Daily Repentance Vs. One-time Repentance?

[Willie-T]

Okay, so here's another question I have. Some believe that only our past and present sins are forgiven, but not any FUTURE sins of ours, since we don't know what they will be or when we'll sin. Did Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, also take care of any future sins that we may do?

I know I sound stupid, lol.. I promise I'm not. It's just that these are the things that my simple brain wonders about.. LOL

Is Jesus to climb up on the cross a second time? Or a third? Or fourth..... fifth... sixth... ad nauseum, to keep on covering us again and again and again? Or is it true that the blood He shed onec and for all continuing to cover us?

 

[blue_ladybug]

My mother holds grudges FOREVER.. But eventually yes, she did..

Remember when you did wrong as a child, and went to your father or mother, and told them you were sorry.... and asked them to forgive you?

What did they say?

Did they think about it, and finally decide to forgive you? Or did they say "You know I love you, and I forgave you long before you ever came to find me." (They get that virtuous trait from God.)

 

[valiant]

When you sinned, did you think if was fine to do so, and did you have no idea you were just giving in to your own will or anger, or whatever at the time?'

I did not think at all. I went ahead and did it, led by the flesh. Then I realised I Had offended my Father and I changed my mind about what I had done and went to Him for forgiveness, as Jesus (and John) told me to do.

It would require you seeing sinning as a good thing in order to now "change your mind" that it is not a good thing

.

You are an odd person if you do not experience the battle within yourself of what you choose to do and think,

In reality, you already knew, full well, that sinning is wrong.

In general yes, but I did not at that moment analyse what I was doing. Few of us would sin if it was after long thought.

I hope you don't think you have to change your mind about believing that

.

You are a very odd person if your life is always under the control of your mind.

On the other hand, if you have no idea sinning is wrong or that a specific thing you consistently do is wrong) then you would, of course thank God for showing you where you were wrong, and rethink that sort of action, hopefully, changing your mind about doing it.

you are clearly an automaton. I am a human being.

But this sort of thing is not what many of us are even thinking about here. And, believe it, or not, Jesus said you were even forgiven of THAT habit or prejudice when you accepted His gift.

I really do not care what you are thinking about. I am answering the question.

 

[blue_ladybug]

It would be awful hard to keep climbing that cross. So His blood covers us, no matter what.. Hard to believe, but it's true.. lol

Is Jesus to climb up on the cross a second time? Or a third? Or fourth..... fifth... sixth... ad nauseum, to keep on covering us again and again and again? Or is it true that the blood He shed onec and for all continuing to cover us?

 

[Willie-T]

I did not think at all. I went ahead and did it, led by the flesh. Then I realised I Had offended my Father and I changed my mind about what I had done and went to Him for forgiveness, as Jesus (and John) told me to do.

You are an odd person if you do not experience the battle within yourself of what you choose to do and think,

In general yes, but I did not at that moment analyse what I was doing. Few of us would sin if it was after long thought.

You are a very odd person if your life is always under the control of your mind.

you are clearly an automaton. I am a human being.

I really do not care what you are thinking about. I am answering the question.

Would there even BE a battle in your mind if you were not aware that something was wrong with the way you are thinking? And when you give in to what you already know is not the right way, then I'm fairly certain you aren't just doing it unconsciously and unaware.

 

[DustyRhodes]

any sin is our own removing ourselves from God...it is not removing Himself from us...He never abandons us...so whenever we distance ourselves from Him, we need to find our way back so we accept His forgiveness and become reconciled again to Him...but this is not for the sake of God's position towards us but it is our sake for continual growth in the Spirit.

 

[Willie-T]

any sin is our own removing ourselves from God...it is not removing Himself from us...He never abandons us...so whenever we distance ourselves from Him, we need to find our way back so we accept His forgiveness and become reconciled again to Him...but this is not for the sake of God's position towards us but it is our sake for continual growth in the Spirit.

Absolutely! Thank you.

 

[Grace777x70]

Personally I believe in "hyper-repenting". I believe we need to change the way we think towards truth when we see new truths of the love and grace of God as they are revealed to us by the Holy Spirit.

The renewing of the mind is vital for true growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and in knowing the true character of our loving Father.

And Yes! This means the way we view sinning too in all it's various forms - from un-belief in the work and promises of God in Christ, to living a homosexual lifestyle, to exhibiting malice and the slandering of others in the body of Christ They are in the same lists together.

Repentance is not a work that we produce. It is given by God. Acts 5:31 ; Acts 11:18 ; 2 Tim. 2:25

 

[phil36]

There is a lot of confusion over this issue. Some go as far as to be legalists and some go the other way and become antinomian.

When we are Justified, that is declared righteous.. we will never lose this status. We can never fall from the state of being justified (cf. Luke 22:32; John 10:28 Heb 10:14). Luke 10:32 is significant here!

Yet, although we will never fall from the state of being Justified, we may by our sins (sinning) fall under our Fathers displeasure. We will not " have the light of his countenance restored unto them [us], until they[us] humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance (WCF ch 11..5)"

Psalm 89:31:

30 “If his sons forsake my law and do not follow my statutes, 31 if they violate my decrees and fail to keep my commands,
32 I will punish their sin with the rod, their iniquity with flogging; 33 but I will not take my love from him, nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.

Matthew 26:75:

75 [FONT=&quot]Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: [/FONT][FONT=&quot]“Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”[/FONT][FONT=&quot] And he went outside and wept bitterly.[/FONT]

1 Corinthians 11:30 (read v28ff).

30 [FONT=&quot]That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.[/FONT]

Luke 1:20 (read Zachariah's story)

20 [FONT=&quot]And now you will be silent and not able to speak[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot] until the day this happens because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”[/FONT]

HEBREWS 12:4ff

[FONT=&quot]4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”[a][/FONT]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.[/FONT]

 

[eternally-gratefull]

It is different repenting because you admit your a sinner to be saved. Than repent from sin you do not even know are sins yet.

If a person cuts me off and I get mad and flip them the bird, I did not change my mind and think it was ok to get angry and flip someone the bird. so I need to change my mind again to come back to God..

I acted in my flesh and not in the spirit. I confess it to God, probably confess it to whoever I am disciplining with that I had a problem. And hope and pray next time I follow the spirit and not y flesh..

 

[valiant]

Would there even BE a battle in your mind if you were not aware that something was wrong with the way you are thinking?

But the battle is not a conscious one. The flesh rises up and does something before my mind is aware. As I said, you must be an automaton,.

And when you give in to what you already know is not the right way, then I'm fairly certain you aren't just doing it unconsciously and unaware.

Of course I am not aware. I would not do it if I were. The flesh does not pop up and say, Do you want to sin? It catches my self unaware. Our make up is more complex than you are aware

 

[prodigal]

Matthew 6:9-13King James Version (KJV)

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

 

[KALYNA18]

Were all people and the word says, all our rightousness is as a filty rag. "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be pleasing unto thee OH Lord.

I think we'd be an angel if just one day went by if we didn't act human, with all the human emotions. I love what the word says about maintaining the Fruits of the HOLY Spirit, and let them REMain, not for a day. It's not easy, and especially in these perilous times. So I repent every day, and sometimes all day long. In heaven there's no more of evil, temptation, discouragement, as we complain, and instead of be thankful ALWAYS, WHOW, NEED to work on this, and the other that would sway us, from being on that rock, of Christ.

 

[Spokenpassage]

Sooo, on some of the sin and salvation threads, there is some question/debate about whether we need to repent of our sins daily/when we do them, or if repentance is a one-time occurence after we get saved, since Jesus died for all sin. Some believe we need to repent each time we sin. Others think we don't need to repent time and again, because Jesus paid for ALL sin, past, present and future.. What say you all? Please keep it civil, no fighting or name-calling, and provide scripture to back up your views. Thanks..

Didn't Jesus say,

If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

Luke 9:23, 24

What is our cross and what are we crucifiying daily?

 

[peacefulbeliever]

Sooo, on some of the sin and salvation threads, there is some question/debate about whether we need to repent of our sins daily/when we do them, or if repentance is a one-time occurence after we get saved, since Jesus died for all sin. Some believe we need to repent each time we sin. Others think we don't need to repent time and again, because Jesus paid for ALL sin, past, present and future.. What say you all? Please keep it civil, no fighting or name-calling, and provide scripture to back up your views. Thanks..

I believe that repentance is a ONE time occurrence - we change our minds from being servants of sin by believing in Jesus Christ and we are reconciled to God through him - we no longer WANT to be servants of sin. I do still ask God to forgive me when I screw up - contrary to what some believe - I think we should respect our heavenly Father enough to apologize to him when we sin, err, or just plain screw things up!

 

[blue_ladybug]

Thank you for the rep. It is greatly appreciated..

It would be awful hard to keep climbing that cross. So His blood covers us, no matter what.. Hard to believe, but it's true.. lol

 

[BillG]

A post like this can be confusing and divisive. Just like many others, i.e. OSAS or Not.

I am not a theologian or a master in Greek but I think I have a grasp of the Greek word for repent/repentance.

Here are my limited thoughts.

Most modern day dictionaries like Webster's will describe repentance along the lines of

'repenting for misdeeds or moral shortcomings which we do in order make our relationship right with God'

Koine Greek 'Metanoia (repent) meant something different. It meant changing one's mind or heart about something or someone,

However in the Old Latin and Latin Vulgate translated metanoia to paenitentia which came to mean pennance or acts of pennance to obtain grace.

What doesn't help and confuses the issue is what bible you may read

Matthew 4:17 NKJV


From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew 4:17 NLT
From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

Matthew 3:1-2 NKJV
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

Matthew 3:1-2
In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

Can you see the difference?

Jesus did talk about sin which to me is the wrong things we do, like the adulteress woman BUT he did not condemn her.

John 8:10-11
Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”
“No, Lord,” she said.
And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

Notice she said "No Lord"

Jesus said

John 16:6-9
But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me;

The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, the sin of unbelief in Jesus.

When we repent of that we have changed our heart and mind about Jesus and have our placed our faith in him.

Now in doing so we have also changed our mind in terms of the things Jesus does not want us to do.

Going back to the adulteress woman, she called him Lord, then he says go sin no more, in other words he is saying

"Now that you acknowledge whom I am, I want you also to change your mind concerning how you live your life"

So to me when I came to Christ repented of my unbelief and at the same time I realised that Jesus wanted me to live differently.
To change my mind to not walk in the ways of the flesh and so on.

So to me I have already repented and when I do get it wrong I come before him and acknowledge that I have got it wrong.

I thank him that I am forgiven and ask him to help me.

As I said just my limited thoughts

 

[Roughsoul1991]

Yeah, it seems that many people use the word repent as if it means seek forgiveness. I think the dictionary definition is a better definition than that: "to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life." LINK It seems like you'd only need to seek repentance again in the situation where you fell away from turning away from sin. That is, where you purposely began sinning again. Not merely in those instances where you slipped up.

After repenting it seems like the nature of the sins you struggle with should change. It seems like a person who has truly repented shouldn't habitually break the ten commandments any more. (Oh sure, there may be the occasional slip ups.) Instead the nature of sin becomes a matter of failing to love your neighbor as yourself--like being slow to forgive, or the flash of anger you feel when someone cuts you off in traffic. /jmho

Agreeing with what is said above and for example.

Revelation 2New International Version (NIV)

To the Church in Ephesus
2 “To the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.


This is just one example of repentance being something we do to direct our hearts back to Jesus.

Repentance may not save you in a since but the turning back to Jesus will. If we was to remain in deliberate sin this would lead away from Jesus, basically laughing at his sacrifice, testing his sacrifice. And so we ourselves can turn away from God but if we are wise we correct ourselves when we acknowledge a sin that we are living rebellious in. Its just like some Christians are homosexual but does that mean they should practice it? I just a few months ago spoke against a man on my facebook page that i went to school with. He now is a preacher of a church and is practicing homosexual. But he tries to tell me my old way of thinking about scripture is wrong.

Needless to say i was blocked that day. But we cannot fall from the love we once knew and if we was to backslide then repentance is wise.

Repentance is not the daily struggle of a faithful Christian. Since God knows the heart of a faithful Christian. But when the Christian grows weak in faith and begin to quench and grieve the Spirit they are open to fall into the lies of evil that helps guide them away.

Sadly some choose to remain away because they only see the right now of life and enjoy the sin.'

 

[Depleted]

Sooo, on some of the sin and salvation threads, there is some question/debate about whether we need to repent of our sins daily/when we do them, or if repentance is a one-time occurence after we get saved, since Jesus died for all sin. Some believe we need to repent each time we sin. Others think we don't need to repent time and again, because Jesus paid for ALL sin, past, present and future.. What say you all? Please keep it civil, no fighting or name-calling, and provide scripture to back up your views. Thanks..

Repent = turn from, right?

So, how often we repent is measured in how often we stayed "turn from."

I turned from getting high twice, because I turned back once.

I turn from holding a grudge more often, because I keep noticing, even when I don't mean to, or forget, that I end up turning back to the grudge again. By nature, I'm very good at keeping a grudge, so it is more of a habit to keep it, than repent from it. The day I don't turn back to the grudge is a day I don't have to repent.

Being raised a good Catholic girl, I'm still stuck with some of the imagery I was taught as a kid. Sometimes it serves me well. Back then I was told to "lay my sins at the foot of the cross/at Jesus' feet and leave them for him." So all these decades later, when I'm turning from a sin, I still picture myself giving a broken down old box of junk onto the ground right in front of that cross. (Actually, I tend to see his bloody, nailed feet right above the box.) And then somewhere along the line, I notice I've taken it back. Then I have to put it back where it belongs, and repeat as necessary.

A few of the boxes I laid down long ago, they've gotten soggy, and disintegrated for so long, I barely remember what was in those boxes. Many of them need to be returned there often, so at least I still see what's in them. The plan is to let them rot there, instead of feeling like I'm a hoarder. Depends on when you catch me to ask me how I'm doing. Most the time I feel like a hoarder, but occasionally I notice something I'm no longer hoarding.

 

[Depleted]

Your last question is a good one, Willie. Several people here have said that if we die with unrepented sin, we will go to hell. I don't think that's true, because EVERYONE is going to die with unrepented sin. So if it's true that God knows our heartset at that moment, He surely won't send ALL of us to hell.

We're saved by his heartset though, not ours. He set his heart on saving us, and got what he wanted.