What Does Repent Really Mean?

[Chris]

http://www.gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-...nt-really-mean

What Does Repent Really Mean?
Ask a Bible Teacher

Q. Can you give us a great understanding of the Hebrew and Greek words for our English word called Repentance? I know you think its translated from Hebrew and Greek to English as a change of heart but can you actually show us in words the translation from Hebrew/Greek to English?

A. A good translation of repent from Hebrew to English is in the KJV of Jonah 3:10 where it says, "And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did [it] not."

God had Jonah tell the people of Nineveh that he would judge them in 40 days, but when He saw how they responded He changed His mind and delayed the judgment. The Hebrew word is nacham and as you can see, means to change one's mind.

In Hebrew there can also be an attitude of sorrow or regret associated with the change, which is not in evidence here. God was obviously not sorry that He didn't get to judge Nineveh, but in Genesis 6:6 the same word is used to show that God was sorry that he ever created mankind. But in neither case does the text imply that God needed to clean up His behavior. (As if He could.)

The examples I gave of John the Baptist in Matt. 3:1, and Peter in Acts 2:38 in this week's Feature Article demonstrate the same idea in the New Testament. In both places, the Greek word is metanoeo and means "to change one's mind". Both John and Peter were admonishing their listeners to change their minds about their need for a Savior.

Commentators sometimes attach their own opinions in defining the word, but according to Strong's Concordance, from which I got this definition, the meaning is clear. Like I said, it's one of the Bible's most misunderstood words.

[Chris]

I had always thought "repent" meant stop sinning. So when I was before my born again self, I use to always get frustrated because I couldn't stop sinning. It was only after being born again that I began to understand what the word repent really meant.

I see "repenting" as changing our mind about our sins as well as acknowledging the need for a Savior. This is where the work of the cross comes in and why it was necessary. :)

Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross to save me and everyone else.

[Theresa]

I just recently discovered what the word really meant, also, and I believe it was from that site. It is a great resource!!

[justme]

I had always thought "repent" meant stop sinning. So when I was before my born again self, I use to always get frustrated because I couldn't stop sinning. It was only after being born again that I began to understand what the word repent really meant.

I see "repenting" as changing our mind about our sins as well as acknowledging the need for a Savior. This is where the work of the cross comes in and why it was necessary. :)

Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross to save me and everyone else.

I agree.

[Ruth]

Chris,

Thank you so much for bringing this forward. I learned this a few years ago but everytime I tried to present it - I was told I was wrong. I didn't present it in the way that you did and am so greatful that you have brought it to our attention here to.

The other aspect that I think is important is that prior to being born again we have NO POWER over sin so we can't stop sinning.

All we CAN do is make choices. Choosing to follow Jesus and want a new and changed life is all that is in our power to do.

Once we are born again and indwelt by the Holy Spirit that is when we have His power over sin to choose to stop sinning.

Choosing to stop sinning is still a struggle with the flesh and that is what Paul speaks to. But if we choose rightly - it improves our witness for the one we love and is evidence to those whom the Lord brings across our path who can see the supernatural change in our lives.

The biggest lie that many of us accept is that we have to use our own strength over sin. We don't. We just have to choose to give it over to Him and let Him battle it for us. The victory is already there.

Choosing to reject the temptations of the flesh is going to be our battle until we leave these bodies.
But it doesn't negate the work on the cross for those who have chosen to follow Him.

[Rmf3175]

I had always thought "repent" meant stop sinning. So when I was before my born again self, I use to always get frustrated because I couldn't stop sinning. It was only after being born again that I began to understand what the word repent really meant.

I see "repenting" as changing our mind about our sins as well as acknowledging the need for a Savior. This is where the work of the cross comes in and why it was necessary.:)

Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross to save me and everyone else.

Luke 18:10-14 (New American Standard Bible)

10 Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

11 The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: "God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

12 I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get."

13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, "God, be merciful to me, the sinner!'"

14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.


Amen to that, Thank you Jesus.

[ub4war]

Repent to me means you realize all your deeds will get you a one way ticket to hell

after that thought sinks in you become very sorry
and ask Christ to save you and to make you a person he would be
glad to call a friend

until indwelt by the HS one can not even know his sins IMO

It means choosing Jesus and clinging to his promises
it means realizing one needs to ask him to clean up the mess in ones life
It means begging him to strengthen ones will to fight the fleshy old man

it means turning from a downstream easy swim to and upstream hard swim of fighting the old man clinging to Gods promises
and HIS strength

IMHO

[Rmf3175]

[bball39]

Thank the Lord for salvation! Three years ago when I got saved I now have hope of eternal life! You have to repent of your sins in order to be saved. Show signs of a changed life. When I got saved I had to repent of my sins. I'm ready for the rapture!

[Deep_MindQuest]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FiVSAXNkrA Pastor RA Smith rips on repentance
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A clip from a great sermon by Pastor RA Smith, Fort Worth Baptist Temple, in which he exposes the truth about repentance. Praise God for someone who has the guts to point out the wolves among us!

[Deep_MindQuest]

http://repentanceblacklist.com/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Repentance Blacklist
*OPENLY DENOUNCING THOSE WHO ARE ADDING WORKS TO SALVATION*




Chick Tracts seem to have a different answer than the Bible to the question, "What must I do to be saved?"



Surrender your life to Christ? That's Lordship salvation.

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. - Acts 16:30, 31



"As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." - Galatians 1:9

"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them." - Romans 16:17

"And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." - Acts 16:31



The independent fundamental Baptist movement has been totally infiltrated by those promoting the false doctrine that in order to be saved one must "repent of their sins." (This phrase is never found in the Bible.)

This supposedly involves a change in lifestyle or a "willingness" to turn away from sin in order to be saved. THAT IS WORKS SALVATION! (see below)

This is a clear departure from the Bible's teaching that FAITH ALONE is necessary for salvation. The Bible makes it clear what repentance really is:



"For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him." - Matthew 21:32

"Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." - Acts 19:4

"In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;" - 2 Timothy 2:25





Is repenting of your sins "works"? Let's ask Jesus:

"The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here." - Matthew 12:41


"And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not." - Jonah 3:10


Those who were saved in Nineveh went to Heaven because they believed God (see Jonah 3:5). But their city was physically spared judgment because they stopped doing the wicked sins they were doing (see 2 Chronicles 7:14).


"If my people, which are called by my name, shall 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." - 2 Chronicles 7:14


To say that they were saved by believing and turning from their wicked way, is to say that they were saved by faith plus works according to Jonah 3:10.

"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." - Romans 4:5

"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." - Romans 3:28

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." - Ephesians 2:8,9
http://www.repentanceblacklist.com/misunderstood.html Chapter Four from The Enemies of Soul Winning by Dr. Jack Hyles Misunderstood Repentance -

[mattfivefour]

Good post, Chris. Strong's IS instructive. You might also find the following from the more complete Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words useful. (The number before the actual word is the Strong's number.)

A:1 Verb, 3340, metanoeo>
lit., "to perceive afterwards" (meta, "after," implying "change," noeo, "to perceive;" nous, "the mind, the seat of moral reflection"), in contrast to pronoeo, "to perceive beforehand," hence signifies "to change one's mind or purpose," always, in the NT, involving a change for the better, an amendment, and always, except in Luke 17:3-4, of "repentance" from sin. The word is found in the Synoptic Gospels (in Luke, nine times), in Acts five times, in the Apocalypse twelve times, eight in the messages to the churches, Revelation 2:5 (twice),16,21 (twice), RV, "she willeth not to repent" (2nd part); Revelation 3:3,19 (the only churches in those chapters which contain no exhortation in this respect are those at Smyrna and Philadelphia); elsewhere only in 2 Corinthians 12:21. See also the General Note below.

A:2 Verb,3 338, metamelomai>
meta, as in No. 1, and melo, "to care for," is used in the Passive Voice with the Middle Voice sense, signifying "to regret, to repent oneself," Matt. 21:29, RV, "repented himself;" Matthew 21:32, RV, "ye did (not) repent yourselves" (AV, "ye repented not"); Matthew 27:3, "repented himself" 2 Corinthians 7:8 (twice), RV, "regret" in each case; Hebrews 7:21, where alone in the NT it is said (negatively) of God.

B: Adjective, 278, ametameletos>
"not repented of, unregretted" (a, negative, and a verbal adjective of A, No. 2), signifies "without change of purpose;" it is said (a) of God in regard to his "gifts and calling," Romans 11:29; (b) of man, 2 Corinthians 7:10, RV, "[repentance (metanoia, see C)] ... which bringeth no regret" (AV, "not to be repented of"); the difference between metanoia and metamelomai, illustrated here, is briefly expressed in the contrast between "repentance" and "regret."

C: Noun, 3341, metanoia>
"afterthought, change of mind, repentance," corresponds in meaning to A, No. 1, and is used of "repentance" from sin or evil, except in Hebrews 12:17, where the word "repentance" seems to mean, not simply a change of Isaac's mind, but such a change as would reverse the effects of his own previous state of mind. Esau's birthright-bargain could not be recalled; it involved an irretrievable loss. As regards "repentance" from sin, (a) the requirement by God on man's part is set forth, e.g., in Matthew 3:8; Luke 3:8; Acts 20:21; Acts 26:20; (b) the mercy of God in giving "repentance" or leading men to it is set forth, e.g., in Acts 5:31; Acts 11:18; Romans 2:4; 2 Timothy 2:25. The most authentic manuscripts omit the word in Matthew 9:13; Mark 2:17, as in the RV.

General Note:
In the OT, "repentance" with reference to sin is not so prominent as is that change of mind or purpose, out of pity for those who have been affected by one's action, or in whom the results of the action have not fulfilled expectations, a "repentance" attributed both to God and to man, e.g., Genesis 6:6; Exodus 32:14 (that this does not imply anything contrary to God's immutability, but that the aspect of His mind is changed toward an object that has itself changed, see under RECONCILE).

In the NT the subject chiefly has reference to "repentance" from sin, and this change of mind involves both a turning from sin and a turning to God. The parable of the Prodigal Son is an outstanding illustration of this. Christ began His ministry with a call to "repentance," Matthew 4:17, but the call is addressed, not as in the OT to the nation, but to the individual. In the Gospel of John, as distinct from the Synoptic Gospels, referred to above, "repentance" is not mentioned, even in connection with John the Baptist's preaching; in John's Gospel and 1st Epistle the effects are stressed, e.g., in the new birth, and, generally, in the active turning from sin to God by the exercise of faith (John 3:3; John 9:38; 1 John 1:9), as in the NT in general.

[Deep_MindQuest]

http://roboam.com/repentance/wilkin-03.htm Part 3: New Testament Repentance: Lexical Considerations
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Part 3:
New Testament Repentance:
Lexical Considerations
I. Introduction
There he was again. I'd seen him on telecasts of baseball and football games. Now here he was on a PGA golf tournament telecast somehow repeatedly getting on camera with his rainbow Afro wig and his evangelistic T-shirt.

What did he mean with his one word message, REPENT? What did he hope that some of the millions of TV viewers would do?

What does the term repent mean according to the NT? Does it refer to turning from one's sins? If so, are all sins or only major sins in view? Or, does it mean a willingness to forsake one's sins--or even something else again?

Sincere Christians are sharply divided on this question. However, surprisingly very little has been written about NT repentance. I wrote my doctoral dissertation on this subject partly because it is a crucial and rather overlooked issue.

The NT Words in Question
There are two NT Greek words which are translated repentance in modern English translations: metanoia (and its verbal counterpart metanoeo„„) and metamelomai. The former term is so translated fifty-eight times in the NT; the latter only six times. The much wider use of metanoia has led me to give it greater attention in this article.

The Pre-Christian Meaning of Metanoia
In Classical Greek metanoia meant changing one's mind about someone or something. For example, Thucydides used the term when writing about the response of the Athenian council to a revolt. The council decided that all of the men of the city of Mytilene were to be put to death--not merely those who participated in the revolt. However, on "the next day a change of heart came over them."62 The Athenian council changed its mind. It decided that only those who participated in the rebellion should be put to death.

Another example is found in Xenophon's use of our term. He wrote:

We were inclined to conclude that for man, as he is constituted, it is easier to rule over any and all other creatures than to rule over men. But when we reflected that there was one Cyrus, the Persian, who reduced to obedience a vast number of men and cities and nations, we were then compelled to change our opinions and decide that to rule men might be a task neither impossible nor even difficult, if one should only go about it in an intelligent manner.63

During the pre- and early Christian period of KoineÁ Greek (ca. 300 BC-100 AD) metanoia continued to carry the sense of a change of mind about someone or something. For example, Polybius (ca. 208-126 B.C.) used metanoia to refer to the Dardani, a people who had decided to attack Macedonia while Philip was away with his army. However, Philip caught wind of it and returned quickly. Even though the Dardani were close to Macedonia, when they heard that Philip was coming, they changed their minds. They broke off the attack before it even began.64

Similarly, Plutarch, who lived and wrote in the late first and early second century A.D., wrote:

Cypselus, the father of Periander . . . when he was a new-born babe, smiled at the men who had been sent to make away with him, and they turned away. And when again they changed their minds, they sought for him and found him not, for he had been put away in a chest by his mother.65

Notice that in all of the cases cited the individual or people in view had thought one thing or made one decision and then, based on further evidence or input, changed their minds.

Thompson suggests that two other nuances emerge during this period: change of purpose and regret.66 However, the evidence does nor substantiate her claim. On both counts she is guilty of "illegitimate totality transfer," that is, the unwarranted transfer of the meaning of a phrase containing a given word to that word when it stands alone. She fails to show any examples where either metanoia or its verbal counterpart was used absolutely in the senses which she suggests. Rather, it is other words in the context which indicate that the change of mind in question concerned sinful practices or was accompanied by grief or sorrow.

Metanoia and metanoeo„„ occur twenty times in the canonical books of the Greek OT (Septuagint) and seven times in the apocryphal books. They retain the meaning of a change of mind about someone or something in the LXX.67 The following examples are representative.

When the Lord decided to take the kingdom from King Saul He instructed Samuel to say, "He will not turn nor change His mind, for He is not as a man that He should change His mind" (I Sam [1 Kingdoms in the Septuagint] 15:29; translation mine).

Likewise, Prov 20:25 speaks of how foolish it is for a man to rashly promise to give something to the Lord, because after such a hasty vow the man may come to change his mind.

Similarly, the Ninevites believed in the Lord and turned from their sinful ways in the hopes that the Lord might change His mind and not destroy t hem and their city (Jonah 3:9-10). From a human perspective God did indeed change His mind and withhold the judgment He had planned.68

Behm disagrees. He argues that metanoeo„„ in the Greek OT "approximates" shu‚b of the Hebrew OT.69 However, I believe he fails to prove his point. The term shu‚b was used 1,056 times in the Hebrew text. None of those occurrences is translated by metanoeo„„ in the Greek OT. Not one. This is inexplicable if the translators of the LXX felt that metanoeo„„ was a good translation of shu‚b. Rather, the translators routinely used strepho„ and its various compound forms to translate shu‚b.

In the OT pseudepigrapha metanoia and metanoeo„„ nearly always occur in contexts dealing with the need to abandon sinful practices in order to escape God's judgment. Behm concludes from this that metanoia had thus come to refer to turning from sins. He too, however, is guilty of illegitimate totality transfer. Metanoia did not come, by itself, to refer to a turning from one's sins. Rather, words in the context inform the reader that the change of mind in view would include a resolution to cease the sinful practices mentioned.

In summary, the pre-Christian meaning of metanoia was a change of mind about someone or something. When the context specifically mentions sinful practices about which one was changing his or her mind, the translation "repentance" is acceptable.

The History of NT Translations of Metanoia
The Old Latin
The Latin Fathers translated metanoia as paenitentia, which came to mean "penance" or "acts of penance." They felt that in order to obtain eternal salvation men had to perform righteous acts of penance as prescribed by one's confessor priest.

The Latin Vulgate
Jerome established this Old Latin translation as authoritative when he retained paenitentia as the translation of metanoia. The system of penance became an established pathway whereby one hoped to obtain grace.

Early English Versions
John Wycliffe, "the Morning Star of the Reformation," pioneered the first complete English Bible in the late 1300's. Unfortunately his work was not based on the original Greek and Hebrew, but was a very literal translation of the Vulgate. Hence we should not be surprised that he translated the Latin agite paenitentiam as "do penance." This was adopted in 1609-1610 in the Roman Catholic Douay Version.

William Tyndale produced the first printed English NT in 1526. He used repent and repentance for me anoia and metanoeo„„, a great improvement over "do penance," but still misleading in many contexts.

Later English versions, including the Authorized or King James Version of 1611, were deeply indebted to Tyndale's phraseology, including his repent and repentance.

Repentance as a translation seems to keep the idea that one must turn from his sinful deeds to obtain God's favor. However, it eliminates the notion that, in addition, one must confess his sins to a priest and do prescribed good works before he can obtain (or regain) grace.

Modern Translations
Modern translators also generally translate metanoia as repentance. While this is an improvement over the Latin translation "penance," it is in most cases, as we shall now see, a poor reflection of its meaning in the NT.

II. Meaning of Metanoia in the NT
Basic Sense: Change of Mind
The pre-Christian meaning of metanoia as a change of mind is its basic NT sense as well. This can readily be seen in Heb 12:17 which reads: "For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit a blessing, he [Esau] was rejected, for he found no place for metanoia, though he sought it diligently with tears." What was it that Esau could not find? It was not a turning from sinful behavior. It was not penance. What he could not find was a way to change his father's mind. The matter was settled. No matter how much he pleaded, he couldn't change Isaac's mind.

All NT uses include the sense of a change of mind present. However, if the context clearly indicates what one is changing his mind about, it could be that a more polished English translation can be found. For instance, if one is to change his mind about his sinful deeds, the term repentance conveys that thought nicely.

There are four specialized types of uses of metanoia in the NT. We will now consider these.

A Synonym for Eternal Salvation
In a few passages metanoia is used via metonymy as a synonym for eternal salvation. These cases involve a metonymy of cause for the effect. The cause is a change of mind about Christ and His Gospel. The effect is eternal salvation. Thus when we read in 2 Pet 3:9, "The Lord is . . . not willing that any should perish but that all should come to metanoia," the idea is the same as 1 Tim 2:4, "[God] desires all men to be saved."

Luke 5:32 illustrates this same usage: "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to metanoia." That is, Jesus is affirming that He didn't come to call those who think that they are righteous, but those who know themselves to be sinners, to salvation. Metanoia is used as a synonym for eternal salvation.

A Change of Mind Regarding Sinful Behavior =Repentance
On some occasions metanoia is used in contexts where the change of mind in view is clearly indicated as having to do with one's sinful practices. For example, in Luke 17:3-4 Jesus taught the disciples that they were to forgive all who sinned against them if they came and indicated that they had changed their minds regarding their sin. In this case and others like it "repentance" would be a good translation choice. We are to forgive anyone who sins against us and then repents.

It is important to note, as shall be brought out further in future articles, that eternal salvation is never conditioned upon changing one's mind about (i.e., repenting concerning) his sinful practices.

A Change of Mind Regarding Self and Christ
Many NT passages use metanoia in contexts where what one is to change his mind about is himself and Christ. For example, in Acts 2:38, after having indicted his Jewish audience for crucifying their Messiah and in response to their question "What shall we do?" Peter called them to change their minds about Jesus Christ. They had rejected Him. Now they could accept Him. They were to believe that He is the Messiah, the Christ, the Savior of the world. Such a mindset includes a recognition that one is a sinner in need of the Savior. Self-righteousness is clearly antithetical to faith (cf. Luke 18:9-14).

In this use metanoia occurs as a virtual synonym for pistis (faith).

A Change of Mind Regarding Idols and God
In one passage the object of metanoia is stated as idols and God (Acts 17:29-31). Paul told the Athenian philosophers that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead and that He would be coming back to earth as Judge. He told his listeners that in order to escape eternal condemnation they had to change their minds about their idols and about God and the Man whom He had sent and would send again. They had to transfer their faith from their idols to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Summary
Metanoia is used in the NT in a number of different ways, all of which have the idea of a change of mind at the root. In a few contexts it is used via metonymy as a synonym for eternal salvation. When it is used in contexts dealing with temporal salvation from life's difficulties, a change of mind about one's sinful ways (i.e., repentance) is given as the condition. However, when used in contexts dealing with eternal salvation from hell, a change of mind about oneself and Christ (or, in one passage, regarding idols and God) is given as the condition. In such contexts metanoia is used as a synonym for faith.

III. Meaning of Metamelomai
The basic meaning of metamelomai is "to feel regret." In 2 Cor 7:9 Paul indicates that he no longer regretted sending them a letter which made them sorry, though at first he did regret sending it.

Regret usually carries with it the idea of a change of mind. In Matt 21 :29 Jesus told the Parable of the Two Sons. Both were told to go work in the vineyard. One said he would not, but later changed his mind (or regretted his decision) and went. The other said that he would go, but did not.

After betraying Christ, Judas regretted what he had done, gave back his blood money, and hanged himself (Matt 27:3). Judas "repented" in this sense; or more precisely, he "was remorseful" (NKJV). Yet he did not come to faith in Christ. He never changed his mind about Christ being His Savior. He rejected Him to his death.

While it is commonly translated in that way, there are no uses of metamelomai in the NT where "repentance" is a good translation. It always refers to regret, remorse, or to a change of mind. It never refers to turning from one's sins.

IV. Meaning of Strepho Compounds
While they are never translated as "repentance," the compounds of strepho in some contexts carry the idea of turning from sins. The basic sense of these compounds is turning from or to someone or something. These compounds are the true corresponding terms to the OT word shu‚b.

"Turning to the Lord" is used in the NT, as it was in the OT, as an expression for faith and conversion.70 When Paul reported in Acts 15:3 that Gentiles were turning to the Lord, he was simply saying that Gentiles were coming to faith in Christ, were being saved.

Nowhere in the NT are these verbs used to indicate that one must turn from his sins to obtain eternal salvation.

V. Conclusion
I'm still not sure what the man at the athletic events meant by his one-word message on his T-shirt. The word repent has a well-defined meaning in English. However, not all who use it mean the normal dictionary definition. Some mean merely a recognition of one's sinfulness. Others mean a change of thinking about Jesus Christ. Still others mean turning from one's sins, a willingness to do so, or a sense of remorse over one's sins.

I wish we could retranslate the NT. It would make teaching and preaching passages using metanoia simpler. It would eliminate the confusion many have when they read their Bibles and see the word repent. However, this is not likely to happen. It seems that "repentance" as a translation for metanoia (and metamelomai) will probably be with us for a long time.

In most cases when the English word repent occurs in the NT it is translating metanoia. Metanoia is not the equivalent of the OT term shu‚b. It certainly does not mean "penance. n Nor does it normally mean "repentance." Rather, in the NT it retains its pre-Christian meaning of a change of mind. The English reader thus generally needs to read "change of mind "--not turn from sins--when he sees the word " repent" in the NT. The context must be consulted to determine the object of a person's change of mind.

The only times repent is actually a good English translation is when the object of metanoia is sinful deeds. A change of mind about sinful behavior is equivalent to repentance.

Nearly a century ago, in The Great Meaning of Metanoia, Treadwell Walden decried the Latin and English translations of metanoia as being "extraordinary mistranslations."71 I would agree.72

Used by permission:
Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society
Volume 2, No. 2 -- Autumn 1989

[JesusIsLord]

Repentance is a funny thing. True, the bible doesnt say you need it to be saved, but isnt it a natural thing to feel when you realize you have been sinning for a long time and have been in darkness? We are saved through grace by faith alone......nothing we do apart from Christ can save us from God's wrath, but praise be to the Lord that He made a Way for us to Him!

James says that faith without deeds is dead. I tend to think that many of the Works Salvation people take James out of context. I think what James is saying is that we should be doing these good works because of the love we have for Christ, because he loved us first. Doing good works is a thing that should come naturally when we love Christ, not something done out of obligation in order to earn our salvation. We have been saved by grace through faith, not works.

I think the www.repentanceblacklist.com website is taking the repentance issue too far. For if we believe with all of our heart that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead, yet we continue to live life as we had before we were "born again", how alive is our faith? How true and sincere is our faith? If I was truly born again, shouldnt I be transformed or different in some way? If I truly believed in Jesus, wouldnt I want to follow Him in every way and put away the ways of my past? If I am still conformed to this world, then I am in darkness. But we, brothers and sisters in Christ, are not in darkness but in the light. So I tend to think that the mark of a true believer is how they live their life. Yes, everyone is still a sinner, even with Christ. But since we are no longer a slave to sin, should we be trying to be more like our Rabbi, our savior? If we are not, then isnt that an indication of how much love we truly have for Him?

There is a big difference between being a "believer" and being a "follower" of Christ. Since I do not have the mind of God, I will not pass judgment on those who believe yet change nothing about the way they live their life. All I can do is try to help those who need help, teach those who do not know, and preach to those that have not heard about the love Christ has for all of us.

[Robert]

This became an issue for me when a member at RR didn't like that I had put down "be willing to turn from your sins" at the end of one of my posts. He said that it wasn't biblical because it was "works." So, I am paying attention to what is said here.

I believe that being willing to turn from your sins is a change in mind about them. Hopefully, I can find my answers in this thread. Most of you know me, and I try very hard not to stray from solid biblical truth.

[mattfivefour]

Repentance is a funny thing. True, the bible doesnt say you need it to be saved, but isnt it a natural thing to feel when you realize you have been sinning for a long time and have been in darkness? We are saved through grace by faith alone......nothing we do apart from Christ can save us from God's wrath, but praise be to the Lord that He made a Way for us to Him!

James says that faith without deeds is dead. I tend to think that many of the Works Salvation people take James out of context. I think what James is saying is that we should be doing these good works because of the love we have for Christ, because he loved us first. Doing good works is a thing that should come naturally when we love Christ, not something done out of obligation in order to earn our salvation. We have been saved by grace through faith, not works.

I think the www.repentanceblacklist.com website is taking the repentance issue too far. For if we believe with all of our heart that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead, yet we continue to live life as we had before we were "born again", how alive is our faith? How true and sincere is our faith? If I was truly born again, shouldnt I be transformed or different in some way? If I truly believed in Jesus, wouldnt I want to follow Him in every way and put away the ways of my past? If I am still conformed to this world, then I am in darkness. But we, brothers and sisters in Christ, are not in darkness but in the light. So I tend to think that the mark of a true believer is how they live their life. Yes, everyone is still a sinner, even with Christ. But since we are no longer a slave to sin, should we be trying to be more like our Rabbi, our savior? If we are not, then isnt that an indication of how much love we truly have for Him?

There is a big difference between being a "believer" and being a "follower" of Christ. Since I do not have the mind of God, I will not pass judgment on those who believe yet change nothing about the way they live their life. All I can do is try to help those who need help, teach those who do not know, and preach to those that have not heard about the love Christ has for all of us.

Now THAT, my brother, is an excellent post!

And while we may not have the mind of God, His Word tell us we do have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). I believe that means that if we are truly His we can understand what it is He wants of us in our lives and in our service to Himself. A passage I always relate to that one is Philippians 2:5-18. In the KJV it begins, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus", and although it is not the same "mind" as in the 1 Corinthians verse (here it is not the noun for "mind" but the verb for "attitude") nonetheless it speaks of the same thing, I think. The Son willingly gave up all glory and right of His position as God and took on Himself the condition of a human being—part of His creation—in order to call men to Himself. He chose to serve rather than insisting on being served. He showed us God's true character and exactly what He wants. And ultimately He finished the Father's work (John 4:34 KJV) by restoring fellowship between God and man through the all-sufficient sacrifice of Himself.

Therefore, surely we who claim His salvation need to be walking also as He walked? Surely, we too are to give up all we have claim to and live not for ourselves but for Him and our fellow man? Surely that is the import of "ye are not your own"? (1 Corinthians 6:19b)

Paul said that we who are Christians have been changed. In my view of what the New Testament teaches, if there is no change, then we should be worrying about whether we are indeed His. As Paul says, speaking of obedience, "work out your salvation with trembling and fear. (Philippians 2:12) Now note that it does not say work your salvation ... but work OUT your salvation. God has already placed it in us ... we are to work it out. That is a command in the Greek. The word "work out" is κατεργάζεσθε (kat-err-GADZ-ess-thay) in the Greek ... an absolute command ... with the meaning "accomplish fully" or "perform". I like the word perform. We are to perform in accordance with the salvation God has given us. Did not John the Baptist command people to bring forth fruit that showed their repentance? (Matthew 3:8) Did not Jesus say "I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit"? (John 15:16) Did not John the Apostle say, "the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked"? (1 John 2:6) Did he not also say, "The one who says, 'I have come to know Him,' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him"? (1 John 2:4) We need to pay attention to this and not just slough off these clear statements.

And note that we are to perform this, accomplish this, "work it out" ... with "fear and trembling". In Greek the words are "phobos" and "tromos", which literally mean "terror" and "quaking with fear". We are to perform the working outward of our salvation in terror and while quaking with fear. Those are pretty strong words. And I think they fit with Paul's caution to the Hebrews when he wrote (or rather the Holy Spirit wrote through him), "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" (Hebrews 2:3) God is not someone to treat like your buddy. He is the Lord of the Universe! The Righteous Judge. The Almighty Creator. The Holy and Glorious God. And our salvation is no light thing but the result of His incredible love for us and of an incredible price He paid through His Son, Jesus. We shall not escape if we treat it with disdain or carelessness.

Let us therefore, realize the seriousness of the matter ... the seriousness of salvation ... the seriousness of how we should live. We are too often altogether too cavalier in our attitude toward our duties as His servants.

But notice that God does not demand we do the work. Only respond to that which HE has placed in us. For the Philippians passage ends with the words, "for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work, for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13) God is the One who puts the "want to" in your heart and when you choose to follow that desire, then He is the One who provides the power in you to do it. The Greek is "energeo" from which (obviously) we get our word "energy" ... and literally means "to be active", "to put forth power".

Anyway, I didn't mean to write all this. It just came pouring out in response to your excellent post, brother. God bless you for encouraging God's people to live as God's people ... to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, and to serve one another and Him above all ... leaving all the caring for our own needs and our own desires in HIS hands, to fulfill in His time as He sees fit.

And thank you, Chris, for starting a thread that looked at repentance ... for repentance ("a changing of mind" which implies a "turning from") is at the heart of the change that God works in us.

[bghtnpd4]

Excellent article, Chris! Thanks for posting!