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236 ♦ Bible Writers' Theology Chapter Eight
righteousness to be revealed (Iseiiah 56:1). He decleired, "That was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9). The Psalmist lamented, "Oh Aat the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice,
and Israel shall be glad" (Psalm 14:7). Paul added that true Israel are those, including the Gentiles, who would receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Galatians 6:16).
8.7 Repentance
A Definition of Repentance
Repentance is based on a feeling of godly sorrow for the evil we have done. However, it is more than sorrow. The Greek word "metanoe" is trans lated in die IQV as "repent", and means "to think differently about some thing or to have a change of mind, c h a n ^ of heart and will, and change of self and purpose in life." Repentance offers a sinner the opportunity to
experience sorrow and contrition for his sins, to confess his sins to God, to forsake his sinful past, to submit himself humbly to God, and to appreciate the atoning death on the cross of Jesus Christ for both original and acted sins. Moreover, repentance leads the person to be baptized in Jesus' Name and receive the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38; Matthew 3:8-12).
To those convicted of their sins, the apostles commanded them, "Repent, and be baptized in die name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, andreceivethegiftoftheHolyGhost" (Acts2:38). Petergavethissamecom mand to a group in Jerusedem, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out," (Acts 3:19).
Faidi, repentance, and water baptism with the infilling of the Holy Ghost flow together to effect salvation. In Acts 8:22, Peter told Simon the Sorcerer, "Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thou^t of thine heart may be forgiven thee." When a sinner turns his heart from sin by true repentance, he touches the'heart of God and forgive ness comes to his life. Repentance is also turning away from idol worship to
the worship of one true living God (I Thessalonians 1:10; Acts 26:20). We are told to do works worthy of repentance (Acts 26:20; Matthew 3:7-11).
B Repentance is Death to Sin
Paul, in Romans 6:2, describes repentance: "How shall we, that are dead
tosin,liveanylonger therein?" Here Paulisidentifying repentance with the death of Christ. Just as Christ is crucified on the cross, our old man must be crucifiedandputtodeathsothatitwillnottobeabletosin2mymore. The Greekword"apothnesko"istranslatedto"dieoff". Whentheoldmanwith