I don’t know anything about Latin, and quite frankly I don’t care. I am not Catholic, never was Catholic, went to Baptist Sunday school as a child. We had a dual public school system, Protestant and Catholic. Catholics were Papists, idolaters, even if they were our next door neighbour, we had nothing to do with them! My attitude has softened, I know they are mostly lost, think they need to do works to be saved, and need Christ.
So now that we have dispersed with things that have nothing to do with the topic, let’s get back to this nonsense that hypergrace has redefined the real meaning of metanoia. Now Greek is a language I do know well. And what I know is that this nonsense of metanoia meaning "change of mind" was invented by people who don't know Greek at all. Like Joseph Prince, and Paul Ellis, and Bruce, who used to constantly peddle this false definition which I confronted him on numerous times, and he never had an answer.
The fact is, in Greek, like most languages, compound words do 1 of 3 things.
1. They mean the sum of the two words put together. For instance, inside, means on the "in" or "inner" part of something. Like inside a house. Housetop, simply means the top of a house.
This is the kind of word English speakers with little knowledge of grammar, let alone Greek try to make metanoia into.
2. A compound word can intensify the meanings of the two words. Rainstorm conveys a lot more about the kind of storm, and the kind of rain. Together, they create a broader picture than each word in isolation. But, it is still rain and storms!
3. A compound word can mean something totally different from the two words. Butterfly is a perfect example of this. Butterflies are neither made of butter, nor are they flies.
While the foundation of the word metanoia, can be seen as a change of mind, in the Bible, it means so much more!
It means "turning about, conversion." It means turning away from sin. And on the positive side, yes, it certainly means "Turning towards God."
Even Jesus himself said.
"I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:32
So, in what way is repentance not connected to sinners?? And when he had risen, what did he say??
"Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem." Luke 24:45-47
Repentance and sin is almost always connected in the Bible.
"God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins." Acts 5:31
Repentance or metanoia μετάνοια is a noun, and it appears 22 times in the NT. There is also the verb metavoeo, μετανοέω, which is found in the Bible 34 times.
When Peter preaches to the crowds on the Day of Pentecost, did Peter say, "Repent and change your mind?" No, he did not!
"And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38
All this comes from Bauer, or BDAG, the top Greek lexicon. (3d Edition, page 640)
But, do you know what is most interesting? Bauer lists all the works that say metanoia means "change of mind." In fact, those sources are various ancient Greek writers. Not one place in the Bible is metanoia used to mean "change of mind." It always has to do with "turning from sin."
Now, why do you think that is?
Very simple! Jesus was a Jew, and his disciples were Jews, and most of the NT writers were Jews. That means, they totally believed in the revelation of the OT. They understood the Fall in the Garden of Eden, and the sacrifice of animals to provide skins for Adam and Eve. They understood that a sacrifice and shedding of blood was necessary for sins. They understood the role of priests and Levites, and how Jesus fulfilled all those shadows.
The Jews knew that although Greek words had certain connotations, but they took those Greek words, and attached Hebrew or Jewish ways of thinking. NO Jew would ever think that the sacrifice for sin was "changing their minds." How ridiculous!
When they came to Christ, it was second nature for them to understand the purpose and work of a high priest was to offer a sacrifice for the sins of the people, and that Jesus was the new high priest.
"For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins" Hebrews 5:1
"So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”;
6 as he says also in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 5:5-6
Pleased Undergrace, no more copy and pastes about Latin, when it has NOTHING to do with Greek or Hebrew, nothing to do with the moving of God to save his people, from Genesis 3 to the book of Revelation.
"and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood."Revelation 1:5
This message that once we are justified we are perfect, we don't have to do anything more, is a lie of the devil. True, it is God that saves - totally! But, the Bible is clear, that we won't be perfect till we see Jesus face to face.
The thing I just don't get, why would you want to lie, and deny your sins? Why would you lie and pretend you have done nothing wrong, because you were saved a year ago, or 10 years ago, or 50 years ago!?
We need to confess our sins, not just occasionally, but when they happen. We need to seek God, and he will help us turn away from those sins, and that is yet another factor in growing in character in the Lord. It would be terrible if someone stayed in the same place as when they were saved! I'm so glad that I have the opportunity to pray to God, to let him know my sins, and in turn, to watch him transforming me and working in my life.
Finally, the Word of God is clear, that we do feel pain when we are led to repent. Do none of you read the Bible, except as mediated through some cult leader? We are hurt or sad, when we become aware of our sins. Very clear in this following passage that we come to repentance when we are made aware of our sins, and we grieve them, or we are made sad by them, or sorry!
"Now I rejoice, not because you were made sad, but because you were made sad to the point of repentance. For you were made sad as God intended, so that you were not harmed in any way by us." 2 Cor. 7:9 NET
TLB puts it perfectly:
"Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you but because the pain turned you to God." 2 Cor. 7:9a
As for not repenting from sin, let us look at the last part of the last letter Paul wrote, which was to the Corinthians, very late in his life, from Rome, where he was under guard.
"I am afraid that when I come again, my God may humiliate me before you, and I will grieve for many of those who previously sinned and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and licentiousness that they have practiced." 2 Cor. 12:21
My advice is that you read the Bible from cover to cover a few times, and learn what it is about. Hypergrace and Word Faith are both lies, and they have nothing to do with the truth the lies in the Bible. Stay away from the internet and false teachers, who would lead even the very elect astray and you will grow the way God intended!