We’ve misunderstood what Jesus meant when He said repent …

For decades (or longer), sermons, books, and Bible studies have told us that to repent means to make a U-turn — to turn away from sin and turn toward God. It’s a compelling image, one that seems to match the urgency of the Gospel. But it’s not what the Bible actually says. The idea of a U-turn may describe something that happens after repentance, but it’s not what the word means. And missing that has caused us to miss something far more powerful, leading to potentially superficial transformation rather than genuine, lasting change in believers.

The actual Greek word doesn’t mean turn around
In Acts 3:19, Peter says, “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.” The word translated as “repent” here is metanoēsate. This is the aorist imperative, second person plural form of the Greek verb metanoeo. Its corresponding noun form, used throughout the New Testament when referring to repentance, is metanoia.

And here’s the point: Metanoia and its verbal forms like metanoēsate are compounds of meta-, meaning “after,” “beyond,” or indicating a change, and noeo or nous, meaning “to think,” “to perceive,” or “mind.” Therefore, literally, metanoia signifies an “afterthought” or a “change of mind.” This isn’t merely a superficial shift in opinion, but a fundamental, transformative change in one’s thinking, perspective, and worldview.

This means metanoeo, and thus metanoēsate, does not mean to turn around or make a U-turn. It means “to change one’s mind,” “to change the way you think,” or “to think differently.” There is a separate Greek word, epistrephō, that means “to turn” or “return,” and it’s often used right after the call to repent, as it is in Acts 3:19. That distinction is critical. The turning comes as a result of the change in thinking. It is not the same thing as repentance.

We’ve been taught to read repentance as behavioral change, but scripture makes clear that repentance starts in the mind.

If repentance is taught as simply an outward action or a “u-turn,” individuals might perform that action to a “degree” or “when convenient,” resulting in people who might turn to God to some degree but lack genuine, heart-deep transformation. Such an approach often leaves the underlying mind untouched, meaning core values, desires, and understanding of God and sin remain unchanged, leading to a superficial and likely temporary shift.

The real power behind true change
This makes perfect sense — not just biblically, but psychologically. Human behavior is not led by behavior. It is led by thought. Our thoughts produce our emotions, and our emotions — shaped by what we believe and perceive — fuel our behavior. If you don’t change how someone thinks, you haven’t really changed them. That’s why repentance, at its core, is the command to think differently. Modern psychology, particularly cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) models, affirms this, demonstrating that changes in thinking (cognitions) are foundational to lasting changes in emotions and behaviors. This isn’t a new concept; the New Testament’s call to metanoia resonates deeply with this understanding.

If someone still believes a sinful behavior is ultimately desirable or justifiable, their emotions (e.g., longing for it) and actions (engaging in it) will eventually follow, despite any temporary “u-turn.” A “u-turn” focuses on the external, leaving the root untouched. People might turn away from one sin but quickly fall into another, or return to the old one, because the thought patterns and desires that fueled the sin were never genuinely reevaluated and re-aligned with God’s truth. True metanoia means the very way they think about that sin (and righteousness) has shifted. This ties directly into other New Testament commands like “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect,” Romans 12:2. This “changing the way you think” is the ongoing process of changing one’s thinking to align with God’s truth, which is essentially continuous repentance.

Paul reinforces this in Ephesians 4:23, “Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.” God’s transforming work in our lives always begins by addressing the way we think.

Why the Bible says repent of your sins and turn to God
So if repent means to change your thinking, why do so many verses say, “repent of your sins and turn to God”? Because the phrase doesn’t redefine the word, it applies it. When the New Testament says “repent of your sins,” the phrase “of your sins” (e.g., tōn hamartiōn hymōn) functions as the object or clarifier for the command to repent. It specifies what one needs to change their mind about – namely, their sinful actions and rebellious posture towards God.

In Acts 3:19, Peter isn’t telling his listeners to feel sorry for their sin. While remorse or sorrow for past actions can be a catalyst, true metanoia goes beyond simple regret. He’s commanding them to change the way they think about their sin — about what it is, what it does, and how God views it. He’s commanding a new mindset, one that sees sin as something to be rejected and sees God as someone to be trusted and followed. This “change of mind” is not passive; it inherently leads to a change in behavior and way of living. That’s why the verse continues with a second command: “… and turn to God.” It’s not redundant. It’s sequential. First comes a new way of thinking. Then comes the turn.

This same structure appears all throughout the New Testament:

• • “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away,” Acts 3:19.
  • “I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must repent of their sins and turn to God—and prove they have changed by the good things they do,” Acts 26:20.
  • “‘The time promised by God has come at last!’ he announced. ‘The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!'” Mark 1:15.

In each case, repentance is paired with an additional action. That pairing reinforces the order: think differently, and as a result, act differently.

Repentance is not human effort — it’s Spirit-enabled renewal
This change in thinking is not something we achieve through sheer willpower. It’s a work God initiates and empowers. Second Timothy 1:7 reminds us, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” It is God who gives us the capacity to break free from the fear and deception that shape our old ways of thinking. He supplies the power to think differently, love rightly, and act wisely.

Philippians 2:13 states it clearly, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” And that begins in the mind.

Repentance is not about guilt, it’s about freedom
This changes how we see repentance. It’s not about groveling or living in shame. It’s not about trying to prove to God that we’re sorry. Repentance is about coming into agreement with the truth — God’s truth. It’s about seeing things as they really are and then thinking accordingly. And when our thinking changes, so does everything else.

The danger of simplifying repentance to just a “u-turn” is significant: by emphasizing the external without the foundational “change of mind,” ministers risk producing “behaviorally modified” Christians — people who act Christian but don’t think Christian, making them vulnerable to temptation and lacking deep conviction. It can also mislead about true conversion, where a simple external act is mistaken for genuine transformation, potentially leading to false assurance. Ultimately, it can undermine discipleship, as a mind unchanged lacks adequate foundation for ongoing spiritual growth, learning God’s Word, and developing a Christ-like character.

Repentance is not just a step toward salvation, it’s the ongoing pathway of transformation. As we continue to align our thoughts with the truth of God, we experience the kind of lasting change that mere behavior modification can never produce.

So no, repentance is not a U-turn. It is not a synonym for moral cleanup. It is the Spirit-empowered call to change your mind, and in doing so, begin to walk in the freedom and clarity of God’s truth.

Scotty