Page 531 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

REPENTANCE

change the action. This is one of the strongest proofs in and repented not of their deeds.” These passages say that
Scripture that a change of action must take place, or tribulation sinners will not repent “of their deeds.” Their
there is no repentance.” lack of repentance is connected with their refusal to
2 Peter 3:9. “The Lord is not slack concerning his turn from their evil doings. Repentance is a turning to
promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering God from sin, a change of mind about sin that results in
to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all a change of action.
should come to repentance.” Again, we see that the Bible Illustrations of Repentance
frequently describes salvation in terms of repentance. 1. Repentance is the Prodigal Son coming to himself,
God requires repentance for salvation. confessing his sin against God and his father, and
Revelation 2:5. “Remember therefore from whence returning home. “And when he came to himself, he said,
thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else How many hired servants of my fathers have bread
I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will
candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father,
Repentance obviously involves turning from actions that I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am
are wrong to doing actions that are right. It means to no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of
change one’s mind about a wrong behavior so that one thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father.
determines to change that behavior by God’s grace. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him,
Revelation 2:16. “Repent; or else I will come unto thee and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and
quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my kissed him” (Lk. 15:17-20).
mouth.” The Christians at Pergamos were instructed to 2. Repentance is the Thessalonians turning to God
repent of the sin and error that they were allowing in from idols to serve the living and true God. “For they
the church, which meant they were to turn from the themselves show of us what manner of entering in we
things that Christ mentioned. had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to
Revelation 2:21-22. “And I gave her space to repent of serve the living and true God” (1 Th. 1:9).
her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast 3. Repentance is Zacchaeus turning from corruption
her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her to uprightness. “And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the
into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.” Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the
Christ required that the people “repent of their deeds.” poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by
He surely would not have been satisfied with a change false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said
of mind without a change of action. unto him, This day is salvation come to this house,
Revelation 3:3. “Remember therefore how thou hast forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham” (Lk. 19:8-9).
received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore 4. Repentance is Nebuchadnezzar humbling himself
thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and before God. “Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol
thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are
The repentance Christ required produced a complete truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in
change in attitude and action about specific sin and pride he is able to abase” (Dan. 4:37).
error. 5. Repentance is the Philippian jailer running from
Revelation 9:20-21. “And the rest of the men which his sin to Jesus Christ and becoming a kind helper of
were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the Christians. “And he took them the same hour of the
works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he
and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them
wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced,
repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor believing in God with all his house” (Acts 16:33-34).
of their fornication, nor of their thefts.” From these 6. Repentance is the Christ-rejecting Jews at
verses, we see that repentance that is acceptable before Pentecost turning to Christ and His church. “Then Peter
God is to reject and turn from sin, idolatry, and error. said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of
Revelation 16:9, 11. “And men were scorched with you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,
great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then
power over these plagues: and they repented not to give they that gladly received his word were baptized: and
him glory. And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the the same day there were added unto them about three
seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the
and they gnawed their tongues for pain, And blasphemed apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of
the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:38-42).

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 531