It seems that there is much confusion in the church today as to what repentance means. Some Christians will argue that repentance cannot mean to turn from sin because in many cases in the bible God repents. Some examples of this are, God repenting that he made man on the earth ( Gen 6:6), repenting of destroying the children of Israel (Exo 32:10-14), that he had made Saul king (1 Sam 15:35), of the pestilence (2 Sam 24:16), of good or evil depending on the actions of a nation (Jer 18:7-10), and of destroying Nineveh (Jon 3:10). So we can see by these passages that repentance does not always mean to turn from sin, since God never sins (view article).
However on the other hand we see many scriptures that indicate the need to repent or turn from sin; such as in 1 Kin 8:47-50, 2 Chro 7:14, and Pro 28:13 where it shows God's forgiveness is conditional on whether the people would repent, we learn in Psa 55:19 that God will afflict those that won't change because they do not fear him, Pro 16:6 further indicates what kind of changes take place in those that fear him, which is the departing of evil.
The prophet Isaiah writes and instructs to "cease to do evil" and "Let the wicked forsake his way" (Isa 1:16, 55:7). The prophet Jeremiah tells Jerusalem to wash her heart from wickedness, so the Lord could repent of the evil that he thought to do unto them, but they refused to hearken (Jer 4:14, Jer 26:3, Jer 8:6). Ezekiel was instructed to warn the wicked of their way, he also instructed them to turn from their idols, we also learn in Ezekiel that God doesn't take pleasure in the wicked's death but he would rather see them turn and live (Eze 3:18-21, Eze 14;6, Eze 33:11, 2Pe 3:9). The last verse from the Old Testament that we will cover on this topic today informs us that those who do wickedly will be burnt up when the day of the Lord arrives (Mal 4:1).
Okay, so it is pretty clear in the OT that God expected people to turn from their sin, but has this changed at all in the New Testament? Let's look at some more verses and find out. Matthew instructs us to be perfect (Mat 5:38), that many false converts will be told to depart because they work iniquity (Mat 7:22-23), Jesus came to call sinners to repentance (Mat 9:13, Mar 2:17), and there is no middle ground when it comes to following Jesus (Mat 12:30).
Matthew further shows us in Mat 21:28-31 that sinners such as harlots that turn from their sin go into God's kingdom before those that say they follow God but their actions show otherwise, and that unprofitable servants are cast into outer darkness as well (Mat 25:30).
In the Gospel of Luke we have John the baptist preaching that men should amend their ways and bring forth good fruit or be cast into the fire (Luk 3:3-13), Jesus likewise preached that men ought to repent or they would perish (Luk 13:3). We learn also in the Gospel of Luke that Jesus' brethren are those that hear and do God's word (luk 8:21), and Christians are taught to deny themselves and take up their cross (Luk 9:23-24). God also wants us to forgive those that sin against us even if it's seven times in a day, that is if they are repentant (Luk 17:3-4). Repentance is not just for Old Testament Israelites, but is also for everybody in New Testament times (Luk 24:47, Act 11:18, Act 17:30).
In the Gospel of John we have Jesus telling the man he healed to sin no more (Joh 5:14); He said likewise to the woman caught in adultery (Joh 8:11). If we love Jesus we should do what he says (Joh 14:15, 1 Joh 5:3). Those that choose to not continually abide in him will be cast into the fire (Joh 15:6, 2 Joh 1:9), in verses (Joh 15:10 and Joh 15:12) we learn that we abide in his love if we keep his commands, namely that we should love others as he loved us.
Further more we learn it's a blessing to be turned from our iniquity (Act 3:26), and that the Holy Ghost is given to those that obey and if you don't have the Holy Ghost you are not his (Act 5:32, Rom 8:9). Scripture also teaches us that it is a gift from God (Act 5:31, 2 Tim 2:25), and that it leads to salvation (2 Cor 7:8-10). Peter tells Simon the sorcerer to repent of his wickedness (Act 8:20-23).
Romans 2:4-10 teaches us that God will reward every man according to his deeds, whether they be good or evil. The bible is crystal clear that just because we are under grace that doesn't give us a license to sin (Rom 6:15-16). We are to Abhor the evil and cleave to the good (Rom 12:9). 1 Corinthians teaches us that those who commit such things as fornication, reviling, idolatry, etc will not inherit God's kingdom ( 1 Cor 6:9-11), and that we cannot partake of God's table and also the table of devils (1 Cor 10:21).
2 Corinthians teaches us that those in Christ are new creatures, as well as exhorts us to examine ourselves to see whether we are indeed in the faith (2 Cor 5:7, 2 Cor 13:5).
Notice when Paul writes to the Ephesians and says that "in time past ye walked according to the course of this world," (Eph 2:2-3) this indicates that they don't anymore. Neither should things such as covetousness, foolish talk, jesting, etc be named among us even once (Eph 5:3-6). Further more we are told to Mortify our members and to depart from iniquity (Col 3:5-6, 2 Tim 2:19).
Titus reminds us that there would be those that profess to know God but deny him by their works, and that we should deny ungodliness and live righteously in the present (Tit 1:16, 2:12).
James tell's us that the man is blessed who endures temptation (1:12), that faith without works is dead (2:17), To submit and draw nigh to God and resist the devil, to cleanse our hands and to purify our hearts (Jam 4:7-8). We learn in 1 Peter 1:14-16 that we are to be holy, and not to be like the way we were before we got saved.
We learn from the epistles of John that those who profess to know God and yet don't keep his commandments are liars (1 Joh 2:4), and those that commit sin are of the devil (1 Joh 3:8), but those that do good are of God (3 Joh 1:11). Then we have Jesus warning those that commit adultery with Jezebel that they will go through great tribulation unless they repent of their deeds ( Rev 2:20-22)
The Noah's 1828 Dictionary defines Repentance as REPENT'ANCE, noun
"1. Sorrow for any thing done or said; the pain or grief which a person experiences in consequence of the injury or inconvenience produced by his own conduct."
In Conclusion, in order for us to get the right definition of repentance you have to go by the context of the passage. In some cases it means a change of mind like when God repents and in others the bible makes it clear that we are to repent or in other words to turn from sin.
More verses where Repent, Repentance,etc is Mentioned
Exo 13:17, Num 23:19, Jdg 21:15, Job 42:6, Psa 106:45, Psa 110:4, Joe 2:14, Mat 3:8, Mat 4:17, Mat 11:20, Mat 27:3, Mar 1:4, Mar 6:12, Luk 3:3, Luk 10:13, Luk 15:7, Luk 16:30-31, Act 2:38, Act 3:19, Act 19:4, Act 20:21, Act 26:20, Rom 11:29, 2 Cor 12:21, Heb 6:6 -8, Rev 2:5, Rev 3:3, Rev 3:19, Rev 9:20 -21, Rev 16:11
More Relevant Verses: Luk 6:46, Luk 12:45-46, Joh 8:31, Act 10:35, Gal 6:15, Heb 5:9, Jam 5:20, Rev 22:14
