Acts 3:19
We need to know what to do so that our sins can be forgiven. That knowledge is given to us in the Bible. It is our rule for life and conduct. And in it we read about repentance (Acts 3:19):
19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord (Acts 3:19)
Here the Holy Spirit tells us why we must repent. If we do, our sins will be wiped out and times of refreshing will come from the presence of the Lord. In other words, our sins will be forgiven and our relationship with God will be restored.
Repentance is not merely an invitation or a suggestion — it is God’s command. In Acts 17:30 the apostle Paul says:
30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. (Acts 17:30)
Repentance is a universal command. It is for “all people everywhere.” Why? Because sin, too, is universal. Since sin is everywhere, repentance is for everyone.
But what is repentance? A change in our understanding, in our way of thinking, accompanied by sorrow and grief over what has happened, a longing that it had never happened, and a firm inward decision that this sin will never be repeated.
Notice that in this definition repentance has three sides — a mental side, an emotional side, and a side of the will. To understand each of these three sides of repentance, we will look at three biblical passages, each of which illustrates and highlights one of them.
FATHER, I HAVE SINNED AGAINST HEAVEN AND AGAINST YOU
In Luke 15 Jesus told the parable of the Prodigal Son. The prodigal son is the younger brother in a family with two boys. As he grew up he was rather wild and impulsive, and he asked for his father’s inheritance while his father was still alive. Even though this was insulting, his father said, “All right,” and divided his property between his sons. Not many days later the younger son packed his bags, took the money, and went off to a distant country. There he fell in with bad company, gave himself over to pleasure and reckless living, and very quickly the ready cash ran out. Then a famine and a crisis struck that country. And so this impulsive young man fell into want. He had no money for food. He looked for work. But unemployment was high, and he had no proper skills. So the prodigal son went to one of the local rich men and begged him to hire him as a common laborer. The rich man agreed and put him to work feeding pigs. And so the rich, self-assured boy became a swineherd. His condition was so degrading that even when he longed to eat from the pigs’ food, his masters would not allow it. In other words, he hit rock bottom.
And here is the mental side of repentance (Luke 15:17-19):
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ (Luke 15:17-19)
Notice that it says the prodigal son “came to his senses.” That means he sobered up and began to think reasonably. He remembered that his father’s hired servants had more than enough food, while he, the rich man’s son, was dying of hunger in a foreign land. But he was ashamed to go back to his father, because he had insulted him with his behavior and squandered his property. So he thought his father might not receive him as a son, but perhaps would take him on as a worker. Then he decided to return home and ask for forgiveness. And to ask for forgiveness, you must recognize the seriousness of your sin and the condition you are in. Notice how the prodigal son rehearses his repentance in his mind:
18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants. (Luke 15:18-19)
At that moment the prodigal son turned his thinking around by 180 degrees. Where before he had been thinking of how to leave his father, now he began to think about how to return to his father. In Greek the word for repentance is “metanoia,” and it means “a change of mind” and a change of direction in life.
This is the mental side of repentance — coming to yourself, humbling yourself, recognizing your real sinfulness, and resolving to pray for forgiveness and to seek mercy from God.
When we do this, when we repent, we will be surprised. First, we will be surprised by God’s attitude toward us. Instead of crushing us and casting us out, or humiliating us and making us feel awkward about what we have done, when we repent, God receives us with joy and restores us to a position of authority. He gives us the right to be called “children of God” (John 1:12).
12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— (John 1:12)
The father in this parable represents God. And here is how He reacts when a sinner repents:
20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. (Luke 15:20)
Notice that the father did not even wait to hear his son’s apologies. Before the son had reached home, when his father saw him he ran toward him, “threw his arms around him and kissed him.” What generosity! What love! What mercy! What willingness to forgive! But this is exactly God’s attitude toward the repentant sinner.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:21-24)
This is what happens to a person when he repents. Luke compares it to the resurrection of a dead man and the finding of what was lost — “was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” Such a person is clothed with the white robe of justification, and he gains authority in the Name of Jesus and the right to come to God and to fellowship with Him at His table.
Such a person will be surprised not only by God’s attitude, but perhaps also by the Pharisaical attitude of some older Christians. For the parable of the prodigal son does not stop here, but goes on to describe the offense taken by the older brother at the fact that his father so warmly welcomed his younger, reckless brother. Such conflicts arise in the church as well, but that is another subject…
TEARS OF REPENTANCE
Repentance has not only a rational, intellectual, or mental side. It also has an emotional side. In different people it is expressed to different degrees, but one way or another, it always exists. We can read about this side of repentance in Luke 7:36-50. There we are told how one of the Pharisees, named Simon, invited Jesus to his home for dinner. And while they were eating and fellowshipping around the table, a woman who was known for her loose living came to Him, carrying an “alabaster jar of perfume.”
38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. (Luke 7:38)
These are the tears of repentance. Why was this woman weeping? Why was she acting so emotionally? Because something had happened in her heart. Simon, in whose heart nothing like repentance had taken place, was astonished. He did not think about what had made this woman weep and show such a gesture of love and respect to Jesus, but was disgusted that Jesus would allow her — who, according to the Pharisee, was unclean — to touch Him. Jesus, of course, perceived people’s thoughts, and He answered the question in Simon’s mind:
40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. 41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. 44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” 48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:40-50)
Glory to God! The one who has been forgiven much loves much. And this love is expressed not only in a change of our thoughts, but also in a change of our feelings.
FRUIT WORTHY OF REPENTANCE
The third side of repentance is bound up with our will. And in the end this is the decisive side of repentance. For even if the first two sides of repentance are present — even if we recognize the need for repentance and are sorry for our sin — if after we repent we do not hold to our decision to live for God, then our repentance is in vain. In Matthew 3 we read about John the Baptist, and notice what his call was to the religious leaders who came to be baptized (Matthew 3:4-10):
4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. (Matthew 3:4-10)
What is John the Baptist talking about? Fruit. What kind of fruit? Good fruit, “fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8). The bearing of such fruit is bound up with the side of repentance that involves the will. For fruit to be produced, time is required. To hold firm over time in a posture of repentance requires perseverance and will.
An example of repentance of the will is the Ninevites.
1 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” 3 Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” 5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. 6 When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” 10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened. (Jonah 3:1-10)
If the rational side of repentance is bound up with our thinking, and the emotional side of repentance is bound up with our feelings, then the side of repentance that involves the will is bound up with our deeds. Notice that when the Ninevites heard Jonah’s preaching, their king issued a decree in which he commanded that everyone “give up their evil ways and the violence that is in their hands.” God spared them, but He spared them when He saw their deeds.
Yes, our words are important. But even more important are our deeds. And what our deeds will ultimately be is determined by our will.
Have you repented of your sins? If you have not, then do so, because this is God’s command.
And if you have repented, are you bearing “fruit worthy of repentance”? Consider whether your repentance is biblical. Does it have all three sides of repentance — rational, emotional, and volitional? Repentance is like a triangle — it has three sides. If one of them is missing, the triangle cannot exist. In the same way, if one of the sides of repentance is missing, it is not true, biblical repentance.
REPENTANCE FROM DEAD WORKS
Besides this, there are two kinds of repentance.
The first is the basic, general repentance — the one that is called “repentance toward God.” In Acts 20:21 the apostle Paul defends himself before the Jews and gives them his testimony. In the course of his speech he notes:
21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. (Acts 20:21)
This repentance is also called “repentance from dead works” (Hebrews 6:1-2):
1 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. (Hebrews 6:1-2)
Through repentance toward God, or repentance from dead works, we pray for God to forgive us all our sins and to receive us into His kingdom.
REPENTANCE FOR A SPECIFIC SIN
The other kind of repentance is repentance for particular sins, or even for particular thoughts. In Acts 8:18 we read about Simon, who set his mind on buying with money the ability to baptize with the Holy Spirit that the apostles had. But the apostle Peter rebukes him (Acts 8:20-24):
20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” 24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” (Acts 8:20-24)
Notice what Peter says to Simon: “Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart…” This is repentance for a specific deed and a specific thought.
This is the repentance that the apostle John also speaks about (1 John 1:6-2:2):
6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. 1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 1:6-2:2)
If we cover up our sin or ignore it, it will not be forgiven, and we will remain in darkness and separated from God. If we repent, the blood of God’s Son will cleanse us from sin, and we will be able to walk in God’s light and to have fellowship with Him.
This second kind of repentance — repentance for particular deeds and thoughts — is the repentance that accompanies us throughout our entire Christian life. Yes, as born-again, sanctified, and redeemed children of God we strive to grow and not to sin. Nevertheless our sinful nature — depending on the person — prevails, whether more often or more rarely. But when this happens, we are not lost. God has promised us that if we are not hypocrites and do not pretend to be righteous when we are not, but confess our sins and ask forgiveness for the specific sin, then He will forgive us and cleanse us not only from the sin we confess, but “from all unrighteousness.” Is all of this not wonderful? Of course, this grace of God must not be abused, but one way or another it exists. For we have an “advocate with the Father” and an “atoning sacrifice for our sins” — Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.