Repentance: Work of Man or Grace of God?

“…And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me. “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.” [Isa 45:21b-22 NIV]

“Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.” [Isa 55:7 NIV]

“In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.” [Act 17:30 NIV]

I’ve recently been listening to a radio ministry that is overall very good, but became concerned when the pastor said flat out that repentance is a work or human effort and not needed for salvation. I’ve heard or read this same sentiment in some other Christian circles, so lets pause and reflect on God’s heart and His Word.

First of all, I think that this issue can leave the straight path of scripture and stray into two extremes, two polar ditches that need to be avoided. One side of the ditch reasons that repentance is a work of man and therefore anathema to grace and that the preaching of repentance in the gospel message is unbiblical. The other side of the ditch reasons that acts of penance or even abhorrent things like self-flagellation are required to receive God’s forgiveness. So, let’s stick to the straight path and the narrow way. In all things that pertain to life and godliness, lets look to the entire counsel of God: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” [2Ti 3:16-17 NIV]

There are a few words in the original Hebrew and Greek that are translated with the word “repent” or “turn.” For example, the Hebrew word šûḇ carries the sense of returning or turning to God and away from sin when used in the positive sense. The Greek word metanoeō means to change one’s mind, to turn with contrition from sin to God. Another Greek word with a similar sense, epistrephō, means to turn to or be converted to faith in the only true God. The bottom line being that the inspired Bible writers always had in mind a course change in people’s lives, a life marked by turning from the false god of self to the King of kings and Lord of lords. For example, Solomon prays over the people at the dedication of the temple:

“If they sin against you–for there is no one who does not sin–and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near, yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,’ if they repent with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive, and pray to you toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name, then hear in heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions that they have committed against you, and grant them compassion in the sight of those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them….” [1Ki 8:46-50 ESV]

All the bold emphases above are that Hebrew word, šûḇ, that carry with it the idea that when repenting or turning to God one would be aware of their sin against God. This is in line with other scripture, such as the parable of the prodigal son: “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’” [Luk 15:21 NIV] Note in this account Jesus says the son “came to his senses,” and that the result was an awareness of his sin against his father and against God. Just prior to Jesus relating this parable, the Jews and teachers of the law were muttering about how He freely taught and ate with sinners. Jesus’ response was to illustrate God’s joy over a repentant sinner through the analogy of a shepherd finding a lost sheep. He said, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Paul wrote to Timothy in his second letter: “Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” [2Ti 2:25-26 NIV] Here we see that repentance leads to a knowledge of the truth, which conversely must mean one becomes conscious of their sin or error. Note, too, who grants the repentance? God! How can it be a work of man, then?

We can also ask, what is the consequence of failing to repent? It is important to note that those who do not repent face God’s judgement. In Psalm 7:12, David says, “If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow….” Jeremiah 5:3 says of God’s people, “O LORD, do not your eyes look for truth? You have struck them down, but they felt no anguish; you have consumed them, but they refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to repent.” Ezekiel 18:30 says, “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin.” When preaching to the people in the cities around the Sea of Galilee, Matthew states that, “[Jesus] began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.” [Mat 11:20-21 ESV] So how can one reason that no repentance is needed when God WARNS those who do not repent, and DESIRES it Himself: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” [2Pe 3:9 NIV]

Scripture is also very clear that repentance in Christ leads to life and salvation. In Acts 11:18, Peter defends his eating with a Gentile to the Jerusalem believers, some of whom did not realize the extent of God’s grace. When Peter explained that the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the many Gentiles gathered at Cornelius’ home, they all fell silent, glorified God, and said, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” [Act 11:18 ESV] Paul told the Corinthian believers that, “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” [2Co 7:10 ESV] It is interesting that Paul here makes a differentiation between godly grief and worldly grief. Godly grief is wrought by the Holy Spirit: “And when [the Helper] comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment….” [Jhn 16:8 ESV] Paul further states that this godly grief initiated by the Holy Spirit produces REPENTANCE! So why are some Christians teaching that repentance is a work of man? It is a work of God, an absolute work of grace, initiated by God, and bearing the fruit of a changed life: “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance,” John the Baptist told the Pharisees and Sadducees. [Mat 3:8 ESV] When the Lord plants the seed, it cannot do other than to bear good fruit: “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.” [1Jo 3:9 ESV] Please note this does not mean we don’t ever sin again–the Apostle John here has in mind a willful and ongoing practice of sin. But the point here and elsewhere in scripture where even Jesus himself calls for repentance is that the child of God will naturally bear good fruit.

John the Baptist preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” [Mat 3:2 ESV] Was he not led by God? Was he some sort of denier of God’s grace? No. Jesus said of him, “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist.” [Mat 11:11 ESV] Jesus himself preached repentance:

“From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” [Mat 4:17 ESV]

“Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” [Mar 1:14-15 ESV] Note Jesus was “proclaiming the gospel of God.”

When Jesus sent out the twelve apostles to preach, Mark states: “So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.” [Mar 6:12 ESV] Were the apostles preaching a works-based salvation under Jesus’ own authority? God forbid!

Jesus made repentance a necessity: “There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” [Luk 13:1-5 ESV]

At Pentecost, Peter explained how the Jews had just crucified their Lord and Savior. “Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” [Act 2:37-38 ESV]

Peter and John told the Jews, “But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus…” [Act 3:18-20 ESV]

When Paul addresses the Areopagus in Athens, he says: “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” [Act 17:30-31 ESV] We see here that repentance is a command of God. Should we ignore God’s commands?

When Paul relates his conversion to King Agrippa, he states, “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.” [Act 26:19-21 ESV]

I’d like to pause and reflect, too, that repentance is an ongoing attitude in the life of a believer from the new birth to when Jesus calls us home. For example, new believers in the city of Ephesus, realizing their error, confessed it and the fruit was evident in the resultant actions of the people: “Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.” [Act 19:18-19 ESV] Peter told a magician named Simon in Samaria, who became a believer because of the preaching of Philip, to repent because he thought the power to impart gift of the Holy Spirit could be bought: “Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.” [Act 8:22 ESV] In Revelation, Jesus told five of the seven churches to repent: “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.” [Rev 3:19 NIV] So, we can see it is evident that a humble spirit is needed to accept correction and apply it in our lives, which the Lord always gives us to strengthen us and bless us out of love.

I won’t discuss much about the other side of the ditch, where some religious folks practice penance or commit self-flagellation, the practice of using a whip, usually on the back, as a way to show remorse and to mortify the flesh. During the Black Death, it was believed to cleanse one of sins. This is blatant error, as God’s Word consistently tells us that it is our faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection that wipes out our sin:

“And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” [Col 2:13-14 NKJV]

While the Catholic church does not officially acknowledge the practice of self-flagellation, it has been and still is practiced in other countries and Rome does not correct this superstitious falsehood. Now, the Roman Catholic church says of their current practice of penance: “The Sacrament of Penance is God’s gift to us so that any sin committed after Baptism can be forgiven.” But scripture says that confession of our sin (to God and/or a trusted friend) is what the Lord looks for: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” [1Jo 1:9 NKJV] Who forgives us and who cleanses us? Jesus! And we will then bear the fruit of such repentance. For example, it does no one any good if they are addicted to alcohol to perform the penance of giving alms. Is giving alms good? Yes! But the issue is that is us trying to cleanse ourselves. Pagan religion does this all the time. This is indeed a work that is contrary to the Spirit of grace. It leaves us maybe feeling a bit holier for our acts of benevolence, but it keeps us chained to the sin. What the Lord desires if for us to be free from habitual sin, and He is the One to do it: “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” [Jhn 8:36 NKJV] What makes us free from sin? Jesus told the Jews who believed in Him: “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” [Jhn 8:31-32 NKJV] This truth is the gospel message of faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ and God’s utter grace toward us in salvation.

To conclude, I want to make it clear that those who teach that repentance is a work of man in addition to the gospel are doing a disservice to their flocks and potentially conveying a false sense of security to people who want the gift of Heaven but refuse to stop worshiping at the altar of self. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” [Mat 7:21] And, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” [Luk 6:46 NKJV] What is the Father’s will? As we have discussed, He DESIRES repentance and faith in His Son. In Hebrews, the inspired writer called these two things foundational: “Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary [principles] of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God….” [Heb 6:1 NKJV] Brothers and sisters, repentance is not a work of man. It is a work of grace and it is wrought by God by the Holy Spirit in our hearts. It comes with the recognition of our sin. At the point of salvation, one recognizes their great sin debt before a holy God and embraces Jesus’ work on the cross. In sanctification, one recognizes particular sins as the Holy Spirit brings them into the light of His Word. In both instances, where there is recognition of sin, there naturally should be a turning away from it and toward God. The writer of Hebrews said, “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.” He calls lack of repentance an insult to the Spirit of grace! [Heb 10:26-27, 29 NIV]

Beloved, do not be deceived. Just as Paul warned, “Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” [1Co 6:9-10 NIV] So, we repent from sin. We repent from unbelief: “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you–even Jesus.” [Act 3:19-20 NIV]

While this is a lot of scripture, I could refer to even more, but let me be clear. Our justification is by God’s grace through faith in the blood of Jesus shed on the cross for our sins. Repentance is wed to faith, it is part of the warp and weft of true faith, our response to so great a salvation. It is a beautiful gift of God. It brings good fruit and blessings. If it were not so, we would continue in sin, the very thing that brings God’s wrath and death, the very thing God wants to save us from and free us from. The entire sixth chapter of Romans is Paul’s teaching on the matter. It is summed up in the first two verses: “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” [Rom 6:1-2 NIV] If you have been taught contrary to the Word of God, please recognize our Lord’s solid and firm foundation: “Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” [2Ti 2:19 NIV] Amen.