Metanoeō

Some of you may have come across the Greek verb metanoeō, pronounced meta-no-way-yo, before but for those of you who are seeing this word for the first time, it is translated “to change one’s mind” or “to repent”.

What a great word to learn during the Lenten season, a time when persons engage in personal reflection, fasting, sacrificing and repentance. Metanoeō, to repent, should never be confined to a season. There is absolutely no repentance timeline.

The act of metanoeō – changing our minds, turning the course of our lives – should be an ongoing process as we journey through this life.

In both the Old and New Testaments, we encounter repentance repeatedly. A well-known case concerns the people of Nineveh who repented, their king proclaimed that “All shall turn from their evil ways and from the violence that is in their hands.” (Jonah 3:8 NRSVUE), and God gave them a respite for close to two hundred years.

God, as you know, does not change in His intrinsic characteristics but God does change His mind from time to time. Verse ten says,

“When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind…”

The same verse in the King James version describes God as repenting.

God repents in that He changes His intentions towards situations, circumstances and people. We see it happening in Exodus 32:14 (KJV),

“And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.”

In 1 Samuel 15:10-11 we read,

‘Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel, saying,” It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments.”’ (KJV)

Because God is in relationship with people (that’s all of us) who are constantly changing their minds about one thing or another from one moment to the next, He also changes His mind as the circumstances warrant – from wrath to mercy, from blessing to judgment, from destruction to salvation. However, our repentance demands a change of course from bad to good, from worse to better, from sin to righteousness, from the old life to new life in Christ.

For us, metanoeō must be a deliberate act of crossing from sin-centeredness to God-centeredness. Repentance has to be a conscious decision from our hearts in response to God’s grace and mercy.

In Acts chapter 20 verse 21, Paul describes repentance as a necessity, a radical life-change from sin to God. A radical life-change leads to conversion, as recorded in Acts 2:37-42.

After the coming of the promised Holy Spirit, Peter, addressing the assembled crowd said,

“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” – Acts 2:38 (NRSVUE)

Peter went on urging them to “…get out of this sick and stupid culture!” (v 40 MSG)

Three thousand people heeded Peter’s call to change their lives and turn to God; they were converted that day (v 41).

Are you willing to get out of the sick and stupid lifestyle you’re leading?

Beloved, when you did not know about Jesus, His life, death and resurrection, God would overlook your ignorance but now that you know, He is calling you…

He is calling on you to get rid of everything that you have placed above and before Him; things and people that can never save you and give you the life of abundance found only in His beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

Listen, it’s not about religion, like the religious men of Athens who had many altars upon which was inscribed “To the Unknown God” (see Acts 17:22-23). This is about you and God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Those religious men knew of God, but they did not know God, but you do. And even if you do not know God very well, you have an opportunity right now to get to know Him better than just a passing thought.

Metanoeō, repent, change your mind, and turn to God.

Amen †

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “Metanoeō” © April 1, 2025