Hello, Zach. You raise some relevant issues, some of which I agree with & some I don't. But that is what we should do in discussing these issues & being noble & searching the Scriptures as in Acts 17:11.
The Bible NEVER says to repent of your sins. It says multiple times to repent & turn to God, but never repent of your sins.
One must be careful of 'all or none' statements as almost all the time one is proved wrong if there is even one exception.
Isa 59:20 NIV "The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins..."
NET "A Protector comes to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their rebellious deeds," says the LORD.
NASB And a Redeemer will come to Zion AND to those who turn from transgression in Jacob...”
JPS Tanakh 1917 And a redeemer will come to Zion & unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob...
Daniel 9:13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us; yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might TURN FROM OUR INIQUITIES & understand Thy truth.
Definition of repentance. STRONGS NT 3341: μετάνοια (meta-noia):
from G3326 (meta-), with, after (-ward), hereafter--a primary preposition denoting accompaniment (together with-) & from G3539 (noeo), to perceive with the mind; to think upon, heed, ponder, consider & thus to gain or have understanding. To exercise the mind, observe & thus consider so as to comprehend, understand & perceive.
Thus the compound word means to change one's mind; to think differently after exercising the mind & thus gaining understanding. As a result of the change of mind, this can then LEAD a person to exercise their will & bear 'fruit' in keeping with one's repentance or change of mind after the initial act of repentance.
Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology: Repentance
The most common term in the Old Testament for repentance is sub; the verbal forms appear well over 1, 050 times, although translated "repent" only 13 times & the substantive "repentance" occurs only once in the NIV.
Two requisites of repentance included in 'sub' are "to turn FROM evil & to turn TO the good." Most critical theologically is the idea of returning to God or turning away from evil. If one turns away from God, apostasy is indicated. 3X Ezekiel included God's call to the people of Israel: "Repent! Turn from your idols & renounce all your detestable practices!" (14:6); "Repent! Turn away from all your offenses" (18:30); "Turn! Turn from your evil ways" (33:11). Such a call was characteristic of the prophets (Isa 45:22 ; 55:7 ; Joel 2:12-13 ).
The Septuagint underlines this idea by usually translating sub by epi (apo-)strepho [ajpostrevfw] (to turn about, or to turn away from). To be abandoned are both evil intentions & evil deeds & both motive & conduct are to be radically changed. A striking example is found in Isaiah 1:16-17: "Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow."
One may detect two sides to this turning/converting. There is the free sovereign act of God's mercy, and a conscious decision to turn to God (a turning that goes beyond sorrow and contrition). Confession of sins is both commanded & frequently illustrated (e.g., in the penitential prayers, as Psa. 25 & 51). When one is guilty of various sins, "he must confess in what way he has sinned" in order to receive atonement & forgiveness (Lev 5:5 ; 26:40-42).
Thus, confession belongs to repentance & is needed for divine forgiveness (1 John 1:9 ). A great prophecy/ promise is given in the Book of Isaiah: "The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins" ( 59:20 ).
Thus, Biblical repentance has two aspects: a turning FROM something & a turning TO something or someone.
Ezek 14:6 Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God, Repent AND TURN FROM your evil practices AND FROM all your sins AND TURN YOUR FACES BACK AGAIN.
Ezek 18:30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to HIS WAYS, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and TURN FROM all your transgressions, lest INIQUITY be your ruin.
I Samuel 7:3 Then Samuel told the whole house of Israel, "IF you are RETURNING (REPENTING) TO the LORD with all your heart, then REMOVE the foreign gods & the Ashtaroth FROM AMONG YOU, direct your hearts back to the LORD & serve Him only. Then He will deliver you from the control of the Philistines."
Joshua 24:23 Now, therefore," he said, "get rid of the foreign gods FROM AMONG YOU AND incline your hearts TO THE LORD, the God of Israel."
Jer 25:3-5 ...The word of the LORD has come to me & I have spoken to you again & again, but you have not listened. And the LORD has sent all His servants the prophets to you again & again, but you have not listened or inclined your ear to hear. The prophets said, 'Turn again from your evil ways & the evil you have done & live in the land that the LORD permanently gave to you & your ancestors.
Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked man FORSAKE his own way & the unrighteous man his own thoughts; let him RETURN TO the LORD, that He may have COMPASSION & to our God, for He will FREELY PARDON.
Jeremiah 36:3 Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about all the calamity I plan to bring upon them, each of them will TURN FROM HIS WICKED WAY. THEN I will forgive their iniquity & their sin."
What is the meaning of the word repent or repentance in the Bible? | NeverThirsty
Matt 3:1ff In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea & saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, PREPARE the way for the Lord, make STRAIGHT PATHS for Him..." People went out to him from Jerusalem & all Judea & the whole region around the Jordan. CONFESSING THEIR SINS--they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
But when John saw many of the Pharisees & Sadducees coming to his place of baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore PRODUCE FRUIT IN KEEPING WITH REPENTANCE. I baptize you in water for repentance...
Luke 3:3ff He went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him. Every valley shall be filled in & every mountain and hill made low. THE CROOKED WAYS SHALL BE MADE STRAIGHT & the rough ways smooth.
The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” John replied, “Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none & whoever has food should do the same.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized. Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” “Collect no more than you are authorized,” he answered. Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” “Do not take money by force or false accusation,” he said. “Be content with your wages.”
With these & MANY OTHER EXHORTATIONS, John proclaimed the good news to the people. But when he rebuked Herod the tetrarch regarding his brother’s wife Herodias & ALL THE EVILS HE HAD DONE, Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.
These two passages alone demonstrate that one who repents, repents FROM their sins & repents to or toward God, turning from their sins & turning to God to obey Him & stop sinning. In order to be baptized in water, the people had to CONFESS THEIR SINS. Their sincere turning from their sins as evidenced by their confession & turning to the Messiah in faith would bring forgiveness of those sins.
They must evidence good fruit in their life, in keeping with the repentance they had performed. What was this evidence of repentance? Turning FROM their former sins & now producing fruit of obedience.
REPENT MEANING - What Is The Biblical Meaning Of "Repent"?
ACTS 2:38 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent & let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins & you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
What does Peter tell them to do first? "Repent" (Acts 2:38). Repent from what, and what does "repent" mean? Repent from sins. And μετανοησατε (metanoesate), the original Greek word translated "repent," means to "change one's mind or attitude about," so repenting from sins means changing one's mind or attitude away from sins, which will eventually lead to changing one's actions away from sins.
Moving on to I John 1:5-10: And this is the message we have heard FROM HIM & announce to you: God is light &in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie & do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another & the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8If we say we have no sin, we DECEIVE OURSELVES & the truth is not in us. If we CONFESS OUR SINS, He is faithful & just to forgive us our sins & to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. IF WE SAY WE HAVE NOT SINNED, WE MAKE HIM OUT TO BE A LIAR & His word is not in us.
Repentance toward God brings a CONFESSION that I am a sinner before Him, separated from God because of my sins & rebellion & I now turn FROM those sins & turn TO God to be forgiven of them.
2 Chron 7:14 If my people who are called by my name humble themselves AND& pray AND seek my face AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS--THEN I will hear from heaven & will forgive their sin &heal their land.
Ezek 33:11 Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?
I Peter 3:10,11 For “Whoever desires to love life & see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil &his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil & do good; let him seek peace & pursue it.
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary: Repentance
There are three Greek words used in the NT 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 Judas' repentance (Matt 27:3).
(2.) Metanoeo, meaning to change one's mind & purpose, as the result of after knowledge. This verb, with
(3) the cognate noun 'metanoia', is used of true repentance, a change of mind & purpose & life, to which remission of sin is promised.
Evangelical repentance consists of (1) a true sense of one's own guilt & 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) & TURNING FROM IT TO GOD & (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 (51:5, 7, 10) & of helplessness (51:11; 109:21, 22). Thus he apprehends himself to be just what God has always seen him to be & 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; 130:4).
Repentance - Holman Bible Dictionary - Bible Dictionary See also Holman's Bible Dictionary
That is why I say one must ALSO not limit oneself to just one theme concerning how God saves us. The whole counsel of Scripture should be looked at, showing how Scripture is the best commentary on Scripture & how Scripture best interprets Scripture.
We are not only saved BY grace THROUGH faith (Eph 2) but we are also justified & saved by God's KINDNESS, BY GOD'S LOVE & BY GOD'S MERCY--THROUGH the washing of new birth (regeneration) AND renewal by the Holy Spirit:
Titus 3:3ff For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, led astray & enslaved to all sorts of desires & pleasures—living in malice &envy, hateful & hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior AND His love for mankind appeared, HE SAVED US, not BY the righteous deeds we had done, but ACCORDING TO HIS MERCY, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
6This is the Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified BY HIS GRACE, we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life. This saying is trustworthy. And I want you to emphasize THESE THINGS, so that those who have believed God will take care to devote themselves to GOOD DEEDS. These things are excellent & profitable for the people.
Luke 18:11ff "The Pharisee stood & was praying this to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector...But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he BEAT HIS BREAST & said, ‘God, HAVE MERCY ON ME, A SINNER! I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home JUSTIFIED. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.
Luke 23:48 And when all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home BEATING THEIR BREASTS.
Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; FOR I AM A SINFUL MAN , O LORD.
We are not only saved by all of the above, but God also saves us by cleansing inwardly our consciences from dead works, from acts that lead to death (sins, iniquities, etc.)
Hebrews 9:14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, CLEANSE OUR CONSCIENCES FROM ACTS THAT LEAD TO DEATH, so that we may serve the living God!
I Peter 3:20,21 In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water. Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you--not the removal of dirt from the flesh--but the answer of a GOOD CONSCIENCE TOWARD GOD, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ...
We are not only saved by all of the above, but we are also saved & forgiven of our sins according to God's mercy AND GOODNESS AND COMPASSION:
Psalm 25:6,7 REMEMBER, O LORD, Your COMPASSION AND loving devotion, for they are FROM AGE TO AGE. REMEMBER NOT THE SINS of my youth, nor my TRANSGRESSIONS; according to Your MERCY-- REMEMBER me for Your GOODNESS' SAKE, O LORD.
Psalm 41:4 I said, LORD, be MERCIFUL unto me: HEAL my soul; FOR I HAVE SINNED AGAINT YOU.
Proverbs 28:13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who CONFESSES AND FORSAKES THEM will obtain MERCY.