Scripture stresses the seriousness of impenitence. Despite the goodness of God, some sinners refuse to repent and turn to him in faith.
Impenitence is a refusal to turn from sin
Hosea 7:10; Acts 7:51 See also Job 34:33; Isaiah 1:4; Jeremiah 9:6; Hosea 11:5
Israel’s arrogance testifies against them, yet they do not return to the LORD their God; despite all this, they do not seek Him.
You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.
Impenitence in spite of God's invitations and and warnings
Isaiah 66:4; Zechariah 7:11–12 See also 2 Kings 17:14; Zechariah 1:4JER Zechariah 7:25–26, Jeremiah 11:7–8, Jeremiah 11:10, Jeremiah 13:10, Jeremiah 17:23, Jeremiah 25:3–4, Jeremiah 32:33, Jeremiah 44:4–5, Jeremiah 44:16
So I will choose their punishment and I will bring terror upon them, because I called and no one answered, I spoke and no one listened. But they did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.”
But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped up their ears from hearing. They made their hearts like flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of Hosts.
Impenitence in spite of God's dealings
Numbers 14:11 See also Nehemiah 9:17; Matthew 11:20–24 parallel Luke 10:13–15
And the LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people treat Me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in Me, despite all the signs I have performed among them?
Impenitence in spite of God's punishment
Psalm 78:31–32; Amos 4:6 See also Isaiah 9:13; Jeremiah 2:30, Jeremiah 3:2–3, Jeremiah 5:3, Jeremiah 30:15; Zephaniah 3:2; Haggai 2:17
God’s anger flared against them, and He put to death their strongest and subdued the young men of Israel. In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; despite His wonderful works, they did not believe.
“I afflicted all your cities with cleanness of teeth and all your towns with lack of bread, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD.
Impenitence in spite of God's goodness
Romans 2:4 See also Job 15:11 Although inappropriate for Job, the advice is still valid; Romans 10:21
Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?
There is no remedy for persistent impenitence
2 Chronicles 36:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:10 See also Hebrews 6:4–6, Hebrews 10:26–27
But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy.
and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.