When studying the topic of repentance, it is essential to notice that there is a grave difference between true and false repentance. The Bible is replete with examples on both ends. But what is the major difference, and how does the Christian ensure that he is genuinely repenting?
Take a look at the lives of those in Scripture and see.
Job
Job is a classic example of true repentance. Job was a good man of whom God was pleased. Job walked blamelessly before others, and thus he lived uprightly. To live blamelessly means that people could not bring a charge against Job because his conduct was pure.
However, a day arose when Satan approached God. He was going to and fro throughout the land, seeking someone to devour. God placed Job, his servant, before Satan. Before reaching conclusions about God’s character, look at Jesus. Jesus was God’s Son, and it was the Holy Spirit Who led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted. It was also the will of the Father to crush the Son in the place of sinful man.
God’s wisdom is above man’s wisdom, and thus when a challenge arises in man’s thoughts, he must always submit them to God. Sometimes, the reader of Job may need to do this very thing. God looked upon Job and believed that Job would honor Him amid his trials. Thus, he allowed Satan to tempt Job, and the one who is aware of the story would know that Job’s life was met with intense hardship.
During Job’s trial, his major problem was that His focus was more on himself than God. He sought to justify Himself before others instead of justifying God. Job called his own righteousness to the forefront when He should have been telling of the greatness of God.
In the end, Job cried out, “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (Job. 42:5-6). Job’s genuine repentance can be seen in his looking to God and conviction over his sin. Job was laid low after his trial. Afterward, he turned to God with a depth to his relationship that could not have come apart from his suffering.
Zacchaeus
Zacchaeus was also a man who is an example of genuine repentance. He heard of a time when Jesus was passing through his town. Eager to see the Savior, he climbed into a tree. When Jesus passed by, He looked upward and told Zacchaeus to come down from the tree. Zacchaeus’ response is the first bit of evidence of His genuine repentance. The Bible says, “And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully” (Luke 19:8). Zacchaeus quickly responded to the call of Christ with joy.
Nevertheless, as the story goes, Jesus went to the home of Zacchaeus. Then the Bible declares, “And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house…” (Luke 19:8-9). Zacchaeus’ response of turning to the Lord and desiring to make things right was an act of genuine repentance. Thus, Jesus bestowed salvation upon him.
Judas
While Job and Zacchaeus were examples of true repentance, Judas was surely an example of false repentance. Judas had been with Jesus for three years. He had walked with Jesus, talked with Jesus, and eaten with Jesus. He saw the many miracles of Christ and thus witnessed the work of God firsthand.
During Judas’ time with Jesus, Jesus made him the treasurer. In other words, Judas had charge of the money bag. However, Judas’ heart was also revealed in the Scriptures as sinful concerning money matters. For instance, he wanted to sell the expensive anointing oil instead of using it to anoint Jesus. The real reason was that Judas had been stealing money and he would have profited from its sale by taking some of the proceeds.
The Bible claims that a love of money is the root of all kinds of sin. Thus, when Judas sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, he likely did so because of his love of money. After Judas decided to hand Christ over to the authorities for a sum of money, the Bible says, “Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself” (Matt. 27:3-5). While it may seem as though Judas was genuinely repentant, he was not.
Although Judas gave back the money and claimed that he had sinned, his actions which proceeded, attested to something other than genuine repentance. If Judas had genuinely repented, he would have been comforted by God. Instead, Judas felt guilty and condemned for his actions, and rightfully so. However, the Bible has more to say about what comes to the one who genuinely repents, and it is not thoughts of suicide. The Corinthians can be of help at this point.
The Corinthians
The Corinthians were another example of people who truly repented. Scripture says, “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” (2 Cor. 7:9-11). Here one is made aware of the determining factor in true and false repentance. Paul speaks of godly sorrow rather than worldly sorrow.
It may not be enough for someone to simply feel sorry for what he has done. Someone can feel miserable because they got caught doing something they should not have. However, they could be more concerned about their reputation and feel ashamed and embarrassed. But godly sorrow looks upward and cries out with David, “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight…” (Ps. 51:4). First and foremost, sin is against God and must be seen as such. When someone is sorrowful because he recognizes that he has sinned against God, he will truly repent.
Paul also states that true repentance brings about repentance without regret. Here is one reason why it is clear that Judas did not truly repent. His actions did not attest to God’s comfort, which accompanies true repentance.
Esau
On the other hand, one can see another example of worldly sorrow in Esau. Esau was the firstborn, and thus he expected to receive the rights of the firstborn. Nevertheless, a day arose in which Esau was starving. He came out from the field and felt he would die if he did not eat. Jacob seized the opportunity to sell a bowl of pottage for Esau’s birthright. Esau took the deal and despised his birthright.
However, sometime later, he came to his senses and realized what he had done. As a result, he desired to reacquire his birthright. Despite Esau’s desire, the Bible says, “…Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears” (Heb. 12:16-17). It was no minor matter for Esau to despise his birthright.
Abraham was Esau’s grandfather. He was the man in whom God entered into a covenant that Christ would come through His lineage. Isaac was Esau’s father and the one to whom the promise was passed. Esau essentially looked upon the promises and despised them. He wanted a bowl of mush instead of the blessings. Later, he likely wanted them back, but not for godly reasons.
Therefore, repentance must be unto God and for the glory of God.
Final prayer
Father, I thank you for the many blessings You have revealed in Your Word. Teach me to repent in a way that will honor You. May I never be deceived by false repentance? Instead, please align my repentance with the truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.