DISPENSATIONAL ASPECTS OF REPENTANCE

THE DISPENSATIONAL ASPECTS OF REPENTANCE

             Repentance seems most prominent in Old Testament, the Synoptic Gospels and Acts.

                        Explanation is this: God is mainly dealing with Israel. But this does not mean that faith and conversion are ignored. The repentance was just in order to the others. 

Cf. Mk. 1:15  "And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."   The Kingdom was "at hand" because the Mediatorial King had arrived. Without such a King there could be no kingdom established on earth in the Biblical sense. It follows, therefore, that to reject its King would be to reject the Kingdom. He came to His own to announce that it was at the door.

Acts 3:19  "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord."  The “times of refreshing” in Acts 3:19, beginning with the first coming of Christ, are a foreshadowing of the “times of restitution” in Acts 3:21, at His second coming. The Greek word for “refreshing,” used only here, literally means “reviving,” or “breathing again,” referring evidently to the new birth which results from repentance and conversion.

             

In John and Epistles, faith is emphasized rather than Repentance.

                        Explanation is this: Because in these the universal offer of salvation is the main theme. But repentance is not absent.

                        cf. Acts 17:30  "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent."  Now that God has revealed Himself, not only in creation but also in His human incarnation in the Lord Jesus, He is no longer dealing mainly with just one nation. The gospel of salvation is for all men, and all must “repent” (that is, “change their minds”) concerning the true God and their responsibility before Him.

                             Luke 24:47   "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." The gospel of salvation which Christ has commanded us to preach among all nations involves “repentance” as a prerequisite to “forgiveness.” Repentance is not merely sorrow for past sins, but a complete change of mind toward God and toward sin, which is then proved real by a changed life.