Repentance

[Soverinth]

I'm trying to understand this.

Why is it so hard to repent.

The bible and other people make it sound so easy but i just don't understand.

How do i repent? How can i tell if i'm not repenting the way i should be?


Edit: Most of my issues concerning this have already been answered below and on other pages of this thread, so i am content now. If you still wish answer this first post, go right ahead.

 

[joey_downunder]

Here's a good short definition for you. Christianity 101 - Repentance
It is deciding to turn from sin as well as feeling sorry about it.
Remember apostle Paul was very open about his own battles with the flesh. Romans 7 - ESVBible.org That is why we need God's grace, we all fall short of the glory of God.

 

[LilLamb219]

I'm trying to understand this.

Why is it so hard to repent.

The bible and other people make it sound so easy but i just don't understand.

How do i repent? How can i tell if i'm not repenting the way i should be?

It depends on what you're trying to repent of. Some things tend to be easier than others and some are a daily struggle. I don't know of too many people who think repentance is easy.

 

[KashiaJN142627]

I do not have research or dictionary books with me, and I am especially interested in the original languages, but what I do.....I look up the Greek Hebrew or Aramaic words...as originally spoken and written....and see the translation of the word in that language as Jesus spoke. It helps me to hear Him as He spoke while in the flesh.
I believe repentance means turning away.

 

[Soverinth]

Thank you all for your help it has helped me through times of doubt but lets face it, i'm not saved and i know it.

I guess deep down i must still be full of pride or full of self reliance.

I guess i just don't see how bad sin really is.

I guess i'm just not desperate enough for a relationship with God.

I guess i just don't desire God enough.

I've asked the Lord to help me, asked him to show me, but i must not be cut out for it.

I don't think I'm hopeless enough. I must deep down not realize how hopeless i should be.

I just..i just don't know what to do. I know i have to repent but even if i did it wouldn't be genuine.

They say you have to just come. Just come! They make it sound so easy!

I don't know why i don't realize that i have nothing i mean i understand that because that's what the bible says but I just don't seem to get it..

Just come.. When i hear that it sounds easy but nothing in my head clicks.

 

[Tremic]

Thank you all for your help it has helped me through times of doubt but lets face it, i'm not saved and i know it.

I guess deep down i must still be full of pride or full of self reliance.

I guess i just don't see how bad sin really is.

I guess i'm just not desperate enough for a relationship with God.

I guess i just don't desire God enough.

I've asked the Lord to help me, asked him to show me, but i must not be cut out for it.

I don't think I'm hopeless enough. I must deep down not realize how hopeless i should be.

I just..i just don't know what to do. I know i have to repent but even if i did it wouldn't be genuine.

They say you have to just come. Just come! They make it sound so easy!

I don't know why i don't realize that i have nothing i mean i understand that because that's what the bible says but I just don't seem to get it..

Just come.. When i hear that it sounds easy but nothing in my head clicks.

Armizer, every true Christian everywhere has gone through the repentance thing and accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour. The thing is, (and this is only MY opinion) repentance is an ongoing thing. Being human, we never stop sinning, which is why repentance is so difficult.
However, you have to remember that God has no problem seeing into your heart and recognizing the struggle you're having. This pleases Him no end, because He can see that you're trying your best to repent instead of just reverting to your sinful past.
Pray to Him, Armizer. Humble yourself before Him. Ask Him for forgiveness. In Hebrews 13:5 He says that "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee". That means, Armizer, that He's with you all the way in your daily struggle against sin. You're not alone.
Good luck and God bless you.

 

[Peripatetic]

It is hard to repent for sins that still have a hold on us. I cringe with regret when I think back to some of the things that I have said and done, but I've moved on because I repented in the past when I saw those behaviors for what they really were. I'm not likely to repeat them.

On the other hand, I too struggle with repenting for sins that resurface. We all have areas of constant struggle, whether it's anger, pride, greed, addictions, coveting, etc. For these, I repent in the present tense, and ask for help in overcoming them.

 

[LilLamb219]

Wait...you're saying BECAUSE you don't think you're repentant enough that you don't have the salvation that Jesus won for us at the cross?????

Don't make repentance a condition for salvation. It's by grace through faith we are saved. Your words tend to make even the "gift" that repentance is into a work you think you can do without the Holy Spirit.

Thank you all for your help it has helped me through times of doubt but lets face it, i'm not saved and i know it.

I guess deep down i must still be full of pride or full of self reliance.

I guess i just don't see how bad sin really is.

I guess i'm just not desperate enough for a relationship with God.

I guess i just don't desire God enough.

I've asked the Lord to help me, asked him to show me, but i must not be cut out for it.

I don't think I'm hopeless enough. I must deep down not realize how hopeless i should be.

I just..i just don't know what to do. I know i have to repent but even if i did it wouldn't be genuine.

They say you have to just come. Just come! They make it sound so easy!

I don't know why i don't realize that i have nothing i mean i understand that because that's what the bible says but I just don't seem to get it..

Just come.. When i hear that it sounds easy but nothing in my head clicks.

 

[Willie T]

Do you remember the story of the passover blood on the Isralite's door jambs?

The people were told to apply the blood, go hole up in their houses, and the Death Angel would "pass over" their houses, not touching them.

Well, don't you suppose that in somewhere around two million Israelites, at least a couple of them had to be wondering, "Is this "blood" thing going to work?..... I dunno, I'm not so sure."

Of course! Let's face it, probably many thousands had to have had some doubts as they sat there hearing the screams of grief all around them... wondering if that blood was enough... or if it had been applied correctly.... or if God might read their mind's doubts, and come kill them anyway.

But not one of them died.

Why?

Because of their faith? Because of their steadfastness... or their praying?

No. It was due to one reason only. The blood was where the power was. As long as that blood had been applied (no matter how thick, nor how smoothly, nor how solidly), it was a done deal.

It didn't matter how confident or brave... or CHICKEN the people inside were, the sacrifical blood was there, and the contract had been sealed.

In the same manner, your salvation does not depend upon anything you do, say, think, or feel. If you accepted Jesus' sacrifice for you... it is now a done deal...... forever.

 

[Johnnz]

Its not at all a matter of how sincere you feel you are, or how remorseful, or how often you have 'failed' on the same issue. Repentance is more along the lines of seeing soemthing differently, having a new understanding of something, a new lens through which some things are now more clearly focused. We can't manufacture repentance.

Our focus is to be on God. It's seeing His perspectives that will begin real changes in us.

John
NZ

 

[asiyreh]

The Shocking Youth Message (Paul Washer) - YouTube

Listen to this you'll be truly sorry you did lol.

Sorry I don't mean to laugh, I watched a Paul Washer sermon last week, the thing almost broke me in two.

Declaimer:- Do not watch this if you're a Grace Christian. You'll be sorry you did.

 

[joey_downunder]

What Paul Washer says is the other side of the coin. What he says is true for those FAKE Christians who are abusing God's grace. The ones who say "I made a decision for Christ when I was 9, therefore I can do whatever I want and I am still saved."

These believers in cheap grace do not show any signs of a changed heart etc.

 

[joey_downunder]

Thank you all for your help it has helped me through times of doubt but lets face it, i'm not saved and i know it.

I guess deep down i must still be full of pride or full of self reliance.

I guess i just don't see how bad sin really is.

I guess i'm just not desperate enough for a relationship with God.

I guess i just don't desire God enough.

I've asked the Lord to help me, asked him to show me, but i must not be cut out for it.

I don't think I'm hopeless enough. I must deep down not realize how hopeless i should be.

I just..i just don't know what to do. I know i have to repent but even if i did it wouldn't be genuine.

They say you have to just come. Just come! They make it sound so easy!

I don't know why i don't realize that i have nothing i mean i understand that because that's what the bible says but I just don't seem to get it..

Just come.. When i hear that it sounds easy but nothing in my head clicks.

Everything you list is what we are all guilty of at some time or another.

Look at this verse:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Does that say IF you feel bad enough about your sins (or realise how bad they really are) THEN God will forgive you and/or proves you are reaaalllyy saved?

 

[asiyreh]

Agreed sister, I don't mean to be disrespectful. Paul's is a difficult message, but an edifying one. It serves purpose for this type of problem Arm is having. Law to the proud and grace to the humble see. 1 Peter 5.5

The real knowledge of Sin brings us to the cross and true repentance. if our brother Paul can't do that then for Arm, I'll be very surprised.

 

[Soverinth]

Yeah i watched that video a while ago. Along with other video sermons from other pastors explaining that kind of Situation. It was those videos that terrified me.

It just scared me because before i watched that video and many others i didn't really know what to think of my Faith. I thought i was saved but i never really thought about it.


Before all these recent endeavors, I was living the same life i did before. That event that i went to where I said the sinners prayer and after i thought i was saved. But even then i didn't really know much about the Christian Faith. I guess the most i knew was that Jesus died on a cross for our sins.

It was just a random day months after that i thought of the question:
"Where would you go if you died tonight? Heaven or Hell?"

I actually thought about that for a minute and i thought that i was saved but i didn't even really know what was needed to be saved. So i searched up info about being saved. It eventually led up to a few weeks ago when i saw those videos and many others like it and it just absolutely terrified me. I was so scared. Scared that i'm going to Hell. Scared of the high possibilities that my family could all be going to Hell as well.

I didn't know what to do. So i did more research about what was needed to be saved.

I've learned that being saved really only requires 2 things:

1) The willingness to turn away from my sinful habits and rely on Christ for help.

2) Complete Surrender of my life to Christ. Along with Believing the Gospel and Putting my Faith and Trust in him.


Now that i think about it I've been trying to do all that ^ but in reality i haven't gotten anywhere. The most result I've made from all this is:

Being sad every day, completely cutting off all old activities I used to do including school, crying over my failed efforts, praying to God that i need him to change and i need his help.

You can tell i misunderstood a lot of those videos because i didn't know what worldliness meant, and because of my ignorance I've just made my mental state worse. Cutting off the wrong things and just not getting it.

Even more sadly is I know that nothing i do that can save me, i just have to surrender. There must me something holding me back. I don't really know

 

[Soverinth]

I have however contacted a local church that is right on the street i live on through Facebook. I will be calling their office this Friday. Hopefully i can arrange a day to go and just talk to the pastor. A face to face talk with someone should help me out a lot. I mean don't get me wrong you guys have been so very helpful with your wisdom just you know, trying to solve all of this through a forum isn't really gonna do the trick.

 

[joey_downunder]

Armizer - the Pilgrim's Progress book deals with this fear of yours! Here it is in pdf. format. http://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF Books/pilgrim progress.pdf

Christian is the main character. He hears of the Gospel and is filled with fear, decides he needs to seek God and struggles with the load of his failures and weaknesses. Towards the beginning of the book (just like you) he suffers with the knowledge that he deserves to be condemned.

Please read it - it is a wonderful classic describing the journey every Christian goes through.

P.S. Good to read you're going to see a pastor. It definitely sounds like you need direct personal support; forums can't provide enough of that.

 

[hedrick]

I've been trying to think of something I can say that will help you. It seems obvious to me that you are a Christian, and that you're repentant. So why are you having trouble believing it? I've got a couple of ideas.

First, I think you're expecting more from repentance than Jesus does. I think you're beating yourself up for not having completely turned away from your sins. Let's look at how Jesus uses the term:

* He uses it of the basic decision to be his follower.
* He uses it to indicate a basic understanding that we're not good enough, and depend upon God's forgiveness
* He uses it to refer to asking forgiveness for specific sins.

The first I'm pretty sure you've done. After all, you're clearly evaluating your life in terms of whether you're following Jesus. So it's pretty clear that you've made the basic change in orientation.

The second is typified by Jesus story of the Pharisee and the tax collector, Luke 18:10 ff. The tax collector has certainly not suddenly started the victorious Christian life. Quite the contrary. He's standing far off because he thinks he's a hopeless cause, not worthy to approach God. The one who is convinced that he's got the new life is the Pharisee. But it's the tax collector who goes away justified. So Jesus' message is that what justifies you is realizing you need God's mercy, not perfection.

The message for individual sins is the same. It's true that ideally repentance means not just being sorry, but actually turning away from our sins. But the fact is, that's a lifelong battle. No Christian is free from sin in this life. Even Paul wasn't. He confesses that although he wants not to sin, he never manages it (Rom 7:17 ff). Jesus' comment on this is that if someone repents of the same sin seven times a day (presumably meaning he keeps committing it) we have to forgive them each time.

So what is this new life in Christ that everyone talks about? It's not being perfect in ourselves. It's letting Christ work through us. And he can work even through imperfect people. Jesus' parables and teaching about judgement say that we're judged by whether we bear fruit. The question isn't whether we're free from sin, but whether we show signs of love, primarily by doing things to help others. And as the parable of the sheep and goats makes clear, we may not even realize that we've done that. (Mat 25:44) That's OK. We're supposed to trust God, not ourselves. He'll make sure that anyone who trusts him will end up saved.

Admittedly Paul talks about being freed from sin. (Rom 6:7) But he seems to be thinking of an overall orientation. Sin no longer owns us. (Rom 6:14) But the reality in Rom 7:14 ff is that while God now owns us, sin is still there. As Rom 8 makes clear, it is Christ that fulfills the requirement for us.

---------------

I agree about talking with someone in person. But as I recall, some of what you heard in that Church may be causing the problem. The difficulty with doing things in person is you need the right person. There are an enormous number of legalistic Christians out there who get their influence by making Christians feel guilty.

 

[Forge3]

I'm trying to understand this.

Why is it so hard to repent.

The bible and other people make it sound so easy but i just don't understand.

How do i repent? How can i tell if i'm not repenting the way i should be?

As I understand it, repentance is toward conversion (Metanoia) of the heart. We move toward becoming better servants and disciples of Christ. Those things that seem to stand in the way are examined in our conscience. And repentance is the eliminating oif such things and changing through acceptance and cooperation with grace.

From the musical Godspell (1972)

Day by Day
Oh Lord three things I pray
To see thee more clearly
Love more dearly
Follow thee more nearly
Day by Day.

Turning away from sin and a turning toward God. Two sides of a proverbial coin of intrinsic value that can't be measured. Alcohol stood in my way and being an alcoholic did not help. So I repented over and over again to follow this sober walk in the Lord I'm on now. There are attachments of the flesh and the world at large. We are to become more Christlike. And embracing the Gospel values may be met with resistance, even to grace. For instance forgiving our enemies. And the process of purgation and purification of the self so to speak does involve suffering and is not easy. Yet grace is there for the letting go and let God to occur

 

[Soverinth]

Sorry about that hedrick, i know you've been writing a ton and don't worry it's been helping me. All of your guys posts have been very helpful. Just trying to get through this that's all. So i'm sorry if i am making you guys right tons and tons and then i come off as still not getting it. It's helping me understand.