Repentance

Matthew 4:17

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Mark 1:15

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Of all the words God could have used to be the first one of the proclamation of the “good news” — he uses the word “repent.” What is your first response when you hear that word? What is the motivation that you feel? Your response and motivation is determined by your understanding of what you believe to be its definition.

Dictionary — repent: 1) to feel sorry, self-reproaching for past conduct; regret or be conscience-stricken about past action, attitude, etc. 2) to feel such sorrow for sin or fault as to be disposed to change one’s life for the better; be penitent.

Unfortunately this is the definition that is not only found in most dictionaries, but also in the minds of most Christians. However, does that make sense? Is Jesus telling us to “feel sorry or regret” because the Kingdom of God is at hand? One might think that he had instead announced the arrival of the kingdom of hell.

What was God’s definition and intended meaning?

metanoia — to repent, to change any or all of the elements composing one’s life: attitude, thoughts, and behaviors concerning the demands of God for right living

It is made up of two words:

1) meta — means “after”. The force of “after” implies a “before”; thus the prefix bears the idea of “shift” or “change”. However, the change places the emphasis on the “after” picture rather than on the “before” picture.

2) noia (or nous) — has to do with the “brain” or “mind”. It denotes a much bigger idea than just a physical organ, encompassing one’s mind-set, ideology, paradigm, and worldview.

True biblical repentance is not to repent “from” something, but “to” something!

“Metanoia results in a rejection of sinfulness, because its fierce pursuit of a righteous future abandons sin to an obsolete past.” “Repentance isn’t something that we do so that we can return to God. Rather, repentance is our return to him.” Edward Anton

“This repentance, this willing submission to humiliation and a kind of death, is not something that God demands of you before He will take you back…. It is simply a description of what going back to Him is like. If you ask God to take you back without it, you are really asking Him to let you go back without going back. It cannot happen. Very well, then, we must go through with it” C.S. Lewis

Now with the intended understanding and meaning of the word “metanoia” let’s look at some passages and gain new conviction about biblical repentance:

One thing of special note: the noun and verb form of “metanoia” is found 52 times in the New Testament. Only 11 address the repentance of individuals. That means forty-one address a plural or group repentance

Command & Gift

Acts 2:38-39

He focuses on going forward not regretting the past.

Acts 3:19

Biblical repentance is a state of being refreshed not shamed!

Acts 17:30-31

“Proof” is about changing the mind, not the heart!

Acts 20:21

Repentance is about a change of mind that allows you to believe differently.

Acts 26:20

The deeds are not repentance; the deeds come as a result of a truly changed mind.

Romans 2:4

What motivates repentance? Shame, guilt, rebuke, etc.? God ultimately leads us to repentance through his kindness.

2 Corinthians 7:10

Ok be ready for this one: godly sorrow is not repentance! It leads to repentance, but is not repentance itself. Godly sorrow is the process that changes our mind! That is why worldly sorrow will never lead to true repentance; you are stuck in how you think!

2 Timothy 2:25-26

“Come to your senses” — Satan is more concerned about how we think, rather than just what we do. WWJT – what would Jesus think should be our motto; then we would not have to worry about what Jesus would do. God grants it!

2 Peter 3:9

That is kindness — patience with us. God desires a changed mind, and understands it doesn’t happen all at once.

Biblical Repentance:

Romans 12:1-2

This is a great description of biblical repentance: it begins with a decision, but does not end there. It is “living” not “dead”. It is a continuing decision for the rest of our lives. A decision about what? To just turn from our old lives? To just turn from sin? It is a continuing decision to not think like the world [flesh] but to be transformed [metamorphoses] in your minds [not actions]; in other words to think like Jesus [spirit].

“Metanoia” is not merely a change of mind on certain subjects; but an exchange of the mind of flesh for the mind of Christ.

Ephesians 4:17-24

Repentance has so much more to do with our thinking, than just our actions. Wrong thinking will lead to wrong actions!

Example of Metanoia [repentance]

2 Chronicles 33:1-19

This is an incredible example of “metanoia”. It is a complete change of mind and actions. But what moment is “metanoia” truly achieved in this story. Is it the godly sorrow in prayer? Is it the change of behavior and removal of shrines? No! It is marked by one statement: “and Manasseh knew that the LORD is God!

Conclusion:

Let’s not forget the first word of the Gospel — the first word of the Good News! Repent! [metanoia]

Biblical Repentance is a continual change of mind [from the mind of flesh to the mind of Christ] that states, believes, and lives out the truth that JESUS IS LORD!