We all mess up and sin from time to time. From telling harmless white lies, and having ungodly thoughts, to more serious sins- sometimes we just can’t help ourselves- even the best of us.
Whenever we sin, we move further away from God, and the only way to get back to His good books is through repentance.
When most people hear about repentance, they think it’s just about feeling sorry and apologizing but that’s just about half of it. The Bible teaches us that after acknowledging our sins and asking for forgiveness, we also need to change our ways and try to make amends for our actions.
Throughout the Old and New Testaments, various prophets, Apostles, and even Jesus preached about repentance, calling believers to turn their ways from sin and repent so that they would be spared by God. Here’s a look at some powerful Bible verses about repentance that highlight some of their teachings.
Read Also: 40 Bible Verses About Revival In The Last Days
List of 40 Bible verses about repentance
1 John 1:8-9
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Acts 3:19
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”
2 Peter 3:9
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Matthew 4:17
“From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.'”
Luke 5:31-32
“Jesus answered them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.'”
Luke 15:7
“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
Read Also: 53 Timeless Bible Verses About Eternal Life
2 Corinthians 7:1
“Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
2 Corinthians 7:10
“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”
Romans 2:5-6
“But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God ‘will repay each person according to what they have done.'”
Luke 13:3
“But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
Acts 17:30
“In the past, God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.”
1 Peter 2:1-2
“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.”
Joel 2:13
“Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.”
2 Chronicles 7:14
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Read Also: 50 Scary Bible Verses & Shocking Scripture
Proverbs 1:23
“Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings.”
Acts 11:18
“But when they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, ‘So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.'”
Isaiah 55:6-7
“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.”
Joel 2:12
“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
Proverbs 28:13
“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”
Acts 8:22
“Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.”
Ezekiel 14:6
“Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘This is what the Lord says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!'”
Ezekiel 33:11
“As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?”
Psalm 103:8-10
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.”
Ezekiel 18:21
“But if a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die.”
Read Also: 60 Bible Verses About Trials
Jeremiah 4:4
“Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, circumcise your hearts, you people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, or my wrath will flare up and burn like fire because of the evil you have done— burn with no one to quench it.”
Ezekiel 18:30
“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” says the Lord God. “Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin.”
Ezekiel 18:32
“For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!”
Psalm 86:5
“For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.”
1 John 1:7
“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
Matthew 9:13
“But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
Mark 1:15
“And saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.'”
Matthew 3:7-8
“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, ‘Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance.'”
John 10:7-9
“Then Jesus said to them again, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.'”
Isaiah 30:15
“For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.’ But you would not.”
Acts 2:38
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
Read Also: 50 Powerful Bible Verses About the End of Time
Isaiah 1:16
“Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong.”
Isaiah 44:22
“I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.”
Galatians 5:24
“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
Acts 14:15
“Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them.”