Revelation #34: What does repentance mean?
Question: What does repentance mean?
A) To confess your sins to a priest and recite the prayers instructed as penance.
B) To change your mind about sin, and to change your heart-attitude toward sin. Accepting the Holy Spirit’s enablement to holy living.
C) Acknowledgement of unjust acts is a step towards inner reformation.
Answer: B) To change your mind about sin, and to change your heart-attitude toward sin. Accepting the Holy Spirit’s enablement to holy living.
Zondervan Bible Dictionary: Repentance, that divinely wrought conviction of sin in the heart that the soul is guilty before God, and a resolute turning away from sin in which the sinner identifies himself with the gracious act of God in redeeming him. Repentance involves both a change of mind about sin, and a change of heart-attitude toward sin. It is at the time a renunciation of sin and an acceptance of the Holy Spirit’s enablement to holy living. Repentance is necessary to salvation. Jesus asserted that it was a necessary condition (Matthew 3:2, 8, 4:17), while both Paul and Peter identified it with true salvation (Acts 20:21, 2 Peter 3:9)
Repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” ~Matthew 3:2 (AMP)
So produce fruit that is consistent with repentance [demonstrating new behavior that proves a change of heart, and a conscious decision to turn away from sin]; ~Matthew 3:8 (AMP)
From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” ~Matthew 4:17 (AMP)
… solemnly [and wholeheartedly] testifying to both Jews and Greeks, urging them to turn in repentance to God and [to have] faith in our Lord Jesus Christ [for salvation]. ~Acts 20:21 (AMP)
The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. ~2 Peter 3:9 (AMP)
