Let’s stick to the original points that most here are not addressing (Which is the topic of the thread). I will just focus in on five of my points that shows that repentance is seeking forgiveness with Lord (i.e. Seeking forgiveness with the Lord Jesus Christ).
#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.
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).
#4. 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."
#5.
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).
You can just address 2-3 of these points above, but I would like for you to particularly deal with Luke 17:3, and Luke 10:13. In Luke 10:13: How can one repent sitting in sackcloth and ashes if it means to forsake sin? Can you forsake sin while sitting in sackcloth and ashes? In Luke 17:3: 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 (i.e. forsaking sin)? Note: I am not saying that forsaking sin is not a part of repentance (But I believe this would be the fruits of repentance and not exclusively repentance itself alone).
Anyways, I would like for you prove that my definition on repentance on these points in Scripture is not biblical or show how my definition does not fit the context. Please show me how your definition is more superior (by the context) vs. my definition on it. If you cannot do so, I simply will take that to mean that you do not know how to prove your case in how I am actually wrong with God’s Word (the Bible). So no phone call is needed, brother. We are just two gentlemanly Christian men talking here on the forums openly for all to see here. For truth should not be hidden in my humble opinion.
