The Dangerous Lie That You Don’t Need to Repent

[marks]

You said repentance doesn’t make us Christians, but the Bible says in Acts 3:19, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” That shows repentance and conversion go hand in hand. No one gets saved without turning to God. In Acts 2:38, Peter told the crowd, “Repent, and be baptized... for the remission of sins.” Repentance comes first, not after.

Only God giving us rebirth actually changes us.

And no, I'm not saying we don't repent until God rebirths us.

Romans 6:4-10 KJV
4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7) For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8) Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9) Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10) For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Much love!

 

[TLHKAJ]

Yes, repentance means a change of mind, but the Bible never treats the “mind” like it’s separate from the heart. In the Bible, your heart isn’t just your emotions, it includes your thoughts, your will, your desires, basically the core of who you are. Jesus said evil thoughts come from the heart (Matthew 15:19), and Paul said we believe with the heart unto righteousness (Romans 10:10). So when someone truly repents, it’s not just that they think differently, it’s that their heart turns toward God, and that shows up in how they live.

Amen!
Proverbs 23:7
“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.”

 

[Eternally Grateful]

repent means to change to go 180

we were gods enemy, we did nto think we needed saved. we thought we were ok or we could save ourselves

to come to saving faith, we have to change this thinking

thats repent

 

[Behold]

There’s a false gospel being spread today that says you can be saved without repentance. That is a lie.

The repentance that is necessary for Salvation.......is not to "repent of sin"........... Its to repent of UNBELIEF........as when you repent from unbelief you now have........... FAITH in Christ... and our "FAITH is counted by God.......as righteousness"...

 

[TLHKAJ]

You contradict yourself. This is what stands out about every trump follower ...exchanging the true Gospel for a false gospel that says some people (or just this one) doesn't have to repent or even invite God into that picture to be saved. Exchanging the truth for a lie.

I'm quoting my own post because I'm seeing people trying to smoothe over and explain away the necessity of repentance, which is very dangerous. We didn't used to see this rampant anti-repentance doctrine until Trump entered the picture.

2 Thessalonians 2:8-12
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

 

[bdavidc]

That is correct. Meta, "after", noia, "mind", metanoia is the "after-mind", that is the result of an exchanged mind. You had one mind, now you have another mind.

In Scripture, we start with the mind of the flesh, and later have the mind of Christ. While metanoia normally means to entirely reverse your thinking about something, in Scripture there seems to be a much more literal usage in the New Testament.

While the OT word frequently translated repent means to change your direction, the NT word is not the same.

Much love!

You're right that metanoia means a change of mind, but in the Bible, it's more than just switching thoughts. It means turning away from sin and turning toward God. It’s not just thinking differently, it’s a full change in direction, involving your heart, your actions, and your mindset.

In Acts 26:20, Paul said people should repent, turn to God, and show it by their actions. That proves real repentance shows up in how you live. Jesus said, “Unless you repent, you will perish” (Luke 13:3). That’s not about having new ideas, it’s about giving up sin and trusting Him.

Romans 8:6 says the mind of the flesh leads to death, but the mind of the Spirit brings life. So yes, our thinking changes, but that happens through the Holy Spirit when we believe the gospel and are born again (John 3:5–6).

Old Testament repentance often meant turning away from something. New Testament repentance is the same, just clearer now that it means turning from sin to God through Jesus. So real repentance in Scripture isn’t just mental, it’s a total change.

 

[Behold]

You're right that metanoia means a change of mind, but in the Bible, it's more than just switching thoughts. It means turning away from sin and turning toward God. It’s not just thinking differently, it’s a full change in direction, involving your heart, your actions, and your mindset.

God does not require you to clean up and promise you will be good...... before He saves a = SINNER.

The "repenting" that God requires is that you repent (turn from) your unbelief..........as that is how you present real FAITH in Christ to God.

 

[Ronald Nolette]

And there you have it folks!

This false doctrine (cherry pickin) is why so many believe it's OK to live in sin and claim to still be saved

It's fitting that the quote above using a little g in god... because it's a false god that claims nobody needs to repent of their sins, walk in the Spirit, abiding in Christ, in obedience unto the Lord.

Are you really that childish and heathen in your behavior.

I am oppossed to anyone living in sin- your first lie!

little g was simply a typing error- your secind lie.

You are suppossed to be a Christian. Stop making wildly false accusations against another brother!

 

[bdavidc]

God does not require you to clean up and promise you will be good...... before He saves a = SINNER.

The "repenting" that God requires is that you repent (turn from) your unbelief..........as that is how you present real FAITH in Christ to God.

Let’s be clear: I never said, nor even implied, that God requires a sinner to “clean up and promise to be good” before He saves them. That’s not in the Bible. We are saved by grace through faith, not by fixing ourselves first (Ephesians 2:8–9). But real repentance in Scripture means turning away from sin and turning to God. It’s not about becoming perfect first, it’s about your heart no longer wanting to live in sin and choosing to trust Christ instead.

The Bible doesn’t separate repentance and faith. Acts 20:21 says we need “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” That’s one move, away from sin and toward Jesus. You don’t earn salvation by quitting sin first, but if you truly believe in Jesus, your heart will turn away from it.

Repentance is not about making promises or cleaning up your act. It’s about admitting you’re a sinner and turning to Christ for mercy. He does the saving, He does the changing. But you can’t hang onto your sin with one hand and reach for Christ with the other. Turning to Him means letting go of the old life. That’s biblical repentance.

 

[marks]

You're right that metanoia means a change of mind, but in the Bible, it's more than just switching thoughts. It means turning away from sin and turning toward God. It’s not just thinking differently, it’s a full change in direction, involving your heart, your actions, and your mindset.

In Acts 26:20, Paul said people should repent, turn to God, and show it by their actions. That proves real repentance shows up in how you live. Jesus said, “Unless you repent, you will perish” (Luke 13:3). That’s not about having new ideas, it’s about giving up sin and trusting Him.

Romans 8:6 says the mind of the flesh leads to death, but the mind of the Spirit brings life. So yes, our thinking changes, but that happens through the Holy Spirit when we believe the gospel and are born again (John 3:5–6).

Old Testament repentance often meant turning away from something. New Testament repentance is the same, just clearer now that it means turning from sin to God through Jesus. So real repentance in Scripture isn’t just mental, it’s a total change.

I would caution you to stay with the meanings of the words, and not modify them to fit your view. The fact is that you are adding a performance requirement to being saved that God does not. Salvation is be faith alone, not faith + works. You are promoting legalism at the expense of sound hermeneutic.

And no, the OT and NT words for repentance do not mean the same thing. These are the facts, do what you will.

Much love!

 

[Behold]

Turning to Him means letting go of the old life. That’s biblical repentance.

No verse in a New Testament says that you are letting go of the old life, when you become a Christian.
We are taught that the "old man of sin is dead" and to "reckon it dead

No verse in a bible says you must let go of your old life, to become a Christian.
The NT says that "while you are yet a sinner"......... is when you come to Christ.

The NT teaches that when you Trust in Christ and are born again, you become a "new Creation" in Christ.

However, your "body is dead because of sin" and your mind is not born again.....so, your mind has to be trained and disciplined.

 

[bdavidc]

I would caution you to stay with the meanings of the words, and not modify them to fit your view.

Much love!

You’re the one who needs to be careful here, because I haven’t modified anything to fit my view — the Bible is my view. I don’t need to twist the meaning of repentance. I take it exactly the way God uses it. Metanoia means a change of mind, yes, but in Scripture, that change is never just intellectual. It leads to action, to a turning from sin and toward God. That’s what Paul preached in Acts 26:20, when he said people should “repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.” That’s not my spin, that’s straight from the Word.

Jesus didn’t say, “Change your opinion about Me.” He said, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). That’s not symbolic, that’s not optional, and it’s not soft. It means turning from sin or facing judgment. If that bothers you, it’s not because I’m changing definitions, it’s because you don’t like what the Bible actually says.

 

[Behold]

Metanoia means a change of mind,

Correct.

To change your mind from no longer being an unbeliever.......and now you have chosen to Trust in Christ.

That is to "repent'........from unbelief.

 

[Eternally Grateful]

You’re the one who needs to be careful here, because I haven’t modified anything to fit my view — the Bible is my view. I don’t need to twist the meaning of repentance. I take it exactly the way God uses it. Metanoia means a change of mind, yes, but in Scripture, that change is never just intellectual. It leads to action, to a turning from sin and toward God. That’s what Paul preached in Acts 26:20, when he said people should “repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.” That’s not my spin, that’s straight from the Word.

Jesus didn’t say, “Change your opinion about Me.” He said, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). That’s not symbolic, that’s not optional, and it’s not soft. It means turning from sin or facing judgment. If that bothers you, it’s not because I’m changing definitions, it’s because you don’t like what the Bible actually says.

Jesus said I came not to judge, but that the world may be saved.

He did not say he died so we can work and earn our salvation

Paul said we are saved by grace period. but he will not force it on us, he wants us to recieve it in faith

not by works lest anyone should boast.

the only action required is to repent. and come to faith. then receive his gift of life

 

[bdavidc]

No verse in a New Testament says that you are letting go of the old life, when you become a Christian.
We are taught that the "old man of sin is dead" and to "reckon it dead

No verse in a bible says you must let go of your old life, to become a Christian.
The NT says that "while you are yet a sinner"......... is when you come to Christ.

The NT teaches that when you Trust in Christ and are born again, you become a "new Creation" in Christ.

However, your "body is dead because of sin" and your mind is not born again.....so, your mind has to be trained and disciplined.

You said, “No verse in the New Testament says that you are letting go of the old life when you become a Christian.” That’s wrong. Romans 6:6 says our old man is crucified with Christ so we no longer serve sin. Ephesians 4:22 says to put off the old man. Colossians 3:9–10 says you have put off the old man with his deeds and put on the new. That’s letting go of the old life, plain and clear.

You said, “We are taught that the ‘old man of sin is dead’ and to ‘reckon it dead.’” That’s true. Romans 6:11 says to reckon yourselves dead to sin. But reckoning it dead means you don’t keep living like the old man. If the old life is dead, you don’t stay in it.

You said, “No verse in the Bible says you must let go of your old life to become a Christian.” Acts 3:19 says, “Repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” 1 Thessalonians 1:9 says they turned to God from idols. That’s literally letting go of the old life to follow Christ. That’s repentance.

You said, “The New Testament says that ‘while you are yet a sinner’ is when you come to Christ.” Yes, Romans 5:8 says Christ died for us while we were sinners. But Jesus also said, “Except you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). God saves sinners, but He doesn't leave them in their sin.

You said, “When you trust in Christ and are born again, you become a new creation.” That’s right. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things pass away. All things become new. That means the old life is gone.

You said, “Your body is dead because of sin, and your mind has to be trained.” That’s also true (Romans 8:10, Romans 12:2). But that doesn’t mean you hang on to the old life. When God saves you, He gives you a new heart, and then your mind is renewed as you follow Him.

Bottom line, the Bible is crystal clear. Coming to Christ means turning from the old life. That’s not works. That’s repentance. If nothing changes, nothing happened.

 

[bdavidc]

Jesus said I came not to judge, but that the world may be saved.

He did not say he died so we can work and earn our salvation

Paul said we are saved by grace period. but he will not force it on us, he wants us to recieve it in faith

not by works lest anyone should boast.

the only action required is to repent. and come to faith. then receive his gift of life

You said, “Jesus said I came not to judge, but that the world may be saved.” That’s true, John 12:47 says that. But it doesn’t cancel out everything else Jesus said, including His clear call to repentance. In Luke 13:3, Jesus said, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Salvation is offered freely, but not on your terms. It requires repentance and faith, not just mental agreement.

You said, “He did not say he died so we can work and earn our salvation.” I never said that. Not once. I have said the exact opposite. We are not saved by works. Ephesians 2:8–9 makes that clear: “For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.” Salvation is by grace alone, not something we earn. But that grace still commands repentance, and repentance is not works, it’s surrender.

You said, “Paul said we are saved by grace period. But he will not force it on us, he wants us to receive it in faith.” That’s right. And receiving it in faith means turning to Christ and away from sin. Paul preached “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). That is one unified response, you turn from sin and turn to Christ. It’s not works, it’s repentance and trust.

You said, “Not by works lest anyone should boast.” That’s correct, and I agree. But don’t stop at verse 9, Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Salvation is not earned by works, but real salvation always produces them.

You said, “The only action required is to repent and come to faith, then receive His gift of life.” That’s exactly right, as long as you define repentance the way the Bible does. Repentance is not just a changed opinion, it’s a changed heart that turns from sin to God. That’s what happens when someone truly believes. If there is no turning, there is no trusting. Jesus didn’t die to leave people unchanged. He died to save sinners and make them new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). Grace doesn’t erase repentance, it makes it real.

 

[bdavidc]

The Bible clearly teaches that repentance is required for salvation.

Jesus Himself said, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5). That is not a suggestion, it is a warning. Repentance is not optional, it is a command from God. Acts 17:30 says, “God... now commandeth all men every where to repent.”

Biblical repentance (Greek: metanoeō) means a change of mind that leads to a turning away from sin and a turning toward God. It is not just feeling sorry, but a complete surrender of the will to God’s truth. In Acts 3:19, Peter preached, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.”

Repentance and faith go hand in hand. Jesus began His ministry preaching, “Repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15). You cannot truly believe in Christ for salvation while still rejecting His authority over your life. Saving faith is not just mental agreement, it is a trust that involves the whole person, heart, mind, and will. When someone truly believes, they will repent, and when someone truly repents, they will believe.

Paul testified in Acts 20:21 that he preached “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” That is the full message, not faith without repentance, and not repentance without faith.

Anyone who tells you that you can be saved without repentance is preaching a false gospel. The Bible never separates salvation from repentance, because sin is what we are being saved from. If a person refuses to repent, they are refusing to turn from the very thing that separates them from God. Without that, there is no forgiveness (Isaiah 55:7, Proverbs 28:13).

According to the Word of God, repentance is absolutely necessary to be saved.

 

[Behold]

Romans 6:6 says our old man is crucified with Christ so we no longer serve sin.

Paul is explaining this..

"if we are crucified with Christ, how can we remain in sin"

""God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"""""


A.) To "Live in sin".....is to be deemed by the LAW, as a "sinner", which is impossible when "the old man of sin is Crucified with Christ"...

So, because the born again are "not under the law.....but under Grace"..then they do not "live any longer therein"...

This simply means that the Law has no dominion over the Born Again Christian..

Why not?

AA.) "Because Jesus CHRIST is the END OF THE LAW....for Righteousness, for/to eveyone who believes".. = All the born again are "IN Christ".

 

[Eternally Grateful]

You said, “Jesus said I came not to judge, but that the world may be saved.” That’s true, John 12:47 says that.

Actually Jesus himself said it

John 3: 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

He also said who is condemned, and who is not

john 3: 18 he who believes is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already because they have not believed

But it doesn’t cancel out everything else Jesus said, including His clear call to repentance. In Luke 13:3, Jesus said, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Salvation is offered freely, but not on your terms. It requires repentance and faith, not just mental agreement.

Yes. Unless you go from unbelieve (condemned) to faith you will not be in a state of no longer condemned. Again, jesus showed this in John 3

You said, “He did not say he died so we can work and earn our salvation.” I never said that. Not once. I have said the exact opposite. We are not saved by works. Ephesians 2:8–9 makes that clear: “For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.” Salvation is by grace alone, not something we earn. But that grace still commands repentance, and repentance is not works, it’s surrender.

you said repent including more than just a change of mind, but it includes turning away from sin. (lordship salvation?)

that is earning your salvation. You can not even do that as a non believer you need saved first.

You said, “Paul said we are saved by grace period. But he will not force it on us, he wants us to receive it in faith.” That’s right. And receiving it in faith means turning to Christ and away from sin.

you keep adding turning away from sin

thats not what repentance means.

Paul preached “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). That is one unified response, you turn from sin and turn to Christ. It’s not works, it’s repentance and trust.

no, you turn from unbelief to belief

you can;t turn from sin as an unbeliever. you must be saved first.

You said, “Not by works lest anyone should boast.” That’s correct, and I agree. But don’t stop at verse 9, Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Salvation is not earned by works, but real salvation always produces them.

yes. we work because we are saved, not to get or keep our salvation. As God changes our lives from a life of sin to a life of gratitude.

You said, “The only action required is to repent and come to faith, then receive His gift of life.” That’s exactly right, as long as you define repentance the way the Bible does. Repentance is not just a changed opinion, it’s a changed heart that turns from sin to God.

That is not the biblical defenition.

That’s what happens when someone truly believes. If there is no turning, there is no trusting. Jesus didn’t die to leave people unchanged. He died to save sinners and make them new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). Grace doesn’t erase repentance, it makes it real.

a non believer can not turn from sin.

they need saved first.

your gospel is leading people astray. and tryign to have them do something they can not do

 

[marks]

An interesting thing to take note of . . . sinners are reconciled to God already, whether they do or do not believe. It won't benefit them unless they receive the reconciliation, just the same, everyone alike is reconciled to God in Christ.

Much love!