REPENTANCE Is the First Doctrine of Christianity (for Jews AND Gentiles)
Published: 24th September 2025
The Greek word for ‘repent’ is metanoia (meh-TAHN-oy-ah), which means to change your mind for the positive and therefore make practical reformations, if applicable. Repentance is dependent on first receiving a word of truth, whatever that truth might be (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17). After all, why would you change your mind about anything if you don’t first receive new information or a revelation? If you believe such a word of truth — that is, you have faith concerning it — you’ll change your mind accordingly and, consequently, your actions, one way or another.
This explains why repentance and faith go hand-and-hand; they’re two sides of the same coin, as pointed out by both Christ and Paul in the Scriptures (Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21). The fact that they go hand-in-hand reveals why repentance and faith are the first two doctrines of biblical Christianity, as verified by Hebrews 6:1-2.*
* For details on the six basic doctrines of Christianity, go here.
This, in turn, explains why the very first word of John the Baptist’s first sermon was ‘repent,’ as well as Jesus Christ’s first sermon:
1In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Matthew 3:1-2
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Keep in mind that the New Covenant — i.e. the New Testament — started with the preaching of John the Baptist, as verified by the LORD (Luke 16:16).
While John’s ministry was short-lived — lasting only about a year — Christ continued to preach repentance during his 3.5 years of earthly ministry:
1Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
Luke 13:3-5
Did the Apostles of Christ in the 1st Century Follow Suit?
Of course. Read for yourself what James, Peter and John taught…
James
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.” c
7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
James 4:6-10
While the apostle doesn’t technically mention ‘repent’ or ‘repentance’ in these passages, it’s precisely what he was talking about.
Peter
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
1Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
1 Peter 2:1-2
Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.
As with the examples from James’ epistle, Peter doesn’t technically mention the words ‘repent’ or ‘repentance’ in the latter two cases, but that is indeed what he was talking about.
John
8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:8-9
Confessing your sins is “keeping with repentance,” as John the Baptist put it (Matthew 3:8; Luke 3:8). Practice this regularly (and daily, if necessary) because it keeps your spiritual arteries clear of the build-up of unconfessed sin, which will block the flow of God’s grace/favor into your life if ignored.
What About Paul?
Paul was an apostle of the Lord too, as verified by several passages, it’s just that he didn’t meet Christ personally until after the Lord’s resurrection, which is why he referred to himself as one “abnormally born” (1 Corinthians 15:3-9).
The difference between Paul and the prior apostles is that he was commissioned to reach the Gentiles primarily (Galatians 2:8 – 2:9), but not exclusively, seeing as how Jews lived all over the landscape and were a minority in virtually every predominantly Gentile fellowship (1 Corinthians 9:19-21).
Did Paul preach repentance, like the other apostles? Absolutely:
I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
Notice how Paul’s preaching corresponds to the aforementioned first two doctrines of biblical Christianity: Repentance and faith (Hebrews 6:1-2).
Consider a couple of other examples from Paul’s epistles:
9Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men a 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Paul was talking to believers here, not unbelievers. He stressed “do not be deceived” on the matter: Those who live a lifestyle of sin without care of penitence “will not inherit the kingdom of God.” However, believers who “keep with repentance” (Matthew 3:8; Luke 3:8) are forgiven on a daily basis and “cleansed from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
19The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21
Once again, Paul was speaking to believers and stressed that “those who live like this” — obviously without care of repentance — “will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.
Paul was talking about those who claim to be Christians while their impenitent actions clearly deny the Lord. It explains why Christ said that you can recognize people who falsely represent God “by their fruit” (Matthew 7:15-23). And, by the way, all genuine believers are called to represent God as witnesses and even speak for Him (Ephesians 5:1; 1 Peter 4:11).
The Lord Preached Repentance to Believers After His Ascension
This can be observed with the resurrected Christ’s instructions to five of the seven predominantly Gentile churches in Revelation 2-3, as follows:
- Ephesus: The Lord commanded them to “Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place” (Revelation 2:5).
- Pergamum: Christ warned them to “Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth” (Revelation 2:16).
- Thyatira: The Lord told them, “I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds” (Revelation 2:20-25).
- Sardis: Yeshua urged them to “Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you” (Revelation 3:2-3).
- Laodicea: Christ instructed them, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent” (Revelation 3:19).
The Lord used the word ‘repent’ seven times while addressing these five New Covenant assemblies. Keep in mind that Revelation was the final book of the New Testament canon of Scripture and thus it contains the final written instructions of Jesus Christ to his Church. Was he in error to speak to predominantly Gentile believers in this way? It’s a rhetorical question.
Why Is This Important?
The reason this scriptural info is vital is because there’s a whole segment of Evangelicals today who claim that keeping with repentance is irrelevant to salvation when, in fact, it’s the very first doctrine of biblical Christianity with faith being the second (Hebrews 6:1-2). Again, repentance and faith go hand-in-hand; they’re two sides of the same coin (Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21). If you don’t “change your mind” corresponding to the truth you receive — whether that’s the Christian gospel or any other truth — than you don’t actually believe it, which means you don’t really have faith.
Then there’s the camp who claim that Gentile believers are only obligated to follow Paul’s instructions in his thirteen epistles from Romans to Philemon, which isn’t true as proven in this article. They also claim that Paul didn’t preach repentance, which is also a brazenly false doctrine, as observed by the crystal clear passages noted above, amongst others.
Related Topics:
What Are the BASICS OF CHRISTIANITY?
Once Saved Always Saved? — ANSWERING THE BEST ARGUMENTS
Does Christ’s GREAT COMMISSION Only Apply to Jewish Believers?
Are Believers ONLY to Receive From THE EPISTLES OF PAUL?