The word “repent” is one of the most important words used in the New Testament. In fact, repentance is so significant that in Hebrews 6:1, it’s called one of the elementary principles of the doctrines of Christ. It says: 

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God. 
— Hebrews 6:1

The church world must understand that the word “repentance” means to change. We’re going to really look at this word, uncover its true meaning, and examine what it is and what it isn’t. 

Let’s begin by asking ourselves the question, When did I repent? Do you remember the actual moment you repented? I want to share my testimony of when I repented and came to the Lord with you. I was five years old and sitting in the back of the congregation of our local church. I will never forget this. It was like the Holy Spirit reached in and grabbed a hold of my heart. Even though I was only five years old, I had the understanding that if I died at that moment, I would go to hell because I knew deep within me I was a sinner. The reason I had that understanding when I was so young was because my parents taught me the Word of God from a very early age. 

I remember that moment in my life like it was yesterday. I came down to the altar, got down on my knees, and repented of my sins. I understood what I was doing. I then stood up in front of the congregation, and my pastor said, “Ricky, why have you come forward?” “I came forward to give my heart to Jesus,” I said in reply. Right then, my sins were forgiven, and I accepted Jesus as the Lord and Savior of my life. 

I can go back to a concrete moment in my life when I gave my life to the Lord. It’s very important to have these moments to look back on because sometimes the devil will accuse you and make you question whether you’re truly saved or not. You must be able to say, “Yes, I’m saved. I can tell you when and where I was saved. I am saved!” with confidence. It helps us wage warfare against the attacks of the enemy in our minds. 

Almost all children repented at an early age at that time. I’ll tell you this, I believe there’s a problem with children who grow up in church because, oftentimes, they don’t really have an exact moment they can look back on and remember their salvation. They might have grown up in the Church, and that’s wonderful, but they can’t point back to a definite moment when they made the decision to repent and come to Jesus. 

As parents, it’s very important to lead your children to a concrete moment in their lives. It doesn’t matter how old they are or if they say they already know Jesus, it’s vital for them to be able to look back to a definite moment in time and remember when they repented of their sins and asked Jesus to be the Lord of their lives. 

Even though I was only five, when I came to Christ, I thought about and made that decision willingly. I didn’t feel a lot of emotion when I received Jesus — I didn’t cry and say, “Oh, God, I’m so sorry for all the horrible sins I’ve committed!” I was five years old. I didn’t have a whole lot of “horrible sins” to repent for, but I simply knew in my heart that I was a sinner and I needed to repent. It was a choice I came to on my own and with confidence as a young man. 

But then, something happened. Almost immediately after I repented, I was filled with confusion by witnessing some of the adults in my church. Every year we had an annual conference in our church. A preacher would come to our church to preach about something powerful — teachings about hell, the judgment of sin, the judgment seat of Christ, or Jesus’ second coming — designed to cause people in the congregation to decide to give their lives to Christ. Growing up in church all my life, I watched the adults very carefully during these conferences. I noticed that when we had these special services, it seemed like the same people were coming forward to repent! In fact, every time there was a special meeting, the exact same people would come forward, get on their knees, cry, and say, “Oh, I’m so sorry for my sins!” 

When the service was finished, these same people would walk out the back door, and we wouldn’t see them for another year! When they inevitably came back for the next conference, once again, their hearts were touched, and they came to the front and repeated the same process of falling on their knees and crying for their sins. When it was over, they’d walk out that door, and we wouldn’t see them until the next conference. This cycle happened over and over again. 

It became very clear to me that the cycle these people were stuck in and what they were doing wasn’t bringing any real change in their lives. The only thing their actions were bringing was a lot of crying for about an hour every year. If there’s no change, there’s no repentance. I’ll say it again: If there’s no change, there’s no repentance. 

Tears aren’t necessarily evidence of repentance. You can certainly cry while you repent, but tears are not a sign or evidence of true, biblical repentance. Change is the evidence of repentance. In Luke 3:8, John the Baptist preached to those who were listening and said:

Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 
— Luke 3:8

When real repentance has taken place, there will be evidence of it! Real repentance causes real change.

When Denise and I’s sons were very young, we knew it was very important for them to understand repentance. So when they did something wrong, I told them I wanted them to repent. What was I after? I wasn’t trying to make them cry — I was looking for a change in their behavior!

John the Baptist was the first person in the New Testament to use the word “repent.” His ministry began when he said, “…Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2 NKJV). In Mark 1:4, the Bible says, “John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.” Luke 3:3 describes the beginning of John’s ministry by saying, “And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.” We can see that in all three of these passages, John the Baptist preached and said, “Repent.” 

According to the teachings of John the Baptist, the only way a person could enter into the Kingdom of Heaven is through the act of repentance. I like to compare repentance with the birth canal — it’s the passageway through which we come into the Kingdom of God. You cannot come into the Kingdom of God except through repentance. Repentance is serious, and it’s crucial that every person understands it. 

What does Jesus’ ministry have to say about repentance? The Bible tells us in Matthew 4:17 that Jesus started his preaching ministry with the very same words John the Baptist used. It reads: 

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
— Matthew 4:17

We know from Scripture that Jesus also taught that the only way into the Kingdom of God was through repentance. It was His message then and remains His message to this day! The act of repentance is repeatedly stressed throughout the Bible, telling us we must truly repent before we can ever enter the Kingdom of Heaven! 

Repentance was a common theme in Peter’s ministry as well. Just like John the Baptist and our Lord Jesus Christ, Peter began his preaching ministry with a message that emphasized repentance. Acts 2:37 and 38 (NKJV) says:

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

In review, John the Baptist said, “Repent,” Jesus said, “Repent,” and Peter said, “Repent.” All three of them made it very clear that the one and only way to enter the Kingdom of God was through the act of repentance — not by being religious or attending church, but through the deliberate act of repentance. Without repentance and forgiveness, no one could enter the Kingdom of God; This is God’s requirement. 

Let’s look more into the word “repent.” By definition,  “repent” means a change of mind. It pictures a mind that once thought a certain way but directed its way of thinking in a whole different direction. It describes your feelings, thinking, and intellect. 

Imagine a man going in one direction in life when all of a sudden, he has a life-altering experience and turns his life around. That is repentance! First Thessalonians 1:9 is one of the best verses in the New Testament that describes such a change. It says: 

For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.
— 1 Thessalonians 1:9

Paul wrote to the Thessalonians and said, “…how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9). Repentance not only involves turning away from something but turning to Someone. You are to abandon your former way of life and choose to serve the living and true God — completely turning from one thing to another. The Bible tells us in Second Corinthians 7:10:

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

This passage tells us that real repentance doesn’t lead you into depression but to a concrete moment in your life when you say, Enough is enough! I’m choosing to turn away from what I’m doing and change my direction!

For example, say you quit smoking cigarettes. The Holy Spirit convicted you of this behavior. You know it’s a sin, but repentance says, “Today, I choose to turn away from that which holds me back.” You may not feel any different after repenting. In fact, you’ll probably feel like you don’t even want to stop smoking in the first place! But repentance is not based on emotion — it’s a decision! In this example of smoking cigarettes, you’re choosing to quit this habit. 

Or maybe you talk disrespectfully to your spouse or loved ones, and God has been working on convicting your heart. You might start to think, It may be hard, but I’m going to change the way I talk to my spouse and loved ones! That is a turning — that is repentance!

When you turn away from damaging behavior, your flesh will try to pull you back. You may even have to repent more than once! All that matters is that you’re making a commitment to turn away from these behaviors until you’re free from them!

God isn’t there to tell you how terribly you’re doing — every time God sees you turn, His Spirit is there saying, “You did good! You’re making progress. I’m empowering and helping you to completely turn and repent!” The Holy Spirit is there to help and encourage you every step of the way. 

Let’s look back at Acts 2:37 and 38 (NKJV). It reads:

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” 

We know if you have repented of your sins, you’re already a child of God, but you must understand that repentance is a lifestyle — a lifestyle you should follow for the rest of your life. If you live to be 100 years old, you should still be repenting! If there’s something not right or something in your flesh that has behaved in an ugly manner, God will require you to change, and repentance is change!

Here is my prayer for you as you meditate on true repentance and change:

Father, in the name of Jesus, we thank You for the simplicity of Your Word. We thank You for the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit, and we ask that You give us the power we need to repent. I pray for those who have never repented or given their lives to Christ. I pray they come to receive You as their Lord and Savior. I pray for those who have walked with You for many years but hear You telling them to change and come up higher. I ask the Holy Spirit to give them the power to say “yes” — give them the power to turn away from sin. We thank you in Jesus’ name!