What Does The Word "Repent" Really Mean?

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Nov 22, 2015
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#41
The word "repentance" - metanoia as been shown by others simply in the original greek means " to change the mind ".

Jesus said to "repent and believe in the gospel." Mark 1:15


To us it means to change our mind to stop relying on ourselves and our thinking and turn to God. Stop living our own life with our own thinking and self-reliance and come to Christ and let His life live through and in you. Receive all that Jesus did for us in His finished work.

We should be repenting ( changing how we think towards something ) constantly as we see the Lord's true nature, love and grace revealed to and in us. Yes...this means toward sinning too - from living a homosexual lifestyle to the slandering of others in the body of Christ.

There will always be "fruits" of having a changed mind ( having already repented ) to God but the "fruit" is not the repentance within itself. True repentance is the "root" before the "fruit" comes.

The fruit will manifest itself in the form of having a changed heart because we are a new creation in Christ.

This will also show in behavior as the life of Christ transforms our outward life to reflect what has already happened in our inner man - that new creation in Christ.

Sometimes our religious traditions can "hi-jack" the meanings of words and can present false assumptions.

Here is a video for those that like to watch them that talks about how the English word "repent" got hi-jacked by religion
.


[video=vimeo;112172173]https://vimeo.com/112172173[/video]

 

Gabriel2020

Senior Member
May 6, 2017
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#42
Repent is confessing your sins before God. you only can repent once, and that is upon converting your life to Jesus .when a person has repented of their sins, the next thing that follows is the baptism in the water to show the world that you have changed.,then comes the baptism of the holy ghost. in that order.. once you have been saved you can no longer repent,because according to scripture, you would be putting Jesus on the cross again to be crucified . everything after repentence is forgiveness and confessing your faults to one another.
 

LOLOKGal

Senior Member
Nov 13, 2015
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#43
There seems to be alot of confusion about what the word "repent" actually means. Some here say it means to "change one's mind" or "turn away from". Others say it means "to ask forgiveness" of our sins. To me personally, "repent" has always meant to ask for forgiveness from God when I sin.. What say you all? :)
According to Merriam Webster's dictionary, Repent means: To turn from sin and dedicate one self to the amendment (to change or modify for the better) of one's life.

Here's just one of many times the word, "repent" is used in the Bible... Mat 4:17 "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

According to Strong's, repent here means: To think differently. To reconsider. To change one's mind.

So we see a common word here, CHANGE! ...That is what repent is. To change (admend) one's mind from committing sins to stopping that same behavior. So, when you repent, you're saying, "I'm going to change how I do things from now on". So, when a Christian repents, they are saying, "Lord, I'm sorry for acting this way. From now on, I'm going to stop walking in my fleshy desires and walk in my spiritual desires."

You see, when you first accepted Jesus as your Savior, you were born again. Jesus explains this rebirth in John 3.

Our spirit has been redeemed. Our bodies won't be redeemed until 1 John 3:2 takes place. =D I don't know about you, but I'm excited for that day! Because, we shall see Him as He is! =D

Jesus states in John 3:6, "That which is born of the flesh, is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit, is spirit." So, our spirit desires to do the will of God. Our flesh desires to do the will of our enemy. So, now your faced with the question of, "Who will you serve"? Matt 6:24 states, No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (flesh)." So, "choose you this day who you will serve." (Josh 24:15)

1 - God's leading through your spirit?
If we do this, then we are the sons of God. (Romans 8:14)

2 - Satan's leading through your flesh?
If we do this, we will die. (Romans 8:13)

Romans 8 explains this whole living by the flesh vs living by the spirit concept.
 

vic1980

Senior Member
Apr 25, 2013
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#44
In His words

Ezekiel 18

5But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, 6And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman, 7And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; 8He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man, 9Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.
10If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things, 11And that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour's wife, 12Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination, 13Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.

14Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father's sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like, 15That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour's wife, 16Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment, 17That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live. 18As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity.

The Soul who Sins will Die

19Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live. 20The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

21But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 22All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. 23Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?

24But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die. 25Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal? 26When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die. 27Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. 28Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 29Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?

30Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. 31Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 32For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

Some might state this is old testament or impossible to do, but Jesus said with God all things are possible. :)

Shalom
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#45
And, to your mind, what would that dictionary definition be? Something from a Biblically aligned dictionary that frames the word in the era it was first used, or from a modern dictionary that relates the word to how it is commonly used today?
So busy being you, you didn't even have time to notice I gave it already, once more read it.

Keep fighting the good fight for nonsense.
 
Feb 7, 2015
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#46
So busy being you, you didn't even have time to notice I gave it already, once more read it.

Keep fighting the good fight for nonsense.
No, actually, you never did. All you said was that it was a word that had only one meaning, and that meaning could be found in a dictionary.... "A" dictionary.

Perhaps you have never looked it up in anything other than one dictionary. I dunno. So, since I have looked it up in both Biblical dictionaries and Secular dictionaries, and found that the meaning in modern secular dictionaries is not the same as in Biblical dictionaries that go to the original meanings....... I asked you which of the available definitions you felt was the more accurate one.

And, I am still asking that question.
 

OneFaith

Senior Member
Sep 5, 2016
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#47
There seems to be alot of confusion about what the word "repent" actually means. Some here say it means to "change one's mind" or "turn away from". Others say it means "to ask forgiveness" of our sins. To me personally, "repent" has always meant to ask for forgiveness from God when I sin.. What say you all? :)
It means to make a u-turn away from sin. We do this with a feeling of being sorry, and asking forgiveness, but it means to quit and do the opposite of what you're sorry for doing. If I say "God I am sorry for smoking, I repent, please forgive me." That means that I won't smoke anymore. (and haven't for years). I genuinely repented of that.
 
Dec 19, 2009
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#49
How do we make that fit the Bible saying God repented? (Which it says He did 28 times.)
Technically, I think "repent" means to "turn from". The Lord was going to do evil (cause pain), but then changed his mind.
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
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#50
Technically, I think "repent" means to "turn from". The Lord was going to do evil (cause pain), but then changed his mind.
That's exactly the meaning of the word. When you repent of your past actions or lifestyle you do a 180 and start allowing God to guide your path.
 
May 12, 2017
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#51
Repentance is a heart condition created by the Holy Spirit, which creates an undeniable resolve to turn and change from SIN and is always accompanied by the complete renewal of the Soul & Flesh to match the spirit, it is an ongoing process and not a one time event.
 
Dec 2, 2016
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#52
Accepting Jesus as Savior is an act of repentance since by nature we are going away from God and accepting Jesus as Savior means that we are now going toward God instead of away from Him. So when you accept Jesus as Savior you have repented.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#53
That's exactly the meaning of the word. When you repent of your past actions or lifestyle you do a 180 and start allowing God to guide your path.
It can't be that because Willie says so.
 
Feb 24, 2015
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#54
Repent for me is clearer to see when societies live on hatred and bitterness.
Two societies are the catholics and protestants in Northern Island, and the Serbs
and muslim communities in the Balkans, Yugoslavia.

Through generations the hatred for murders of families members lives on, and young
people take this up to murder people on the other side. This cycle once established
rolls on through the life experience of the people, destroying and turning people upside
down.

To repent is to realise each sin, each act causes hurt and pain in another that continues
the cycle, so you have to stop being part of it.

It is renouncing the evil behaviour, admitting all that matters is loving and serving one another,
helping people grow and become loving parts of our society. And the source of this love and
power is God, expressed in Christ.

And the evil acts are easy to spot, and everyone partakes. It is hard to say sorry and then
forgive others. Our hearts fight against this, to admit defeat before the whole of society and
our God, is the most difficult thing a human can do.

You know people who have done this. And it takes time. I doubt truly this is a one off event
rather it is a deepening and a humbling, some describe as being broken.

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Phil 2:9-11

We shall bow.

And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.
Rev 5:8

Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Matt 14:33

Amen. Let us repent of our sins and worship the King of Kings who sent Christ
to give us life, life eternal.
 
Feb 24, 2015
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#55
What many teach as repentance is really the very opposite of repentance, it is an encouragement to sin….the sin of religiosity, the substitution of our activity for the activity of Christ.
Repentance => encouragement to sin

This sentiment shows the spirit of a movement that changes the fundamentals
of the faith.

Conviction of sin and repentance before God, are Gods work in our lives and our
response. It is up to individuals to testify to what has happened, but it is obvious
from scripture what God meant.

Jonah and Nineveh is Gods example of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
If you cannot understand this, you do not understand God or His ways.

And many will come, and be turned away from the true light of God, sound very
coherent and sensible, yet fundamentally still not know what Holiness, purity and
love truly are in their lives or their speech. You will know them by their fruit.
 
Nov 22, 2015
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#56
The sky is blue...

I agree 100% with what is said here below when we see what is "really" being said and not some figment of one's imagination that twists it try to make it say something else.

Originally Posted by FreeNChrist


What many teach as repentance is really the very opposite of repentance, it is an encouragement to sin….the sin of religiosity, the substitution of our activity for the activity of Christ.
 
Feb 24, 2015
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#57
Doing - action rather than passivity

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Luke 10:37

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practiceis like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Matt 7:24

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
James 1:22

Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.
John 8:51

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching."
John 14:23-24

Do you love Jesus? Show by your actions.
This is what repentance means.
 
Aug 15, 2009
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#58
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
repent.From meta and noieo; to think differently or afterwards, i.e. Reconsider (morally, feel compunction) -- repent.

com·punc·tion

kəmˈpəNG(k)SH(ə)n/
noun

a feeling of guilt or moral scruple that prevents or follows the doing of something bad.
"spend the money without compunction"
[TABLE="class: vk_tbl vk_gy"]
[TR]
[TD="class: lr_dct_nyms_ttl"]synonyms:[/TD]
[TD]scruples, misgivings, qualms, worries, unease, uneasiness, doubts, reluctance, reservations; guilt, regret, contrition, self-reproach
"she had no compunction about deceiving them"

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

It concerns me when folks leave out important information.

If compunction wasn't used, a person could change their mind with no regret at all. This would indicate they probably won't truly repent, for without regret or conviction they would just do it again later, yes?







 
Feb 7, 2015
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#59
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
repent.From meta and noieo; to think differently or afterwards, i.e. Reconsider (morally, feel compunction) -- repent.

com·punc·tion

kəmˈpəNG(k)SH(ə)n/
noun

a feeling of guilt or moral scruple that prevents or follows the doing of something bad.
"spend the money without compunction"
[TABLE="class: vk_tbl vk_gy"]
[TR]
[TD="class: lr_dct_nyms_ttl"]synonyms:[/TD]
[TD]scruples, misgivings, qualms, worries, unease, uneasiness, doubts, reluctance, reservations; guilt, regret, contrition, self-reproach
"she had no compunction about deceiving them"

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

It concerns me when folks leave out important information.

If compunction wasn't used, a person could change their mind with no regret at all. This would indicate they probably won't truly repent, for without regret or conviction they would just do it again later, yes?







I think common sense should tell anyone since we are dealing with matters of Eternal Life or Death, "changing your mind" isn't referring to some airhead swapping shoes or hats on a whim.

BTW 'compunction' doesn't usually mean 'to have sorrowful regret'. It means, most often, you feel a strong reason or persuasion to do something.
 

Locutus

Senior Member
Feb 10, 2017
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#60
I wasn't sure, so I changed my mind on it...:p