Quote:
Originally Posted by BroGary
You brought out a very good point, many people don't have a true understanding of all what true repentence really infers.
Many think it is merely being sorry for past sins, but the word "repent" actually means to do an "about face" (I did enough of those during boot camp in the military :-)
We need to not only have a deep sorrow for past sins, but a complete willingness to change so we live a live pleasing to Him in obedience to His Word, and not think we can continue to do any of the things we used to that are contrary to His Word.
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So, what then is conversion?
Peter said,
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out (Acts 3:19).
The Strong's Dictionary reads that repent means
to be sorry, while converted means
to turn around or reverse.
IMO, one can be genuinely contrite for a lot of reasons...
A song convicts them and they are moved to repentance. A message is so moving as to bring them to an altar.
They are sincerely sorry and regret the sin, thus they confess their sin to the Lord and repent.
But without a true conversion of the heart and mind...a total turn around and desire to never return to the place they were before, they
will return to it.