Repentance & Mercy – Part 2

Before moving on to the next step of the series of steps in the experience of conversion, I was really impressed to go back to consider 2 fundamental points of what repentance is. That is that:

1.       Repentance involves a true and heartfelt sorrow for sin

2.       Repentance is not just a sorrow for sin, but a turning from it in heart. To seek to divorce ones sins so to say.

Let’s see these 2 points from scripture, and possibly find where this idea relates to the idea of God’s merciful character.

Heartfelt sorrow for sin

In speaking to the church at Corinth, Paul refers to “godly sorrow” that “produces repentance (as in a turning away) leading to salvation, not to be regretted...” (2 Corinthians 7:10 NKJV). With genuine and lasting repentance, there comes a sorrow which is after a godly sort. As one writer puts it, “We shall not renounce sin unless we see its sinfulness; until we turn away from it in heart, there will be no real change in the life.” ¹

It is this kind of repentance that leads to a change in the life. Of the very same Corinthians, Paul speaks of the change that was produced by their godly sorrowing of repentance, saying “For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.” Verse. 11. The sorrow over their wrong worked a repentance which was manifest in the change that took place.

In the experience of David, after his moral fall of committing adultery and a number of successive sins after that, God revealed his sins to him and thus placed true repentance in his heart. After his repentance and confession he was able to state that “the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Psalms 51:17. In another place, David writes, “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” Psalms 34:17.

Thus we find that in the experience of conversion, there comes a genuine sorrow for the very sins one seeks to be freed from. Not a sorrow merely for the consequences that come with the sins, but a sorrow over the very acts of disobedience themselves which seeks to have those sins removed.

Thus, repentance includes: Turning away from sin

As it relates to this second point, we may understand the word repent to mean the same as turning. Thus in many instances in the Old Testament, when God urges His people to repent, he calls them to turn from their sins and to turn to Himself as their redeemer. .

Notice Ezekiel 14:6:

“Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God; Repent, and turn [yourselves] from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.”

 God calls the Israelites to repent, and to turn from all their idols. From this we may find that true repentance includes a turning from sin. God’s call for these men to repent from their idolatry was a call for them to turn from their sins.

Now notice where these idols were. Just 3 verses earlier God tells Ezekiel: “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their heart…” Ezekiel 14:3

God does not call for a mere outward change of the externals, but the work which Christ wants to accomplish is that which reaches the every heart. Thus, with the case of the men of Israel, God calls men to repent from their sins, which lie rooted in the heart too; whether it be the idol of pride, envy, evil thinking and resentment, or any other idols which may be found in the heart.

At this point, let us consider as we have noted before: it is the mercy of God as contained in His goodness “that leadeth [us] to repentance” (Romans 5:2). Thus our heart, which are naturally at enmity with God, may receive a true sorrow for sin when we realise our transgressions. This kind of repentance comes from Christ  Himself (Acts 5:31), thus, one need not wait until he feels like he is sorry before coming to Christ, or turning from his idols; but we can and must remember that true repentance (heartfelt sorrow and turning from sin) is a gift from God. This gift is as freely given as the very forgiveness of the sin itself (Acts 5:31).

When convicted of our wrongs, by the sweet Holy Spirit, like the psalmist, we too can pray can cry out for true repentance and pray: “Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved” Psalms 80:3

The above 2 ideas may be considered by looking at the 2 Hebrew words which are translated as “repent”:

The first, nacham (pronounced “naw-kham”), means “to be sorry, console oneself, repent, regret.” This is sometimes used in reference to God, speaking of the sorrow He continually feels as a result of the sins of man.

The other word is the word shuwb (pronounced “shoob”), which means “to turn back, or to return.” To have a 180^O change in direction so to say.

Both of these words are commonly used when God calls His people to repent: He calls for true sorrow and turning in heart from transgression of His law.

Now tying these 2 ideas together with mercy.

In warning His people of the impending wrath that is to come upon the earth on all that do wickedly, God says these words to His very own people:

“Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning (or sorrow): And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God…” Joel 2:12-13a

The passage really summarise all that we have mentioned thus far as involved in repentance (sorrow for sin, a turning away from it and a whole hearted turning to God), but Joel continues to give us the highest motivation for such an act of repentance, he continues with the words: “…For (or because) He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm.” Verse 13b.

What a lovely idea to consider: God is calling man to repent of the evil that they commit; and the motive He gives us is indeed because of the results that will come on account of the disobedience, but more that, God calls men to repent because He is a merciful God. His mercy must lead us to repentance. Seeing exactly what it is that our sins really deserve, and the fact that God has not given us what we deserve (as in, He has been merciful towards us), must motivate man to seek out how he may be turned from those sins which bring grief to such a good God.

Thus we find that as it relates to repentance, this essential step in the experience of being converted in heart and life, mercy is a very crucial element. It is God’s mercy, together with grace, that must motivate man to repent.

1.       White, E. Steps to Christ. p.23