A Study on Repentance

You know we are clearly told to repent and believe. As I have recently been dwelling on this I began digging a little deeper on this thing called repentance. The Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms defines repentance as “the act of expressing contrition and penitence for sin. Its linguistic roots point to its theological meaning of a change of mind and life direction as a beginning step of expressing Christian faith.” 

Sounds pretty important if you ask me; but I continued. The word repent in Hebrew is Shuwb and means to return; to turn back with this overarching result of restoring. In Greek, the word is metanoia and means literally to change your mind. I think F. F. Bruce captured all this when he wrote “Repentance (metanoia, 'change of mind') involves a turning with contrition from sin to God; the repentant sinner is in the proper condition to accept the divine forgiveness.” 

I love that! I think we can clearly see the importance and result of repentance in Luke 15. Christ tells us that as we (sinners) repent there is a rejoicing in heaven. He tells us this twice: 

Luke 15:7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-­nine righteous persons who did not need to repent. 

Luke 15:10 – In the same way, I tell you there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. 

So repenting seems to be pretty key and then in the parable of the lost son we see a picture that just for me brings all this together. Luke 15:18-­‐24:

I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son;  make me like one of your hired servants.’  So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it.  Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. 

Can you see it? Can you see the turning from sin to God? Can you see the father heart of God running to us? Can you see the contrition and penitence? Can you see the divine forgiveness? Can you see the restoration? Can you see the celebration? Amen!

Friends, let us all repent and believe!  

Grace and Peace!