I received the following question from a friend.. And this little. Article is how I answered.
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The Question:

Hi Slam
I hope it’s alright to DM you, if not my apologies and ignore the message.
When you have the time your interpretation or explanation of this would be greatly appreciated
What is repentance? Always taught repentance is admitting and feeling sorrow for our sins, God doesn’t sin? Jesus said …
Mark 10:And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
What’s confusing me are verses
Jonah 3:9-10
Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?
And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
With 54 thousand followers , Pastor and tournaments totally understand if you don’t have time,
I know and recognise God can and does whatever He wants
Blessings brother
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My reply:

Sometimes the same word is used in different places in scripture and it always means the same thing. And yet sometimes the same word is used in various places in scripture and means something totally different. Sometimes the actual Hebrew or Greek words do not translate to our words with The same depth of understanding as the original Language, And vice versa ..

In the context of the verse that you mention in Jonah. It is actually referring to a change in the mind and purpose of God. I know this seems an interpretive problem. How can a Being who does not change change their mind? In the case of God – – His changelessness, Sometimes includes a difference in the direction Of his Holy Spirit, Without a change in His character, nature or absolute integrity. Remember that God is not just an inanimate Power but He is A Person period infinitely greater than we can imagine. But the same complex powers that constitute personality in us also personality in God..Repent in this context does not mean what it Should mean for us in the New Testament context. It represents god’s feelings and how he can be moved. That is what I always hope for in prayer. That somehow my little human Thoughts and impressions will move upon The Great heart of God. It grieves God when we do wrong. And it causes God joy, when we do right from good motives. There we go with the personality point again.. This is really what is meant in the context of this verse in Jonah.

The author of Hebrews speaks of “repentance” as foundational to Christian faith. This is a very Different usage, And hugely important to us as believers.

So you are good to ask the question. Because I am of an understanding that repentance is critical to a healthy faith in Christ. Consider this verse.
Heb.6
[1] Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

As you can see here, the author of Hebrews considered Is repentance a foundational and pivotal part of A healthy relationship with Christ.

Acts 2:38: “And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ‘” Here, you can see that when Peter was preaching, repentance was critical to the reception of Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Repentance in it, simplest terms means to change. It is both A turning away from and A turning Towards.

If you will remember when Jesus asked the rich young Ruler to follow Him. .He asked him to sell all that he owned and give it to the poor. To follow him, he asked him to turn away from His love of money. And turn towards following Jesus with all his heart. (( Of course, in the Rich young ruler, he was not Willing to repent.)) You see, that is what repentence Is designed to do. To show God that we have had a heart change. We have turned Away from our old life of sin and flesh and towards the new life Of the Spirit Christ.
I hope this helps brother.?

Your question is a very good one. I think I will use this as a Is post on my blog. // And so, I have… 🙂 🙂 🙂