In the posts Is Repentance once-off for a believer? and Gradations of Sin and the Church's Role in the Forgiveness of Sins in the New Testament, among others, I provided biblical evidence for the Latter-day Saint
understanding of the nature of true repentance. Here are some other texts that
provide further support for our understanding of true repentance incorporating,
where possible, restitution, hatred of one’s sinful actions, and other
elements:
Old
Testament texts:
Then all the children of Israel, and all the
people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before
the Lord, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace
offerings before the Lord. (Judg 20:26)
And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those
words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted,
and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. And the word of the Lord came to Elijah
the Tishbite, saying, Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? Because
he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in
his son's days will I bring evil upon his house. (1 Kgs 21:27-29)
And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to
seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered
themselves together, to ask help of the Lord: even out of all the cities of
Judah they came to seek the Lord. (2 Chron 20:3-4)
Then I [Ezra] proclaimed a fast there, at the
river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God to seek of him a
right way for us, and for out little ones, and for all our substance. For I was
ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us
against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The
hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his
wrath is against all them that forsake him. So we fasted and besought our God
for this: and he was intreated of us. (Ezra 8:21-23)
And in that day did the Lord God of hosts
call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:
And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and
drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we shall die. (Isa 22:12-13)
And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek
by prayer and supplications, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. (Dan 9:3)
Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests:
howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers
of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the
house of your God. Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the
elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house o the Lord your God,
and cry unto the Lord. (Joel 1:13-14)
Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye
even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with
mourning. 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 repeneth him of the evil. Who knoweth if he will return and
repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink
offering unto the Lord your God? Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast,
call a solemn assembly. (Joel 2:12-15)
New
Testament texts:
The New
Testament clearly explicates the practice of fasting and other acts of
contrition in its pages. Note for example, the following representative texts:
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the
hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may
appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But
thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; that thou appear
not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father,
which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. (Matt 6:16-18)
And the disciples of John and of the
Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of
John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto
them, Can the children of the bride chamber fast while the bridegroom is with
them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the
days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then
shall they fast in those days. (Mark 2:18-20)
As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted,
the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I
have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on
them, they sent them away. (Acts 13:2-3)
And when they had ordained them elders in
every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on
whom they believed. (Acts 14:23)
Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to
you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and
your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall
lift you up. (Jas 4:8-10)
