True Repentance

Matthew 4:17
P. G. Mathew | Sunday, December 29, 2019
Copyright © 2019, P. G. Mathew
Language [Japanese]

Introduction

True repentance is a divine gift to every elect sinner. It is the result of regeneration, a divine, monergistic work. “Monergistic” means God alone works regeneration. At the same time, repentance is a human responsibility. Where true repentance is, there is also saving faith. Saving faith is also a gift from God, yet it is our responsibility to believe in Jesus Christ and be saved.

There are people who call themselves true believers who deny any need for repentance. And there are “Christians” who reject the need for the obedience of faith, about which we read about in Romans 1:5: “Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.” And in Romans 6:16 we read, “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” Righteousness is doing what is right in the sight of God. Friends, I have news for you: Everyone obeys either the devil or the triune God.

Truly saved people live daily by repentance and the obedience of faith. In Hebrews 5:9 we read, “and, once made perfect, [Jesus] became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him” (see also Acts 5:32; 2 Timothy 3:16–17). Obedience to Jesus Christ is not optional; it is mandatory. True Christians will obey Jesus.

In the Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 15, section 2, we read about repentance, “By [repentance], a sinner, out of the sight and sense not only of the danger but also of the filthiness and odiousness of his sins, as contrary to the holy nature, and righteous law of God; and upon the apprehension of his mercy in Christ to such as are penitent, so grieves for, and hates his sins, as to turn from them all unto God, purposing and endeavoring to walk with him in all the ways of his commandments.”

And in the Westminster Shorter Catechism, Question 87, we read, “What is repentance unto life?” The answer is, “Repentance unto life is a saving grace, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, doth, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpose of, and endeavor after, new obedience.”

I say, cursed are those who say, “No repentance is necessary for salvation.” I say, cursed are those who add to the Scripture or subtract from the Scripture or misinterpret the Scripture. Consider the following:

Revelation 22:18–19: “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”
2 Corinthians 11:13–15: “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”
Galatians 1:8: “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned [anathema]!”

I. The Bible Commands Us to Repent

When the Bible commands us, God himself is commanding us. Though he may speak through our parents or our pastors, God himself commands us to repent. Consider the following:

The prophets spoke about repentance. Isaiah 55:7: “Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.”
John the Baptist spoke about repentance. Matthew 3:2: “[John the Baptist came] saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.’”
Jesus spoke about repentance. Matthew 4:17: “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.’”
God spoke about repentance. Acts 17:30: [Paul declared,] “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now [God] commands all people everywhere to repent.”
The apostles spoke about repentance. Mark 6:12: “They went out and preached that people should repent.”
Peter spoke about repentance. Acts 2:38: “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”
Paul spoke about repentance. Acts 20:21: “I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.”

II. The Meaning of True Repentance

The Hebrew word used in the Old Testament is “shuv,” which means “to turn from sin and the devil, and to turn to righteousness.”
In the New Testament, we find the Greek words metanoeô and metanoia used a total of fifty-six times. They mean “to have a change of thinking, willing, and feeling, and a change of doing.”
The word “attrition” characterizes worldly sorrow, not godly sorrow, for loss of temporal blessings. Though tears may stream out, it is not true repentance. It is the false repentance of the rich young ruler (Luke 18:18), Judas (Matt. 27), and Esau (Heb. 12:17).
True repentance is characterized by “contrition,” in which the person hates his sin and loves doing righteousness. We see it exemplified in Peter, who “went outside and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:62). It is also exemplified by the prodigal son (Luke 15:17–21).

Regeneration is necessary for repentance because a sinner is dead in sins and trespasses (Eph. 2:1–3; Jer. 17:9). In Romans 1:28 we read, “Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, [God] gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.” Sinners are dead and depraved. Isaiah speaks about such people in Isaiah 5:20: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.”

Repentance is a radical transformation of thought, attitude, outlook, and direction of one’s life. John Murray, professor of systematic theology, says it is a “revolution” produced by regeneration of the Holy Spirit, a revolution from sin to Christ our Lord. David hated his sin, and loved God and righteousness (Pss. 32 and 51). Peter denied Jesus three times. Yet he repented truly and was later crucified for his love for Jesus.

Truly repenting people make a 180-degree change from sin to good works. The prodigal son went back to his father, confessed his sins, received forgiveness, and lived under the father’s rule. His was a 180-degree change. True repentance must be proved by our actions. Consider the following:

Acts 26:20: Paul said, “First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.”
Ephesians 4:28: “He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.”
Psalm 119:128: “Because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path.”
2 Corinthians 7:10–11: “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.”

III. Repentance Is a Divine Gift, But There Is Also Human Responsibility

Repentance is a divine gift. Consider the following:

Acts 2:37: “When the people heard [the gospel], they were cut to the heart [by the Holy Spirit] and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’”
Acts 5:31: “God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.”
Romans 2:4: “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?”
2 Timothy 2:25: “Those who oppose [the pastor] he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth.”

But true repentance is also a human responsibility. Consider the following:

Acts 2:38: “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”
Acts 3:19: “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”

Repentance and saving faith are God’s gifts to the regenerate. The regenerate person will repent and believe in Jesus. Where repentance is, there is saving faith. (PGM) They are two sides of the same coin. On the one side, there is turning from sin in godly sorrow; on the other side, there is turning to God with obedience of faith to do good works.

Repentance and faith are negative and positive sides of conversion. The negative side says “No” to sin and the devil. The positive side says “Yes” to God and to his word. Believers do this by the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells every true Christian. So we read:

Ephesians 3:20–21: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
Colossians 1:29: “To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy [the Holy Spirit], which so powerfully works in me” (see also Romans 8:11–14). John Calvin said, in essence, “What God requires of us in his word, he also enables us by the Holy Spirit to do.” I have found out that it is true. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot do anything. The Holy Spirit dwells in us and will help us to do what is right in the sight of God in the Scriptures.

IV. Christ Builds His Church and He Is in His Church Right Now

Matthew 16:18: “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
Matthew 18:20: “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”

Jesus is in his church, which he builds. He walks about and know what everyone is doing. He sees those who are sinning and commands them to repent (Rev. 2:5, 16; 2:22–23; 3:3, 19).

Who is this Jesus? In Revelation 1:12–18 we read:

I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”

We have a very poor understanding of who Jesus is. He is given all authority in heaven and on earth. He is Lord and Savior. He is Judge. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. He commands us to stop sinning and start bearing fruit of righteousness in obedience to the baptismal confession, “Jesus is my Lord; therefore, I am his obedient slave.”

Cursed is the gospel minister who will not preach true repentance and obedience. Such a preacher is devoid of Scripture and the Holy Spirit. He is not sent by Christ, as a true minister is. In Romans 10:13–17 we read of a true, God-sent minister:

for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

King Manasseh, the worst king of Judah, repented and received mercy from God. In 2 Chronicles 33:12–13 we read, “In his distress, he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.”

God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Consider the publican, whom we read about in Luke 18: “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ [Jesus said,] “I tell you that this man, rather than the [proud Pharisee], went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:13–14).

May God help us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. May God help us to have a true understanding of who Christ Jesus is, for salvation is of the Lord alone. No one can save us but the Lord Jesus Christ.

Through regeneration, God makes a bad tree into a good tree to bear the good fruit of righteousness. But not all people are regenerated. In the parable of the sower, there are four soils, which represent types of people (Matt. 13; Mark 4; Luke 8). All four soils are in the visible church. In due time, the fruitless first three soil people will leave Christ’s holy church, which he is building. They leave to sin. In 1 John 2:19 we read, “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.”

Let me warn you: Jesus himself fights with the unrepentant, and he always wins. I counsel you, repentance is the best policy.

Jesus will have a holy church. Without holiness, no one will see the Lord, as we read in Hebrews 12:14: “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

We read in 1 Peter 1:14–16 that we were once children of disobedience, children of the devil. In John 8:44, Jesus said, “Your father is the devil. . . . He was a murderer from the beginning . . . he is a liar and the father of lies.” In Ephesians 2:2 we find the same idea in the Greek text: “in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air [the devil], the spirit who is now at work in [the sons of disobedience].” But God makes sons of disobedience, sons of the devil, into children of obedience to God. This is what conversion is. So in 1 Peter 1:14, the Greek text reads, “[As children of obedience], do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.” It is true that our father used to be the devil. But now our Father is God the Father, so we repent and obey God.

Jonah rebelled against God. He was thrown into the sea, and a big fish swallowed him. And in the fish, he repented. “Sweet” Jesus knows how to make us repent. He knows how to make a whip to discipline us. In 1 Corinthians 11:30 we read, “That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.” Thank God, he gives us time to repent.

But if we do not repent:

Revelation 2:5 says that the Lord Christ will remove the unrepentant, maybe by death.
Revelation 2:16 says that he will come and fight with the sword of his mouth.
Revelation 2:23 says that he will come to strike your children dead.
Revelation 3:3 says that he will come like a thief when you least expect him to come.
Revelation 3:19 says that he will come to rebuke and discipline us.

Some people in the church may never repent. They are like the first three soils. We read about such people in Revelation 9:20–21, “The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.”

Their end will be eternal destruction, as we read in Matthew 25:41: “Then [Jesus] will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”

If God is convicting you now by his word, obey Proverbs 28:13, which says, “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” Do not conceal your sins. Instead, confess your sins, forsake them, and receive mercy.

In 2 Chronicles 7:14 we read, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God. Have a very high view of God. The Westminster Shorter Catechism, question 4, asks, “What is God?” The answer is: “God is a spirit—infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.” There is nothing infinite other than God; there is nothing eternal other than God. When we understand theology, we will fear and tremble and do what is right in the sight of God.

V. Aspects of True Repentance

Repentance is a gift of God to elect sinners (Acts 3:26; Acts 5:31). With this gift, we will repent truly as the prodigal son did.
This repentance is unto eternal life. In Acts 11:18 we read, “When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, ‘So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.’”
Godly repentance expresses itself in godly sorrow, turning from sin and turning to God to obey him (2 Cor. 7:10).
This repentance leads to salvation (2 Cor. 7:10).
Worldly sorrow only leads to death (2 Cor. 7:10), as we already spoke about in the case of the rich young ruler and Judas.
True repentance makes one zealous and eager to glorify God (2 Cor. 7:11).
We can see proof of true repentance. In Acts 26:20 we read, “First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.” And in Luke 3:10–11 the crowd asked John the Baptist, “What should we do then?” John told them, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.”
The truly repentant person will give to the poor. Jesus told the rich young ruler, “Sell everything and give to the poor. Then, come and follow me, and you will have treasure in heaven.” He went away sad. (Luke 18). But the publican Zacchaeus in Luke 19:8 said, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor.”
The truly repentant person will make restitution for cheating. In Luke 19:8b, Zacchaeus the publican said, “If I have cheated anybody.” In the Greek it is, “Since I have cheated people.” Then he offered to make restitution: “I will pay back four times the amount.” That is four hundred percent. In other words, Zacchaeus gave half of his wealth to the poor, and the other half to the people he had cheated, and he became nothing. He had nothing, but God took care of him. He did what the rich young ruler failed to do (see also Eph. 4:28).
The truly repentant person will obey the Lord. In Romans 6:1 we read, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?” And in verse 4 we read, “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” We will live a new life, not the old sin-filled life.

Conclusion

Most Christians, including evangelicals, are willfully ignorant of both repentance and saving faith. In Robert Reymond’s book, A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith, Professor Reymond quotes Professor Zane Hodges. This is what he is saying:

Zane Hodges, in order to preserve the free grace of the gospel from what he perceives to be legalism, denies that repentance is necessary for salvation. Hodges declares that it is a ‘mistake’ and ‘an extremely serious matter . . . when repentance is . . . made a condition for eternal life’ (Absolutely Free! A Biblical Reply to Lordship Salvation [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1989], 125, 160). He insists that repentance ‘is not essential to the saving transaction as such,’ and that it is only a condition for fellowship with God (Absolutely Free! 160). Such teaching is incredible, for it means that the impenitent can receive eternal life and be saved even though they never forsake their sin or have any fellowship with God![1]

With such false theology, one can build a big synagogue of Satan (Rev. 3:9). Zane Hodges is declaring that no repentance is necessary for salvation and that the impenitent can receive eternal life on the basis of faith as assensus, not on the basis of fides est fiducia (in essence, trust as obedience). But we agree with the hymnwriter, who said:

Trust and obey, for there is no other way

to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.

There are even Reformed people who say that we can believe in Jesus without demonstrating the obedience of faith. They believe a person can be saved without repenting and without obeying Christ. In essence, they are laughing at verses like the following:

Hebrews 5:9: “and, once made perfect, [Jesus] became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”
Acts 5:29: “Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than men!’”
Acts 5:32: “We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
Matthew 28:20: “and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
Revelation 12:17: “Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring—those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”
These people teach, essentially, “Go and sin more, because ‘we are saved by grace alone’” (Rom. 6:1). Go and sin more.

On the day of judgment, Christ the Judge will say to any who add or subtract from the holy Scripture: “Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you.’” What is Pastor’s translation? “Go to hell!” Jesus then says to them, “Away from me, you evildoers!” (Matt. 7:23). They are antinomians; they are against God’s law.

The Scripture is given to teach us, rebuke us, correct us, and train us to do righteousness, as we read in 2 Timothy 3:16–17: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” This is what Christian parents should do in the home with their children: teach, rebuke, correct, and train them in righteousness.

How important is it that obedience to God’s word should accompany our faith? Consider what Professor Norman Shepherd, who taught at Westminster Theological Seminary, used to quote: “Without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14).[2]

Repentance is a radical change of mind, will, and affections produced by the Holy Spirit. True repentance results in our turning from sin and turning to God to obey him all of life. It is illustrated by the prodigal son who returned to his father, confessing and forsaking his sin that he might live in obedience to his father all his days.

Wherever true repentance is, there will also be the obedience of faith. A Christian lives daily by repentance and faith. Blessed are those who live daily by repentance and obedience of faith in Jesus Christ.

Therefore, if the Holy Spirit is convicting you, cry out, “What must I do to be saved?” And the answer will come: “Repent and be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and you will receive the Holy Spirit” (see Acts 2:37–38). The Philippian jailer thought he was about to die. He cried out, “What must I do to be saved?” What was the answer? “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” He believed night and was baptized that night. May God help us all to repent and believe in Jesus Christ and be saved. “God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21).

[1] Robert L. Reymond, A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith [Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1998], 722n

[2] For more information, read P. Andrew Sandlin and John Barach, ed., Obedient Faith: A Festschrist for Norman Shepherd (Mount Hermon, CA: Kerygma Press, 2012); P. Andrew Sandlin, ed., A Faith That Is Never Alone (LaGrange, CA; Kerygma Press, 2007); Ian A. Hewitson, Trust and Obey (Minneapolis, MN: Next Step Resources, 2011).