The definition of true repentance in Christianity

[alaric]

Repentance is to change your mind with regards to the worldly way to obtain salvation. What is the worldly way to obtain salvation? The worldly way of salvation is to stop sinning and do more good works to be qualify for God's acceptance. But according to God, no sinner can enter heaven.

Revelation 21:27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

That includes sinner who by their own definition has stopped sinning (in reality, no sinner can stop sinning in action or thought). A sinner who is able to sin less and do a lot of good works, is just a well behaved sinner. A sinner is still a sinner regardless whether he is sinning less and did a lot of good works. No amount of good works or committing less sin will change the status of a sinner into a saint. True repentance is to understand that a sinner cannot save himself because nobody can change their sinner status through good works or committing less sins. The only way to change the sinner status is to accept Jesus' payment for our sins and to be BORN AGAIN (made into a new creation).

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 

[HTacianas]

Repentance is to change your mind with regards to the worldly way to obtain salvation. What is the worldly way to obtain salvation? The worldly way of salvation is to stop sinning and do more good works to be qualify for God's acceptance. But according to God, no sinner can enter heaven.

Revelation 21:27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

That includes sinner who by their own definition has stopped sinning (in reality, no sinner can stop sinning in action or thought). A sinner who is able to sin less and do a lot of good works, is just a well behaved sinner. A sinner is still a sinner regardless whether he is sinning less and did a lot of good works. No amount of good works or committing less sin will change the status of a sinner into a saint. True repentance is to understand that a sinner cannot save himself because nobody can change their sinner status through good works or committing less sins. The only way to change the sinner status is to accept Jesus' payment for our sins and to be BORN AGAIN (made into a new creation).

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

To repent is to change your mind about a thing and change your behavior. If we look to a contemporary non-biblical use of the term, it is found repeatedly in The Jewish War by Flavius Josephus. One example:

...Titus Caesar, who destroyed it, is himself a witness, who, during the entire war, pitied the people who were kept under by the seditious, and did often voluntarily delay the taking of the city, and allowed time to the siege, in order to let the authors have opportunity for repentance.

The Jews were in rebellion against Rome, and Titus was in command of the Roman army with orders to quash it. He would mass his army around a rebellious city, then offer "opportunity for repentance", meaning an opportunity to cease the rebellion, surrender, and live. That is the case of humankind. Humankind is in rebellion against God, and God offers "opportunity for repentance". To repent is to cease your rebellion against God. To cease rebellion is cease rebellious acts. Jesus uses the same analogy in Luke:

Luk 14:31 “Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?

Luk 14:32 “Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.

It is peace with God that is offered through repentance. To persist in rebellion is not repentance.

1Co 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,

1Co 6:10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

 

[alaric]

To repent is to change your mind about a thing and change your behavior. If we look to a contemporary non-biblical use of the term, it is found repeatedly in The Jewish War by Flavius Josephus. One example:

...Titus Caesar, who destroyed it, is himself a witness, who, during the entire war, pitied the people who were kept under by the seditious, and did often voluntarily delay the taking of the city, and allowed time to the siege, in order to let the authors have opportunity for repentance.

The Jews were in rebellion against Rome, and Titus was in command of the Roman army with orders to quash it. He would mass his army around a rebellious city, then offer "opportunity for repentance", meaning an opportunity to cease the rebellion, surrender, and live. That is the case of humankind. Humankind is in rebellion against God, and God offers "opportunity for repentance". To repent is to cease your rebellion against God. To cease rebellion is cease rebellious acts. Jesus uses the same analogy in Luke:

Luk 14:31 “Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?

Luk 14:32 “Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.

It is peace with God that is offered through repentance. To persist in rebellion is not repentance.

1Co 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,

1Co 6:10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

I only know the verse "Repentance onto salvation". If there is repentance but there is no salvation, then it is the wrong repentance. We can study and know as much as anyone but it is all head knowledge that does not help.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Repentance is to change your mind with regards to the worldly way to obtain salvation. What is the worldly way to obtain salvation? The worldly way of salvation is to stop sinning and do more good works to be qualify for God's acceptance. But according to God, no sinner can enter heaven.

Revelation 21:27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

That includes sinner who by their own definition has stopped sinning (in reality, no sinner can stop sinning in action or thought). A sinner who is able to sin less and do a lot of good works, is just a well behaved sinner. A sinner is still a sinner regardless whether he is sinning less and did a lot of good works. No amount of good works or committing less sin will change the status of a sinner into a saint. True repentance is to understand that a sinner cannot save himself because nobody can change their sinner status through good works or committing less sins. The only way to change the sinner status is to accept Jesus' payment for our sins and to be BORN AGAIN (made into a new creation).

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

And this can only be accomplished with the indwelling of His Holy Spirit.
Blessings.

 

[Kees Boer]

It's pretty straight forward in the original languages. I like what the person, who first posted it said. This is a video I made about it, and I just base it on the original languages involved.

 

[Theopalcross]

im new here and ive come back to God on my own will after years of paganism /wicca. i can only describe my relationship with god like a father daughter/best friend relationship. I talk to god in plain words, i dont use special prayers or words or a rosary . i simply tell him whats on my mind like i would a friend or father. to me , thats true repenting. To repent from a large case of sinning , one has to feel christ in their heart and soul. then you know for sure.