Does God Repent?

Does God Repent?

Answer: Does God Repent?

ETERNALLY, no.

TIMELY, yes.

While I am not, in this writing, dealing with the FULL subject of REPENTANCE, I will deal with the one aspect of such, which is "God’s Repentings."

I find in carefully searching the Scriptures, and striving precisely at "Rightly Dividing," that this subject divides into two (2) Categories:

1. God’s Repenting, and 2. Man’s Repenting.

Each of these two categories divides into TWO PHASES:

1. God’s Repenting Eternally and Timely, and

2. Regenerated man is a Penitent sinner and repents with Godly Sorrow; (2 Corinthians 7:10); and the unregenerated man is an alien sinner only carnally (sorry he got caught).

I could go into detail here as to the "Definition," but simply will state that "To Repent" is to "TURN FROM" one entity, idea, theory, opinion, spin or bias and "TURN TO" another. It may be only a slight mid-course adjustment or correction of only one degree, or, maybe 10 degrees, or 20, 30, 45, or even 90 degrees. Sometimes it requires 180 degrees CHANGE of direction. It can inculcate the "Change" of Mind or Heart. Such carries with it the "feeling of sorrow or regret," and such can bring manifestly mourning, lamenting and grieving. Such Repent, Repented, Repentest, Repenteth, Repenting, Repentance, comes from five (5) different Hebrew words in the O.T. Each must be put into proper context. While I linger briefly at the "Definition" facet, I will state that in most Dictionaries, we will find NUMEROUS SYNONYMS, but the proper CONTEXT is the KEY, as ALL "synonyms" do not fit ALL "Contexts." The proper defined synonym is usually the ONLY one that fits a particular context. KEEP THIS IN MIND. In this article I shall deal only with the factor of "God’s Repenting." So when considering "God’s Repenting," remember what I just said above in the previous sentence. You will always find at least ONE synonym that FITS GOD’S REPENTING definition and that will give you the proper synonym for each particular CONTEXT. I do have in my research files a many multi-paged analysis or exegesis covering the subject in full.

Now for the big question. DOES GOD REPENT?

I shall forthwith only touch upon the texts that deal with this precise question, both Eternally and Timely.

Genesis 1:31-God pronounced all his creative work as "very good." God was well pleased with His work, including mankind. Yet, God changed his mind from pleasure to grief because of man’s FALL and then man’s manifested wickedness.

Genesis 6:6-7-"And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them."

God even "Repented" (Turned from the animals, beasts, reptiles, birds) because of man’s sins.

Possibly these two verses are the source of much confusion among God’s Children. Let us examine them, along with all the other verses dealing with "God’s Repenting." First, may I establish an ETERNAL premise.

God does NOT REPENT - Eternally. Malachi 3:6- "God changes not."Romans 11:29-"For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance."2 Timothy 2:12-13-"If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself."Hebrews 6:17-20-"God is immutable."Hebrews 13:8-"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."James 1:17-"---with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

Now for the contexts.

Malachi 3:6is dealing with the Eternal Salvation of all the Sons of Jacob (Elect) and therefore changes not. (Repents not)

Hebrews 6:17is dealing with God’s Eternal Covenant or Counsel, and is confirmed by an oath. Such oath is confirmed by two immutable things, which are - 1. God cannot lie, and 2. God cannot change or turn from the Eternal Salvation of all His Elect Family.

Hebrews 13:8is showing the Eternal Nature, Sonship and Works of Jesus Christ which cannot be Turned or CHANGED.

James 1:17is dealing with "God’s Gift-Giving," the same as the "Gifts and Calling" inRomans 11:29. In both these verses, when God gives a GIFT or makes a CALLING, he does NOT repent, turn or change from such.

InRomans 11:29the word "Repentance," comes from a Greek word - AMETAMELETOS - meaning Irrevocable and Unchangeable. There is no shadow of turning. If God gives you a gift or calls you, then he never repents from such. Therefore, there is no final discharge of man’s duty in that gift or call.

2 Timothy 2:12-13teaches that IF we suffer with him, there is a NOW, PRESENT TIMELY reigning with him, but IF we deny him, he will deny us of such TIMELY blessings; nevertheless, even in the face of our denying (unbelief -Romans 11:32) He is so faithful, till he cannot deny himself eternally. You may loose your TIME salvation, but your ETERNAL salvation is secured in

Jesus’ faithfulness. The conclusion, eternally, God does NOT repent, pertaining to the Eternal Covenant. Divine Love toward His Elect Family, in Foreknowledge, Election, Adoption, Predestination, Effectual Calling, Justification, Glorification never fails. However, TIMELY or TEMPORALLY God does repent, because of man’s FALL IN ADAM into Total Depravity, and then man’s continued manifested sinful disobedience, and I intend to prove these statements with the many followings scriptures.

Genesis 6:6-"And it REPENTED the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart." God TURNED AWAY FROM man on the earth because of man’s disobedience and Fall into sin and death. God was grieved in his heart because of man’s fall. God also drove man out of his presence and the Garden of Eden.

Genesis 6:7-"And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth." Question: Did God destroy man from the face of the earth? YES. Was it TIMELY or ETERNAL? I believe you can see this is very self-explanatory.

Exodus 32:12-14-The Lord’s wrath waxed hot against the Israelites, his chosen nation, who were a special, peculiar treasure unto him. Nevertheless, because of their idolatry, God, in his anger, told Moses he would consume them, and make Moses the leader of a great nation. Moses prayed (Psalms 106:23) for the Lord to REPENT and TURN FROM thy fierce wrath of the evil against Thy People. We find because of Moses’ Prayer, The Lord REPENTED of the evil which he thought to do unto His People. Obviously, this is Timely.

Numbers 23:19-The context is God’s instructing the prophet Balaam concerning King Balak. The Lord told Balaam to tell Balak that I made a covenant with the new nation of Israel, to bring them into this Land of Canaan, and that God will NOT REPENT of such. "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should REPENT: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" So we learn here that some PROMISES of God are TIMELY in extent and duration, yet God will NOT REPENT or TURN FROM such.

Deuteronomy 32:35-"To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence......"

Deuteronomy 32:36-"For the Lord shall judge his people and REPENT himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up or left." Teaching that God will TURN BACK TO his servants, when they need him, TIMELY. God teaches us that vengeance, revenge, and recompence is not for man to deal out, but God will REPENT or TURN FROM man in such TIMELY punishment, then TURN RIGHT BACK TO man, when such help is needed. Can you see the various utilities of the word "Repent" pertaining to God’s Works?

Judges 2:18-"And when the Lord raised them up judges, then the Lord was with the Judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it REPENTED the Lord because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed the." Again, here is the same lesson as was inDeuteronomy 32:36. God’s People were disobedient, and served other gods - idols. God allowed their enemies to greatly distress them, but at the point of the greatest distress, God raised them up a judge to deliver them. God heard their groanings, and such REPENTED or TURNED the Lord TO them. We can see that TIMELY, God REPENTS - - TURNS FROM andTURNS TO His Elect Nation.

1 Samuel 15:11;1 Samuel 15:29;1 Samuel 15:35- "It REPENTED God that he had set up Saul as King over Israel." That is, God REPENTED or TURNED FROM King Saul and dethroned him TIMELY. What did God then do? 1 Samuel 16:1-13-God TURNED TO David and instructed Samuel to anoint him King. See how simple, in context, God’s REPENTING is?

2 Samuel 24:16and also1 Chronicles 21:15 "God was very angry with David for numbering the twelve; tribes of Israel, and sent the Destroying Angel, who destroyed 70,000 men, then God REPENTED or TURNED FROM permitting the Angel to destroy the city of Jerusalem." Again, a TIMELY REPENTING of God.

Psalms 90:13andPsalms 106:45both deals with "God’s Repenting." The context is that God remembered his Chosen Israelite People, even during their greatest disobedience. God’s anger and wrath was great against them, and God REPENTED or TURNED FROM them. David prays for the Lord to RETURN, and let it REPENT (Return) thee concerning thy servants. When God heard their affliction and cry, he remembered them for his covenant, and REPENTED (Returned to them) according to the multitudes of his MERCIES. Obviously, this is God’s TIMELY Repenting. Psalms 135:14further stressed this same aspect. David again says "For the Lord will judge His People (2 Corinthians 5:10;Romans 14:10;1 Corinthians 11:31-32) and he will REPENT HIMSELF concerning his servants. God’s TIMELY JUDGMENTS in chastisement against his people and his servants both is set forth as "REPENTING" by God.

Now let us turn right around and consider "GOD’S REPENTING NOT," ETERNALLY. Psalms 110:4"The Lord hath sworn, and will NOT REPENT, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." David here is prophesying of the Lord Jesus Christ, and God will NOT REPENT (Turn From) the ETERNAL PRIESTHOOD of Christ. The Apostle Paul re-quotes this same lesson about 1,000 years later to the Hebrews inHebrews 7:21-"(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will NOT REPENT, Thou are a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec)." The fact that God will NOT REPENT from this ETERNAL OATH and SWARING, should be glorious and comforting to us. This is something to shout about. The prophet Jeremiah preaching, forewarned the Jews concerning their continued idolatry, and told them that God would make the whole land desolate. InJeremiah 4:17". . . .yet will I not make a full end." -Teaching that such desolation was only TIMELY. And continuing in context inJeremiah 4:28-"For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will NOT REPENT, neither will I TURN BACK FROM IT." God will NOT TURN AWAY FROM such TIMELY punishment upon them. The Scriptures teach me clearly that God became WEARY with His REPENTING, nevertheless, every time the Jews TURNED AWAY FROM God He REPENTED (Turned away from) them. Let me quote fromJeremiah 15:6"Thou hast forsaken me, saith the Lord, thou are gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee: I am WEARY with REPENTING." Again, a TIMELY REPENTING by God, and a TIMELY destroying.

We continue to find this same principle taught inJeremiah 18:8"If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, TURN FROM their evil, I will REPENT of the evil that I thought to do unto them."

Jeremiah 18:10"If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will REPENT OF THE GOOD, wherewith I said I would BENEFIT them." God clearly teaches that "If you will REPENT, then He will REPENT." If you do GOOD, then He will do GOOD and BENEFIT you. If you do EVIL then He will do EVIL unto you, and will REPENT (Turn From) the GOOD that will BENEFIT you. Also seeIsaiah 1:19-20. All this context is TIMELY.

InJeremiah 20:1-18, we find Jeremiah lamenting and complaining that the Israelite Nation was so steeped in disobedience, and that 70 years of Babylonian Captivity was coming upon them, and they would not even listen to his preaching, till he decided to "quit preaching" and just "throw in the towel"; that they just were no longer worth even trying to preach to -Jeremiah 20:9-but the word of the Lord was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay." So Jeremiah began preaching even with more zeal and warning the Jews of the curses that God would permit upon them, even as the cities of Sodom and Gomorra -Jeremiah 20:16--- "And let that man be as the cities which the Lord overthrew, and REPENTED NOT." God did not TURN FROM the TIMELY destroying of those cities. This should be a great lesson to us in the U.S.A. today. The prayers of the "Salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13), a few righteous men (Genesis 18:1-33), is all that can cause God to REPENT FROM destroying Idolatrous U.S.A., instead of REPENTING NOT. Think about that ! ! !

Jeremiah 26:3"If so be they will hearken, and TURN every man FROM his evil way, that I may REPENT ME of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings." Yes, in Jeremiah’s day, this same premise persisted, and let us continue - - -

Jeremiah 26:13"Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the Lord your God; and the Lord will REPENT HIM of the evil that he hath pronounced against you."

Jeremiah 42:10"If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I REPENT ME of the evil that I have done unto you."

Ezekiel writes about the parable of the "seething bones," and shows this is what will happen to Jerusalem (a type of the N.T. Church today) because of idolatry, great scum, lewdness, and even calls her a "bloody city."

Ezekiel 24:14 "I the Lord have spoken it: it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will NOT GO BACK, neither will I spare, neither will I REPENT; according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, shall they judge thee, saith the Lord God." This is strong medicine upon the Church, but "GOD’S REPENTING NOT" is only TIMELY.

Hosea 11:8"- - -mine heart is turned within me, MY REPENTINGS are kindled together."

Hosea 11:9"I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will NOT REPENT to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city." Can you not see "GOD’S REPENTING" --- TIMELY in these last few verses? Hosea further writes -Hosea 13:14- "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will by thy plagues; O grave, I will be by destruction: REPENTANCE shall be hid from mine eyes." Hereis a promise in prophecy that God will NOT REPENT FROM the GRAVE and DEATH, and ransom you from such. This is a glorious promise.

Joel 2:13"And rend your heart, and not your garments, and TURN UNTO the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and REPENTETH HIM of the evil."

Joel 2:14"Who knoweth if he will RETURN and REPENT, and leave a blessing behind him..." This is self-explanatory, isn’t it?

Amos 6:1"Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came I." God’s children who trust in "idols" of any nature, even their "Works Systems" of today, are, in a sense, "At ease in Zion," even though they are "Working," and WOE unto such. Now the Lord shows Amos aPlumbline (Amos 7:7-9). To "square and line-up"; To "show precisely where the center is"; an Instrument of "FUNDAMENTALS." Now, back toAmos 7:3-6- we find that God will NOT REPENT from the "Plumbline Method" of chastisement, but did "REPENT" or "TURN FROM" other methods - TIMELY.

Jonah 3:9"Who can tell if God will TURN and REPENT, and TURN AWAY FROM his fierce anser, that we perish not?"

Jonah 3:10"And God saw their works, that they TURNED FROM their evil way; and God REPENTED OF the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not."

Jonah 4:1"But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry."

Jonah 4:2"And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and REPENTEST THEE of the evil."

How much plainer can scripture be? God REPENTED and TURNED FROM his fierce anger, and did not destroy Nineveh. God intended to destroy Nineveh, but Jonah’s preaching caused the Ninevites to REPENT, then God REPENTED. However, look at the great lesson before us right here. This lesson is for US ALL, and let us never forget it. Here it is: God was angry at Nineveh. God was angry at Jonah also. Both the Ninevites and Jonah were disobedient. God caused Jonah to REPENT, and to go to Nineveh, and preach to them, and they REPENTED: then God REPENTED, but Jonah became very angry at God because God REPENTED from destroying Nineveh, and clearly proved that man needs to REPENT and REPENT and REPENT. Jonah, prays a prayer, even while he is angry, and discloses to God his knowledge, that God Himself is gracious, merciful, slow to anger, of great kindness, and is a God that REPENTS FROM the evil of destroying Nineveh. How can we ever doubt the doctrine that "GOD REPENTS," but remember, it is only TIMELY. See alsoMatthew 12:41;Matthew 16:4;Luke 11:32. The prophet Zechariah closes out the Old Testament subject of "GOD’S REPENTING" inZechariah 8:13-15"And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong." 14 "For thus saith the Lord of hosts; As I thought to PUNISH YOU, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith the Lord of host, and I REPENTED NOT:" 15 "So again have I thought in these days to DO WELL UNTO Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not." To me, Zechariah makes this so clear, so very clear, dealing with "GOD’S REPENTING." To summarize, when REPENTANCE is predicated of God, either in the DIRECTION of JUDGMENT or of MERCY, there is reference to the CHANGE that takes place in God’s ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP to man, but only TIMELY FELLOWSHIP to man. God is immutable, unchangeable and permanent in HisBEING, ESSENCES, CHARACTERISTICS, PERSONALITY, PERFECTIONS, and PURPOSES. But He CHANGES (Turns or REPENTS) His "ATTITUDE," in "JUDGMENT" upon SIN, from complacency to wrath, in MERCY from WRATH to FAVOUR and BLESSING. In the O.T. the terms - TURNING FROM the "Fierceness of His Anger or Wrath" and "Repenting Him of the evil," both set forth "God’s Repenting." In the O.T. God’s "RELATIONSHIP" was sovereignly His own choice in the HEBREW PEOPLE, the CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, but God’s "FELLOWSHIP" with them was predicated upon THEIR OBEDIENCE, and such Obedience and/or Disobedience caused God’s REPENTING FROM them and/or REPENTING or TURNING TO them. God’s RELATIONSHIP to His Elect Family is ETERNAL and God REPENTS NOT; however, God’s FELLOWSHIP to His Elect Family is TIMELY and God REPENTS. God’s "mood swings, temperament, mind-flex, demeanor, behavior and reflectivity" are variable, flexible, and contingent, depending upon the obedience or disobedience of His Children and especially that of His Disciples (followers and learners of Him), yet, all of these descriptions in this paragraph are ONLY TIMELY in imported blessings or cursings or chastisements. In conclusion, the writings of Moses, Samuel, Ezra, David, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Jonah, and Zechariah all clearly set forth, beyond a shadow of a doubt that one aspect of the subject of RPENTANCE is "GOD’S REPENTING," but in every case, such was TIMELY and was appropriated only unto "His People." "GOD’S REPENTING NOT," was, in extent and duration, applied only to those outside the "Elect Family"; God REPENTS NOT "Eternally" concerning the "non-elect," but not so concerning "The Elect."

Compiled by:

Hulan F. Bass (elder) Many years ago.

Lubbock, Tx.