REPENTANCE

Repentance has a variety of uses in the Scriptures. (a) One form of "repentance" is simply a feeling of remorse. It was in this sense that Judas "repented" (Mt. 27:3) just before he hanged himself and perished eternally (Jn. 17:12). (b) Valid repentance is a "change of mind" that results in a change of conduct. That repentance is not simply "sorrow" alone, is evidenced by the fact that men, who were "pricked in their heart," nonetheless were instructed to "repent" (Acts 2:37-38). Paul states that "godly sorrow works [leads to] repentance" (2 Cor. 7:10). In both of these cases, the "repentance" obviously is something beyond mere emotional contrition. John the Baptist warned the rebellious Hebrews of his day that if they did not bring forth "fruit worthy of [corresponding to] repentance," they would be destroyed (Mt. 3:8-10). There can be no conversion to Christ where repentance is missing. One may be motivated to repentance by reflecting upon the goodness of God (Rom. 2:4), acknowledging the fact that the Creator has allowed us the opportunity to repent; such is a gracious extension of his benevolence (Acts 11:18). (c) When God is said to "repent" (cf. Gen. 6:6), the language is accommodative. This is a figure of speech called anthropopathism (man feelings), whereby human emotions are attributed to deity for the sake of emphasis. It is a way of stressing how displeased Heaven is with man's wickedness.