joshua 1 9

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If you run the generic google search on the definition of repent we are told: "feel or express sincere regret or remorse about one's wrongdoing or sin." This is not what repent means. Repent means to turn away from your sin. In the Hebrew it means to burn the house down. There are two Hebrew letters, one represents fire or to devour. A more ancient meaning of the letter is teeth or to devour. The other letter represents tent, or house or dwelling. During the civil war it was not uncommon to burn the plantation homes down. So the the people could not go back to slavery, because their home no longer existed. When Jerusalem was conquered they burned the city down so the people could not return to their homes. They had to go and find a new home in a new country. It was not until after the Holocaust that they were given their land back and able to return to the ancient city.

The issue here is that we need to be careful with our dictionary. People are changing the meaning of the words to misrepresent what we read in our Bible. I am sure that during the 1,000 year reign of Christ all of our dictionaries will need to be rewritten. I am sure what is going to follow this post is a lot of people trying to promote their opinion of what repent means. So this post should soon become an example of the diversity we can expect.
 

ajcarey

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Great post. True repentance does involve sincere regret and remorse, but it must go beyond that to forsaking and turning away from sin. This means works meet (or fit) for repentance are necessary or it's not true repentance. Things such as restitution for money and goods obtained by fraud must be made (as Zaccheus did), as well as doing what is in one's power to cut off opportunities for him/her to sin going forward. The analogy of burning down the house is so appropriate. And beyond that there must be a heart to do learn from God how to please Him and to do well before Him without self-imposed conditions. Truly a living faith that justifies one before God is impossible to have without true repentance. There is truly no peace with God and redemption through Christ to those have not forsaken self to come into line with God's Government and thus with His commandments. The very purpose of Christ's redemption is to redeem us from our sins and to make us faithful servants and citizens of His kingdom (like man would have been if we had never fallen to begin with).

Matthew 12:41 "The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here."

Jonah 3:3-10: "3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey. 4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.
5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. 6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.
9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?
10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not."

Isaiah 1:15-18 "15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. 16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; 17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. 18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

2 Corinthians 7:9-11: "9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter."
 
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Noxot

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don't worry brother I am aware of certain Jews who are experts in their language and passed down a tradition of their language. It's one of the rich Traditions that God had blessed them with.

Repentance is a spirit and anything in line with that is a proper definition of what repentance is. There was even a very early Christian book called The Shepherd of hermas that had an angel of repentance in it.
 
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Dave-W

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In the Hebrew it means to burn the house down.
No — it means to turn around and go back the way you came. The word is teshuvah, and it is based on the root shub meaning to turn.

The Greek word is metanoin, which means to change the mind.

Repentance is changing your mind and your actions. It is not just feeling sorry which the Greek word for that is metamelin.
 
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Russ Campbell

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Repenting also means forgiving yourself for what you have done to yourself in life , it is so important that you can forgive yourself. The two people that were led to the Lord last night had a really hard time with this , but after leading them in prayer to invite Jesus into their heart, I asked them if they had felt any different, they asked me in what way? I asked them if they felt at peace with themselves , they both said YES, and the Lord confirmed it by the expressions on their faces and body language.

This is often the hardest thing to do is to forgive yourself, I have seen many Christians that were supposedly saved , yet had not forgiven themselves let alone loved themselves.

Thank you very much for this thread , I will now go through it and read everything that was posted, and interacting with posts that have been made...
And yes I am a big fan of Derek Prince , he is the one I quoted in my sermon about having pictures of dragons in my post, also he was the one I saw the most when I went though deliverance 3 times at Jacobs Well near Kitchener, Ontario

I was also trained partially by my pastor about the Demonic world after that , I was told not only to read Pigs in The Parlor , but I have seen the videos.

Russ Campbell
 
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Russ Campbell

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This is what I could find in the Amplified version of the Holy Bible, in E-Sword for Windows:


Num_23:19 "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken and will He not make it good and fulfill it?
1Ki_8:47 if they take it to heart in the land where they have been taken captive, and they repent and pray to You in the land of their captors, saying, 'We have sinned and done wrong and we have acted wickedly;'
2Ch_6:37 if they take it to heart in the land where they have been taken captive, and repent and pray to You in the land of their captivity, saying, 'We have sinned, we have done wrong and have acted wickedly';
Job_42:6 "Therefore I retract [my words and hate myself] And I repent in dust and ashes."
Psa_4:4 Tremble [with anger or fear], and do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed and be still [reflect on your sin and repent of your rebellion]. [Eph_4:26] Selah.
Psa_7:12 If a man does not repent, God will sharpen His sword; He has strung and bent His [mighty] bow and made it ready.
Jer_5:3 O LORD, do not Your eyes look for truth? You [have seen their faithless heart and] have stricken them, But they did not weaken; You have consumed them, But they refused to take correction or instruction. They have made their faces harder than rock; They have refused to repent and return to You.
Jer_8:4 "Moreover [Jeremiah], you shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD, "Do men fall and not rise up again? Does one turn away [from God] and not repent and return [to Him]?
Jer_8:5 "Why then has this people of Jerusalem Turned away with a perpetual turning away [from Me]? They hold tightly to deceit (idolatry); They refuse to repent and return [to God].
Jer_15:7 "I will winnow (sort, separate) them with a winnowing fork At the gates of the land; I will deprive them of children, I will destroy My people; They did not repent and turn from their [evil] ways.
Jer_15:19 Therefore, thus says the LORD [to Jeremiah], "If you repent [and give up this mistaken attitude of despair and self-pity], then I will restore you [to a state of inner peace] So that you may stand before Me [as My obedient representative]; And if you separate the precious from the worthless [examining yourself and cleansing your heart from unwarranted doubt concerning My faithfulness], You will become My spokesman. Let the people turn to you [and learn to value My values]-- But you, you must not turn to them [with regard for their idolatry and wickedness].
Lam_2:14 Your prophets have seen (imagined) for you False and foolish visions; And they have not exposed your wickedness To restore you from captivity [by teaching you to repent], But they have seen (imagined) and declared to you false and misleading oracles.
Eze_14:6 "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Repent and turn away from your idols and turn your faces away from all your disgusting and vile acts.
Eze_18:30 "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each one in accordance with his conduct," says the Lord GOD. "Repent (change your way of thinking) and turn away from all your transgressions, so that sin may not become a stumbling block to you. [Mat_3:2; Rev_2:5]
Eze_18:32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies," says the Lord GOD. "Therefore, repent and live!"
Dan_4:27 Therefore, O king, let my advice to you be [considered and found] acceptable; break away now from your sins and exhibit your repentance by doing what is right, and from your wickedness by showing mercy to the poor, so that [if you repent] there may possibly be a continuance of your prosperity and tranquility and a healing of your error.'
Hos_13:14 Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol (the place of the dead)? Shall I redeem them from death? O death, where are your thorns? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion is hidden from My eyes [because of their failure to repent]. [1Co_15:55]
Joe_2:13 Rip your heart to pieces [in sorrow and contrition] and not your garments." Now return [in repentance] to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness [faithful to His covenant with His people]; And He relents [His sentence of] evil [when His people genuinely repent].
Zec_1:4 Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Repent [that is, change your way of thinking] and return now from your evil way [of life] and from your evil deeds."' But they did not listen or pay attention to Me," declares the LORD. [2Ki_17:13; Isa_45:22; Jer_18:11; Eze_33:11]
Mat_3:2 "Repent [change your inner self--your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God's purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Mat_3:11 "As for me, I baptize you with water because of [your] repentance [that is, because you are willing to change your inner self--your old way of thinking, regret your sin and live a changed life], but He (the Messiah) who is coming after me is mightier [more powerful, more noble] than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to remove [even as His slave]; He will baptize you [who truly repent] with the Holy Spirit and [you who remain unrepentant] with fire (judgment). [Luk_3:16]
Mat_4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent [change your inner self--your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God's purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Mat_5:4 "Blessed [forgiven, refreshed by God's grace] are those who mourn [over their sins and repent], for they will be comforted [when the burden of sin is lifted]. [Isa_61:2]
Mat_11:20 Then He began to denounce [the people in] the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent [and change their hearts and lives].
Mat_18:3 and said, "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless you repent [that is, change your inner self--your old way of thinking, live changed lives] and become like children [trusting, humble, and forgiving], you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Mar_1:8 As for me, I baptized you [who came to me] with water [only]; but He will baptize you [who truly repent] with the Holy Spirit."
Mar_1:15 and saying, "The [appointed period of] time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent [change your inner self--your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God's purpose for your life] and believe [with a deep, abiding trust] in the good news [regarding salvation]."
Mar_6:12 So they went out and preached that men should repent [that is, think differently, recognize sin, turn away from it, and live changed lives].
Luk_3:16 John answered them all by saying, "As for me, I baptize you [only] with water; but One who is mightier [more powerful, more noble] than I is coming, and I am not fit to untie the strap of His sandals [even as His slave]. He will baptize you [who truly repent] with the Holy Spirit and [you who remain unrepentant] with fire. [Mat_3:11]
Luk_5:32 I did not come to call the [self-proclaimed] righteous [who see no need to repent], but sinners to repentance [to change their old way of thinking, to turn from sin and to seek God and His righteousness]."
Luk_6:21 Blessed [joyful, nourished by God's goodness] are you who hunger now [for righteousness, actively seeking right standing with God], for you will be [completely] satisfied. Blessed [forgiven, refreshed by God's grace] are you who weep now [over your sins and repent], for you will laugh [when the burden of sin is lifted].
Luk_6:37 "Do not judge [others self-righteously], and you will not be judged; do not condemn [others when you are guilty and unrepentant], and you will not be condemned [for your hypocrisy]; pardon [others when they truly repent and change], and you will be pardoned [when you truly repent and change]. [Mat_7:1-5]
Luk_13:3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways and live changed lives], you will all likewise perish.
Luk_13:5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways and live changed lives], you will all likewise perish."
Luk_16:30 He replied, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent [they will change their old way of thinking and seek God and His righteousness].'
Luk_17:4 Even if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times and says, 'I repent,' you must forgive him [that is, give up resentment and consider the offense recalled and annulled]."
Act_2:38 And Peter said to them, "Repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways, accept and follow Jesus as the Messiah] and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Act_3:19 So repent [change your inner self--your old way of thinking, regret past sins] and return [to God--seek His purpose for your life], so that your sins may be wiped away [blotted out, completely erased], so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord [restoring you like a cool wind on a hot day];
Act_8:22 So repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, this thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
Act_17:30 Therefore God overlooked and disregarded the former ages of ignorance; but now He commands all people everywhere to repent [that is, to change their old way of thinking, to regret their past sins, and to seek God's purpose for their lives],
Act_26:20 but I openly proclaimed first to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent [change their inner self--their old way of thinking] and turn to God, doing deeds and living lives which are consistent with repentance.
2Th_3:14 Now if anyone [in the church] does not obey what we say in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be ashamed and repent.
2Ti_2:25 He must correct those who are in opposition with courtesy and gentleness in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and be led to the knowledge of the truth [accurately understanding and welcoming it],
1Jn_5:17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death [one can repent of it and be forgiven].
Rev_2:5 So remember the heights from which you have fallen, and repent [change your inner self--your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior--seek God's will] and do the works you did at first [when you first knew Me]; otherwise, I will visit you and remove your lampstand (the church, its impact) from its place--unless you repent.
Rev_2:16 Therefore repent [change your inner self--your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior--seek God's will]; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war and fight against them with the sword of My mouth [in judgment].
Rev_2:21 I gave her time to repent [to change her inner self and her sinful way of thinking], but she has no desire to repent of her immorality and refuses to do so.
Rev_2:22 Listen carefully, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her [I will bring] into great anguish, unless they repent of her deeds.
Rev_3:3 So remember and take to heart the lessons you have received and heard. Keep and obey them, and repent [change your sinful way of thinking, and demonstrate your repentance with new behavior that proves a conscious decision to turn away from sin]. So then, if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.
Rev_3:19 Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I rebuke and discipline [showing them their faults and instructing them]; so be enthusiastic and repent [change your inner self--your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior--seek God's will]. [Pro_3:11-12; Heb_5:8; Heb_12:5-7]
Rev_9:20 The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent even then of the works of their hands, so as to cease worshiping and paying homage to the demons and the idols of gold and of silver and of bronze and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; [Psa_115:4-7; Psa_135:15-17; Isa_17:8]
Rev_9:21 and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries (drugs, intoxications) nor of their [sexual] immorality nor of their thefts.
Rev_16:9 People were [severely] burned by the great heat; and they reviled the name of God who has power over these plagues, but they did not repent [of their sin] and glorify Him.
Rev_16:11 and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their anguish and their sores (abscesses, boils); and they did not repent of what they had done nor hate their wickedness.
 
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Russ Campbell

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Here is what I could find on the subject of forgiveness , a very important part of repenting , without forgiveness on your part there is NO repenting at all. This includes forgiving your enemies, (actually there are no enemies, just friends that you have not met yet!). Here we go:

Exo_34:7 keeping mercy and lovingkindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin; but He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting (avenging) the iniquity (sin, guilt) of the fathers upon the children and the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations [that is, calling the children to account for the sins of their fathers]."
Num_14:18 'The LORD is slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving wickedness and transgression; but He will by no means clear the guilty, visiting (avenging) the wickedness and guilt of the fathers on the children, to the third and fourth generations [that is, calling the children to account for the sins of their fathers].' [Exo_34:6-7]
Psa_99:8 You answered them, O LORD our God; You were a forgiving God to them, And yet an avenger of their evil practices.
Pro_10:12 Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers and overwhelms all transgressions [forgiving and overlooking another's faults].
Mat_18:3 and said, "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless you repent [that is, change your inner self--your old way of thinking, live changed lives] and become like children [trusting, humble, and forgiving], you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Eph_4:32 Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.
Col_3:13 bearing graciously with one another, and willingly forgiving each other if one has a cause for complaint against another; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so should you forgive.
Jas_1:19 Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving];

Russ
 
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Phil W

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If you run the generic google search on the definition of repent we are told: "feel or express sincere regret or remorse about one's wrongdoing or sin." This is not what repent means. Repent means to turn away from your sin. In the Hebrew it means to burn the house down. There are two Hebrew letters, one represents fire or to devour. A more ancient meaning of the letter is teeth or to devour. The other letter represents tent, or house or dwelling. During the civil war it was not uncommon to burn the plantation homes down. So the the people could not go back to slavery, because their home no longer existed. When Jerusalem was conquered they burned the city down so the people could not return to their homes. They had to go and find a new home in a new country. It was not until after the Holocaust that they were given their land back and able to return to the ancient city.

Agreed.
"Godly sorrow worketh repentance..." (2 Cor 7:10)
The sorrow causes the "turn from", in this case, sin.[/QUOTE]
 
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CharismaticLady

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Everyone that has posted thus far has given parts of the multifaceted meaning of true repentance. Everyone is right to the degree they've stated. But none of these can be accomplished on our own. We can know about God and Jesus and the Law, and know we need to repent, but we can love our sin of choice more. There are some who are so ingrained and trapped in their sin, they are helpless to give it up and actually repent.

The problem is our sin nature. We can't change our nature and turn from our sin when it isn't in our nature to be able to change? Even knowing the Ten Commandments can't change our nature. This was depicted in Romans 7:13-14. "13 Has then what is good (the Law) become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin." Then Paul cleverly depicts the struggle of Law vs. sin nature. At the end of the chapter Paul shows the man crying out to God in frustration - "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!" The "body of death" is our flesh, meaning our sin nature, and shows we cannot change, only Jesus can change us.

There are many "Christians" who love Romans 7, it is their favorite chapter in the whole Bible, because it depicts their own life. Oh, can they relate! They will fight to the death (on these forums) to say this chapter is about the Christian struggle, and Paul is writing about himself as a Christian, because Paul, as usual, is writing in a present tense to those whom this is true of them currently. It is about those still under the law, as Paul once was as a Pharisee, who have never experienced their sin nature - the carnal flesh - being changed and literally born again of the Spirit. Some denominations even go so far as to say, we will always be in the flesh, and Jesus covers our sin as we commit them. That is not scripturaly accurate. Paul says of those born again of the Spirit in Romans 8:9 that we are NOT IN THE FLESH, but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God indwells us; and if we don't have the Spirit of Christ, we do not belong to Him" Peter also said of the born again nature, are now partakers of the DIVINE nature. And John said, "Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God." So, of course, Paul has been changed as he also wrote the next chapter (8), that those still under the law haven't yet experienced.

I was once one of these who knew in my mind all about God and Jesus and the Law for 30 years. But I finally found myself hopelessly in love with a married man who came first in my heart. Others fight drugs or homosexuality, or a number of other crippling sins who could never turn away from their sin on their own, or turn around and go the other way, or any of the other descriptions of repentance already given. And I tried! I would break up with him, and three days later beg him to come back to me. The next month I would try again, but again, beg him to come back. Month after month, the same scenario. It was hopeless.

Repentance in our own strength will always fail. Finally, I gave up and admitted I was weak and cried out to God to take the object of my desire away from me. God must have worked on my lovers heart, because a week later he broke up with me, because he finally realized he could never totally be there when I need him. I believe that "epiphany" came from God. That was the first prayer in all my life that God miraculously answered. Why? Because I didn't belong to Him. Through a chain of events that God controlled (that I tell in my Testimony), I finally was able to truly repent, and immediately I was baptized in the Holy Spirit, and my desires took a 180 degree about face. Now chapter 8 of Romans was the depiction of my life, no longer the struggle of chapter 7. 1 John 3:5 was now true "Jesus was manifested to TAKE AWAY our sin (nature) and in Him there is no sin (with the divine nature.) Jesus said we MUST be born again.

Anyone who cares to read my "Testimony" let me know through my inbox.
 
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Phil W

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Everyone that has posted thus far has given parts of the multifaceted meaning of true repentance. Everyone is right to the degree they've stated. But none of these can be accomplished on our own. We can know about God and Jesus and the Law, and know we need to repent, but we can love our sin of choice more. There are some who are so ingrained and trapped in their sin, they are helpless to give it up and actually repent.

The problem is our sin nature. We can't change our nature and turn from our sin, when it isn't in our nature to be able to change? Even knowing the Ten Commandments can't change our nature. This was depicted in Romans 7:13-14. "13 Has then what is good (the Law) become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin." Then Paul cleverly depicts the struggle of Law vs. sin nature. At the end of the chapter Paul shows the man crying out to God in frustration - "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!" The "body of death" is our flesh, meaning our sin nature, and shows we cannot change, only Jesus can change us.

There are many "Christians" who love Romans 7, it is their favorite chapter in the whole Bible, because it depicts their own life. Oh, can they relate! They will fight to the death (on these forums) to say this chapter is about the Christian struggle, and Paul is writing about himself as a Christian, because Paul, as usual, is writing in a present tense to those whom this is true of them currently. It is about those still under the law, as Paul once was as a Pharisee, who have never experienced their sin nature - the carnal flesh - being born again of the Spirit. Some denominations even go so far as to say, we will always be in the flesh, and Jesus covers our sin as we commit them. That is not scripturaly accurate. Paul says of those born again of the Spirit in Romans 8:9 that we are NOT IN THE FLESH, but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God indwells us; and if we don't have the Spirit of Christ, we do not belong to Him" Peter also said of the born again nature, are now partakers of the DIVINE nature. And John said, "Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God." So, of course, Paul has been changed as he also wrote the next chapter (8), that those still under the law haven't yet experienced.

I was once one of these who knew in my mind all about God and Jesus and the Law for 30 years. But I finally found myself hopelessly in love with a married man who came first in my heart. Others fight drugs or homosexuality, or a number of other crippling sins who could never turn away from their sin on their own, or turn around and go the other way, or any of the other descriptions of repentance already given. And I tried! I would break up with him, and three days later beg him to come back to me. The next month I would try again, but again, beg him to come back. Month after month, the same scenario. It was hopeless.

Repentance in our own strength will always fail. Finally, I gave up and admitted I was weak and cried out to God to take the object of my desire away from me. God must have worked on my lovers heart, because a week later he broke up with me, because he finally realized he could never totally be there when I need him. I believe that "epiphany" came from God. That was the first prayer in all my life that God miraculously answered. Why? Because I didn't belong to Him. Through a chain of events that God controlled (that I tell in my Testimony), I finally was able to truly repent, and immediately I was baptized in the Holy Spirit, and my desires took a 180 degree about face. Now chapter 8 of Romans was the depiction of my life, no longer the struggle of chapter 7. 1 John 3:5 was now true "Jesus was manifested to TAKE AWAY our sin (nature) and in Him there is no sin (with the divine nature.)

Anyone who cares to read my "Testimony" let me know through my inbox.
If we can't "turn from our nature", then nobody will be saved.
Fortunately we can turn from sin and start walking in the light instead of in the darkness.
It's, not so simply, a matter of who do you love most.
 
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CharismaticLady

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If we can't "turn from our nature", then nobody will be saved.
Fortunately we can turn from sin and start walking in the light instead of in the darkness.
It's, not so simply, a matter of who do you love most.

Don't you know that repentance in our own strength instead of the strength of God is self-righteousness and works. You responded so quickly, you couldn't have read, let alone understood, what I said. Now, read it again. Do you still have your carnal nature?
 
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Phil W

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Don't you know that repentance in our own strength instead of the strength of God is self-righteousness and works. You responded so quickly, you couldn't have read, let alone understood, what I said. Now, read it again.

Do you still have your carnal nature?
No, I don't.
It was killed and buried when I was baptized into Jesus Christ's death and burial. (Rom 6:3-6)
Thanks be to God, I was also "raised with Him to walk in newness of life". (Rom 6:4)
I am a new creature now. (2 Cor 5:17)
 
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CharismaticLady

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No, I don't.
It was killed and buried when I was baptized into Jesus Christ's death and burial. (Rom 6:3-6)
Thanks be to God, I was also "raised with Him to walk in newness of life". (Rom 6:4)
I am a new creature now. (2 Cor 5:17)

Good, so you have power over sin. You no longer have your carnal flesh. Great! There are few that can say that and actually have it a reality, instead of believing it is merely imputed to us. Many can repeat the scriptures you just quoted, but they are not really evident in their lives.
 
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Russ Campbell

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Repenting means a lot more than saying your sorry for sins against man, you could go on and on with that, you reaaly need to repent for the sins committed against God. Ther is a big difference. Russ
 
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CharismaticLady

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Repenting means a lot more than saying your sorry for sins against man, you could go on and on with that, you reaaly need to repent for the sins committed against God. Ther is a big difference. Russ

How?
 
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Phil W

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Good, so you have power over sin. You no longer have your carnal flesh. Great! There are few that can say that and actually have it a reality, instead of believing it is merely imputed to us. Many can repeat the scriptures you just quoted, but they are not really evident in their lives.
As it is written..."And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." (Gal 5:24)
 
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