Biblical Repentance

Thank you for your Post Dr. Bob, I didn't realize there was a problem with repentance until recently.

BBob,

 

IMHO, repentance is closely connected with confession. If I remember my high school Latin correctly, the word "con-fess" means to "say with."

It is as if one says, "God, I now see my sin as you see it. I am repulsed by what I see. I see it as a great offense to you. I see how much you hate it. I understand why the penalty is so great. I understand the terrible price your Son paid to take my sin upon himself on the cross. I believe he died for me. I say for all to hear--Jesus is Lord."

These are the words (or the expression of the heart) of one to whom the truth has been supernaturally revealed, and who embraces it freely and with all his heart. A desire to turn to Christ and his finished work involves a desire to turn away from something else.

 

By this, do you mean that it is something generated by the will of the sinner?........a product of the sinner's heart?

Like: Oops, yeah, that sin is nasty. I see that on my own and I repent of it.

Or, perhaps God has some hand in this?

 

Some have said that repentance isn't turning away from sin, but turning toward Jesus.
I'd like to know what is the difference? There are only 2 choices, good/evil, God/Satan. To turn from one is to turn to the other. Or to turn to one is to turn from the other.

Repentance from sin is turning to Christ. Turning to Christ is turning away from sin.

How can you turn to Christ without repenting of your sins?

 

Sometimes I scratch my head when I read things and say "Duh"
I agree with you 100%

I can't beleive others can't see this...
BTW, good post Dr. Bob!!!

 

Why would you even want to turn to Christ unless you recognized that you were a sinner, knew that was "a bad thing", and were in desperate trouble? Wasn't that what was wrong with the "righteous" Pharisees? They had established their own righteousness and didn't see the need to trust in Jesus. They didn't know they were sick, and therefore didn't believe they needed a doctor.

 

True. You won't turn to Christ until you realize you need Him.

 

Jack Hyles and Curtis Hutson both were the example for easy believism during 1980's and 1990's. Both saying, that repent is not necesscary for salvation, Hutson said, repent means chane mind.

When I was a student at Midwestern Baptist College in Pontiac, MI. I notice students were went on soul winning for 'Soul Winning Marathon'. I notice them witnessed to them, they used Romans roads to witness them, but they did not tell people to repent of sins. They asked them want to be saved, they nodded thier heads, so, the students spoken "sinner's preayer" to Jesus FOR person to be saved. A person didn't have to confess sins to Christ. When I was with my partner, I watched him witnessed to a young man on the street. He wtinessed him took about 5 minutes. He asked him, want to be saved, the man nodded his head- yes. Then, my partner spoken of 'sinner's prayer' FOR young man. Then, he told to a young man, that he is saved.

But, that young never go to church, what's happen? He was never truly saved, because he didn't call upon Christ in his own prayer, also, he didn't repent of his sins to Christ. He was remain lost. Probably, I believe he is still lost and on the way to hell right now.

Sadly, Emmanuel Baptist Church of Pontiac is dead, sorry to saying it. I do love Late Dr. Tom Malone. He should be aware better that 'easy believism' is false and dangerous. But, he loved Jack Hyles and Curtis Hutson so much.

I think Dr, Shelton Smith is still follow in Hutson's way of easy believism of soul winning method today.

I am telling you, that many baptist churches are doing 'easy believism' of soul winning method in America, is leading moral values of America decling so rapidly already. As the real revivals are fading away so rapidly. Because repentance is not necesscary today.

We need back to old fashion ways stick with Bible on repentance. Doing the right way. We must warn to people of sins, and hell. Tell them to turn away from sins, and to believe in Christ, ask him to forgive all sins, then to follow Him.

America could be healing again. But, I fear, America is already forget God. I believe that, America is being under the judgment by God, because we have forgetton Him already.



We need back to the old fashion ways again, to warn people of sins, and hell, so, our country could be healing again.

In Christ
Rev. 22:20 -Amen!

 

...

Confessing is agreeing with God -- repentance is having done something to reverse the situation. This nowhere seems as obvious as in the Catholic church.

Dr. Bob --- I like your description. It shows that conviction comes on the intellectual level and the conscience demands that either the thought be rejected or the sin be dealt with. And this is the process of salvation as well, isn't it?

skypair

 

What is the significant difference in the minds of these two men?

Man 1:

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’

Man 2:

13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’

What would it mean for Man 1 to change his mind/repent?

 

Nobody wants to tackle this?

 

I believe Man #2 admitted he is a sinner, which means he admitted he needs help. He asked for mercy from God. It appears closer to a genuine attempt at repentance.

Man #1 only appears to be giving thanks to God that he is not as bad as the guy on the left. Almost manipulating God into believing he isn't so bad.


My two cents

 

A contrite heart.

 

It would mean 1) that he was unregenerate and 2) that he had a free will.

But as it stands, he believes he is regenerate and is expressing thanks for something he doesn't have.

skypair

 

I'm not sure how those responses answer this question:

What would it mean for Man 1 to change his mind/repent?

Maybe if I phrased it differently?

What does Man 1 have to change his mind/repent about?

 

The one who said 'I thank thee..." needs to repent of the sin of pride.

 

But he's unaware that he's commiting the sin, isn't he?

 

"Obviously it's his sins! What else could it be?" (Many posters have said words to this effect, FTR!)

And also, unless he (or anyone) is "really and truly, 'contrite', and sorry for his sins", one has 'obviously' not "genuinely and truly repented" [of what they never really say, except that it must be sin(s)], with the ensuing result that one surely is not "really, truly, and genuinely saved", for one cannot be saved apart from this! The first thing one has to do is "be sorry for his sins"! (Then only, I guess, one can be saved, hunh?) Obviously the centurion was not saved for nothing is said about him repenting, nor the Jailer, nor Nicodemus, nor even Paul. Folks, it is absolutely irresponsible to attempt to read into Scripture and eisegete words out of it - words that aren't there, IMO!

Never mind and despite the little, miniscule, annoying, insignificant, and trivial fact that none of the above, in quotes phrases, can be found anywhere is Scripture, in any major version!

And several are going so far, as to put words in the mouths of others, including suggesting that some who teach almost exactly what I am saying here, don't believe in repentance, at all, when I, at least, have continually said I do believe that biblcial repentance is necessary for salvation, but not as most are defining it. I don't remember, so far, that any have stooped to telling me what I do and don't believe, but I suspect several have thought about it, even though they have refrained.

At least that is what most are believing, whether verbal or not, based on what I've seen posted on the BB.

Never mind that the Bible only talks about "repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ac. 20:21), and "repentance from dead works and faith toward God" in regard to a 'direction' of repentance for salvation, and never about "repent of/from one(s) sin(s)" (another phrase that never occurs anywhere in Scripture), in order for one to be saved. Or that the Bible says that "Godly sorrow causes repentance that leads to an irrevocable salvation", and not the reverse, nor is it the definition of repentance. (II Cor. 7:10)

What's a matter of a little Scriptural teaching, between friends? Surely nothing to get hung up about!!

Actually, his need here, was to "repent from (his own) dead works", for they were exactly what he was trusting in, as the Scripture verses there clearly show, and 'place his' "faith in (toward) God", to save him. That, and that alone was what 'he had to repent about', in order to be justified by God, in the same manner, as was the publican, and as must be any today!

:BangHead: "Nowhutahmean, Vern?"

Ed

 

First of all, why are you condemning others for adding words and you just did.
Also, to repent from dead works. What do you think "dead works" is, if not sin. That which is not of faith is "SIN".


Psa 34:18The LORD [is] nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

What do you think a "broken" heart is? What is a contrite spirit?

contrite : feeling or showing sorrow and remorse for a sin or shortcoming <a contrite criminal> <a contrite apology> <contrite sighs>

Psa 38:18For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

2Cr 7:8For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though [it were] but for a season.


2Cr 7:9Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

I was deeply sorry over my sins when I turned to the Lord.


You talk like "being sorry for your sins against God" is wrong. Why would you not not rather see a sinner become sorry against God, than to see a sinner, who is not sorry one bit, that he had sinned against God. Why have you set off on a mission, to try to convince people, you do not have to ever be "sorry" over sinning. I think you have a problem Ed, and I can't figure why you are so set on a person not being sorry over sinning.


BBob,