What is "repentance"...? How do you know if you have "repented" or not...?

Neogaia777

Old Soul
Supporter
Oct 10, 2011
23,279
5,237
45
Oregon
✟952,793.00
Country
United States
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Celibate
What is repentance...? And how do you know you have repented or not, if you still sin sometimes...?

Who doesn't sin anymore sometimes...? Did they repent, and are they saved...? And how do you know or not know, or how do you answer that with a Yes or No...?

And if you cannot answer that with an absolute Yes or No, then what does that mean...?

And for those of you who might be thinking certain thoughts or things, shall we now compare sins...? or compare our own sinfulness or lack thereof with one another, among one another, so we can judge ourselves (usually as righteous or better) and one another, among one another, especially to determine (judge) the saved or unsaved state of one another...

Shall we do that...?

Anyway,

Comments...?

God Bless!
 

Neogaia777

Old Soul
Supporter
Oct 10, 2011
23,279
5,237
45
Oregon
✟952,793.00
Country
United States
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Celibate
Should it be a work of God (repentance)...?

If it's true, is it a work of God always...?

By that I mean He does things (baptism by fire) to lead you to or through the "steps", steps of believing, then confessing or admitting, or lining up with God mentally and in your heart, then repenting (cause He led you to it, by the baptism by fire) (all of this because He was leading you to it or through it), then walking you, or walking with you through the process of sanctification...? Or what...? If you repented then why do you need to be sanctified...? Maybe water baptism to a public declaration or declaring of all of this (this with God, with you, baptism by fire, ect) that went or is going on with you and/or between you and God, declaring it all to be "His work" though, and not yours, ect...

Anyway, what is repentance, and how do we know if we have repented...? If we still sin sometimes, ect...?

God Bless!
 
Upvote 0

crossnote

Berean
Supporter
May 16, 2010
2,903
1,593
So. Cal.
✟250,151.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
True Repentance is the flip side of true faith and cannot be separated from true faith.
True repentance is the turning 'from' (sin/self etc.) while simultaneously turning 'to' (faith/trust in Jesus, His Word).
Repentance is a gift granted as is faith and follows on the heels of Godly sorrow.
God gets the credit for any good that comes from us, while we get the credit for our sin and evil.
 
Upvote 0

Neogaia777

Old Soul
Supporter
Oct 10, 2011
23,279
5,237
45
Oregon
✟952,793.00
Country
United States
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Celibate
True repentance is the turning 'from' (sin/self etc.) while simultaneously turning 'to' (faith/trust in Jesus, His Word).

Work of us or God...? And, "all sin", and you can't ever sin again from that point onward, or what...?

God gets the credit for any good that comes from us, while we get the credit for our sin and evil.

Why is that...? He gets the credit for any good in us or that we do, ect, but we get the blame for all the bad we do or might do...? Why is that...? "How" is that...?

God Bless!
 
Upvote 0

crossnote

Berean
Supporter
May 16, 2010
2,903
1,593
So. Cal.
✟250,151.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
Work of us or God...? And, "all sin", and you can't ever sin again from that point onward, or what...?
It's a work/gift of God...
Acts 11:18 KJV
[18] When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

It's a daily thing, just as faith is.
Why is that...? He gets the credit for any good in us or that we do, ect, but we get the blame for all the bad we do or might do...? Why is that...? "How" is that...?
John 15:5 KJV
[5] I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Neogaia777
Upvote 0

1stcenturylady

Spirit-filled follower of Christ
Supporter
Feb 13, 2017
11,189
4,193
76
Tennessee
✟431,122.00
Country
United States
Faith
Charismatic
Marital Status
Celibate
Politics
US-Republican
He's led and is leading me to and through it all, which makes it all Him and none of me then, right...? He gets the credit, but also takes the responsibility (for me, away from me, ect)...

God Bless!

This is correct for me too.

Right before I was born again, after going to church already for 30 years with never so much as an answered prayer, I was secretly questioning if God existed. It was more fondness for a tradition I think than actual faith.

I think sexual sins are the biggest sins to overcome. What's not to love? But in my case my lover was also my married Jewish boss. It was the only time in my life, before or since, that I actually felt cared for and loved. But I also knew that if there really was a God and heaven, I would never make it if I enjoyed my lover more than obeying God. Finally, like an alcoholic I prayed that if God wanted this affair ended He would have to do it because I just didn't want to give him up, and for Him to make my lover break up with me, then give him the strength to stay away from me when I tried to get him back, because I knew I would try. From then on I just relaxed and put it in God's hands. One week later my lover came over and told me he suddenly figured out that he couldn't be there for me in times of trouble or anything, and he was destroying me, so he broke up. I was shocked and amazed that a prayer of mine was answered. For the rest of they story you would have to read my testimony.
 
Upvote 0

Presbyterian Continuist

Senior Veteran
Supporter
Mar 28, 2005
21,810
10,792
76
Christchurch New Zealand
Visit site
✟827,333.00
Country
New Zealand
Faith
Charismatic
Marital Status
Married
Repentance is connected with the cross of Christ. It is:
1. Accepting that you are a hopeless sinner deserving of nothing but God's wrath and hell. Unless you see this clearly, you will never see the absolute and important reason for repenting.
2. You need to know and believe that Jesus died on the cross for you, to take your sinfulness on Himself and to receive the penalty of God's wrath for sin as your Substitute. This is the foundation for true repentance.
3. You need to receive Christ as your personal Saviour from God's wrath and eternal hell. You won't see Christ as a real Saviour for you unless you know clearly what you are saved from.

That is all you need to be fully saved and to be baptised by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ. Then the Holy Spirit will start working in you to transform your mind and your thinking to confirm you to the image of Christ in the way you conduct yourself and live your life.
 
Upvote 0

Danthemailman

Well-Known Member
Jul 18, 2017
3,664
2,799
Midwest
✟301,700.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
The Greek word for "repent" is "metanoia" (noun) and "matanoeo" (verb) you see as defined in the Strongs #3340, 3341: to think differently or afterwards, reconsider. After thought, change of mind. Repentance basically means a "change of mind" and the context must determine what is involved in this change of mind. Where salvation is in view, repentance actually precedes saving faith in Christ and is not a totally separate act from faith. It's actually the same coin with two sides. Repentance is on one side, what you change your mind about and faith in Christ is on the positive side, the new direction of this change of mind. *Repentance and faith are two sides of the same experience of receiving Christ.

In the context of Luke 13:3, Jesus challenged the people's notion that they were morally superior to those who suffered in such catastrophes. He called all to repent or perish. For some people though, prior to ultimately receiving Christ through faith, they must change their minds about other specific things in order to get there. Repentance, metanoia, focuses on changing one's mind about his previous concept of God (as in Acts 17:30) and disbelief in God or false beliefs (polytheism and idolatry) about God (1 Thessalonians 1:9). On the other hand, this change of mind, focuses on the new direction that change about God must ultimately take, namely, placing our faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. (Acts 20:21)

Certain people misunderstand the term "repentance" to simply mean "moral self-reformation" or "completely stop sinning," yet repent means to change your mind. The Bible also tells us that true repentance will result in a change of actions. Acts 26:20 declares, "I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds." This is the fruit of repentance (Matthew 3:8), not the essence of repentance (change of mind). Certain people confuse the "fruit of repentance" with the "essence of repentance" (along thing with faith) and end up teaching salvation by works.

I have heard certain people say, "If you want to be saved, repent of your sins, turn from your sins." Now those who have truly repented no longer practice sin, but instead practice righteousness, (1 John 3:9,10) yet if turning from your sins means to completely stop sinning, then people can only be saved if they completely stop sinning and live a sinless, without fault or defect, flawless, absolute perfect life 100% of the time. If that were the case, it is unlikely that anyone will be saved, since we don't know anyone who has ever "completely stopped sinning." (1 John 1:8-10)
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Gregory Thompson

Change is inevitable, feel free to spare some.
Supporter
Dec 20, 2009
28,362
7,742
Canada
✟721,286.00
Country
Canada
Faith
Christian Seeker
Marital Status
Married
What is repentance...? And how do you know you have repented or not, if you still sin sometimes...?

Who doesn't sin anymore sometimes...? Did they repent, and are they saved...? And how do you know or not know, or how do you answer that with a Yes or No...?

And if you cannot answer that with an absolute Yes or No, then what does that mean...?

And for those of you who might be thinking certain thoughts or things, shall we now compare sins...? or compare our own sinfulness or lack thereof with one another, among one another, so we can judge ourselves (usually as righteous or better) and one another, among one another, especially to determine (judge) the saved or unsaved state of one another...

Shall we do that...?

Anyway,

Comments...?

God Bless!
Repentance implies that one pented at an earlier time, and now they're penting again ...

Seriously though, repentance means to recognize that you are walking in a direction that is harmful for you or others, identify a better direction to walk, and then go walk in that direction.
 
Upvote 0

1213

Disciple of Jesus
Jul 14, 2011
3,661
1,117
Visit site
✟146,199.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
What is repentance...? And how do you know you have repented or not, if you still sin sometimes...?

I have understood that repentance means person understands he has done wrongly and regrets it. And then, because he understands it was wrong and regrets it, he doesn’t want to do so anymore and wants to reject the wrong way.
 
Upvote 0

Kris Jordan

Acts 4:12
May 1, 2019
377
539
56
Southern California
Visit site
✟46,741.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Is the Gospel truly, "You have to be good enough"...? And "you have to do it", or be it, or become it, or you don't make it, are not saved, ect, and go to hell, ect, or what...?

Is that truly the Gospel...?

God Bless!

Hi Neogaia777,

I read all of your posts on this thread but I'm a little confused on what your question really is? Or are you just making points or statements and wanting feedback?

Based on the three different posts you included in this thread, are you confused about what genuine repentance is? Are you unsure of what the gospel of salvation is? If you could help clarify exactly what your struggle is, it would help others (and me) know how to answer you. :)
 
Upvote 0