Repentance is not a change of mind.

[PeaceByJesus]

In scripture, the word repentance means change of mind, not change in actions.

Yes, the word denotes change of mind/heart, but which thus means a change in actions correspondent to that change, as applicable. See above post.

 

[PeaceByJesus]

Please also take note that I believe in rare cases a person can be initially saved by merely believing Jesus Christ as their Savior (John 1:12-13).

That deliverance may be his immediate motivation, but implicit in this is the recognition that sin is bad and harmful, and know of God, and is something to be delivered from, and thus he/she confesses this need due to sin (why else would he need a Savior?). And as given more light and grace, then there will be corespondent changes in life insofar as one walks in faith.

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. (John 3:20-21)

There are also those like God-fearing benevolent Cornelius and company, who are already of poor and penitent heart before they hear the gospel, and who are thus repentant in heart before conversion, and are looking for the Savior, and thus immediately believe and realize the purifying "washing of regeneration" by faith.

Note that it is always faith which appropriates justification, (Romans 4:5) which is the basis for his acceptance in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6) and positional righteousness and citizenship in Heaven, in which he is made to sit together with Christ, (Ephesians 1:6) and look forward to finally being as much conformed to Christ (Romans 8:29) as He can be:

For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:20-21)

One is either a saved believer, walking in faith, practicing righteousness and penitent over sin he is aware and convicted of (which we are made progressively aware of as we walk in the light), or he is not. Thus believers are warned against having an evil heart of unbelief, departing from the living God, drawing back unto perdition rather than living by faith as the just do, (Hebrews 3:12; 10:38,39) and making Christ of no effect, to no profit, such as by faith in a gospel based upon your own righteousness, falling from grace. (Galatians 5:1-4)

The commands to believers to do works are in essence commands to believe, as the latter effects the former, and which obedience in turn, justifies/vindicates one as being a believer. Saved by faith, but judged by and rewarded for works, under grace.

But in contrast to imputed righteousness by contrite effectual faith being what places and keeps one accepted in the Beloved on His account, if salvation depended upon being sinless and perfectly practically holy, no one could make it since not only are we not even fully aware of all our sins - the breaking of the Law of God in its intent, in heart, mind, soul and strength, in commission and commission - but we also do not fully attain to the character of Jesus Christ the Righteous.

 

[SkyWriting]

Yes, the word denotes change of mind/heart, but which thus means a change in actions correspondent to that change, as applicable. See above post.

And I covered that. Scripture teaches that our actions do not change in spite of our continued repentance.

Romans 7:15
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do. But what I hate, I do.

Galatians 5:17
For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to one another, so that you do not do what you want.

Romans 7:18
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

Romans 7:23
But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me.

Repentance is limited to the mind:

Romans 8:5
Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

 

[dreadnought]

I think some people like to alter the meaning of the word "repentance" to suit their own purposes, but the bottom line is that to repent of a sin, you need to stop committing that sin.

 

[mven222]

Repentance is Not a Change of Mind.

Many think that just believing in Jesus as one's Savior and that He died and had risen on their behalf is "repentance" (i.e. a change of mind or belief in the gospel). While we must believe in the gospel and Jesus Christ as our Savior, that is not "repentance." If we were to look for the definition for the word "repentance", it cannot be found by looking at a Lexicon or some dead language that we did not grow up writing or speaking. Repentance can easily be defined by reading the Bible in your own language and by looking at the context.

What is Repentance?

Jesus defined repentance for us.
He said in Matthew 12:41 that the Ninevites will rise up in Judgment against this generation because they repented at the preaching of Jonah. If you were to turn to Jonah chapter 3, you would be able to see in Jonah 3:6-10 that the King of the Ninevites had told his people to:

(a) Cry out to God (Repentance).
(b) Turn from their sins or evil ways (The Natural Fruits of Repentance).​

After the Ninevites had turned from their wicked ways it was --- THEN --- that God decided to turn away from bringing wrath or Judgment upon them.

Proverbs 28:13 says he that confesses and forsakes sin shall have mercy.
1 John 1:9 says if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:7 says that if we walk in the light as he [Christ] is in the light, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.

Repentance is something that a believer does when they first come to the faith. They admit they are a sinner to Jesus and ask Him to be forgiven of their sins. They do this with the intention that they will turn away from sin and never do it again. Repentance can also be done on occasion (and not as a lifestyle) by a believer who has walked with God, as well. This would be 1 John 2:1 and 1 John 1:9 (cf. 1 John 1:7).

The parable of the two sons (Matthew 21:28-32) is a lesson also in proper repentance. The son who repented and obeyed the father is the one who truly repented.

Another word for "repent" in the sense of crying out unto God is called the "Sinner's Prayer." The Sinner's Prayer is a prayer towards God admitting that you are a sinner who is in need of His forgiveness and or salvation. While the Sinner's Prayer applies to both the new believer (who comes to the faith for the first time) and or the seasoned believer (who may stumble on occasion), here are verses that just support the Sinner's Prayer for the new believer.

#1. Romans 10:13 (cross reference with Joel 2:12-13 and Joel 2:32).

#2. Matthew 3:6 (which then lines up with Matthew 3:8). Also, in Mark 1:4-5, it says John preached the "baptism of repentance" for the remission of sins (verse 4), and it then defines this "baptism of repentance" by saying they confessed their sins when they were baptized (verse 5).

#3. Luke 18:9-14 (it is not said whether the Tax Collector is a new convert or a seasoned believer). The point of the parable is that the Tax Collector was "humble."; And we know Scripture says elsewhere that, "God gives grace to the humble." (James 4:6).

#4. Acts 2:38,
The New Living Translation says in Acts 2:38 to "repent of your sins."
Douay Reheims says in Acts 2:38 to "Do penance."
New Life Version says in Acts 2:38 to "Be sorry for your sins"

Side Note 1:
Oh, and as for the seasoned believer and the Sinner's Prayer:
Well, John tells believers to confess their sins so as to be forgiven of their sin - 1 John 1:9.

Side Note 2:
Please also take note that I believe in rare cases a person can be initially saved by merely believing Jesus Christ as their Savior (John 1:12-13). However, I believe that in time, if the believer has the capacity to do so, they will come to accept those verses in the Bible that teaches them that they will also call upon the Lord to save them from their sinful condition. In other words, it is sort of like the topic of the Trinity (Which is a true teaching in the Bible). A person does not need to know about the Trinity in order to be initially saved. But in time, when they come to later learn of the Trinity, they cannot reject such a truth (after it is was revealed to them), otherwise they would be denying the very God as described in the Holy Scriptures. However, most people are aware "repentance" in the plan of salvation, so most people are without excuse when it comes to "repentance."

Jason I love your posts. Thank you.

 

[PeaceByJesus]

Please show me the word "repent" or "repentance" is tied exclusive to meaning a change of mind in the Bible. Also, you are quoting other verses that are not exactly using the word "repentance" to prove your point that "repent" or "repentance" means a change of mind.

As for Acts of the Apostles 26:20:

It says,

"Instead, I preached to those in Damascus first, and to those in Jerusalem and in all the region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy of repentance." (Acts of the Apostles 26:20) (HCSB).​

So you are saying the above passage says, "have a change of mind (believe in Jesus)" (i.e. repent) and turn to God and do works worthy of "having a changed mind (believing in Jesus)" (repentance)?

Such an interpretation does not make any sense. .

See post #20. There should not be any confusion. If you have a true change of heart regarding your attitude toward sin, it will result in changes in both thinking and acting relative to light and grace realized, and all willful, volitional behavior is a result of what you really believe, at least at the moment.

 

[PeaceByJesus]

And I covered that. Scripture teaches that our actions do not change in spite of our continued repentance..

That is absurd. How can evil flow from the mind/heart (Mark. 7:21-23) and belief be what effects obedience (Acts 19:18) and a change in mind/heart not affect actions? The latter is not repentance, but the effects of it.

Romans 7:15
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do. But what I hate, I do.
Romans 7:18
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
Romans 7:23
But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me.

These are not speaking about willful volitional actions based on belief, but sin due to the weakness ofg the flesh; Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (Romans 7:17) Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 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. (Romans 7:17-18)
Thus your statement can only be correct as Scripture teaches that our actions do not necessarily change in spite of our continued repentance unless we find the grace and light to do so, which is consistent with what i said.

Galatians 5:17
For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to one another, so that you do not do what you want.

That is referring to the will of the flesh, versus acting according to a repentant heart by the Spirit.

Repentance is limited to the mind:
Romans 8:5
Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

Repentance is limited to the mind as meaning a change of heart, but the latter is not limited to the heart, but affects what flows out of the heart. Are all your actions autonomous or done out of weakness, or are they a result of what you now believe, versus what you used to?

A true change of heart will result in a change in life insofar as it is applicable.

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
(Hebrews 6:1)

And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. (Revelation 2:21)

And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds. (Revelation 16:11)

The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. (Luke 11:32)

 

[Bible Highlighter]

You are confusing the cause with the effect.
Repentance most basically means a change of heart, an attitude change about something, from one thing to another, whether is be God or men, such as deciding you will not do something you previously did, or intend to do something you previously did not, or about something you did or plan to do, etc.

What that means in effect is determined by the context, and for man, the revelation and grace one has. For God to repent from something He intended to do such as in judgment has nothing to do with Him sinning, any more than a change of heart necessarily would concerning a person a boss were going to fire for insubordination. But what precipitated the change of heart in God or yourself would have to do with the repentance on the part of the object of judgment.

In this case, repentance on the part of the object of judgment most basically means a change of attitude toward the reason for the judgment against him, as with the city of Nineveh.

For a person to come to you in repentance over something he did or is characterized as doing means he has has a change of attitude toward that, and thus makes confession regarding this.

The effect is not repentance, but fruits which correspond to the change in attitude. Suppose a person at work is sometimes easily offended, stubborn (too often me on this) and unteachable and therefore causes problems for some fellow workers at the water cooler (maybe he/she is related to the boss). The person is finally convicted of his/her attitude and thus says "I repent" to those she caused problems for.

If this is true then "fruits for repentance" means they will work to change these traits and manifest changes, and confess such to those he/she caused problems with.

The person may not have complete success at least at the beginning, and sometime slip back into this mode, but with the attitude change means he/she has a different attitude toward his/her sinfulness, one of penitence, and thus apologizes for her lapses if aware of them, and which means the attitude of others should be one of mercy, not judgment, knowing they also (at best) are a work in progress.


He is telling them to change their attitude and thus change their ways. As in,

But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judæa, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. (Acts 26:20)

While “repent” does involve a change of mind to a certain degree, it does not exclusively alone mean “change of mind.” Too many times people say repent is just a mental change alone by having a belief on Jesus or they are saying is just a change in mind in how it effects our actions that does not always have to involve asking God to forgive you. But “repent” means to ask God or even your fellow man for forgiveness. How so?

Luke 17:3 says,
“Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.”
‭‭
Now, how do explain this verse with the word "repent"?
If your fellow brother trespasses against you (a singluar sin or crime), does their future continuance to no longer do any wrong towards you in that area mean "repent"? Or does it mean that your brother is asking for forgiveness?

Note: It is true that repentance does lead to a change in actions and or obedience, otherwise one's repentance (i.e. asking God for forgiveness) is not really true. But "repentance" does not exclusively mean to forsake evil, although that is an after effect of repentance.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

See post #20. There should not be any confusion. If you have a true change of heart regarding your attitude toward sin, it will result in changes in both thinking and acting relative to light and grace realized, and all willful, volitional behavior is a result of what you really believe, at least at the moment.

Acts of the Apostles 8:22, Peter tells Simon to repent of his wickedness and pray to God that he will find forgiveness with the Lord. In essence, Peter is telling Simon to confess his sin for trying to pay for the Holy Ghost to God. The word "repent" as meaning exclusively a "change of mind" would not make any sense in this case. Yes, to a degree, Simon has to change his mind, but that is not what he is supposed to do. The action Simon is supposed to take is to ask God for forgiveness. That is what repent means here. To say it means something else woud turn this text into useless rubbish or non-sense.

For example:

If I said the word "drive" means to "be in motion" that would not exactly be true. Yes, to a degree it is true that one is in motion if they are driving but that does not exclusively mean that. To drive is to operate a motorized vehicle (which is usually done on a road). One is in motion but one is not acting out "to be in motion" because it is the car that is doing the moving. This is what I am getting at with the word "repent."

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Jason I love your posts. Thank you.

You are most welcome, brother.

May God bless you greatly today.

*Gives you a macho man hug in the Lord*

 

[Bible Highlighter]

I think some people like to alter the meaning of the word "repentance" to suit their own purposes, but the bottom line is that to repent of a sin, you need to stop committing that sin.

Repentance is shown true by a person forsaking sin and or obeying God. This point is made in the Parable of the Two Sons. The one who truly repented did what the father said.

But "repentance" still means to "ask God for forgiveness."
We see this in Acts of the Apostles 8:22.
Among men, "repentance" means to ask your fellow man for forgiveness.
We see this in Luke 17:3.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Anyways, so while "repent" CAN to a degree mean to "change one's mind" that is not the ACTION God is telling us to do. The action we need to take is not a "change of mind" when God tells us to repent but it is to "ask God for forgiveness of your sin by way of prayer."

For example: If God is telling me to change my mind about Him and sin and yet I do not change my heart (by calling unto Him to forgive me) and my actions (by forsaking sin), then that defeats the meaning of the word "repent."

 

[Bible Highlighter]

In scripture, the word repentance means change of mind, not change in actions.

Actions or obedience follows true repentance.
But repentance does not exclusively mean to obey God or to change one's actions.

Anyways....

So you believe Peter was telling Simon to have a change of mind when he tried to pay for the Holy Spirit instead of telling Simon to ask God for forgiveness of his sins by way of prayer? See Acts of the Apostles 8:22.

So you believe that if a brother were to transgress against us and he were to have a change of mind we are to forgive him vs. say a brother asking for our forgiveness for his transgression? See Luke 17:3.

 

[SkyWriting]

Actions or obedience follows true repentance.

Paul did not mention untrue repentance.

Romans 7:15
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do. But what I hate, I do.

Galatians 5:17
For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to one another, so that you do not do what you want.

Romans 7:18
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

Romans 7:23
But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Yes, the word denotes change of mind/heart, but which thus means a change in actions correspondent to that change, as applicable. See above post.

We are to bring forth fruits worthy of repentance.
If repentance also meant to change one's actions (i.e. fruits worthy of repentance), then how can we say that the word "repent" means the same thing?
In other words, repentance is different than the fruits we bring forth later (i.e. the forsaking of sin and or obedience to God).

Repentance is proven true by one's actions.
But "repentance" is not exclusively forsaking sin and it is not exclusively a change of mind.
Repentance is: "Asking God for forgiveness." That is what it means.

We see this in Acts of the Apostles 8:22.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

No, that's not what Paul was saying.

Romans 7:15
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do. But what I hate, I do.

No. Paul was speaking as a Pharisee in this particular verse.
For Paul says he is carnal and sold under sin in Romans 7:14, and yet in Romans 8:2 he says he is free from sin and in Romans 8:4 he says we fulfill the righteousness of the Law by walking after the Spirit. One is not walking after the Spirit if they are struggling with sin still. Paul is recounting his old life in Romans 7:14-24. Besides, nowhere does Romans 7-8 use the word "repent." So I am not sure how this helps you here.

Galatians 5:17
For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to one another, so that you do not do what you want.

And Galatians 5:24 says they that are Christ's have crucified the affections and lusts. So you are focusing a laser beam on a verse so as to defend a belief that is not there. One has to look at the whole of Scripture. But again, Galatians 5 does not help prove your case here on repentance. Nowhere is the word "repent" found in Galatians 5.

Romans 7:18
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

Romans 7:23
But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me.

Again, Paul is saying this as a Pharisee under the Old Law and not the New Law. We know this because the beginning of the chapter says we are to serve in newness of Spirit and not in the Oldness of the Letter (Romans 7:6).

Again, this does not prove your case on the word "repent." You have to find a verse or passage that uses the word "repent" or the word "repentance." You have to define the word "repent" by using the Bible and not some Lexicon or something of the sort.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Skywriting:

In regards to post #34:

The Bible has to be read as a whole and not just with the words of Paul. Again, prove your case with Scripture for your meaning for the word “repent” by pointing out those verses that have the word “repent” in them.

 

[lastofall]

[for me anyway] we need not to seek a scholastically achieving definition to define what it is to repent, rather the Lord Jesus Christ tells us exactly and most simply what it means to repent saying "Go and sin no more." And if we were to expand this then repentance is to "feel pain," the pain of guilt for our sins that touches our heart, which causes us to amend our ways and doings. It is just as simple as the Lord said it: if I am a thief, then I must go and steal no more; if I am a liar, then I must go and lie no more; and so it is with every sin under the sun that we may be in the midst of. And by the way in modern time society refers to guilt as bad, and something we must keep away from: as for me, guilt is a gift of God for our sake: for if I were to not give heed to the pain of guilt for my sin, but dismiss it, then I would be as the impenitent sinner who refuses to repent when they sin; Nay rather when we sin we should repent; it is that simple.

 

[Oldmantook]

1 John 1:7 says that if we walk in the light as he [Christ] is in the light, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.

Also note that there is a conditional clause inherent in this verse as indicated by the word "if." IF we walk in the light necessitates that a believer must be walking in the light/Spirit and not according to the flesh in order for the blood of Christ to be efficacious and cleanse from all sin. This verse does not give reassurance of forgiveness to those believers who are backsliding and engaged in the practice of sin. Everyone sins but the ongoing PRACTICE of sin in a believer's life manifestly demonstrates that they have not changed their mind and have turned away from sin and repented. Such believers do not have forgiveness, much less fellowship with God (1 Jn 1:6).

Please also take note that I believe in rare cases a person can be initially saved by merely believing Jesus Christ as their Savior (John 1:12-13). However, I believe that in time, if the believer has the capacity to do so, they will come to accept those verses in the Bible that teaches them that they will also call upon the Lord to save them from their sinful condition. In other words, it is sort of like the topic of the Trinity (Which is a true teaching in the Bible). A person does not need to know about the Trinity in order to be initially saved. But in time, when they come to later learn of the Trinity, they cannot reject such a truth (after it is was revealed to them), otherwise they would be denying the very God as described in the Holy Scriptures. However, most people are aware "repentance" in the plan of salvation, so most people are without excuse when it comes to "repentance."

Yes, a change of mind must be accompanied by works that demonstrate repentance. Who better than to quote from the Apostle Paul who described in his own words the gospel message that he himself preached:
"First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds" (Acts 26:20).

 

[PeaceByJesus]

While “repent” does involve a change of mind to a certain degree, it does not exclusively alone mean “change of mind.” Too many times people say repent is just a mental change alone by having a belief on Jesus or they are saying is just a change in mind in how it effects our actions that does not always have to involve asking God to forgive you. But “repent” means to ask God or even your fellow man for forgiveness. How so?

Luke 17:3 says,
“Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.”
‭‭
Now, how do explain this verse with the word "repent"?
If your fellow brother trespasses against you (a singluar sin or crime), does their future continuance to no longer do any wrong towards you in that area mean "repent"? Or does it mean that your brother is asking for forgiveness?

Note: It is true that repentance does lead to a change in actions and or obedience, otherwise one's repentance (i.e. asking God for forgiveness) is not really true. But "repentance" does not exclusively mean to forsake evil, although that is an after effect of repentance.

What you are continually doing is defining a word by what it contextually denotes, not what it means by itself. Metanoeō does basically mean a change of mind, as in "afterthought, from meta meaning "after" or "beyond" and nous meaning "mind". In Classical Greek metanoia meant changing one's mind about someone or something." But in the NT metanoia is contextually used as denoting a change required in the light of something else.

Seeing as the kingdom of God is at hand and what that signifies, men are called to repent, to change, (Mat. 3:2; 4:17, Mark 1:15, 6:3) which always begins with the mind/heart, and thus will affect actions.

Seeing as judgment came upon others due to sin, the rest are called to change, to turn from sin. Luk 13:3.5.

If one who wronged you comes and tells you in so many words that he/she has changed in regard to this wrong then you are to forgive that person.

Confessing the wrong is implicit in this change, as is often asking forgiveness, though that need not be formally explicitly expressed. The dying contrite criminal of Luke 13 never asked the Lord "please forgive me," but this was what he was doing in admitting his punishment was just, and in asking Jesus, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." (Luke 23:42) Likewise the same was being expressed by the 3,000+ believers who were baptized on the day of Pentecost.