View Full Version : Repentance
Amanah
10-15-2011, 02:10 PM
What does repentance mean to you?
I'm rereading a booklet "Which way from Here?" by Pastor Charles R. Grisham.
Is repentance turning away from sin and toward Godliness?
this is an excerpt from Pastor Grisham's booklet:
"Frustrated ministers who want results often put more emphasis upon growth than they do upon God. When there is a strange absence of sin, there is little if anything to be repented of, and the result is there has to be a whole new approach to God and most certainly church life. A de-sensitized minister will eventually preach a de-sensitized message to a de-sensitized church who will have little effect on an already de-sensitized community.
Things once thought to be sin become so prevalent in the church that bloody, conviction-type preaching just isn't welcome any more. So without conviction, there has to be another approach to get the "tongues-speaking" experience for it has become fashionable to speak in tongues . . .
Then, the new birth has to be redefined which automatically means you change the gospel. With this all-encompassing "new liberty," you feel that the Godhead, Oneness, and Acts 2:38 are simply theological arguments and not salvation issues . . .
When you lose your identity - you will also lose your message."
Michael The Disciple
10-15-2011, 03:12 PM
What does repentance mean to you?
I'm rereading a booklet "Which way from Here?" by Pastor Charles R. Grisham.
Is repentance turning away from sin and toward Godliness?
this is an excerpt from Pastor Grisham's booklet:
"Frustrated ministers who want results often put more emphasis upon growth than they do upon God. When there is a strange absence of sin, there is little if anything to be repented of, and the result is there has to be a whole new approach to God and most certainly church life. A de-sensitized minister will eventually preach a de-sensitized message to a de-sensitized church who will have little effect on an already de-sensitized community.
Things once thought to be sin become so prevalent in the church that bloody, conviction-type preaching just isn't welcome any more. So without conviction, there has to be another approach to get the "tongues-speaking" experience for it has become fashionable to speak in tongues . . .
Then, the new birth has to be redefined which automatically means you change the gospel. With this all-encompassing "new liberty," you feel that the Godhead, Oneness, and Acts 2:38 are simply theological arguments and not salvation issues . . .
When you lose your identity - you will also lose your message."
I agree the Oneness and Acts 2:38 message are being lost at this time. The Evangelical Protestant doctrine of salvation is flourishing. Where repenting is just seen as receiving forgiveness from sin past yet being taught you will always be subject to it.
Jesus message of repentance was more like turning from your self life and the things of the world to live for doing his will.
9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. Luke 9:23-24
Losing our life and gaining his.
Peter put it this way:
4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 1 Peter 4:1-2
The doctrine of repentance has been minimized to mean be sorry, pray and accept forgiveness. No wonder people dont understand discipleship.
Austin
10-15-2011, 03:44 PM
What does repentance mean to you?
I'm rereading a booklet "Which way from Here?" by Pastor Charles R. Grisham.
Is repentance turning away from sin and toward Godliness?
this is an excerpt from Pastor Grisham's booklet:
"Frustrated ministers who want results often put more emphasis upon growth than they do upon God. When there is a strange absence of sin, there is little if anything to be repented of, and the result is there has to be a whole new approach to God and most certainly church life. A de-sensitized minister will eventually preach a de-sensitized message to a de-sensitized church who will have little effect on an already de-sensitized community.
Things once thought to be sin become so prevalent in the church that bloody, conviction-type preaching just isn't welcome any more. So without conviction, there has to be another approach to get the "tongues-speaking" experience for it has become fashionable to speak in tongues . . .
Then, the new birth has to be redefined which automatically means you change the gospel. With this all-encompassing "new liberty," you feel that the Godhead, Oneness, and Acts 2:38 are simply theological arguments and not salvation issues . . .
When you lose your identity - you will also lose your message."
True repentance for the sinner who does not know Jesus., can only come when one has heard the word of the Lord and the Holy Ghost convicts their heart and decision center that they are lost and under the power sin and alienated from the life of God.
Repentance comes when they surrender themselves to Jesus through the faith that the word has just open up unto them.
Repentance as Christians means to agree with the conviction and instruction of the Lord within us and turn away from the thing which hinders us from walking in the fullness of who we are in Him
Sherri
10-15-2011, 06:59 PM
Repentance literally means "about face". It means you stop walking toward the world and turn around and start walking toward the things of God. It doesn't mean that you're automatically free from everything, in my opinion, but that you are headed in the right direction. It means that you have left the kingdom of darkness and have become a part of the Kingdom of Light.
ThePastorsCoach
10-15-2011, 07:50 PM
Repentance literally means "about face". It means you stop walking toward the world and turn around and start walking toward the things of God. It doesn't mean that you're automatically free from everything, in my opinion, but that you are headed in the right direction. It means that you have left the kingdom of darkness and have become a part of the Kingdom of Light.
Exactly!
Will all due respect to the author of that booklet I found little of what he had to say had anything to do with repentance.
berkeley
10-15-2011, 11:59 PM
Will all due respect to the author of that booklet I found little of what he had to say had anything to do with repentance.
You lost your identity. You need to repent! Say METANOIA five times fast!
berkeley
10-16-2011, 12:06 AM
When there is a strange absence of sin, there is little if anything to be repented of, and the result is there has to be a whole new approach to God and most certainly church life.
WHAT? O.o
Amanah
10-16-2011, 02:23 AM
WHAT? O.o
he is saying we don't call sin, sin anymore. things we used to call sin are not sin anymore.
*AQuietPlace*
10-16-2011, 06:42 AM
he is saying we don't call sin, sin anymore. things we used to call sin are not sin anymore.
Lying? Stealing? Adultery? Killing? Gossip?
I don't know of any church that doesn't call these things sin, just like the Bible does.
The problem is that some people have tried to add to the 'sin' list, adding on to the Bible. Then get annoyed when other people reject their list.
Falla39
10-16-2011, 08:03 AM
John the Baptist came preaching repentance and baptized unto repentance. Remember John was the forerunner or messenger of Jesus. But what John did would not do what the One coming after him Would/Could do.
After his resurrection, he taught his disciples and up until he was going to ascend back to the Father, he gave instructions to them. Telling them NOT to leave Jerusalem but to go to the upper room, and wait for the Promise of the Father. He told them they would receive power AFTER that the Holy Ghost was come upon them.They would then have the power to witness in all the places he mentioned.
Fast forward to Peter and John at the gate Beautiful. Preached, lame man healed, they were put in hold and finally told not preach in THAT NAME anymore. What did they do. They went and preached in the name of Jesus some more. The Holy Ghost had empowered them to be witnesses regardless of the cost.
When people believe that all they have to do is repent are deceived and may go no further, thinking they are saved. Many denominal churches tell them that. That's why they go no further. They are taught against Pentecost.
You may have been repented as a young person and been baptized in Jesus Name and spoke in tongues. But later decide that people are saved at repentance. What about your children that will believe that all they have to do is repent. And your grandchildren who will be short-changed!
Without the HOLY GHOST, you will NOT be connected to the MAIN SOURCE of POWER!
Falla39
Michael The Disciple
10-16-2011, 08:42 AM
John the Baptist came preaching repentance and baptized unto repentance. Remember John was the forerunner or messenger of Jesus. But what John did would not do what the One coming after him Would/Could do.
After his resurrection, he taught his disciples and up until he was going to ascend back to the Father, he gave instructions to them. Telling them NOT to leave Jerusalem but to go to the upper room, and wait for the Promise of the Father. He told them they would receive power AFTER that the Holy Ghost was come upon them.They would then have the power to witness in all the places he mentioned.
Fast forward to Peter and John at the gate Beautiful. Preached, lame man healed, they were put in hold and finally told not preach in THAT NAME anymore. What did they do. They went and preached in the name of Jesus some more. The Holy Ghost had empowered them to be witnesses regardless of the cost.
When people believe that all they have to do is repent are deceived and may go no further, thinking they are saved. Many denominal churches tell them that. That's why they go no further. They are taught against Pentecost.
You may have been repented as a young person and been baptized in Jesus Name and spoke in tongues. But later decide that people are saved at repentance. What about your children that will believe that all they have to do is repent. And your grandchildren who will be short-changed!
Without the HOLY GHOST, you will NOT be connected to the MAIN SOURCE of POWER!
Falla39
Yes this is a good point.
Falla39
10-16-2011, 05:47 PM
Thank you, Bro. MTD,
It's not only a good point, it is the TRUTH!
Falla39
Austin
10-17-2011, 06:37 AM
When Peter preached Christ on the day of pentecost, the ones who were listening were already religious and devout men who followed the God of Israel closely and formed their lives around repentance from sin and evil works. They were in fact on their way to church if you would like to call it that.
When they heard the word they were PRICKED in their hearts and said, men and brethren what must we do to be SAVED? Then Peter said, [ repent]
Repentance starts in the heart, don't let any modern day ideologies fool you.
And then confession is with the mouth, and according to Jesus it must be public or it won't be before the throne of grace in heaven either.
Modernism! Watch out!
Amanah
10-17-2011, 11:32 AM
The reason I started this post is that I was wondering if there is a correlation between having a belief in holiness standards, whether biblical or non biblical, and adhering to a strict literal interpretation of obedience to Acts 2:38 (3 steps) versus moving away from enforcing standards and changing your belief system to justification at repentance, baptism because of the remission of sins, and receiving the Holy Ghost as an infilling apart from salvation. Is this a common trend of churches that no longer enforce "holiness?"
I don’t like the English word Repent to explain what Peter said or what the bible means here. We use that word because it is the only thing in the English language we have.
It becomes this idea that we are really sorry for the things we have done so we apologize to God. It reminds me of when I tell my kids to say they are sorry to each other when one steals a toy or something.
That isn’t what the biblical view it. Repent means "make a course correction". It means you turn from the life you live to a new life directed to pleasing God and living for God.
I do believe that this course correction does include some moment of conviction that leads a person to have a very frank conversation with God and a lamenting of a past life of sinfulness that involves a strong emotional response. But far too often, that response is an "in the moment" kind of thing that is left at the altar, provides relieve to a burning conscience and leads to no change at all in lifestyle.
I preach and teach about "repentance as a lifestyle". What I mean by that is that as Christians, we ought to reflect on our lives from time to time and adjust the course of our lives when necessary. We are busy. We have things and stuff that take our attention and many of us rarely stop to take account of our lives outside of those moments in life that cause us pause or upon hearing some stirring message.
We should be more careful of our relationship with God than that. Repentance as a lifestyle means reviewing your life from time to time and considering how your living affects your relationship with God and making adjustments when something has become an issue.
I find no connection between Acts 2:38 and a very conservative standard view.
Aquila
10-17-2011, 12:20 PM
Repentance - Metanoia (meta - "to change"; and noia - "the mind"). Essentially means, "change the way you think".
Everything is rooted in our souls or minds. We are to reckon ourselves dead to sin and take on the mind to Christ. To "repent" requires confession (acknowledgement of sin) and a plea for forgiveness. Sorrow over sin and a contrite heart. If one gets their mind stayed on Christ and cultivates the mind of Christ, they will do an "about face" with regards to the way they live naturally. However, too many people do an "about face" with regards to the way they live before really "repenting". This means they have a change of "lifestyle" but they continue on in a given sin, often hiding it to keep the group's approval. Or they "do right" (about face in lifestyle) but look longingly back at the sin they miss doing (actually this is unrepent).
Repentance is changing your mind, the way you think, view yourself, view sin, view the world, and view God. Any TRUE change of lifestyle will come as a result of repentance... it isn't repentance itself.
Many legalists the world over have changed their lifestyle to obedience to perfect religious codes for group approval, ego, and self serving "righteousness" that only feeds pride. But their hearts... their minds... they still look back at sin, or envy those who live the way they wish they could. This often manifests as a judgmental bitterness and moral chest beating.
Repentance is more than a change in "doing"... it's a change in "thinking".
Why do you still struggle with a given sin? Why do you not commit a given sin... but maybe secretly wish you could do it?
First let me ask...
What do you "think" about it? Do you really see it as vile as God does??? If not, you've not repented. If you REALLY do see the sin in question as being something as vile as God Himself sees it... what's the issue?
Austin
10-17-2011, 12:31 PM
That is a different approach question. It will get numerous opinion in regard to Acts 2:38 which has become the doctrine of the UPCI for salvation, or might I say the beginning of salvation since they don't believe your are saved until the end.
If one is going to teach the truth about repentance they need to do it properly and not make it sound like it is just a mind decision, there's more to it at the time of receiving Jesus in comparison to living for Jesus.
I personally believe there are different types of repentance acts so there are several approaches to it in teaching the subject.
As for Acts 2:38,I myself don't share the same belief as the UPCI on the issue of remission of sins by baptism. I believe the remission of sins are through the atonement that Jesus had already caused to take place in heaven for all sins one time. How ever I don't believe that people can have this applied until by faith and repentance they surrender unto Jesus and make him by commitment the Lord of their life.That is what by faith means, through grace and not of ourselves, it is a GIFT. [ not a wage earnd ]
I don't believe in water regeneration, if I did then I would have to shower and confess my sins at the same time every time.
I don't mean it to sound like I'm slamming the UPCI doctrines because I'm not, I have a lot of friends who are UPCI and I respect their holy way of life very much and the way they believe is fine with me because I use to believe it too., I'm just clearly stating, I do not believe this way. Each must make up their own mind by study and any scholar knows that the word,[ for ] in Acts 2:38 is past tense verb of the Greek, ies, which indicates something that has already happened in the past.
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