July 18, 2009

What Does It Mean to "Repent"?

"Repent and believe." The New Testament says that it is just that simple - and it is. But what does the word "repent" actually mean?

Proverbs gives us a pretty good starting definition: "He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion." (Proverbs 28:13 NASB) We must confess and forsake our sins. Confession without forsaking is hypocritical lip service.

But let's expand on this view a bit. What does it really mean to "forsake our sins"? The New Testament is relatively silent when it comes to expounding on repentance. However, this may be because such explanation has been adequately made in the Old Testament (hereafter, OT). The theme of faith in the OT sheds much light here. Faith is expressed with several key terms in the OT, including believe, delight, trust, and commit. To trust in God is to not trust in one's self. (Proverbs 3:5) To commit carries the thought of committing to God's way and rejecting your own. (Deuteronomy 30:2; Psalm 37:5; Proverbs 12:15; 14:12; Ezekiel 18:30) This theme of the way of God and the way of man is constantly seen throughout the OT. As William Dyrness put it, "Turning from one's own way and following the Lord and His statutes implies that the past way was wrong." (Themes in OT Theology, 163) That is, the past way is the way of sin. Our thoughts, our words, our actions...if they are not God's thoughts, words, and actions...are sin. This is why people like John MacArthur can say things like, "It doesn't matter what you think, or what I think. What does scripture say about the matter?"

So then, the first act of repentance is committing to the way of God. All later acts of repentance are returning to the way of God. This is why repentance is so important - even to elder saints! Any deviation from the way God has prescribed is treason against the Lord of the universe! It must be cast off without delay!

***The Application of the Matter***

(1) So many people, including church leaders, make the mistake of seeing repentance as merely the "confession of sins." Within the New Testament understanding of confession is implied the forsaking of that sin - running away from our way and returning to God's way.

(2) So much more dangerous is this crowd that asks, "What does this verse mean to you?" As if you or I were the final authority on what scripture says! It amazes me how many "Christians" say things like, "Well, I don't think God would..." (Go to scripture and find out!) or "My god is not like that!" (You are right! But the God of the Bible IS!) Scripture is the ultimate authority on who God is and how He works. To think incorrectly about God is to create a god of your own making - that is idolatry and arrogance. This is making a god to suit our way, not following God's way!

***The Ultimate Conclusion of the Matter***

If repentance is committing your life to the way of God (desiring to think, talk, and act as He would), which is the fullest sense of the word, then many people who flood the doors of American churches on Sunday mornings (including many church leaders) are NOT repentant - and therefore should not be seen as "Christians."