Repent

Repent.

It is perhaps the main message in the Scriptures.  The word repent, or a variation of it, can be found over 170 times in the Scriptures.  It’s found in the Old Testament.  It’s found in the New Testament.  The prophets gave that message.  Paul, Peter, Luke and other apostolic writers gave that message.  And most importantly, the Messiah gave that message. 

“From that time Yahusha began to proclaim and to say, ‘REPENT, for the reign of the heavens has drawn near.’” – Matthew 4:17

“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to REPENTENCE.” – Luke 5:32

“I say to you, no! But unless you REPENT you shall all perish in the same way.” – Luke 13:5

Yahusha’s primary message to the world?  Repent.  But how does one repent?  And how do we know what to repent from or repent back to?  I think it helps to know the understanding of the original words that we translate as “repent” in the English language.

The Greek and Hebrew use two main words to convey this concept of repentance…

• Greek
  • Metanoia (Strongs 3341) – Repentance, change of mind, change in the inner man, to have another mind, which describes that radical change whereby a sinner turns from the idols of sin and of one’s self to Yahuah.
• Hebrew
  • Shub (Strongs 7725) – A radical change of mind toward sin and implies a conscious moral separation from sin and a decision to forsake it and agree with Yahuah’s ways, i.e. His commandments.

As you can see, repentance involves a change of mind, which ultimately results in a change of action.  But what good does it do to say “repent” if we don’t know the standard that the Father requires of us?  I hear all the time that we just need to “believe in Jesus.”  But as James tells us, even the demons believe, and shudder.

Although not taught in many pulpits, unconditional forgiveness does not exist in the Scriptures.  Yahuah has a prerequisite for forgiveness, and that prerequisite is called “repentance.”  The Father requires that we show true remorse for our wrongdoing.  He requires that we do everything possible to make amends and change our lives away from our sinful ways.  According to Scripture, repentance always precedes forgiveness.

“Repent therefore and turn back, for the blotting out of your sins, in order that times of refreshing might come from the presence of the Master,” – Acts 3:19

And repentance, according to Scripture, is turning away from sin.  But it is equally important for us to understand what sin is if we are to truly repent.  The best reference in the Scriptures comes from John.

“Everyone doing sin also does lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.” – 1 John 3:4

As I’ve mentioned before, sin is the breaking of the Father’s law (Torah).  The Greek word “hamartia” (Strongs 266) is what we translate as sin, and it means to miss the mark.  When we sin, or transgress the law (Torah), we are missing the mark.  The word Torah is derived from the root word “Yarah,” which means to throw or shoot an arrow, and hit the mark!

If you want to truly repent, you need to know how to hit the mark.  In fact, you need to know what the mark is, and unfortunately, that is not being taught in most churches.  The mark is the Father’s standard of righteousness, which has never changed.  It is called the Torah.  It tells us how to live.  It shows us how to love Yahuah and to love our neighbor. 

“Bear, therefore, fruits worthy of repentance,” – Matthew 3:8

If we truly have turned from sin, our lives will show it.  Our thinking, emotions, attitudes, and behavior will all be kadosh (set apart).  Repentance is not a one-time action but a lifelong process for the believer.  When we begin to repent, He gives us a new heart and a new spirit, and this was prophesied in the Old Testament.

“And I shall give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.  And I shall take the heart of stone out of your flesh, and I shall give you a heart of flesh, and put My Spirit within you.  And I shall cause you to walk in My laws and guard My right-rulings and shall do them.” – Ezekiel 36:26-27

Folks, this is the new covenant!  We are powerless without it.  And it only occurs after we repent of our lawless deeds and return to His ways (Torah).  It involves loving Yahuah and loving your neighbor.  And it is not “done away with” as some like to say.  Most believers do some form of the Torah.  Most agree it is wrong to kill, commit adultery, covet, and have idols.  Yet, we somehow think His other commandments have been “done away with” so we pick and choose certain ones.

But the new covenant is the same as the old one, except where it is placed.  Our hearts are turned from stone, and His Ruach (spirit) is placed in us.  And it causes us to obey His Torah (law/commandments).  The old and new covenants are not a dichotomy between law and grace.  We’ve always had grace.  And we’ve always had the opportunity to repent from our sins, as evidenced throughout the Old Testament, such as here in Joel.

“’Yet even now,’ declares Yahuah, ‘turn to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.’  And tear your heart and not your garments, and turn back to Yahuah, your Elohim, for He shows favour and is compassionate, patient, and of great loving-commitment, and He shall relent concerning the evil.” – Joel 2:12-13

There’s only one thing for us to do…Repent! For the kingdom of Elohim draws near.