Home Problem Verses Member Search Bookstore Log In Forgot Password? Sign Up
Clear Gospel Campaign
by Ronald R. Shea, Th.M., J.D
 
Topics Touching the Message of Salvation
— Repentance —
Curriculum Outline and Study Guide | Resurrection | Assurance | Baptism | The Bema | Calvinism | The Gospel Message & Content of Saving Faith | The Creator | Dispensationalism | Eternal Security | Evangelism & Discipleship | Expiation, Propitiation and Redemption | Faith | Fruit . .. Don't you need it? | Grace | Hebrews 10 | Hebrews 6:1-15 | Heirship and Rewards | James 2:14-26 | Jesus is God | 1st John | John MacArthur | Justification | Bilateral Contract Salvation or "Lordship Salvation" | The Market Driven Church | Perseverance of the Saints | Predestination and Free Will | Public Confession of Christ | Regeneration | Repentance | Roman Catholicism | Salvation | Sanctification | The Sheep and Goats Judgment | Silly Gospel Substitutes | "Sovereign" (Irresistible) Grace | Stewardship of the Gospel Message | The Modern "Testimony" | The Ten Commandments: Their Relationship to the Believer | Theology and Doctrine | Total Depravity and `The Bondage of the Will` | Worship Music | Appendix I: Church History from a Free Grace perspective
Introduction and Overview of Repentance
Confusion Over Repentance 3
Repentance in a Nutshell
In a Nutshell, Repentance in the Old Testament
In a Nutshell -- Repentance in the New Testament
Generic Repentance
What Is Saving Repentance?
Repentance: Looking at the Context
Repentance and the Divinity of Jesus, Part 1
Repentance and the Divinity of Jesus, Part 2
Repentence and the Divinity of Jesus, Part 3
Savins Repentnace About the Person and Work of Christ
Repentance and Jesus' Offer of Salvation
Repentance from Religion, Matthew 3:5-9 Part 1
Rep;entance from Religion, Matthew 3:5-9 Part 2
Repentance from Religion: Matthew 3:5-9, Part 3
Repentance from self righteousness: Luke 13:4-5
Repentance from Self Righteousness, Luke 13:4-5
Repentence from Self Righteousness, Luke 13:4-5
Repentance from Religious Ritiuals, Hebrews 6:1-2
Repentance from Religious Rituals, Hebrews 6:1-2
Repentance and Jesus' Offer of Salvation, Summary
Repentance from Sin
Why Would God Need a Bull Horn?
Repentance throughout the New Testament, Introduction
Repentance in Matthew 3
Repentance in Matthew 4:17
Repentance in Matthew 9:13
Repentance in Matthew 11:20-24
Repentance in Matthew 12:41
Repentance in Matthew 21:29
Repentance in Matthew 27:3
Repentance in Mark 1:4
Repentance in Mark 1:15
Repentance in Mark 2:17
Repentance in Mark 6:12
Repentance in Luke 3:3
Repentance in Luke 3:8
Repentance in Luke 5:32
Repentance in Luke 10:13
Repentance in Luke 11:32
Repentance in Luke 13:3, 5
Repentance in Luke 15:7
Repentance in Luke 16:30
Luke 17:3-4
Repentance in Luke 24:47
Repentance in Acts 2:38
Repentance in Acts 3:19
Repentance in Acts 5:31
Repentance in Acts 8:22
Repentance in Acts 11:18
Repentance in Acts 13:24
Repentance in Acts 17:30
Repentance in Acts 19:4
Repentance in Acts 20:21
Repentance in Acts 26:20
Repentance in Romans 2:4
Repentance in Romans 11:29
Repentance in 2 Corinthians 7:8-10
Repentance in 2 Corinthians 12:21
Repentance in 2 Timothy 2:25
Repentance in Hebrews 6:1
Repentance in Hebrews 6:6
Repentance in Hebrews 7:21
Repentance in Hebrews 12:17
Repentance in 2 Peter 3:9
Repentance in Revelation 2:5 (2x)
Repentance in Revelation 2:16
Repentance in Revelation 2:21-22
Repentance in Revelation 3:3
Repentance in Revelation 3:19
Repentance in Revelation 9:20 & 21
Repentance in Revelation 16:9 & 11
Appendix C, Repentance as a Condition for Salvation, pg. 1
Appendix C: Repentance as a Condition for Salvation, pg. 2
Appendix D - Repentance from Sin in the New Testament
Appendix E, Other Theological Usages of Repentance in the New Testament
Appendix F: Generic Repentance in the New Testament

Repentance From Sin in the New Testament

 

Note 1:            Although the actual word "sin" never occurs as the object of repentance in Scripture, there are several verses in which the expressed or implied object of repentance is some form of generic sin.  (By "generic" we mean a sin that is not related to rejection of Jesus Christ).  However, the message of salvation within Scripture is completely consistent.  Eternal salvation predicated on Jesus Christ, not morality.  As a consequence, it will be readily seen in this section that in no case where generic sin is the implicit or explicit object of repentance is the consequence of such repentance the eternal salvation of mankind.

 

Note 2:                        In the book of revelation, there are two passages, Rev. 9:20-21 and Rev. 16:9-11 which, within the space of two or three verses, discuss man's refusal to repent from their idolatry (which is, by its very nature, a rejection of God and Christ) and their refusal to repent of generic sinful behavior.

 

Refusal to Repent of their murders, sorceries, fornications and thefts:

                                                            F

The Time of Jacob's Troubles:  God's  hand will not be stayed in His Temporal Judgment upon the World.

Refusal to repent from idols to the true and living God and Our Lord Jesus Christ:

                                                            F

Eternal Judgment in the Lake of Fire

 

The need to turn from idols to the true and living God as a soteriological necessity is explicitly taught in Acts 17 and 1 Thess ___, and implicitly every time salvation is related to believe in the undiminished divinity of Jesus divinity as the "Lord" or the "Son of  the living God."  The refusal of man to repent of his murders, sorceries (drugs), fornications and thefts is, at least in part, the reason for God's judgment on mankind in the time of Jacob's Troubles.  However, had Scripture discussed eternal salvation (bottom right) in such close proximity to a verse dealing with repentance from sin (top left), it may have proven more than the simple minded could bear.  The moralist would no doubt imagine he had seen proof of salvation through morality.  In His infinite mercy, and perhaps in view of man's propensity to slip into salvation by morality, God avoids discussing the doctrine of eternal judgment in such close proximity to man's refusal to repent of his sins.  Rev. 9:20-21 and Rev. 16:9-11 are limited to discussing God's temporal judgment being poured out upon mankind during the time of Jacob's troubles as a result of sin.  In view of this, Rev. 9:20-21 and Rev. 16:9-11  have been listed in Appendix ___, below, dealing with Repentance from Sin.

 

 

 

Matthew 27:3

Person repenting: Judas

Object of Repentance:  That he had "betrayed innocent blood."

Consequence:

Judas' repentance over his sin accomplished nothing.  Judas was grieved over his sin when he saw that his betrayal would result in Jesus' execution.  But Judas never repented about who Jesus was.  The best Judas thought of Jesus was that He was innocent.  Judas never changed His mind about who Jesus was.  Judas believed Jesus to be a good man, and an innocent man.  But he never believed that Jesus was more than a carpenter, and because of this, "it was better for him that he should never have been born."

Luke 17:3, 4

Person repenting: A brother giving offense.

The offense given by one's brother

In response to the repentance of the sinning brother, the offended brother forgives him.

Acts 8:22

Person called to repentance: Simon Magus

The "wickedness" of "think[ing] [believing] that the gift of God could be purchased with money."  In his previous religion, Simon Magus was "giving out that himself was some great one."  Simon had genuinely believed on Christ, but was still a pathological narcissist.  His desire to be a big deal in the church remained the center point of his religion.  His if the ministry was to bring glory to himself.  But is ego manifest itself in a sin more egregious than his pathological narcissism, he sought to dispense the gift of God with money.

Peter's words are clearly invoking God's temporal judgment.  "Thy money perish with thee."  Whether Simon was ever subjected to the temporal judgment of God is unknown. The consequence of repentance would be "That this sinful thought be forgiven."  However, Simon had believed on Christ (vs. 13), and there is nothing in the Greek language to suggest that it was a "false faith" or a "professing faith."  From the biblical account, Simon was eternally saved.  But until Simon Magus repented, he would remain out of fellowship.

2 Corinthians 7:8, 9 and 10 (2x)

Subject called to repentance:  The Church of Corinth

Their sinful behavior, and their tolerance of sin.

They "approved [them]selves to be clear in this matter."

2 Corinthians 12:21

Subject called to repentance:  The church of Corinth.

"Uncleanness, fornication and lasciviousness.

Paul will be humbled and bewail the news if he should learn that many Corinthians remain in sin.

Revelation 2:21 & 22

Subject(s) called to repentance:  The false prophetess "Jezebel" (vs. 20-21), and they which commit adultery with her (vs. 22).

She is called to repent of "her fornication," and "they which commit adultery with her" are called to repent of their "deeds."  Although it may be metaphorical, there are reasons for interpreting the passage plainly.

She will be cast into a bed, and those that commit adultery with her into tribulation.  They will be judged according to their works.  Again, the image is one of temporal judgment, shame at the judgment seat, not eternal condemnation.  There is nothing in the language that suggests the salvation of the subjects is in question, or in danger.

Revelation 9:20 & 21

Subject(s) refusing to repent:  The rest of the men, which were not killed by the plagues (vs. 20)

Verse 20 is directed to repentance from idolatry.

Verse 21 is directed to repentance from generic sins, specifically "murders, sorceries (drugging), fornication and theft".

The only consequence that can be inferred from the immediate context is God's temporal judgment through the continuation of the plagues of vs. 14-20.

Revelation 16:9 & 11

Subject(s) refusing to repent:  Men who worshipped the image of the beast" (vs. 2), who had "shed the blood of saints and prophets" (vs. 6) and who "blasphemed the name of God

Rejection of God and Christ:

"Worship the image of the beast" (vs. 2) and

"blasphemed the name of God " (vs. 9).

Refusal to repent toward God, vs. 9

Generic Sins

they have "shed the blood of saints and prophets" (vs. 6)

Refusal to repent of their Deeds, vs. 11.

The refusal to repent, therefore, is toward both generic sin (killing the saints) and the soteriological rejection of Christ.

The consequence for man's refusal to repent is God's temporal judgment.  God  begins to pour out His vials of wrath upon the earth before man refuses to repent (vs. 1).  But it is clear that His wrath is for the purpose of bringing man to repentance, and His divine wrath continues unabated because of man's refusal to un-repentance.  Eternal judgment is not discussed in the context.

 


Appendix D - Repentance from Sin in the New Testament

 

Clear Gospel Campaign is currently seeking 501 (c) (3) status. All donations are tax deductable.
Other books by Ronald Shea will be available soon. Visit our Bookstore regularly for new selections.