Beware Of Greek Study Aids

2nd Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

You have to be careful looking at the Greek study aids and concordances, as many of them have been corrupted. The Roman Catholic Church wrongly defines repentance as:

Catholic Dictionary 

Term: REPENTANCE 

Definition: Voluntary sorrow because it offends God, for having done something wrong, together with the resolve to amend one's conduct by taking the necessary means to avoid the occasions of sin. To repent is to be sorry for sin with self-condemnation. (Etym. Latin repoenitere, to be very sorry, regret intensely.) 

SOURCE: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/dictionary/index.cfm?id=36048

Judas is a perfect example of why the Roman Catholic definition of “repentance” is unbiblical. The Bible says that Judas “repented” (Greek: metamellomaiin, meaning, “to regret”) in Matthew 27:3b. Yet, Jesus said Judas had a devil (John 6:70). Judas didn't repent toward God in faith to be saved; but rather, he felt regret that he got caught for betraying the Lord. Judas merely felt remorse, which is penitence not repentance; and then he tried to return the 30 pieces of silver, which is penance, not repentance. Judas woeful lacked true repentance (to think differently) toward God which brings regeneration (the new birth). Judas brought the 30 pieces of silver back to the Pharisees, but they refused it. Judas cast down the coins on the floor and went and hanged himself (Matthew 27:5). Feeling sorry for one's sins and turning from them is not repentance, and cannot produce salvation.

I have a copy of Dr. William Vine's “Complete Expository Dictionary Of Old And New Testament Words.” The book is co-authored by Dr. Merrill F. Unger and Dr. William White Jr. On page 525 under the topic “Repent, Repentance,” it says:

1. metanoeo... “to perceive afterwards” (meta “, after,” implying change, noeo, “to perceive”; nous, “the mind, the seat of moral reflection”), ... always in the NT, involving a change for the better, an amendment, and always... of “repentance” from sin.

Dr. Vine and his co-writers completely fail to expound the magnificent meaning of the verb metanoeo, which means “to think differently” (verb). The noun form of the word is metanoia and means, “a change of mind.” Since we don't know what the change of mind is toward, we need supplemental information. Acts 20:21 speaks of “REPENTANCE TOWARD GOD.” Thus, repentance is unto a holy God, from whatever hinders a person from coming to the light of the Gospel to be saved (2nd Corinthians 4:4). I dislike Dr. Vine's teaching that repentance means “an amendment” (which means to improve or better in quality). This is the English meaning of the word “repent,” and not the Biblical Greek meaning of the term. 

Amending one's ways is not part of Biblical repentance for salvation. We are saved by believing the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, not by repenting; but no man has ever believed who didn't repent. It's like flipping a coin—You cannot turn one side without also turning the other side. This is why the apostle John mentions the words “believe” and “believed” 85 times, but never mentions the word “repent” even once in the Gospel of John. The man who believes has also repented (i.e., changed his mind toward God from whatever it was that had hindered him from coming to Christ previously). For some men like Dr. Stephen Hawking, intellectualism and bitterness hinder them from getting saved. For others, like the Hollywood crowd, their love for sin and wealth hinder them from coming to Jesus Christ. For billions of people, false religion blinds them from the truth of the Gospel, hindering them from being saved. Simply receive Christ's sacrifice on the cross as full payment for your sins, believing that He raised up from the dead three days later, and you are forever saved.

Dr. Jack Hyles 100% correctly and Biblically states concerning repentance:

“Repentance is not some little silly, 'I'm sorry.' Repentance is not simply a fear of God. Repentance is not a monk fasting and afflicting his body in a monastery. Repentance is not remorse because of sin's consequences. Repentance is not penance performed before the pope as you kiss his toe... Repentance is not being sorry for what I've done wrong. It is not confessing one's sins to a priest. It is not just conviction of sin. It is not the signing of a pledge of abstinence. Repentance is that thing when you come before God and see yourself as you are, and see Him as he is, and say with Isaiah 'Woe is me, for I am unclean!'” —Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001), a quote from the timeless MP3 sermon, 'THE GOODNESS OF GOD LEADETH TO REPENTANCE!'

Pastor Bob Gray Sr. at the Longview Baptist Temple church in Texas correctly preaches . . .

“Repentance means to change your mind—change your mind—change your mind about how you want to get to Heaven to what God says you've got to do to get to Heaven. If you've got to repent of all your sins, you're still headed for Hell tonight.” —Pastor Bob Gray Sr., a quote from the awesome MP3 sermon, 'Why You Should Be A Part Of A Growing Church'

In his excellent book, I NEVER KNEW YOU, Michael Patrick Bowen states . . .

You can live for Christ, you can love Christ, you can serve Him with all your might, time, talent and wealth. You can pray to Him, read your Bible, get water-baptized, join a church, witness to people, and do every wonderful work contained within the realm of Christianity, but if you fail to trust Jesus Christ alone for your salvation, He will “dump” you.

SOURCE: 'I NEVER KNEW YOU' (.pdf), by Michael P. Bowen; by Barbour Books, © 2009; page 77.

'Repentance And Salvation' (doctrinally sound Bible preaching by Pastor Steven L. Anderson)