Clergy/Leaders’ Mail-list No. 1-054 (Theology)

Living Words of the New Testament, by Rev Dr Leon Morris

REPENTANCE

In Greek writings generally the word used in the New Testament for repentance means ‘a change of mind’. It is used only with reference to a single action, not for a wholehearted change that may affect the whole of life. It does not have ethical meaning, so that the change of mind is not necessarily a change for the better.

This is one of the words to which the New Testament writers gave a fuller and deeper meaning. For them it meant first a deep sorrow for the sins people have committed (see the way it is used in Acts 8:22; 2 Cor. 12:21; Rev. 9:21). The Greeks did not have such an idea, but for the Christians it was basic that people should turn away from all the evil they themselves have committed.

Sorrow for sin is not enough: there must be a genuine turning away from the evil thing. To be sorry over sin without turning away from it is remorse, but remorse is not repentance. When we repent we are indeed sorry about the wrong we have done, but by God’s grace we turn away from it and determine with his help to do better in the future.

We must not think of repentance as simply negative, as no more than turning away from evil. It is that, but it is more. It is a turning to God (see Acts 20:21); we cannot turn to God if we are holding fast to our sin. And it is a turning that produces good works (see Acts 26:20; Matt. 3:8).

The very first words recorded of Jesus’ preaching are ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’ (Matt. 4:17; look up Mark 1:15 also). And among his last words were those he spoke to the disciples after the resurrection in which he told them that ‘repentance and forgiveness of sins’ are to be preached in his name to all the nations (Luke 24:47).

Repentance may be used as a kind of shorthand way of summing up the gospel (see Luke 5:32). It is not that other things like faith do not matter. They do. But repentance is so important, and the turning away from evil to God so significant, that it can stand for the whole Christian way.

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Rev Dr Leon Morris is an internationally recognised New Testament scholar, theologian and author, from Melbourne Australia.

This feature series of ‘Living Words of the New Testament’ appeared in ‘Daily Notes’, published by Scripture Union.