Repentance and Restitution

by Travis L Quertermous

From The Reminder, September 4, 2011

Many people think repentance simply means saying “I’m sorry.” But according to the Bible, repentance is a change of mind that brings about a change of life. The apostle Paul wrote, “For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death” (2 Cor. 7:10). The Greek word translated “repentance” literally means “to change the mind.” Paul said this change of mind is produced by godly sorrow, that is, sorrow that one has sinned against God.

Obviously, if one truly repents, then he will change his life for the better. He will also seek to make restitution to those he has wronged whenever possible. In his classic book The Gospel Plan of Salvation, written in 1878, Dr. T. W. Brents said, “In vain may any one tell me that he repents slandering me while he refuses to correct his false statements concerning me, or that he repents stealing my horse while he continues to ride him without my consent.” The penitent tax-collector Zacchaeus told Jesus, “Look, Lord I give half my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold” (Luke 19:10). The Lord blessed him for truly repenting. Let us go and do likewise.