Isaiah 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”
In my article, “Thinking like God” we saw that it is not only possible to know how God thinks, but it is His will that we think just like Him. I bring this up because Isaiah tells us that God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways. And yet, God says in His Word, we will know Him personally (Jer. 31:34) and we can think like He does (1 Cor. 2:16).
This brings us to what repentance is all about.
The word repentance has been misunderstood by the church. Most people when asked what repentance is respond with one of the following statements:
- To feel sorry about something one did or failed to do.
- To feel remorseful about some act and ask forgiveness for it.
- To walk forward in a church service to formally ask Jesus into one’s heart.
(Sparkling Gems, Rick Renner) - A regular act of confessing sin to stay “right” with God.
None of these are what the Bible calls repentance. So what does the Bible say about repentance?
What is repentance?
From the beginning of the New Testament, starting with John the Baptist’s ministry (Mat. 3:2), Jesus’ ministry (Mat. 4:17), and preached by the apostles in the early church (Acts 2:38); repentance is God’s requirement, necessary for salvation.
This Greek word used in the New Testament for repentance is metanoeo.
It literally means ‘a change of mind.’
It portrays a decision to completely change the way one thinks. It is a complete turnaround in the way one thinks, that it produces a totally altered view of life and behavior or a decision to believe, think and act differently. It portrays a decision to completely change the way one thinks, lives, or behaves. One of the most important aspects of repentance is that it is an intellectual decision, not an emotional one; and the fruit of repentance is a lifestyle change that proves the change is genuine. (Rick Renner)
Repentance literally means to change your mind and agree with God. The Bible says it is the GOODNESS of God that leads us to do this.
Romans 2:4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
While you may feel some emotion when you make the decision to repent; repentance is not remorse, guilt, or sorrow for your actions. All the guilt and shame in the world is not enough to save you; God’s requirement is true repentance.
2 Corinthians 7:10 amp For [godly] sorrow that is in accord with the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but worldly sorrow [the hopeless sorrow of those who do not believe] produces death.
The first part of that verse tells us that when we come to a place of true repentance, we have a godly sorrow for our old way of thinking and make a choice to now be in agreement with God’s way. The second part of the verse talks about what we experience for our sin without true repentance.
This is what happened with Judas Iscariot. He is the disciple who betrayed Jesus, which lead to Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion. The scripture tells us Judas repented, however the word used here is a different word than what was used for ‘repentance’ in the previous examples in the New Testament.
Matthew 27:3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse.
The Greek word used here in this verse is metamelomai.
It expresses sorrow, mourning or grief-not someone moved to change but rather it gives an illustration of a person consumed with remorse, guilt or regret.
Judas Iscariot felt remorse, but instead of “repenting” and coming to God and asking forgiveness, he hung himself.
Matthew 27:5 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.
Repentance (to change one’s mind in agreement with God) is required to receive our salvation, and it is also important after we have received salvation to live a lifestyle that is in agreement with God. Many people feel guilty for their lifestyle, choices, or behavior and come to God full of guilt and shame; thinking they are repenting. However, if that repentance isn’t followed by a change in thinking that produces different actions, choices and lifestyle, then they most likely have not truly repented. We should always acknowledge when we are thinking/responding outside of God’s Word. But it should NOT produce guilt or shame that we continue to carry; but rather a change of heart and attitude that causes a complete change that does produce the fruit of right actions.
See my article “Thinking like God” for more about transforming your mind to think like God.