I haven't mentioned repentance much on this blog. In fact, a quick search will reveal only four posts where I use the word "repent" or "repentance" (not counting this one). But while I may not mention it much, I have actually been teaching it the whole time, but not directly. How? It has to do with the definition of "repent". In Ezekiel 14:6, God defines repentance as turning away from idolatry. And in Ezekiel 18:30, God defines repentance as turning away from your transgressions of his law. So repentance is defined as forsaking your ways that are contrary to God's law. If you had asked me what the definition of repentance was a year ago, I would have said that it's regret or remorse over your sin, which is actually not far from the truth.
One interesting thing to note about these passages is that the Hebrew texts literally say "turn back, turn back". The word for "turn back" is used twice in a row, which is a classic Hebrew idiom emphasizing the importance of what is being said. The Hebrew word in question is "sub", which is used not only in the context of turning from sin, but also in literal contexts. The translators, in translating the passages as saying, "repent and turn back", are preserving the definition of repent.
In my post about sins not covered by the blood of Jesus, I ask, "But if anyone uses that [forgiveness by stopping rebellion against God's law] as an excuse to start deliberately doing what they know is sinful, because they can later 'stop and repent', is that repentance even genuine?" The answer to this question is actually another question: Do they genuinely hate the fact that they used God's mercy as a license to sin? Like what I said in that post, genuine believers do not want to sin. So the one that says, "I can sin now and repent later", follows through with their plan to deliberately sin, and asks for forgiveness afterwards, but without forsaking their "I can sin now and repent later" mentality, then that person's repentance is not genuine. Only when they forsake that "sin now, repent later" mindset will that person be truly repentant of their sin.
In another post, where I refuted the claim that Christians sin every day in thought and deed, I noted that a Christian who does not yet know God's requirements may indeed sin every day, but those who know God's commandments will rarely sin. I even mention repentance at the end of that post when I say that when we become aware of our sins and repent, God forgives us.
I should make a quick note that I probably should not have stated that the blood of Jesus covers sins. Since Jesus does not cover sins, but takes them away entirely. There is a big difference. In those posts, when I used "cover", I used it to indicate the types of sins that are eligible for forgiveness, and did not give any thought about the implications of the other type of covering. What I did correctly point out in those posts, is that repentance is a prerequisite for forgiveness.
Now that I've mentioned that repentance is required for forgiveness, I'm liable to get an objection from someone who will say, "that is works salvation", or, "salvation is by faith alone". Neither of those assertions are actually true. I'll summarize here: Jesus said, "unless you repent, you will likewise perish" [Luke 13:3 & 5]. Paul taught that salvation is by faith apart from works [Romans 3:28], not by faith alone. And the only time we find "faith alone" in Scripture is when James refutes it [James 2:24]. Maybe that should be a future post. Besides, nobody is saying that your works are what saves you. But works can certainly keep you from being saved, as the Bible makes very clear in many places. Read the Bible carefully.
Also, consider the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The prodigal son represents someone who forsakes God, then later comes back to God and is accepted back into the family even though the son is not deserving of such acceptance. The father in the parable represents our Heavenly Father, who will accept those who return to him and even celebrate our returning to him, though we do not deserve it and even acknowledge that we do not deserve any such favors.
There are many more instances in Scripture warning us to repent, which I encourage you to search for yourself. In conclusion, without turning from disobedience to obedience to God's commandments, there is no forgiveness of sins or salvation. But also that God will accept, and even celebrate, all who come to him in repentance, and believe in his son.
