Keep it simple, stupid (KISS)

[charisenexcelcis]

Jesus said, “Repent.” We can either repent or we can talk about it.

The only thing I see to talk about is finding out exactly what we have to repent of. Common sins are lust, pride, and chemical dependency, I believe.

We must be careful not to confuse the sympthoms with the cause. What we must do is not try to stop the sympthoms of lust, pride and dependency, but rather to put to death the cause, our sinful nature. That is only done by increasingly letting the transformative work of the Holy Spirit to occur in our lives.

 

[resurrection33]

We must be careful not to confuse the sympthoms with the cause. What we must do is not try to stop the sympthoms of lust, pride and dependency, but rather to put to death the cause, our sinful nature. That is only done by increasingly letting the transformative work of the Holy Spirit to occur in our lives.

There might be more to this than just resisting temptation, but we still have to resist temptation.

And that is what Jesus said: “Repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matt 4:17 RSV

 

[ed]

\\

Some of us. Those of which whom don't hunger and thirst after righteousness.

I try my best to repent every day, to not only ask for forgiveness but to die to myself just as Christ has died for me. I try my best to turn away from the Sin in my life. But I can not do it without the help of Jesus.

Sometimes I still try to do things on my own. But Spiritually speaking I'm a baby still only 6 months old. I will learn as I continue to grow with God, and learn to put my whole trust in Him. But trust is something that builds over time, not just something that happens over night.

I'm far from perfect though, and always will be. Thank God that he doesn't require us to be perfect because "when he sees me, he sees the blood of the Lamb. He sees me as worthy, and not as I am. He views me in garments, as white as the snow. For the Lamb of God is worthy. And he loves me this I know."

Hi Dmurray,
I hope you don't mind my choosing your post to raise this issue. Maybe it is hi-jacking the thread. If it looks that way hopefully the moderators will delete this reply or shift it and give it a name.
I want to refer to your words of daily repentance being your goal. Let me say at the beginning that I too struggle with the advice I am about to give.
If I am right I see Christians in a constant battle with sin. This battle seems to be a focus which takes up a lot of energy and is emotionally draining. I do it myself but I am getting on top of the situation.
I believe our focus should be proactive not negative. By this I mean, follow the command given by Jesus, love one another, as love covers a multitude of sins. I am not for one moment suggesting that we can go on sinning in enjoyment. But love fulfills the law and the law makes us aware of sin. So if a person shifts their focus onto doing positive works and tosses the battle with sin aside we find ourselves in a better place. Our lives give us tremendous opportunities to do good. Do this and the law is fulfilled. Can you see that if one walks in love it is impossible to sin.
Maybe it is a bit like that old saying. Don't think of elephants. What happens,we immediately think of elephants. The trick is to stop fighing against sin and start thinking about doing loving deeds and focus on our love so it will grow. If you practice walking in love your love grows. By focusing on love we are not thinking about elephants. As sure as you try not to do something you are keeping the temptation alive.
love
edwin

 

[Dmurray]

Hi Dmurray,
I hope you don't mind my choosing your post to raise this issue. Maybe it is hi-jacking the thread. If it looks that way hopefully the moderators will delete this reply or shift it and give it a name.
I want to refer to your words of daily repentance being your goal. Let me say at the beginning that I too struggle with the advice I am about to give.
If I am right I see Christians in a constant battle with sin. This battle seems to be a focus which takes up a lot of energy and is emotionally draining. I do it myself but I am getting on top of the situation.
I believe our focus should be proactive not negative. By this I mean, follow the command given by Jesus, love one another, as love covers a multitude of sins. I am not for one moment suggesting that we can go on sinning in enjoyment. But love fulfills the law and the law makes us aware of sin. So if a person shifts their focus onto doing positive works and tosses the battle with sin aside we find ourselves in a better place. Our lives give us tremendous opportunities to do good. Do this and the law is fulfilled. Can you see that if one walks in love it is impossible to sin.
Maybe it is a bit like that old saying. Don't think of elephants. What happens,we immediately think of elephants. The trick is to stop fighing against sin and start thinking about doing loving deeds and focus on our love so it will grow. If you practice walking in love your love grows. By focusing on love we are not thinking about elephants. As sure as you try not to do something you are keeping the temptation alive.
love
edwin

AMEN! I needed to hear that. I have too much free time, and when you have too much free time it's so easy to focus on what you have to change, and fall into sin. But if your busy you keep your mind off it and focus on God. And follow after His will.

 

[Dmurray]

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBDDZsEfp3A[/video]

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw5RhVHZUDk[/video]

 

[charisenexcelcis]

There might be more to this than just resisting temptation, but we still have to resist temptation.

And that is what Jesus said: “Repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matt 4:17 RSV

I agree that we must resist and turn aside. As long as we don't lose sight of what must happen on the inside.

 

[professa]

we have that tendency in many things

 

[professa]

one verse that many have tried to complicate and lack of knowledge has caused it, easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter heaven
many have given it interpretations
many have died teaching that both are impossible

 

[professa]

resurrection 33 does one just answer and tomorrow or later see what one has answered, or how does this work

 

[resurrection33]

resurrection 33 does one just answer and tomorrow or later see what one has answered, or how does this work

It all depends. Sometimes people will answer your posts within a few minutes. Sometimes within 24 hours. Sometimes not at all.

 

[ed]

I agree that we must resist and turn aside. As long as we don't lose sight of what must happen on the inside.

Hi charisenexcelcis,
To resist and turn aside is correct but there is an impossible way and an easier way. Sin was made known through the law. Focusing on what we know is wrong makes for a tough battle. Love fulfills the law. You cannot act with a loving heart and be unlawful. Self acts usually means puting your self first. Love means putting others first. As in the parable of the attendees at the wedding if you practise this then you will find Jesus will come and put you in a seat of glory. The two roads are trying to give up something, literally a negative path, or trying to do something positive, at the wedding, leaving the better seats to others. It is just a change of attitude but the result , which is easier to come by , is the same.
Personally none of my addictions were conquered by myself. Try as I might I failed until He came and conquered them, then Jesus took me back to show me that those addictions no longer held control over me.
I am His workmanship
love
ed

 

[Dmurray]

But we have to have ourself in track first before we help others. Jesus said to remove the block of wood from your own eye before removing the splinter from someone else's

 

[charisenexcelcis]

But we have to have ourself in track first before we help others. Jesus said to remove the block of wood from your own eye before removing the splinter from someone else's

That illustration is the perfect example of what happens when we focus on the sinful act and neglect the need to put to death the sinful nature and foster the new nature being created in us.

 

[ed]

But we have to have ourself in track first before we help others. Jesus said to remove the block of wood from your own eye before removing the splinter from someone else's

Hi Dmurray,
There will never be a time when you are "on track" Start today, sinner. How can you hurt someone when you are acting in love. You can't yell at anyone, steal, lust after etc etc etc. Do these things.
I am not talking about teaching or rescuing or anything which the world considers religious. I am talking about helping people whether the people are there or not. Pick up a bottle on the side of the road so that no one can be hurt by it. Wherever you go,look to do good and not before man. If someone asks,give. Look to the bible and follow Jesus commands in love.
It isnt about teaching it is about loving.
Love fulfills the law. Do this "love your neighbour" Stop focusing on sin, forget it, as God has cast them away. Just be sincere and fear God.
love
edwin.

 

[zone]

Jesus made this statement: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 4:17 RSV).

You’d think we’d simply obey and repent: simple and obvious, right?

Instead we come up with all kinds of excuses not to repent, don't we?

hi resurrection!

in the passage you quote, the beginning of Christ's ministry, there's so much to consider. perhaps it's not so simple after all?

i believe, as the bible says, that men are DEAD (walking corpses) in their sins. a dead man can neither see nor hear, has no ability whatsoever to do anything regarding God - with the exception of hating Him (being at enmity). some of the last words in the bible are terrifying in a sense: Jesus says let those who are filthy stay filthy! we know salvation is not for those who run (work for it).

ephesians 1:11 says:
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

it was only after the Baptism and Temptation that the Lord began to preach and teach. prior to His Ministry, John could only baptize with water. but now Jesus came to baptize with fire. looking carefully at the sequence of events in Matthew the Lord underwent provides clues as to the order of things for those whom God foreknew, then called, regenerated, SAVED!

i believe since men are walking corpses, dead in their sins, unable to hear or see, only predetermined GRACE (election) makes them subject to the work of the Holy Spirit (calling to repentence). it's only after repentence (a gift) they are able to respond to the continuing call forward to obedience and service.

if you are referring instead to need for the daily washing of our sins, yes, i agree we have to do as we are commanded: confess! but even this can not be possible without the indwelling Holy Spirit. we can resist confession and hide, as Adam did. but as i think we all know, that becomes so painful eventually we do.


love z.

 

[zone]

one verse that many have tried to complicate and lack of knowledge has caused it, easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter heaven
many have given it interpretations
many have died teaching that both are impossible

hi professa!
actually, what Jesus was saying is not what you wrote.

in fact, He was referring to what was called the "needle gate".

this gate was a very narrow gate into a walled city that was used to allow access to travellers and merchants when the city gates were closed.

what is so glorious and fascinating about the Lord's illustration here is that it describes PERFECTLY what a sinner (in this case the rich man) must do to enter the Kingdom of Heaven - and remember that NOTHING is impossible with God.

when travellers arrived with their camel caravans, in order to enter the city with their goods and camels (again, think spiritually):

1) they had to UNLOAD their goods
2) the goods had to examined and brought in by guards
3) THE CAMEL HAD TO GET DOWN ON IT'S KNEES AND CRAWL INTO THE CITY!!!!

love z

 

[zone]

Maybe if everyone whould just think wwjd then the confusen will stop!!

ha!
i admit i would like to go into Goldman Sachs with a cat'o'nine tails and lay it to their backs!!
haha

 

[zone]

Jesus did say we need to be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:49).

hi resurrection

this may be worrisome for some without a little clarification. we can never be perfect while in the flesh, and most definitely even in eternity never perfect as God is.

Jesus meant we should work to become mature, complete.

τελειος adjective - nominative singular masculine
teleios tel'-i-os: complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter completeness -- of full age, man, perfect.

the word teleios used is the same as full age in Hebrews:

Hebrews 5
11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

love z

 

[zone]

The word of God is a deep as one would plumb, as long as you dive in faith.

thanks charisenexcelcis!
Jesus said:

Matthew 13:52
Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

 

[zone]

I don't believe it matters what we think repentance is. But what it actually is.


*G3340
μετανοέω
metanoeō
met-an-o-eh'-o
From G3326 and G3539; to think differently or afterwards, that is, reconsider (morally to feel compunction): - repent.

G3326
μετά
meta
met-ah'
A primary preposition (often used adverbially); properly denoting accompaniment; “amid” (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive case association, or accusative case succession) with which it is joined; occupying an intermediate position between G575 or G1537 and G1519 or G4314; less intimate than G1722, and less close than G4862): - after (-ward),X that he again, against, among, X and, + follow, hence, hereafter, in, of, (up-) on, + our, X and setting, since, (un-) to, + together, when, with (+ -out). Often used in composition, in substantially the same relations of participation or proximity, and transfer or sequence.

G3539
νοιέω
noieō
noy-eh'-o
From G3563; to exercise the mind (observe), that is, (figuratively) to comprehend, heed: - consider, perceive, think, understand.

G3563
νοῦς
nous
nooce
Probably from the base of G1097; the intellect, that is, mind (divine or human; in thought, feeling, or will); by implication meaning: - mind, understanding. Compare G5590.[/color]

So I think from reading these few Greek references we can come to the conclusion that to Repent means to think differently about something (notably the sin in our lives, and our own self will); which will consequently lead to us turning away from it.

hi dmurray:
the original question related to the call to repent by Jesus at the start of His Ministry.

as i posted, dead men can not repent or do anything without the CALL. i believe it is not possible to answer any call or respond to the Holy Spirit outside the Sovereign Will of God. even the call to repent and believe is a gift from God. GRACE plus NOTHING.

Lazarus was dead and buried for days. he could not rise and come forth without the CALL from Christ.
men are dead in their sins. only the working of God makes ANYTHING possible for dead men.

*interesting side note to ponder:
did the raising and coming forth of Lazarus, in part, represent the calling forth of the new priesthood?
fascinating to note that one in the old priesthood was Eleazar.

search their names and see they are the same! how Wonderful is our Counsellor!

love z