6 Examples of True Repentance in the Bible

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What does it mean to repent?
Where do we see examples of true repentance in the Bible? 

With the big push towards progressive Christianity, the meaning of repentance is something we’ve begun to talk about less and less. Which is a shame, because Bible has a TON to say about the importance of repentance.

This article serves as a short Bible study on repentance. You’ll learn about true repentance vs. false repentance, the basics step of repentance (it’s more simple than it sounds, trust me).And as always, I’ll provide biblical examples of true repentance in the Bible so you can learn from Scripture and not just me.

We’ll start by answering the basic questions, what does it mean to repent?

What Does Repentance Mean?

In the Bible, when we see true repentance take place between people and God we also see forgiveness take place. So here, we’re going to address the meaning of repentance and forgiveness together.

The Hebrew word for repentance is teshuvah. It means to return or turn around; to go back to what you have strayed from.

Repentance is the act of turning from disobedience to God to intentional obedience. It can also be described as turning from what is wrong to do what is right. Or turning from our own ways to do things God’s way.

Repentance is a decision that starts in the heart and mind and extends into our actions.

Forgiveness is the simple decision to not allow someone’s actions towards you to keep you from loving like God loved us.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8

God loved us while we were sinners, while we opposed Him, with perfect and unconditional love.
We aren’t by any means perfect – but one way God asks us to extend this love to people is by forgiving them when they sin against us. Learn more about forgiveness in the Bible here.

When we are truly repentant, God is quick to forgive us.

Importance of Repentance in the Bible

It’s easy to overlook the importance of repentance in the Bible. In a lot of modern churches, they claim there’s not really a need for it. They say God’s grace covers our sin so it doesn’t really matter how we live.

This is a misunderstanding of God’s grace. It’s also a misunderstanding of the actual gospel message. The gospel that Jesus, those before Him, and the disciples after Him taught is a “gospel of repentance.”

It requires us to stop living life by our own standards and preferences and to adopt God standards of truth and righteousness as our own. That is the true meaning of repentance.

It was Jesus Himself who taught,

…Unless you repent you will all likewise perish…”
Luke 13:3

John the Baptizer taught the same saying,

… “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
Matthew 3:1-2

Jesus’ disciples continued to preach this gospel of repentance through the rest of Scripture.

Paul championed the gospel of repentance in Acts.

Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.
Acts 26:19-20

This theme extends through many of Paul’s letters and even into the writing of other New Testament disciples. Even the the seven churches in Revelations chapters 2-3 are warned to repent quickly while they have the opportunity.

Who Was the First Person in the Bible to Repent?

Repentance happens all over the Bible but have you ever wondered who was the first person in the Bible to repent?

My guess is that the first people to repent in the Bible were Adam and Eve. They may have left the garden on rocky terms but if you continue readers you’ll learn real quick that they raised a family of God-fearers. Seth and Abel both lived rightly before God.

Jacob shows us an example of true repentance when making things right between him and his brother Esau (see Genesis

We see repentance modeled by Judah after his actions against Tamar were brought to light (see Genesis

Joseph’s brothers demonstrates true repentance when they are reunited with Joseph and repent for selling him into slavery (see Genesis )

Repentance is the first step of restoring any relationship. It’s important to God which is reason enough for it to be important to us. But what is genuine repentance in the Bible? How do we go about it? Below are some examples of true repentance in the Bible (and false).

True Repentance Vs. False Repentance

True repentance (as you know) Starts in the heart and extends to our actions. A truly repentant person will usually accept just consequences. Understands that forgiveness is a gift that is not owed to them (it’s given by grace). Truly repentant people will avoid trying to make sin sound less than it is. They’ll take responsibility for their action and do what they can to make it right.

With false repentance the person may change their actions but still rebel in their heart. They may repents to escape consequences, but have little to no remorse for their actions. False repentance comes with an attitude of entitlement. The person will often try to minimize the sin they’re in and even look for ways to escape responsibility from it.

Examples of true repentance in the Bible:

• Saul (later renamed Paul – Acts 9).
• The thief on the cross (Luke 23:39-43).
• Rahab (see Joshua 2) or click here for our full Rahab Bible Study!
• Joseph’s Brothers (Genesis 42-45).
• The story of Judah and Tamar (Genesis 38)
• King David (Psalm 51 and 2 Samuel 12)

Examples of false repentance in the Bible:

• Cain. It wasn’t until Cain received judgment from God that he decided to be sorry about murdering his brother. He was more concerned with the consequences he gained than he was the unjust actions he took. (see Genesis 4:1-16)
• Pharaoh in the book of Exodus. Time and time again He promised to obey God’s instruction to let the Israelite peoples go if only God would relieve Egypt of the judgment they were under. Pharaoh always recanted once the judgment was lifted. He said what He had to to get the desire he wanted – but He was not truly repentant.
• King Saul. Only demonstrated repentance when he thought he had a chance at retaining the crown. When God anointed David as the next King, Saul lost his cool and repeatedly tried to kill David, no longer caring what God desired. (see 1 Samuel 15).

So how do you know if you truly repented? I mentioned before that true repentance starts in the heart and is evident in our actions. We can make sure that we’re practicing true repentance by practicing these four action steps.

What Are the Four Steps of Repentance?

How do you repent according to the Bible?

1. Acknowledge you were wrong.
2. Accept Correction.
3. Make It Right
4. Continue In Obedience

True Repentance Starts with Acknowledging You Were Wrong

Whether the goal is to come into right standing with God or with people the first step to repentance is admitting that we were wrong. Confessing and apologizing. This is often the hardest part of repentance because it steps on our pride. True repentance can’t happen without humility. The Bible teaches,

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9

Once we’ve made our confession we take the next step in repentance; accepting correction.

Accepting Correction

How often have you given an apology with zero intention of correcting the behavior? In short, that’s a sing of false repentance. It’s an attempt to make it look like thing have been made right, without abandoning the wrong action.

True repentance requires us to accept God’s correction. We aren’t just turning back to any old way. Teshuva (repentance) is turning back to God and His ways. In order to do that we have to be willing to listen and accept his correction.

Once we hear his correction we can do what is necessary to clean up the mess our wrong actions caused.

Make It Right

The Bible gives lots of examples of what it can look like to right our wrongs.

Zacchaeus is on of many great examples of true repentance in the Bible and how to make it right when we sin against others. Zacchaeus was a tax collector who had stolen from the people of Israel. After becoming a follower of Jesus, Zacchaeus realized he had a lot to make right. Here’s how he went about it.

Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”
Luke 19:8

My all time favorite example of true repentance in the Bible is found in the book of Joshua. It’s the story of Rahab and how she turned away from everything her people and culture established as right, to follow God. I love how Rahab’s story demonstrates the meaning of repent in the Bible. Learn more about that here.

Continue In Obedience

I’ve heard it said that repentance is a lifestyle, not a singular event. Meaning we can expect to be putting these four steps to work often. Admitting we were wrong, accepting correction, making it right, and step four; continuing in obedience.

The thing about continuing in obedience is that it requires us to stay in relationship with God. We must consistently listen so that we can consistently follow through with instruction.

There will be times when we stray away from what we know if right and good. When that happens and God convicts us, we must be quick to turn back to His and continue in obedience.

Repentance and Our Relationship With God

True repentance is the first step in experiencing reconciliation. It’s an act of honoring others and honoring God. False repentance will keep us trapped in cycles of pride and rebellion. It damages our character, relationship, integrity, and witness.

False repentance keeps us elevating ourselves and the ways of the world.

True repentance helps us love like God and conform to the image of Christ.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Romans 12:2-3

 

I hope hope you’ve enjoyed our response to the question, “What is genuine repentance in the Bible?”

Do you still have questions? Drop them in the comments and let’s talk! Fill out the form below to have free Bible study resources and lessons sent straight to your email inbox!

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