This is in response to the pseudo-spiritual 'repentance' inwardly in mind and heart only, as opposed to and separate from repentance from the sinful deeds of the flesh.
It is used to sidestep the Scripture: Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out. (Acts 3)
They do so to continue in the false belief that salvation by grace is without accompanying condition of repentance of dead works, so as to separate salvation from the life lived, by separating a 'spiritual' repentance from the natural body.
1. There is no Scripture stating that repentance unto conversion is 'spiritual' and 'in mind' only.
But Scripture does say: Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. (Luke 3)
I.e. repentance in sight of God is known to all by fruits of repentance done in the flesh, even as we know the tree by it's fruit. (Matthew 12:33)
Repentance apart and separated from that of dead works, is the same as faith apart and separated from that of good works: they are both vain and dead.
2. Inside only 'spiritual' repentance apart from the deeds of the flesh, is the same as being 'spiritually' apart from walking after the Spirit in the flesh. It speaks of a Christ that came 'spiritually', but not in the flesh. (2 John 1:7)
3. 'Spiritual' repentance and changing of the mind only, separate from the actual doing of it, is not repentance at all, but is confession of sin to God: confession is the changing of the mind about sin, and agreeing with God from the heart, that sin is indeed sinful.
This brings forgiveness of sin, but only by repentance from dead works, can we have justification with God, which is with the work of faith outwardly, perfecting the faith in bodily living:
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? (James 2)
Neither repentance nor faith are complete without the accompanying works of repentance and faith, which are the things that immediately accompany with salvation of God (Heb 6:9), and are the first principles of the doctrine of Christ. (Heb 6:1)
4. There is no Scripture for 'spirit-only' repentance , because we cannot repent 'spiritually': we cannot repent of our spiritual nature, which is the work of change that only God can do by grace, from that of the sinful nature to become partakers of the divine nature, which only occurs while having escaped the corruption of the world through lust (2 Peter 1:4). Which is by repentance from corrupt works. (Psalms 14:1)
We cannot repent inwardly of being sinners. We can only believe God, have faith in the blood of Jesus, and repent of dead works from the heart, and at that moment God converts us from sinner to saint in His presence, with forgiveness of sins, and change of nature and soul.
God does the inward work, that we cannot do, and we do the outward work, that only we can do by grace: repent of dead works and have living faith toward God to walk with Him, and do His righteousness to be righteous, even as He is righteous.
Simple and obvious conclusion: Unrepented sin is not repented of, and repentance with sin, is not repentance at all.
There is no salvation nor justification of God by grace without the things that accompany His salvation: repentance from dead works, and doing every good work of faith.
Repentance inwardly only is not repentance, but rather is confession of conviction of sin without repentance thereof. It is a delusional eyesalve, whereby one cannot see their guilt of sins before God, while the sins of the flesh yet remain:
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. (Rev 3)
True zeal for God is to repent of dead works of the flesh, not just of being seriously convicted by God that sin is sinful indeed: the 'idea' of inner repentance before and apart from outer repentance, only serves to 'repent' of being convicted by sin, not to repent from sins:
Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves. (Isaiah 28:15)
Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? (Ezek 18)
We repent of our sinful deeds of the flesh and unrighteous transgressions against God, and with faith of Jesus, God will make us a new heart and new spirit, which we cannot do ourselves, by 'repenting' of our old man and nature inwardly only.
It is used to sidestep the Scripture: Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out. (Acts 3)
They do so to continue in the false belief that salvation by grace is without accompanying condition of repentance of dead works, so as to separate salvation from the life lived, by separating a 'spiritual' repentance from the natural body.
1. There is no Scripture stating that repentance unto conversion is 'spiritual' and 'in mind' only.
But Scripture does say: Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. (Luke 3)
I.e. repentance in sight of God is known to all by fruits of repentance done in the flesh, even as we know the tree by it's fruit. (Matthew 12:33)
Repentance apart and separated from that of dead works, is the same as faith apart and separated from that of good works: they are both vain and dead.
2. Inside only 'spiritual' repentance apart from the deeds of the flesh, is the same as being 'spiritually' apart from walking after the Spirit in the flesh. It speaks of a Christ that came 'spiritually', but not in the flesh. (2 John 1:7)
3. 'Spiritual' repentance and changing of the mind only, separate from the actual doing of it, is not repentance at all, but is confession of sin to God: confession is the changing of the mind about sin, and agreeing with God from the heart, that sin is indeed sinful.
This brings forgiveness of sin, but only by repentance from dead works, can we have justification with God, which is with the work of faith outwardly, perfecting the faith in bodily living:
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? (James 2)
Neither repentance nor faith are complete without the accompanying works of repentance and faith, which are the things that immediately accompany with salvation of God (Heb 6:9), and are the first principles of the doctrine of Christ. (Heb 6:1)
4. There is no Scripture for 'spirit-only' repentance , because we cannot repent 'spiritually': we cannot repent of our spiritual nature, which is the work of change that only God can do by grace, from that of the sinful nature to become partakers of the divine nature, which only occurs while having escaped the corruption of the world through lust (2 Peter 1:4). Which is by repentance from corrupt works. (Psalms 14:1)
We cannot repent inwardly of being sinners. We can only believe God, have faith in the blood of Jesus, and repent of dead works from the heart, and at that moment God converts us from sinner to saint in His presence, with forgiveness of sins, and change of nature and soul.
God does the inward work, that we cannot do, and we do the outward work, that only we can do by grace: repent of dead works and have living faith toward God to walk with Him, and do His righteousness to be righteous, even as He is righteous.
Simple and obvious conclusion: Unrepented sin is not repented of, and repentance with sin, is not repentance at all.
There is no salvation nor justification of God by grace without the things that accompany His salvation: repentance from dead works, and doing every good work of faith.
Repentance inwardly only is not repentance, but rather is confession of conviction of sin without repentance thereof. It is a delusional eyesalve, whereby one cannot see their guilt of sins before God, while the sins of the flesh yet remain:
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. (Rev 3)
True zeal for God is to repent of dead works of the flesh, not just of being seriously convicted by God that sin is sinful indeed: the 'idea' of inner repentance before and apart from outer repentance, only serves to 'repent' of being convicted by sin, not to repent from sins:
Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves. (Isaiah 28:15)
Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? (Ezek 18)
We repent of our sinful deeds of the flesh and unrighteous transgressions against God, and with faith of Jesus, God will make us a new heart and new spirit, which we cannot do ourselves, by 'repenting' of our old man and nature inwardly only.
Last edited: