Is Repentance necessary for Salvation?

Scriptures regarding repentance
By Gabe Graham

1 Kings 8:46-50. This passage is taken from Solomon’s dedication of the temple of God. Here repentance refers to a sorrow for sin, admission of guilt, and turning to God with all of your heart. The word used for repent here is the Hebrew word snoob. It is also translated turn or return in other verses in the King James or New King James translations of the Bible. It means to turn back or turn away. Remember, the disciples were Jews and had a Jewish understanding of repentance.

Jer 3 is a whole chapter calling Israel to turn away from sin and to God. Verse 10 in particular talks about turning to God with our whole hearts without pretense.

Jer 8:6 speaks of those who refuse to repent of their wickedness. Repent here refers to a feeling of sorrow for and a turning from sin.

Jer 31:18-19 Here again the word repented denotes a feeling of sorrow and shame for sin and a willingness to change.

Hosea 11:1-4 speaks of Israel’s sin and God still showing His love and mercy to them. Verse 5 says they refused to repent. Verses 6 and 7 talk about the people being bent on backsliding – sinning against God. So the people refused to change their mind about their sin and turn to God.

Joel 2:12-13 God speaks of turning to Him with all of our hearts, with weeping, fasting, and mourning. What are we supposed to weep and mourn over and what are we turning to God from? Sin.

Zech 1:2-6 Verse 4 specifically talks about the prophets of God being sent to preach God’s very Word to the people saying, “Turn now from your evil ways and your evil deeds.”

John the Baptist told the Pharisees and the Sadducees in Matthew 3:7-9 to bear fruits worthy of repentance. This speaks of a life lived in holiness and love for the Lord, which is what happens to someone whose turned in his heart from sin to God and put his faith in Jesus Christ.

Matthew 3:11 John the Baptist says, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance”

Mark 1:4-5 says John preached a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. These 2 verses are obviously not speaking of simply a change of mind of who Jesus is. Jesus is not even in the scene yet. Just substitute “change of mind” in for repentance for these 2 verses. It doesn’t make any sense. Clearly repentance refers to more than that here. Look what happens in verse 5 as these people receive the baptism of repentance, they confess their sins. Clearly the people were feeling sorry for their sins, and turning in their hearts to God for cleansing.

A great chapter that defines repentance is Ezekiel 18. Ezekiel 18:21-23 talks about a wicked man turning away from his sins and following the Lord.

Ezekiel 18:30-32 really explains what repentance is. A turning in our hearts toward God and away from sin, by which we gain a new heart and a new spirit. It sounds like this Old Testament scripture is foretelling of the born again experience, and it includes repentance.

Isaiah 55:6-7 describes repentance. 2 Pet 3:9 makes it clear that repentance is needed for salvation. Jesus even said unless you repent, you likewise will perish. Isaiah 55:6-7 talks of the wicked forsaking his way, the unrighteous forsaking his thoughts, and returning to the Lord.

Jer 36:3 The word turn here in the New King James, or return in the King James are both the Hebrew word pronounces shoob. The word is translated in other verses as repent. Notice God commands us to repent (turn, return) from our evil way and then He may forgive our iniquity and sin.

Ezekiel 13:6 God commands Israel to repent, to turn form idols and abominations.

Acts 11:18 speaks of God granting repentance unto life. Repentance is not a work apart from salvation, it is granted by God and is necessary for salvation. It is a part of the conversion event.

Eph 2:1 teaches us that before we came to Christ, we were dead in our trespasses and sins. That is what we were engulfed in.

Acts 11:18 speaks of God granting repentance unto life.

In Acts 20:21 Paul speaks of repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Why does Paul differentiate between the repentance and faith toward Jesus? Because repentance involves more than a simple mental agreement that Jesus was the Son of God. It involves remorse for sin, and a willingness in your heart to turn from sin and to God. Clearly these verses show that before we are saved we’re engulfed in sin (that’s what our focus is on) repentance is necessary for salvation (repentance unto life) and when we repent we turn from sin to God and we place our faith in Jesus alone for salvation.

I do hope you will take the time to go through these scriptures and ask the Holy Spirit, our teacher, to reveal His truth. Don’t take my word, or any other man’s word for it, but trust the Holy Spirit to teach you as you search the scriptures for the answers. There are many more verses regarding repentance, this list is not exhaustive.

Below are some definitions for repentance taken from some reputable Bible dictionaries. They’re worth a look at. May the Lord richly bless you.

Definition of repentance - The Greek word of which this is the translation denotes a change of mind, i.e., a fresh view about God, about oneself, and about the world. Since we are born into conditions of mortality, repentance comes to mean a turning of the heart and will to God, and a renunciation of sin to which we are naturally inclined. Without this there can be no progress in the things of the soul’s salvation, for all accountable persons are stained by sin, and must be cleansed in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. Repentance is not optional for salvation; it is a commandment of God (D&C 18: 9-22; D&C 20: 29; D&C 133: 16). The preaching of repentance by John the Baptist formed the preparation for the ministry of our Lord. See Matthew . 3: 2; Matthew . 4: 17; Mark 1: 4, 15; Mark 2: 17; Luke 3: 3,8; Acts 2: 38; Acts 3: 19; Acts 8: 22; Rom. 13: 11-14; James 5: 1-6; Rev. 2: 5, 16; Rev. 3: 3, 19; cf. Isaiah 1:16-20; Jonah 3: 5-10; Jer. 3 - 5; Jer. 26; Ezek. 18: 19-31; Ezek. 33: 7-20; Hosea 13: 14; Hosea 14; Joel 1: 8; Joel 2; Zeph. 2; Zech. 1; Mal. 1 - 4.

Repentance
There are three Greek words used in the New Testament to denote repentance.

(1.) The verb metamelomai is used of a change of mind, such as to produce regret or even remorse on account of sin, but not necessarily a change of heart. This word is used with reference to the repentance of Judas (Matthew 27:3).

(2.) Metanoeo, meaning to change one's mind and purpose, as the result of after knowledge.

This verb, with (3) the cognate noun _metanoia_, is used of true repentance, a change of mind and purpose and life, to which remission of sin is promised. Evangelical repentance consists of (1) a true sense of one's own guilt and sinfulness; (2) an apprehension of God's mercy in Christ; (3) an actual hatred of sin (Ps. 119:128; Job 42:5, 6; 2 Cor. 7:10) and turning from it to God; and (4) a persistent endeavour after a holy life in a walking with God in the way of his commandments. The true penitent is conscious of guilt (Ps. 51:4, 9), of pollution (Ps. 51:5, 7, 10), and of helplessness (Ps. 51:11; 109:21,22). Thus he apprehends himself to be just what God has always seen him to be and declares him to be. But repentance comprehends not only such a sense of sin, but also an apprehension of mercy, without which there can be no true repentance (Ps. 51:1; Ps. 130:4).

KJV Dictionary - repentance
REPENTANCE
REPENT'ANCE, n.
1. Sorrow for any thing done or said; the pain or grief which a person experiences in consequence of the injury or inconvenience produced by his own conduct.

2. In theology, the pain, regret or affliction which a person feels on account of his past conduct, because it exposes him to punishment. This sorrow proceeding merely from the fear of punishment, is called legal repentance, as being excited by the terrors of legal penalties, and it may exist without an amendment of life.

3. Real penitence; sorrow or deep contrition for sin, as an offense and dishonor to God, a violation of his holy law, and the basest ingratitude towards a Being of infinite benevolence. This is called evangelical repentance, and is accompanied and followed by amendment of life.

Repentance is a change of mind, or a conversion from sin to God.
Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation. 2 Cor. 7,Matthew 3.
Repentance is the relinquishment of any practice, from conviction that it has offended God.