Definition · Webster 1828 · Scriptures · Corruption · Roots · Usage · Related
📖 Biblical Definition
Greek metanoia (a change of mind, issuing in a change of life); the saving grace by which the sinner turns from sin unto God. The Westminster Confession (XV.2) defines repentance unto life: By it, a sinner, out of the sight and sense not only of the danger, but also of the filthiness and odiousness of his sins, as contrary to the holy nature, and righteous law of God; and upon the apprehension of his mercy in Christ to such as are penitent, so grieves for, and hates his sins, as to turn from them all unto God, purposing and endeavouring to walk with him in all the ways of his commandments. Repentance comprises several elements: (1) a true sense and conviction of sin (its danger, filthiness, and offensiveness to God); (2) an apprehension of God's mercy in Christ (repentance is not mere remorse or despair, but turning toward the God who is merciful in Christ); (3) grief for and hatred of sin; (4) a turning from all sin unto God; (5) a purpose and endeavor of new obedience (walking in God's commandments). Repentance is distinguished from mere worldly sorrow: godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death (2 Corinthians 7:10). Repentance is a saving grace, the gift of God (Acts 11:18, then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life; 2 Timothy 2:25), wrought by the Spirit in the regenerate heart; it is not a meritorious work that earns forgiveness, but the God-given turning that accompanies saving faith. The patriarchal-Reformed reader holds the substantive doctrine of repentance: it is the saving grace by which the sinner, convicted of sin and apprehending God's mercy in Christ, grieves for and hates his sin and turns from it unto God with purpose of new obedience; it is the gift of God, inseparable from saving faith, and is to be exercised throughout the Christian life (not merely at conversion, but as a lifelong grace, the believer continually turning from remaining sin unto God). Repentance is one of the two elements of conversion (with faith) and a mark of the genuine Christian life.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Greek metanoia (change of mind); the saving grace by which the sinner, convicted of sin and apprehending God's mercy in Christ, grieves for and hates his sin and turns from it unto God with purpose of new obedience (Westminster XV.2); distinguished from worldly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10); the gift of God, inseparable from saving faith.
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REPENTANCE (DOCTRINE), n. (soteriology; Greek metanoia, a change of mind) The saving grace by which the sinner turns from sin unto God. Westminster XV.2: out of a true sense of the danger, filthiness, and odiousness of his sins, and upon apprehension of God's mercy in Christ, the sinner so grieves for and hates his sins as to turn from them all unto God, purposing new obedience. Elements: conviction of sin; apprehension of mercy in Christ; grief for and hatred of sin; turning from sin unto God; purpose of new obedience. Distinguished from worldly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10, godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation). The gift of God (Acts 11:18; 2 Timothy 2:25), wrought by the Spirit; inseparable from saving faith; a lifelong grace.
📖 Key Scripture
2 Corinthians 7:10 — "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."
Acts 11:18 — "When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."
Luke 13:3 — "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
Acts 17:30 — "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Repentance is the God-given turning from sin unto God; the corruptions are the reduction to mere worldly sorrow (remorse without turning), the treatment of repentance as a meritorious work, and the easy-believism that severs faith from repentance.
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The doctrine of repentance is held against several errors. The reduction to mere worldly sorrow treats repentance as mere remorse, regret, or emotional distress over the consequences of sin, without the genuine turning from sin unto God; Paul distinguishes the two: godly sorrow works repentance unto salvation, but the sorrow of the world works death (2 Corinthians 7:10). The treatment of repentance as a meritorious work supposes that the sinner's repentance earns or merits his forgiveness; the Reformed doctrine holds that repentance, while necessary, is not the meritorious ground of forgiveness (which is Christ's atoning work received by faith) but the God-given turning that accompanies saving faith. The easy-believism that severs faith from repentance treats saving faith as possible without repentance, denying that the call to faith is also a call to turn from sin; the Reformed doctrine holds that genuine faith and genuine repentance are inseparable, the two elements of the one conversion. The patriarchal-Reformed reader holds the substantive doctrine: repentance is the saving grace, the gift of God (Acts 11:18), by which the convicted sinner, apprehending God's mercy in Christ, grieves for and hates his sin and turns from it unto God with purpose of new obedience; it is distinguished from worldly sorrow, is not a meritorious work, and is inseparable from saving faith. Repentance is to be exercised not only at conversion but throughout the Christian life — the believer continually turning from remaining sin unto God, the daily repentance that marks the genuine Christian life (Luther's first thesis: the whole life of the believer is to be one of repentance).
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek metanoia; the saving grace of turning from sin unto God; Westminster XV.2; distinguished from worldly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10); the gift of God; inseparable from faith; a lifelong grace.
Usage
"Repentance: the saving grace of turning from sin unto God (Westminster XV.2)."
"Distinguished from worldly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10); the gift of God (Acts 11:18)."
"Inseparable from saving faith; a lifelong grace exercised throughout the Christian life."