The Bible provides several reasons why most people refuse to repent. Here
are some key scriptures that address this:
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Love for Darkness Over Light – John 3:19-20
“This is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and men
loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were evil. For
everyone who does evil hates the light and doesn’t come to the light, lest
his works would be exposed.”→ Many reject repentance because they prefer sin and do not want their
actions to be exposed.[i][/i] -
Hardened Hearts – Hebrews 3:12-13
“Beware, brothers, lest perhaps there might be in any one of you an
evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God; but
exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called ‘today’, lest any
one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”→ Sin deceives people, causing them to harden their hearts and resist
repentance. -
Pride and Self-Righteousness – Proverbs 16:18
“Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.”
→ Some refuse to repent because they do not want to admit they are wrong
or in need of a Saviour. -
Spiritual Blindness by Satan – 2 Corinthians 4:3-4
“Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who are dying, in
whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that
the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of
God, should not dawn on them.”→ The devil blinds people spiritually, keeping them from seeing the truth.
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Pleasure in Unrighteousness – 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12
“…because they didn’t receive the love of the truth, that they might be
saved. Because of this, God sends them a powerful delusion, that they
should believe a lie, that they all might be judged who didn’t believe the
truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”→ Many reject repentance because they take pleasure in sin rather than in
God’s truth. -
Fear of Social Rejection – John 12:42-43
“Nevertheless, even many of the rulers believed in him, but because of
the Pharisees they didn’t confess it, so that they wouldn’t be put out of
the synagogue, for they loved men’s praise more than God’s praise.”→ Some fear losing their status, friendships, or acceptance in society if
they repent. -
Delaying Repentance – Acts 24:25
“As he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgement to
come, Felix was terrified, and answered, ‘Go your way for this time, and
when it is convenient for me, I will summon you.’”→ People often put off repentance, thinking they have more time.
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Lack of Understanding of God’s Kindness – Romans 2:4
“Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and
patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”→ Some do not repent because they misunderstand or take for granted God’s
patience.
True and enduring repentance is granted by God’s grace to His elect. No one
naturally seeks after God on their own, as scripture clearly teaches:
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God Chooses Us First – John 6:44
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I
will raise him up in the last day.”→ People do not choose God first—God must draw them by His grace.
-
No One Naturally Seeks God – Romans 3:10-12
“As it is written, ‘There is no one righteous; no, not one. There is no
one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God. They have all
turned away. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who
does good, no, not so much as one.’”→ Left to themselves, people do not seek God or repentance.
-
Repentance Is a Gift from God – 2 Timothy 2:24-26
“The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but be gentle towards all, able
to teach, patient, in
gentleness correcting those who oppose him. Perhaps God may give them
repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth, and they may recover
themselves out of the devil’s snare, having been taken captive by him to
do his will.”→ Repentance is not something people generate on their own—it is granted
by God. -
God’s Elect Are Chosen for Salvation – Ephesians 1:4-5
“even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we
would be holy and without defect before him in love, having predestined us
for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the
good pleasure of his desire,”→ God chooses His people before they ever turn to Him.
-
God Changes the Heart to Enable Repentance – Ezekiel 36:26-27
“I will also give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within
you. I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give
you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to
walk in my statutes. You will keep my ordinances and do them.”→ Only by God’s intervention can a person truly repent and follow Him.
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Faith and Repentance Are God’s Work, Not Ours – Philippians 1:6
“being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in
you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”→ It is God who initiates and completes the work of salvation in His
elect. -
Only the Elect Will Come to Christ – John 10:26-27
“But you don’t believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I told you.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”→ Those who belong to Christ will hear His call and follow, while others
remain in unbelief.