Q: Does Jesus reward all who repent? No matter the sin or
crime?
I am glad you phrased the question this way. You could have
asked about “all who ask forgiveness” which is totally different than being penitent or repenting.
The word “repent” implies a change or a ‘turning around’ and going in another
direction. In scripture, the Greek word μετάνοια
(metanoia) is often translated as repentance. This kind of change is not about regret, guilt
or shame; it is a true change of heart. It implies making a conscious decision
to turn around, to face a new direction.
It’s also interesting that you said “reward” rather than “forgive.”
I feel that the reward to those who repent is restoration. Those who change
their heart and turn back to God (repent), rather than away from God are
restored to right relationship with God. They pursue a new path of love and
community rather than a path of destruction and division.
I would say that repentance also implies making amends or “paying
penance.” To me, just because you repent of the sin or crime and start leading
a new life doesn’t mean that you get to erase the past. I don’t feel that it
works that way. The path to restoration is sometimes a difficult one. It
requires intentional hard work and struggle every day to live with a penitent heart.
In scripture, we are assured that those who turn to Jesus
are dead in their wrongdoings (Ephesians 2:4-10). We are a “new creation” in
Christ… part of the new order in the restoration of the world (2 Corinthians
5:17). The pathway to connection with God is never closed for those that desire
it. So, I would say that the only thing that would keep anyone from that
relationship is the outright rejection of God.
So, it is my opinion that yes, Jesus rewards and restores to
right relationship (with God) those who turn their heart and change their ways,
no matter the sin or crime. However, this doesn’t mean that they don’t require
some amends to others or society for the wrongs they have done.
