Does god truly approve of repentance?

Tis a very common struggle with many proponents of the Christian religion, may I suggest that you give up on the frustration of a futile attempt to walk like Christ and simply begin to enjoy a walk with Christ. So many times our testimony is about our accomplished fruited efforts rather than the goodness and mercy of our heavenly Father. Just allow the power of His love work with in you by the abilities of HolySpirit and I am sure you will find peace and rest.

Jude said:

I have seen so many people repenting and i have also seen so many people going back to their old evil ways. It's so painful. i have repented so many times but i see myself going back to same things i repented of. Does god approve of repentance? why then does he allow the repented soul to go back to his or her old ways? I believe if you truly love someone, you will do anything to save that someone.

Sometimes, i get tired of repentance because i feel i will go back to my old ways.

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True repentance issues from God. That sort sticks. It is permanent. It is also quite painful, which is probably why it has such staying power.

There are two reasons why so many undulate in their Christian walk. One is that God may not have participated in it. The other is a lack of Christian support. This last is critical for many aspects of the spiritual life and is sadly lacking in the church today.

When some churches in my area admit new members they will ask what that persons spiritual gifts are. In most cases they have no idea what a spiritual gift really is. What they really want is for the new member to join a committee. Spiritual is passé in Church. It's treated more like an attitude than part of the person.

C.S.Lewis believed that humans are a sort of spiritual amphibian. As such there are spiritual needs as well as physical ones. The church does not, in most cases, meet those spiritual needs. There is a great deal of shuffling around going on in this country. People leave churches and stay a while at another one, looking for something they cannot find. After a while they quit looking.

Christian support in the matter of repentance is critical. Only three protestant churches in my area attempt to address those issues. There are support groups for almost every sort of human failure; sins of excess, sins of omission, and sins of matters too gruesome to mention here (mostly jail work - I'll tell you that much). Our Lord created the church to support its members as well as the community.

I actually attended a worship service once where the pastor announced to the congregation that church was a place to GIVE, not to GET anything.

It has been written that the Protestant church is in a self-destruct cycle. When all I hear about is building projects and am told I shouldn't expect to receive anything from the church, I believe it.

Repentance is a God thing. You get it directly from God or indirectly from the church, which God made.

WARNING:
Do not ever cease from seeking repentance.
To do so is to succumb to the whispers of the enemy and to surrender to its temptations.
That way lies disaster and death.

Jude said:

Does god approve of repentance?

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Repentance is the wisdom of God. Repentance means turning from a carnal mind to a spiritual one, i.e., the mind of Christ. Repentance is like the bronze wash basin in the ancient temple in which priests had to continually wash themselves from the defilements of the sacrifices they handled. We live in flesh, which is the throne of Satan. So we should repent (i.e., turn to Christ) like we breathe, constantly.

rjp says

[email protected] said:

WARNING:
Do not ever cease from seeking repentance.
To do so is to succumb to the whispers of the enemy and to surrender to its temptations.
That way lies disaster and death.

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this is the truth. don't ever stop repenting because when you do stop repenting you end up hardening your heart. the reason you keep on going back to your old ways because it is sin and we cannot control sin because if we could then we would not be sinners but would be able to fulfill the law that God gave to moses. but the thing is that we cannot control ourselves which is why Jesus died for us so we could be born again to enable us to be free from sin and become closer to God. this is not an instant thing that just happens in our lives even though God does release us from some sin instantly. for example, drugs or alcohol or smoking are a few things i have seen people instantly released from. it does happen instantly but most times it happens over time. why i can only guess but when it happens over time it also builds our faith at the same time. to me that is what you need is faith. repenting you will notice that once you have repented that when you fall into your old ways that you get convicted. when that happens ask forgiveness from God each time and ask him for the strength to overcome. if you do stop what you are doing when God starts to convict you then you will notice if you take the time that it happens less and less frequently. for example swearing i used to do it quite a bit while i was in the military but when iasked God to help me quit then God started to convict me everytime i did it. now it took me many times to quit swearing and it did not happen at once but it happened over time. but i did notice that i started swearing less and less. i noticed that i quit swearing at all until i got angry then it came out and now i have that under control too.

so don't worry about falling into the same sin over and over again because God is working on you. now if you stop working on your sin is when you need to worry because it shows that you are hardening your heart. but as long as you stay repentant about your sin then you know God is working on you and you are not hardening your heart.

i hope this helps

Jude said:

I have seen so many people repenting and i have also seen so many people going back to their old evil ways. It's so painful. i have repented so many times but i see myself going back to same things i repented of. Does god approve of repentance? why then does he allow the repented soul to go back to his or her old ways? I believe if you truly love someone, you will do anything to save that someone.

Sometimes, i get tired of repentance because i feel i will go back to my old ways.

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We need to keep to it, because it's to show how we cannot be our own 'Christ' in saving ourselves. Thus all born in the flesh (except Christ Jesus) have been concluded in sin, so that Salvation would be by Faith on Him for those who believe, and not by our works.

When Christ returns and we are changed to our "spiritual body" (1 Cor.15), we will have cast off this present body of sin. That future state will not subject us to trials that our flesh does today. We will be as the angels of God in Heaven, like our Lord Jesus said in Matt.22:30.

Jude said:

I have seen so many people repenting and i have also seen so many people going back to their old evil ways. It's so painful. i have repented so many times but i see myself going back to same things i repented of. Does god approve of repentance? why then does he allow the repented soul to go back to his or her old ways? I believe if you truly love someone, you will do anything to save that someone.

Sometimes, i get tired of repentance because i feel i will go back to my old ways.

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Romans chapter 7 explains about this issue, so does Galatians chapter 5, in particular verse 17.

God bless.

Jude said:

I have seen so many people repenting and i have also seen so many people going back to their old evil ways. It's so painful. i have repented so many times but i see myself going back to same things i repented of. Does god approve of repentance? why then does he allow the repented soul to go back to his or her old ways? I believe if you truly love someone, you will do anything to save that someone.

Sometimes, i get tired of repentance because i feel i will go back to my old ways.

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Because the person chooses to go back to their old ways. Why blame God for something we do? When does personal accountability and responsibility come into play? He did give us free will.

He did give you everything - you just have to get up and take it. Why does He have to do everything for us? Have you not read James? Did you not read the words of Jesus?

People have been taught they will always be sinners, that there is no overcoming of sins, they have been taught to live a defeated Christian walk. They don't know Jesus transforms us, that we have His divine nature, that we're overcomers!

Jake said:

Because the person chooses to go back to their old ways. ...

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I never did.

I used to be a drug dealer, an alcoholic and drug user, criminal and violent man, and managed whore houses. But once I invited Jesus into my heart, I have never been the same, and repented of my old life, it just wasn't in my heart anymore to live that lifestyle and 12 years later, I have never gone back to my old ways. Praise Jesus.

If anyone is interested in my story, you can read it here:

http://www.biblejesu...g/about-me.html

God bless.

TruthSeeker2012 said:

I never did.

I used to be a drug dealer, an alcoholic and drug user, criminal and violent man, and managed whore houses. But once I invited Jesus into my heart, I have never been the same, and repented of my old life, it just wasn't in my heart anymore to live that lifestyle and 12 years later, I have never gone back to my old ways. Praise Jesus.

If anyone is interested in my story, you can read it here:

http://www.biblejesu...g/about-me.html

God bless.

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Then you must know the answer to these questions:

What is impossible for man is possible for God? Yes or No.

In Christ, we are overcomers of sin? Yes or No.

If God has done this for you, then why continue teaching a carnal gospel that gives no hope of ever overcoming sin? A powerless gospel. Are you so special that He will do this for you, but no other?

Jake said:

Then you must know the answer to these questions:

What is impossible for man is possible for God? Yes or No.

In Christ, we are overcomers of sin? Yes or No.

If God has done this for you, then why continue teaching a carnal gospel that gives no hope of ever overcoming sin? A powerless gospel. Are you so special that He will do this for you, but no other?

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Christ helps... us overcome sin in our lives, but only IF... we actually try to overcome it, otherwise, why should He keep bailing out those who are not sincere with Him?

True Biblical repentance means actually making a 'change' to remove the sin out of our lives. It is not just a 'sorry', with no measurable attempt to change on our part.

Some with Christ's help overcome a problem sin immediately, and never do it again. With others it may take time and patience in prayer and repentance, and help from other servants in Christ, like established rehab centers, etc. Can sometimes make the believer stronger by the length of purification one might have to go through, like alchoholism and drug abuse. Cursing, maybe not as much time may be required. If we look at how long it took for a problem sin to develope in our lives, we shouldn't just expect Him to remove it at a drop of the magic wand (though He does with some, as I've seen it).

Jude said:

Christ helps... us overcome sin in our lives, but only IF... we actually try to overcome it

hello veteran, why do we need to call upon god if we can overcome it ourselves? Is there any need for god if you can deliver yourself from something?

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If you think you can whip a sin by yourself without His help, no problem, go to.

But what if you keep trying, and cannot? Ah... 'there's the rub'.

Unfortunately, we still have our sin nature; that didn't go away when we were saved. However, that does not give us a license to sin--as I've heard people claim. If we are born again, then we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us--convicting us of sin we commit or even think of committing. Yes, we will fail at times and will feel miserable about it until we confess it to our loving and forgiving Lord. If we feel no guilt after sinning, that's a good indication that salvation never took place.

Jon-Marc said:

Unfortunately, we still have our sin nature; that didn't go away when we were saved. However, that does not give us a license to sin--as I've heard people claim. If we are born again, then we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us--convicting us of sin we commit or even think of committing. Yes, we will fail at times and will feel miserable about it until we confess it to our loving and forgiving Lord. If we feel no guilt after sinning, that's a good indication that salvation never took place.

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You are exactly... right on!

I Jn 1:4-10
4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
5 This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
(KJV)

Hi Jude,

I would advise the same as Jiggyfly. He said " simply begin to enjoy a walk with Christ.......Just allow the power of His love work with in you by the abilities of HolySpirit and I am sure you will find peace and rest."

Also study God's word and learn from Him.

Regarding 'repentance', it's an often misunderstood term. It's not referring to bad lifestyles/behaviors (although God works through us to change this).
What is repentance? The comment from HeRoseFromTheDead describes what repentance is about. He said "we should repent (i.e., turn to Christ)".
And you have done this. You have repented and turned to Christ. This is the repentance God asks for ( Acts 20:21 "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."

Study God's word and see who you really are. It is now Christ who lives in you (Gal 2:20). You are righteous, holy (Rom 11:16), and sanctified (Heb 10:10), in him.

veteran said:

If you think you can whip a sin by yourself without His help, no problem, go to.

But what if you keep trying, and cannot? Ah... 'there's the rub'.

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We are not concerned so much with individual sins as the whole body of sin. One does not prune a bad tree...one cuts it down. So the old man needs to be pinned to the wall so as to provide one to walk freely in Christ. The answer is the cross that makes the old nature ineffectual by being pinned OUTSIDE of us. Then we are free to walk in Christ who is INSIDE of us.

A Christian is not to seek to take on the battle for himself...the battle is the Lord's. To give Him the battle we need to completely surrender to HIS forces. Once we do this, He will crucify the part of us that offends so that we are free to walk In Christ (not just WITH Christ). Once we are there overcoming is as easy as pie. Then the enemy just tries to entice us to take on the battle for ourselves. The devil doesn't stand a chance against Jesus...

Episkopos said:

We are not concerned so much with individual sins as the whole body of sin. One does not prune a bad tree...one cuts it down. So the old man needs to be pinned to the wall so as to provide one to walk freely in Christ. The answer is the cross that makes the old nature ineffectual by being pinned OUTSIDE of us. Then we are free to walk in Christ who is INSIDE of us.

A Christian is not to seek to take on the battle for himself...the battle is the Lord's. To give Him the battle we need to completely surrender to HIS forces. Once we do this, He will crucify the part of us that offends so that we are free to walk In Christ (not just WITH Christ). Once we are there overcoming is as easy as pie. Then the enemy just tries to entice us to take on the battle for ourselves. The devil doesn't stand a chance against Jesus...

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Which was kinda'... my point. Thanks.

Jude said:

I have seen so many people repenting and i have also seen so many people going back to their old evil ways. It's so painful. i have repented so many times but i see myself going back to same things i repented of. Does god approve of repentance? why then does he allow the repented soul to go back to his or her old ways? I believe if you truly love someone, you will do anything to save that someone.

Sometimes, i get tired of repentance because i feel i will go back to my old ways.

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What do you mean you see yourself going back? It sounds like you have no control over your own free will. If you go back to sin, it's because the lust and allure of it tempted you there and you freely gave in. God doesn't twist your arm to sin, neither does the devil. You are tempted by the flesh and the old man, but you have been called to subjugate that. You have been raised with Christ into heavenly realms where your enemies, like Christ's, are made your footstool. You've been given Gifts, Armor, The Name of Jesus, the Power of the Spirit, all these to live victoriously. It is your choice to avail of them or not.

Does god approve of repentance? This is a ridiculous statement. God commands us to repent. Acts ( 17:30) and “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent”

Without repentance you can not be saved. “Repent and believe in the gospel” Mark (1:15) “Repent therefore and be converted…” Acts ( 3:19)

[email protected] said:

True repentance issues from God.

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Totally disagree. Repentance is your choice to leave sin and follow God. If it was from Him, He wouldn't command you to do it since it would dependant on Him. If it issues from God then God is playing favoritism by providing true repentance for some and not for others.

Jake said:

Because the person chooses to go back to their old ways. Why blame God for something we do? When does personal accountability and responsibility come into play? He did give us free will.

He did give you everything - you just have to get up and take it. Why does He have to do everything for us? Have you not read James? Did you not read the words of Jesus?

People have been taught they will always be sinners, that there is no overcoming of sins, they have been taught to live a defeated Christian walk. They don't know Jesus transforms us, that we have His divine nature, that we're overcomers!

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No truer words have been spoken, thank you Jake!


Let's learn true repentance.
Repentance = “RE” – “PEN” – “TAN” – “CE”


RE = REcognition of one’s sinful state.

An alcoholic cannot be helped until he recognizes his problem. The same goes for the sinner.
PEN = PENitent heart

God will resist the proud. Repentance must come from a humble heart.
TAN = TANgible change of heart.


This is not a change of lifestyle. It is a change of attitude towards the righteousness of God and the vileness of sin.
The change must happen in our hearts, the seat of our motives and of the will, where all the attitudes are formed. This is where true transformation occurs. If our attitudes and our will change toward God and His kingdom, then our desires will follow suit and our works will be in line with His will.

CE = CEasing of all sin and unrighteousness.

True repentance will bring about conversion, restitution and holiness. Our God requires us to be “Perfect as He is perfect.” This means that he has called us to live in holiness and that involves rejecting sin, dying to self and moving in the direction He has mapped for us. We are to leave behind the old man with his attitudes and ways of thinking. We are to cease the works of unrighteousness so that we can live in newness of life. Being clothed in the righteousness of God, we are to press forward, be transformed by the renewing of our mind and be conformed into the image of His Son.

Hope this helps!

I used to be an alcoholic. I repented, drank, repented, drank....

God never gave up on me...

God saved me from this awful sin, I had to suffer first to truly reach repentance, but my God never forsakes me, I did Him.

WHAT PAUL WROTE BELOW IS VERY IMPORTANT

1 For, brothers, I don't want you to miss the significance of what happened to our fathers. All of them were guided by the pillar of cloud, and they all passed through the sea, 2 and in connection with the cloud and with the sea they all immersed themselves into Moshe, (Moses) 3 also they all ate the same food from the Spirit, 4 and they all drank the same drink from the Spirit - for they drank from a Spirit-sent Rock which followed them, and that Rock was the Messiah. 5 {AS WE DO FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT}

Yet with the majority of them God was not pleased {AS WITH SO MANY CHRISTIANS}, so their bodies were strewn across the desert. 6 Now these things took place as prefigurative historical events, WARNING US not to set our hearts on evil things as they did.


8 And let us not engage in sexual immorality, as some of them did, with the consequence that 23,000 died in a single day.

9 And let us not put the Messiah to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by snakes.

10 And don't grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the Destroying Angel.


11 These things happened to them as prefigurative historical events, and they were written down AS A WARNING TO US who are living in the acharit-hayamim (end of days). 12 Therefore, let anyone who thinks he is standing up be careful not to fall!


APOSTLE PAUL TEACHES....


13 NO TEMPTATION has seized you beyond what people normally experience, and God can be trusted not to allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. On the contrary, along with the temptation HE WILL PROVIDE A WAY OUT, so that you will be able to endure. {Ruth: "PRAISE GOD AND AMEN!!}


from 1 Corinthians 10 CJB