Page 525 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

REPENTANCE

require evidence thereof. Repentance was preached by penitent. The four parts of penance are confession,
John the Baptist (Mt. 3:1-10), by Jesus Christ (Mt. 4:17; contrition, absolution, and satisfaction. The satisfaction
9:13; 11:20-21; Lk. 13:2-5; 15:7, 10; 24:46-48), by refers to various duties prescribed by the priest, such as
Christ’s disciples (Mk. 6:12), by Peter (Acts 2:38; 3:19; praying the Rosary. Satisfaction is defined by the
5:31; 8:22-23), and by Paul (Acts 17:30; 20:20-21; authoritative Addis and Arnold Catholic Dictionary as “a
26:20). The Bible says that God is “longsuffering to us- payment of the temporal punishment due to sin through
ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all works which are good and penal and are imposed by the
should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). There is no confessor.”
Bible example of people being saved who did not This is not biblical repentance. Sinners are not
evidence a change of life. The Apostle Paul, reviewing commanded to go to priests for forgiveness. They are
his ministry before King Agrippa, noted that he went not told to confess their sins to a priest or to do good
about preaching to Jews and Gentiles “that they should works with the hope that their sins will thereby be
repent and turn to God, and do works meet for forgiven. All of the elements of Catholic penance are
repentance” (Acts 26:20). This is exactly the message unscriptural.
we are to preach today. Repentance is not mere remorse for wrong actions. The
What Repentance Is Not Bible tells us that men can be remorseful about their
Repentance is not mere human reformation. Men have actions without exercising genuine repentance unto
the ability to reform their own lives in some sense. It is salvation. This is described as the “sorrow of the world”
not uncommon for men who have gotten into trouble to in 2 Co. 7:10. There are key examples of this in the Old
come to their senses and to change their ways. and the New Testaments. King Saul is the prime Old
Drunkards have stopped drinking; wife beaters have Testament example. He was sorry that he got caught in
ceased from their violence; thieves have become honest various sinful acts, but he did not demonstrate
citizens; harlots have turned from a life of infamy. This repentance because his actions did not change (1 Sa.
in itself is not biblical repentance. 15:24; 24:17; 26:21). Judas is the fearful New
First of all, reformation is man-centered and this- Testament example of a man who was remorseful but
world-centered; whereas repentance is God-centered did not repent toward God (Mt. 27:3-4). Like
and eternity-centered. The man who merely reforms has reformation, remorse is man-centered rather than God-
his eyes on the people he has offended and the centered. Those who repent change their mind about
consequences of his actions in his present life. The their relationship with God and this results in a change
gospel, on the other hand, calls for “repentance toward in the way they live. Judas regretted his actions, but he
God…” (Acts 20:21). The Prodigal Son’s repentance was did not turn to God.
demonstrated by his change of attitude toward God as Repentance is not mere confession of or
well as toward his father. “I will arise and go to my acknowledgement of sin. Repentance is also not mere
father, and will say unto him, Father, I HAVE SINNED acknowledgement of sin. Pharaoh did this, but he did
AGAINST HEAVEN, and before thee” (Luke 15:18). not repent toward God and his actions did not change
Furthermore, reformation is problem-centered, (Exodus 9:27). While working in a county jail ministry
whereas repentance is sin-centered. The man who for several years, I saw many men and women who
reforms his life looks upon his actions as problems and acknowledged that they had sinned, but most of those
faults, but not as wicked sin against a holy God. Those did not exercise repentance toward God and faith in the
who repent, on the other hand, confess that they have Lord Jesus Christ.
SINNED against God. They do not soft-peddle their sin. Repentance is not merely changing from unbelief to
This is why it is crucial that people be taught plainly belief. The late Pastor Jack Hyles, First Baptist Church,
what sin is from the Bible. To tell people that they have Hammond, Indiana, who was an influential
sinned is not enough, because the sinner does not independent Baptist preacher, defines repentance to
naturally think of himself as truly evil. He will admit mean turning from unbelief to belief. He stated this in
that he has faults, problems, weaknesses, lack of self- his 1993 book, The Enemies of Soul Winning. One
esteem, etc., but this is not the same as admitting that chapter is titled “Misunderstood Repentance: An Enemy
he is a wicked and undone sinner before God. of Soul Winning.” He builds his doctrine of repentance
Repentance is not penance. Many Catholic Bibles largely on human reasoning: since unbelief is the only
translate “repentance” as “do penance,” according to sin that sends men to hell (so he claimed), unbelief is
Catholic theology that replaces biblical repentance with the only sin that must be repented of. That sounds
a sacramental duty. Penance is a Catholic sacrament reasonable, but it is contrary to the clear example and
whereby sins “done after baptism” are absolved by the teaching of the Word of God. Biblical repentance as
priest upon the confession and good deeds of the preached by John the Baptist, the Lord Jesus Christ, and

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