Repentance: Freedom or Guilt?

Modern English defines repent as a negative emotion, such as remorse, regret, contrition or feeling bad. Consequently, we Christians are often mistakenly lead to a state of guilt as a result of our sinful nature. This is a serious error that has moved many Christians away from organized churches. Instead we must approach our language from a Biblical perspective. Remember the Old Testament was written in Hebrew and the New Testament was written in Greek. Translations, locations, and time often affect the connotation of languages. Using the Bible and a concordance we can see that quilt is not a part of the living Word of God.

Jesus instructed the Apostles to spread the Gospel throughout the world. The word Gospel, in Greek: euaggelion (yoo-ang-ghel’-ee-on), means good news. The New Testament is all about explaining and spreading the good news of God’s promise to us through Jesus Christ. Psalm 100 opens with “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands”. We are similarly instructed in Ps: 66:1, 81:1, 95:1, 95:2, 98:4 and 98:6. The word ‘joy’ is used 70 times and the word ‘love’ is used 289 time in the New Testament. This is a message to us. As Christians, our approach to God, through Christ, should be full of love and joy because of the good news of the Gospel.

In Matthew 4:17 Jesus begins His ministry and states: “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The word repent comes from the Greek metanoeo (met-an-o-eh'-o); which means to think differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider (morally, feel compunction). There is no implied guilt in this definition. Once we repent or reconsider our sinful actions, we are free.

In Hebrews 8:12 and 10:17 God states that He will remember our iniquities no more. Essentially the same is in Isaiah 43:25 and in Jeremiah 31:34. In Romans 11:27 God states through Paul: “this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins”. God’s Word tells us repeatedly that our sins are not only forgotten but completely taken away once we repent. Again no guilt is implied.

As Christians, we are to acknowledge our sins and to repent by reconsidering our actions. Through this we are freed and our sins are totally forgiven and totally forgotten. Then, we can approach God guilt free and full of joy. That is kingdom of heaven on earth.