Are Christians called to Repent? Is There a Need to ask for Forgiveness?
Posted: Tuesday, January 22, 2008
by Teresa Ortiz
Freelance writer/Speaker
Some have said that there is no need for Christians to repent because Jesus forgave sin once - for all past, present and future. According to the Bible, the latter is true. Nevertheless, does this mean Christians never have to repent again? I suppose it would depend on what one means by repentance.
This subject has caused many believers to be confused and has left them wondering what to do with their sorrow over sin. For this reason, I offer my humble opinion in hopes that it will shed some light on this subject.
Before we move on to what Scripture has to say, it is important to understand the meaning of the following words:
CONFESSION = Acknowledgment of wrongdoing; admission of guilt to the law; or to God.
REPENTANCE = To feel sorry for what one has done or failed to do; to feel such regret so as to change ones ways.
LAMENT = To express deep regret and sorrow with weeping and mourning to grieve over ones actions, or a death of a person.
It seems these words imply asking for forgiveness and apologizing for ones actions. In other words, in order to confess something, there needs to be one to whom you confess.
When you are sorry for hurting someone, is it enough to know they have forgiven you - therefore, you do not feel the need to bring it up? Do you believe your relationship will not suffer loss and you can continue as if nothing has happened? I don't believe so. It is obvious that we go to the person and apologize.
In order to answer this question, we must understand that there are two types of repentance spoken of in the Bible.
1) Repentance unto salvation
2) Repentance unto restoration
REPENTANCE UNTO SALVATION
"But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (That is the word of faith which we preach): That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:8-10,13
When we confess for the first time that Jesus is Lord, we acknowledge our need for Him. We repent of our old ways and begin to walk in the newness of life.
This kind of confession and repentance is a one-time action.
"In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory." Ephesians 1:13-14
There is no need to ask God to save us every time we sin. This would be like saying He didn't do it the first time. Salvation comes by confessing Christ. We accept by faith that He did and we know He did because we now have the Spirit of God living in us. We know this because we begin to see our sin and the need to weed behaviors and attitudes from our lives. This is known as the sanctification process.
(NOTE: There are two perspectives spoken of in the Bible: God's perspective and man's perspective. This is important in understanding this and many other doctrines of the Bible.)
Romans 8:29-30 tells us that God has justified us. Meaning, we are already clean and pure in His eyes through Christ. (Past tense - God's point of view.)
However, 1 John 3:3 tells us that anyone who has this hope (Christ), purifies himself just as He is pure. (Continual process.)
So is this a contradiction? No, the second is man's point of view. We are simply catching up with what God already sees.
REPENTANCE UNTO RESTORATION AND PURIFICATION (Sanctification process.)
Other than Acts, Ephesians, and Romans, the books in the New Testament are corrective in nature, as they were written to correct the church (body of Christ) because they strayed from the doctrine that was first delivered to them.
When we are in a state of sin, we are in darkness (1 John 1:5-7). We are told in the book of 1 John that darkness has no fellowship with light. It is our sin that separates us from God - not that God moved, but we have removed ourselves from fellowship. This is why John tells us in verse 8 that, "if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Therefore, confession and repentance (for the Christian) is for the sole purpose of restoring our fellowship with God. It is saying, "Lord, thank you for showing me my sin, I desire to be free, I repent and I thank You for Your forgiveness." Once we have come clean before the Lord, we have peace.
As we look through the New Testament, we find many passages that exhort believers to examine their selves to see if they are in the faith. Yet, the most compelling of them all, is the fact that Jesus Himself, calls the church to repent.
Let us look at the following passages of Scripture beginning with the words of Jesus.
"Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember, therefore from where you have fallen, repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lamp stand from its place unless you repent. Rev 2:5
"But I have a few things against you. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.." Rev 2:14a, 16
"I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent" Rev 3:2-3
Jesus spoke these words to the church. Therefore, it is clear that He requires repentance on the believers part when He reveals sin.
Still, are there other passages that promote repentance for a clear conscience? Let us look at a few more passages.
(Read 2 Corinthians 7:8-11 for complete context)
"For Godly sorrow proceeds repentance leading to salvation. For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignations, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all these things, you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 2 Cor 7:10-11
This salvation is not the salvation from hell, remember, he is talking to believers, therefore, they were already saved. This salvation in context, is speaking of the freedom from guilt; they are "saved" from their guilty conscience. The Corinthian church was full of carnality and Paul rebuked them in order to stir their hearts to repentance. He rejoiced because their fellowship with God had been restored.
"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:7-10
This again, is a clear call for believers to repent.
Consider the parable of the prodigal son: He was already a son, his repentance was not unto salvation, but unto purification and restoration.
All this to say, yes, I believe that the Scriptures teach that a Christian is called to repent.
This subject has caused many believers to be confused and has left them wondering what to do with their sorrow over sin. For this reason, I offer my humble opinion in hopes that it will shed some light on this subject.
CONFESSION = Acknowledgment of wrongdoing; admission of guilt to the law; or to God.
REPENTANCE = To feel sorry for what one has done or failed to do; to feel such regret so as to change ones ways.
LAMENT = To express deep regret and sorrow with weeping and mourning to grieve over ones actions, or a death of a person.
It seems these words imply asking for forgiveness and apologizing for ones actions. In other words, in order to confess something, there needs to be one to whom you confess.
When you are sorry for hurting someone, is it enough to know they have forgiven you - therefore, you do not feel the need to bring it up? Do you believe your relationship will not suffer loss and you can continue as if nothing has happened? I don't believe so. It is obvious that we go to the person and apologize.
In order to answer this question, we must understand that there are two types of repentance spoken of in the Bible.
1) Repentance unto salvation
2) Repentance unto restoration
REPENTANCE UNTO SALVATION
"But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (That is the word of faith which we preach): That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:8-10,13
When we confess for the first time that Jesus is Lord, we acknowledge our need for Him. We repent of our old ways and begin to walk in the newness of life.
This kind of confession and repentance is a one-time action.
"In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory." Ephesians 1:13-14
There is no need to ask God to save us every time we sin. This would be like saying He didn't do it the first time. Salvation comes by confessing Christ. We accept by faith that He did and we know He did because we now have the Spirit of God living in us. We know this because we begin to see our sin and the need to weed behaviors and attitudes from our lives. This is known as the sanctification process.
(NOTE: There are two perspectives spoken of in the Bible: God's perspective and man's perspective. This is important in understanding this and many other doctrines of the Bible.)
Romans 8:29-30 tells us that God has justified us. Meaning, we are already clean and pure in His eyes through Christ. (Past tense - God's point of view.)
However, 1 John 3:3 tells us that anyone who has this hope (Christ), purifies himself just as He is pure. (Continual process.)
So is this a contradiction? No, the second is man's point of view. We are simply catching up with what God already sees.
REPENTANCE UNTO RESTORATION AND PURIFICATION (Sanctification process.)
Other than Acts, Ephesians, and Romans, the books in the New Testament are corrective in nature, as they were written to correct the church (body of Christ) because they strayed from the doctrine that was first delivered to them.
When we are in a state of sin, we are in darkness (1 John 1:5-7). We are told in the book of 1 John that darkness has no fellowship with light. It is our sin that separates us from God - not that God moved, but we have removed ourselves from fellowship. This is why John tells us in verse 8 that, "if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Therefore, confession and repentance (for the Christian) is for the sole purpose of restoring our fellowship with God. It is saying, "Lord, thank you for showing me my sin, I desire to be free, I repent and I thank You for Your forgiveness." Once we have come clean before the Lord, we have peace.
As we look through the New Testament, we find many passages that exhort believers to examine their selves to see if they are in the faith. Yet, the most compelling of them all, is the fact that Jesus Himself, calls the church to repent.
Let us look at the following passages of Scripture beginning with the words of Jesus.
"Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember, therefore from where you have fallen, repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lamp stand from its place unless you repent. Rev 2:5
"But I have a few things against you. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.." Rev 2:14a, 16
"I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent" Rev 3:2-3
Jesus spoke these words to the church. Therefore, it is clear that He requires repentance on the believers part when He reveals sin.
Still, are there other passages that promote repentance for a clear conscience? Let us look at a few more passages.
(Read 2 Corinthians 7:8-11 for complete context)
"For Godly sorrow proceeds repentance leading to salvation. For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignations, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all these things, you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 2 Cor 7:10-11
This salvation is not the salvation from hell, remember, he is talking to believers, therefore, they were already saved. This salvation in context, is speaking of the freedom from guilt; they are "saved" from their guilty conscience. The Corinthian church was full of carnality and Paul rebuked them in order to stir their hearts to repentance. He rejoiced because their fellowship with God had been restored.
"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:7-10
This again, is a clear call for believers to repent.
Consider the parable of the prodigal son: He was already a son, his repentance was not unto salvation, but unto purification and restoration.
All this to say, yes, I believe that the Scriptures teach that a Christian is called to repent.
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)Yes Teresa a good article and the key to it all as you stated "as to change ones ways". We cannot be what we say until we do this and change from our sinful ways. We must take off the old and put on the new. So, how many Alter Calls are needed, just one, a true one and a meaningful one. Now a question, if Christ died for all our sins, why the need for anything? Certainly he knew all our sins even before we did. Yet, according to the Word Christ died for all our sins. He paid the price for every sin we ever did and will do. Why because our works are but rags and we fall woefully short. We literally cannot save oursleves it is a gift from God and to think we can is not of God. It is our job to acknowledge that gift in what you have stated. In the Apocalypse or Revelation it very clearly staes Chapter 20 verse 15 And if anyone was not found written in the Book of Life, he was cast into the pool of fire". This Book of Life was written before the foundation of the world. Therfore you are either in it or not because Christ will not lose a one who's name is in it. That is called Predestination. yet, in the Word does it not say some were made for the wrath to magnify Gods Glory. So salvation is by professing and in faith and trust as demonstrated by works. As humans we fail. It is up to us to acknowledge that and humble ourselves before those we sinned against and God. That is what separates us from this world. I hope this finds you well. best wishes RTM.
Hi Robert, thank you, and thank you for the input. I hope this clears things up for those who have been confused. I for one, want to be clean in heart and all times. And to do this, I must continually look to the Lord. I am glad that I serve a God who is mighty in power and it only took once to pay for all sin for all time. I pray for any who read this who have not taken the first step of repentance unto salvation - for without that, the end is tragic. The lake of Fire. Not where God intends any to go. But He did give us free will. Thanks again for your comments which added to this article very nicely. All the best to you as well.
Great article and it is very helpful for sure....I emailed it to a friend of mine. You are so gifted with knowledge, thanks for sharing it all with us.Hi Kathy, thank you for reading. I am so glad it helped and I pray it helps your friend. Thank you for your encouraging words. Keep growing girl!! Love & Friendship, Teresa
Biblical repentance is not 'asking forgiveness'.. nor is it 'feeling sorry for what one has done'.. nor is it about 'changing ones ways'..... or even 'turning from sin'... but, repentance is 'changing ones mind.' When we first come to Christ in repentance, we are telling God that we are indeed hopeless sinners in need of salvation and a savior. We once tried doing it on our own.. but, we had a change of mind after having heard the Gospel. We repent, we believe, we accept and we receive..... Gods Gift of Grace by Faith in Jesus Christ.
Afterward, we will sin sometimes.. but, our sins are forgiven and we are still indeed heirs of the Kingdom of God. However, for 'relationship' purposes.. we are to confess our sins to God.. letting Him know that we see that what we did was wrong and against Him.
Per Biblical repentance, God repented several times in the Old Testament. Repentance cannot have anything to do with sin.. as God is sinless.
Also, we don't need to "change our ways".... as that is one of the many things in which, we trust Jesus Christ to do in us... change us as He deems necessary. "He is the Potter, we are the clay."Hi Margo. Thank you for the comments. I agree, with you that they are not the exact same thing, and I'm sorry if I didn't make that clear. But I do believe Scripture teaches they are closely related. But I also think that Biblical repentance does involve sorrow, as Paul stated that Godly sorry and God's kindness leads us to repentance.
Can you please share with me passages that share this is not the case? Also, can you please share with me that we do not need to change our ways? I may be off, but the Old and New Testament talk about changing our ways, we are to turn away from and change our minds about what sin is and about who God is. Leviticus is a big example of this, so is Philippians, and Galatians. And of course Jesus talks about it all of the time. Also, we are taught to "put on" the new man. This involves a choice on our part. When we get saved, God does not take away our free-will. We still have to chose to follow and obey. True, it is Christ who gives us a new heart and it is God who purposes his good will in our heart and we are saved by His grace - but we are to put our salvation to use.
True God repented in the old testament, in context we know it was that he was sorry for making man, but of course he did not need to ask for forgiveness. But for Humanity, and through out the context of mankind and sin, repentance was preached from Moses - to Jesus - to the apostles.
It may be that I am not fully understanding your comment - I would definitely appreciate your reply with Scriptures that would help me to see your perspective. I am all about learning. Also, what is your perspective on the passages I used in this article?
Thanks again and many blessings to you!great article thanks for sharing.. yes it may not be the direct meaning (asking forgiveness, sorrow over sin) but you are right when you say they are connected. when peter preaches in acts 2 he says "repent" meaning they should change their mind what they think of this Jesus they crucified, it was also added "repent for the forgiveness of your sins.. repentance brings forgiveness and change of one's mind heart and actions.
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