Topical Encyclopedia Repentance, a fundamental concept in Christian theology, involves a sincere turning away from sin and turning towards God. It is characterized by a change of heart and mind, leading to a transformation in behavior. However, the Scriptures frequently highlight the aversion of the wicked to repentance, illustrating their resistance to turning from their sinful ways.The Bible consistently portrays the wicked as those who are obstinate and resistant to the call of repentance. In the book of Proverbs, the nature of the wicked is described: "A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright man makes his way sure" (Proverbs 21:29). This hardening of the face symbolizes a stubborn refusal to acknowledge wrongdoing and change one's ways. The prophet Jeremiah laments the persistent unrepentance of the people of Judah, despite numerous warnings and calls to return to God: "They have made their faces harder than stone; they have refused to repent" (Jeremiah 5:3). This imagery of hardened faces underscores the deep-seated resistance of the wicked to the transformative power of repentance. In the New Testament, Jesus Himself addresses the aversion of the wicked to repentance. In the Gospel of Matthew, He rebukes the cities where He performed many miracles, yet they did not repent: "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes" (Matthew 11:21). Here, Jesus highlights the hardness of heart that prevents the wicked from responding to divine intervention with repentance. The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, further elaborates on the condition of the unrepentant heart: "But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed" (Romans 2:5). This passage emphasizes the spiritual peril of remaining unrepentant, as it leads to divine judgment. The aversion of the wicked to repentance is also evident in the book of Revelation, where despite experiencing severe judgments, they refuse to turn from their sins: "The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk" (Revelation 9:20). This persistent refusal to repent, even in the face of catastrophic events, highlights the depth of their rebellion against God. Throughout Scripture, the aversion of the wicked to repentance serves as a sobering reminder of the human tendency to resist God's call to transformation. The Bible consistently calls believers to examine their hearts, turn from sin, and embrace the grace and forgiveness offered through repentance. Torrey's Topical Textbook Jeremiah 8:6I listened and heard, but they spoke not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rushes into the battle. Torrey's Topical Textbook Matthew 21:32 Library Regeneration by Faith. Of Repentance. Orthodox Creeds. Of the Discipline of the Church, and Its Principal Use in Censures ... General Service to John, Precursor, Prophet and Baptist of the ... How Joseph when He was Become Famous in Egypt, had his Brethren in ... 2 Timothy ii. 20, 21 Matthew xx. 1, and C. Article xxvii (xiii): of Monastic Vows. The Folly of Slander. Part 2. The First Book Resources What is cheap grace? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning of sackcloth and ashes? | GotQuestions.org Why had the disciples in Ephesus not received the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-7)? | GotQuestions.org Repentance: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Repentance by the Operation of the Holy Spirit Repentance by the Preaching of Haggai Repentance by the Preaching of Oded Repentance in Asking for a King Repentance in the Time of Asa, by the Preaching of Azariah Repentance of Their Idolatry, when Afflicted by the Philistines Repentance of Worshiping the Golden Calf Repentance: Achan, Because of his Theft Repentance: After Hearing the Law Expounded by Ezra Repentance: Ahab, when Reproved by Elijah for Ahab's Idolatry Repentance: At the Dedication of the Second Temple Repentance: Balaam, of his Spiritual Blindness Repentance: Because of Their Idolatrous Marriages Repentance: Because of Their Oppressive Usury Repentance: Called Repentance to Life Repentance: Called Repentance to Salvation Repentance: Christ Came to Call Sinners To Repentance: Christ Exalted to Give Repentance: Commanded by Christ Repentance: Commanded to all by God Repentance: Condition of God's Favor Repentance: Conviction of Sin Necessary To Repentance: Danger of Neglecting Repentance: David, at the Rebuke of Nathan, for his Sins of Adultery and Murder Repentance: Denied to Apostates Repentance: Hezekiah, at the Time of his Sickness Repentance: Illustrated: The Prodigal Son Repentance: Illustrated: The Repentant Son Repentance: Jonah, After his Punishment Repentance: Joseph's Brothers, of Their Maltreatment of Joseph Repentance: Josiah, when he Heard the Law of God Which had been Discovered in the Temple by Hilkiah Repentance: Manasseh, when he Was Carried Away Captive to Babylon by the King of Assyria Repentance: Ministers should Rejoice Over Their People on Their Repentance: Necessary to the Pardon of Sin Repentance: Neglect of, Followed by Swift Judgment Repentance: Not to be Repented of Repentance: Peter, Because of his Denial of Jesus Repentance: Pharaoh, of his Hardness of Heart Repentance: Preached by Christ Repentance: Preached by John the Baptist Repentance: Preached by the Apostles Repentance: Preached in the Name of Christ Repentance: Rehoboam, when his Kingdom Was Invaded, and Jerusalem Was Besieged Repentance: Repentance of Their Complaining Because of Lack of Bread and Water Repentance: Saul, at the Rebuke of Samuel for not Destroying the Amalekites Repentance: should be Accompanied by Confession Repentance: should be Accompanied by Conversion Repentance: should be Accompanied by Faith Repentance: should be Accompanied by Greater Zeal in the Path of Duty Repentance: should be Accompanied by Humility Repentance: should be Accompanied by Prayer Repentance: should be Accompanied by Self-Abhorrence Repentance: should be Accompanied by Shame and Confusion Repentance: should be Accompanied by Turning from Idolatry Repentance: should be Accompanied by Turning from Sin Repentance: should be Evidenced by Fruits Repentance: The Burden of the Preaching of Jesus Repentance: The Burden of the Preaching of John the Baptist Repentance: The Disobedient Son Repentance: The Ephesians, by the Preaching of Paul Repentance: The Jews, by the Preaching of John the Baptist Repentance: The Ninevites, by the Preaching of Jonah Repentance: The Present Time the Season For Repentance: The Wicked: Averse To Repentance: The Wicked: Condemned for Neglecting Repentance: The Wicked: Neglect the Time Given For Repentance: The Wicked: Not Led to by the Judgments of God Repentance: The Wicked: Not Led To, by Miraculous Interference Repentance: The Woman Who Anointed Jesus With Oil Repentance: There is Joy in Heaven Over One Sinner Brought To Repentance: True: Thief on the Cross Repentance: Unavailing: To Esau Repentance: Unavailing: To Israel Repentance: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Repentance: Under the Influence of Hezekiah Repentance: we should be Led To, by Godly Sorrow Works Repentance: we should be Led To, by The Chastisements of God Repentance: we should be Led To, by The Goodness of God Repentance: we should be Led To, by The Patience of God Repentance: when Rebuked by an Angel for not Expelling the Canaanites Repentance: when Reproved by the Prophet Micah Related Terms Long-suffering (23 Occurrences) |
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