What Is Repentance?
A turning away from sin toward God, involving a genuine change of mind, heart, and direction of life, not just regret over consequences.
Meaning
Repentance translates the Greek word metanoia, a change of mind, and echoes the Hebrew shuv, to turn or return. In Scripture it is more than feeling sorry. It is a reorientation of the whole person, away from sin and toward God, that produces changed behavior. John the Baptist opened his ministry preaching repentance, Jesus called people to repent and believe the good news, and Peter told the crowd at Pentecost to repent and be baptized.
At its root, repentance assumes something has gone wrong between a person and God, and that the relationship can be restored. Paul distinguishes godly sorrow, which leads to repentance and life, from worldly sorrow, which leads only to regret. The prophets of the Hebrew Bible carried the same message centuries earlier, calling Israel to return to the covenant rather than merely feel bad about breaking it.
Traditions differ mainly in how repentance is practiced. Catholic and Orthodox Christianity formalize ongoing repentance through confession and the sacrament of reconciliation, understanding it as a repeated turning throughout life. Many Protestant traditions emphasize an initial, decisive repentance at conversion, paired with daily, ongoing repentance as part of Christian growth. Across all traditions, repentance is understood as the doorway to forgiveness, never a way to earn it.
In Scripture
Acts 3:19“Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord,”
Explore more terms in the Christian glossary, see how the traditions understand it on the denominations guide, or read related verses explained.
Repentance: Frequently Asked
Is repentance the same as saying sorry?
Not quite. Saying sorry can be about regretting consequences, while repentance in Scripture describes a deeper change of mind and direction, a turning away from sin toward God that reshapes how a person actually lives, not just how they feel in the moment.
Do Christians only repent once, at conversion?
Traditions differ. Many Protestants see an initial repentance at conversion followed by ongoing daily repentance. Catholic and Orthodox Christians practice repentance regularly through confession, understanding it as a lifelong, repeated turning back to God rather than a single event.
What is the difference between repentance and penance?
Repentance is the inward change of heart and mind Scripture describes. Penance is a specific practice, historically associated with Catholic and Orthodox confession, meant to express and reinforce that inward repentance. Not all traditions use the term penance, but all affirm the inward reality it points to.