Forgiveness or Remission?

[james34]

Is repentance a prerequisite to receiving the Holy Ghost, and if so why?

[votivesoul]

Originally Posted by james34

Is repentance a prerequisite to receiving the Holy Ghost, and if so why?

I would say that receiving the Holy Spirit is an indication that God has granted the recipient repentance:

Acts 11:1-18 (ESV),

11 Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, 3 “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 But Peter began and explained it to them in order: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. 6 Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8 But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’ 10 This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. 11 And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. 12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. 13 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; 14 he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ 15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?” 18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

Apart from that, Acts 2:38 shows repentance as an imperative, along with baptism, before the gift of the Holy Spirit is offered/promised.

Acts 2:37-39 (ESV),

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

The Greek for "repent" and for "be baptized" are both in the imperative.

See: https://biblehub.com/interlinear/acts/2-38.htm

Repent is in the aorist imperative active, and be baptized is in the aorist imperative passive.

Being imperatives, they are therefore commands.

Acts 3:19 reads much the same way, although the promise of the Holy Spirit is not specifically mentioned, just "the times of refreshing", which I take as referring to the Holy Spirit, personally.

Acts 3:19-21 (ESV),

19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

See: https://biblehub.com/interlinear/acts/3-19.htm

Repent is again aorist imperative active, just like Acts 2:38.

Simon Peter commands Simon Magus to repent of his wickedness, in order that the intent of his heart may be forgiven him in Acts 8:22. Certainly the need for such repentance necessarily indicates that unless and until he did, Magus would not receive the Holy Spirit the way the other Samaritans around him just did.

See: https://biblehub.com/interlinear/acts/8-22.htm

John proclaimed a baptism of repentance before a baptism of the Holy Spirit:

Matthew 3:2 & 11 (ESV),

2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand...“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire...(See also Mark 1:4, Luke 3:3, Acts 13:24, and Acts 19:4)

Jesus proclaimed along the same lines as John:

Matthew 4:17 (ESV),

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand...(See also Mark 1:15 and Luke 5:32)

Here, it must be understood that the reference to the Kingdom of Heaven/Kingdom of God falls in line with what Paul wrote in Romans 14:17:

Romans 14:17 (ESV),

17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

So, James, based off all these verses of Holy Scripture, what conclusions do you reach regarding your own question?

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by james34

Is repentance a prerequisite to receiving the Holy Ghost, and if so why?

Luke 13:1-5 says without repentance, we all perish. So, I think it's related.