Most of us hear the word “repentance” and immediately think of guilt, sorrow, or some exhausting attempt to earn God’s forgiveness. In much of Western evangelical culture, “repent” has become synonymous with groveling or self-condemnation. But what if the original meaning was something far more beautiful? Something liberating?
The English word “repent” comes from the Latin paenitentia, meaning “penitence” or “to feel regret”—a concept shaped more by medieval legalism than the Gospel revealed in Christ’s finished work. But in the Greek of the New Testament, we find a very different word: metanoia (μετάνοια).
And metanoia doesn’t mean “to feel sorry.” It means a radical change of mind—a transformation in how we see, think, and perceive reality. True repentance doesn’t begin with behavior modification. It begins with revelation. Revelation of who God is and who we are in Him. It is an awakening to the nearness and goodness of the One who has always loved us.
We were taught a fear-based “turning from sin.” But in truth, repentance is a turning toward God—a stepping into the light, a seeing with new eyes. For the early church, repentance wasn’t about a legal verdict. It was seen as healing of the mind—a return to harmony, original innocence with Christ.
When we receive the gift of repentance, we’re not becoming something we’re not—we’re returning to the truth we forgot: we were always in Him, always loved, always chosen. Like the prodigal who “came to himself” (Luke 15:17), we awaken to reality—and reality is drenched in grace.
How Does Repentance Work?
If repentance isn’t about punishment or appeasement, how does it actually work?
The answer is simple: repentance is something you receive. It is a divine gift—an awakening prompted by the Spirit of Christ, who persuades us of our inclusion.
“No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:3)
Even our ability to “turn” to God is empowered by the Spirit. Revelation, not effort, is what transforms us.
The Spirit Opens Our Eyes
We behold Christ, and in seeing Him, we see ourselves differently. The veil lifts. Separation was never real, only imagined.
This is what happened to Paul. He wasn’t seeking Jesus—he was persecuting His followers. Yet Christ appeared. Paul was thrown off his horse and into divine union. The same Spirit who met Paul in blindness still unveils the truth in us today.
Healing the Mind, Body & Soul
Gregory of Nazianzus said:
““For that which He has not assumed He has not healed; but that which is united to His Godhead is also saved.” Source: To Cledonius the Priest Against Apollinarius (Ep. Cl.)
Christ assumed our broken condition to heal it from the inside. Metanoia is not about punishment—it is about healing. It is the holy “aha!” moment when we realize He is already here. Already in us.
A Kindness That Undoes Us
Scripture says:
“God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance.” (Romans 2:4)
Did you catch that? It’s kindness, not threats. Goodness, not fear. We’ve been taught repentance as climbing our way back to God. But the Gospel says: look to Jesus.
This isn’t about striving or penance. It’s about beholding. As we behold Him, we are changed.
“Beholding the glory of the Lord, we are being transformed into the same image…” (2 Corinthians 3:18)
The Greek word for “beholding” implies reflection—as in a mirror. Metanoia clears the mirror. We see again. We remember who we are.
What About Confession?
Confession plays a role. But not to convince a wrathful God to be nice to us.
The word “confess” (homologeo) means “to speak the same.” Confession is alignment. It’s agreeing with what God is already saying over us: You are loved. You are forgiven.
Under the finished work, confession is not fear-based fire insurance. It’s an invitation to echo heaven.
Yes, there may be tears. Yes, there is godly sorrow. But it’s not despair—it’s cleansing. It’s healing. It’s coming home.
This is the heart of Christus Victor and the beauty of apokatastasis (the restoration of all things): that sin and death have been defeated not to change God’s heart about us, but to change our hearts about Him.
Why Is Repentance a Gift?
In a world that teaches performance and striving, “repentance” may feel like just another religious hurdle. But the Gospel flips the script:
- It is not a demand.
- It is not a burden.
- It is not a transaction.
It is a gift.
Jesus draws us. Even when we’re still confused. Even when we doubt. Even when we feel unworthy.
“No one comes to Me unless the Father draws him.” (John 6:44)
Repentance isn’t our pursuit of God. It’s His gift, given freely.
“God has granted even the Gentiles repentance that leads to life.” (Acts 11:18)
Granted. Not demanded. That’s the Gospel.
A Lifestyle of Transformation
Metanoia isn’t a one-time event. It’s a lifestyle. It is the daily unveiling of the truth: Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27)
“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Romans 12:2)
It is the Spirit’s whisper, not threats of hell.
It is a mirror image, not a measuring stick.
It is Love’s embrace, not an evaluation of our false self.
This is the God revealed in Jesus:
- Not the accuser, but the Advocate.
- Not the punisher, but the Shepherd.
- Not the wrathful, but the Lamb.
Repentance can be described as our road back to God. But the reality is this—He never left.
Changing our mind is the grace-awakened return to who we truly are in Christ. And that changes everything.
Things to Watch
- Union: The Heart of the Gospel with Dr. Bruce Wauchope
from Gan Tv Network’s Rethinking God With Tacos
Watch here on Grace Awakening Network
Dr. Wauchope unpacks the Gospel as a message of inclusion and intimacy—not separation. This episode explores how union with Christ is not a reward for repentance but the foundation from which transformation flows.
- The Transformative Power of the Gospel: A Journey of Healing – Ep 32
from Gan Network’s Across All Worlds with C Baxter Kruger and Jason Clark
In this moving episode, discover how the Gospel does more than rescue us—it restores us. This personal journey shares how repentance, when seen through the lens of grace, becomes a catalyst for healing and identity.
Sources for this Article and Recommended Reading.
🕊 Primary Sources and Church Fathers
- St. Gregory of Nazianzus
- To Cledonius the Priest Against Apollinarius (Ep. Cl.)
📖 Biblical Support
- Romans 2:4 – “God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance.”
- 2 Corinthians 3:18 – “Beholding the glory of the Lord, we are being transformed…”
- Luke 15:17 – “He came to himself…” (Prodigal Son)
- Acts 11:18 – “God has granted even the Gentiles repentance…”
- 1 Corinthians 12:3 – Emphasizes spiritual awakening initiated by God through the Spirit.
📚 Contemporary Theological Works
- “The Mediation of Christ” by T.F. Torrance
- Highlights repentance as response to the revelation of Christ, not human striving.
- “Jesus and the Undoing of Adam” by C. Baxter Kruger
- Emphasizes union and healing as the heart of repentance. Quotes early Fathers like Athanasius and Gregory to show repentance as awakening, not punishment.
- “The Evangelical Universalist” by Gregory MacDonald (pseudonym for Robin Parry)
- Presents apokatastasis and Christus Victor themes aligned with repentance as restoration.
