Doctrine of Repentance
1. Repentance occurs in the mind. It is an activity of the mind.
2. A very important point about Repentance is that repentance has to do with the past, it has nothing to do with the future.
This is where most people are confused on the word repentance, whether in Greek, Hebrew or English. They think it has to do with future, that if one repents that means that he will not do whatever he repented of, & then when they do it again, they become angry, but you repented…I do not believe that you really repented.
3. But if we look at the Greek word: repented: metanoeo meta-to change, noeo –the mind, thinking = to change one’s mind or thinking
This occurs after the sin or after examining whatever is under issue; like thinking about Jesus Christ.
Ex. You sin—then repent –change your mind concerning that sin.
Or: you have an attitude concerning God or Jesus Christ as Savior then you change your thinking concerning Jesus Christ.
The problem is that repentance has only to do with the past & not the future. Because one repents or changes his/her mind concerning something does not necessarily determine what they will do after repenting.
Or we can take the other way of looking at the Greek word:
Meta –after noeo – thought: after thought so, this translation again emphasis what occurs after a sin, or thought about God, Jesus Christ etc.
So, either way: repentance – change of mind or thought
Or after thought – deals with past, not future.
4. Repentance is concerned with the past, what one does with or after repentance is not given in the word repentance. It does not mean that after repenting about Jesus Christ that he will believe in Jesus Christ. Or after repenting concerning a sin, that he will not commit that sin again.
5. People have the wrong view of repentance:
Luke 17:
After once—easy to forgive …then 2, 3, & after 4 times we doubt the sincerity or truthfulness of their repentance & refuse to forgive; well, we are NOT to judge another’s repentance! No where are we to judge another’s repentance, yet Christians love to judge whether a person truly repented or not by whether or not they ever do it again!
But repentance does not mean that you will not do it again
& repentance does not mean one will necessarily believe in Jesus Christ.
Repentance deals with the past.
6. So, why does the bible beckon to repent? There are those who place a great deal on confession, like RCC & some Protestant movements. But there are far more vss related to both Sal. 1 & Sal. 2 with the word repentance and only one related to confession. For this reason there are those who make repentance as important as others make confession the issue for spiritual recovery from sin, as well as the means of Sal. 1.
Matt. 3:2; 3:8-fruit of Rep. is faith 4:17;
Mark 1:4; 6:12;
Luke 3:3; 5:32; 13:3-5; 15:7 & 10 24:47;
Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 11:18; 17:30; 26:20—fruit of Repent. -faith
2 Cor. 7:9-10; 20:21;
2 Peter 3:9; Rev. 2:5—faith
So here are a multitude of vss that emphasized Repentance, yet there are those who place little to no importance on Repentance, & yet place a great deal of importance on confession, & this based primarily on one vs & that one not properly understood as to context. (1 Jn. 1:8-9)
But the question arises: Why this emphasis on repentance?
Since we are not saved or restored by repentance, why this emphasis on repentance?
The answer is best expressed in the 8 vol. Theological Dictionary of /N.T.
repentance summons to faith.
Repentance is not faith: repentance = metanoeo faith pistis/pisteuo
They are two different words…two different meanings
& we are saved, restored by faith, not by repentance;
but repentance is a step in the process that leads to faith.
& repentance summons to faith
A normal process:
1. consciousness of sin or thought of God;
Jesus Christ; the Gospel or sinful state, or
the Holy Spirit.
2. in some cases a sorrow about one’s state.
3. Repentance – change of mind; after thought
Repentance summons to faith
4. Faith in Jesus Christ; faith in Holy Spirit;
5. Salvation or deliverance, restoration-by God
based on faith not repentance.
Repentance does not save
Repentance does not restore from sin
Faith saves, faith restores
Faith in Jesus Christ saves; faith in Holy Spirit restores.
7. In every Lexicon I looked –they all include in their discussion of repentance the idea of regret. Repentance with regret
Regret of the sins of which you repent;
Regret of thinking of God, of Jesus Christ.
A change of mind, after sin; after thought with regret
Regret of the sin, regret of the thought & changing of the mind, after thought, summons to faith
8. Repentance does not save or deliever or restore, faith does.
Repentance is not the last stop:
2 Tim. 2:25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, that is gospel
Heb. 6: 1 Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
Acts 19:4 And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus." Faith is still needed, required.
Acts 20:21 solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Mark 1:15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
Here in Mark 1:15 it is clear that repentance & faith are two different steps, two different acts.
9. Repentance has no power!
To think that if or since one repents of a sin, he will not commit that sin again, is to give power to repentance.
Repentance has no power, the power not to sin is in Holy Spirit, not repentance!
Saying that if or since a person repents they are saved, is to give power of Salvation to repentance & the power of Salvation is in person of Jesus Christ & the only way of receiving that Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ, not repentance.
Repentance has no power!
10. Summary:
Act of Repentance looks to the past, not to the
future.
Repentance means to change ones mind in
regard to past, as an after thought, with regret.
Repentance summons to faith
Repent. has no power: no power to save or
restore
We are not to judge another’s repent. if they
repent, you forgive.
The issue in Repentance. is what you do after you change your mind!
Or do you have contempt of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and longsuffering,
not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
The issue is, to what is Paul speaking of when he says: leads you to repentance?
Repent. of what?
First: Kindness of God leads to repent, to change your mind, your thinking concerning God, Himself. His existence, His wrath, His judgment. They have been saying no, no to existence of God, no to the being of God, no to the Creative power of God.
Then: to repent or change their mind in regards to the Gospel for eternal salvation, reconciliation with God by faith alone in Christ alone.
They have been saying no to the fact that Jesus was /Son of God, that Jesus was Savior
In the arrogance of their mind they have said no to Righteousness of God & the Judgment of God
Note the flow:
vss 3-4 a separation between the judgment of God in vs 3 & the kindness of God in vs 4
Then we have a contrast between the kindness of God in vs 4 & hardness of unbeliever toward the kindness of God in vs 5.
Vs 3 judgment of God
Vs 4 kindness of God in withholding judgment
Vs 5 hardness of unbeliever: who uses that time
to become hardened to God’s kindness
It is so characteristic of man to make false conclusions about the kindness of God in delaying judgment. God gives a grace period to repent & turn to God by faith. But due to the delay, man uses that time to think that God is not going to judge.
2 Peter 3: 9 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.
10 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.
Turn to Hab. 1:1-4 & 2:3-4
Rom. 2:5
1st note the two conditions of man: stubbornness & unrepentant heart
Stubbornness is used to describe the condition of soul, that refuses to acknowledge all that is going on—all the evidence –
it comes from chpt. 1 claiming to be wise they became fools
How do we explain this hardness?
Time is important to the hardening process:
--Judgment from God should come, immediately
--Kindness of God holds off judgment – to allow
time to repent
--the unbel., instead of using this time to repent, & turn to God by faith uses this time to say no over & over & hardened his heart against God, against Jesus Christ, against the gospel.
America has hardened it’s soul against God, against God, Jesus Christ & the gospel
Majority of Pastors have hardened to truth of gospel
Max. unbel.s hardened to God, Christ & gospel
Max. number of bel.s have hardened to bible teaching
When you have max. opportunities to proclaim the truth of Gospel from the pulpit or from personal witnessing & refuse to do so;
When you have many opportunities to hear the gospel everyday;
When you have max. opportunity to hear sound teaching
as you do in this country!
These people develop a much greater hardening to truth, than even those in countries where the gospel is not freely, readily proclaimed
as in Russia, China, Cuba, & many countries in Africa
We often think of these countries as hardened & evil, but they are not The most hardened people in the world are in Free America. They do not hear the gospel every day, nor do they have opportunity to hear sound bible teaching every day, so they do not say no every day.
But we, as a nation have used our freedom & the kindness of God to become hardened toward God. in our schools, in our judicial system and in our churches.
& when an individual or society, nation of people have hardened their heart against God, His being, His Word, His Gospel, His Son
This hardness opens the mind of these people for evil. Religion evil- Islamic rel. evil (while I can still proclaim this truth in America, before they take away this freedom of speech, as they are close to doing to declare /biblical & historical truth of homosexuality & lesbianism.
America—both hardened unbel.s & hardened bel.s are turning to evil at an increasing rate, reflected in our politics & judicial & social & educational systems.
Hardness of the heart is continual rejection of truth & this has results or ramifications in the soul.
1. as to what these people will accept, run to, desire, & vote for.
2. leaving these people easily deceived & deluded.
3. the hardness of the soul, closes off the truth & is now open to the lie.
These people who were once conservative based on biblical truth, but they began saying no to Biblical truth,
& therefore they had no defense against that which is false, evil.
This is why there has been a concerted movement against the Bible, get it out of school, out of churches. Once you have removed the foundation of truth, there is no defense against Evil.
Once you say no to the truth, you have no defense against that which is false, against evil, against the lie.
1:25 for they exchanged /truth of God for the lie
Now you should be able to understand what is happening in America
4. The procedure of Hardening the heart is found in Eph. 4:17-20
We are spending time here, because this so accurately describes what is going on in our beloved country read Eph. 4:17-20
2 Thess. 2:10-12
Rom. 2:5 But because of your stubbornness/hardness & unrepentant heart
& unrepentant heart compound of same word we studied repentance
Plus alpha negative not repentant; unrepentant
Heart – again the place of battle
Heart – does not refer to physiological heart of our bodies but like our physical heart is vital to our life, so Biblical word heart refers to vital part of our being, invisible yet very real & place of battle.
Why repent?
They have nothing to repent of !
Once you reject the truth, you have nothing for which you repent.
Hardness rejects truth of of God, of Christ & gospel, & of sin.
If no sin, there is nothing to repent of…
Sin distorts relationships
Homosexuality & lesbianism are not sins so nothing to repent of.
All those things mentioned in Rom.s 1: are not sins. Therefore nothing to repent of & remember once you reject the truth, you have no defense against the Lie!
The only real wrong in this society is to speak out against these things.
To shed light on them, for light will reveal the truthfulness of the hardened sinful society, so those few who still believe in truth, must be silenced!!!
Storing up wrath from God; /wrath of God is finally directed toward all who are hardened against /gospel; faith in JC as Savior
/storing up of this wrath began at /first rejection of God, of JC , of /gospel, & then continued to store up with every rejection.
Storing up wrath from God;
The wrath of God is finally directed toward all who are hardened against the gospel; against faith in Jesus Christ as Savior.
The storing up of this wrath began at the first rejection of God, of Jesus Christ , of the gospel, & then continued to store up with every rejection.
Revelation is Greek apoklupsis – apocalypse
Revelation, uncovering, unveiling but not just the thing shown or seen, but the interpretation
This word is used of the Second coming of Christ
This word is used for the removal of ignorance & darkness by the communication of light & truth
& the word is used of that which is seen by an event as here in Rom.2
& what is going to be revealed, seen?
Revelation of the righteous judgment of God
This is a compound Greek word: dikaios- just, righteous + krisis Judgment – righteous judgment
This has been the issue from man in the garden, & intensified in 10 questions of Job – Righteousness of God & un-righteousness of man.
& the only way a member of human race can be Righteous before God is by belief in Jesus Christ as Savior.
& the only issue on the day of wrath is not man’s sins but that he does not possess the righteousness of God.
& as far bel.s are concerned the one who defends us is also Righteous.
1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;
5 But because of your hardness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
“day of wrath” Since this is what the first few chpts of Rom.s are about lets spend a few moments on the Day of Wrath
1st if you have believed in Jesus Christ as Savior, you do not have to be in fear of this day. You will want to know about it, to encourage you to witness; to at least those you love.
2. Used to describe the 7 yrs of Tribulation, but
3. Refers to a specific day, already determined by God
It refers to the last judgment; called the Great White Throne.
3. Only the righteousness from God by grace through faith delivers on day of wrath
Prov. 11:4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.
4. Zeph. 1:14-18
The one & most important thing the day of wrath will reveal is how bankrupt man is!
That man has nothing to offer God…all that man puts his faith in other than God…will be exposed
Read 14..15…16
17 & I will bring distress on men, So that they will walk like blind,
How do /blind walk?
Without the light of the world
Therefore always groping – always looking for a way…but never finding one! Stumbling…holding on for dear life, on what is not reality
2enly: to walk in blindness is analogous to walking in realm that is not reality…you can either walk in reality or non-reality!
The world that most people –including Christians live in is non-reality
Read vs 18
5. Amos 5 reveals the arrogance of religious self righteous moralist & Day of Wrath
Read Amos 5:18-20
6. Rev. has a lot to say of Day of Wrath
Rev. 6:16-17; 11:18; 15:7; 16:1
Day of wrath—last judgment Rev. 20:10-21:1
7. Now what all this has to do with Rom. 2:
The resurrected unbel. at the last judgment is condemned not on basis of sins but on the basis of his human good, his good works Rom. 2:5-6
Personal sins were taken care of at the cross.
The only sin that is of issue is rejection of Jesus Christ.
Gospel of John 16:9
8. Who will stand before God at the Great White throne judgment?
Read John 3:18 & 36
No one who has believed in Jesus Christ will be at Great White Throne judgment nor see the wrath of God: Rom. 8:1
So, this sets up the context of Rom. 2:5-6
5 But because of your hardness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
6 who WILL RENDER TO EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: