Scripture	Change your mind & behavior about your sins	Change your mind & behavior about Jesus, the Messiah
Matt. 3:2 D	X	X
Matt. 4:17 D		X
Matt. 11:20, 21 D		X
Matt. 12:41 D	(X)	X
Mark 1:15 D	X	X
Mark 6:12 D	X	X
Luke 10:13 D		X
Luke 11:32 D	X	X
Luke 13:3 D	X
Luke 13:5 D	X
Luke 15:7 D	X
Luke 15:10 D	X
Luke 16:30 D	X
Luke 17:3, 4 D	X
Act 2:38 D	(X)	X
Acts 3:19 D	X	X
Acts 8:22 D	X
Act 17:30 D	X	X
Acts 26:20 D	X	X
2 Cor. 12:21 D	X
Rev. 2:5 D	X
Rev. 2:16 D	X
Rev. 2:21,22 D	X
Rev. 3:3 D	X
Rev. 3:19 D	X	X
Rev. 9:20, 21 D	X
Rev. 16:9 D	X
Rev. 16:11 D	X

Conclusion: More often than not, the verb "repent" has to do with changing one's mind and behavior about one's sins. However, in a surprising number of instances, the verb has to do with changing one's mind and behavior about Jesus the Messiah. So it is not accurate to say that "repent" has always and only to do with changing one's attitude and behavior in regard to sin. One cannot leave out an appropriate perspective about and behavior toward Jesus as the Messiah / King when defining "repent." The Synoptic Gospels include both aspects of repentance. John never uses the word "repent" or "repentance" a single time in his Gospel, which is the most overtly evangelistic of all the gospels (John 20:30-31). Incorporating the truth that "repenting" also means altering one's perception of Jesus as the Messiah helps explain John's "omission" of repenting about sins. Both faith in Christ and repentance of one's sins are fundamental to the concept of repenting. See the Conclusion of the companion document, "A Biblical Theology of Repentance."

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