Repentance?

Question

I've heard different definitions of repentance. Some say you must turn from your sins before you can receive Christ. Isn't that then a work? I thought works wouldn't take us to heaven. Another definition of repentance is "stop trusting in your way, your plan, and accept God's plan (through Christ)." This makes more sense to me. What do you think? Especially when I read that God himself repented (changed his mind) in the Bible.

Answer 1

There is nothing Biblical about "turning from your sins BEFORE, you can receive Christ." Repentance is turning away from your old ways BECAUSE you now have Christ in you.

Answer 2

A work is some physical act... if you think about helping an old lady accross the street that is not a work, even if you genuanly intend to do it..... it becomes a work only when you do it...

Repentence is: " I have sined...I have done this sin(state all known sins here). I know this was a sin(even if I did not at the time know that). I am a sinner and not worthy of any thing from you God. I truly do not want to be a sinner but I am mortal and weak. I will do every thing I am capable of to not sin... but I know God that I will, either intentionaly or unintentionaly, please have mercy upon me Oh Lord God. even though I deserve no mercy. I will place my faith and trust in you and strive to do your will in my life from this moment on".....

If you can go to God and truly mean that... from the very core of your soul. absolutly and without reservation... then you have repented to God.... Now... there is a bit more that must go along with that inorder to receive God's free gift of Salvation... but you asked about the repenting part.

That is not a work... that is mental... it is within... you have not done it yet... you are only saying you are going to try...but that is what repenting is... and it is not easy for most... and most are unable to ever come to that point to the fullest degree that God requires for it to be true repentence....

I fought comeing to that point for a very long time.... when I did reach that point it happened in an instant...It can be extreamly painful for some... it is difficult for all.

Answer 3

God changing his mind (repented) is only one use of the word repent. Like many words there are different meanings according to the context of the usage..
Repenting of your sins is mostly a mental decision:
1. To be sorry before God that you have broken his rules and offended him
2. To try to not sin any more
Those are the process that you go through in your mind and verbal agreement with God.

After you pray that prayer you will find that God will come to live the Christian life in and through you with the Holy Spirit. That is the power that God gives to you so you can have a successful Christian life..
Repenting is mostly the decision and living out the decision is that God helps you to do it.. that is the works part and he takes charge of the works. and you obey the Holy Spirit..

Answer 4

Your two definitions go hand-in-hand. We must stop trusting in our own ways and accept Gods ways, by doing this we recognize that we have sinned against God and are in need of forgiveness. This is the complete recognition that we understand that WE cannot change ourselves, only God can so it doesn't require any work on our part. Once Christ sees that we have "said no to sin" He'll come and live within us by means of the Holy Ghost. There you have
A) Recognition that you have sinned.

B) Realizing that you must turn away from it

C) Accept Christ's free gift of forgiveness.

D) Begin living in Christ.

HE changes us from the inside out, we don't change ourselves. We can't.

Answer 5

Well, sometimes changing your mind is work, and that's what I think repentance is, it's a process that we go through to get our minds to and our spirits to change.

I often follow these simple steps.

1) Acknowledge I've done wrong.
2) Feel sorry for it.
3) Pray for God to forgive me.
4) Ask anyone I've offended to forgive me.
5) Where possible, try to correct the mistake or make amends.
6) Strive not to do it again.

Yeah, it's a bit of work, but the point is that it gets us to reach that change in our hearts.

best wishes

Answer 6

That is an interesting Question. I feel that more at question here is the argument of Faith vrs. works. "for we are saved by Grace alone." for example tells us that only through Christ and trully excepting him can we be saved. Repentance falls in this catagory surley. Part of turning to Christ is followig his teachings. This surley requires work or effort on our part. "If you love me keep my comandments." Surley it takes work on our part to keep the comandments. So I refer you to James 2:14-26. "Even so Faith without Works is dead." This is not to say that we can be saved simply by what we do but that to say you have faith is not enough. You have to live your life bassed in that faith. Repentance now makes more sence. Yes The verb to repent means to change ones path or Mind. But change implies effort. To repent we first admit we have done wrong. Second we Go to God to seek forgivness. Third we do our best to rectify our mistake. Finally we forsake the sin. Or never do it again. That is true repentance. But even if we do all of this every time with out the sacrifice made by Christ it would be a waste of our time. His blood makes all the effort we put into living right applicable to our salvation. He died that we could recieve imortality and eternal life. He died that our sins could be cleansed.

So yes repentance involves the Blood of Christ but also the action we take to change our lives. With out either part we would be lost.

Answer 7

No, a "work" is something you do. God's undeserved Grace due to our faith is what justifies us. This is explored rather extensively at Romans 4.

I think your first definition of repentance is more accurate. Jesus said at Luke 9:62 “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” You must turn from your sins and follow after Him.

Peace.

Answer 8

My understanding of repentance is this:

1. You recognize and admit that something you have done is morally wrong.
2. You honestly regret doing it.
3. You seek forgiveness from God.
4. You actively try to not ever do it again.

This may seem simple, but it is seldom easy. People (myself included) frequently do things we know are wrong simply because there is a short-term result that we really want.

Answer 9

Hello bbjones9.. :)

No, one does not have to turn from their sins..they have to repent (to want to change) of their sins and ask for forgiveness (confess your sins)..then the Holy Spirit will change your life..you will no longer want to sin..you will want to live a Holy life.. :)

You will become a New creature in Christ..Old things are passed away, behold All things become New..

In Jesus Most Precious Name..
With Love..In Christ.. :)

Answer 10

Repentance to me is accepting and knowing you've done wrong and physically trying to change your ways to follow the path that God has set out for you. He will direct your paths and if you've sinned, "repent"...so turn immediatly from the ways of the flesh and accept God's forgiveness, and change your heart.<><