Returning to Paradise Day 5: Repentance

📖 Scripture Readings: Genesis 2:20-3:20 | Isaiah 3:1-15
🪜 The Ladder of Divine Ascent – Step 5: Repentance

Welcome back to our 40-day journey towards Pascha, where we are reflecting on the Ladder of Divine Ascent, one of the most influential texts in Christian history, along with the day’s prescribed Scripture readings from the Orthodox Church. If you’ve missed any of the steps so far, there are links at the bottom.

The Tears That Wash Away Sin

In The Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 5 focuses on one of the most misunderstood concepts in Christianity: Repentance. Today, when people hear the word “repent,” they often think of feeling bad—a wave of guilt or regret. But in the biblical and Orthodox tradition, repentance is not about emotions—it is about transformation. This is the focus of Step 5: true, painstaking repentance—not just a fleeting sense of guilt, but a deep transformation of the heart that restores us to God.

St. John Climacus describes repentance as:

“Repentance is the renewal of baptism. Repentance is a contract with God for a second life. A penitent is a buyer of humility. Repentance is the daughter of hope and the renunciation of despair.”

This means that repentance is not merely feeling bad about sin—it is a joyful sorrow that brings renewal. It is the doorway to healing, not condemnation.

In Step 5, St. John recounts his visit to “The Prison”, a monastery where monks who had fallen into serious sin dedicated themselves to unceasing repentance. He describes them as men who:

Stood in unceasing prayer through the night.
Beat their breasts, weeping as if for the dead.
Wore rags, denied themselves comfort, and cried out: “Spare us, O Lord!”
Considered themselves unworthy even of forgiveness, yet still begged for God’s mercy.

Their repentance was not self-hatred—it was a fierce longing for reconciliation.

“They all used to sit with the sight of death unceasingly before their eyes and say: ‘How will it be with us? What will be our sentence? Will there be a reprieve for us?’”

St. John saw in them a beautiful paradox—grief so deep it transformed into hope.

“The sorrowful humility of penitents is one thing; the condemnation of the conscience of those who are still living in sin is another.”

Repentance is not despair—it is the path out of despair. It is an active turning back toward life.

The True Meaning of Repentance—Metanoia (Μετάνοια)

In the modern world, repentance is often reduced to an emotion—feeling bad about something we’ve done. But this is not what Scripture or the Church Fathers mean by repentance.

The Greek word “metanoia” (μετάνοια), which is translated as “repentance” in our English Bibles, means:

A change of mind
A turning around
A complete transformation of life

Repentance in this sense is not about emotions—it is about action. Biblical “repentance” is doing a 180-degree turn on the path of life and heading in the opposite direction.

“Repentance is not just a feeling, but a disposition made real by deeds—turn from sin and act in love.” – St. Dorotheus of Gaza

“Repentance is the starting point of our salvation; without it, no one can approach God.” — St. Theophan the Recluse

This is why true repentance requires effort. It is not just confession—it is reordering our hearts to seek God above all else.

We do not repent because we fear punishment.
We repent because we long for communion with God.
We repent because we hate our sins, not just their consequences.

“Repentance opens the heavens and allows us to enter paradise; it overcomes the devil and restores what was lost.” — St. John Chrysostom

Repentance is the path home—and today’s Scriptures show us what happens when we refuse it.

Genesis 2:20-3:20 – The Fall and the Call to Repentance

“Then the Lord God called to Adam and said, ‘Where are you?'” (Genesis 3:9)

This is the first great moment of spiritual confrontation in Scripture.

Adam and Eve had everything—perfect communion with God, dominion over creation, and a life of harmony. But sin entered when they desired to be gods on their own terms. They chose self-will over obedience, deception over truth, and in doing so, they shattered paradise.

But notice what happens when God comes to them.

Does Adam fall on his face in repentance? No—he hides.
When confronted, does he confess? No—he blames Eve.
And Eve, rather than repenting, blames the serpent.

This is how unrepentant hearts behave:

We hide.
We shift blame.
We justify our actions.

Imagine if Adam had fallen to his knees and cried out, “Lord, forgive me!” Would the course of history have changed?

We will never know. But we do know this: when we refuse to repent, we exile ourselves from God’s presence.

And yet, even in judgment, God shows mercy. He does not strike them dead. He clothes them. He promises a Redeemer.

Repentance is always possible, but we must be willing to return.

“This life has been given to you for repentance; do not waste it in vain pursuits.” – St. Isaac the Syrian

Isaiah 3:1-15 – The Collapse of the Proud

Isaiah’s prophecy warns of what happens when a people refuse repentance. He describes a society in collapse—where rulers are corrupt, where arrogance reigns, where justice is abandoned.

“Jerusalem staggers, Judah is falling; their words and deeds are against the Lord, defying His glorious presence.” (Isaiah 3:8)

This is the natural consequence of unrepentance—spiritual blindness and societal decay.

Compare this with Nineveh, the city that heard Jonah’s warning and repented in sackcloth and ashes. Because they humbled themselves, God spared them.

Pride leads to ruin. Repentance leads to restoration.

Practical Ways to Live Out Repentance

How do we cultivate true repentance in our daily lives?

1. Daily Examination of Conscience

Before bed, reflect: Where did I fall short today? Where did I choose self over God?

2. Confession and Spiritual Direction

Confess frequently, not just when you feel guilty.
Listen to correction rather than justify yourself.

3. Practicing Humility

Repentance is impossible without humility.
Fast from pride by choosing to serve rather than to be served.

4. Weeping in Prayer

Ask God: “Soften my heart, Lord. Let me feel the weight of my sins, so that I may be healed.”

Final Thought: Will You Answer When God Asks, ‘Where Are You?’

The voice of God still calls to us today: “Where are you?”

Where is your heart? Are you hiding in shame, or are you running back to Him?

Today, let us choose tears over pride, humility over excuses, and repentance over avoidance. The moment we turn, God meets us on the road. “Repentance is the starting point of our salvation; without it, no one can approach God.”

“We should not put off repentance, for we know not the hour of our death.” – St. Ephraim the Syrian