Does True Repentance Come from Penance and Confession or a Change of Heart?
Repenting means you are genuinely sorry for offending God and decide to turn away from your sins to follow Jesus. It is a personal and internal decision. If you sincerely repent of your sins, asking Jesus to be your Savior and Lord, He will save you, forgive you, and give you eternal life. Salvation is by grace alone, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Penance is not necessary.
The Difference Between Shallow Penance and True Repentance
Just like a forced apology, shallow penance or confession without remorse or an admission of wrongdoing does not repair your relationship with God. It could instead lead to self-righteousness or an immature relationship with God.
2 Corinthians 7:10: For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
A Biblical Perspective on Repentance
In the Bible, repentance is described as a decision to turn away from sin and return to God. Joel 2:12-13 provides a blueprint for true repentance: “Yet even now declares the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” True repentance involves a change in one's heart and soul, with outward actions leading to a transformed life.
Joel 2:12: “Return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
Understanding 'Metanoia': A Change of Mind and Heart
The term 'repentance' is derived from the Greek 'metanoia,' which literally means 'a change of mind.' Repentance encompasses more than just sorrow for wrongdoing; it is a change in mind and actions, leading to a better understanding and a renewed approach to life. It involves ceasing approval of wickedness and justifying bad behavior, and instead, re-orienting one's life toward the Lord.
1 Peter 3:10: For “heaviness for a short time produces a great and precious faith, through the glory and the accession that follows.”
True Repentance and Its Fruits
True repentance is more than a one-time act. It is a decision to constantly turn away from sin and toward God. The genuinely repentant person may still sin occasionally, but they always return to righteousness. They find assurance not in denominational membership (Matthew 3:9-10) or a past act of devotion, but in a life of repentance and faith.
Matthew 3:9-10: "Think 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."
Conclusion
True repentance is not just about performing penance or saying sorry, but it is a profound change of heart and mind that results in a transformed life. It is a ongoing process of turning away from sin and toward God, offering us a chance for redemption and a closer relationship with Him. By embracing true repentance, we can find forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life.