ON THE FENCE ABOUT REPENTANCE?

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Grailhunter

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This is an opinion…discussion…comment thread…about repentance concepts and how it all fits into salvation and our Christian life….have a blast. Starting with some basic questions….

1. Define repentance?

2. Can you repent sins you do not remember? Repentance when becoming a Christian? And Repentance during your life as a Christian?

3. Is repentance a one time thing?

4. Do we repent first before asking Christ to forgive our sins?

5. Do we need to ask Christ to forgive our sins? Is forgiveness automatic for Christians?

6. Can you repent a habitual sin? In other words can an alcoholic or drug user become a Christian in good standing while he or she fights the addiction, desire, or lifestyle? Or does he or she have to wait until they have entirely kicked the habit or activity? If so, how long?
 
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Addy

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You do not like my emphasis on @ ??? LOL
Are you questions actually serious ?
 

Addy

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Can I add a question to yours? I will assume that you have said YES. :D

Do you think yourself to be a better Christian than a fellow Christian who is battling and struggling with and perhaps often giving into his/her addiction?
 
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Grailhunter

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Can I add a question to yours? I will assume that you have said YES. :D

Do you think yourself to be a better person than an alcoholic/drug addict?

Again the point, it is an open discussion. Your opinion? It is question #6 give it a go.

But to answer your question...better? Is better a relevant term?
 
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Addy

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But to answer your question...better? Is better a relevant term?
I did edit my post.... to add Christian.... and what I meant by better seems to be straight forward ( better than... superior ) I thought since no one had arrived yet...
I would start with asking you about your opinion of those who are Christians yet still engage in habitual sin.

I find the question offensive... but that is just me perhaps... so I will keep my opinion to myself. I guess I asked because I was curious as to what your answer would be.
 

Grailhunter

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I did edit my post.... to add Christian.... and what I meant by better seems to be straight forward ( better than... superior ) I thought since no one had arrived yet...
I would start with asking you about your opinion of those who are Christians yet still engage in habitual sin.

I find the question offensive... but that is just me perhaps... so I will keep my opinion to myself. I guess I asked because I was curious as to what your answer would be.
I started the the thread to discuss the concept of repentance.
Don't be afraid to give your opinion.
I answered, your concern of better, and I believe that it is not a relevant term for this discussion. For one thing no one is repentant to you or me. Do you think it is relevant? Who is better in the eyes of the Lord? Is that even a relevant way to put that.
Right thinking...wrong thinking....put those things in motion...what do they do in the real world.
 
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Addy

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I started the the thread to discuss the concept of repentance.
Don't be afraid to give your opinion.
I answered, your concern of better, and I believe that it is not a relevant term for this discussion. For one thing no one is repentant to you or me. Do you think it is relevant? Who is better in the eyes of the Lord? Is that even a relevant way to put that.
Right thinking...wrong thinking....put those things in motion...what do they do in the real world.

You state that the term better is not relevant... however... it truly is in the light of how some Christians view other's and judge their walks.
Legalism will have you believe that it is NOT possible to be a Christian and have any kind of addictions... they will have you believe that one must walk in RIGHTEOUSNESS by their own merits of will. I come from this kind of family... who will decide who is and is NOT saved according to the behaviour they observe.
 

Truman

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This is an opinion…discussion…comment thread…about repentance concepts and how it all fits into salvation and our Christian life….have a blast. Starting with some basic questions….

1. Define repentance?

2. Can you repent sins you do not remember? Repentance when becoming a Christian? And Repentance during your life as a Christian?

3. Is repentance a one time thing?

4. Do we repent first before asking Christ to forgive our sins?

5. Do we need to ask Christ to forgive our sins? Is forgiveness automatic for Christians?

6. Can you repent a habitual sin? In other words can an alcoholic or drug user become a Christian in good standing while he or she fights the addiction, desire, or lifestyle? Or does he or she have to wait until they have entirely kicked the habit or activity? If so, how long?
The Lord shows me my sin. "Oh God, I'm so sorry. I repent, with Your power, Holy Spirit, turning me 180 degrees back to Father God. I thank You, My King Jesus, for forgiving me and cleansing me from all unrighteousness. I take this sin to my cross and crucify it, pronouncing it dead. I expel the enemy, grab hold of it, break it's back (power), bind it, and cast it out, in Jesus' mighty name. "It is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me and the life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God who gave Himself for me!!! This is not my opinion.
 
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Truman

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This is following Jesus a day at a time. It is not easy, but with His help, it is the path to the salvation of our souls.
 
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Grailhunter

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some Christian

What do you think?

view other's and judge

Judging is a topic...but repentance is between you and God. Different types of judging which will come to light in this topic. Judging is a finger on your soul...consider well what you judge.

they will have you believe that one must walk in RIGHTEOUSNESS

The topic of righteousness is greased pig, you are not going to get a handle on it.

who will decide who is and is NOT saved according to the behaviour they observe.

Deciding who is saved or not...does that take a committee?
 

Addy

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@Grailhunter ... I'm really sorry.... I guess my lack of trust is showing here... I can't help but feel like this is an ambush... no disrespect meant...
I think I will simply opt to view the answers that come in ... and keep my silence.... God Bless you.
 

Grailhunter

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@Grailhunter ... I'm really sorry.... I guess my lack of trust is showing here... I can't help but feel like this is an ambush... no disrespect meant...
I think I will simply opt to view the answers that come in ... and keep my silence.... God Bless you.
That is an option. lol Chime in when you feel comfortable. God bless!
 
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Nancy

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Hi Grail,
Most of us here, or at least a good many were taught to ask God for forgiveness for every, single sin we committed...chewing gum in class, talking and not paying attention and the myriad of things a child does that could be considered "sin". I kind of think that comes from Catholicism as, we were brought up Catholic. So, it's pretty tough after a lifelong habit of asking forgiveness to suddenly not do that.
Repentance to me is simple, just have to turn around and walk toward Christ when we are about to do something He would not approve of. Just once?? Don't know. It seems some can repent of the bigger sins in their life but, the "smaller" ones are the ones that get ya! Smaller to US, not God. If habitual, say an addiction that comes around to haunt you time and time again. It is hard to think that someone who I was very close to (my mom) who was the kindest, very God loving and bore nothing BUT the fruit of The Spirit her whole life, peacekeeping gentle and most loving of anyone I have ever known, to think that God sent her to hell because she fell into such a deep despairing depression she hid in her room drinking vodka to kill the pain of the horror of my dads veeeeery long and painful death. She got to the point where you would ask her a question and seemed as though she did not hear you as, it took that long for her to even process someone was speaking to her. In human terms, she did NOT deserve that. She died at 59 years.
You have lot's of good questions brother. And, I'm sure all of us have wondered at the same things from time to time. I do not believe in sinless perfection and have yet to meet anybody BUT Christ who was sinless...AND perfect. So, depending on His Mercy as He sees our hearts is what matters in my book. If we are supposed to be sinless then, there will indeed be very few who make it into His presence for eternity.
God Bless,
nancy
 

amadeus

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This is following Jesus a day at a time. It is not easy, but with His help, it is the path to the salvation of our souls.
Not easy... but easy.

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matt 11:28-30

Reading the words of Jesus explains it, but getting ourselves to actually "come" unto Him and "take" his yoke upon us may not be easy without His help. Is He not willing to help?

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" Matt 7:7
 

Addy

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I do not believe in sinless perfection and have yet to meet anybody BUT Christ who was sinless...AND perfect.

Ha.... It is this statement that Nancy has spoken that has made me weary of this thread... Thank you for helping me understand my hesitancy in wanting to respond... Your post was thoughtful and wonderfully expresses the human side of suffering sometimes leading us to sin due to despair or trauma... and that is the point that many Christians seem to miss ( in my opinion ) when looking at how other's are living their lives.

Repentance is indeed walking away and TURNING to God.... I think of Peter walking on the water... and Jesus saying... Peter... keep your eyes on ME. Repentance I believe only comes from LOVE.... from knowing how very much LOVED we are by God. This is where the power to sin LESS becomes possible... as will power can only ever carry us so far before it lets us down. It's all about relationship... When I hurt someone I love... my heart weeps... and I cannot go on until I make amends and make things right... I believe repentance is simply NOT wanting to hurt God.
 

Brakelite

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Other than rising what scripture says, that repentance is necessary for salvation, I would only venture to offer testimony. The reason is thati I believe every single one of us meet with Jesus from different places and through different routes, but all of course we're accepted only because of calvary.
As for me, I responded to a friend's question in 1976..."do you think your lifestyle meets with God's approval?" Several hours later I was laying on my bed and finally admitted to God that no, my life would not meet with His approval and I asked Him to make it something He could approve of. That's it. I knew nothing of repentance...I didn't understand what Christ has done for me through His redemption, I had never read a Bible, and I would have been speechless had anyone asked me what the gospel was. But I was born again that night because when I woke up the next morning everything was different. Everything. So whatever repentance means, I fulfilled it. Other folks experience may differ, but I think somehow, someway, the common denominator will be Christ's acceptance of us all and all because of the blood of the Lamb.
 
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