Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical narrative, repentance is a profound theme that underscores the relationship between humanity and the divine. It is the act of turning away from sin and returning to God, characterized by a sincere change of heart and mind. However, Scripture reveals that the wicked often remain unrepentant, even in the face of God's judgments.The Bible provides numerous accounts where the judgments of God, intended as corrective measures, fail to lead the wicked to repentance. This resistance to divine correction is a testament to the hardness of the human heart and the depth of sin's grip on the unrepentant. One of the most striking examples is found in the Book of Revelation. Despite the catastrophic judgments poured out upon the earth, many persist in their rebellion against God. Revelation 9:20-21 states, "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. Nor did they repent of their murders, their sorceries, their sexual immorality, or their thefts." Similarly, in the Old Testament, the prophet Jeremiah laments the stubbornness of the people of Judah. Despite the impending judgment and the call to return to God, they refuse to repent. Jeremiah 5:3 declares, "O LORD, do Your eyes not look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain; You crushed them, but they refused correction. They made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent." The prophet Amos also speaks to this theme, highlighting the futility of God's judgments in bringing about repentance among the Israelites. Amos 4:6-11 recounts a series of calamities sent by God, yet concludes with the repeated refrain, "Yet you have not returned to Me," declares the LORD. The resistance to repentance is not limited to the ancient Israelites. Jesus Himself addresses the unrepentant cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, where He performed many miracles. In Matthew 11:20-24 , He reproaches these cities for their failure to repent despite witnessing His mighty works, warning them of a harsher judgment than that of Sodom. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, speaks of the stubbornness and unrepentant heart that stores up wrath for the day of God's righteous judgment. Romans 2:5 warns, "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." These passages collectively illustrate a sobering reality: the judgments of God, while intended to lead to repentance, often do not achieve this purpose among the wicked. The hardness of the human heart and the deceitfulness of sin can render individuals impervious to divine correction, underscoring the necessity of divine grace for true repentance to occur. Torrey's Topical Textbook Revelation 9:20,21And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Torrey's Topical Textbook Revelation 16:9 Library Solomon's Repentance Accidents, not Punishments Elijah the Tishbite On the Government of God "Nineveh, that Great City" Persecution in the First Centuries. Persecution in the First Centuries God's Gentle Power Knowing that a Man is not Justified by the Work of the Law, but by ... Use to be Made of the Doctrine of Providence. 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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