Ezekiel 18:30

Repent, and turn. Verses 30-32 constitute an appeal based on the principles of the justice of God’s dealings. When the counsel is given, “Make you a new heart and a new spirit” (verse 31), the prophet does not mean that man can save himself by his own power. But there is a part that man just act in the work of salvation. God can do nothing for man without man’s consent and cooperation (see DA 466). The meaning of repentance is not so clearly expressed by the Hebrew root, shut, as it is by the Greek, metanoia. Nor does the English word always convey all that is bound up in this spiritual experience. The basic idea of shub is “to turn.” According to this definition, men turn from their sins (see SC 26). Metanoia is built on two words, the first, meta, which means “after,” and the second, nous, which means “mind.” The resultant meaning is to have a different mind afterward.

Sin has its seat in the mind. The soul must purpose the sinful act before passion can dominate over reason. The root of sin, then, is a bent of mind that causes man to choose the evil course. The solution to the problem is to correct this basic disposition. This is what repentance is intended to accomplish. A change must take place in the thinking of the individual. Since God never coerces the will, this act must be voluntary, but the Holy Spirit is given to aid the soul. It is quite impossible for the individual of himself to accomplish the transformation. But when he chooses to make the change and in his great need cries out to God, the powers of the soul are imbued with power from above and the propensity of the mind is corrected.

True repentance, then, is a function of the mind. It includes a thorough scrutinizing of the situation to discover what factors led to the defection, and also a study as to how similar errors can be avoided in the future. Repentance is the process whereby sin is expelled from the life. Once repented of, it can be confessed, and it will be forgiven. But confession without repentance is meaningless. God cannot forgive sins that are still active in the heart. This is the reason why the basic emphasis of the Scriptures is upon repentance rather than confession. Jesus’ fundamental teaching was, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15). Peter’s counsel was, “Repent, and be baptized” (Acts 2:38).

Shall not be your ruin. Israel charged that God was unjust and caused their ruin. God declared that sin itself, which the sinner voluntarily chose, was their ruin (see 5T 120).

He may not acknowledge the justice of God’s ways now; but in that awful moment, when he confronts the Judge of all the earth, there will be heard from his lips the acknowledgment that God’s ways are just (see GC 668, 669).