Does God Repent? - Ultimately with R.C. Sproul

Summary4 min read

Episode Summary: "Does God Repent?"

Podcast: Ultimately with R.C. Sproul
Host: Ligonier Ministries
Date: July 10, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the complex biblical question: Does God repent? Drawing from both scripture and theological reflection, R.C. Sproul examines passages in the Bible where God is described as "repenting," especially in the context of threatened judgment and mercy. The discussion explores how such language fits with God's immutable—unchanging—nature and the way Scripture uses anthropomorphic (human-like) language when speaking about God.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Unchanging Nature of God

Immutability Affirmed: The episode begins by asserting that God’s mind and nature do not change.

"Has God really changed the eternal immutable being of this universe? Like a chameleon, The mind of God does not change."
(Speaker: A, 00:00)

Scriptural Examples of Divine "Repentance"

Old Testament Narratives: Reference is made to instances (unnamed, but e.g., stories like Sodom and Gomorrah) where God warns a city of destruction but seems to change His mind when people repent.
The Story of Jonah:
- God sends Jonah to warn Nineveh.
- Jonah resists, suspecting God will show mercy anyway.
- After Jonah preaches, the people of Nineveh repent in sackcloth and ashes.
- Jonah is angry when God spares the city.
"He tells the people, God is going to annihilate you. He’s going to burn you. And so they repent in sackcloth and ashes. And what does Jonah do? He really gets mad... I knew you were going to forgive those people all along."
(Speaker: A, 00:58-01:30)

The Bible’s Use of Human Language (Anthropomorphism)

Describing God from a Human Perspective:

"First of all, it’s using what we call anthropomorphic language. The Bible is using human terms to describe God and describing God from a human perspective when it talks about God, you know, repenting."
(Speaker: A, 01:40)
The language of God "repenting" is a metaphor that makes divine actions understandable to humans, not a literal admission of change in God's nature.

Theological Clarification of "Repentance"

Not Literal Repentance:

"If we mean that in the literal sense of the word, we could only conclude that God had sinned and God himself needs a savior. Now, what Christian would ever come to that?"
(Speaker: A, 01:55)
The Bible is clear that God is holy and sinless; thus, His "repentance" doesn’t indicate regret over moral error.

The Conditional Nature of Divine Warnings

God’s warnings of judgment are implicitly conditional.
When people repent, God withholds the announced judgment—not because He changes, but because He always planned to act in concord with human decision.

"He has said, I will judge you, but is it not legitimate to suppose that it is God's consistent pattern when he gives a warning of judgment, to give it conditionally, that is what is understood?"
(Speaker: A, 02:20)
The threat is clear even without God explicitly saying "unless you repent".

Consistency of God’s Character

Even when God removes judgment, His eternal character remains unchanged.
The mind of God is described as constant and unchanging.

"The mind of God does not change. It is constant."
(Speaker: A, 03:16)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Anthropomorphic Language:

"The Bible is using human terms to describe God and describing God from a human perspective when it talks about God, you know, repenting." (01:40)
On Divine Warnings:

"When he has that judgment, the sword hanging over the people and the people do repent, and God withholds the judgment—has God really changed the eternal, indivisible, immutable being of this universe? Like a chameleon, the mind of God does not change. It is constant." (02:56-03:16)
On the Nature of Divine Repentance:

"If we mean that in the literal sense of the word, we could only conclude that God had sinned and God himself needs a savior. Now, what Christian would ever come to that? I mean, the Bible is clearly not teaching that." (01:55)

Timestamps for Important Segments

00:00 – Opening question: Has God really changed?
00:40 – Biblical examples: Old Testament, the story of Jonah
01:40 – "Repenting" as anthropomorphic language
01:55 – Clarification: God does not repent as humans do
02:20 – The conditional nature of God’s judgments
02:56 – Wrapping up: God’s mind is constant and unchanging

Conclusion

This episode of Ultimately with R.C. Sproul uses biblical narrative and systematic theology to resolve the apparent tension between scriptural references to God "repenting" and core doctrines of God's immutability. The episode underscores that such passages reflect God’s consistent mercy and justice and that the language of repentance, when applied to God, is metaphorical and always preserves His perfect and unchanging character.

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Transcript2 lines

[00:01]
A
Has God really changed the eternal immutable being of this universe? Like a chameleon, The mind of God does not change. But doesn't the Bible say that God repents? Certainly says that in the Old Testament, where God comes along and says, all right, because of your wickedness, I'm going to destroy the city. All of a sudden, a couple of good guys in the city, they get together and they say, lord, give us one more chance. And they run out and they go on a massive campaign of evangelism and a call to repentance. And suddenly the city repents. How about Jonah? This was the whole complaint of Jonah. God says to Jonah, I want you to go to this pagan land and I want you to tell these people to repent, or I'm going to destroy them. What's Jonah's attitude? I'm going to Tarshish. Get yourself another boy. I know you're going to bring to pass what you want to bring to pass anyway. So why should I get involved in all this? But anyway, he goes, and then what happens? He tells the people, God is going to annihilate you. He's going to burn you. And so they repent in sackcloth and ashes. And what does Jonah do? He really gets mad. He says, I knew it, God. I knew you were going to forgive those people all along. See? And you eyed me out there. I looked like a fool. I told them that you were going to kill them and you were going to judge them. And then you go ahead and give them mercy because God repented of the evil that he would do to these people. Now, what does the Bible say when it talks about that? First of all, it's using what we call anthropomorphic language. The Bible is using human terms to describe God and describing God from a human perspective when it talks about God, you know, repenting. But if we mean that in the literal sense of the word, we could only conclude that God had sinned and God himself needs a savior. Now, what Christian would ever come to that? I mean, the Bible is clearly not teaching that. What does it mean? That God has removed the threat of judgment. He has said, I will judge you, but is it not legitimate to suppose that it is God's consistent pattern when he gives a warning of judgment, to give it conditionally, that is what is understood. When he gives the warning is that I will consume you. What if you do not repent? Does he have to say that every time before that message is clear? And so when he has that judgment, the sword hanging over the people and the people do repent, and God withholds the judgment. Has God really changed the eternal, indivisible, immutable being of this universe? Like a chameleon, the mind of God does not change. It is constant.
[03:27]
B
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