This has been bothering me lately, some theological questions.

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Questions of the day, is repentance required for salvation or is repentance a part of true saving faith in Jesus Christ?

Let me put it this way, are we saved so that we can continue in our sins until Jesus Christ removes them on the last day? Or do we crucify ourselves daily, putting to death the sins that ensnare us with the leading of Jesus Christ? Obviously, the second one is the truth because the second one is what the Bible says. But yet, many of us don't do that and could care less about what the Bible says. Why?

When John said confess your sins to Jesus what did he mean? Most Christians ignore this verse and just go through daily life without much repentance at all. We feel guilty inwardly but we don't actually come out with "God, forgive us." I'm guilty of it myself. I very rarely confess my sins and rely on Jesus to cleanse me from them. If this is what we are supposed to do, why do many of us ignore these verses?

What about when Jesus said not to worry? Oh how that's a big challenge for me and God knows that is one of my ultimate weaknesses, having mental health issues and naturally questioning everything it is extremely hard for me to just trust God! If only I would just trust God! And then my life would be so much easier!

I know deep down in my soul that it's true that God can be trusted. I know about his complete sovreignty and sovreignty over my life. I know that all things will work together for good. I know those things but yet, I have distress in my outward actions? Why?

God said that he would take care of us and our entire lives and that we should never worry, but why do we worry? Why... do we ignore so many parts of the Bible and why is sola scriptura such a controversial and misunderstood piece of theology? Jesus believed in using the word of God and the word of God alone in his daily life, he obeyed ALL of the Bible and God's rules and statues. We are called to do the same as well but yet, why do we ignore so many verses and yet pick the verses that sound good to us and ignore the rest because they're offensive? Again, I'm guilty of this as well.

Yet for some of us, it's clear that we're Christians because God is growing us in other areas. For others of us it's clear that we do not belong to him by the way we live. Why? If God said it, it SHOULD be done shouldn't it? We struggle so much with doing what is right and holy, and instead we do the things that keep us in the darkness. Why?

Why are we such horrible sinners who cannot follow what we are called as Christians to do? We are NOT called to live in our sins and live like the devil. We are called to be the holiness of God and not only children of God, but SLAVES of God! But yet, to tell someone the truth that if they follow God, they are a slave of God it's immensely offensive. So, why?
 

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Questions of the day, is repentance required for salvation or is repentance a part of true saving faith in Jesus Christ?

Let me put it this way, are we saved so that we can continue in our sins until Jesus Christ removes them on the last day? Or do we crucify ourselves daily, putting to death the sins that ensnare us with the leading of Jesus Christ? Obviously, the second one is the truth because the second one is what the Bible says. But yet, many of us don't do that and could care less about what the Bible says. Why?

When John said confess your sins to Jesus what did he mean? Most Christians ignore this verse and just go through daily life without much repentance at all. We feel guilty inwardly but we don't actually come out with "God, forgive us." I'm guilty of it myself. I very rarely confess my sins and rely on Jesus to cleanse me from them. If this is what we are supposed to do, why do many of us ignore these verses?

What about when Jesus said not to worry? Oh how that's a big challenge for me and God knows that is one of my ultimate weaknesses, having mental health issues and naturally questioning everything it is extremely hard for me to just trust God! If only I would just trust God! And then my life would be so much easier!

I know deep down in my soul that it's true that God can be trusted. I know about his complete sovreignty and sovreignty over my life. I know that all things will work together for good. I know those things but yet, I have distress in my outward actions? Why?

God said that he would take care of us and our entire lives and that we should never worry, but why do we worry? Why... do we ignore so many parts of the Bible and why is sola scriptura such a controversial and misunderstood piece of theology? Jesus believed in using the word of God and the word of God alone in his daily life, he obeyed ALL of the Bible and God's rules and statues. We are called to do the same as well but yet, why do we ignore so many verses and yet pick the verses that sound good to us and ignore the rest because they're offensive? Again, I'm guilty of this as well.

Yet for some of us, it's clear that we're Christians because God is growing us in other areas. For others of us it's clear that we do not belong to him by the way we live. Why? If God said it, it SHOULD be done shouldn't it? We struggle so much with doing what is right and holy, and instead we do the things that keep us in the darkness. Why?

Why are we such horrible sinners who cannot follow what we are called as Christians to do? We are NOT called to live in our sins and live like the devil. We are called to be the holiness of God and not only children of God, but SLAVES of God! But yet, to tell someone the truth that if they follow God, they are a slave of God it's immensely offensive. So, why?

1 Corinthians 6 "9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

There is no longer death when we sin, does this mean we should mock God using grace to sin. Our lord forbid. He will chastise us, this is how we know we are his sons.

Hebrews 12 "7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?"
 
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Dkh587

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This is what the Apostle Paul taught to both Israelites and Gentiles, according to his testimony to King Agrippa regarding his vision of Christ:

Acts of the Apostles 26:19-20 NIV
Then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.

First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judah, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.

Faith/repentance/works all go hand in hand.

faith produces repentance which produces works.
 
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Hazelelponi

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Questions of the day, is repentance required for salvation

Yes.

or is repentance a part of true saving faith in Jesus Christ?

Yes.

Let me put it this way, are we saved so that we can continue in our sins until Jesus Christ removes them on the last day?

Nope

Or do we crucify ourselves daily, putting to death the sins that ensnare us with the leading of Jesus Christ?

Yes.

Doesn't mean it'll be a quick and painless death though, or that we can handle more than one thing on our plate at the same time.

Obviously, the second one is the truth because the second one is what the Bible says.

True.


But yet, many of us don't do that and could care less about what the Bible says. Why?

Who's "many of us"?

When John said confess your sins to Jesus what did he mean?

which verse are you talking about?

Most Christians ignore this verse and just go through daily life without much repentance at all.

Who are most Christians?

We feel guilty inwardly but we don't actually come out with "God, forgive us." I'm guilty of it myself.

Now we are getting to the heart of the matter. You are having an issue, and projecting your own issues onto the Christian community.

If your guilty, why not change it?

I very rarely confess my sins and rely on Jesus to cleanse me from them. If this is what we are supposed to do, why do many of us ignore these verses?

Again, if your guilty of this, why project your sins onto others? Make you feel better if your not alone?

Why not ask yourself why YOU don't ask Jesus to forgive and cleanse you?

What about when Jesus said not to worry? Oh how that's a big challenge for me and God knows that is one of my ultimate weaknesses, having mental health issues and naturally questioning everything it is extremely hard for me to just trust God! If only I would just trust God! And then my life would be so much easier!

Jesus said today's worry is more than enough for today. Focus on what you can do, and put aside what you can't.

Even I sometimes fail in the not worry about tommorow thing.

Practice makes perfect though... nothing happens overnight, especially big changes like stopping worrying about the what if's of tomorrow.

I know deep down in my soul that it's true that God can be trusted

Good.

I know about his complete sovreignty and sovreignty over my life. I know that all things will work together for good

Good.

I know those things but yet, I have distress in my outward actions? Why?

Only you know the answer..

God said that he would take care of us and our entire lives and that we should never worry, but why do we worry?

He said today's worry was enough for today - not that we shouldn't or never will worry. He wasn't dumb. He just wants you to not get so wrapped up in the concerns of tomorrow you aren't living the day your in and dealing with what's right in front of you that needs dealt with.

Take your days one day at a time. That's all. And again, practice makes perfect.


Why... do we ignore so many parts of the Bible

Again with the we. Are you ignoring so many parts? Why?

Me personally I work especially hard to see how the whole works together.. maybe you should too then you'd stop feeling like you were ignoring the half.

and why is sola scriptura such a controversial and misunderstood piece of theology?

Only God knows that answer... I most certainly don't.

Jesus believed in using the word of God and the word of God alone in his daily life, he obeyed ALL of the Bible and God's rules and statues.

Amazing to see isn't it?

It also shows us how far we fall short, and why we needed a Savior to begin with.


We are called to do the same as well

The Bible shows us the perfect picture - what's possible. But God knows we aren't perfect, it's why we have a Savior to begin with. It's why when we sin we have a road back to Christ through confession of our sin and asking forgiveness.

The path of a Christian will last the rest of ones life. Your taken as this broken, evil, sinful being and being shaped and molded into the very image of Christ.

That's the journey of a lifetime, not the event of one day.

but yet, why do we ignore so many verses

If your ignoring verses then stop long enough to see how they all work together.

And yet pick the verses that sound good to us and ignore the rest because they're offensive? Again, I'm guilty of this as well.

So stop if you guilty, and don't project your sin onto others until the plank is out of your own eye; then you can see clearly enough to remove the speck from your brothers.

Yet for some of us, it's clear that we're Christians because God is growing us in other areas.

It's about progress... not perfection. Only Christ was perfect.

For others of us it's clear that we do not belong to him by the way we live. Why?

Back to the we. Who is we? Are you sure you can see clearly enough to remove the speck from your brothers eye?

If God said it, it SHOULD be done shouldn't it? We struggle so much with doing what is right and holy, and instead we do the things that keep us in the darkness. Why?

Because we still battle against our flesh every day, and will be in that battle until the day we are no longer encumbered by it.

Why are we such horrible sinners who cannot follow what we are called as Christians to do? We are NOT called to live in our sins and live like the devil. We are called to be the holiness of God and not only children of God, but SLAVES of God! But yet, to tell someone the truth that if they follow God, they are a slave of God it's immensely offensive. So, why?

I don't live "like the devil"... do you?

Are you offended by being God's slave? If so, do you know why?
 
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Neostarwcc

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Yes.



Yes.



Nope



Yes.

Doesn't mean it'll be a quick and painless death though, or that we can handle more than one thing on our plate at the same time.



True.




Who's "many of us"?



which verse are you talking about?



Who are most Christians?



Now we are getting to the heart of the matter. You are having an issue, and projecting your own issues onto the Christian community.

If your guilty, why not change it?



Again, if your guilty of this, why project your sins onto others? Make you feel better if your not alone?

Why not ask yourself why YOU don't ask Jesus to forgive and cleanse you?



Jesus said today's worry is more than enough for today. Focus on what you can do, and put aside what you can't.

Even I sometimes fail in the not worry about tommorow thing.

Practice makes perfect though... nothing happens overnight, especially big changes like stopping worrying about the what if's of tomorrow.



Good.



Good.



Only you know the answer..



He said today's worry was enough for today - not that we shouldn't or never will worry. He wasn't dumb. He just wants you to not get so wrapped up in the concerns of tomorrow you aren't living the day your in and dealing with what's right in front of you that needs dealt with.

Take your days one day at a time. That's all. And again, practice makes perfect.




Again with the we. Are you ignoring so many parts? Why?

Me personally I work especially hard to see how the whole works together.. maybe you should too then you'd stop feeling like you were ignoring the half.



Only God knows that answer... I most certainly don't.



Amazing to see isn't it?

It also shows us how far we fall short, and why we needed a Savior to begin with.




The Bible shows us the perfect picture - what's possible. But God knows we aren't perfect, it's why we have a Savior to begin with. It's why when we sin we have a road back to Christ through confession of our sin and asking forgiveness.

The path of a Christian will last the rest of ones life. Your taken as this broken, evil, sinful being and being shaped and molded into the very image of Christ.

That's the journey of a lifetime, not the event of one day.



If your ignoring verses then stop long enough to see how they all work together.



So stop if you guilty, and don't project your sin onto others until the plank is out of your own eye; then you can see clearly enough to remove the speck from your brothers.



It's about progress... not perfection. Only Christ was perfect.



Back to the we. Who is we? Are you sure you can see clearly enough to remove the speck from your brothers eye?



Because we still battle against our flesh every day, and will be in that battle until the day we are no longer encumbered by it.



I don't live "like the devil"... do you?

Are you offended by being God's slave? If so, do you know why?

This is by far the best response thank you. By John saying to confess our sins daily I was referring to 1 John 1:9. You're right though and I didn't see it before, I was judging without removing the plank from my own eye. But I was also curious why this is so among so many Christians.

By us I was referring to the children of God and heirs to the promise made to Abraham. I was referring to Christians.

I... don't know whether I live in sin. I sin a lot and sometimes I sin without even thinking about it. You see God's work in your life and you see that God always works on one sin at a time.

Can I share that I used to be addicted to inappropriate contentography? I was addicted to it for almost my entire life, I felt ensnared by that sin and I would never quit the sin. But, God delivered me from that sin and I haven't touched inappropriate contentography in over two years and I no longer feel the lust to use or look at inappropriate contentography. Like one person said in this thread, sexual sin is a sin that consumes us from the inside.

It's become some evidence for me that God is working in me in my ultimate sanctification. The Holy Spirit bears testimony that I am a Child of God and I don't just hope to go where I'm going, I KNOW I will. I've seen it, and I will see it again.

As for the worrying. I don't know. I just do, and often times I'm worried about tomorrow and the future. Like when I had to get surgery last month I knew about it for two weeks. I spent those entire two weeks worrying to death about my surgery. The day of my surgery I was calm. I... hate it.

God always comes through, I see God always watching over me in my life and in the lives of others but yet, I doubt. Maybe it's just because we're imperfect sinners but, yeah.
 
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Oompa Loompa

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Questions of the day, is repentance required for salvation or is repentance a part of true saving faith in Jesus Christ?
The Holy Spirit exposes and confronts the individual to the truth of their sinfulness. A product of that confrontation, if the individual is receptive, is repentance.
 
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Hazelelponi

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This is by far the best response thank you. By John saying to confess our sins daily I was referring to 1 John 1:9. You're right though and I didn't see it before, I was judging without removing the plank from my own eye. But I was also curious why this is so among so many Christians.

By us I was referring to the children of God and heirs to the promise made to Abraham. I was referring to Christians.

I... don't know whether I live in sin. I sin a lot and sometimes I sin without even thinking about it. You see God's work in your life and you see that God always works on one sin at a time.

Can I share that I used to be addicted to inappropriate contentography? I was addicted to it for almost my entire life, I felt ensnared by that sin and I would never quit the sin. But, God delivered me from that sin and I haven't touched inappropriate contentography in over two years and I no longer feel the lust to use or look at inappropriate contentography. Like one person said in this thread, sexual sin is a sin that consumes us from the inside.

It's become some evidence for me that God is working in me in my ultimate sanctification. The Holy Spirit bears testimony that I am a Child of God and I don't just hope to go where I'm going, I KNOW I will. I've seen it, and I will see it again.

As for the worrying. I don't know. I just do, and often times I'm worried about tomorrow and the future. Like when I had to get surgery last month I knew about it for two weeks. I spent those entire two weeks worrying to death about my surgery. The day of my surgery I was calm. I... hate it.

God always comes through, I see God always watching over me in my life and in the lives of others but yet, I doubt. Maybe it's just because we're imperfect sinners but, yeah.


There are some areas I don't always have perfect trust in God... but it's also something I'm working with God on...

I had to have a 3rd back surgery here recently - very serious in that I needed a fusion, a bone graft, plus screws and hardware from previous surgeries removed and reinstalled with all new hardware to extend a rod from below the old work to above the new in order to stabilize my spine, and the surgeon also had to drill out and make more space for my nerves so they weren't impinged in a couple areas...

That's fairly major, and the last major back surgery I had went very very very badly, such that i woke up from it paralyzed which lasted two years before I recovered feeling, only to immediately develop CRPS, which is incurable constant nerve pain, the most painful chronic pain disease that exists.

Going into another back surgery after all that was definitely up there in my top 10 scariest moments in my life - and trusting God it would all come out alright? Most difficult thing of all..

I put off surgery until my spine was so bad I spent the last year of my life bedridden, that was how scared I was of trusting another doctor near my spine..

But I finally put it all in God's hand, and God proved quite trustworthy... I'm doing SO much better now, and it's only been a month since surgery. The next year of my life will be a painful path to recovery where PT is concerned, but I know now I will get there.

Sometimes life is frightening... and it's okay to be frightened sometimes, God knows your heart, He knows our failings and He is there for us and with us...

Rome wasn't built in a day and neither will we be... but we are making progress.. next time I am in a situation where I have to put all my faith in God it will be easier, I'll do it quicker..

It's all part of our journey... and we each have our individual journeys, our individual paths and we are all on it in different places.

So while person A. might look to be doing great in this one area, they may struggle in another.

For me, I keep having to consciously give things over to him when I'm afraid... and sometimes I'm a little slow in doing, but it remains that at least I'm still giving things over, and I'm still getting better at doing so. :)

Don't be discouraged with yourself and your own struggles.. you'll get there. We all will, if Christ be in us. (Which He is)
 
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eleos1954

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Questions of the day, is repentance required for salvation or is repentance a part of true saving faith in Jesus Christ?

Let me put it this way, are we saved so that we can continue in our sins until Jesus Christ removes them on the last day? Or do we crucify ourselves daily, putting to death the sins that ensnare us with the leading of Jesus Christ? Obviously, the second one is the truth because the second one is what the Bible says. But yet, many of us don't do that and could care less about what the Bible says. Why?

When John said confess your sins to Jesus what did he mean? Most Christians ignore this verse and just go through daily life without much repentance at all. We feel guilty inwardly but we don't actually come out with "God, forgive us." I'm guilty of it myself. I very rarely confess my sins and rely on Jesus to cleanse me from them. If this is what we are supposed to do, why do many of us ignore these verses?

What about when Jesus said not to worry? Oh how that's a big challenge for me and God knows that is one of my ultimate weaknesses, having mental health issues and naturally questioning everything it is extremely hard for me to just trust God! If only I would just trust God! And then my life would be so much easier!

I know deep down in my soul that it's true that God can be trusted. I know about his complete sovreignty and sovreignty over my life. I know that all things will work together for good. I know those things but yet, I have distress in my outward actions? Why?

God said that he would take care of us and our entire lives and that we should never worry, but why do we worry? Why... do we ignore so many parts of the Bible and why is sola scriptura such a controversial and misunderstood piece of theology? Jesus believed in using the word of God and the word of God alone in his daily life, he obeyed ALL of the Bible and God's rules and statues. We are called to do the same as well but yet, why do we ignore so many verses and yet pick the verses that sound good to us and ignore the rest because they're offensive? Again, I'm guilty of this as well.

Yet for some of us, it's clear that we're Christians because God is growing us in other areas. For others of us it's clear that we do not belong to him by the way we live. Why? If God said it, it SHOULD be done shouldn't it? We struggle so much with doing what is right and holy, and instead we do the things that keep us in the darkness. Why?

Why are we such horrible sinners who cannot follow what we are called as Christians to do? We are NOT called to live in our sins and live like the devil. We are called to be the holiness of God and not only children of God, but SLAVES of God! But yet, to tell someone the truth that if they follow God, they are a slave of God it's immensely offensive. So, why?

Let me put it this way, are we saved so that we can continue in our sins until Jesus Christ removes them on the last day?

No .... repentance is acknowledging to God of our sin AND asking for forgiveness.

We are to turn away from sin not remain in it and the holy spirit helps us to do that.

As long as we are in our flesh we have a sin nature. The tendency toward it ... but with the help of the Holy Spirit we can overcome them. We will never be perfect until He returns and we are changed for eternity. He promises He will finish HIS work in us.

Romans 6:1-23
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. ...

1 John 3:8
Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

Philippians 1:6

New Living Translation
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
 
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bling

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You asked: “When John said confess your sins to Jesus what did he mean?” I do not know what verse you are quoting here?

James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

If we are only confessing our sins or not confessing our sins to Christ, how does that make Christ out to be a liar and to whom are we making Christ out to be a liar?

If God is responsible for all that you do, then why are your sins not God’s fault?
 
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Te're'sa

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Questions of the day, is repentance required for salvation or is repentance a part of true saving faith in Jesus Christ?

Let me put it this way, are we saved so that we can continue in our sins until Jesus Christ removes them on the last day? Or do we crucify ourselves daily, putting to death the sins that ensnare us with the leading of Jesus Christ? Obviously, the second one is the truth because the second one is what the Bible says. But yet, many of us don't do that and could care less about what the Bible says. Why?

When John said confess your sins to Jesus what did he mean? Most Christians ignore this verse and just go through daily life without much repentance at all. We feel guilty inwardly but we don't actually come out with "God, forgive us." I'm guilty of it myself. I very rarely confess my sins and rely on Jesus to cleanse me from them. If this is what we are supposed to do, why do many of us ignore these verses?
Because they/we are blind. If we love God as we claim to (and your question says "us," which I assume means Christians and not just humans), there would be no reason to defy Him short of obliviousness. Perhaps we even choose (consciously or not) not to see.

I don't know if human effort or human prayer can overcome that blindness, or if we have no choice but to wait until God removes it. Yet, it seems to me that we do need to make an effort when we realize our shortcomings. We wouldn't see our shortcomings at all if not for God opening our eyes to them. We wouldn't want to change ourselves at all if God didn't instill that desire in our hearts.

It might be the ultimate in unworthiness to know we need to change, feel God pushing us in a Godly direction through our desires, and then convince ourselves that "well, I can't do anything on my own anyway so I'll just sit here until I change without effort." The desire to become more godly could easily be HOW the Lord changes us.
Although this is coming from someone who used to, but no longer does, believe in theistic evolution, and who believed in that because of trying to reconcile what I was learning at school with what I read in the Bible so no one would have to be a liar. It didn't work out that way, and I might be seeing this matter incorrectly too. I know basically nothing about theology.
What about when Jesus said not to worry? Oh how that's a big challenge for me and God knows that is one of my ultimate weaknesses, having mental health issues and naturally questioning everything it is extremely hard for me to just trust God! If only I would just trust God! And then my life would be so much easier!

I know deep down in my soul that it's true that God can be trusted. I know about his complete sovreignty and sovreignty over my life. I know that all things will work together for good. I know those things but yet, I have distress in my outward actions? Why?
I don't know this one. Listening to the prosperity preachers - don't, by the way - any distress in your life is a problem that you need to pray and it will go away, and if it's still there, you haven't been praying hard enough. *eyeroll* Sometimes God gives us / allows us to endure challenges and temptations that aren't resolved quickly. You must know this, too.

Still, I don't know why you're being made to suffer repeatedly in this particular way. You say you know in your soul that God is trustworthy and sovereign. Perhaps your fear and anxiety are because you don't know the degree to which you're supposed to act. You know about Matthew 7:21, and you've made threads before on how that terrifies you. Perhaps the only way you can calm down about anything, mundane or spiritual, is to touch and see the resolution. John 20:29 might seem unattainable for you. ... I can point out all these things and remind you of those scriptures, but I still don't have an answer to your question really.
God said that he would take care of us and our entire lives and that we should never worry, but why do we worry? Why... do we ignore so many parts of the Bible and why is sola scriptura such a controversial and misunderstood piece of theology? Jesus believed in using the word of God and the word of God alone in his daily life, he obeyed ALL of the Bible and God's rules and statues. We are called to do the same as well but yet, why do we ignore so many verses and yet pick the verses that sound good to us and ignore the rest because they're offensive? Again, I'm guilty of this as well.
1 Corinthians 3:19 - and yet, trapped in our blinded human minds, the wisdom of men feels like the only wisdom that exists. But our feelings and emotions are not a source of truth. They're our impulse reactions that do not allow for even human wisdom.

This is one place where we actually, uncontroversially, need to make an effort. We will never see the world from the Father's perspective, but with a step back, and a slight bit of effort, we can remember that the Father has a perspective. For some people, this is enough to help us become calmer. We might pray for God to reveal this perspective to us, or (better) pray for the level of reassurance we need to let us stop worrying. If being aware that God has a different perspective, and prayer, don't work, I'm back to not knowing what do suggest.
Yet for some of us, it's clear that we're Christians because God is growing us in other areas. For others of us it's clear that we do not belong to him by the way we live. Why? If God said it, it SHOULD be done shouldn't it? We struggle so much with doing what is right and holy, and instead we do the things that keep us in the darkness. Why?

Why are we such horrible sinners who cannot follow what we are called as Christians to do? We are NOT called to live in our sins and live like the devil. We are called to be the holiness of God and not only children of God, but SLAVES of God! But yet, to tell someone the truth that if they follow God, they are a slave of God it's immensely offensive. So, why?
Simply put, sin is part of our bodily nature. Some of us have our emotions better controlled than others, and have our perspective where it needs to be. Some of us don't, and thereby open ourselves up to offense and darkness. Some people (like me) seem closer to God on some days than others. None of us can be perfect; Matthew 5:48 is possible only with Jesus's sacrifice covering us (see also John 15:4).

I might be wrong? But even if we can't save or sanctify ourselves apart from God, and even if our sanctification ultimately cannot fail (Romans 8:30)... I get the strong impression that Christians are called to make an effort towards our sanctification, and are led by God and the Spirit to make that effort. Some changes in us will be instantaneous, but others must be worked out (Philippians 2:12).
 
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Junia

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Questions of the day, is repentance required for salvation or is repentance a part of true saving faith in Jesus Christ?

Let me put it this way, are we saved so that we can continue in our sins until Jesus Christ removes them on the last day? Or do we crucify ourselves daily, putting to death the sins that ensnare us with the leading of Jesus Christ? Obviously, the second one is the truth because the second one is what the Bible says. But yet, many of us don't do that and could care less about what the Bible says. Why?

When John said confess your sins to Jesus what did he mean? Most Christians ignore this verse and just go through daily life without much repentance at all. We feel guilty inwardly but we don't actually come out with "God, forgive us." I'm guilty of it myself. I very rarely confess my sins and rely on Jesus to cleanse me from them. If this is what we are supposed to do, why do many of us ignore these verses?

What about when Jesus said not to worry? Oh how that's a big challenge for me and God knows that is one of my ultimate weaknesses, having mental health issues and naturally questioning everything it is extremely hard for me to just trust God! If only I would just trust God! And then my life would be so much easier!

I know deep down in my soul that it's true that God can be trusted. I know about his complete sovreignty and sovreignty over my life. I know that all things will work together for good. I know those things but yet, I have distress in my outward actions? Why?

God said that he would take care of us and our entire lives and that we should never worry, but why do we worry? Why... do we ignore so many parts of the Bible and why is sola scriptura such a controversial and misunderstood piece of theology? Jesus believed in using the word of God and the word of God alone in his daily life, he obeyed ALL of the Bible and God's rules and statues. We are called to do the same as well but yet, why do we ignore so many verses and yet pick the verses that sound good to us and ignore the rest because they're offensive? Again, I'm guilty of this as well.

Yet for some of us, it's clear that we're Christians because God is growing us in other areas. For others of us it's clear that we do not belong to him by the way we live. Why? If God said it, it SHOULD be done shouldn't it? We struggle so much with doing what is right and holy, and instead we do the things that keep us in the darkness. Why?

Why are we such horrible sinners who cannot follow what we are called as Christians to do? We are NOT called to live in our sins and live like the devil. We are called to be the holiness of God and not only children of God, but SLAVES of God! But yet, to tell someone the truth that if they follow God, they are a slave of God it's immensely offensive. So, why?


Repentance doesn't save us but as saved children of God we should be repenting of sins not still living in them

We should be bearing fruit and becoming more like Jesus. It is a process
 
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Neostarwcc

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Neostarwcc

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No .... repentance is acknowledging to God of our sin AND asking for forgiveness.

We are to turn away from sin not remain in it and the holy spirit helps us to do that.

As long as we are in our flesh we have a sin nature. The tendency toward it ... but with the help of the Holy Spirit we can overcome them. We will never be perfect until He returns and we are changed for eternity. He promises He will finish HIS work in us.

Romans 6:1-23
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. ...

1 John 3:8
Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

Philippians 1:6

New Living Translation
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Well explained! TY!
 
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BobRyan

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Questions of the day, is repentance required for salvation or is repentance a part of true saving faith in Jesus Christ?

Let me put it this way, are we saved so that we can continue in our sins until Jesus Christ removes them on the last day? Or do we crucify ourselves daily, putting to death the sins that ensnare us with the leading of Jesus Christ? Obviously, the second one is the truth because the second one is what the Bible says. But yet, many of us don't do that and could care less about what the Bible says. Why?

What do you mean by "salvation"?

Do you mean "born again", justified, the new birth, the new creation?

That is "the starting point". So in that sense the person is "saved" right from the start - the moment they repent and ask for the new birth, forgiveness, adoption, "Christ in me the hope of glory", "No longer I who live by Christ who lives in me" Gal 2:20.

But if you mean "taken to heaven" as (saved) then nobody is saved until the end.
 
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Questions of the day, is repentance required for salvation or is repentance a part of true saving faith in Jesus Christ?

Let me put it this way, are we saved so that we can continue in our sins until Jesus Christ removes them on the last day? Or do we crucify ourselves daily, putting to death the sins that ensnare us with the leading of Jesus Christ? Obviously, the second one is the truth because the second one is what the Bible says. But yet, many of us don't do that and could care less about what the Bible says. Why?

When John said confess your sins to Jesus what did he mean? Most Christians ignore this verse and just go through daily life without much repentance at all. We feel guilty inwardly but we don't actually come out with "God, forgive us." I'm guilty of it myself. I very rarely confess my sins and rely on Jesus to cleanse me from them. If this is what we are supposed to do, why do many of us ignore these verses?

What about when Jesus said not to worry? Oh how that's a big challenge for me and God knows that is one of my ultimate weaknesses, having mental health issues and naturally questioning everything it is extremely hard for me to just trust God! If only I would just trust God! And then my life would be so much easier!

I know deep down in my soul that it's true that God can be trusted. I know about his complete sovreignty and sovreignty over my life. I know that all things will work together for good. I know those things but yet, I have distress in my outward actions? Why?

God said that he would take care of us and our entire lives and that we should never worry, but why do we worry? Why... do we ignore so many parts of the Bible and why is sola scriptura such a controversial and misunderstood piece of theology? Jesus believed in using the word of God and the word of God alone in his daily life, he obeyed ALL of the Bible and God's rules and statues. We are called to do the same as well but yet, why do we ignore so many verses and yet pick the verses that sound good to us and ignore the rest because they're offensive? Again, I'm guilty of this as well.

Yet for some of us, it's clear that we're Christians because God is growing us in other areas. For others of us it's clear that we do not belong to him by the way we live. Why? If God said it, it SHOULD be done shouldn't it? We struggle so much with doing what is right and holy, and instead we do the things that keep us in the darkness. Why?

Why are we such horrible sinners who cannot follow what we are called as Christians to do? We are NOT called to live in our sins and live like the devil. We are called to be the holiness of God and not only children of God, but SLAVES of God! But yet, to tell someone the truth that if they follow God, they are a slave of God it's immensely offensive. So, why?
I'm only going to respond to part of this.

First, Jesus used “repent” to indicate a change in orientation of our lives to become a follower of him. You won’t find in either Jesus or Paul much discussion of repenting from specific sins, although Luke 17:4 is an exception, and 2 Cor 12:31 for Paul.

Part of this is because sin isn’t much of a focus for Jesus’ teaching, except for forgiveness of sin, and in Paul sin is seen more as a force leading us astray than a specific action.

So for both of them repentance is a change in orientation. That involves a change in behavior, obviously, but the behavioral change is never mentioned apart from the change in direction and intent. Jesus describes this change as becoming a follower. Paul describes it as faith. Those two are compatible, because for Paul faith isn’t primarily intellectual belief, but trust and commitment.

I would argue that when you use repent as Jesus did, it makes no sense to ask whether repentance precedes or following becoming a Christian because repentance *is* becoming a Christian.

Once you are a Christian, of course living a Christian life becomes our goal. In that case, dealing with specific sins becomes an issue. Paul speaks of repentance in that sense in 2 Cor 12:21. I should warn you however that Jesus himself didn’t tend to use that kind of language. For him, as for Paul in other contexts, the question was what actions are loving, not what actions violate rules, particularly rules based on purity. (Purity, of course, was the ideal of the Pharisees. Jesus objected to it.) Sin, in the sense of violating purity rules, tends to lead to legalism, and to a focus on our own purity and holiness. Jesus wanted us to focus on how our behavior affects others, and on the Gospel. You can see that in Paul in his treatment of meat sacrificed to idols. In sexual matters, I fear Paul's background as a Pharisee is visible.
 
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pescador

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Foe the umpteenth time...

The beginning of 1 John is written to people who are NOT Christians.

1 John 1:1-3, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

It is only in 1 John 2:12-14 that he addresses other Christians...

"I am writing to you, dear children,
because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.

I write to you, dear children,
because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God lives in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.
"

Perhaps John's gentle style of writing confuses people, but it is a misapplication of God's Word to apply John's message to unbelievers to Christians.
 
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BobRyan

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Foe the umpteenth time...

The beginning of 1 John is written to people who are NOT Christians.

1 John 1:1-3, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

That is not a distinction between the wicked vs the believers... it is a distinction between Apostles and other believers.

1 John 1:1
What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands
 
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pescador

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That is not a distinction between the wicked vs the believers... it is a distinction between Apostles and other believers.

1 John 1:1
What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands

1 John 1:3, "We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ."

This is clearly written to unbelievers. "We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us." That is a great example of the Gospel! We have something that you don't -- a wonderful thing that we have personally experienced -- and we want to share it with you because you don't have it!
 
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