What is True Biblical Repentance?

True biblical repentance goes beyond remorse, regret, or feeling bad about one’s sin. The Greek verb translated “repent” is Metanoia., “to change one’s mind.” It’s made up of two different words combined into one. Meta means to change. Noia means notion/mind.

Salvation is based upon one condition of FAITH, so when a person heard The GOSPEL and agreed with it, he was changing his mind and thus repenting. Going from doubt and unbelief to belief in Christ as Savior. Repentance does not mean “a turning from sin.” It is not a Work we do that earns salvation. The Bible's use of the term repentance, particularly referencing to what unbelievers are supposed to do, to be right with God, the Bible is basically telling unbelievers to change their minds. That’s literally what the word repentance means when you understand its etymology.

What about Acts 2:38? Peter tells this audience of Jews gathered on the day of Pentecost, to repent. What is he asking them to do? He’s asking them to change their mind, and what he’s saying is change your mind about who Jesus is; stop being a Christ-rejecting Jew siding with what the nation of Israel just did in rejecting Christ, and change your mind away from the message of unbelieving Israel to my message, Peter says, where Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation.

Repentance is neither a requirement for, nor a part, of Salvation. Neither is Sorrow for our sins, a part of Salvation. “The Gospel is not a call to repentance, or to amendment of our ways, to make restitution for past sins, or to promise to do better in the future. These things are proper in their place, but they do not constitute the Gospel; for the Gospel is not good advice to be obeyed, it is good news to be believed. Do not make the mistake then of thinking that the Gospel is a call to duty or a call to reformation, a call to better your condition, to behave yourself in a more perfect way than you have been doing in the past.” (Dr. Harry Ironside). 

What, then, is the connection between repentance and salvation? The Book of Acts seems to especially focus on repentance in regards to salvation (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 11:18; 17:30; 20:21; 26:20). To repent, in relation to salvation, is to change your mind in regard to Jesus Christ. No one can repent and come to God unless God pulls that person to Himself (John 6:44). Acts 5:31 and 11:18 indicate that repentance is something God gives—it is only possible because of His grace. No one can repent unless God grants repentance. (S. Michael Houdmann). 

When John the Baptist told people to “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is near,” (Matt. 3:2) he wasn’t telling them to change their behavior to be worthy to receive the kingdom, but to change their minds about their need for the Savior Who was coming. In other words he was warning them that even their best attempts to keep God’s Law would not suffice. (Jack Kelley). 

In Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts chapter 2), he concludes with a call for the people to repent (Acts 2:38). Repent from what? Peter is calling the people who rejected Jesus (Acts 2:36) to change their minds about Him, to recognize that He is indeed “Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). Peter is calling the people to change their minds from rejection of Christ as the Messiah to faith in Him as both Messiah and Savior.

Repentance and faith can be understood as “two sides of the same coin.” It is impossible to place your faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior without first changing your mind about who He is and what He has done.