Repentance for sin or evil committed in one’s life is invariably connected to genuine faith in God. It is a part and parcel of the believer’s spiritual journey, and ideally continues throughout one’s entire life. The concept of repentance runs through the pages of the Holy Bible. People are born with a natural proclivity towards sin, commonly referred to as ‘the original sin’. We commit sin through our attitudes, words, thoughts and deeds. There are two forms of sins: the sin of Commission and the sin of Omission. This means that we commit sin by doing what we should not do, and also, by failing to do what we are supposed to do.

Repentance (Tauba) is a fundamental turning away from sin and a commitment to follow God’s path. The Hebrew word for Repentance is ‘Shub’ (Soob), and in the New Testament, the Greek word ‘Metanoia’ is used for it. Both words carry the meaning of genuine, heartfelt sorrow for wrongdoing with a corresponding radical transformation in one’s thinking, intention and values. The Greek word ‘Metanoia’ literally means “a change of mind” (‘meta’ meaning change, and ‘nous’ meaning mind). Mainly, repentance is a change in one’s mindset that leads to a real change in conduct.

Repentance is a Godly sorrow for the evil or wrong done, accompanied by a simultaneous 180-degree turn-around of one’s mind. It is a deliberate spiritual about-face from a life of sin and to turn towards God. Repentance is not merely feeling or regretting the wrong done; rather, it is a genuine remorse that sin is not only against other people but ultimately against the Creator and Lord of all people.

We can discern these aspects of repentance: 1) It is an authentic recognition of sin. Repentance implies that we deeply recognise the seriousness of sin. Sin goes against man as well as God. Sin is hostility against God; 2) Repentance represents a deep desire and longing in one’s heart for forgiveness. As Apostle Paul said, “. . . yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regrets, but worldly sorrow brings death” (2 Corinthians 7: 9-10); and 3) If repentance is real it speaks of determination to live life that is different from the past. Authentic repentance means a turn and a change. God declared through his prophet Isaiah said, “Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon” (Isaiah 55:7).

Repentance means a total commitment to forsake one’s old ways and to pursue a new life anchored in new values and a renewed perception about life’s meaning. To quote Paul, “Turn to God and do works befitting repentance” (Acts 26: 20). In the Old Testament, king David furnished a good example of true repentance. This is seen in great Psalm, Psalm 51. In the New Testament, Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector, made amends for all his wrongdoings that he did in his profession of collecting taxes from people on behalf of the colonial Roman government harshly and unjustly (Luke 19).

Repentance is clearly linked to having genuine faith in God. It must manifest in action and total transformation in behaviour, values and relationship. And this is an on-going process. To the ancient Israelites God called the wayward people through his prophets. Just to cite one such instance prophet Ezekiel preached about repentance earnestly as did all other Old Testament prophets: “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die O house of Israel!” The same exhortation culminated in the call of John the Baptist, the harbinger of Jesus Christ. Matthew records John preaching and exhorting people in Judea immediately preceding the coming of Jesus: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matthew 3:1). Mark records in his gospel the same way as Jesus saying, “The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the good news!” (Mark 1:15).

Following the footsteps of Jesus, his apostles preached the Gospel to people around with the clarion call to repent for their wicked ways and turn towards God. The Acts of the Apostles, the first Church History book canonised and preserved in the New Testament, has multiple use of the word ‘Repentance’ in its different cognates in the preaching of Stephen, Peter and Paul. The new life is the result of repentance.

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The writer is Christian Theology teacher and a Church leader