6734 repentance, importance of

Repentance is of central importance because sin brings God’s judgment and fellowship with God is only possible through full and sincere repentance. God, through his servants, calls people to repent as the only way to escape the judgment and receive the forgiveness and restoration which he offers.

The call to repentance

Lk 5:32; Jas 5:19-20 See also Jer 25:4-6; Eze 33:7-9; Mk 1:4 pp Lk 3:3; Lk 24:47; 2Ti 2:24-26

Repentance opens the way for blessing

It is the only way to escape God’s judgment Eze 18:30-32 See also Job 36:12; Jer 18:7-8; Jer 26:3; Hos 11:5; Jnh 3:10; Lk 3:8-9; Rev 2:5

It prepares the way for God’s kingdom Mt 4:17 pp Mk 1:14-15 See also Mt 3:2

It brings forgiveness and restoration 2Ch 7:13-14; Isa 55:7 See also Dt 30:1-10; Ne 1:8-9; Job 22:23-25; Job 36:10-11; Isa 44:22; Ac 2:38-39; Ac 3:19; Ac 5:31; Ac 11:18

God desires that all people should repent

He wants everyone to be saved Eze 18:23

His patience with the unrepentant 2Pe 3:9 See also Isa 65:2; Ro 2:4; Rev 2:21

His discipline encourages repentance Jer 31:18-20 See also Isa 10:20-21; Isa 19:22; Hos 2:6-7; Hos 6:1

Taking God’s opportunity for repentance

Isa 55:6; Ac 17:30-31 See also Heb 3:13-15; Heb 4:7; Ps 95:7-8

Refusing God’s opportunity for repentance

Examples of those who refuse to repent Jer 35:15 See also Jer 5:3; Mt 11:20; Mt 21:32; Rev 9:20-21; Rev 16:9-11

God confirms those who refuse to repent in their hardness of heart Mt 13:14-15 pp Mk 4:11-12 pp Lk 8:9-10; Ac 28:25-27; Isa 6:10

Repentance may not remove the effects of human sin

Nu 14:39-45 The Israelites’repentance could not prevent the wandering that resulted from their refusal to enter the promised land; 1Sa 15:24-26 Saul’s repentance is too late to escape God’s judgment on his kingship; 2Sa 12:13-14 Despite David’s repentance the son of his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba still died; Heb 12:16-17 Esau’s repentance could not bring back the birthright he had sold to Jacob.

See also