Repentance is of central importance because sin brings God's judgment and fellowship with God is only possible through full and sincere repentance. God, through his servants, calls people to repent as the only way to escape the judgment and receive the forgiveness and restoration which he offers.
The call to repentance
Luke 5:32; James 5:19–20 See also Jeremiah 25:4–6; Ezekiel 33:7–9; Mark 1:4 parallel Luke 3:3; Luke 24:47; 2 Timothy 2:24–26
I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
Repentance opens the way for blessing
It is the only way to escape God's judgment
Ezekiel 18:30–32 See also Job 36:12; Jeremiah 18:7–8, Jeremiah 26:3; Hosea 11:5; Jonah 3:10; Luke 3:8–9; Revelation 2:5
Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall. Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death, declares the Lord GOD. So repent and live![’’]
It prepares the way for God's kingdom
Matthew 4:17 parallel Mark 1:14–15 See also Matthew 3:2
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
It brings forgiveness and restoration
2 Chronicles 7:13–14; Isaiah 55:7 See also Deuteronomy 30:1–10; Nehemiah 1:8–9; Job 22:23–25, Job 36:10–11; Isaiah 44:22; Acts 2:38–39, Acts 3:19, Acts 5:31, Acts 11:18
If I close the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send a plague among My people, and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.
God desires that all people should repent
He wants everyone to be saved
Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Lord GOD. Wouldn’t I prefer that he turn from his ways and live?
His patience with the unrepentant
2 Peter 3:9 See also Isaiah 65:2; Romans 2:4; Revelation 2:21
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.
His discipline encourages repentance
Jeremiah 31:18–20 See also Isaiah 10:20–21, Isaiah 19:22; Hosea 2:6–7, Hosea 6:1
I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me severely, like an untrained calf. Restore me, that I may return, for You are the LORD my God. After I returned, I repented; and after I was instructed, I struck my thigh in grief. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’ Is not Ephraim a precious son to Me, a delightful child? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore My heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him,” declares the LORD.
Taking God's opportunity for repentance
Isaiah 55:6; Acts 17:30–31 See also Hebrews 3:13–15, Hebrews 4:7; Psalm 95:7–8
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.
Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent. For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”
Refusing God's opportunity for repentance
Examples of those who refuse to repent
Jeremiah 35:15 See also Jeremiah 5:3; Matthew 11:20, Matthew 21:32; Revelation 9:20–21, Revelation 16:9–11
Again and again I have sent you all My servants the prophets, proclaiming: ‘Turn now, each of you, from your wicked ways, and correct your actions. Do not go after other gods to serve them. Live in the land that I have given to you and your fathers.’ But you have not inclined your ear or listened to Me.
God confirms those who refuse to repent in their hardness of heart
Matthew 13:14–15 parallels Mark 4:11–12, Luke 8:9–10; Acts 28:25–27; Isaiah 6:10
Repentance may not remove the effects of human sin
Numbers 14:39–45 The Israelites' repentance could not prevent the wandering that resulted from their refusal to enter the promised land; 1 Samuel 15:24–26 Saul's repentance is too late to escape God's judgment on his kingship; 2 Samuel 12:13–14 Despite David's repentance the son of his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba still died; Hebrews 12:16–17 Esau's repentance could not bring back the birthright he had sold to Jacob.
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.