Repentance

Definition:

נָחַם nacham naw-kham' a prim. root; to be sorry, console oneself:— am sorry(1), appeased(1), become a consolation(1), change mind(6), change minds(1), changed mind(4), comfort(30), comforted(18), comforter(2), comforters(4), comforts(2), console(3), consolers(1), consoling(1), give rest(1), have compassion(2), moved to pity(1), regret(1), regretted(1), relent(5), relented(4), relenting(3), relents(1), relieved(1), repent(3), repented(2), sorry(6), think better(1), when the time of mourning was ended(2).

μετανοέω metanoeō; to change one’s mind or purpose:— repent(26), repented(5), repents(3). · to change one's mind, i.e. to repent … to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins  

WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH: CHAPTER 15

  1. Repentance unto life is an *evangelical grace,[1] the doctrine whereof is to be preached by every minister of the gospel, as well as that of faith in Christ.[2]
  2. 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,[3] purposing and endeavoring to walk with him in all the ways of his commandments.[4]
  3. Although repentance is not to be rested in, as any satisfaction for sin, or any cause of the pardon thereof,[5] which is the act of God’s free grace in Christ;[6] yet it is of such necessity to all sinners, that none may expect pardon without it.[7]
  4. As there is no sin so small, but it deserves damnation;[8] so there is no sin so great, that it can bring damnation upon those who truly repent.[9]
  5. Men ought not to content themselves with a general repentance, but it is every man’s duty to endeavor to repent of his particular sins, particularly.[10]
  6. As every man is bound to make private confession of his sins to God, praying for the pardon thereof;[11] upon which, and the forsaking of them, he shall find mercy;[12] so, he that *scandalizes his brother, or the church of Christ, ought to be willing, by a private or public confession, and sorrow for his sin, to declare his repentance to those that are offended,[13] who are thereupon to be reconciled to him, and in love to receive him.[14]

*evangelical = Of, relating to, or in accordance with the Christian gospel

*odiousness = revolting, detestable, horrible

*scandalizes = disgrace, shame, dishonor

[1]Zechariah 12:10. "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. Acts 11:18 . When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."

[2] Luke 24:46 He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Mark 1:15 . "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" Acts 20:21 . I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

[3] Ezekiel 18:30-31. "Therefore, O house of Israel , I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. 31 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? Ezekiel 36:31 . Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices. Isaiah 30:22 . Then you will defile your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, "Away with you!" Psalm 51:4 . Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. Jeremiah 31:18-19 "I have surely heard Ephraim's moaning: 'You disciplined me like an unruly calf, and I have been disciplined. Restore me, and I will return, because you are the LORD my God. 19 After I strayed, I repented; after I came to understand, I beat my breast. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.' Joel 2:12-13 . "Even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." 13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Amos 5:15 . 15 Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the LORD God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph. Psalm 119:128 . … and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path. 2 Corinthians 7:11 . See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

[4] Psalm 119:6, 59, 106. 6 Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands. 59 I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes. 106 I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws. Luke 1:6 . Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly. 2 Kings 23:25 Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.

[5] Ezekiel 36:31-32. Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices. 32 I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign LORD. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, O house of Israel! Ezekiel 16:61-63 . Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you receive your sisters, both those who are older than you and those who are younger. I will give them to you as daughters, but not on the basis of my covenant with you. 62 So I will establish my covenant with you, and you will know that I am the LORD. 63 Then, when I make atonement for you for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed and never again open your mouth because of your humiliation, declares the Sovereign LORD.' "

[6] Hosea 14:2, 4. Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to him: "Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips. 4 "I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them. Romans 3:24 . … and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Ephesians 1:7 . In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.

[7] Luke 13:3-5. I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem ? 5I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." Acts 17:30-31 . In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31For 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 all men by raising him from the dead."

[8] Romans 6:23. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned — Matthew 12:36 . But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.

[9] Isaiah 55:7. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. Romans 8:1 . Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Isaiah 1:16, 18 . … wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, 17 learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless,    plead the case of the widow. 18 "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;   though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

[10] Psalm 19:13. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. Luke 19:8 . But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." 1 Timothy 1:13-15 . Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.     15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.

[11] Psalm 51:4-5, 7, 9, 14. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. 5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. Psalm 32:5-6 . Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD "—and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah     6 Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him.

[12] Proverbs 28:13. He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. 1 John 1:9 . If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

[13] James 5:16. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Luke 17:3-4 . So watch yourselves. "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."

Psalm 51 .

[14] 2 Corinthians 2:8. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.