The Meaning Of Repentance

I. WHAT IS THE MEANING OF REPENTANCE?

Negatively:

IT IS NOT MERE REGRET. Criminals often regret their deeds when the fear of punishment is faced. But this does not imply a hatred for sin or a turning to God. Judas repented of his treachery (Matthew 27: 3) when he saw that Christ was condemned. He deeply regretted his act, but this repentance was not a sorrow for sin or a turning from sin. He simply regretted what he had done and wished he had not done it.
IT IS NOT MERE REFORMATION. Many turn over a new leaf who know nothing of a new life in Christ. Reformation is simply a self-made or man-made change like altering one’s lifestyle, giving up a habit, joining a church, etc.
IT IS NOT SIMPLY SORROW. While sorrow for sin is a normal aspect of a salvation experience, it is not repentance itself. In 2 Corinthians 7: 10, the Apostle Paul said, Godly sorrow works repentance to salvation.
IT IS NOT DOING PENANCE. Doing penance is an effort on the part of a guilty sinner to pay for his sins. Christ has FULLY PAID THE RANSOM (Mark 10: 45) for all of our sins (1 Peter 2:24). The Bible does not say, God commandeth all men to do penance, but to repent (Acts 17:30). If salvation results from doing penance, forgiveness can be purchased!

Positively:

The word for the verb repent is metanoe’o which means literally “to change one’s mind and purpose.” In the New Testament it is always a change for the better and always refers to a turning from sin.
The word for the noun repent is metanoi’a which means simply “a change of mind.” It is used for repentance from sin or evil.
In verses like 2 Corinthians 7: 8 and Matthew 21:29, the word used is metamelomai which signifies “regret or sorrow of heart.”
Genuine repentance, then, involves the mind, the emotions, and the will.
Just when does genuine repentance occur?

When a person with his mind says, “I am a guilty sinner. I have sinned against God and deserve His wrath” (Psalm 32: 5; 51:3-4; Luke 13:2-5).
When in his heart there is genuine sorrow for that sin (2 Corinthians 7: 10-11; Acts 3:19; Luke 10:13).
When with his will he turns from his sin, forsakes his idols, places his full