What is Repentance?

In the New Testament, John the Baptist began his public ministry, as did Jesus, with a call to repentance (Matthew 3:1-2; Matthew 4:17). When Jesus sent forth messengers to proclaim his gospel, he commanded them to preach repentance (Luke 24:47; Mark 6:12). Teachings on repentance are found in the New Testament in Peter, (Acts 2:38); Paul, (Acts 20:21). God wants everyone to repent (2 Pet. 3:9; Acts 17:30). Indeed, failure on the part of man to heed God's call to repentance means that he shall utterly perish (Luke 13:3).

So what is repentance? What does it mean to repent? Let us see from the example of little 5-year old Jason. One day, he broke his older sister’s art work while playing with it. Atsi was very angry and frustrated because she still has to submit that work to be graded at school. Jason was told earlier not to touch Atsi’s things. So Jason was clearly in the wrong. But he was truly sorry for what he did. How do we know he is repentant? Repentance involves the following:

Recognition of one’s own sin as sin. Jason knew that it was wrong to play with Atsi’s things. He knew and acknowledged that he broke the artwork. Even if he claimed that it was an accident, he knew it could have prevented it if he did not touch it in the first place.

Remorse. He was sorry for it. He apologized to Atsi several times. He was also sad.

Desisting from sin. He promised not to do it again. And for several days, he really stayed away from Atsi’s things.

Restitution. He tried to help Atsi do her artwork again. At first they tried to repair the damage to the original work, but the results were not nice so they started all over again. Jason helped by fetching things needed for the work.

Confession. He did not try to hide his mistake. He did not wait for Atsi to tell mommy. He told mommy about it when she came home. And he also said sorry to God during their family bedtime prayer.