Repentance is the activity of reviewing one’s actions and feeling contrition
or regret for past wrongs. … [It] is generally seen as involving a commitment
to personal change and the resolve to live a more responsible and humane life.
In other words, being sorry for one’s misdeeds. – Wikipedia.
All my sins displease me grievously: I will never more commit
them; but I grieve for them and will grieve so long as I live, steadfastly
purposing to repent truly, and to make restitution as far as I can. Forgive, O
God, forgive me my sins for Your holy name's sake; save my soul, which You have
redeemed with Your precious blood. Behold, I commit myself to Your mercy, I
resign myself to Your hands. Deal with me according to Your loving-kindness,
not according to my wickedness and iniquity. - Modernized from Thomas à Kempis,
The Imitation of Christ, Chapter
VIII, 1418-1427, public domain.
Some Biblical examples of repentance:
2 Chron. 32:24 In those days Hezekiah
was terminally ill, and he prayed to Yahweh; and he spoke to him, and gave him
a sign. 25 But Hezekiah didn’t reciprocate appropriate to the benefit done for
him, because his heart was lifted up. Therefore there was wrath on him, and on
Judah and Jerusalem. 26 Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride
of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that Yahweh’s wrath
didn’t come on them in the days of Hezekiah.
Job 42: 5 I had heard of you by the
hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you. 6 Therefore I abhor myself, and
repent in dust and ashes.”
Matthew 3:1 In those days, John the
Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 “Repent, for the
Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”
6 They were baptized by him in the
Jordan, confessing their sins.
11a I indeed baptize you in water for
repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I
Matthew describes the temptation of
Jesus in chapter 3. This is part of chapter 4:17: From that time, Jesus began to
preach, and to say, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
In Mark 6, Jesus sent the 12 out, in
pairs:
12 They went out and preached that
people should repent.
Mark 5:32 “… I have not come to call
the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Luke 15:7 I tell you that even so
there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over
ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance. (also see verse 10)
Acts 2:38 Peter said to them,
“Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the
forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit….”
(Sermon at Pentecost. And, of course, lots of people did repent then.)
Acts 8:20 But Peter said to him, “May
your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of
God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart
isn’t right before God. 22 Repent therefore of this, your wickedness ….”
2 Cor 7:10 For godly sorrow produces
repentance to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world
produces death.
2 Peter 3: The Lord is not slow
concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but he is patient with us, not
wishing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
In addition to those mentioned above, others who repented: David (2 Samuel 12:15-23, Psalm
51); Manasseh (2 Chron 33:1-20. For some reason, 2 K 21:1-18 does not mention
his repentance.); (Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:28-37); Jonah (2:7-3:3); The
Ninevites (Jonah 3:4-10); Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:1-16); The jailer (Acts 16:22-34).
Examples of people who didn’t repent: The people of Noah’s day, and the Sodomites (2 Peter
2:4-8) (Genesis 19:1-8); Esau (Heb 12:14-17); Pharaoh; Judas, probably (Matt
27:3-19, Acts 1:21-26); The religious leaders (Matt 21:28-32).
Thanks for reading!
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