The word repentance means to have a change of mind. When we hear the gospel message of the kindness of God’s provision to lead people (all of whom are sinful from inheriting a sinful nature through Adam’s original sin) into salvation through the sacrificial atonement of His Son (“the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”(Jn. 1:24)) and come to realize how sinful our ways are before God, we can’t help but to be humbled yet joyful and relieved that He is offering us a free pass from punishment so that we may forsake our self-reliant sinful nature. He is giving us a chance to change our mind from our desire to live in sin and instead live in a restored relationship with Him by His own power through the filling of the Holy Spirit, a chance to be submissive and worship Him alone as the One True God.
Adolph Saphir writes about repentance: “Consider what is the view which the sinner takes of the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. Three
things happen when, by the Spirit of God, the sinner is brought to see Jesus Christ and Him crucified, and these three are essentially and inseparable connected. First, the sinner is brought into contact with the holiness of God, and repents. Second, the sinner is brought into contact with the love of God, and believes. Third, the sinner is brought into contact with the power of God, and is regenerated.
What is repentance? Fear is the natural consequence of sin. But fear is not repentance. ..Or a man may feel sorrow, for having done something, which is not according to the standard of righteousness and truth…This sorrow, although not without noble elements, is not repentance. Repentance is a return unto God. The Hebrew word for “repentance” is “return.” Repentance is unto life. Repentance is when Jesus Christ the crucified is beheld; as it is said in the prophet Zechariah, “They shall look unto Me whom they have pierced, and shall mourn for Me.” Repentance is when the kingdom of God is brought nigh, and the voice of John the Baptist is heard: “Turn; for the love of God has come to visit you.” Repentance is when the prodigal says, “I will arise and go to my Father.” Oh!, however tearful and sad repentance may be, there is a note of joy in it; there is in it a pulsation of love, a beginning of life. When the sinner sees the holiness of God in a crucified Savior, who loved us even unto the end, then he returns unto Him; he repents; he sees the exceeding sinfulness of sin and thirsts after God.”1
Don Henson writes about repentance: “Since it is not natural for us to desire to make the changes necessary to obey God (Romans 8:7), He must lead us to understand the need for repentance (Romans 2:4), which is the starting point of a commitment to a new way of living and to the transformation of the human heart and mind from carnal to spiritual (Acts 3:19; Romans 12:2).
The Bible shows that initial repentance is a significant, personal, life-changing decision that leads to baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:37-39). Repentance is characterized by an understanding of the seriousness of sin (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3), a deep desire to be forgiven (Psalm 51:1-3; Hebrews 9:14) and a determined commitment to change behavior and thoughts in order to stop sinning (Matthew 3:8; Acts 26:19-20).
…Jesus’ gospel message includes a call to repentance (Mark 1:14-15), which leads to a change in direction—turning from the natural pursuit of sinful human values to obedience and seeking the Kingdom of God. Jesus used current events of His time to emphasize that a person’s life is futile and random until he or she comes to repentance and begins to pursue the Kingdom of God (Luke 13:1-5).”2
Don Waterhouse writes about repentance: “Repentance must go deeper than merely recognizing what is right or wrong. One must admit personal guilt for breaking God’s holy law. Christian repentance is a godly sorrow that is so deep and profound that it leads to our diligently changing our lives (2 Corinthians 7:9-10). Repentance is an acknowledgement that our entire way of life was apart from God. We must understand that our sins separated us from God and required the death of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Our desire to be forgiven and obey God from now on must be motivated from the heart.”3
Foot Notes
1. Christ Crucified by Adolph Saphir, 1889, Pgs. 36-37
2. What is Repentance? By Don Henson https://lifehopeandtruth.com/change/repentance/what-is-repentance
3. How to Repent by Don Waterhouse https://lifehopeandtruth.com/change/repentance/how-to-repent/