Do we need to be sorry to be saved?

[timothyu]

If they are truly repentant, then they will not want to do it again.

Right, they will understand the will of man is inferior to the will of God and reject what man deems right.

 

[sh3nmue]

(Acts 16:31) When Paul was asked by the prison guard what must I do to be saved? Paul didn't say "well are you sorry for your sins?" or "are you contrite and broken?" I don't believe he was sorry, He was scared and wanted to not go to hell and Paul gave a simple answer "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house"

 

[timothyu]

Paul gave a simple answer "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house"

In other words, reject the contrary ways of man to the will of God and accept the ways of the Kingdom.. His will be done in earth.

 

[Mark Quayle]

Is there true change unless the person first becomes disgusted with it's manipulative self along with the conniving world man has made in our own image?

The disgust is not enough to produce true change. The teaching that one must reach rock bottom, or any of many other such notions, are not what Scripture teaches. It teaches that ANY sin is transgression of the whole law, and that it is impossible to conquer sin apart from God's current work in us. Being born again is by the same power that give us both to will and to do according to his purposes. "Apart from me you can do nothing."

 

[Mark Quayle]

Well, that simply depends on how repentant they are. If they are truly repentant, then they will not want to do it again.

It's not a question of degree of repentance, but of validity of repentance. It is only real if GOD does it in the person.

 

[1Tonne]

It's not a question of degree of repentance, but of validity of repentance. It is only real if GOD does it in the person.

That is a Calvinist viewpoint. I am not a Calvinist.

 

[Mark Quayle]

That is a Calvinist viewpoint. I am not a Calvinist.

I don't know if it is Calvinist or not. Not many Calvinists that I know of think of it quite that way. In general, they attribute salvation —or more precisely, regeneration— to God alone (monergism), but they seem to generally think of what follows salvation synergistically. To me, it is all the work of God, including anything good that I do.

 

[1Tonne]

I don't know if it is Calvinist or not. Not many Calvinists that I know of think of it quite that way. In general, they attribute salvation —or more precisely, regeneration— to God alone (monergism), but they seem to generally think of what follows salvation synergistically. To me, it is all the work of God, including anything good that I do.

Yip. That sounds Calvinist.

 

[Lost4words]

Of course we need to be sorry for our sins etc.

Even satan believes in Jesus but he aint sorry.

To believe is to be fully in tune with God. And that means to truly repent of ones sins. To ask for forgiveness.

"Forgive us our trespasses...."

 

[timothyu]

"Apart from me you can do nothing."

Which is in reference to the one original sin... putting our will ahead of the will of God. Our will accomplishes nothing in this world but grief . Only God's will of loving all as self is the universal solution, something we must actively take part in.

 

[Hazelelponi]

I was listening to a sermon and within it, the pastor said that we do not need to be sorry when repenting. In Acts 3:19 it says, "Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;" So no mention of being sorry. All we need to do is believe and turn from our sins.
I know that there are verses that say how "Godly sorrow brings about repentance", and "God desires a broken and contrite heart", but the way these verses are worded, contrition is not compulsory.

I believe we need Godly sorrow. This is like falling on the mercy of the Judge.
For instance, you had robbed a bank and then after 10 years they finally caught you and you were now before the Judge. You say to the judge without any sorrow, "Judge be lenient with me. I know I robbed the bank, but I have not done it since." The Judge is not going to be lenient. There was no sign of contrition. You were not sorry for what you had done. You are going to get the book thrown at you.
But let's say you had robbed a bank and then after 10 years they finally caught you and you were now before the Judge. You say to the judge with tears in your eyes, "I am really sorry. I know what I did was really wrong, and I wished I had never done it. It was a foolish thing to do. I am so sorry." So, you fall on the mercy of the Judge. The judge seeing your contrition will be more inclined to the possibility of a lesser sentence.

What are other people's thoughts on this? Do we need contrition? Is it a false teaching to tell others they simply need to leave their sins without any contrition?

I think at issue here is that not everyone might have the same visceral feeling.

The Bible teaches us to repent. In turning away from sin and towards Christ and the path Christ wants us to walk, there is a very serious recognition of one's guilt; a recognition of past wrongdoing - of past wrong-think also if you will.

The Godly sorrow for what you've done in the past is shown in changing course to do what is right in the sight of God.

While in your private chamber some might cry and feel shattered, others might have a less emotional reaction - but I wouldn't imagine them any less saved.

The sign of Christ is in the changed man rather than his emotional feelings. Only God can examine the heart.