"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent" (Acts 17:30).
The word "repent" when used in the Bible to designate the act which effects the forgiveness of sin is always translated from metanoia, which is defined as a change of mind, turning about, conversion. Repentance in this sense means a change of mind presupposing a change of conduct. Thus, a separation from the sin of which one is guilty. God's forgiveness can be obtained only if a person genuinely repents of his sins. "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3).
Jesus clearly illustrates repentance in Matthew 21:28-29: "But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son go work today in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented and went." The boy repented by first changing his mind--he became sorrowful over his disobedience. Then he changed his actions. To do thus is to "bring forth fruits worthy of repentance" (Luke 3:8).
Sin separates man from God. “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear you" (Isaiah 59:2). The sin can be removed only by the contact with the blood of Christ "...and without shedding of blood is no remission" (Hebrews 9:22). Then Jesus said in Matthew 26:28, "For this is my blood of the new Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." One contacts the blood of Christ when he repents and is "baptized...for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). Then in Romans 6:4, "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death." Christ shed his blood in his death. Therefore, when we are baptized into death, the blood cleanses us from all past sins. If Jesus' blood was shed "for the remission of sins " (Matt. 26:28), then, repentance and baptism is "for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38) and not because they have been removed.
But one can only acceptably be baptized for the remission of sins if he first repents. For example, if a man has stolen, in order to obtain God's forgiveness, he must change his mind--he must become genuinely sorrowful, then he must make a restitution where possible. “And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold” (Luke 19:8-9). “...Thou shall love thy neighbour as thyself”(Matt. 22:39). No man should expect mercy at the hands of God who, having wronged his neighbor, refuses, when he has it in his power, to make restitution.
Even after a man is baptized, he must continue to repent of his sins in order to have the blood of Christ take away those sins. "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light...the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin” (I John 1:7). The word cleanseth in the Greek is a present tense verb. A present tense verb carries continual action. When a Christian is “walking in the light,” he is living as God has instructed, the blood continually cleanses. “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light”(Eph. 5:8) “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth”(III John 1:4) “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness:” (I John 1:7,9). Jesus said “...except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3).
"If any man speak, let his speak as the oracles of God" (I Peter 4:11).
Don H. Noblin
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