by R. L. Morrison

"Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead" (Acts 17:30-31).

In every age of the world God has called upon men to repent. He has not always required men in all ages to obey the same commandments of old; yet there are certain commandments required now which have always been required. Repentance is one such commandment.

When the prophets of old came preaching to Israel, the burden of their message was repentance toward God. Israel had forsaken God for the idols of their pagan neighbors until God grew weary of them. Through Isaiah, He said the worship of Israel was vain, an abomination unto Him, and He would not hear their prayers. He then called upon them to cease to do evil and to learn to do well. They could not please God until they repented. In the beginning of the gospels, we find John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness, and saying: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt. 3:2). Later Jesus came into Galilee, "Preaching the gospel of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:14-15). When He gave the great commission to the twelve after his resurrection from the dead, He said: "Thus it is written that the Christ should suffer and rise again from the dead the third day; and that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations; beginning from Jerusalem" (Luke 24:46-47).

Consequently, when the gospel began to be preached to all men, Peter, in the first sermon presented in obeying the charge given them, declared: "Repent and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). In his next recorded sermon in Jerusalem, Peter preached again the necessity of repentance. "Repent therefore and return that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19). Paul declared the same message of repentance to the Athenians as recorded in Acts 17:30-31.

By considering these passages we can see the significance the Scriptures place upon repentance toward God. We can also recognize that it has always been included in God's message to man regardless of the age in which he may have lived. The message of repentance is vitally connected with salvation. It is absolutely necessary before an individual can be saved. Jesus Himself said, "... unless you repent, you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3).

With these things in mind, let us now carefully consider the Bible answer to the question: "What is repentance?"

We believe the Bible is sufficiently clear on this point, yet a great number of religious people seem to have very little conception of what repentance is. Many good people identify repentance with sorrow. If they see a person shed many tears, they conclude at once that he is penitent or that he has repented. However, sorrow for sin is not repentance. Paul, the apostle, wrote two letters to the church at Corinth. In the first, he rebuked them because of their sin. This letter brought a great deal of sorrow to that church. In the second letter (7:9-10), he says: "I now rejoice, not that ye were made sorrowful, but that ye were made sorrowful to the point of repentance ... for the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance that is without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death." We see then, that godly sorrow produces repentance, or is a cause of it, but it is not repentance itself.

Nor is repentance simply a reformation of life. Many who see a changed manner of life, will say that one has repented. However, one can make a change in his manner of life and not repent. This is not to say that such a change does not follow repentance. The point is: Reformation is not repentance. In Matt. 3:8, John said to the Jews: "Therefore bring forth fruit in keeping with your repentance..." The fruit they were expected to bring forth was the result of repentance, or a changed manner of life. So repentance is not just a reformation of life.

From these scriptures we have found that godly sorrow causes repentance and this change in one's manner of life is the result of it. Repentance itself, then, is that which comes between the sorrow and the reformation.

Jesus, in a parable, teaches us about repentance and what it is, in such a way that it can be readily and easily understood. This parable is found in Matt. 21:28-29. "A certain man had two sons: he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard. He answered saying, I will not; but afterward he repented, and went." Jesus said the son repented. What did he do? He changed his mind about the will of his father to work in the vineyard. He said: "I will not." His will was opposed to the father's desire. Later, he changed his will. He came to accept and obey the will of his father. His change of will resulted in a change of action; in his obeying his father's will, not his own.

When a man comes to understand that he has sinned against God; that he has and is violating the law of God, he is made sorry for it. This sorrow makes him determine in his own mind (will) to change his life. He then acts, changes his manner of life. That which stands between the sorrow and the changed life is the determination of the man's will or mind to change. This is Bible repentance.

Undoubtedly the human will is the greatest hindrance to man's salvation. It is not difficult for one to believe on Christ. In our times, Bibles are abundant. Much preaching is being done. Evidence is presented that can be understood, and as a result, many, intellectually, at least, recognize Him as the Son of God. But they who do no more than this never become Christians. Why not? Simply because they have never obeyed the will of Christ. One cannot obey Christ until the human will is brought into subjection to the will of Christ. This is repentance, and few are they who are willing to fully submit themselves to Him. Few are they who repent. This repentance takes place in the human will and is the result of action on the part of the individual. In God's plan for man's redemption there is a part which God does and a part which every man must do for himself. This matter of repentance is left to the initiative of each person. It is a matter of man's choice and doing. This can be seen, if we will but recall a statement of Jesus referred to previously: "Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3).

There are some points of great significance about repentance that will help to a better understanding of it. First of all, we need to understand that repentance is indispensable to salvation. This means it is an absolute necessity. Although we have just made reference to Luke 13:3, we need to remember that what Jesus said applies to every person. It can be stated this simply: "Repent or perish."

Secondly, notice that repentance is inclusive. Paul said, "God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent" (Acts 17:30). There are no exceptions. It matters not what color one's skin; how much wealth he may control, what his social standing may be, or the civil government under which he lives, God commands all men everywhere to repent. At times, because we are human, perhaps, we may feel there are exceptions. If so, we usually feel we are of that number. We may feel our burdens are heavier, our temptation is more severe. This matters not, for God says all must repent.

Third. Repentance is "inner." It is a change of mind. This takes place within man. It cannot be brought about contrary to the will of the individual; for it is the will that is changed. Repentance is not a convulsion, it is a conviction. It is a decision of mind which is related to the intellect and the will which determines there is to be a change in the manner of life.

And fourth. Repentance is a compulsive power. It prompts a person to action. He determines and then acts. The prodigal son said, "I will arise and go to my father," and he went. So it is with the sinner who repents - he comes to the Father by completing his obedience to the Father's will and receive the forgiveness of sins. Solomon said: "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper, but whosoever confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13).

Now let us consider another question: How is repentance brought about? In Acts 11:18, we read: "God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life." Here repentance is called the gift of God; or life to man as God's grant or gift. Just why and in what sense is repentance a gift of God to man?

In answer, some religious people today would tell us that man is led to repentance by the direct power or operation of the Holy Spirit upon the heart of that man. It is said that the sinner must come to the altar (or some other designated place) and pray to God, asking for some sort of sentiment or feeling in his heart. This feeling (when one claims to have it) is identified as repentance ... or as evidence that he has repented and is acceptable to God. But this feeling, or whatever it may be called, is acquired only by a direct action of the Holy Spirit.

If this is how repentance is brought about, it is difficult to understand why some men will not repent. God desires all men to repent (2 Pet. 3:9). If repentance is the result of a direct action of the Holy Spirit on the human heart, why does not God send the Holy Spirit to all men in the same way? We are told that God is no respector of persons (Acts 10:34), so we can only conclude that this idea of repentance is error. The reason some men do not repent is because repentance is an act of man, not of the Holy Spirit.

To assist us in finding and to understand the Bible answer to the question: "How is repentance brought about", let us consider the influences that are brought to bear to cause an individual to repent.

On one occasion Jesus preached in the cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida. He wanted the people there to repent, but they refused to do so. He had performed miracles to prove his teaching, but they continued to refuse him. So Jesus referred to the terrors of judgment as a motive for their repentance. "Nevertheless I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven will you? You shall descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. Nevertheless I say to you, that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you" (Matt. 11:22-24).

Jesus told some of the judgment, in an effort to arouse their fear of the terror of that day. He did this trying to lead them to repentance. They refused His teaching, his call to repent even though they had seen the mighty miracles he performed.

In Old Testament times, Jonah caused a whole city to repent in sackcloth and ashes. How did he do this? He went to the city of Ninevah with a warning from God, telling them that the city was to be destroyed. His message: "Yet forty days, and Ninevah shall be overthrown." When the people of the city heard this, they believed it, for they repented and God spared the city.

When Paul came to Athens, he found the city given wholly to idolatry. He began preaching, and finally on Mars Hill, he entreated them to turn to the living God. He said: "God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent." What motive did he give to lead them to repentance? He referred to a day of judgment (Acts 17:30-31).

In these examples the motive for repentance was a declaration of a judgment day. Men should have a fear of that day; for in it, all shall give an account of the deeds done in the body, or while we lived on the earth. Men may forget, but God does not. In that day we shall all be judged in righteousness. This fact was presented by inspired men in their efforts to lead others to repentance.

Many today, have abandoned the Bible teaching on judgment, and the eternal condemnation or punishment of the unrighteous and the wicked. Modernism denies there will be a judgment. The average religionist today does not want to hear anything about such a day or about hell. Some have even prepared a (so-called) Bible from which the word has been deleted. It should be easily seen that this is simply the result of man's hardened, impenitent heart. Here is evidence of the truth of a statement made previously. Man's will is the greatest hindrance to his own salvation. When one refuses to repent, he will accept that which, to his own mind, justifies him as he is. This condition is also described in the Scriptures. "... and with all deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness" (2 Thess. 2:10-12).

We can neither improve upon nor change in any way the teaching of the Bible, nor can we improve upon the methods of teaching it used by inspired men. We must continually urge men to repent, and one motive for repentance is to be taught to fear the judgment day.

But inspired men also appealed to the goodness of God as a motive for repentance. Paul wrote: "And do you think lightly of the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?" (Rom. 2:4). Paul reminded the Gentiles of all the good things God had done for them. He reminds them of the many material blessings bestowed upon them day by day by a loving Heavenly Father. He wants them to consider the immeasurable riches of God and how long-suffering He had been toward them. Here is another motive to repentance. Paul used it in an effort to lead men to God. It is no less effective today. God's love for the generation in which we live, is just as great as it has been for any group or generation of men who have ever lived. He does as much for us in a material way as He has done for others. His love for us, the blessings He desires to bestow upon us in the spiritual realm, are revealed in His word. We can know these things if we study that word. All this God has done for man. If man today would but consider the evidence, realize the source of all blessings, learn of God's love for him, he would have an impelling motive to repent.

Now, it should be possible for us to see how repentance is the gift of God. When inspired men preached the gospel, it was an effort to induce men to repent. The gospel, with its facts to be believed, commands to be obeyed, and promises to be enjoyed, was designed to lead men to repentance. This is the way God granted eternal life to the Gentiles. He caused the gospel to be declared unto them; their hearing and believing it, led to repentance.

Directed in his writing by the Holy Spirit, the apostle Peter looked down through the years of time to give us a word picture of some events at the end of time. He wrote of the terror of the judgment for those who refuse to obey the gospel. He tells us it is not God's will that men should perish, or be lost eternally, but that all men should repent. Hear him: "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat" (2 Peter 3:9-12).

Paul, in his second letter to the church at Thessalonica, had somewhat to say about the terror of judgment to those who are unprepared. He tells the result of refusing Christ and the gospel: "... at the unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ from heaven, with his mighty angels in a flame of fire, who will take vengeance on those who do not know God, that is, those who will not listen to the good news of our Lord Jesus. These will receive the punishment of eternal destruction as exiles from the presence of the Lord and His glorious might ..." (1:7-9).

The day of judgment these inspired men describe is yet future. In that day all men shall stand before Christ to be judged in righteousness. The majority will be lost. Jesus said the gate is wide and the way broad that leads to destruction and many go in thereat (Matt. 7:13). It is not God's wish or His desire that you be of that number. If you are lost, it will be because you have refused to accept the provisions God has made for your being saved.

Why not submit your will to the will (Testament) of Christ? Believe on Him, obey the commands of His gospel by repenting of your sins, confessing your faith, and submitting to baptism for the forgiveness of sins. The promise is yours, but you must act to receive the blessings.

What will you do with Jesus, who is called the Christ?