Page 528 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

REPENTANCE

defined repentance as “a change of mind that results in a sin and idols. Surely, no one thinks that God would have
change of action.” The Bible’s examples of repentance been satisfied if they had merely changed their minds
show a clear change in people’s behavior. The change without changing their actions.
itself does not save us from sin, but it is the fruit of Ezekiel 18:30. “Therefore I will judge you, O house of
salvation. Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord
Exodus 13:17. “And it came to pass, when Pharaoh GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your
had let the people go, that God led them not through the transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.” Again,
way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; repentance is defined as turning from sin and idols.
for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when Jonah 3:5-8. “So the people of Nineveh believed God,
they see war, and they return to Egypt.” God led Israel and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the
through the wilderness rather than through the land of greatest of them even to the least of them. For word came
the Philistines “lest peradventure the people repent unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne,
when they see war, and they return to Egypt.” God knew and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with
that their change of mind would result in a change of sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be
action. In this instance, a change of mind without the proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree
resulting change of action would have been of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor
meaningless. Repentance is defined in this verse as beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed,
turning. nor drink water: But let man and beast be covered with
Judges 21:1, 6, 14. “And the children of Israel repented sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn
them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is
tribe cut off from Israel this day.” The men of Israel had in their hands.” The word repentance is not used in the
sworn that they would not give any of their daughters Jonah passage, but in Matthew 12:31 Jesus said they
as wives for the Benjamites, but they repented and gave repented. The repentance of the people of Nineveh was
them wives (vv. 6, 14). Again, the change of mind witnessed in their actions. True repentance is always
without the resulting change of action would have been observable by a change in one’s manner of living.
meaningless. Matthew 3:1, 8. “And saying, Repent ye: for the
1 Kings 8:47-48. “Yet if they shall bethink themselves kingdom of heaven is at hand. ... Bring forth therefore
in the land whither they were carried captives, and fruits meet for repentance.” John the Baptist defined
REPENT, and make supplication unto thee in the land of repentance as a change in life. He demanded “fruits
them that carried them captives, SAYING, WE HAVE meet for repentance,” which obviously meant that he
SINNED, AND HAVE DONE PERVERSELY, we have wanted to see some evidence that they had repented,
committed wickedness; And so RETURN UNTO THEE before he would baptize them. The specific changes of
WITH ALL THEIR HEART, AND WITH ALL THEIR SOUL, action are listed in the parallel passage of Lk. 3:8-14.
in the land of their enemies, which led them away captive, The various kinds of people had to show different
and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou gavest changes of action, because their particular sins had been
unto their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and different.
the house which I have built for thy name.” God promised Matthew 9:13. “But go ye and learn what that
that if captive Israel would repent He would hear them. meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not
He defined repentance as acknowledging their wickedness come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
and turning to God with the whole heart. Jesus defined repentance as a sinner changing his
Job 42:6. “Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in attitude to sin.
dust and ashes.” Here, again, we see that repentance is a Matthew 11:20-21. “Then began he to upbraid the
change of mind that results in a change of action. cities wherein most of his mighty works were done,
Obviously, the dust and ashes were a change of action. because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe
Jeremiah 8:6. “I hearkened and heard, but they spake unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were
not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would
saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.” Christ
as the horse rusheth into the battle.” Repentance is defined repentance as a dramatic change in one’s
defined as acknowledging and turning from sin. attitude toward God and His Word. He said this change
Ezekiel 14:6. “Therefore say unto the house of Israel, of mind is evidenced by a change in action.
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves Matthew 12:41. “The men of Nineveh shall rise in
from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it:
abominations.” God defined repentance as turning from because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and,

528 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity