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Author
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Topic: Repentance
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Carol Swenson
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Member # 6929
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posted
quote:
With so many Scriptures speaking of the necessity of repentance for salvation, one can only suspect that those who preach salvation without repentance are strangers to repentance themselves, and thus strangers to true conversion.
David, is this something Joel Olsteen preaches? Are there others that you know of who do this?
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
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oneinchrist
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Member # 6532
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posted
amen Dave
Its all about coming into the presence of a Holy God.
With love in Christ, Daniel
Posts: 1389 | From: Wind Lake, WI | Registered: May 2007
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KnowHim
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Member # 1
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posted
It is true that there are numerous Bible verses that speak of the promise of salvation, with no mention of repentance. These merely say to "believe" on Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9). However, the Bible makes it clear that God is holy and man is sinful, and that sin makes a separation between the two (Isaiah 59:1,2). Without repentance from sin, wicked men cannot have fellowship with a holy God. We are dead in our trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1) and until we forsake them through repentance, we cannot be made alive in Christ. The Scriptures speak of "repentance unto life" (Acts 11:18). We turn from sin to the Savior. This is why Paul preached "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21). The first public word Jesus preached was "repent" (Matthew 4:17). John the Baptist began his ministry the same way (Matthew 3:2). Jesus told His hearers that without repentance, they would perish (Luke 13:3). If belief is all that is necessary for salvation, then the logical conclusion is that one need never repent. However, the Bible tells us that a false convert "believes" and yet is not saved (Luke 8:13); he remains a "worker of iniquity." Look at the warning of Scripture: "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth" (1 John 1:6). The Scriptures also say, "He that covers his sins shall not prosper, but whoso confesses and forsakes them [repentance] shall have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13). Jesus said that there was joy in heaven over one sinner who "repents" (Luke 15:10). If there is no repentance, there is no joy because there is no salvation. When Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, he commanded his hearers to repent "for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). Without repentance, there is no remission of sins; we are still under His wrath. Peter further said, "Repent . . . and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out" (Acts 3:19). We cannot be "converted" unless we repent. God Himself "commands all men everywhere [leaving no exceptions] to repent" (Acts 17:30). Peter said a similar thing at Pentecost: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you" (Acts 2:38). If repentance wasn’t necessary for salvation, why then did Jesus command that repentance be preached to all nations (Luke 24:47)? With so many Scriptures speaking of the necessity of repentance for salvation, one can only suspect that those who preach salvation without repentance are strangers to repentance themselves, and thus strangers to true conversion.
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Posts: 3276 | From: Charlestown, IN | Registered: Jun 2002
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Carol Swenson
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posted
Hi oneinchrist,
I don't think there is anything mysterious about repentance. The word itself may be old, but we don't have to use that particular word. The important thing is what it means. It means to stop sinning. We start learning to live in a way that is pleasing to God.
jiggyfly pointed out also that we can't just pretend to be religious. When we give our hearts and lives to Christ, the change inside of us is real.
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jiggyfly
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Member # 6972
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posted
Carol, good post, I hope you won't be offended if I add some to it.
John the Baptist preached "repent for the kingdom of God is at hand". The word repent here means much more than being sorry for your sin, it means to literally change the way you think. It is the Greek word matanoeo, some say it means to change what you think but it literally means to change how you think or the way you think. To actually change your thought process. Religious paradigm is a serious opponent to the Truth.
Looking at the context with a little historical study of the social setting of Jesus' day, we can see why there need to be a serious shift to the common religious paradigm. Religious thinking is always carnal thinking with the pretense of being spiritual but no matter how spiritual it looks it is still carnal thinking. Did you notice who the brood of vipers were?
Jesus, Himself said to the pharisees, "you study the scriptures for in them you think there is life, and they all testify of me and yet you refuse to come to me". Here we can see the restraint of religious paradigm, and it requires more than an adjustment here and there, utter abandonment is necessary.
Posts: 23 | Registered: Jan 2008
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oneinchrist
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Member # 6532
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posted
Thanks Carol. For a long while now my heart has been hard pressed to understand just what it is that repentance really involves. It just seems like such a word of the past that today we rarely even hear. I am convinced (especially reading the book of Acts) that repentance is a real and essential part of saving faith.
With love in Christ, Daniel
Posts: 1389 | From: Wind Lake, WI | Registered: May 2007
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Carol Swenson
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Member # 6929
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posted
oneinchrist, this is for you, dear friend in Christ...
The Handbook of Bible Application
REPENTANCE (Guilt, Regret, Sorrow)
Why is repentance essential to a spiritual life?
BIBLE READING: Luke 3:1-18
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Here is a sample of John’s preaching to the crowds that came for baptism: “You brood of snakes! You are trying to escape hell without truly turning to God! That is why you want to be baptized! First go and prove by the way you live that you really have repented. And don’t think you are safe because you are descendants of Abraham. That isn’t enough. God can produce children of Abraham from these desert stones!” (Luke 3:7-8, tlb)
Repentance opens the way for relationship with God. Repentance has two sides—turning away from sins and turning toward God. To be truly repentant, we must do both. We can’t just say that we believe and then live any way we choose; neither can we simply live a morally correct life without a personal relationship with God, because that cannot bring forgiveness from sin. Determine to rid your life of any sins God points out, and put your trust in him alone to guide you.
Repentance demonstrates real faith. Confession of sins and a changed life are inseparable. Faith without deeds is dead (James 2:14-26). Jesus’ harshest words were to the respectable religious leaders who lacked the desire for real change. They wanted to be known as religious authorities, but they didn’t want to change their hearts and minds. Thus their lives were unproductive. Repentance must be tied to action, or it isn’t real. Following Jesus means more than saying the right words; it means acting on what he says.
BIBLE READING: Matthew 3:1-12
KEY BIBLE VERSE: In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” (Matthew 3:1-2, niv)
Repentance makes inward change a visible reality. When you wash dirty hands, the results are immediately visible. But repentance happens inside with a cleansing that isn’t seen right away. So John used a symbolic action that people could see: baptism. The Jews used baptism to initiate converts, so John’s audience was familiar with the rite. Here, baptism was used as a sign of repentance and forgiveness. Repent means “to turn,” implying a change in behavior. It is turning from sin toward God. Have you repented of sin in your life? Can others see the difference it makes in you? A changed life with new and different behavior makes your repentance real and visible.
BIBLE READING: John 12:1-11
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Then the chief priests decided to kill Lazarus too, for it was because of him that many of the Jewish leaders had deserted and believed in Jesus as their Messiah. (John 12:10-11, tlb)
Repentance breaks our bondage to sin. The chief priests’ blindness and hardness of heart caused them to sink ever deeper into sin. They rejected the Messiah and planned to kill him, and then plotted to murder Lazarus as well. One sin leads to another. From the Jewish leaders’ point of view, they could accuse Jesus of blasphemy because he claimed equality with God. But Lazarus had done nothing of the kind. They wanted Lazarus dead simply because he was a living witness to Jesus’ power. This is a warning to us to avoid sin. Sin leads to more sin, and this downward spiral can be stopped only by repentance and the power of the Holy Spirit to change behavior.
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
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