Testament intensifies the theme:
| Voice | Key Text | Emphasis |
|---|---|---|
| John the Baptist | Matt 3:2 | “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” – moral readiness for God’s reign. |
| Jesus Christ | Mark 1:15 | The first word of His public ministry: repentance joined with faith in the gospel. |
| Apostles | Acts 2:38; 3:19 | Repentance leads to forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit. |
Repentance is inseparable from faith: turning from sin and unbelief is simultaneously turning toward Christ (Acts 20:21).
5. Case Studies of Genuine Repentance
a. David (Psalm 51)
- Deep personal sorrow and confession (“Against You only have I sinned”).
- Desire for internal renewal rather than external relief.
- Outcome: restored joy and testimony to others (Ps 51:12–13).
b. The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:17–24)
- Recognition of folly: “He came to himself.”
- Confession: “I have sinned against heaven.”
- Action: returning to the father.
- Result: restoration and celebration — symbol of divine grace.
c. The People of Nineveh (Jonah 3)
- Collective repentance from greatest to least.
- Tangible acts (fasting, sackcloth) showing sincerity.
- God’s mercy demonstrates the universal scope of repentance.
Each narrative moves from awareness → confession → change → restoration.
6. Theological Dimensions
| Dimension | Explanation | Scriptural Witness |
|---|---|---|
| Intellectual | Recognition of truth about sin and God. | Luke 15:17; Rom 3:20 |
| Emotional | Godly sorrow that produces change. | 2 Cor 7:10 |
| Volitional | Determined turning of the will. | Acts 26:20 |
| Moral-Spiritual | Re-orientation of life towards holiness. | 1 Thess 1:9 |
True repentance therefore integrates mind, emotion, and will under divine conviction by the Holy Spirit (John 16:8).
7. Distinguishing Repentance from Remorse
Paul clarifies that “godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation”, whereas “worldly sorrow produces death” (2 Cor 7:10). Godly sorrow is oriented toward God’s holiness; worldly sorrow is self-centred and bound to the consequences of sin. The difference between Peter’s tears (Luke 22:62) and Judas’s remorse (Matt 27:3–5) exemplifies this contrast.
8. Repentance as Ongoing Transformation
While repentance begins at conversion, Scripture portrays it as a continual discipline:
- Daily confession and renewal (1 John 1:9).
- Sensitivity to the Spirit’s conviction (Eph 4:30).
- Growth in moral likeness to Christ (Rom 12:2).
Calvin (1559/1960) described repentance as “a turning of life unto God, proceeding from a pure and earnest fear of Him, and it consists in the mortification of our flesh and the quickening of the Spirit.”
9. Conclusion
True repentance is not a transient emotion but a decisive re-orientation of life. It unites confession, faith, and obedience in response to divine grace. The repentant person does not merely regret sin’s outcome but embraces God’s transforming mercy. Every genuine turning of the heart is a step from death to life, from alienation to communion, and from despair to joy.
References
- Calvin, J. (1960) Institutes of the Christian Religion, trans. F.L. Battles. Philadelphia: Westminster Press. (Orig. 1559).
- Erickson, M.J. (2013) Christian Theology. 3rd edn. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.
- Morris, L. (1992) The Cross in the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
- Stott, J.R.W. (1986) The Cross of Christ. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press.
- Vine, W.E. (1996) Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.