A Biblical Case For Repentance

Bible Highlighter · Feb 1, 2019

timothyu said:
The Adversary knew this to be the case. No salvation for him. Jesus' Gospel, the true Gospel, however which exposes the ways of man being contrary to the will of God and shows repentance, that is change from the will of man to will of God as shown by fruits, is a threat to his dominion here, especially as he has no place in the Kingdom.

This is simply your lack of understanding what Scripture says. Please feel free to refute each the points I made in post #2 using your English Bible please.

Bible Highlighter · Feb 1, 2019

A_Thinker said:
Lord, have mercy upon me, a sinner ???

Luke 18

10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I receive.’

13 But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

This is correct; And for some odd reason, people ignore this portion of Scripture.

concretecamper · Feb 1, 2019

The Hail Mary is biblical too....I wonder if those who believe the sinners prayer saves will pray the Hail Mary

UnprofitableServant · Feb 1, 2019

worshipjunkie said:
I really don't see how you express repentance and trust and faith in God except through prayer. It's not that you're believing in that prayer for salvation, it's that the prayer is how you are expressing the faith you have in Jesus Christ.

How obey changing your behavior (repenting) and doing what God commands you to do (putting trust and faith in God's words).
In peace

UnprofitableServant · Feb 1, 2019

No. The sinner prayer saves no one. Jesus, the Author of our salvation, never commands us to say a prayer to be saved.

It leaves a question as what we must do in order to be saved. Many will say believe the gospel. Well, how does one believe the gospel? Some will say, have faith in the gospel. Well, how does one show faith in the gospel?

I think if we are looking anywhere else but to Jesus for this answer, then we are building our doctrine upon sand (Matthew 7:23-25).
In peace

Just_a_Christian · Feb 1, 2019

UnprofitableServant said:
No. The sinner prayer saves no one. Jesus, the Author of our salvation, never commands us to say a prayer to be saved.

It leaves a question as what we must do in order to be saved. Many will say believe the gospel. Well, how does one believe the gospel? Some will say, have faith in the gospel. Well, how does one show faith in the gospel?

I think if we are looking anywhere else but to Jesus for this answer, then we are building our doctrine upon sand (Matthew 7:23-25).
In peace

Yep, you are right, some say believe the gospel. Some say have faith in the gospel...
And yet what does the Bible say about the gospel???
For it is right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,and to you who are being afflicted to give rest together with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels.With flaming fire he will mete out punishment on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.They will undergo the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his strength, - 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9
A large portion of the gospel of Jesus Christ is action (obedience) based on our part.
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that OBEY him; - Hebrews 5:9
Faith
Repentance
Confession
Baptism
Righteous living untill death.
Not sinless till death but righteous living--trying to model our lives after the Savior.
In Him

worshipjunkie · Feb 1, 2019

UnprofitableServant said:
How obey changing your behavior (repenting) and doing what God commands you to do (putting trust and faith in God's words).

Obedience is a process and a growth. Conversion is a turning. Yes, we need to walk along the road, but we need to start on the road to be able to walk on it. We need to turn from the wrong paths into the path of God, and that is a change of mind and heart, which prayer is used to express. Nowhere is it stated we must earn our salvation through being good enough, which is what you seem to be implying. What is enough good works to be sure we've repented? If we screw up, are we lost again? How do you know you're doing enough good works?
How often do you feed the poor, or visit the sick, or do any of those things Jesus commanded? And if you, like most of us, have to say "seldom or not at all," are you damned?

Jesus said we must be born again. Someone who is born must breathe, but if they are never born, they aren't going to breathe.

Ing Bee · Feb 1, 2019

Jason0047 said:
This is correct; And for some odd reason, people ignore this portion of Scripture.

Check verse 9 of Luke 18 to read the explicit purpose of that parable. Note: it's a parable which means it is only intended to communicate the point Jesus intends which (as verse 9 indicates) is not about repentance per se, but self-righteousness and arrogance.

A word study turned up some two interesting points:

1) The word "repent" shows up nowhere in the Gospel of John, instead personal trust in Jesus and the new birth are central.
2) According to Strong's gloss, μετανοέω, the word translated "repent" means "to change one's mind". Louw & Nida give a fuller definition:

"to change one’s way of life as the result of a complete change of thought and attitude with regard to sin and righteousness".

In view is a complete life change toward Christ and consequently away from sin. This can include feelings of remorse, but not always.

3) In John's gospel another greek word translated "turn" is used by Jesus in reference to turning toward him in order to be healed. (John 12:40) The other 7 uses of that verb have nothing to do with repentance.

John was the "preparer of the way of the Lord". He was calling people to get ready for the Messiah by turning from sin. His baptism did not grant repentance. It was a physical sign of loyalty and expectation. When Jesus comes on the scene in Mark 1:14, his use of "repent" is not for the remission of sins, but to turn from unbelief and "believe the good news" that the Kingdom has come.

In various other new testament uses outside of the synoptics, repentance is used about changing one's mind about something (2 Timothy 2:25), away from something (Hebrews 6:1), and toward something (2 Peter 3:9).

Putting all this together, my conviction is that the call to repent is a call primarily toward personal trust in the euangelion: the King has come! Trust in the One whom the Father has sent. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:10-11)

Not David · Feb 2, 2019

No, people think it is what gets you into the New Covenant and trying to replace baptism.

timothyu · Feb 2, 2019

worshipjunkie said:
Jesus said we must be born again.

From what and to what?

Just_a_Christian · Feb 2, 2019

Being reborn, or born again.
1. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved - Mark 16:16
2. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. - 2 Corinthians 5:17
3. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 3:27
Baptism is the only way to be in Christ.
4. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. - John 3:5
5. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; - Colossians 2:12-13
Another verses that fits perfectly with the above verse about being born again a new creature.
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 18:3
Jesus says except we be converted, which is to believe that Jesus is the Christ and become as little children. Children are blameless - totally innocent. We have all our sins forgiven at baptism; when we're raised a new creature from baptism, at that time we are free of sin totally. If we remain in the light, as Christ is, we have continual cleansing by the blood of the Lamb.
In Him

Bible Highlighter · Feb 2, 2019

concretecamper said:
The Hail Mary is biblical too....I wonder if those who believe the sinners prayer saves will pray the Hail Mary

That is an off topic Catholic discussion. Please talk about that in another thread.

Thank you.

Bible Highlighter · Feb 2, 2019

UnprofitableServant said:
How obey changing your behavior (repenting) and doing what God commands you to do (putting trust and faith in God's words).
In peace

I used to believe the popular lie that repentance means to forsake sin. Repentance means to seek forgiveness with the Lord by way of pray (Which can be the "Sinner's Prayer"). Proof? Well, for starters John the Baptist says bring forth fruit worthy of repentance. In your understanding on that word, you think repent means to forsake sin (Which would include good deeds). So John would be speaking non-sense. He would be saying bring forth good deeds worthy of good deeds. But if you are sorry about your sins to the Lord by prayer you are going to have evidence of forsaking sin. In John's baptism they confessed their sin as they were baptized and it was called the baptism of repentance. How can it be called the baptism of repentance if they have not forsaken their sin yet? One's sin is forsaken over the course of their life. We see in Proverbs 28:13 that it says he that confesses and forsakes sin shall have mercy. One is repentance and the other is the fruits of repentance. You think that the fruit is the same thing as the tree.

In other words, people are all mixed up about what the word "repent" means. Please see Post #2.

worshipjunkie · Feb 2, 2019

Just_a_Christian said:
Being reborn, or born again.
1. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved - Mark 16:16
2. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. - 2 Corinthians 5:17
3. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 3:27
Baptism is the only way to be in Christ.
4. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. - John 3:5
5. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; - Colossians 2:12-13
Another verses that fits perfectly with the above verse about being born again a new creature.
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 18:3
Jesus says except we be converted, which is to believe that Jesus is the Christ and become as little children. Children are blameless - totally innocent. We have all our sins forgiven at baptism; when we're raised a new creature from baptism, at that time we are free of sin totally. If we remain in the light, as Christ is, we have continual cleansing by the blood of the Lamb.
In Him

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9) Seems pretty self explanatory

Peter replied, ‘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. (Acts 2:38). They are to repent and then be baptized. If baptism was all that was necessary why not simply say be baptized? In Mark 16:16 " He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.", why mention belief at all in the first part of the verse, and then why not mention refusal to get baptised in the second? Surely it would make more sense to say "He who is baptized will be saved."

He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:5) Washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit; not by water.

What about those who believe, but for one reason or another, do not get baptized. They have saving faith; they trust in the Lord Jesus, but they cannot get baptized, and they die. Are they then damned? If they are, you're admitting that it is the ceremony, the work, in and of itself that saves you. And if not, if their faith saves them, then you're admitting it's faith that takes prescidence over the ceremony of baptism.

Is baptism necessary for salvation? | CARM.org has a good article on this.

Bible Highlighter · Feb 2, 2019

UnprofitableServant said:
No. The sinner prayer saves no one. Jesus, the Author of our salvation, never commands us to say a prayer to be saved.

The word "repent" means the "Sinner's Prayer." God commands all men everywhere to repent (Acts of the Apostles 17:30). See my many points in Post #2. If that is not enough for you, in God's commands in the New Testament, he talks about divorce using the word "whosoever" (i.e. whoever) (See Matthew 5:32). So this means that God did command us to call upon the name of the Lord. For it is written,

Whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Acts of the Apostles 2:21).
Whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him (Romans 10:13) (Romans 10:12).

You said:
It leaves a question as what we must do in order to be saved. Many will say believe the gospel. Well, how does one believe the gospel? Some will say, have faith in the gospel. Well, how does one show faith in the gospel?

I think if we are looking anywhere else but to Jesus for this answer, then we are building our doctrine upon sand (Matthew 7:23-25).
In peace

1 Corinthians 3 says no man can lay any other foundation but Jesus Christ. We are saved by God's grace through faith and not works initially and ultimately (See Ephesians 2:8) (Titus 3:5) (Romans 4:1-5). From that point on afterwards, works of faith play a part in the salvation process and one cannot commit sin or iniquity after that point or refuse to do what the Lord Jesus says (by obedience to Him). So I am not in disagreement over obedience as a part of the salvation process. What I am against here is people making obedience as the foundation of their gospel instead of God's grace through faith in Jesus. In other words, people tend to go into one wrong extreme or the other. They either make it all about grace with no works in regards to salvation and or they make it all about works with no grace. A person needs to have a healthy balance of the two with God's grace being the foundation thereof. Without that, there is no salvation because it is by His mercy we are initilaly and ultimatlely saved (Titus 3:5).

Dave L · Feb 2, 2019

Jason0047 said:
John 1:12 says, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name"

Received can be either passive or active.

“John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.” (John 3:27) (KJV 1900)

Dave L · Feb 2, 2019

timothyu said:
None of this or other statements here takes into account Jesus' Gospel of the Kingdom which divided itself from the world of man and gave us the choice to repent of one way of living for the other and producing fruits to confirm it.

But believers are in the kingdom. There is only one way in....

Bible Highlighter · Feb 2, 2019

David Cabrera said:
No, people think it is what gets you into the New Covenant and trying to replace baptism.

Last I remember, you are Orthodox. Some Orthdox churches believe in infant baptism. Does this mean that the babies are saved via baptism? Or of you of the Orthodox branch that does not hold to this view? I am just curious because I do not think baptism is a replacement for calling upon the name of the Lord as per Acts and Romans. Remember, Paul says he came not to baptize but to preach the gospel in 1 Corinthians 1:17. So we have to look at the whole counsel of God's Word and not just those verses we prefer to see based on our own church experience. Yes, there are times men were saved via with baptism, but there other times where men were saved without baptism. Cornelius received the Spirit (was saved) before he was baptized.

Bible Highlighter · Feb 2, 2019

Dave L said:
Received can be either passive or active.

“John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.” (John 3:27) (KJV 1900)

Unless you recently changed your belief, last I recall, you are in favor of Calvinism. If this is the case, then it is no wonder you don't think it involves our free will even though we see free will mentioned in regards to our choice in choosing God many times in the Bible.

Free Will in the Bible:

#1. Joshua 24:15 KJV -
"Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve"

#2. Matthew 11:28 KJV -
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

#3. John 7:17 KJV -
"If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God."

#4. John 7:37 KJV -
"If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink."

#5. Acts 2:38 KJV -
"Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized"

#6. Acts 3:19 KJV -
"Repent therefore and be converted"

#7. Acts 16:31 KJV -
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved"

#8. Acts 17:30 KJV -
"but now commands all men everywhere to repent"

#9. Revelation 22:17 KJV -
"Whoever wills, let him take the water of life freely."

#10. Genesis 4:7 KJV -
"If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him."

#11. Revelation 22:17 KJ2
"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is thirsty come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

#12. Luke 13:34 NLT -
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God's messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn't let me.

Bible Highlighter · Feb 2, 2019

Jesus had partaken of John's baptism. So if baptism is a part of salvation, was Jesus saved via being baptized? Surely not. Only Spirit baptism is a part of our salvation after we seek forgiveness with the Lord Jesus Christ.

A Biblical Case For Repentance

Is The Sinner’s Prayer Biblical?

Yes.

No.

I don’t know.

It is not mentioned in the Bible, but it is still valid.

Other (Please explain).

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