Repentance: What Repentance Is Not

REPENTANCE
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance [2 Peter 3:9]
WHAT REPENTANCE IS NOT

Repentance is not just saying words, expressing emotions, showing emotions about getting
caught, or facing consequences.
It is also not trying to hide or cover up the sin, or blaming others or circumstances for the
sin. Pharaoh said, I have sinned (Ex. 9:27), but when the hail and thunder stopped, he sinned
yet more, and hardened his heart (Ex. 9:34). When the plague of locusts came, Pharaoh said, I
have sinned against the Lord. Now forgive, I pray you, my sin. But Pharaoh hardened his
heart again and did not let the children of Israel go (Ex. 10:16-20).
Judas repented himself (Mat. 27:3) of betraying the Lord, but this was only regret and
remorse about the consequences of his sin, and not for the sin itself. King Saul said, I have
sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words because I feared
the people, and obeyed their voice (I Sam. 15:24, 30). So, he feared the punishment and
humiliation of sin and blamed the people rather than repenting from the heart of the sin itself.
Esau was upset and wept about not receiving his inheritance, but he was not repentant about
selling the birthright for food (Heb. 12:17). Instead of taking responsibility for their sin, Adam
and Eve tried to avoid its results by covering up, hiding, and blaming others (Gen. 3:7-13).
WHAT IS REPENTANCE?
Repentance, or metanoia in the Greek, is usually defined as a turning around, or a change in

attitude and purpose that involves the intellect, emotions, and will.
It is like a person who made a wrong turn in driving. In order to get to their intended
destination, they must do several things. First, they must realize and be convinced that they made
a wrong turn and are going in the wrong direction.
Second, they must admit or confess that they made a wrong turn. To confess means to say
the same thing that God says about it and, in essence, ask God for forgiveness (I Jn. 1:9).
Third, the person must stop going in the wrong direction. Fourth, they must turn and face in
the right direction.
Finally, they must start going in the right direction to reach their original destination. Since
all sin comes from the heart (Mat. 15:19-20; Mk. 7:21-23), and it is an act of faith in the wrong
object, then repentance must also come from the heart and be a turning to the only right object of
faith, which is the Cross, and will result in a change to biblical obedience.
It is not only necessary to confess, but it is also essential to forsake, or leave, refuse, depart
from, let alone, abandon, let go, and desert sin (Prov. 28:13). Jesus told the Pharisees and
Sadducees that they should bring forth fruits to prove their repentance (Mat. 3:8; Luke 3:8).
When the publican Zacchaeus got saved, he showed it by restoring fourfold to anyone he had
defrauded, which was the restitution required of a sheep stealer (Ex. 22:1).
The Prodigal Son not only said he would arise, go to his father, and tell him he had actually
sinned, but he actually did it (Lk. 15:17-21). When Peter began sinking because he feared the
storm and took his eyes off Jesus, he cried out to Him, and Jesus caught and lifted him back up
(Mat. 14:28-33).
When God saw the Ninevites turn from their evil ways, He did not destroy their city (Jonah
3:10). The Israelites not only had to say they had sinned, but they also had to look in faith at the
brazen serpent to be saved from the fiery serpents (Num. 21:5-9). The Israelites not only
confessed they had sinned, surrendered to the will of God, and prayed for deliverance, but they
also put away the idols and served God before they were forgiven and reconciled to God (Judg.
10:10-16).
For the resulting victory to be maintained, the individual must continue keeping their faith in
the Cross so that they will keep on receiving the power of the Spirit to obey God.
Pilgrim Outreach Ministries

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Repentance: What Repentance Is Not

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Repentance: What Repentance Is Not

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REPENTANCE

WHAT REPENTANCE IS NOT

Repentance, or metanoia in the Greek, is usually defined as a turning around, or a change in

Pilgrim Outreach Ministries

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