The ABC’s of Repentance – by Pastor Joseph Cortes
Read 2 Corinthians 7:8-10 – “For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”
I have had people confess to me that when they read these verses they become confused — and for the longest time I used to be as well — not just because Paul seems like he’s just rattling on and it gets wordy (it doesn’t seem that clear, especially reading the King James Version), but in verse 10, you can come away with the illusion in the King James (and other versions of the Bible) that just being sorrowful for what you’ve done brings you repentance. Sorry, that doesn’t cut it.
My whole goal from this point on is to put to rest the notion that you must quit sinning in order to be born from above or born again. That is not what 2 Corinthians 7:8-10 is stating. Also, I want you to understand God’s original intent (through Paul) by using the original Greek words. I briefly mentioned this before, but now I want to give you more details. Let’s just call these three-word variations the ABC’s of Repentance, and I’ll explain what they really mean. I am going to try and make it as clear as I can for you using all the variations of the word repent that we find in these verses.
Now this passage consists of three verses where we see three variations of the Greek word metanoia or repent. Therefore, I want you to put “A”, “B”, or “C” at the areas where I tell you to put them.
Assign the letter “A” to metanoia; the most simple and clear definition of that word is “a change of mind.” Assign the letter “B” to metamelomai; simply put, it means to “feel sorry” or “regret.” Finally, assign the letter “C” to ametameletos; the clearest definition of this Greek variation of the word repentance is that now you are put in a position where “you cannot change your mind,” a more permanent position that is “irrevocable.”
Now let’s read the verses again and place the letters where they apply:
“For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, [Place the letter “A” here. The definition that applies here is a “change of mind.”] though I did repent: [Place the letter “B” here, metamelomai; “I regret” or “I feel sorry.”] for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: [Place the letter “A” here, metanoia, “a change of mind.”] for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance [Place the letter “A”, “a change of mind.”] to salvation not to be repented [Place the letter “C” here; “irrevocable” or “you cannot change your mind”] of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”
Now, you still might be a little confused, even though you have all the letters and the definitions of these words, the ABC’s of Repentance, but I am going to show you how it would read if put into today’s everyday language:
2 Corinthians 7:8-10
“For though I made you sorry with my letter, I do not change my mind about the reasons that were necessary to make you feel bad, though I did feel sorry for having to upset you. For I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to changing your mind from trusting in works, to trusting in Christ alone. For ye were sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For Godly sorry worketh that change of mind from works to Christ to salvation not to be revoked once saved. God cannot change His mind. But the sorrow of the world worketh death.”
God cannot change his mind. He saves you forever. Now, it is not part of the verse but, “as long as you keep trusting in what His Son did” should be added. I want to add that though it isn’t part of these verses.
What these verses prove is that repentance in salvation means a change of mind from works – or even a change of mind in Discipleship because that is usually where people include works — or whatever other combination of spiritual mumbo jumbo they come up with. You cannot say you have faith in Christ and then add on your works. Now, I never said Discipleship is not necessary, but it doesn’t save you. Isaiah called it like he saw it, and he called it “filthy” works. I am saying we are completely hopeless, and we are completely helpless without Jesus Christ. Only Christ’s righteousness can be seen by the Father as a worthy payment – not for His sin, but for ours. That is why when God perceives us now, He sees us with Christ’s righteousness, the robe of righteousness that Christ places on us that gives us that access. He removed our punishment, He removes our guilt that was rightfully ours because we were born with sinner’s blood, and He credits us with His righteousness.
Look at 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
That is why He is called our Savior. That is why the death penalty is removed. That is why everlasting life is given. That is why we have access to the Father. We can come boldly to His throne. I have said it many times, but in John 6:47, Jesus says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” There are no other substitutions. I am sorry; it has to be Jesus the Christ to have eternal life, to have access to that free gift, which comes the split second we trust in Christ who died for our sin. He was buried, came back to life, came out of that tomb, and rose again. Quit trusting the Christian lifestyle. Quit trusting the preaching you hear about repentance and know what God’s Word clearly says about it. Do trust in Jesus, period.
I am not saying once you start trusting in Him and you have had that change of mind that He will allow you to live your life as you please. Far from it. He will chasten and correct you along your journey. But as long as you trust Him on a daily basis — and some days there will be more trusting going on than others — He’s not going to leave you, my friend; He isn’t going to let you go. That is probably the most wonderful thing He did besides what He came to fulfill for our benefit. Once that happens, through my stumbling, through my heartaches and my falls and my slipups, He is there ready to grab a hold of me. I can imagine him just picking me up by my shirt and saying, “Nope! This is the way we are going now. Get back on the path of trusting Me, I will direct your path.” Let me tell you – I am almost 60 years old and through my life of experience, that is exactly what happens.
Keep your eyes on Jesus, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, and keep trusting in Him and His Word.
You might also like to read:
Jesus NEVER said repent – He said Change Your Mind
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