How Important is Repentance?

What a question! Of course repentance is vital...right?

Over the past few weeks I have written about the meaning of the Greek term behind the word repentance as it appears in the New Testament. A more refined and accurate meaning of the word is a change of perception. So, the question might be asked, “How importance is one’s perception”?

One of my daughters has traveled extensively in Italy. She has noted numerous times that some Italians think that all Americans are rich. Obviously, that is a perception. Yet, because of that perception assumptions are made. For example, a border guard might hold an American’s passport demanding a significant sum of money for safe passage. After all, Americans have money.

A person’s perception may or may not be rooted in truth. Regardless, decisions are based on one’s perception of truth. When the American tourist truthfully tells the border guard that he is not wealthy and does not have enough money, the border guard does not believe him. And why? Perception: Americans have money.

So, the border guard tells the tourist to get the money from family or friends. The tourist objects saying that his family and friends don’t have that kind of money. Again, the border guard does not believe him. Perception.

All of the border guard’s actions were filtered through a mind that accepted the perception that Americans have money. Everything the tourist said was filtered through and interpreted with ears that perceived that Americans have money.

Repentance is not merely a change of mind; repentance involves a correction and realignment of one’s perception from error to truth. Until we come to terms with this meaning of repentance we will continue to misunderstand scripture.

What is your perception of God?

Your perception of God will determine the way you approach the Bible; the way you think about the creation account in the Book of Genesis; the way you perceive sin, and how you perceive salvation from divine judgment.

The way you perceive God will determine the way you think about the created world, your fellow man, your family, the government, the church and even the value of life.

Your perception of God will ultimately define your understanding of truth. I want to be clear: Truth stands independent of your perception. There is only one truth: We call it reality. However, people make decisions and take action based on their perception of truth.

So, if you hold to an erroneous perception, for example, that there is no God, then you will have a skewed sense of reality. Your decisions and actions will not align with the way things really are.

Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent (change their perception), because he has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead. 
—Acts 17:30 (NASB95)

“Yes,” repentance is vital. 

That is the only way to have a correct perception of God and sin and righteousness...a correct perception of truth. 

Repentance leads to salvation!


Mark Stinnett

December 15, 2019