Repentance | Metanoia

2 Corinthians 7:10 “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.”

Repentance in this verse and many other verses in the New Testament is translated back to the Greek word metanoia. This word denotes a change of mind, but going even further, a “fundamental transformation of outlook, of man's vision of the world and of himself, and a new way of loving others and God.”

In yesterday’s post, James encouraged the readers of his epistles to purify their hearts of double-mindedness. We ought to repent and not have two minds such as one that loves God and one that loves sin. Let us change our minds, change our outlook on sin and do things differently. It is not appropriate that we should put God to the test by repenting and then immediately returning to the same sins we sought His forgiveness for. This kind of behavior does not signify that a change of mind or transformation of outlook has occurred.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians and was somewhat saddened to hear that the church was grieved by his letter, but then he rejoiced when he heard that their grief was a godly sorrow leading to repentance. This change of mind, this repentance is what leads to salvation - and salvation without regret. When this change of mind has occurred, you shouldn’t be looking back regretting your repentance or regretting that you had to give up your life of sin. It should be a transformational shift in your thinking.