Does someone automatically repent?
Does someone automatically repent?
People do not repent automatically.
People do have a personal responsibility when it comes to repentance, and several things can also be expected from them so that they may be able to repent.
Someone is able to repent
In the Bible, people can be commanded to "REPENT" (Matthew 3:2). The Greek word for "REPENT" (Matthew 3:2) is in the imperative mood, which expresses a command to the hearer to perform something by the order and authority of the one commanding. This can imply that the hearer can obey that.
This can explain why Jesus for example REPROACHED those that He was expecting to REPENT, as it is written: "He-began TO-REPROACH the cities in which most-of His miracles took-place, BECAUSE they-did not REPENT" (Matthew 11:20). Jesus could only reproach them to not have REPENTED if they really could have REPENTED.
Jesus added that they could have REPENTED even before that point, comparing them to others who would have REPENTED long ago in their situation: "IF the miracles having-taken-place in you had-taken-place in Tyre and Sidon, THEY-WOULD-HAVE-REPENTED LONG-AGO" (Matthew 11:21). Because people can REPENT, Jesus also indicated that it was possible that their judgement is to be less tolerable than others who would have REPENTED long ago in their situation: "it-will-be more-tolerable (for) Tyre and Sidon on (the) day (of) judgment than (for) you" (Matthew 11:22).
Being willing
Someone is to be willing to repent. It is written that the Lord Jesus said: "I-GAVE HER TIME IN-ORDER-THAT SHE-MAY-REPENT. And she-is not WILLING TO-REPENT" (Revelation 2:21).
The Lord can give time in order for someone to repent, as someone is to be WILLING to repent. The fact that the Lord is giving time for the person to be willing to repent implies that the person can become willing to repent if they want to.
Example of not being willing to repent:
The word "repentance" can mean a change of understanding (with the heart) from one subject toward another.
For more information, check the following article:
What can "repentance" mean?:
The fact that to repent can mean to change one's understanding could be illustrated when Jesus said to some people: "For what reason are-you not UNDERSTANDING My speaking? (It is) because you-are not able to-hear My word. You are of (your) father the devil. And YOU-ARE-WILLING to-do the desires (of) your father" (John 8:43-44).
It could be said that they would not have been WILLING to change their understanding toward the words of Jesus as they would have been WILLING instead to do the desires of the devil.
Making room
Someone is to make room for repentance. It is written about the Lord that: "HE IS-BEING-PATIENT toward you, not wishing any to-perish, but all TO-MAKE-ROOM for REPENTANCE" (2 Peter 3:9).
The Greek word for "TO-MAKE-ROOM" (chóreó 5562 in Greek) is a verb that comes from the Greek word for "room/place/region" (chóra 5561 in Greek, noun).
The Lord is being patient because He is also waiting on people "TO-MAKE-ROOM for REPENTANCE" (2 Peter 3:9). It is theirs to do that, and the Lord is being patient with them. Without first making room (for repentance), someone would not have the room needed (in their heart) to then end up being able to repent.
Grieving in accordance with God
Someone can work repentance in themselves by having grief (over their sin for example) in accordance with God. Paul wrote: "the GRIEF in-accordance-with God WORKS unregretted REPENTANCE" (2 Corinthians 7:10). Repentance did not happen automatically here for these people, as it was preceded by a grief in accordance with God which worked it.
James wrote for people to do something in order to grieve (over their sin): "Cleanse (your) hands, SINNERS, and purify (your) hearts, double-souled (ones). BE-MISERABLE AND MOURN AND WEEP. Let your laughter be-turned into mourning and (your) joy into dejection" (James 4:8-9).
Have things that are hard to understand be explained.
The word "repentance" can mean a change of understanding (with the heart) from one subject toward another.
For more information, check the following article:
What can "repentance" mean?:
There are some things that are "(HARD-)TO-UNDERSTAND" (2 Peter 3:16). If someone would need to understand something in order for them to repent, then someone could help to explain these hard things to help reach repentance, as for example it is written about an "Ethiopian man" (Acts 8:27) that "Philip heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do-you indeed UNDERSTAND (the things) which you-are-reading?” And the (one) said, “How indeed might-I-be-able, UNLESS SOMEONE WILL-LEAD ME (IN-THE-)WAY?” And he-invited Philip to-sit with him" (Acts 8:30-31). Philip here guided the Ethiopian man so that he might UNDERSTAND the things which he was reading.
This could be why it is written that "(a) slave (of the) Lord must not battle, but (must) be kind to everyone, SKILLFUL-AT-TEACHING, forbearing, disciplining the (ones) opposing with gentleness, if perhaps God may-grant them REPENTANCE" (2 Timothy 2:24-25).
Peter was also sent by God to the Gentiles to proclaim to them the message of Christ so that they could understand it (and they ended up accepting and understanding it). In that instance, it was indicated that "God granted the REPENTANCE leading-to life (to) the Gentiles also" (Acts 11:18).
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