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Reward for Late Repentance in the Bible

The concept of reward for repentance, even if late, is present throughout biblical texts, emphasizing God's long-suffering and willingness to forgive. Repentance itself is a turning away from sin and toward God, commanded by God to all people [3]. The Bible indicates that God's long-suffering and goodness are meant to lead individuals to repentance [3].

Scripture illustrates that God repays according to deeds, whether good or evil. Isaiah 59:18 states, "So He will repay according to their deeds: fury to His enemies, retribution to His foes, and recompense to the islands" [4]. Similarly, Lamentations 3:64 says, "You will render to them a recompense, Yahweh, according to the work of their hands" [7]. This principle of recompense, or reward, is also applied positively, as seen in Psalm 18:20: "Jehovah doth recompense me According to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands, He doth return to me" [5]. The term "Gamul" in Hebrew means "a recompense," and "Mehir" means "a reward," highlighting the biblical understanding of receiving what is due [2, 8].

The New Testament reinforces the idea of recompense. Revelation 22:12 declares, "And, behold, I come quickly,..... And my reward is with me" [12]. This passage, echoing Isaiah 40:10, is interpreted by John Gill as a clear proof of Christ's divinity and His role in bringing both due reward for the wicked and recompense for the righteous [12].

While the Bible speaks of recompense for deeds, it also highlights God's patience, which allows for late repentance. The prophet Ezekiel describes a future time when the house of Israel, even after suffering punishment in exile, will remember their ways and be received into favor in their own land. This remembrance, prompted by God's goodness, leads to true repentance [10]. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown interpret Isaiah 30:18 to suggest that God delays punishment to provide time for repentance, or that distress itself can lead to repentance, after which God will show pity [11].

The call to repent is urgent. In Revelation, the church in Pergamum is warned, "Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth" [1]. This indicates that while God is patient, there is a limit to His forbearance, and a failure to repent will result in divine judgment. However, the very command to repent implies the possibility of forgiveness and a positive outcome if one turns from their ways.

The concept of "redemption" in the Bible, from the Greek apolutrosis, signifies the purchase back of something lost through the payment of a ransom [9]. This theological framework underpins the possibility of forgiveness and restoration even after a period of sin, provided there is genuine repentance. Leviticus 5:16 illustrates a form of restitution for wrongdoing in the holy things, where adding a fifth part and giving it to the priest, along with a trespass offering, results in forgiveness [6]. This Old Testament practice foreshadows the broader principle of atonement and forgiveness available through repentance.

The biblical narrative consistently presents God as one who desires repentance and offers forgiveness, even when it comes late in an individual's journey. This is not to say that there are no consequences for sin, but rather that God's character is marked by a willingness to extend grace to those who turn to Him.

Sources

  1. Revelation “Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth. -- Revelation 2:16”
  2. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Gamul — a recompense”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Repentance — What it is -- Isa 45:22; Mt 6:19-21; Ac 14:15; 2Co 5:17; Col 3:2; 1Th 1:9; Heb 12:1,2. Commanded to all by God -- Eze 18:30-32; Ac 17:30. Commanded by Christ -- Re 2:5,16; 3:3. Given by God -- Ac 11:18; 2Ti 2:25. Christ came to call sinners to -- Mt 9:13. Christ exalted to give -- Ac 5:31. By the operation of the Holy Spirit -- Zec 12:10. Called repentance to life -- Ac 11:18. Called repentance to salvation -- 2Co 7:10. We should be led to, by The long-suffering of God. -- Ge 6:3; 1Pe 3:20; 2Pe 3:9. The goodness of God. -- Ro 2:4. The chastisements of Go”
  4. Isaiah “Isaiah 59:18 (BSB) — So He will repay according to their deeds: fury to His enemies, retribution to His foes, and recompense to the islands.”
  5. Psalms “Psalms 18:20 (YLT) — Jehovah doth recompense me According to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands, He doth return to me.”
  6. Leviticus “He shall make restitution for that which he has done wrong in the holy thing, and shall add a fifth part to it, and give it to the priest; and the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and he will be forgiven. -- Leviticus 5:16”
  7. Lamentations “You will render to them a recompense, Yahweh, according to the work of their hands. -- Lamentations 3:64”
  8. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Mehir — a reward”
  9. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Redemption — The purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom. The Greek word so rendered is apolutrosis, a word occurring nine times in Scripture, and always with the idea of a ransom or price paid, i.e., redemption by a lutron (see Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45). There are instances in the LXX. Version of the Old Testament of the use of lutron in man's relation to man (Lev. 19:20; 25:51; Ex. 21:30; Num. 35:31, 32; Isa. 45:13; Prov. 6:35), and in the same sense of man's relation to God (Num. 3:49; 18:15). There are many passages in the New Tes”
  10. Ezekiel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ezekiel 20:43: there--not merely in exile when suffering punishment which makes even reprobates sorry for sin, but when received into favor in your own land. remember-- (Eze 16:61, Eze 16:63). The humiliation of Judah (Neh. 9:1-38) is a type of the future penitence of the whole nation (Hos 5:15; Hos 6:1; Zac 12:10-14). God's goodness realized by the sinner is the only thing that leads to true repentance (Hos 3:5; Luk 7:37-38).”
  11. Isaiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Isaiah 30:18: therefore--on account of your wicked perverseness (Isa 30:1-2, Isa 30:9, Isa 30:15-16), Jehovah will delay to be gracious [HORSLEY]. Rather, wait or delay in punishing, to give you time for repentance (Isa 30:13-14, Isa 30:17) [MAURER]. Or, "Yet therefore" (namely, because of the distress spoken of in the previous verses; that distress will lead the Jews to repentance, and so Jehovah will pity them) [GESENIUS]. be exalted--Men will have more elevated views of God's mercy; or else, "He will rise up to pity you" [G. V. SMITH]. Or (taking the previous ”
  12. Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 22:12: And, behold, I come quickly,..... This is repeated, to confirm the truth of Christ's second coming, and the speediness of it, and to point at the time when the above shall be, and to add what follows. And my reward is with me: which words are taken out of Isa 40:10 and which being compared together, furnish out a clear proof of Christ being the true Jehovah, the eternal God. There is a reward of debt, or a due reward, a reward of punishment, which is the just recompense of reward, which, shall be righteously given to wicked men for their sin, Heb 2:2 and there is”
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