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A Brief Study on Repentance & Forgiveness


Here are two passages on forgiveness from the New Testament:

“And said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem’” (Luke 24:46-47).

“…delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me” (Acts 26:17-18).

Jesus said the first to the apostles and the second to Saul of Tarsus when he received Christ. Both commands include repentance, and both include forgiveness. The first is a command to preach repentance to unbelievers, and the second is a command to the apostles to turn the unbelievers from the power of Satan unto God.

Two more passages on repentance are Acts 17:30 and 2 Timothy 2:23-26.

“The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30).

“Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:23-26).

In the first, all people are commanded to repent.

In the second, God grants the unbelievers repentance. 

Which is it? There are four “wills” involved in repentance, all mentioned in the paragraph from 2 Timothy:

  • The Christian’s will. He is told how not to witness and how to teach.
  • God’s will.
  • The non-Christian’s will.
  • The devil’s will.

All of these teachings on repentance are true, and we should apply them in our evangelism.


This post coordinates with today's reading in the To the Word! Bible Reading Challenge. If you are not in a daily reading plan, please join us at TotheWord.com. We would love to have you reading with us.

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