Hi everyone, I just wanted to kind of throw this out their for everyone who wonders about repenting. Maybe you get bad thoughts and wondering if you should repent all the time. Or never. And you may not even know how to repent. Well I think I have some good Bible based answers that will help. Since repenting and having a penitent heart is import for a Christian, I think its important to have a thorough idea on how it works, that way we are doing things the way God asks us to do it, and not just winging it. I'm sure some people will disagree with me, and thats, ok. Eat the straw and spit out the sticks.
My first statement is this, you are not to ask for forgiveness. Why? Well let me give you some reasons
Ephesians 1:7
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace
By the very nature of being "in Him", we are in a continual cleansing process. The moment you accepted Christ, in the spiritual realm His blood began to cleanse you and will not stop until the day of your redemption.
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[a] sin
Again walking in the light, having fellowship with the son ensures us that we are "in Him" and the blood of Jesus Christ continues to purify us.
If that isn't enough proof look at 1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness
Here is the main verse on exactly what you do in the process of repenting. You are not asking for forgiveness, but rather you are confessing what you know is wrong. He isn't forgiving our sins because we ask Him, he is currently forgiving your sins based on what Jesus has already done. Now confession is a whole other ball game. This is where you are telling God what you have done, and deciding to turn from that sin.
For example if I hit my finger with a hammer and a cuss word comes out. I would go to God and say "Lord I really dropped the ball today, I let that word slip out of my mouth. I know I am to speak things that bring glory to you, and I will try harder to obey Your Word. Thank you Lord for washing me and cleansing me every day! You are such an awesome God!"
Well hopefully that helped someone out their that doesn't quite understand the process.
Also as far as repenting over thoughts. Do it if you know its from you. Personally I can tell if a thought was me wanting that thought and entertaining that thought. But when an unwanted, disgusting thought comes, I just let the thought come and go because I know it was never from me to begin with.
Also if you think you have really blown it, I mean REALLY dropped the ball look to Psalms 51. I believe this is what King David wrote after sleeping with Bathsheba and then having her husband killed. He was torn apart, to the point of death about it. And he was also forgiven.
My first statement is this, you are not to ask for forgiveness. Why? Well let me give you some reasons
Ephesians 1:7
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace
By the very nature of being "in Him", we are in a continual cleansing process. The moment you accepted Christ, in the spiritual realm His blood began to cleanse you and will not stop until the day of your redemption.
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[a] sin
Again walking in the light, having fellowship with the son ensures us that we are "in Him" and the blood of Jesus Christ continues to purify us.
If that isn't enough proof look at 1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness
Here is the main verse on exactly what you do in the process of repenting. You are not asking for forgiveness, but rather you are confessing what you know is wrong. He isn't forgiving our sins because we ask Him, he is currently forgiving your sins based on what Jesus has already done. Now confession is a whole other ball game. This is where you are telling God what you have done, and deciding to turn from that sin.
For example if I hit my finger with a hammer and a cuss word comes out. I would go to God and say "Lord I really dropped the ball today, I let that word slip out of my mouth. I know I am to speak things that bring glory to you, and I will try harder to obey Your Word. Thank you Lord for washing me and cleansing me every day! You are such an awesome God!"
Well hopefully that helped someone out their that doesn't quite understand the process.
Also as far as repenting over thoughts. Do it if you know its from you. Personally I can tell if a thought was me wanting that thought and entertaining that thought. But when an unwanted, disgusting thought comes, I just let the thought come and go because I know it was never from me to begin with.
Also if you think you have really blown it, I mean REALLY dropped the ball look to Psalms 51. I believe this is what King David wrote after sleeping with Bathsheba and then having her husband killed. He was torn apart, to the point of death about it. And he was also forgiven.
