Repentance and Resistance; Nine Dangers of Refusing to Repent
Dr. Jeff Webb & Dr. Marvin McKenzie. Is the act of repentance in the Western church becoming extinct? I believe so, and so do many pastors and religious scholars researching this ever-advancing problem among modern day Christians. In this Pause and Reflect, you will find out why I and others believe this to be true, and in the second part, Dr. Marvin McKenzie reveals nine dangers for the unbeliever and the believer who refuse God’s call for ALL to repent.
~Pastor Jeff
Repentance and Resistance
Dr. Jeff Webb
Repentance is one of those words that makes people squirm. We know the Bible calls us to it, we can even quote verses about it, but when we shine the light of Scripture on our own repentance, discouragement creeps in. Truth is, most of us don’t really know what a life of repentance is supposed to look like. When was the last time you heard it discussed in your small group? Or around your dinner table? Or with your closest friends? And here’s the bigger question: are we modeling repentance in our churches?
Jack Miller, in Repentance and the 20th Century Man, once said that pastors, elders, and deacons should be the “lead repenters.” The congregation should see what repentance looks like by watching their leaders. Martin Luther went even further: “When Jesus Christ said, ‘Except you repent you will all likewise perish,’ He was not talking about a one-time event but a lifetime of repentance.”
But let’s be honest—repentance is not easy. It’s something we resist. Why? Because repentance runs headlong into our shame.
For me, I’ve resisted repentance when shame told me I was too far gone, too filthy, too unworthy of grace. Shame whispers,
God couldn’t possibly love someone like you.
That lie sticks like tar.
Others resist because they believe they have to “fix themselves up” before coming to God—pray more, read more, serve more—then maybe God will listen. Still others resist because God feels too holy, too overwhelming, too much to face.
Like the psalmist says: “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain” (Ps. 139:6). Instead of running to Him, we resist. But here’s the truth: all of those are lies shame tells. And the first step of real repentance is to repent of our inability to receive God’s love and grace.
Faith and repentance are two sides of the same coin. As faith takes root, repentance begins. And even when our faith feels tiny—mustard seed tiny—Jesus reminds us it’s not the size of our faith that matters, but the object of it (Luke 17:6).
The same is true of repentance: it’s not the strength of my turning, but the strength of the One I turn to. That’s why our salvation doesn’t rest on how much we love God—it rests on how much God loves us. If salvation depended on the strength of our love, it would become just another work we have to perform.
Instead, repentance calls us to stop looking at what we bring to the table and start looking at what Christ has already brought. And here’s the second truth: God won’t let us outrun Him. The psalmist says, “You hem me in, behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me” (Ps. 139:5). Peter echoed it: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).
When God corners us in grace, we discover that the very sins we want to hide are the ones Jesus already bled for. That’s when repentance becomes honest. It’s not just admitting a bad habit, it’s confessing idolatry—naming the false comforts we’ve turned to instead of Him.
And when God opens our eyes to see our sin for what it really is, He also opens our hearts to see His love for sinners.
That is what a life of repentance looks like: a steady turning back to the God who won’t let go.
The more we see His character, the more disarming His love becomes. His perseverance wears down our resistance. And even when our hearts wander, His grace keeps drawing us home.
So yes, we resist repentance. But in the end, God’s kindness disarms our resistance. Understanding our reasons for pushing Him away is what enables us, finally, to turn back.
Jeff is the Senior Pastor at Grace Bible Church of Washington, IL. He and his wife, Bev, came to Grace Bible in 2024 from Bern, Switzerland, where he served as senior pastor of a non-denominational church in the capital city there. He holds dual doctorates in Theology and Apologetics from Liberty University School of Divinity and is a past Research and Teaching Fellow at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel.
Nine Dangers of Refusing to Repent
https://booksbymarvinmckenzie.medium.com/nine-dangers-of-refusing-to-repent-1e2a4064ae4e
Dr. Marvin McKenzie
Repentance is central to the Christian faith. It is the act of turning from sin and self to God, seeking His forgiveness and embracing His lordship over our lives.
However, many resist repentance, choosing instead to cling to pride, idolatry, and sin. The Bible warns us of the dangers that come from a refusal to repent. Let’s examine nine of these dangers, using Scripture to guide our understanding.
1. Separation from God
The first and most serious danger is separation from God. Sin separates us from a holy God, and without repentance, that separation remains eternal. Isaiah 59:2 says, “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Refusing to repent leaves us in our sin, unable to enjoy fellowship with the Creator. Without repentance, there is no forgiveness. Jesus said in Luke 13:3, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Repentance is the doorway to salvation, and refusing to walk through it leaves a person lost.
2. A Hardened Heart
Repeated refusal to repent hardens the heart. Every time we resist God’s conviction, we become less sensitive to His voice. Hebrews 3:15 warns, “To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.” Pharaoh in the book of Exodus is a sobering example. He repeatedly hardened his heart against God’s commands, and it ultimately led to his destruction. A hard heart becomes incapable of true repentance, leading to devastating consequences.
3. Greater Bondage to Sin
Sin is never satisfied; it always demands more. Refusing to repent allows sin to tighten its grip, enslaving us further. Jesus taught in John 8:34, “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” The longer we stay in sin, the harder it becomes to escape. Proverbs 5:22 describes this reality: “His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.” Repentance is the only way to break free from sin’s chains.
4. Loss of Spiritual Blessings
Refusing to repent cuts us off from the blessings God wants to give us. Psalm 66:18 says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” Unrepented sin hinders our prayers, disrupts our peace, and robs us of joy. King David experienced this when he refused to repent after his sin with Bathsheba. In Psalm 32:3–4, he wrote, “When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me.” Only when he repented was his joy restored.
5. Loss of Testimony
A refusal to repent damages our testimony to others. As Christians, we are called to be salt and light in the world (Matthew 5:13–16). However, unrepented sin mars our witness and causes others to stumble. When King David sinned, the prophet Nathan rebuked him, saying, “By this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme” (2 Samuel 12:14). Unrepented sin not only dishonors God but also leads others away from Him.
6. Chastisement from God
God disciplines His children out of love when they refuse to repent. Hebrews 12:6–7 reminds us, “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” Jonah is a clear example. When he refused to obey God’s command, God sent a storm and a great fish to turn him back to obedience. Refusing to repent invites God’s correction, which can be painful but is ultimately meant to bring us back to Him.
7. Eternal Judgment
The most sobering danger of refusing to repent is eternal judgment. Revelation 9:20–21 describes those who refused to repent even after experiencing God’s judgment: “And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands… neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.” Those who die in unrepented sin face eternal separation from God in hell. Revelation 20:15 declares, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Repentance is the only escape from this dreadful fate.
8. Loss of Rewards
Even believers who refuse to repent may lose eternal rewards. 1 Corinthians 3:15 speaks of works being burned up, leaving the believer saved but without reward: “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” Unrepented sin affects our service and obedience, diminishing the eternal rewards we might otherwise receive. This loss is eternal and cannot be undone.
9. Grieving the Holy Spirit
Finally, refusing to repent grieves the Holy Spirit, who works to convict us of sin. Ephesians 4:30 warns, “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” When we resist repentance, we hinder the Spirit’s work in our lives, losing His guidance, power, and comfort. A life without the Spirit’s leading is one of confusion and defeat. The dangers of refusing to repent are real and severe, but God offers hope to all who turn to Him. Acts 3:19 says, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” Whether you’ve never repented or have unrepented sin as a believer, the solution is the same: humble yourself before God, confess your sin, and turn to Him. He promises forgiveness and restoration. 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Don’t wait. Repent today and experience the freedom, joy, and blessing that come from walking in fellowship with God.
Dr. Marvin McKenzie became a Christian at age eighteen. He has spent thirty years in the Baptist ministry planting and pastoring churches in Washington and Oregon. He also served as the Executive Vice President of Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College in San Dimas, CA and Heartland Baptist Bible College in Oklahoma City, OK. Marvin has been married to Anita for thirty-four years. Their two sons, Bohannan and Caleb, are Baptist pastors in Washington state.