Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Repentance: The Door to Forgiveness and New Life
When Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preached on repentance, he didn't mince words. In his powerful sermon from Acts 5:29-32, the Doctor declared repentance as absolutely essential—the very door through which every sinner must pass to receive God's forgiveness. This wasn't optional theology or a secondary doctrine. For Dr. Lloyd-Jones, understanding repentance correctly was a matter of spiritual life and death.
Why Repentance Comes First
One of the most striking elements in Dr. Lloyd-Jones' sermon on repentance is his insistence that repentance always comes first in the order of salvation. "Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a prince and a saviour," he preached, "for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins." Notice the order—repentance precedes forgiveness, not the other way around.
The Doctor made this abundantly clear: "The first business of the preacher of salvation is to call men to repentance." John the Baptist, the first New Testament preacher, proclaimed "the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins." Our Lord Jesus Christ began His ministry declaring, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." On the day of Pentecost, when convicted sinners cried out "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Peter's answer was immediate: "Repent."
This consistent biblical pattern wasn't accidental. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explained that you cannot truly believe in Christ as Savior without repenting. "What does he save? What does he save us from?" the Doctor asked. If Christ is the Savior, we must understand what we need saving from—and that requires seeing our sin for what it truly is.
The World's Hatred of Repentance
In his characteristic way of diagnosing the human condition, Dr. Lloyd-Jones identified why the natural man so violently rejects the message of repentance. "There is nothing that the man regards as a greater insult than the message of repentance," he declared. "This message of repentance reveals men in his fatal self-righteousness, which is always the greatest hindrance and obstacle to his being saved and delivered."
The Doctor saw this resistance everywhere in modern culture. "The whole climate of thinking at the present time is utterly opposed to this idea of repentance," he observed. "The world isn't interested in repentance. The world sits in criticism of other people. It's always somebody else who's responsible for the mistakes."
Even within the church, Dr. Lloyd-Jones identified a dangerous trend away from preaching repentance. Modern preaching that emphasizes only God's love without calling for repentance was, in his view, "just a very clever, modern, sophisticated, philosophical way of saying, no repentance." He warned against evangelistic methods that urged people to "come to Jesus" without first addressing the absolute necessity of repentance.
What Repentance Actually Means
Lloyd-Jones never left his congregation guessing about definitions. His repentance sermon provided a thorough, biblical explanation of what true repentance involves. The very word "repent," he explained, comes from the Latin meaning "to think again." This immediately reveals repentance as an intellectual, not merely emotional, activity.
But the Doctor went deeper, examining the Greek word metanoia, which means "changing your mind." This isn't just thinking—it's thinking that results in transformation. "Repentance means changing your mind," he preached. "About what? Well, change your mind about God... And then I say about ourselves... And then it tells you to think again about your life and your death."
The Whole Person Involved
True repentance, according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, engages the entire personality—mind, heart, and will. It begins with the mind: honest, clear thinking about God, ourselves, our sin, and our need. "The first call of the gospel tonight," he declared, "is a call to men and women to think."
But it doesn't end there. The heart must be engaged: "There must be a real sorrow as the result of this thinking." He quoted the prophet Joel—"Rend your hearts and not your garments." This is genuine grief over sin, not merely external displays of remorse.
Finally, the will must act: "You act upon what you have now come to see and to believe and to feel. You act upon it. How? Well, having seen that your life was wrong, you leave it and you start living the exact opposite life." Dr. Lloyd-Jones was emphatic: "The road to hell is paved with good intentions. A man gets convinced... But if he doesn't do anything about it, he hasn't repented."
The Gift Only God Can Give
Perhaps the most profound aspect of Dr. Lloyd-Jones' teaching on repentance was his emphasis that repentance itself is a gift from God. "Man cannot repent," he stated bluntly, quoting Romans 8:7-8: "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God. Neither indeed, can be."
This is where the gospel becomes truly glorious. God commands all men everywhere to repent—yet man in his fallen state cannot obey that command. What hope remains? "Him hath God exalted to his right hand by his almighty power that he might be and set him forth as a prince and a savior. For to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explained: "No man ever repents until he has come under the influence of the Holy Spirit of God." The goodness of God, the conviction of the Holy Spirit, the power of the preached Word—these are God's means of granting repentance to dead sinners. "The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance," he preached from Romans 2:4.
Why This Matters Today
The Doctor's repentance sermon remains urgently relevant. He identified a critical deficiency in modern Christianity: "There is an absence of conviction of sin. There is an absence of humility. There is an absence of the fear of the Lord. We are too healthy. We are too bright, self contained, trusting to ourselves and our efforts and organizations."
Without genuine repentance, there is no genuine Christianity. Dr. Lloyd-Jones warned against the danger of religious activity divorced from heart transformation: "You and I can take up religion as people take up other religions. But the real difference between taking up religion and even being active in it, perhaps, and being truly christian. Is that the true Christian knows conviction of sin and sorrow for sin."
The Pathway to Freedom
Far from being oppressive, Dr. Lloyd-Jones presents repentance as the pathway to true freedom and joy. When a person truly repents—when the Holy Spirit grants them eyes to see their sin and hearts to grieve over it—they discover the unspeakable relief of forgiveness. They find that Christ is not just willing but eager to save.
"Come see a man, which told me all things that ever I did. Is not this the Christ?" The Samaritan woman's testimony encapsulates the wonder of conviction leading to conversion. Christ exposes our sin not to condemn but to heal. He calls us to repentance not to crush us but to liberate us.
Conclusion: The Doorway Everyone Must Pass Through
Dr. Lloyd-Jones' sermon on repentance stands as a clarion call to modern evangelicalism. Repentance is not negotiable, not secondary, not something that can come later. It is the door—the only door—to forgiveness and new life in Christ.
"Repentance always comes first," the Doctor declared. John the Baptist preached it. Jesus preached it. Peter preached it on Pentecost. Paul preached it to both Jews and Greeks, "testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ."
If you have never truly repented—if you have never had your eyes opened to see your sin as God sees it, if your heart has never been broken over your rebellion against a holy God, if you have never turned from your old life to embrace Christ—then you have never truly become a Christian. But the glorious news is this: the same God who commands repentance also grants it. Christ was exalted "for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins."
May the goodness of God lead you to repentance today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Repentance
What does repentance mean in the Bible?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, biblical repentance involves three essential components: a change of mind, a change of heart, and a change of will. The word literally means "to think again" (from Latin) or "to change your mind" (from Greek metanoia). True repentance means thinking differently about God, yourself, your sin, and your need for salvation—then acting on that new understanding by turning from sin and toward Christ.
Is repentance the same as feeling sorry for sin?
No. While genuine sorrow for sin is part of repentance, it's not the whole picture. Dr. Lloyd-Jones warned that many people feel remorse when caught or when facing consequences, but this isn't true repentance. Biblical repentance includes intellectual conviction (seeing sin as God sees it), emotional sorrow (grief over offending a holy God), and volitional action (actually turning away from sin and toward God). As the Doctor said, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."
Do I need to repent to be saved?
Yes, absolutely. Dr. Lloyd-Jones was emphatic on this point: "There is no salvation without repentance." He traced this pattern throughout Scripture, showing that every biblical preacher—John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, Peter, and Paul—placed repentance at the very beginning of their gospel message. You cannot truly receive Christ as Savior without repenting of your sin. The two are inseparable.
Can I come to Jesus first and repent later?
Lloyd-Jones strongly rejected this idea, which he saw in some modern evangelistic preaching. He asked, "How can a man truly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as his savior if he doesn't repent? What does he mean by saying that he believes that Christ is his savior? How does he save. What does he save us from?" If you don't recognize your need for salvation from sin, you cannot genuinely trust Christ as the one who saves you from it.
Is repentance a one-time act or ongoing?
While there is an initial repentance at conversion—a decisive turning from sin to Christ—Dr. Lloyd-Jones also taught that the Christian life involves ongoing repentance. Believers continue to see their sin more clearly, grieve over it more deeply, and turn from it more completely as they grow in grace. The initial act of repentance opens the door to salvation; continued repentance is part of progressive sanctification.
How can I repent if the Bible says the natural man cannot?
This is where Lloyd-Jones revealed the glory of the gospel. He acknowledged the paradox: God commands all people everywhere to repent, yet man in his sinful state cannot obey. The answer? "Him hath God exalted to his right hand... for to give repentance." Repentance itself is a gift from God, granted through the conviction of the Holy Spirit. When you feel the weight of your sin and desire to turn from it, that's evidence that God is already working in you. Don't resist—follow where He leads.
What's the difference between worldly sorrow and godly repentance?
Worldly sorrow focuses on consequences—regret over getting caught, fear of punishment, or embarrassment over exposure. Godly repentance focuses on the offense against God Himself. Lloyd-Jones pointed to 2 Corinthians 7:10: "Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation." True repentance grieves not primarily over the results of sin but over the fact that we have rebelled against a holy, loving God. As the Doctor said, "Rend your hearts and not your garments."
Why do preachers today avoid preaching repentance?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones diagnosed this problem in his own time, and it has only intensified. He observed that modern culture—and sadly, much modern Christianity—is "utterly opposed to this idea of repentance." People want to hear about God's love without confronting their sin. Some preachers offer a message that's merely therapeutic or inspirational, avoiding the offense of calling people to repent. But the Doctor insisted: "The first business of the preacher of salvation is to call men to repentance."
What sermons did Dr. Lloyd-Jones preach on repentance?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones preached extensively on repentance throughout his ministry. Key sermons include:
- "Repentance - Door to Forgiveness" (Acts 5:29-32, sermon #2046)
- "The Need for Repentance " (John 5, sermon #1174)
- "Repentance and God's Goodness " (Romans 2:4, sermon #3035)
- His series on Romans 2 includes multiple messages on this crucial topic
To hear Dr. Lloyd-Jones preach on repentance in his own powerful voice, visit MLJTrust.org where you can access his complete sermon archive, including powerful messages on Acts 5:29-32, Romans 2:2-4, and John 3-4.