Changing Minds About Repentance

Followers of Jesus Christ are familiar with the word "repentance" but many are unsure of its biblical meaning or its importance in the salvation of sinners. Some believe it must be coupled with faith as the only saving response to the Gospel (Mark 1:15). Others believe faith apart from repentance is the only saving response because they say repentance is a work.

Repentance Defined

The Greek word metanoia, translated as “repentance,” means a change of mind. When people are confronted with the truth of God’s Word, they must change their minds about God, sin, and themselves in order to trust Christ alone for salvation. Repentance is not a work that nullifies saving grace; it is the necessary turning that accompanies genuine faith. Such a turning is noted by Paul's description of the Thessalonians: "You turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God" (1 Thes. 1:9). They turned from sinful behavior to the true God. Professing Christians who continue to live in habitual sin and think they are saved need to heed our Lord's warning (Mat. 7:23).

The Importance of Repentance

The very first recorded word of our Lord's first sermon was "repent" (Mat. 4:17). He came to call sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32). After our Lord gave specific instructions to the apostles on how to evangelize, "they went out and preached men should repent" (Mark 6:12). His last sermon before ascending into heaven included a command to preach repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 24:47). He also commanded the churches at Ephesus, Sardis and Pergamum to repent (Rev. 2:5,16; 3:3). This leaves no doubt to the Savior's position on repentance.

Peter also taught that repentance is necessary for salvation: "The Lord...is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Pet. 3:9). In his preaching ministry, Peter commanded his listeners to repent for the forgiveness and expiation of their sins (Acts 2:38, 3:19). On another occasion, when Simon the magician sinned by trying to buy God's power with his money, Peter called him to "repent from his wickedness" (Acts 8:22). Paul also wrote: "God...commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness" (Acts 17:30-31).

Godly Sorrow for Sin Leads to Repentance

Repentance is often accompanied by sorrow because our sins have greatly offended our Holy God. "The sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation" (2 Cor. 7:10). It is God's kindness that leads sinners to repentance, but a stubborn and unrepentant heart stores up His wrath for the day of judgment (Rom. 2:4-5). When convicted by the Holy Spirit, the sinner acknowledges his sinful nature, confesses his sins and makes a heartfelt plea for God's forgiveness (Psalm 51:1-4; 1 John 1:9; Luke 18:13). A truly repentant person hates the sin he once loved, forsakes his wicked ways and turns to God (Isa. 55:7; Acts 26:20). Repentance is ongoing in the life of believers and produces a desire to be victorious over sin by the Spirit's power (Rom. 8:13; 1 John 3:3). Tragically, the call to repentance is left out of many Gospel presentations and has resulted in an abundance of false converts in our churches (Mat. 7:21-23).

Repentance and Faith

Repentance and faith are often described as two sides of the same coin, distinct yet inseparable. Both are gifts that our sovereign God grants at conversion (Acts 11:18; Eph. 2:8–9; Phil. 1:29; 2 Tim. 2:24–25). Both will continue being present throughout the believer’s life (Rom. 12:1–2; Heb. 12:1–2). Paul taught both Jews and Gentiles “repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). Both faith and repentance are essential, because it is impossible to believe what is false and what is true at the same time. Those who are believing a false gospel must therefore repent (change their minds) in order to believe the true Gospel. Those who are trusting what they must DO to be saved must repent and believe what Christ has DONE.

Repentance Produces Change

Repentance is not only a change in mind, but it also leads to a changed heart and life (Isa. 55:7; Acts 26:20). It sees sin as an affront to our holy God and Creator. The mind must be changed regarding sin because "the mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life" (Rom. 8:6). Repentance produces a transformation of the will which will be evidenced by a change in direction and purpose (Rom. 6:6, 12:2). This change in behavior is not repentance; it is the fruit that repentance brings forth. True conversions will be vindicated by works of repentance and obedience (Acts 26:20; Rom. 6:17). God saves us the way we are, but He never leaves us the way we were (1 Thes. 4:3). Whenever God grants repentance, a vivid contrast is observed between the life that was once dominated by sin and the new life in Christ Jesus (Col. 1:13; Titus 3:3-7; 1 Pet. 4:1-4). This is because salvation is not only from the punishment of sin, but also from the power of sin. Hopefully, some who see the need to change their minds to embrace the biblical meaning of repentance. 

Hello Mike, I met you years ago at one of your conferences and I’ve been reading your newsletters ever since. As a former Catholic, I don’t know how you put up with such disrespect and condescending messages. This is my message to those Catholics who are bashing you: "You are ignorant of your ignorance!" M.L., NC

Sir, Your betrayal of the Catholic faith is tragic! It is not very Christian at all to condemn the very organization that gave the Holy Bible. You tell too many false statements about Catholics only to puff yourself up. Sad. I am a cradle Catholic for over 70 years. The Eucharist can only be found in the Catholic Church which you don't believe. You need to grow up because that's just the way it is when miracles happen! R.T., Internet

R.T., I do not condemn the Roman Catholic clergy but God's Word does. Your clergy is condemned by God's Word in the same way the Judaizers were condemned for preaching a distorted Gospel (Gal. 1:6-9). The Judaizers only added one requirement to the Gospel and your apostate religion has added many more requirements including sacraments, water baptism, good works and keeping the sacrifice of the Mass as requirements to the Gospel. I pray you will come to your senses and leave your religion before it is too late.

Mike, After watching your interview with Allie Beth Stuckey, I must say you made over 30 assertions that are essentially incorrect about the Catholic Church. You believe that converting weak-in-the faith Catholics is doing God's work. You are a false Prophet and a heretic that leads people away from the Holy Apostolic Catholic Church of Rome. E.C., Internet

E.C., Perhaps you are not familiar with Proverbs 25:18, "Like a club and a sword and a sharp arrow Is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor." To call me a false prophet and a heretic without providing even one example tells me a lot about your character. Let me know if you find anything I said that misrepresents official Catholic teaching and I will apologize and repent.

Mike, I was watching a Dr. MacArthur sermon about the Catholic Church and he mentioned your wonderful ministry. Since then, I have been watching all of your sermons on YouTube and find them very informative. As a Polish Catholic, I always loved Jesus, but I really did not know Him. Upon entering college, I was questioning all the hocus pocus of the Catholic Church and stopped going to church. Then I met a young lady and she witnessed to me with the Word of God. By God's Grace, He saved me that evening. That young girl has now been my wife of 49 years. I want to thank God for you and your wonderful ministry. God has richly blessed you. I am praying for you.  You will never know how many Christians have been blessed by your ministry until you walk through the gates of heaven. J.F., Internet

Brother Mike and Sister Jane! Excellent article last month, Thank you so very much for proclaiming the true, Christ-centered Gospel. The watered down, me-centered gospel of the apostate church is keeping a sleeping church ineffective during these dreadful times of increasing spiritual darkness filled with Satan’s lies and deceptions. It’s all around us now as we keep looking up, for our redemption draws near! Loving you both! R.& L.W., Spokane Valley, WA

Mike, I recently watched a video with you and Justin Peters and was shocked about the apostate nature of the Roman Catholic Church. We've lost some people from our church to this false gospel. Thanks for your resources that help us defend the faith. J.R., Internet

Setting Catholics Free With God's Truth

Only the truth of the inspired, infallible Word of God can set people free from the bondage of religious deception and the snare of the devil (John 8:31-32; 2 Tim. 2:24-26). Listen to Mike's message at The Master's Seminary Chapel as he gives three principles for setting Catholic free from religious bondage. Click here.

A Bizarre and Grotesque Catholic Tradition

The Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin was filmed bowing and kissing the skull of Saint Agatha who was martyred around AD 251. The sight of a human skull being venerated, kissed and placed inside an ornate golden reliquary was bizarre, grotesque and hideous. Such veneration of relics is idolatry and completely incompatible with Christianity. Catholics need to know that even apostles and angels refused any honor or veneration directed at themselves (Acts 10:25–26;14:11–15; Rev. 19:10; 22:8–9).