Biblical Repentance -- What is IT??

[PassTHeWord]

I would like to hear what your definition of Biblical repentance is.

Is the preaching of repentance, adding works to salvation?

[George]

In reality repentance has nothing at all to do with works. Noah Webster in his 1828 Dictionary of the American Language defines repentance as follows:

Repentance
REPENT'ANCE, n.

1. Sorrow for any thing done or said; the pain or grief which a person experiences in consequence of the injury or inconvenience produced by his own conduct.

2. In theology, the pain, regret or affliction which a person feels on account of his past conduct, because it exposes him to punishment. This sorrow proceeding merely from the fear of punishment, is called legal repentance, as being excited by the terrors of legal penalties, and it may exist without an amendment of life.

3. Real penitence; sorrow or deep contrition for sin, as an offense and dishonor to God, a violation of his holy law, and the basest ingratitude towards a Being of infinite benevolence. This is called evangelical repentance, and is accompanied and followed by amendment of life.

Repentance is a change of mind, or a conversion from sin to God.

Note the last sentance which I have placed in bold type. The works occur after repentance and salvation.

In Christ,
George

[Jim]

You asked:

Quote:Is the preaching of repentance, adding works to salvation?

Luke 13:5
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

The preaching of repentance is almost gone anymore, because of the takeover of humanism in the church today.

Salvation has become a meaningless word in most churches today. It is a word used to describe how someone "feels".

Salvation comes to a man that does the following:

1) Confess and believe in Jesus Christ
Romans 10:9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10:10
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

2) Repent
Acts :19
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

Luke 13:3
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

People are worshipping themselves now and just believe that they can utter the words "Jesus Christ", and believe He existed and they believe they are saved.

Repentance is critical. If a man does not put off the old man, (Ephesians 4:22 - That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.) then he is not saved. That means that he is still a slave to sin, which the blood of Christ releases us from. If we are not released from the bondage of sin, then where is the salvation? It did not occur, because the heart was wicked.

Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

If there is not a repentance of the heart, then how can a deceitful, wicked heart worship God? It cannot.

The answer to your question is that: repentance is a vital, critical component of salvation. Salvation cannot occur with out it.

I am not sure of why people are associating repentance with works, repentance is not a work, it is a change from being a slave to your heart to a dedication to the Holy Spirit.

Love in Christ,

Jim

[Brother Tim]

The simplest definition for true repentance that I have used with my students is:
A change of mind which brings about, through the action of the Holy Spirit, a change of direction.

[Bob Hutton]

If people claim to be Christians and yet are living in habitual sin then they are not saved. We all let the Lord down and need to repent daily but habitual sin is a sign of an unsaved soul.

[Brother Tim]

I think that you overstep Scripture to say that habitual sin is evidence of being unsaved. We cannot be that certain. What defines a habitual sin? Once a day, once a year, once an hour? The grace of God is great. He knows our weaknesses. Was Paul lost when he said,

Romans 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that [it is] good.

17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not.

19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.


No doubt, a lingering sin, at best, indicates a flawed spiritual life, and at worst, a lost soul. Only the person himself can truly know the difference.

[Bob Hutton]

Jesus made it clear that by their fruits you know them. If a person claims to be a Christian, and leaves his wife for another woman, how can he be saved? I know of a case where this has happened recently. The people concerned cannot be true Christians.

[George]

If you take the time to read Galatians 5:19-21 you will see that habitual sin is a very strong indication of an unsaved person. Paul lists the works of the flesh and then finishes by saying: "of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. "

Who is it that shall not inherit the kingdom of God? A saved person already has. Although it is entirely up to God to determine whether a person is saved or not these verses tell us with certainty that people who practice such lifestyles are not saved.

I am not saying a Christian cannot and does not do such things. The difference is that a backslidden Christian is the most miserable person in the world. The Holy Spirit will grab hold of them and twist and turn until they repent and change their ways.

In Christ,
George

[Brother Tim]

Quote:George wrote:
The difference is that a backslidden Christian is the most miserable person in the world. The Holy Spirit will grab hold of them and twist and turn until they repent and change their ways.

... or take them from this life.

George, what you say is true. It also matches what I said. The true believer knows when he is out of God's will. Even while he is sinning, the Holy Spirit is working to turn him back. For some of us it takes a lot more than others, but God will be justified and glorified in our chastisement or our "early homegoing".
It is most certain that the actions of a person can indicate their spiritual condition. We are "to know them" (i.e. to be aware and alert to), not to judge them as to their salvation. I have been called unChristian (by a self-proclaimed Christian) simply for standing outside an abortion mill and talking peacefully with the women.

[George]

Quote:For some of us it takes a lot more than others,

Amen to that Brother Tim! Unfortunately for me to learn usually takes my world to seemingly come crashing down around my shoulders. Not to say I am thick-headed or anything like that.

(Heb 12:6) For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Being scourged by The Lord is not fun by any means. In fact it is quite painful. There have been numerous times when I can no more than put my head down on my desk in tears and utter the words of the publican in Luke 18:13:

(Luk 18:13) And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

In Christ,
George

[Brother Tim]

George, you have given the verse that clearly distinguishes the believer from the pretender. The Christian who commits sin, including habitual sin, is chastened of God as a good father would do. On the other hand, a person who claims faith, but continues in his sin without consequence should be greatly alarmed (although the reprobate mind cannot even comprehend this!)

See Hebrews 12:8

This verse plainly sets the distinction.

[Jim]

Excellent dialogue George and Tim.

Habitual sin can occur in a saved person's life. But we do not know the heart of man, but we do not know the condition of salvation in a man. Only the Lord knows that.

Tim, you are right, the Lord will correct and convict to bring the sinning christian back into fellowship with him, but if they do not respond can ultimately end in death of the christian. The Lord will not allow us to represent Him in such a way for so long.

I thank the Lord that He gave us the provision of separating from unruly brethren. Being that we cannot read the heart and know for a fact of salvation, that we can at least separate from who show that particular fruit.

The Lord always gives His children a way out.

Love in Christ,

Jim

[PassTHeWord]

Thanks to all who particpated in this post.

I am a firm believer that salvation without repentance is a lie.

A person may not fully undertsand the doctrine of repentance at salvation, but by the guidance of the Word and Spirit will be guided unto it.

I posted this thread after visiting a website that was listed in another thread dealing the Gospel Message leaving out the importance of the resurrection.

The website http://www.repentanceblacklist.com/ teaches easy believism and attacks anyone believes that repentance is a NECESSARY part of salvation.

It is good to see the remnant still stands against the heresy.

Luke 13:5
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

JIm and George said it all the first two posts. THANKS AGAIN..

[Jim]

Amen brother! You are quite welcome.

There are many heresies out there anymore. It is good to see someone standing for the faith.

I went to that link to the website you just posted and requested our website to be added.

Many people claim that repentence is a "work", which is just foolish, but the say that so they can continue in their sinfule lifestyle, and we know what God says about that:

Proverbs 14:12
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Love in Christ,

Jim

[InlandMissions]

There is no verbatim biblical definition of it from the word of God. I wish there is for it will settle everything. The best way to approach this subject is by looking all the verses in the Old and New Testament and look how it is used and appropriated both to the Lost and to the Saved.

As a missionary, I just have to obey God without question: "...Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. - Luke 24:46-47"

I know God will give me the wisdom to appropriate it to the right person God directs me unto.