Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  6000 Sin and salvation  »  6600 Aspects of salvation  »  6740 returning to God

Scripture declares that all humanity has turned away from God, and must return to him. The term “repentance” is often used to refer to this process of returning to God and the inward and outward changes that it demands of people. Scripture also indicates that believers can wander away from God; they too must return to him.

All people have turned away from God

Isaiah 53:6; Isaiah 64:6 See also Job 25:4; Jeremiah 17:9; John 3:19; Romans 3:23

Wayward people must return to God

Isaiah 44:22; Hosea 14:1; Zechariah 1:3 See also 2 Chronicles 30:9; Nehemiah 1:9; Job 22:23; Jeremiah 24:7; Lamentations 3:40; Hosea 6:1; Hosea 12:6; Joel 2:12

Means of returning to God

Realisation of estrangement from God

Lamentations 3:40 See also 1 Samuel 24:5; 2 Samuel 24:10; 2 Chronicles 6:29-31; Romans 3:20

Acknowledgment of sin

Psalm 51:3 See also Exodus 9:27; Numbers 14:39-40; Numbers 22:34; Joshua 7:20; 1 Samuel 15:24-25; Matthew 27:3-4

Sorrow for sin

Psalm 38:18 See also Psalm 51:1-2; 2 Corinthians 7:9-10

A sense of guilt for sin

2 Samuel 24:10 See also Ezra 9:5-6; Psalm 38:1-4,17-18; Psalm 51:3; Acts 2:37-38

Repentance

Isaiah 1:27; Acts 2:37-38 See also Isaiah 59:20

A parable of returning to God

Luke 15:11-24

Examples of people returning to God

Israelites:

Judges 10:15; 2 Chronicles 15:4 2 Samuel 12:13-14 David; Jonah 3:5-10 the people of Nineveh

See also

1055  God, grace & mercy
1070  God, joy of
5009  conscience
5048  opportunities & salvation
6624  confession of sin
6626  conversion
6636  drawing near to God
6653  forgiveness, divine
6717  reconciliation, world to God
6732  repentance
8489  urgency
9165  restoration