Is the gospel more than 1 Corinthians 15:1-4?

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When Hebrews says the first covenant was dedicated with blood, it tells us what it's talking about:
For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.”

So to say it happened at Adam and Eve is to ignore what's written in the text.

Like I said before, there are sub covenants within the Old Covenant. The Bible does say that he took away the first that he may establish the second (Hebrews 10:9). Testament means Covenant, and the Bible is divided up into two testaments or covenants.
 
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Also, we do not have a complete play by play of all the inner workings and details behind all Scripture. The four gospel accounts of the resurrection can sound almost contradictory (Although I was able to reconcile them here), but the point is that one gospel gives details that another does not have.

So another way to possibly understand the words “this gospel” in Matthew 24:14 is in in the fact that Jesus is referring to Himself (i.e. pointing to Himself) in that it would be a reference to the entire life of Christ that He was living perfectly (even the moment) whereby He was to be our substitute so as to die for our sins. We also have to understand that “this gospel” is not really clearly defined in Matthew 24:14 like it is in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. So we must by default believe the core message that we are given. For we know the true gospel of Jesus Christ in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 leads men to live holy lives (not that living holy lives itself is the gospel). We know that nobody can live an unholy life and be saved. Any believer who lives an unholy life and justifies sin, they have either fallen away from the gospel message, or they never truly accepted the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (as God intended it to be - See: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, Titus 2:11-14, and Ephesians 5:25-27).
 
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Remember, John 1:12 teaches that a person can be saved by just even believing on the name of Jesus Christ. So Jesus is the good news at the very core (Which is at the heart of the gospel message found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4). So “this gospel” (good news) mentioned in Matthew 24:14 could indeed be Jesus Himself (with Him pointing to or referring to Himself).
 
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Bob_1000

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Gal 3:8 (KJV) And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

Seems like the full gospel was preached to Abraham 430 years before the law came.
 
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Like I said before, there are sub covenants within the Old Covenant. The Bible does say that he took away the first that he may establish the second (Hebrews 10:9). Testament means Covenant, and the Bible is divided up into two testaments or covenants.
The Bible is divided into two testaments, but there are three covenants. The Abrahamic covenant, the Sinai covenant, and the New covenant. Hebrews is speaking of the Sinai covenant when it speaks of the first, as the verses I mentioned make clear.
 
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The Bible is divided into two testaments, but there are three covenants. The Abrahamic covenant, the Sinai covenant, and the New covenant. Hebrews is speaking of the Sinai covenant when it speaks of the first, as the verses I mentioned make clear.

If what you say is true: Then Hebrews 10:9 cannot be true in that the first covenant was taken away. You say there is three and if so the first covenant would be taken away to establish the second covenant out of the three. That does not make any sense.
 
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setst777

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To clarify again to you (So that there is no confusion): I believe there are two aspects of salvation that believers need to be primarily concerned with.

#1. 1st aspect of salvation is being saved by God’s grace (Which is a process of salvation that is without the deeds of the Law and is based upon God’s mercy and forgiveness).

#2. 2nd aspect of salvation is being saved by the Sanctification Process by the working of God within the believer (after they are saved by God’s grace).​

For our other readers here (who may be recently joining us) to learn more in detail about these two aspects of salvation, I would encourage them to check out this thread here.

Anyways, the gospel means, “good news.” We have to ask ourselves, what is at the heart of the good news in the Bible? Is the good news (at the heart) purely obedience alone? Or is it God’s grace? How is what God offering us the good news for our life? Can we start off living holy without first being saved by God’s grace? Is it good news if we just try to obey God and live holy without God’s grace and forgiveness? Is it good news if we refuse to first believe the gospel message in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4? Is not 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 the gospel we stand upon? Is there another good news we stand upon besides 1 Corinthians 15:1-4?

The four gospels (the four accounts of the good news) is showing how Christ lived that perfect life in our place in order to do the exchange of Him dying in our place (in that He died for our sins), He was buried, and He took death (Which was the punishment for our sins) and He conquered it by the power of His glorious and beautiful resurrection. So 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 is the good news.



Matthew 24:12-14 KJB says,
12 “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Is he that endures to the end the gospel message, too?
Well, if we were to read this verse in a vacuum (ignoring other verses) we could end up wrongfully thinking that a Christian who denies in being saved by God’s grace (including a denial of 1 Corinthians 15:1-4) could think that simply living holy alone is what saves a person. They could take this verse as “he that shall endure unto the end” as purely holy living to be saved and say that such a thing is the gospel.

So we have to ask ourselves, what keeps me in the fight until the end against the sinful things of this world? Is it just God commanding me to live holy until the end? Or is it the love of God in that Christ died for me and for my sins?

“For the love of Christ controls and compels us, because we have concluded this, that One died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that all those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and was raised for their sake.” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15) (AMP). (Note: KJB says constraineth - and this word can be defined as compelled. See this dictionary source here).

Paul says in Romans 6 that sin shall not have dominion over us because we are not under the law, but under grace (See: Romans 6:14). Granted, as I am sure you may already know, Paul is not claiming lawlessness here. For he already establishes shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? (Romans 6:1). I believe Paul is referring to the word “law” in Romans 6:14 as: “Law Alone Salvationism (Without God’s grace) via by the 613 Laws of Moses.” For as I stated before, Paul also says that he is under the Law of God or the Law to Christ (1 Corinthians 9:21).

In fact, when an early church believer was baptized in water (Which is something that was common for them to do back then when they first accepted Christ), they were experiencing also the real reality of being baptized into the Spirit. This baptism is what truly helps a believer to crucify the affections and lusts. “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him,” (Romans 6:6).

For Christ endured to His end so that we might be saved. That is what compels me to endure to the end amongst this sinful world. I want to conform to Christ’s likeness of His death because He died for me.

In other words, if Matthew 24:13-14 is talking about enduring to the end as being the gospel, we have to peel back the layers to get to the deeper core or truth of it (if such is the case). So if such a thing is so: Matthew 24:13-14 would be saying that the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 is what leads me to live a changed life in enduring to the end as Christ endured to His end. For I can only endure to the end and be changed and live for Him by focusing on what He did for me with His death, burial, and resurrection. His love compels me and it is not a command from God (Although God’s commands do have their place and purpose in our walk with the Lord). But the gospel is not reading the outward external working of our enduring to the end. It is the inward working of trusting in the gospel message (With His love) that compels me to keep going.



Verse 13 says, “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings;” (1 Peter 4:13).

So 1 Peter 4:17 goes back to the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. If we do not obey 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, we cannot live holy and die to ourselves and partake of Christ’s sufferings. We can only conform to Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection when we first receive the gospel message. To receive the gospel message is to obey the gospel (Which then in turn leads to the call of the gospel - 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14). For God’s grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and that we should live righteously in godly in this present world. God’s grace is Jesus obeying God the Father so that He could be our substitute in dying in our place. Jesus’ whole life of obedience all the way to the cross was about God’s grace to us. This is how God’s grace can teach us by the way that Christ obeyed the Father, we also must obey and conform to the obedience to Christ and conform to the image of His death. We are to pick up our cross, deny ourselves and follow Him. But this is not possible without the gospel. For at the heart, these things can only be done by the gospel or good news found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. For if a person truly seeks forgiveness with their sins with the Lord Jesus and they obey the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, they will have a changed heart and life to live holy and righteous. So I don’t believe the good news is righteous living. It’s a call of the gospel but it is not the gospel itself because if I made righteous living solely as the basis of the foundation of my salvation, I would be lost because there would be no grace to wipe out my past slate of sin. God’s grace is the love of God. His love compels us to move and take action in living for Him. Without that there is no true obedience to God. We must move in love, and that can only happen we realize the depths of Christ’s love for us by He did for us with His dying for our sins, His burial, and His resurrection.

The cross, and the blood of Christ, has no value to anyone if they do not repent and turn to Lord Jesus in faith - following Him. That is the Good news - forgiveness to those who repent and then follow Lord Jesus by faith.

1 John 1:6-7 (WEB) 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and don’t tell the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

The Gospel, as described throughout all of the NT, includes the call to repentance toward God, and Faith in Lord Jesus. The Gospel is not complete without it.

What did the Apostle Paul preach as the Gospel everywhere he went through many trials?

Acts 20:18-21 (WEB) 18 When they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you all the time, 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears, and with trials which happened to me by the plots of the Jews; 20 how I didn’t shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus.

Acts 26:20 (NIV)
20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.

Galatians 5:24-25 (WEB)
24 Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit.

Acts 2:36-38 (WEB)
36 “Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
 
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The cross, and the blood of Christ, has no value to anyone if they do not repent and turn to Lord Jesus in faith - following Him. That is the Good news - forgiveness to those who repent and then follow Lord Jesus by faith.

1 John 1:6-7 (WEB) 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and don’t tell the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

The Gospel, as described throughout all of the NT, includes the call to repentance toward God, and Faith in Lord Jesus. The Gospel is not complete without it.

What did the Apostle Paul preach as the Gospel everywhere he went through many trials?

Acts 20:18-21 (WEB) 18 When they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you all the time, 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears, and with trials which happened to me by the plots of the Jews; 20 how I didn’t shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus.

Acts 26:20 (NIV)
20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.

Galatians 5:24-25 (WEB)
24 Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit.

Acts 2:36-38 (WEB)
36 “Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

How do you define repentance?
At what point does a believer become initially saved? Is there such a thing as Initial Salvation in your view? What do you make of Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 4:3-5, and Titus 3:5?
 
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The cross, and the blood of Christ, has no value to anyone if they do not repent and turn to Lord Jesus in faith - following Him. That is the Good news - forgiveness to those who repent and then follow Lord Jesus by faith.

1 John 1:6-7 (WEB) 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and don’t tell the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

The Gospel, as described throughout all of the NT, includes the call to repentance toward God, and Faith in Lord Jesus. The Gospel is not complete without it.

What did the Apostle Paul preach as the Gospel everywhere he went through many trials?

Acts 20:18-21 (WEB) 18 When they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you all the time, 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears, and with trials which happened to me by the plots of the Jews; 20 how I didn’t shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus.

Acts 26:20 (NIV)
20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.

Galatians 5:24-25 (WEB)
24 Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit.

Acts 2:36-38 (WEB)
36 “Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

How do you define the difference between being saved by God’s grace without works vs the Sanctification Process of the Holy Spirit?
Is there a difference in your view?
 
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setst777

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How do you define repentance?
At what point does a believer become initially saved? Is there such a thing as Initial Salvation in your view? What do you make of Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 4:3-5, and Titus 3:5?

How do you define repentance?
At what point does a believer become initially saved? Is there such a thing as Initial Salvation in your view? What do you make of Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 4:3-5, and Titus 3:5?

A true Gospel Faith and Repentance are inseparable. You cannot have a true faith in Lord Jesus without repentance.

After hearing the Gospel, and the call of the Gospel to repentance and faith:

Repentance is a complete change of mind, meaning, and purpose that, if genuine, leads the repentant sinner to commit himself to God.

A Repentant Faith, which is the true faith of the Gospel, is a commitment to deny the old master of sin, and then to follow Lord Jesus into a sanctified life of righteousness and love.

What was just described is faith by which God sanctifies the believer onto himself, and so, the believer receives God’s grace, and God's Spirit to:
  • Mark the believer as one of His own
  • Help the believer live out his faith that he committed to when he first believed.
As long as the professing believer continues firm in the faith - the same faith he had when he first believed - God continues to sanctify the believer onto himself through His Spirit and His Word; for it is through falling away from our first love (Christ Jesus, Revelation 2:4-5) to pursue sinful lusts that we grieve (Ephesians 4:30) and quench (1 Thessalonians 5:19) the Spirit of God in us.

If we genuinely repent, and then continue to follow Christ, God forgives (1 John 2:1-6).

But if we continue in deliberate sin, thinking we are still saved, then we insult the Spirit of Grace, and so, will be punished with everlasting fire reserved for those who disobey God and insult His Spirit (Hebrews 10:24-31).

God will not be mocked!

Galatians 6:7-9 (NIV) 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
 
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A true Gospel Faith and Repentance are inseparable. You cannot have a true faith in Lord Jesus without repentance.

After hearing the Gospel, and the call of the Gospel to repentance and faith:

Repentance is a complete change of mind, meaning, and purpose that, if genuine, leads the repentant sinner to commit himself to God.

A Repentant Faith, which is the true faith of the Gospel, is a commitment to deny the old master of sin, and then to follow Lord Jesus into a sanctified life of righteousness and love.

What was just described is faith by which God sanctifies the believer onto himself, and so, the believer receives God’s grace, and God's Spirit to:
  • Mark the believer as one of His own
  • Help the believer live out his faith that he committed to when he first believed.
As long as the professing believer continues firm in the faith - the same faith he had when he first believed - God continues to sanctify the believer onto himself through His Spirit and His Word; for it is through falling away from our first love (Christ Jesus, Revelation 2:4-5) to pursue sinful lusts that we grieve (Ephesians 4:30) and quench (1 Thessalonians 5:19) the Spirit of God in us.

If we genuinely repent, and then continue to follow Christ, God forgives (1 John 2:1-6).

But if we continue in deliberate sin, thinking we are still saved, then we insult the Spirit of Grace, and so, will be punished with everlasting fire reserved for those who disobey God and insult His Spirit (Hebrews 10:24-31).

God will not be mocked!

Galatians 6:7-9 (NIV) 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

I am not like your average Christian.
I believe Christians must make a commitment to Christ and follow Him and they need to live a holy life by the power of the Spirit or they are not going to make it into the kingdom of God. I believe one sin can separate a believer from God unless they confess of their sin to the Lord Jesus and they battle to overcome it.

But we appear to disagree on “Initial Salvation” in that we are first saved by God’s grace.

God's Grace Through Faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior
(Initial Salvation, and or Foundational Salvation).
(The 1st synergistic work of GOD done in a believer).
Being saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus as ones Savior is the entrance gate to salvation, and it is the foundation of our salvation (by faith) upon which we stand. Being saved by God's grace is believing the gospel (Which is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes it - Romans 1:16). According to 1 Corinthians 15:1-4: The gospel is you believing that Jesus Christ died for your sins, He was buried, and He had risen again three days later for your salvation (Note: Do not let anyone sell you on another gospel besides this one). Depending on a person’s access or exposure to the Word: Being saved by God's grace will also generally include receiving Jesus as your Savior (John 1:12), and calling upon the name of the Lord (i.e. confessing with your mouth the words: “Lord Jesus” or similar equivalent - Romans 10:9) as a part of seeking forgiveness of your sins with Him by way of prayer (Romans 10:13) (Luke 15:18-21) (Luke 18:9-14). This process of salvation is without the deeds of the Law or works because it is based upon God’s mercy and grace and His redemptive work. As a result: One is born again spiritually (Note: Born again by the Spirit, and born again by water (i.e. the Scriptures - Romans 10:17, 1 Peter 1:23)). A person is foundationally or ultimately saved by God’s grace because if they happen to sin on rare occasion in their Christian walk, they do not do a good work to absolve that sin, but they confess of their sins to Jesus in order to be forgiven of that sin (1 John 1:9) (1 John 2:1) (Hebrews 4:16) (For verses on being saved by God's grace, see: Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 4:1-6, Titus 3:4-7, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Luke 18:9-14, Romans 5:1-2).

As for your definition of repentance:

We also seem to disagree on the definition of repentance when it comes to God telling humans to repent. Note: There are actually many different definitions for the word repent in the Bible, but most Christians seem to be clueless about this because they never did the study.

Anyways, repentance (in God telling humans to repent) is seeking forgiveness of one’s sins with the Lord Jesus Christ with the intention you will not commit that sin again. Check out the following thread:

My Biblical Case For Repentance.
 
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setst777

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I am not like your average Christian.
I believe Christians must make a commitment to Christ and follow Him and they need to live a holy life by the power of the Spirit or they are not going to make it into the kingdom of God. I believe one sin can separate a believer from God unless they confess of their sin to the Lord Jesus and they battle to overcome it.

But we appear to disagree on “Initial Salvation” in that we are first saved by God’s grace.

God's Grace Through Faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior
(Initial Salvation, and or Foundational Salvation).
(The 1st synergistic work of GOD done in a believer).
Being saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus as ones Savior is the entrance gate to salvation, and it is the foundation of our salvation (by faith) upon which we stand. Being saved by God's grace is believing the gospel (Which is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes it - Romans 1:16). According to 1 Corinthians 15:1-4: The gospel is you believing that Jesus Christ died for your sins, He was buried, and He had risen again three days later for your salvation (Note: Do not let anyone sell you on another gospel besides this one). Depending on a person’s access or exposure to the Word: Being saved by God's grace will also generally include receiving Jesus as your Savior (John 1:12), and calling upon the name of the Lord (i.e. confessing with your mouth the words: “Lord Jesus” or similar equivalent - Romans 10:9) as a part of seeking forgiveness of your sins with Him by way of prayer (Romans 10:13) (Luke 15:18-21) (Luke 18:9-14). This process of salvation is without the deeds of the Law or works because it is based upon God’s mercy and grace and His redemptive work. As a result: One is born again spiritually (Note: Born again by the Spirit, and born again by water (i.e. the Scriptures - Romans 10:17, 1 Peter 1:23)). A person is foundationally or ultimately saved by God’s grace because if they happen to sin on rare occasion in their Christian walk, they do not do a good work to absolve that sin, but they confess of their sins to Jesus in order to be forgiven of that sin (1 John 1:9) (1 John 2:1) (Hebrews 4:16) (For verses on being saved by God's grace, see: Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 4:1-6, Titus 3:4-7, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Luke 18:9-14, Romans 5:1-2).

As for your definition of repentance:

We also seem to disagree on the definition of repentance when it comes to God telling humans to repent. Note: There are actually many different definitions for the word repent in the Bible, but most Christians seem to be clueless about this because they never did the study.

Anyways, repentance (in God telling humans to repent) is seeking forgiveness of one’s sins with the Lord Jesus Christ with the intention you will not commit that sin again. Check out the following thread:

My Biblical Case For Repentance.

Initial salvation is by faith, which includes repentance.

Acts 20:18-21 (WEB) 20 how I didn’t shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus.

Acts 26:20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.

Acts 2:36-38 (WEB)
36 “Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Repentance:

2 Corinthians 7:10 (WEB) For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world produces death.

The grace of salvation come through faith in Lord Jesus. That is the Gospel:

Romans 1:16-17 (WEB)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith. From faith to faith, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

John 5:24 (WEB) 24 “Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

We pass from death to life by faith

Romans 5:1-2 (NIV) 5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

The Spirit is received by faith:

John 7:37-39 (WEB) 37 Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! 38 He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn’t yet glorified.
 
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Initial salvation is by faith, which includes repentance.

Acts 20:18-21 (WEB) 20 how I didn’t shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus.

Acts 26:20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.

Acts 2:36-38 (WEB)
36 “Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Repentance:

2 Corinthians 7:10 (WEB) For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world produces death.

The grace of salvation come through faith in Lord Jesus. That is the Gospel:

Romans 1:16-17 (WEB)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith. From faith to faith, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

John 5:24 (WEB) 24 “Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

We pass from death to life by faith

Romans 5:1-2 (NIV) 5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

The Spirit is received by faith:

John 7:37-39 (WEB) 37 Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! 38 He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn’t yet glorified.

I agree we need faith in Initial Salvation. We need faith in the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. We need to faith in that we are being saved by God’s grace and mercy. For repentance is seeking forgiveness of one’s sins with the Lord Jesus with the intention of forsaking those sins. This also generally includes receiving (inviting Christ) into your life.

After this… we enter the Sanctification Process by the Spirit as the next step in God’s plan of salvation. But you cannot put the cart before the horse. One needs to understand the two different aspects of salvation and realize that we are first saved by God’s grace without the deeds of the Law.
 
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setst777

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I agree we need faith in Initial Salvation. We need faith in the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. We need to faith in that we are being saved by God’s grace and mercy. For repentance is seeking forgiveness of one’s sins with the Lord Jesus with the intention of forsaking those sins. This also generally includes receiving (inviting Christ) into your life.

After this… we enter the Sanctification Process by the Spirit as the next step in God’s plan of salvation. But you cannot put the cart before the horse. One needs to understand the two different aspects of salvation and realize that we are first saved by God’s grace without the deeds of the Law.

You really need to do a study of what the Gospel meaning of repentance is. You think repentance means asking for forgiveness. That is not the meaning of repentance.

Put aside what you have learned about stages of salvation, and see if that might not help.

The entire New Testament teaches us that true repentance is demonstrated in a commitment to renounce, deny, put to death, put away, crucify, the old master of the sinful nature, and then commit to obey the command to follow Lord Jesus into a sanctified life of righteousness and love. That is the Gospel Faith by which God saves us.

You open to any book of the Bible you want to in the Gospels, Acts, and the Epistles to the Churches, and to Timothy and Titus, and Revelation - They all repeat the same message. Repentance is clearly taught, illustrated, urged, and commanded. The meaning of repentance is clearly understood by all the repeated teaching on it.

Blessings
 
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Danthemailman

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James used Issac’s offering as one example of Abraham’s works. Abraham was already counted as righteous long before he offer Issac on the alter the day he left for the promised land.
Amen! In James 2:21, notice that James does not say that Abraham's work of offering up Isaac resulted in God accounting Abraham as righteous. The accounting of Abraham's faith as righteousness was made in Genesis 15:6, many years before his work of offering up Isaac recorded in Genesis 22.

The work of Abraham did not have some kind of intrinsic merit to account him as righteous, but it showed or manifested the genuineness of his faith. That is the "sense" in which Abraham was "justified by works." He was shown to be righteous.

James is discussing the evidence of faith (says-claims to have faith but has no works/I will show you my faith by my works - James 2:14-18) and not the initial act of being accounted as righteous with God. (Romans 4:2-3)
 
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BNR32FAN

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Amen! In James 2:21, notice that James does not say that Abraham's work of offering up Isaac resulted in God accounting Abraham as righteous. The accounting of Abraham's faith as righteousness was made in Genesis 15:6, many years before his work of offering up Isaac recorded in Genesis 22.

The work of Abraham did not have some kind of intrinsic merit to account him as righteous, but it showed or manifested the genuineness of his faith. That is the "sense" in which Abraham was "justified by works." He was shown to be righteous.

James is discussing the evidence of faith (says-claims to have faith but has no works/I will show you my faith by my works - James 2:14-18) and not the initial act of being accounted as righteous with God. (Romans 4:2-3)

Yeah it’s specifically stated in the definition of the Greek word dikaioō, to be shown or evinced as being righteous. If James were saying that Abraham was counted or made righteous by his works then he would be directly contradicting Paul in Romans 4 when he specifically stated that Abraham was not justified by his works. Obviously we can’t say that Paul meant that Abraham was not shown or evinced as being righteous by his works because that doesn’t make any sense. People are shown to be righteous by the evidence of their faith which is their works. Hence “you can judge a tree by its fruits.” So yeah I completely agree James was referring to evidence of faith not being made righteous by works.
 
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If what you say is true: Then Hebrews 10:9 cannot be true in that the first covenant was taken away. You say there is three and if so the first covenant would be taken away to establish the second covenant out of the three. That does not make any sense.
No, Hebrews is understandable with the first being taken away because the Abrahamic covenant is a covenant of promise. The "first" is defined within the text and there's no need to speak of God's covnant with Abraham as the promises remain in tact. No where are these limited as the only covenants God has made, so it is perfectly acceptable when comparing one to the other to speak of the Sinai covenant as "the first."
 
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You really need to do a study of what the Gospel meaning of repentance is. You think repentance means asking for forgiveness. That is not the meaning of repentance.

Put aside what you have learned about stages of salvation, and see if that might not help.

The entire New Testament teaches us that true repentance is demonstrated in a commitment to renounce, deny, put to death, put away, crucify, the old master of the sinful nature, and then commit to obey the command to follow Lord Jesus into a sanctified life of righteousness and love. That is the Gospel Faith by which God saves us.

A Biblical Case For Repentance:

At the heart, I believe the Bible teaches that "Repentance" means, "Asking God for forgiveness" (Which of course naturally then leads to the "fruits of repentance", i.e. obedience to the Lord):

Important Note: While I may believe "Repentance" does involve to a certain degree a "change of mind" (like a person changing their mind about their old life of sin), I do not think "Repentance" exclusively means a “change of mind.”

"Asking God for forgiveness of sin" can either refer to: The "Sinner's Prayer" (Initial Salvation) (Romans 10:13), and or the seasoned believer "Confessing one's sin" (Continued Salvation) (See 1 John 1:9, 1 John 2:1).

Anyways, here are my ten points using Scripture showing that "repentance" means "asking God for forgiveness of sin.”

#1. Acts 2:38,
The New Living Translation says in Acts 2:38 to "repent of your sins."
Douay Reheims says in Acts 2:38 to "Do penance."
New Life Version says in Acts 2:38 to "Be sorry for your sins"

#2. Luke 17:3 says, "Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him." This doesn't make any sense if "repent" means believe in Jesus (as some teach) or to have a change of mind about sin (as others teach) or to exclusively forsake sin. Yes, we are to forsake sin as a part of repentance but that comes later after repentance (Which is to ask God for forgiveness of our sin). For how can we reconcile with a brother if we do not say we are sorry vs. just going on about life as if we did nothing wrong?

#3. Jesus said in Matthew 12:41 that the Ninevites will rise up in Judgment against this generation because they repented at the preaching of Jonah. If you were to turn to Jonah chapter 3, you would be able to see in Jonah 3:6-10 that the King of the Ninevites had told his people to:

(a) Cry out to God (i.e. Repentance) (See Jonah 3:8).
(b) Turn from their sins or evil ways (i.e. The Natural Fruits of Repentance).​

#4. Matthew 3:6 (which then lines up with Matthew 3:8). Also, in Mark 1:4-5, it says John preached the "baptism of repentance" for the remission of sins (verse 4), and it then defines this "baptism of repentance" by saying they confessed their sins when they were baptized (verse 5).

#5. We see in Acts of the Apostles 8:22 a clear example of Peter telling Simon to "repent" of his wickedness in trying to pay for the Holy Spirit. Peter is telling Simon to make a prayer towards God. For Peter says that he should pray that God might forgive him. In other words, Peter is telling Simon to repent of a one time event of wickedness by way of prayer to GOD. This only makes sense if "repent" means to "ask for forgiveness."

#6. Ezekiel 14:6 says,
"Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols;" Repent makes the most sense here if a person is asking God for forgiveness by way of prayer instead of a person just believing in God. Naturally a person believes in God as their Savior if they are planning on forsaking their idols.

#7. We see repentance is the topic of discussion in Luke 15 (Luke 15:6) (Luke 15:10); This is then followed up by the "Parable of the Prodigal Son" with the son desiring to be reconciled with his father. We learn the WAY the Prodigal Son desired to be reconciled with his father when he said,

"I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants." (Luke 15:18-19).

In other words, the Prodigal Son was seeking forgiveness. This ties into the point of repentance in Luke 15:6 and Luke 15:10.

#8. Luke 10:13 says,
"Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes." This rules out the theory that repentance is exclusively forsaking sin. Granted, forsaking sin always follow true repentance (Asking God for forgiveness of one's sins) but forsaking sin is not repentance. The word "repented" here is describing a one time event because they "repented", sitting in sackcloth and ashes. In Jonah 3:6 we learn that the King of Nineveh sat in sackcloth and ashes. In Jonah 3:8, the King of Nineveh tells people to put on sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God (i.e. repentance): and then turn from their evil way (i.e. the fruits of repentance).

#9. John the Baptist says we are to bring forth fruits worthy of repentance (Luke 3:8). Fruits are deeds (or obedience to God). How can repentance be the same thing as the fruit? Is the fruit the same thing as the tree?

#10. Jeremiah 8:6 says, "I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle." Here we see the word "repented of wickedness" tied with the words, "What have I done?" This is an acknowledgement of one's sin to God as a part of asking His forgiveness.


Notable Additional Verses that Deal with Repentance
(But They Do Not Use The Word "Repent" or "Repentance"):

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13).

13 "And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luke 18:13-14).

Proverbs 28:13 says whosoever confesses and forsakes sin shall have mercy.

You said:
You open to any book of the Bible you want to in the Gospels, Acts, and the Epistles to the Churches, and to Timothy and Titus, and Revelation - They all repeat the same message. Repentance is clearly taught, illustrated, urged, and commanded. The meaning of repentance is clearly understood by all the repeated teaching on it.

You are barking up the wrong tree, my friend. I believe repentance is commanded and it is taught, etc.
I believe Christians must repent (seek forgiveness with the Lord Jesus) which naturally leads to the fruits of repentance (good works, putting away sin, etc.).

You said:
Blessings

Thank you. May the Lord bless you greatly (even if we may disagree on certain things).
 
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No, Hebrews is understandable with the first being taken away because the Abrahamic covenant is a covenant of promise. The "first" is defined within the text and there's no need to speak of God's covnant with Abraham as the promises remain in tact. No where are these limited as the only covenants God has made, so it is perfectly acceptable when comparing one to the other to speak of the Sinai covenant as "the first."

I believe the Law of Moses was to codify many laws and practices that God’s people were already doing (Note: This would not be all laws of course because the Law of Moses no doubt introduced some new instructions). Anyways, sexual immorality existed before the Law of Moses. For Joseph ran away from sexual sin. They made animal sacrifices before the Law of Moses and yet they are prescribed in the Law, as well. So the Law of Moses is a continuation of the covenant made with Adam and Eve when God killed an animal (sacrifice) to cloth their nakedness.

Also, if what you say is true: Hebrews 10:9 would not technically be a true verse if you wanted the 1st covenant to be the Mosaic covenant. The author would be making an untrue statement. You don’t believe the New covenant is the second covenant. Yet the author of Hebrews is saying that the New Covenant is the second covenant. So I will stick by what the Bible says and not what you say.

The word Testament is defined as a covenant. Yet, our Bibles are divided into two covenants. This fits Hebrews 10:9 in what it says. But you can still speak against what Hebrews 10:9 says. I believe it despite what you say.
 
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