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Bible Dictionaries
Repentance
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
or A change of mind, accompanied with regret and sorrow for something done, and an earnest wish that it was undone. Such was the repentance of Juda, Matthew 27:3; and so it is said that Esau found "no place of repentance" in his father Isaac, although he sought it with tears, Hebrews 12:17; that is, Isaac would not change what he had done, and revoke the blessing given to Jacob, Genesis 27:1-46 . God is sometimes said to "repent" of something he had done, Genesis 6:6 Jonah 3:9,10; not that he could wish it undone, but that in his providence such a change of course took place as among men would be ascribed to a change of mind. But the true gospel repentance, or "repentance unto life," is sorrow for sin, grief for having committed it, and a turning away from it with abhorrence, accompanied with sincere endeavors, in reliance on God's grace and the influences of the Holy Spirit, to live in humble and holy obedience to the commands and will of God. This is that repentance which always accompanies true faith, and to which is promised the free forgiveness of sin through the merits of Jesus Christ, Matthew 4:17 Acts 3:19 11:18 20:12 .
These files are public domain and are a derivative of the topics are from American Tract Society Bible Dictionary published in 1859.
Rand, W. W. Entry for 'Repentance'. American Tract Society Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ats/r/repentance.html. 1859.
