Can a Christian Repent?

Vince53 · Feb 2, 2010

No joke.

Can anyone quote a single verse of Scripture in which an INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIAN is told to repent?

Don't quote verses commanding the lost to repent, a church to repent, or a group of Christians to repent. Can anyone quote a verse of Scripture telling an individual Christian to repent?

MatthewDiscipleofGod · Feb 2, 2010

Vince53 said:
No joke.

Can anyone quote a single verse of Scripture in which an INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIAN is told to repent?

Don't quote verses commanding the lost to repent, a church to repent, or a group of Christians to repent. Can anyone quote a verse of Scripture telling an individual Christian to repent?

What your definition of repent?

Jnwaco · Feb 2, 2010

Revelation hints at this - we're told that John is writing to Christian churches when Jesus says:

"Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember, therefore from where you have fallen, repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lamp stand from its place unless you repent. Rev 2:5

"But I have a few things against you. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.." Rev 2:14a, 16

"I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent" Rev 3:2-3

My two cents, I could be wrong.

icamewithasword · Feb 2, 2010

MatthewDiscipleofGod said:
What your definition of repent?

Maybe even define (specifically define) Christian. Not trying to be funny here.

Vince53 · Feb 2, 2010

By "Christian," I mean a person who has repented and turned to Christ, being born again through faith in Christ's Sacrifice on the Cross. By "repent," I mean "to change one's mind, to turn away from sin."

I appreciate the verses about the churches in the book of Revelation being told to repent, but can anyone quote a verse in which an INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIAN is told to repent?

Jnwaco · Feb 2, 2010

How can a church repent for individuals? The letters were written to be read to the entire church. Why should, or how could, an entire church repent for things that only a portion of them did? I think we're getting too literal here.

faceofbear · Feb 2, 2010

There is the individual in the Church in Corinth who had sexual relations with his mother (if I'm not mistaken) where Paul suggested cutting him off from the church in order to repent. No? I could be wrong and I'm really tired lol

GrampaJeff · Feb 2, 2010

I must be somewhat naive....There must be a point here somewhere.
Could I ask the reasoning behind the question please?

In Christ, Jeff

mlqurgw · Feb 3, 2010

Man does that which comes naturally to him. For the believer repentance is natural. Far too many take repentance as defined by the literal rather than how it is actualy described in the Scriptures. Repentance is more than just turning another way it is taking sides with God against yourself. God's word describes it very well in Jer. 31:18-19;

(Jer 31:18) I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.
(Jer 31:19) Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.

brinny · Feb 3, 2010

Vince53 said:
No joke.

Can anyone quote a single verse of Scripture in which an INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIAN is told to repent?

Don't quote verses commanding the lost to repent, a church to repent, or a group of Christians to repent. Can anyone quote a verse of Scripture telling an individual Christian to repent?

Do you believe Peter repented after he denied His Lord and cursed for emphasis?

TimRout · Feb 3, 2010

"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent (μετανοεῖτε) and believe the good news!" [Mk. 1:15/NIV]

Present tense imperative verbs suggest a continuous application. Therefore, it is incumbent on every Christian to repent, and keep on repenting.

Vince53 · Feb 3, 2010

TimRout said:
"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent (μετανοεῖτε) and believe the good news!" [Mk. 1:15/NIV]

Present tense imperative verbs suggest a continuous application. Therefore, it is incumbent on every Christian to repent, and keep on repenting.

Valid point, Tim. It's the best anyone has come up with. I looked up the verse in Vincent's Word Studies and Strong's Dictionary. The Greek word translated "repent" in this verse refers to a change of thought, but does not carry the idea of a change of behavior (although other Scriptures teach that this will follow genuine repentance).

Jesus was telling Jews to change their thoughts and believe the Gospel. In other words, they did not believe the Gospel now. The continual tense of the verb COULD imply that they were to continue to repent after they believed the Gospel, but it does not have to have that meaning.

Jnwaco · Feb 3, 2010

If we're only to repent at the time we accept Christ, and we sin thereafter, then God has ordained this later sin as okie dokie?

Phanari · Feb 3, 2010

I don't know the verse itself, but many times, God told the disciples to repent, and they were Christian.

TimRout · Feb 3, 2010

Vince53 said:
Valid point, Tim. It's the best anyone has come up with. I looked up the verse in Vincent's Word Studies and Strong's Dictionary. The Greek word translated "repent" in this verse refers to a change of thought, but does not carry the idea of a change of behavior (although other Scriptures teach that this will follow genuine repentance).

Jesus was telling Jews to change their thoughts and believe the Gospel. In other words, they did not believe the Gospel now. The continual tense of the verb COULD imply that they were to continue to repent after they believed the Gospel, but it does not have to have that meaning.

I'm sorry Vince, but you are mistaken. Though the root verb (μετανοέω) indicates a change of thought or mind, it also requires a change in behavior. Repent literally means "to turn and walk the other way". This is an excellent example of the inadequacy of using Strong's, rather than actually learning the language.

Vince53 · Feb 3, 2010

You could be right. Genuine repentance will be followed by a change in behavior. But back to the original question:

Can anybody quote a verse of Scripture telling an individual Christian to repent?

brinny · Feb 3, 2010

Vince53 said:
You could be right. Genuine repentance will be followed by a change in behavior. But back to the original question:

Can anybody quote a verse of Scripture telling an individual Christian to repent?

did you respond to my post, or did i miss your response?

the particular baptist · Feb 3, 2010

brinny said:
Do you believe Peter repented after he denied His Lord and cursed for emphasis?

He sure did. Christ prayed for him that his faith would not fail, which incidentally He did not do for Judas, thus the difference between Peter falling away and repenting and Judas falling away and staying there.

Luke 22:31-32 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

The ESV does a better job of translating this passage i think.

ESV Luke 22:31-32 "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."

Vince53 · Feb 3, 2010

Still no verses where an individual Christian is told to repent?

IS it true that there is no such teaching in the Scriptures?

Hammster · Feb 4, 2010

Vince53 said:
Still no verses where an individual Christian is told to repent?

IS it true that there is no such teaching in the Scriptures?

I guess not. So you are free to not repent anymore.

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