Do we choose to turn to God when we first become Christians?

[tonychanyt]

Do we choose to repent when we first become Christians?

I am talking about the initial repentance when you first become a Christian. In this post, by repent I mean simply turn to God.

Jesus commanded everyone to repent, Mark 1:

15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”​

Acts 17:

30b [God] commands all people everywhere to repent.​

God wants everyone to repent, 2 Peter 3:

9b he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.​

1 Timothy 2:

4 [God] desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.​

However, people choose not to repent, Revelation 2:

21 Even though I have given her time to repent of her immorality, she is unwilling.​

Do we choose to repent?

Yes, we choose to repent and we choose not to repent. If we can only choose not to repent, then it is not a choice.

Now, there is a spiritual warfare going on, 2 Timothy 2:

25b God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.​

There is a bit of controversy about this but I see the original Greek as potential subjunctive: God may or may not grant them repentance.

Acts 11:

18 When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has also granted to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.”​

Does God choose to grant repentance?

Yes, God grants repentance to some and not to others.

Yes, people choose to repent or not to repent.

Both are true. This is the concept of Co-Reality.

See also Repentance: Initial and subsequent.

 

[d taylor]

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​

Repentance is not part of becoming a born again child of God, repentance is for believers and unbelievers. But not a condition God has given for a person to do, to receive God's free gift of Eternal Life.

Belief in Jesus is the only condition to receive God's free gift of Eternal Life.

If a person is caught up into a repetitive sin or sins. God has given the person a chance to repnet of the sin or sins, if they do not. Then God may judge the person and take their life or let the result of a sin eventually cause problems or even take their life.

Example drug abuse may eventually take the life of the drug addict if they do not repent of the drug abuse. Or God may end their life early by judging the person. That would be after they are given a chance to repent.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

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​

Repentance is not part of becoming a born again child of God, repentance is for believers and unbelievers. But not a condition God has given for a person to do, to receive God's free gift of Eternal Life.

Belief in Jesus is the only condition to receive God's free gift of Eternal Life.

If a person is caught up into a repetitive sin or sins. God has given the person a chance to repnet of the sin or sins, if they do not. Then God may judge the person and take their life or let the result of a sin eventually cause problems or even take their life.

Example drug abuse may eventually take the life of the drug addict if they do not repent of the drug abuse. Or God may end their life early by judging the person. That would be after they are given a chance to repent.

One still needs to repent ( change the mind) from unbelief to belief.
Blessings.

 

[d taylor]

One still needs to repent ( change the mind) from unbelief to belief.
Blessings.

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Looks to me that when repentance is the subject it is always directed toward sin or sins.

What’s the Difference Between Repentance as a Change of Mind And Repentance as Turning from Sins? – Grace Evangelical Society

 

[d taylor]

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Here is an example of an unbeliever not repenting and being judged by God immediately and losing their life.

So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.

 

[tturt]

New Testament - These 5 of the 7 churches were told to repent in Rev 2 & 3
- church of Ephesus -they had many positives but were loveless
- church in Pergamos - located in satan's city, they compromised
- church in Thyatira - an adulterous church
- church in Sardis - they were busy but God said they were dead. In other words, how they appeared to men is not how God saw them.
- church of the Laodiceans - a lukewarm church
Plus if the churches didn't repent, there would be consequences. God would -
Church at Ephesus - repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." Etc

still their choice to repent

 

[tonychanyt]

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​

Repentance is not part of becoming a born again child of God,

verse?

 

[d taylor]

verse?

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And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is
condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only
begotten Son of God.

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believe in Me has everlasting life.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

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Looks to me that when repentance is the subject it is always directed toward sin or sins.

What’s the Difference Between Repentance as a Change of Mind And Repentance as Turning from Sins? – Grace Evangelical Society

It is still a sin not to believe. Often the Pharisees and Saducees refuse to change their mind ( repent) that Jesus Christ of Nazareth was their Messiah however tax collectors,harlots and such did change their minds ( repent) and believe.
Matthew
For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.