Lesson 3: What Is Repentance?
Repentance is one of the most important truths a person can understand.
It is also one of the most misunderstood.
Some people think repentance means only feeling sorry.
Some think it means crying at an altar.
Some think it means trying to fix your life before coming to Jesus Christ.
Some think it means doing good works to earn forgiveness.
Some think it means being afraid of hell for a moment.
Some think repentance is optional.
But the Bible speaks clearly.
Acts 17:30 says:
“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:”
— Acts 17:30, KJV
Repentance is not a small subject.
God commands all men every where to repent.
That means repentance is not only for one kind of sinner. It is not only for people who have committed certain outward sins. It is not only for those who feel emotional. It is not only for people who grew up outside religion.
All men need repentance because all men have sinned against God.
Repentance is not man trying to save himself.
Repentance is not earning salvation.
Repentance is not cleaning yourself up before you come to Christ.
Repentance is a turning of the heart toward God and away from sin.
It is a serious change of mind that agrees with God, stops defending rebellion, and turns to the Lord for mercy.
Repentance Begins With Seeing Sin Before God
A person will not repent rightly until he sees sin rightly.
Many people compare themselves to other people and think they are not that bad.
They say:
“I am better than most.”
“I have not done what they have done.”
“I am a good person.”
“I believe in God.”
“I have good intentions.”
But repentance does not begin by comparing yourself with other sinners.
Repentance begins when you see yourself before a holy God.
Romans 3:23 says:
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
— Romans 3:23, KJV
Sin is not merely breaking society’s rules.
Sin is not merely making mistakes.
Sin is not merely having problems.
Sin is rebellion against God.
Sin is falling short of His glory.
Sin is choosing your own way instead of His way.
Sin is loving darkness rather than light.
Sin is rejecting the authority of the One who made you.
Until a person sees sin as sin against God, he may feel regret, shame, embarrassment, or fear of consequences, but he has not yet understood repentance.
Psalm 51:4 says:
“Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight…”
— Psalm 51:4, KJV
David had sinned against people, but he understood that the deepest offense was against God.
True repentance sees sin in the light of God’s holiness.
Repentance Is Not Merely Being Sorry
There is a difference between sorrow and repentance.
A person can feel sorry because he was caught.
A person can feel sorry because sin brought consequences.
A person can feel sorry because his reputation was damaged.
A person can feel sorry because he hurt someone.
A person can feel sorry because he is afraid of judgment.
But sorrow alone is not the same as repentance.
2 Corinthians 7:10 says:
“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of:
but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”
— 2 Corinthians 7:10, KJV
There is godly sorrow, and there is worldly sorrow.
Worldly sorrow may cry, but still cling to sin.
Worldly sorrow may regret consequences, but still love rebellion.
Worldly sorrow may want relief, but not God.
Worldly sorrow may say, “I hate what this cost me.”
Godly sorrow says, “I have sinned against God.”
Godly sorrow does not stop at emotion. It works repentance.
It brings the heart low before God.
It stops making excuses.
It stops blaming others.
It stops defending what God condemns.
It turns toward mercy.
Tears can be present in repentance, but tears are not proof of repentance by themselves.
The question is not merely, “Did I feel bad?”
The question is:
“Did I turn to God?”
Repentance Is a Change of Mind Toward God and Sin
Repentance includes a changed mind.
But in the Bible, this is not a shallow mental adjustment. It is a deep change in how a person sees God, sin, self, and the path he is walking.
Before repentance, a person may think sin is acceptable.
Then he sees it as evil before God.
Before repentance, he may think he has the right to rule his own life.
Then he sees that God is Lord.
Before repentance, he may think his excuses are reasonable.
Then he agrees with God’s judgment.
Before repentance, he may think he can delay.
Then he understands the urgency of turning.
Isaiah 55:7 says:
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts:
and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him;
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
— Isaiah 55:7, KJV
Notice both the way and the thoughts.
The wicked forsakes his way.
The unrighteous man forsakes his thoughts.
Repentance reaches deeper than outward behavior. It reaches the inward agreement of the heart.
A repentant person stops arguing with God.
He stops saying sin is harmless.
He stops calling darkness light.
He stops justifying rebellion.
He returns unto the Lord.
Repentance Turns From Sin Toward God
Biblical repentance is not only turning from something. It is turning to Someone.
A person may turn away from one bad habit and still not turn to God.
A person may stop a certain sin because it embarrassed him, harmed his health, or damaged his life, yet still remain far from the Lord.
True repentance turns to God.
1 Thessalonians 1:9 says:
“…how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;”
— 1 Thessalonians 1:9, KJV
That verse shows the direction of repentance.
They turned to God from idols.
Not merely from idols to better behavior.
Not merely from idols to religion.
Not merely from idols to self-improvement.
They turned to God.
This is very important.
Repentance is not simply saying, “I need to stop sinning.”
It is saying, “I must return to the God I have sinned against.”
The repentant heart does not only want freedom from consequences. It wants to be right with God.
It does not only hate the damage sin caused. It begins to hate the sin itself because it dishonors the Lord.
It does not only want a better life. It wants God.
Repentance Is Not Trying to Earn Salvation
Some people misunderstand repentance because they think it means earning salvation by works.
That is not true.
No sinner can earn forgiveness.
No sinner can pay for his own sin.
No sinner can make himself righteous before God.
Salvation is through Jesus Christ.
Titus 3:5 says:
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done,
but according to his mercy he saved us…”
— Titus 3:5, KJV
Repentance does not mean you save yourself by becoming good enough.
Repentance means you stop defending your sin and turn to the only Saviour who can save you.
If a man is drowning and turns toward the rescuer, his turning does not mean he saved himself. It means he stopped resisting and looked to the one who could save him.
In the same way, repentance does not replace faith in Christ.
Repentance and faith belong together.
Acts 20:21 says:
“Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks,
repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”
— Acts 20:21, KJV
Repentance is toward God.
Faith is toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
A person does not repent in order to boast in himself. He repents because he sees his sin and turns to God for mercy through Jesus Christ.
Repentance Is Not Cleaning Yourself Up Before Coming to Christ
Some people delay coming to Christ because they think they must fix themselves first.
They say:
“I need to stop this sin first.”
“I need to become better first.”
“I need to get my life together first.”
“I need to feel more worthy first.”
But no one makes himself worthy of Christ.
Jesus Christ came to save sinners.
Luke 5:32 says:
“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
— Luke 5:32, KJV
That is good news.
Jesus calls sinners to repentance.
He does not say, “Become righteous first, then come.”
He calls sinners.
Come honestly.
Come humbly.
Come without excuses.
Come without pretending.
Come ready to be changed.
Do not use your sin as a reason to stay away from Christ. Your sin is the very reason you need Him.
But do not come planning to keep your sin while asking Christ to approve it.
Come to Him as Lord and Saviour.
Come to be forgiven.
Come to be delivered.
Come to be made new.
Repentance Is Not the Same as Perfect Maturity
Repentance does not mean a person instantly becomes spiritually mature.
A new believer still has much to learn.
He may not understand every doctrine.
He may not know how to handle every habit.
He may need help, teaching, correction, and time to grow.
But repentance means the direction has changed.
The heart is no longer making peace with rebellion.
A repentant person may be weak, but he no longer wants sin as his master.
He may need growth, but he no longer wants to defend what God condemns.
He may stumble, but he does not want to live settled in darkness.
Proverbs 28:13 says:
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper:
but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”
— Proverbs 28:13, KJV
The repentant heart does not cover sin.
It confesses and forsakes.
This does not mean sinless perfection. It means honesty before God and a real turning from sin.
A person who says, “I repent,” while planning to continue in known rebellion does not understand repentance.
Repentance Does Not Blame Others
When God confronts sin, the human heart often wants to blame someone else.
Adam blamed Eve.
Eve blamed the serpent.
People still do the same today.
They say:
“My family made me this way.”
“My past made me this way.”
“My pain made me do it.”
“They tempted me.”
“They hurt me first.”
“Everyone else does it.”
“I could not help it.”
There may be real wounds in a person’s life. Others may have sinned against him. Circumstances may be painful. But repentance stops using others as an excuse for personal sin.
Ezekiel 18:30 says:
“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD.
Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.”
— Ezekiel 18:30, KJV
Repentance takes responsibility before God.
It says:
“I have sinned.”
“I was wrong.”
“I need mercy.”
“I must turn.”
This honesty is not meant to destroy hope. It opens the door to mercy.
A person who keeps blaming others will not repent deeply.
A person who becomes honest before God can be restored.
Repentance Brings Sin Into the Light
Sin likes darkness.
Sin wants hiding.
Sin wants secrecy.
Sin wants excuses.
Sin wants false names.
Sin wants to be called weakness, personality, struggle, mistake, or freedom, while avoiding the word sin.
Repentance brings sin into the light and calls it what God calls it.
Job 34:32 says:
“That which I see not teach thou me:
if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.”
— Job 34:32, KJV
That is a humble spirit.
“Teach thou me.”
“If I have done iniquity, I will do no more.”
Repentance does not hide from God’s light.
It asks God to expose what is wrong.
It wants truth more than comfort.
It is willing to be searched.
It is willing to be corrected.
It is willing to be changed.
This is one reason repentance is painful to the flesh but precious to the soul.
The flesh wants to keep darkness.
God calls sinners into light.
Repentance Is Urgent
Repentance should not be delayed.
Many people think they will repent later.
Later, after they enjoy sin a little longer.
Later, after life slows down.
Later, after they get older.
Later, after one more compromise.
Later, after they feel ready.
But later is not promised.
Luke 13:3 says:
“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
— Luke 13:3, KJV
That is a serious warning from Jesus.
Repentance is urgent because sin is serious, death is certain, judgment is real, and the soul is eternal.
No one should treat repentance casually.
No one should say, “I know I need to get right with God, but not today.”
Hebrews 9:27 says:
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
— Hebrews 9:27, KJV
You do not know how much time you have.
If God is dealing with your heart, do not harden yourself.
Turn to Him now.
Repentance Is Connected to the Gospel
Repentance must never be separated from the gospel.
The message of Jesus Christ includes repentance.
Mark 1:15 says:
“…The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand:
repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
— Mark 1:15, KJV
Jesus said:
Repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Repentance without faith in Christ becomes despair or self-effort.
Faith without repentance becomes empty words that do not face sin honestly.
The gospel is not merely, “God loves you and wants to improve your life.”
The gospel is that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. Sinners must repent and believe on Him.
This matters because some people want comfort without conviction. Others want moral reform without the cross. But biblical salvation brings the sinner face to face with both his guilt and God’s mercy in Jesus Christ.
Repentance turns from sin.
Faith trusts Christ.
The two belong together.
Repentance Produces Fruit
True repentance produces evidence.
John the Baptist said in Matthew 3:8:
“Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:”
— Matthew 3:8, KJV
Fruit does not mean a person earns salvation.
Fruit means repentance is real.
If a thief repents, he should not plan to continue stealing.
If a liar repents, he should not defend lying.
If a fornicator repents, he should not excuse fornication.
If a drunkard repents, he should not make peace with drunkenness.
If a proud person repents, he should not cling to pride.
If a bitter person repents, he should not protect bitterness.
The fruit of repentance does not mean instant maturity in every area. But it does mean there is a real change of direction.
A person who says he has repented while carefully preserving his sin should be warned.
Repentance is not just a word.
It bears fruit.
Repentance Changes How You See Jesus Christ
Before repentance, people often want Jesus on their own terms.
They may want Him as helper, comforter, healer, provider, or rescuer from hell, while still refusing His authority.
But repentance helps a person see that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Acts 2:36–38 says:
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly,
that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart,
and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Then Peter said unto them, Repent…”
— Acts 2:36–38, KJV
They were pricked in their heart.
They saw that the One they had rejected was both Lord and Christ.
Repentance is not merely changing your view of sin. It also changes your view of Jesus.
He is not merely a religious figure.
He is not merely a teacher.
He is not merely someone to add to your plans.
He is Lord.
The repentant heart bows before Him.
False Repentance Wants Relief Without Surrender
Not everything called repentance is repentance.
False repentance wants relief from pain, but not surrender to God.
It wants forgiveness, but not change.
It wants heaven, but not holiness.
It wants mercy, but not the Lord.
It wants peace, but not truth.
It wants the benefits of Christ while resisting the rule of Christ.
A person may cry, pray, promise, and still not truly repent if his heart remains set on sin.
Jeremiah 3:10 says:
“And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart,
but feignedly, saith the LORD.”
— Jeremiah 3:10, KJV
That word feignedly is sobering.
It means falsely, not sincerely.
God is not fooled by religious appearances.
He sees the heart.
The question is not merely whether a person used the word repentance.
The question is whether the heart has truly turned to God.
True Repentance Humbles the Heart
Repentance brings a person low before God.
It does not bargain.
It does not boast.
It does not demand.
It does not say, “God, You owe me.”
It says:
“God, be merciful to me a sinner.”
Jesus gave this picture in Luke 18:13:
“And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven,
but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”
— Luke 18:13, KJV
That is the spirit of true repentance.
The publican did not present a list of achievements.
He did not compare himself to others.
He did not pretend innocence.
He cried for mercy.
A repentant heart is not proud.
It stops arguing.
It stops hiding.
It stops pretending.
It comes honestly before God.
And God gives mercy to the humble.
Repentance Is a Gift and a Command
The Bible commands repentance, and it also shows that repentance is something God grants.
2 Timothy 2:25 says:
“In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves;
if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;”
— 2 Timothy 2:25, KJV
This should make us humble.
If you see your sin and desire to turn to God, do not boast as though you created that in yourself.
God is merciful to open blind eyes.
God is merciful to convict the heart.
God is merciful to call sinners back.
At the same time, no one should use God’s sovereignty as an excuse to delay.
God commands all men everywhere to repent.
If He is dealing with your heart, respond.
Do not harden yourself.
Do not resist conviction.
Do not wait for a better moment.
Turn to God.
Repentance Must Continue in the Believer’s Life
This lesson is mainly about repentance as part of coming to God for salvation. But it is also important to understand that believers continue to repent when God exposes sin in their lives.
A Christian does not repent once and then become proud and uncorrectable.
When the Lord shows sin, the disciple should turn from it.
Revelation 3:19 says:
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”
— Revelation 3:19, KJV
Jesus spoke that to a church.
Believers need correction.
Believers need humility.
Believers need repentance when they drift, compromise, become lukewarm, or tolerate what displeases God.
This will be taught more fully later when we study confession, holiness, and endurance. But the principle begins here:
A disciple must keep a repentant heart.
Not a hopeless heart.
Not a constantly condemned heart.
A humble heart that turns when God corrects.
How to Know If Repentance Is Real
A person should not trust empty words.
Ask yourself honestly:
Do I agree with God about my sin?
Am I still defending what God condemns?
Do I want God, or only relief from consequences?
Am I willing to turn from known sin?
Am I trying to hide anything from God?
Do I see Jesus Christ as Lord?
Am I looking to Christ for mercy, or trying to save myself?
Is there fruit that shows a changed direction?
These questions are not meant to make a sincere soul despair. They are meant to expose false peace and encourage honest turning to God.
Repentance is not perfection.
But it is real.
What Repentance Sounds Like
Repentance may sound like this:
“Lord, I have sinned against You.”
“Lord, I stop making excuses.”
“Lord, I agree with Your Word.”
“Lord, I do not want to continue in rebellion.”
“Lord, have mercy on me through Jesus Christ.”
“Lord, change my heart.”
“Lord, teach me to hate what You hate and love what You love.”
“Lord, I turn from my sin and turn to You.”
This is not a magic prayer.
Words alone do not save.
But these words express the kind of heart that stops hiding and turns to God.
Discipleship Questions
- Before reading this lesson, what did you think repentance meant?
- What is the difference between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow?
- Why is repentance not the same as earning salvation by works?
- Is there any sin you have been excusing, hiding, or blaming on others?
- What fruit should repentance begin producing in a person’s life?
Closing Exhortation
Repentance is not optional.
God commands all men every where to repent.
Do not confuse repentance with merely feeling sorry.
Do not confuse repentance with trying to earn salvation.
Do not confuse repentance with cleaning yourself up before coming to Christ.
Do not confuse repentance with fear of consequences only.
True repentance turns the heart toward God and away from sin.
It agrees with God.
It stops defending rebellion.
It brings sin into the light.
It looks to Jesus Christ for mercy.
It produces fruit.
It bows before Christ as Lord.
If God is dealing with your heart, do not delay.
Turn to Him.
The mercy of God is not small.
Isaiah 55:7 says:
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts:
and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him;
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
— Isaiah 55:7, KJV
A Prayer of Repentance
Lord, I have sinned against You.
I stop defending my sin. I stop making excuses. I stop blaming others. I agree with Your Word.
Have mercy on me through Jesus Christ.
Teach me to hate sin and love what pleases You. Change my heart, my thoughts, my desires, and my direction.
I do not want false repentance. I do not want empty words. I want to turn to You sincerely.
Forgive me. Cleanse me. Lead me in the right way.
I trust in Your mercy through Jesus Christ.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Next Step
Take time today to pray honestly before God.
Ask Him:
“Lord, is there anything I am still defending that You call sin?”
If He brings something to mind, do not excuse it.
Bring it into the light.
Turn from it.
Turn to God.
Trust the mercy of Jesus Christ.
Previous Lesson: Lesson 2: What to Do After You’re Saved
Next Lesson: Lesson 4: What Is Faith in Christ?