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70 New Testament Verses That Say Repentance Is Required

100% New Testament Theology

A Scripture Study Prepared by the Priory of Salem Institute of Theology

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Repentance is one of the most universally accepted doctrines in historic Christianity. Whether one examines the ancient catechumen process of the Orthodox Churches, the baptismal vows of Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, Pentecostals, or even the modern “sinner’s prayer,” the message remains substantially the same: sinners must turn from sin and turn to Christ.

From John the Baptist, to the Lord Jesus Christ, to the Apostles after Pentecost, the New Testament repeatedly presents repentance as a necessary response to God’s grace. Salvation is freely given through Christ, yet that same grace calls men out of darkness and into a life of faith, obedience, holiness, and transformation.

For nearly two thousand years, churches throughout the world have required instruction, repentance, confession of faith, baptism, confirmation, and preparation for Holy Communion. Candidates publicly renounced Satan, forsook the works of darkness, confessed Christ as Lord, and pledged to walk in newness of life through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The following passages demonstrate that repentance, confession of sin, turning to God, walking in obedience, and forsaking the works of the flesh are not optional parts of Christianity, but essential elements of conversion and discipleship.

While many additional New Testament passages teach the same doctrine through related language such as obedience, holiness, sanctification, confession, self-denial, and spiritual transformation, the verses collected below provide a foundational starting point for the study of repentance itself.

70 New Testament Scriptures Showing That Repentance Is Required

“Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.” — Matthew 3:8 (repentance produces visible change)

“Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent…” — Matthew 4:17 (Christ’s first recorded message)

“Repent ye, and believe the gospel.” — Mark 1:15 (repentance and faith together)

“Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance…” — Luke 3:8 (works prove repentance)

“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” — Luke 5:32 (Christ’s mission toward sinners)

“Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” — Luke 13:3 (repent or perish)

“Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” — Luke 13:5 (repeated warning)

“…joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth…” — Luke 15:7 (heaven rejoices over repentance)

“…joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” — Luke 15:10 (repentance celebrated in heaven)

“Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name…” — Luke 24:47 (apostolic message)

“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” — Acts 2:38 (repentance before baptism)

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…” — Acts 3:19 (repentance precedes forgiveness)

“…to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” — Acts 5:31 (repentance linked to forgiveness)

“Repent therefore of this thy wickedness…” — Acts 8:22 (turn from sin)

“…God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.” — Acts 11:18 (repentance unto life)

“God… commandeth all men every where to repent.” — Acts 17:30 (universal command)

“Repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” — Acts 20:21 (faith and repentance together)

“…that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.” — Acts 26:20 (works worthy of repentance)

“…the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.” — Romans 2:4 (God’s mercy is intended to produce repentance)

“Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.” — Romans 6:1-2 (grace is not permission to continue in sin)

“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body…” — Romans 6:12 (resist the rule of sin)

“…his servants ye are to whom ye obey…” — Romans 6:16 (obedience reveals allegiance)

“If ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” — Romans 8:13 (crucify the flesh)

“Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed…” — Romans 12:2 (conversion changes a person)

“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature…” — 2 Corinthians 5:17 (new life follows conversion)

“Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation…” — 2 Corinthians 7:10 (godly sorrow leads to repentance)

“Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” — Galatians 5:16 (victory over sin is expected)

“…they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” — Galatians 5:19-21 (persistent rebellion condemned)

“They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” — Galatians 5:24 (believers wage war against the flesh)

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” — Galatians 6:7 (actions have consequences)

“Put off concerning the former conversation the old man… and put on the new man.” — Ephesians 4:22-24 (conversion changes conduct)

“…no whoremonger, nor unclean person… hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” — Ephesians 5:5 (warning against continuing in sin)

“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” — Philippians 2:12 (active obedience expected)

“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth…” — Colossians 3:5 (put sin to death)

“But now ye also put off all these…” — Colossians 3:8 (abandon sinful habits)

“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification…” — 1 Thessalonians 4:3 (holiness expected)

“…taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel…” — 2 Thessalonians 1:8 (obedience required)

“Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” — 2 Timothy 2:19 (leave sin behind)

“…denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly…” — Titus 2:11-12 (grace teaches holiness)

“…the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” — Hebrews 5:9 (saving faith obeys)

“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” — Hebrews 12:14 (holiness is necessary)

“Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only…” — James 1:22 (obedience required)

“Faith, if it hath not works, is dead…” — James 2:17 (living faith acts)

“Faith without works is dead.” — James 2:20 (works reveal faith)

“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” — James 2:26 (faith demonstrated by action)

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil…” — James 4:7 (active repentance)

“Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts…” — James 4:8 (turn from sin)

“Confess your faults one to another…” — James 5:16 (confession expected)

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy…” — 1 Peter 1:15-16 (God expects holiness)

“…abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.” — 1 Peter 2:11 (war against sin)

“…that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men…” — 1 Peter 4:2 (new life)

“…give diligence to make your calling and election sure…” — 2 Peter 1:10 (growth expected)

“…not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” — 2 Peter 3:9 (God desires repentance)

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins…” — 1 John 1:9 (confession brings forgiveness)

“Hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.” — 1 John 2:3 (obedience evidences faith)

“He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar…” — 1 John 2:4 (profession alone is insufficient)

“Love not the world…” — 1 John 2:15 (reject worldliness)

“Sin is the transgression of the law.” — 1 John 3:4 (definition of sin)

“Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not…” — 1 John 3:6 (do not continue in sin)

“He that doeth righteousness is righteous…” — 1 John 3:7 (righteousness practiced)

“He that committeth sin is of the devil…” — 1 John 3:8 (warning against continuing in sin)

“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin…” — 1 John 3:9 (new birth changes life)

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.” — 1 John 5:3 (love produces obedience)

“And this is love, that we walk after his commandments.” — 2 John 1:6 (obedience is love)

“Keep yourselves in the love of God…” — Jude 1:21 (persevere in obedience)

“Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works…” — Revelation 2:5 (return to obedience)

“Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly…” — Revelation 2:16 (Christ commands repentance)

“…she repented not.” — Revelation 2:21 (judgment for refusing repentance)

“Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent.” — Revelation 3:3 (repentance required)

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” — Revelation 3:19 (repentance expected)

“Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” — Revelation 14:12 (faith and obedience together)

“Blessed are they that do his commandments…” — Revelation 22:14 (obedience rewarded)

Continue This Scripture Study Series

This article is part of a larger Scripture study prepared by the Priory of Salem Institute of Theology examining repentance, conversion, obedience, holiness, and the new life in Christ.

Conclusion

The Orthodox Church of the Culdees affirms the historic Christian doctrine that salvation is by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. Yet Scripture consistently teaches that this faith is living rather than dead, active rather than passive, obedient rather than rebellious, and transformative rather than merely intellectual.

For this reason the historic Churches developed catechumen instruction, baptismal vows, confession of faith, confirmation, and preparation for Holy Communion. Candidates publicly renounced Satan, forsook the works of darkness, confessed Christ, and committed themselves to walk in newness of life through the power of the Holy Spirit.

St. Andrew’s Orthodox Church of the Culdees practices inter-communion broadly with churches that preserve the mainstream Gospel of Jesus Christ, requiring communicants to be converted, baptized, confirmed where applicable, and prepared for the Holy Mysteries.

We understand Orthodoxy in its broad historic sense: the reception of the Ecumenical Faith, the practice of the Sacraments, and Apostolic Succession.

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…” — Acts 3:19

“Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” — Revelation 14:12

“Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” — Matthew 3:2 (repentance required)

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70 NT Verses that say “Repentance is Required” (100% New Testament Theology)