Confusion About Repentance
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Repentance is a change of mind/heart.
It’s when one comes to the cross of Jesus saying I believed you died for my sins in the heart and I’ll follow with you, sacrificing their old self with Christ on the cross and being buried in the grave putting death to the old man. Then believing in the heart that God raised him from the dead they also raise too into new spiritual life to live by putting on the new self: putting on Christ as their righteousness walking in newness of life. Romans 6:1-23, Colossians 1:13-14, Colossians 3:1-17, 1 John 5, John 1:10-13, Romans 5:1-10, Romans 8:1-10.
It’s when one comes to the cross of Jesus saying I believed you died for my sins in the heart and I’ll follow with you, sacrificing their old self with Christ on the cross and being buried in the grave putting death to the old man. Then believing in the heart that God raised him from the dead they also raise too into new spiritual life to live by putting on the new self: putting on Christ as their righteousness walking in newness of life. Romans 6:1-23, Colossians 1:13-14, Colossians 3:1-17, 1 John 5, John 1:10-13, Romans 5:1-10, Romans 8:1-10.
Below is a single post of mine from December of 2020 based a previous discussion concerning questions by @Grailhunter about repentance :
ON THE FENCE ABOUT REPENTANCE?
↑
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?
Turn around
Mark 9 needed more than one touch from Jesus. My vision has moved away from blindness... but still for some things, I believe, I am seeing as through a glass darkly.
4. Do we repent first before asking Christ to forgive our sins?
When we are drawn by the Father do we have to analyze and understand our situation like a well trained and experienced Psychologist before we step out in faith toward Him? Consider the situation of Lot and his wife leaving Sodom. What did they do?
"And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:" I Peter 2:7
"But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt." Gen 19:26
They both seemingly stepped out in faith, but apparently his wife had faith to follow her husband but no real faith in what God was offering and on the very verge of victory, she remembered something from before and looked back. Repentance first or faith first or asking of God first? God knows!
5. Do we need to ask Christ to forgive our sins? Is forgiveness automatic for Christians?
What is a Christian? People use the word all of the time, but without a definition how can anyone even begin to define it. With a proper definition [if there is such a thing understandable to all] then the question may be like the previous one [#4] asking for an analysis an unlearned or unstudied person may not be able to give. Is a proper Bible education necessary prior to beginning to serve God?
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?
Can the heart of a person be changed while the body continues to walk in many of the ways it has always walked? Why did King David have several wives when in Genesis and the words of Jesus in the gospels and the words of Paul in his epistles it seems clear to many [most?] people that marriage is a two person thing? Several wives, yet called the "apple of His eye" and a "man after God's own heart"?
God did not change, but perhaps King David was growing toward God, but just did not make it that far in his walk before his walk was finished. He had finished his course. For David there was no more time, but certainly he had been elevated during his time! Where will each of us believers be at the end of our course? Will we all be the same? Will we all be perfect? Will we all be overcomers? Who among us will come up short in the eyes of God because we ran out of time before we have overcome it all? How long? How high? Etc.?
Does not all of that help us to understand why Jesus said this?
"Judge not, that ye be not judged.
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye" Matt 7:1-3
Who is a qualified judge for each and everyone of us?
ON THE FENCE ABOUT REPENTANCE?
↑
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?
Turn around
Mark 9 needed more than one touch from Jesus. My vision has moved away from blindness... but still for some things, I believe, I am seeing as through a glass darkly.
4. Do we repent first before asking Christ to forgive our sins?
When we are drawn by the Father do we have to analyze and understand our situation like a well trained and experienced Psychologist before we step out in faith toward Him? Consider the situation of Lot and his wife leaving Sodom. What did they do?
"And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:" I Peter 2:7
"But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt." Gen 19:26
They both seemingly stepped out in faith, but apparently his wife had faith to follow her husband but no real faith in what God was offering and on the very verge of victory, she remembered something from before and looked back. Repentance first or faith first or asking of God first? God knows!
5. Do we need to ask Christ to forgive our sins? Is forgiveness automatic for Christians?
What is a Christian? People use the word all of the time, but without a definition how can anyone even begin to define it. With a proper definition [if there is such a thing understandable to all] then the question may be like the previous one [#4] asking for an analysis an unlearned or unstudied person may not be able to give. Is a proper Bible education necessary prior to beginning to serve God?
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?
Can the heart of a person be changed while the body continues to walk in many of the ways it has always walked? Why did King David have several wives when in Genesis and the words of Jesus in the gospels and the words of Paul in his epistles it seems clear to many [most?] people that marriage is a two person thing? Several wives, yet called the "apple of His eye" and a "man after God's own heart"?
God did not change, but perhaps King David was growing toward God, but just did not make it that far in his walk before his walk was finished. He had finished his course. For David there was no more time, but certainly he had been elevated during his time! Where will each of us believers be at the end of our course? Will we all be the same? Will we all be perfect? Will we all be overcomers? Who among us will come up short in the eyes of God because we ran out of time before we have overcome it all? How long? How high? Etc.?
Does not all of that help us to understand why Jesus said this?
"Judge not, that ye be not judged.
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye" Matt 7:1-3
Who is a qualified judge for each and everyone of us?
Grailhunter
Well-Known Member
The polygamous relationships....multiple wives and concubines....Christians want to look back and judge it wrong or a sin. Sorry but it is just a poor understanding the scriptures. Christians want to look back at the OT and Christianize it. The Mosaic Law regulated these relationships at several levels....God would not regulate wrong or sinful acts. That thinking....God regulated sinful acts????....How many levels of wrong is that? Many wives and many sons was part of the Jewish culture that the Mosaic Law did not speak against and regulated these relationships. And to have many wives and many sons was considered a blessing of God....an indication of favor....not sin. And God took credit for King David's wives.
The Jews continued to have polygamous marriages for a thousand years after Christ ministry. And for those that converted to Christianity??? We do not have any indication that those that had multiply wives were turned away or required to divorce their wives to become Christians. And Paul addressed part of this when he said that to be leader in the church, you had to be the husband of only one wife. Worded like this...A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; .... So this also begs the question if it was a requirement to be married to be a bishop or overseer.
Of course as it is now....I do not agree with polygamy or concubinage.
People have so much misinformation running around in their heads. I don't blame them....2000 years of things being pounded in their heads by misinformed Christian leaders....culture....traditions....stories....songs. Believing that polygamy was a sin in the OT, that there is a requirement for a wedding ceremony in the Bible, that the Magi were just wise men or kings and there was only three and all male and they were from the orient. That the Jews in the OT believed in a devil or Hell or in Heaven as a reward....There are people even talking about salvation in the OT. And now we have people that think they can sin all they want and as long as they believe in Christ, they are guaranteed Heaven. It is a good thing that I have a sense of humor and it is a good thing that the basic message of salvation survived all the changes to the Bible.
And then repentance....there ya go...
Yahweh gives us a good example of repentance in the OT....is that surprising? Yahweh does not change, but He does change His mind. And in the OT when He did, some times it was called repent. Repent...a change of mind and actions.
How does repentance work? Salvation was made for mankind. The frailty of the mind and body. The words that stipulate salvation...repentance...forgiveness...and Judgment Day is....faith and intent.
Whether it is a drunkard, a drug stoner, a kleptomaniac, or a homosexual or a child molester or a rapist or even an assassin. (And know this, that some child molesters will tell the parole boards not to let them out because they cannot control themselves.) They all can come to Christ and believe on Him and be Christians. Repentance to begin with is the recognition of wrong....and the intent to change. That process may take a while, and they are full-fledged Christians during that process, but the sins are not forgiven until that sin stops....a life long child molester or rapist or homosexual that believes in Christ, will probably go to Hell. It is still up to Christ....is He going to award them with Heaven? I don't think so. There are too many scriptures warning Christians about sins and the sins that will prevent them from going to Heaven.
Most Christians as they go through life are going to sin and they repent and they try to manage that sin and they are forgiven. Intent.... Christ know their intent. He is nobody's fool. Heaven will not be the abode of evil.
Most Christians are going to arrive on Judgment Day with little or nothing to be judged. But forgiveness is not automatic...and those that preach that there is no need to repent and resist sin or confess our sins to Christ .... may arrive on Judgment with a ton of unforgiven sins to their account.....every deed judged. Now for those that preach this OSAS trash....are they going to have to answer for the lost souls they sent down the road to Hell?
What does God expect from us to be good and do good....it is all through the New Testament, along with what will be the punishment for those that are not good or do not do good. But with all the cherry picking of scriptures that some people do....they effectively edit the Bible to suit themselves. We are expected to do the best we can....to be good and please the Lord.
And as far as how we handle sin, Yahweh point this out from the very beginning....paraphrasing here....Sin sits at your doorstep, its desire is to have you. It is up to you to be master over it. Genesis 4:7
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What does God expect from us to be good and do good.
To paraphrase Spurgeon—“ Being ‘good’ will keep you out of jail, but only the Blood Of Christ will keep you out of Hell”......
OF COURSE God wants us to be good....being good is it’s own reward .....it beats the hell out of being bad.....one should strive to be as good as he can possibly be .....just realize that it is not the Formula for Salvation.Turning to God with Faith in Jesus Christ to Save you from your Sins? THAT is the Formula for Salvation ......don’t get confused about this as some in here are .....Simply Believe 1Cor15:1-4 and you will be “ good to go”.......God Bless...
...
To paraphrase Spurgeon—“ Being ‘good’ will keep you out of jail, but only the Blood Of Christ will keep you out of Hell”......
OF COURSE God wants us to be good....being good is it’s own reward .....it beats the hell out of being bad.....one should strive to be as good as he can possibly be .....just realize that it is not the Formula for Salvation.Turning to God with Faith in Jesus Christ to Save you from your Sins? THAT is the Formula for Salvation ......don’t get confused about this as some in here are .....Simply Believe 1Cor15:1-4 and you will be “ good to go”.......God Bless...
...
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Grailhunter
Well-Known Member
You try to convince people that all ya have to do is believe and you can sin all you want and some how some way Christ is stupid enough to reward you with Heaven. Faith in Christ is the path to salvation....but if you want to go to heaven....be good and do good. Any thing else and it is a lie and a deception. Heaven will not be full of evil.
And as far as how we handle sin, Yahweh point this out from the very beginning....paraphrasing here....Sin sits at your doorstep, its desire is to have you. It is up to you to be master over it. Genesis 4:7
So the question becomes, “ what is the best way to ‘ master’ Sin?” How do we become Obedient? Do we use the Fear Of Hell.....do we become Masters of Self Control.....do we become Masters of Self-Control ? Paul warned us about “ Will - Worship” which is what all of this stuff amounts to .....
Why not try an Indirect Way to deal with sin ? Try to imagine THIS scenario—-It Works for me.....
If one REALLY BELIEVES the Gospel Of 1Cor15:1-4 they will REST in it, Resting in the Assurance Of one’s Salvation( as Ordered to in Hebrews 3 and 4 ) brings with it a few rewards.....Peace of mind and Joy and a True Love for God based on what HE did for YOU— NOT the other way around...
LOVE for God is the “ Engine” that drives the True Obedience That God is looking for —-NOT Fear.....If you ever TRULY BELIEVE that Jesus actually DID “ Die for your Sins” and now there are no Sins remaining that you could ever be damned for.....Getting that “Performance” weight off of your shoulders is what brings forth a thankfulness and gratitude that will be played out in one’s life in the form of a Love- Based Obedience —- you will be Obedient because you WANT to be, and NOT because you have to be....
It all starts with Resting in the Finished Work Of The Cross, RESTING in the Gospel ......Are you Resting in the Gospel or do you feel the need to ADD to it ? Do you say “ Jesus Saves, PERIOD” or do you say “ Jesus Saves— BUT!” Do you Believe that Faith in Jesus is “ Essential” for Salvation ,but it is not , on its own,ADEQUATE for Salvation? If you are thinking in these confused and unbiblical manners, you are not RESTING.....you are Working....Your battle with Sin will be a Surface one and doomed to frustration, anxiety and ultimately Failure.....
Trust in Christ’s Finished Work.....REST in the Gospel .....become more and more “ SON” Conscience and less and less “ SIN” Conscience.....Concentrate on the Promises Of God instead of trying to conquer Sin “ Head- On”......You will “ Find Yourself” becoming more and more Obedient without trying so hard....Your “ Performance ” will be much better than the guy who is using will- power that is promoted by Fear......Don’t forget where all of this begins—- Resting in the Gospel Of 1Cor15:1-4.....It’s a Command. BELIEVE that Jesus “DID” DIE FOR YOUR SINS!—-watch everything else take care of itself.... God Bless ...
So the question becomes, “ what is the best way to ‘ master’ Sin?” How do we become Obedient? Do we use the Fear Of Hell.....do we become Masters of Self Control.....do we become Masters of Self-Control ? Paul warned us about “ Will - Worship” which is what all of this stuff amounts to .....
Why not try an Indirect Way to deal with sin ? Try to imagine THIS scenario—-It Works for me.....
If one REALLY BELIEVES the Gospel Of 1Cor15:1-4 they will REST in it, Resting in the Assurance Of one’s Salvation( as Ordered to in Hebrews 3 and 4 ) brings with it a few rewards.....Peace of mind and Joy and a True Love for God based on what HE did for YOU— NOT the other way around...
LOVE for God is the “ Engine” that drives the True Obedience That God is looking for —-NOT Fear.....If you ever TRULY BELIEVE that Jesus actually DID “ Die for your Sins” and now there are no Sins remaining that you could ever be damned for.....Getting that “Performance” weight off of your shoulders is what brings forth a thankfulness and gratitude that will be played out in one’s life in the form of a Love- Based Obedience —- you will be Obedient because you WANT to be, and NOT because you have to be....
It all starts with Resting in the Finished Work Of The Cross, RESTING in the Gospel ......Are you Resting in the Gospel or do you feel the need to ADD to it ? Do you say “ Jesus Saves, PERIOD” or do you say “ Jesus Saves— BUT!” Do you Believe that Faith in Jesus is “ Essential” for Salvation ,but it is not , on its own,ADEQUATE for Salvation? If you are thinking in these confused and unbiblical manners, you are not RESTING.....you are Working....Your battle with Sin will be a Surface one and doomed to frustration, anxiety and ultimately Failure.....
Trust in Christ’s Finished Work.....REST in the Gospel .....become more and more “ SON” Conscience and less and less “ SIN” Conscience.....Concentrate on the Promises Of God instead of trying to conquer Sin “ Head- On”......You will “ Find Yourself” becoming more and more Obedient without trying so hard....Your “ Performance ” will be much better than the guy who is using will- power that is promoted by Fear......Don’t forget where all of this begins—- Resting in the Gospel Of 1Cor15:1-4.....It’s a Command. BELIEVE that Jesus “DID” DIE FOR YOUR SINS!—-watch everything else take care of itself.... God Bless ...
Grailhunter
Well-Known Member
Those are God's words.
Do good and be good...the best ya can.
Pleasing to the Lord.
Rest in the Gospel....do you think it a a biblical phrase. Not!
Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.....is!
Heaven will be Full Of “FORGIVEN Evil” ( Ask King David, Lot, Samson and man others —- even YOU , perhaps )
If you are a Saved Believer you CAN Sin “ as much as you Want”..... that’s exactly what I did last Week - End ! I went out and and got as Drunk as I “wanted” to......that turned out to be Zero Drunk.....that’s the Part that you don’t get.....
Put on your “ Thinking Cap” and try to understand the Wisdom Of this—- “Love God and live as you please” ......can’t you “ GET” that line of reasoning? Let Me attempt to break it down for you and others whose intelligence and self-insight are limited....
The #1 Commandment is to Love God.....there is a reason for that— if you TRULY “ LOVE GOD” you can live as you please because you will live in a manner that pleases God .....you will do it because you WANT to.....as I have said—- “ LOVE is the ENGINE that drives Obedience” ...LOVE is what Christianity is ALL ABOUT .....if it is not Impetus and the Basis for your “ right living” ....You are Simply a “ Religionist”....and you just might be as Lost as a Muslim or a Buddhist...... Anybody can “ be good” and there are plenty of “ good” but Lost Muslims, Buddhists and even Atheists out there....along with so-called “ christians” out there......are you among them?
Read Hebrews 3 and 4...... if you don’t Rest in the Gospel you are the Modern - Day Equivalent to an Unbelieving Jew That Died in the Wilderness because of a lack of Faith.....exact words mean nothing....you won’t find the word “ Trinity” in the Bible either .....does that mean that it does not exist? Do you Believe in the Rapture? That word is not in the Bible either.....stop being silly....
Work out your salvation with fear and trembling..
Of course we do that .....and after we get our Salvation “ worked out” because of the “Fear” we have when we realize that we are Lost, Wretched Sinners headed for a well- deserved Hell , THEN we Turn to Jesus ( the True Repentance required for Salvation) and TRUST Him to Save us forever.....That TRUST spurs REST ....that Rest spurs Love for God ......That Love for God Spurs Obedience ....Love is the Engine that drives Obedience....most other types of “ obedience” are just “Dead Works”...... .you don’t get it.....and it’s a shame....you are in my prayers....so is your malfunctioning “ Thinking Cap” ....... or do you even HAVE one?
Of course we do that .....and after we get our Salvation “ worked out” because of the “Fear” we have when we realize that we are Lost, Wretched Sinners headed for a well- deserved Hell , THEN we Turn to Jesus ( the True Repentance required for Salvation) and TRUST Him to Save us forever.....That TRUST spurs REST ....that Rest spurs Love for God ......That Love for God Spurs Obedience ....Love is the Engine that drives Obedience....most other types of “ obedience” are just “Dead Works”...... .you don’t get it.....and it’s a shame....you are in my prayers....so is your malfunctioning “ Thinking Cap” ....... or do you even HAVE one?
Do good and be good...the best ya can
Sounds more like “ Allah” to me —- that is the MUSLIM Way to get Saved.....got your ticket to go to Mecca yet? You don’t wanna miss this years “hadge” do you ? Lol......
Man! You make a GREAT “ Springboard” to get the Truth Of Paul's Gospel Of Grace out there for the Newbies in the audience ! Keep up the good work!
Now let’s go out for some golf.......FORE !!!
Sounds more like “ Allah” to me —- that is the MUSLIM Way to get Saved.....got your ticket to go to Mecca yet? You don’t wanna miss this years “hadge” do you ? Lol......
Man! You make a GREAT “ Springboard” to get the Truth Of Paul's Gospel Of Grace out there for the Newbies in the audience ! Keep up the good work!
Now let’s go out for some golf.......FORE !!!
Grailhunter
Well-Known Member
Evil forgiven does not change its character.
There is no wisdom in sinning.
Exactly...If you love God you will obey then you will be good and do good and all is good.
I do not pretend to understand all of the things happening to the people who dwelt on planet Earth after the initial disobedience. I do believe that they were all born dead in the eyes of God. [You and me too!] God works with and in and blesses people who work with and yield themselves to Him...
But until Jesus paid the price on the cross and brought the opportunity for Life what did they have..?
My general view [not set in concrete by any means] is that people, most people, developed their own cultures and traditions including such things as polygamy as they drifted farther and farther away from God and even from knowledge of God and His Way. God did not change, but people did.
Adam and Eve started the downhill roll away from God, but it did not stop with them.
God only removed a single part or rib from Adam with which He made Eve. He did not make other helpmeets or wives or concubines for each man as it is written in Genesis and as Jesus quoted it. Men developed a whole lot of things on their own that were not pleasing to God. A few individuals [groups?] throughout the OT somehow encountered God and strived to move back toward Him...
We see by Abraham, David and others in the OT that some people wanted to please God. By their errors can we not understand as God understood that these men were fallible. Then as now He was looking at hearts and helping people who were striving in the right way and were open to move even closer to God. Again, God has never changed!
Grailhunter
Well-Known Member
Yes I am familiar with this talk....born dead....dirty filthy rags....This is were you have to keep within a perspective.
Yeap we are not perfect. But the fact is, we were made by the most Mighty God the most perfect God....and we are not perfect and have our flaws...But God Almighty has His eyes and heart focused on us. So we are apparently worth something! That is the perspective.....God might take offence to all those calling His creation dirty filthy rags...
Not that I am talking exactly of you....it is the general concept....sometimes it is not who we are, but rather who loves us.
Here it is just more wrong thinking.....Whether it was Abraham's concubines or his wives....or David's wives this was of no sin that God spoke against....It is wrong for Christians to be opposed to the truth and to understand that things are different in different time periods for a reason. That ancient time period would seem alien to us in many ways.
Be fruitful and multiply is seen by some as God's 1st commandment. This commandment to be fruitful and multiply was given at every significant event and agreement between God and Man. It is the only commandment that He kept repeating, then as a promise to His significant chosen He promised their descendants to be like the sands of the shore....the stars of the sky....the dust of the earth....to get that done it would take quite amount of husbandry. As they say in the Bible....a lot of begotten! As far as God was concerned, God did not express any issues with Polygamy. God...told the kings not to multiply their wives....good advise. But again the term multiply? .....sands of the desert.
Judging the Old Testament by Christian stands can lead to judging God. It is best to understand it, not judge it. But we should know that there is a lot of that....that does not belong in Christianity. Even Christianity leaned things as it went along....LOL...even fundamentalists....they pretend sometimes. And some of it is humorous....or at least to me. Bible only....most Christians would like to think that when men and women coupled up in the Old and New Testaments that there was a ceremony and vows....and the Bible says that there should be???...but it is simply not true. And they do not like admitting that the Church had the right to make new rules because then they would have to admit the Catholics had that right...of course they went bizarro with it.
That fact is the Catholics did make marriage a sacrament but did not require a ceremony. It was the Protestants....each denomination that required a marriage ceremony and vows. Nearly 1500 years after Christ. Not Bible only....but it was the right decision. Historically it appears that polygamy died out for Christians, during the ecumenical councils. 325 AD....and on. Again a good decision....but not Bible only because the Bible never announced a moratorium on polygamy. Because I am not a Fundamentalist, I have no issues with the church learning as history progressed.
Higher understanding.....helpmeets or wives???? So many do not understand the significance of the actual Hebrew term.
Azar Azar...is what is written in the Hebrew. The phrase used to describe Eve only appears once in the entire Bible and appears as two repeated words, zr zr translated either as Ezer Ezer or Azar Azar. The words do not mean help or helper or helpmeet or wife. By themselves the words imply the type of protection that rushes to you to protect you, strengthens you by surrounding you with strength, encouragement, and love. "Succour" The duel use of the word implies a much more intimate and powerful meaning. The words imply “a person that strengthens by an enveloping love.” More to it than that but...I often think that it is where the phrase "Ten foot tall and bullet proof" comes from.
As long as we realize that only God is TRULY Good and it would take His PERFECT GOODNESS to Merit Heaven Without the Blood Of Christ....
Souls do not go to Heaven because they are “ good”.....Souls do not go to Hell because they are “ Bad”
Believers go to Heaven, unbelievers go to Hell .....The most Rotten Believer will go to Heaven....The most well-behaved man on Earth will go to Hell if he is an Unbeliever....
Paul Christensen
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Repentance is quite simple really. A fornicator will stop sleeping around, an adulterer will stop sleeping with other people's wives/husbands, a thief will stop stealing, a liar will stop telling lies, a murderer will stop killing, a coveter will be satisfied with what he has. Therefore repentance involves what we stop doing. So, true conversion to Christ involves ceasing to do sinful acts, and believe the Gospel of Christ. Then when someone claims that he is a Christian, he has to show the fruit of repentance as proof of true conversion to Christ. Therefore, if a person professes Christianity and is still going to nightclubs, picking up women and sleeping with them, then he cannot prove true conversion because he has not truly repented. Even if he has said the sinner's prayer at church (which means nothing unless he is prepared to follow it up with true repentance), it won't do him any good if as a married man he continues in an adulterous affair, or he continues burglaring homes, or embezzling his employer's funds. That's what James is talking about. He says, "Do you say you have faith? Then prove it through what you do."
Repentance (metanoian) is a change of mind.
Acts 20:21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Repentance toward God. A change of mind toward God, to turn to God.
And
Faith toward Jesus Christ. Trust and believe in Jesus Christ, in Him whom God sent.
Tong
R4719
Acts 20:21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Repentance toward God. A change of mind toward God, to turn to God.
And
Faith toward Jesus Christ. Trust and believe in Jesus Christ, in Him whom God sent.
Tong
R4719
. So, true conversion to Christ involves ceasing to do sinful acts, and believe the Gospel of Christ.
Nobody can “ cease to do sinful acts”. That is why we NEED the Gospel...The Gospel is all about what God has done for Lost, Sinful man.....NOT what a man does for God by “ conquering” Sin, which is an impossibility as long as you live in a Body If Flesh.....we will know Perfection “ Over There”, when we receive our New Bodies.....
Nobody can “ cease to do sinful acts”. That is why we NEED the Gospel...The Gospel is all about what God has done for Lost, Sinful man.....NOT what a man does for God by “ conquering” Sin, which is an impossibility as long as you live in a Body If Flesh.....we will know Perfection “ Over There”, when we receive our New Bodies.....
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