Repentance is the Gift Of God !
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In Gospel preaching, instead of faith/repentance being conditions man must perform in order for God to justify them or make them righteous, they are to be acknowledged and received as Spiritual Blessings from Christ being risen as their Savor, along with remission of sins, as Peter points out in his sermon Acts 5:31
Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
The greek word give is the the verb didōmi and means:
Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
The greek word give is the the verb didōmi and means:
- to give something to someone
- of one's own accord to give one something, to his advantage
- to bestow a gift
- of one's own accord to give one something, to his advantage
- to supply, furnish, necessary things
The giving of these things are necessary in constituting Christ a Savior from sin !
Faith and Repentance are necessary furnishings to do the will of God !
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You seem to want to emphasize "Give Repentance" instead of Jesus dying in order to give repentance" You see the point is that because Jesus was crucified repentance can result in actual forgiveness of sins.
This act of granting repentance is Jesus dying on the cross not the individual ability to ask for forgiveness. You have turned the statement on it's head and are reading into it what you imagine rather than understanding that the crucifixtion of Christ is what allows Israel to have forgiveness.
30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. (as in "in order to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins) For to give = In Order to Give. You must put the emphasis on the act of Jesus hanging on the tree rather than your imaginative ideas about what happens in individuals who feel shame and those who don't and some philosophy about the mind of God in these decisions.
This act of granting repentance is Jesus dying on the cross not the individual ability to ask for forgiveness. You have turned the statement on it's head and are reading into it what you imagine rather than understanding that the crucifixtion of Christ is what allows Israel to have forgiveness.
30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. (as in "in order to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins) For to give = In Order to Give. You must put the emphasis on the act of Jesus hanging on the tree rather than your imaginative ideas about what happens in individuals who feel shame and those who don't and some philosophy about the mind of God in these decisions.
S
It is true that we must always give God the glory that our hearts were turned toward him in faith and we felt shame and remorse for our sins and trusted in the finished work of the Cross and resurrection to justify us and give us a hope of our own resurrection and eternal life. Nevertheless My own testimony cannot be denied by me. It can be denied by others, but not by me.
I was in the bondage to a brutal 8 year alcohol addiction and was in danger of waking up in hell with eternal regret. I heard the Lord telling me that if I would enter into the Adult and Teen Challenge ministry (a year long residential Christian ministry for addiction) that he would "grant me repentance, deliver me from alcoholism, and thrust me into the ministry" The prospect gave me great joy but it was only after another year of misery and hard knocks that I finally made the call. The day I walked into that ministry the chains of addiction broke off me and I have never wanted another drink or cigarette. I knew what God meant when He told me that He would "grant me repentance" You see true repentance is not easy thing. Especially if you are backslidden. The kind of repentance where you are ready to die before you willfully give in to that sin again. This is the kind of repentance that Loves Jesus more than the sin and is ready to do whatever it takes to prove that including living for a year in a place of accountability to walk out that true repentance.
Yes God grants it, but I had to do what He said and make that call or I know that I would still be drinking to this day. That is what it took for me to get free. Many go through a vicious cycle of sin and repent, sin and repent, sin and repent for years and are miserable. This is not repentance. True repentance that God can grant you will break those chains but you have to be willing to do what He says to get it. WE ARE ALWAYS PART OF THE EQUATION but all the Glory Goes to God. We don't need 1000 pages of philosophical rhetoric from Augustine or Calvin to figure it out.
Repentance was granted (made available) to all of Israel by Jesus dying on the cross. Repentance has been granted to the Gentiles by the same act. We all still have to repent and believe individually in order for it to be appropriated unto us. It is not complicated.
I was in the bondage to a brutal 8 year alcohol addiction and was in danger of waking up in hell with eternal regret. I heard the Lord telling me that if I would enter into the Adult and Teen Challenge ministry (a year long residential Christian ministry for addiction) that he would "grant me repentance, deliver me from alcoholism, and thrust me into the ministry" The prospect gave me great joy but it was only after another year of misery and hard knocks that I finally made the call. The day I walked into that ministry the chains of addiction broke off me and I have never wanted another drink or cigarette. I knew what God meant when He told me that He would "grant me repentance" You see true repentance is not easy thing. Especially if you are backslidden. The kind of repentance where you are ready to die before you willfully give in to that sin again. This is the kind of repentance that Loves Jesus more than the sin and is ready to do whatever it takes to prove that including living for a year in a place of accountability to walk out that true repentance.
Yes God grants it, but I had to do what He said and make that call or I know that I would still be drinking to this day. That is what it took for me to get free. Many go through a vicious cycle of sin and repent, sin and repent, sin and repent for years and are miserable. This is not repentance. True repentance that God can grant you will break those chains but you have to be willing to do what He says to get it. WE ARE ALWAYS PART OF THE EQUATION but all the Glory Goes to God. We don't need 1000 pages of philosophical rhetoric from Augustine or Calvin to figure it out.
Repentance was granted (made available) to all of Israel by Jesus dying on the cross. Repentance has been granted to the Gentiles by the same act. We all still have to repent and believe individually in order for it to be appropriated unto us. It is not complicated.
Sorry Scribe but you’re the one who is looking at it upside down. Repentance: the changing of one’s mind, way of thinking, one’s nature is part of the new birth we were discussing on the other thread. 2 Corinthians 7:10 For Godly sorrow causes repentance that leads to salvation but the sorrow of the world causes death.
The majority of “believers” have this backwards, (I did as well prior to true conversion) but we know what happens to the majority. Matthew 7.
The majority of “believers” have this backwards, (I did as well prior to true conversion) but we know what happens to the majority. Matthew 7.
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Sometimes I am not sure if people are all saying the same thing in different ways. So I will wait to understand.
No one is saved without Repentance toward God and Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance is granted to Israel and to the Gentiles because Jesus died on the cross. Individuals must believe that and of course repent of their sins and believe that they are forgiven because of Jesus Christ.
Also I have noticed that the Dallas Theological professor Zane Hodges and his Free Grace Theology Alliance has found a resurgence in recent years. There seem to be a few on CC.
I highly suggest the book
Free Grace" Theology: 5 Ways It Diminishes the Gospel by Wayne Grudem.
I recently listened to the Audible.com version and it is very useful if you want to help people who have been confused by those teachings.
No one is saved without Repentance toward God and Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance is granted to Israel and to the Gentiles because Jesus died on the cross. Individuals must believe that and of course repent of their sins and believe that they are forgiven because of Jesus Christ.
Also I have noticed that the Dallas Theological professor Zane Hodges and his Free Grace Theology Alliance has found a resurgence in recent years. There seem to be a few on CC.
I highly suggest the book
Free Grace" Theology: 5 Ways It Diminishes the Gospel by Wayne Grudem.
I recently listened to the Audible.com version and it is very useful if you want to help people who have been confused by those teachings.
S
Not sure what is going on up in here. 
Is someone trying to teach Calvinism? I am not interested in that debate.
If someone is trying say that repentance is the act of quit sinning rather than the initial sorrow, shame and commitment to quit sinning that also is foolish. Repentance includes both. It is not a true definition of repentance to regulate to the tract record of the saint progressive sanctification. It is true that repentance is turning from sin but it includes that shame, and remorse, and desire and commitment to turn from sin which is the experience of every person who has ever been born again.
If someone is arguing that we have to be born again first before we can do that they are teaching foolish confusion. It is no way to communicate the Gospel to someone.
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. Acts 17:31 Keep it simple.
Is someone trying to teach Calvinism? I am not interested in that debate.
If someone is trying say that repentance is the act of quit sinning rather than the initial sorrow, shame and commitment to quit sinning that also is foolish. Repentance includes both. It is not a true definition of repentance to regulate to the tract record of the saint progressive sanctification. It is true that repentance is turning from sin but it includes that shame, and remorse, and desire and commitment to turn from sin which is the experience of every person who has ever been born again.
If someone is arguing that we have to be born again first before we can do that they are teaching foolish confusion. It is no way to communicate the Gospel to someone.
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. Acts 17:31 Keep it simple.
S
Another significant argument against the definition of repentance as a mere “change of mind” is the fact that no widely established Bible translation in English translates the many “repentance” verses in the New Testament as “change your mind.” Take, for example, the first instance of metanoeō in the New Testament, which reports John the Baptist preaching and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 3:2). This verb is translated as “repent” in the following Bible versions: KJV, NKJV, ESV, NASB, NIV, NET, CSB, NLT, RSV, NRSV. I know of no Bible translation that translates this verse as, “Change your minds, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” And for good reason—the English word repent does not mean merely “change your mind” but includes nuances of remorse for sin and a resolve to change one’s conduct.
Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology, Second Edition (p. 1341). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.
Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology, Second Edition (p. 1341). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.
S
In the New Testament, Paul summarizes his gospel ministry as one of “testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). The author of Hebrews includes as the first two elements in a list of elementary doc
doctrines “repentance from dead works” and “faith toward God” (Heb. 6:1).
Of course, sometimes faith alone is named as the thing necessary for coming to Christ for salvation (see John 3:16; Acts 16:31; Rom. 10:9; Eph. 2:8–9, et al.). These are familiar passages, and we emphasize them often when explaining the gospel to others. But what we do not often realize is the fact that there are many other passages where only repentance is named, for it is simply assumed that true repentance will also involve faith in Christ for forgiveness of sins.
The New Testament authors understood so well that genuine repentance and genuine faith had to go together that they often simply mentioned repentance alone with the understanding that faith would also be included, because turning from sins in a genuine way is impossible apart from a genuine turning to God.
Therefore, just before Jesus ascended into heaven, he told his disciples, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations” (Luke 24:46–47). Saving faith is implied in the phrase “forgiveness of sins,” but it is not explicitly named.
The preaching recorded in the book of Acts shows the same pattern. After Peter’s sermon at Pentecost, the crowd asked, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:37–38).10
In his second sermon Peter spoke to his hearers in a similar way, saying, “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19–20).
Later, when the apostles were on trial before the Sanhedrin, Peter spoke of Christ, saying, “God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:31).
And when Paul was preaching on the Areopagus in Athens to an assembly of Greek philosophers, he said, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30).
He also says in his epistles, “God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance” (Rom. 2:4), and he speaks of “a repentance that leads to salvation” (2 Cor. 7:10).
We also see that when Jesus encounters people personally, he requires them to turn from their sin before they come to follow him. Whether it be speaking to the rich young ruler and asking that he give up his possessions (Luke 18:18–30), coming to the house of Zacchaeus and declaring that salvation had come to him that day because he had given half his goods to the poor and had repaid fourfold anything that he had stolen (Luke 19:1–10), speaking to the woman at the well and asking her to call her husband (John 4:16), or speaking to Nicodemus and rebuking his rabbinic unbelief and pride in his own knowledge (John 3:1–21), Jesus consistently puts his finger on the area of sin most influential in that person’s life.
In fact, we may ask whether anyone in the gospels ever came to sincere faith in Christ without repenting of his or her sins. When we realize that genuine saving faith must be accompanied by genuine repentance for sin, it helps us to understand why some preaching of the gospel has such inadequate results today. If there is no mention of the need for repentance, sometimes the gospel message becomes only, “Believe in Jesus Christ and be saved” without any mention of repentance at all.
But this watered-down version of the gospel does not ask for a wholehearted commitment to Christ—commitment to Christ, if genuine, must include a commitment to turn from sin. Preaching the need for faith without repentance is preaching only half of the gospel. It will result in many people being deceived, thinking that they have heard the Christian gospel and tried it, but nothing has happened. They might even say something like, “I accepted Christ as Savior over and over again, and it never worked.” Yet they never really did receive Christ as their Savior, for he comes to us in his majesty and invites us to receive him as he is—the one who deserves to be, and demands to be, absolute Lord of our lives as well.
Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology, Second Edition (pp. 1342-1343). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.
doctrines “repentance from dead works” and “faith toward God” (Heb. 6:1).
Of course, sometimes faith alone is named as the thing necessary for coming to Christ for salvation (see John 3:16; Acts 16:31; Rom. 10:9; Eph. 2:8–9, et al.). These are familiar passages, and we emphasize them often when explaining the gospel to others. But what we do not often realize is the fact that there are many other passages where only repentance is named, for it is simply assumed that true repentance will also involve faith in Christ for forgiveness of sins.
The New Testament authors understood so well that genuine repentance and genuine faith had to go together that they often simply mentioned repentance alone with the understanding that faith would also be included, because turning from sins in a genuine way is impossible apart from a genuine turning to God.
Therefore, just before Jesus ascended into heaven, he told his disciples, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations” (Luke 24:46–47). Saving faith is implied in the phrase “forgiveness of sins,” but it is not explicitly named.
The preaching recorded in the book of Acts shows the same pattern. After Peter’s sermon at Pentecost, the crowd asked, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:37–38).10
In his second sermon Peter spoke to his hearers in a similar way, saying, “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19–20).
Later, when the apostles were on trial before the Sanhedrin, Peter spoke of Christ, saying, “God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:31).
And when Paul was preaching on the Areopagus in Athens to an assembly of Greek philosophers, he said, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30).
He also says in his epistles, “God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance” (Rom. 2:4), and he speaks of “a repentance that leads to salvation” (2 Cor. 7:10).
We also see that when Jesus encounters people personally, he requires them to turn from their sin before they come to follow him. Whether it be speaking to the rich young ruler and asking that he give up his possessions (Luke 18:18–30), coming to the house of Zacchaeus and declaring that salvation had come to him that day because he had given half his goods to the poor and had repaid fourfold anything that he had stolen (Luke 19:1–10), speaking to the woman at the well and asking her to call her husband (John 4:16), or speaking to Nicodemus and rebuking his rabbinic unbelief and pride in his own knowledge (John 3:1–21), Jesus consistently puts his finger on the area of sin most influential in that person’s life.
In fact, we may ask whether anyone in the gospels ever came to sincere faith in Christ without repenting of his or her sins. When we realize that genuine saving faith must be accompanied by genuine repentance for sin, it helps us to understand why some preaching of the gospel has such inadequate results today. If there is no mention of the need for repentance, sometimes the gospel message becomes only, “Believe in Jesus Christ and be saved” without any mention of repentance at all.
But this watered-down version of the gospel does not ask for a wholehearted commitment to Christ—commitment to Christ, if genuine, must include a commitment to turn from sin. Preaching the need for faith without repentance is preaching only half of the gospel. It will result in many people being deceived, thinking that they have heard the Christian gospel and tried it, but nothing has happened. They might even say something like, “I accepted Christ as Savior over and over again, and it never worked.” Yet they never really did receive Christ as their Savior, for he comes to us in his majesty and invites us to receive him as he is—the one who deserves to be, and demands to be, absolute Lord of our lives as well.
Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology, Second Edition (pp. 1342-1343). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.
S
This is really good.
"...many people who have heard the gospel proclamation as explained by Free Grace advocates have come to genuine saving faith in Christ. Even though the message of the need for repentance from sins was omitted, every unbeliever who comes to Christ comes with a guilty conscience and comes to ask for forgiveness. There is often an instinctive awareness of the need to somehow turn from sin, even though that is not made explicit in the gospel presentation. This is why many such people actually do repent of their sins in their hearts, at least to some extent, and God looks on that heartfelt repentance and sees it as part of genuine faith. Many others start attending a Free Grace church and then repent later, perhaps as they begin reading the Bible, and at that point they first come to genuine saving faith.
Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology, Second Edition (pp. 1350-1351). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.
"...many people who have heard the gospel proclamation as explained by Free Grace advocates have come to genuine saving faith in Christ. Even though the message of the need for repentance from sins was omitted, every unbeliever who comes to Christ comes with a guilty conscience and comes to ask for forgiveness. There is often an instinctive awareness of the need to somehow turn from sin, even though that is not made explicit in the gospel presentation. This is why many such people actually do repent of their sins in their hearts, at least to some extent, and God looks on that heartfelt repentance and sees it as part of genuine faith. Many others start attending a Free Grace church and then repent later, perhaps as they begin reading the Bible, and at that point they first come to genuine saving faith.
Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology, Second Edition (pp. 1350-1351). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.
Not sure what is going on up in here.
Is someone trying to teach Calvinism? I am not interested in that debate.
If someone is trying say that repentance is the act of quit sinning rather than the initial sorrow, shame and commitment to quit sinning that also is foolish. Repentance includes both. It is not a true definition of repentance to regulate to the tract record of the saint progressive sanctification. It is true that repentance is turning from sin but it includes that shame, and remorse, and desire and commitment to turn from sin which is the experience of every person who has ever been born again.
If someone is arguing that we have to be born again first before we can do that they are teaching foolish confusion. It is no way to communicate the Gospel to someone.
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. Acts 17:31 Keep it simple.
Is someone trying to teach Calvinism? I am not interested in that debate.
If someone is trying say that repentance is the act of quit sinning rather than the initial sorrow, shame and commitment to quit sinning that also is foolish. Repentance includes both. It is not a true definition of repentance to regulate to the tract record of the saint progressive sanctification. It is true that repentance is turning from sin but it includes that shame, and remorse, and desire and commitment to turn from sin which is the experience of every person who has ever been born again.
If someone is arguing that we have to be born again first before we can do that they are teaching foolish confusion. It is no way to communicate the Gospel to someone.
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. Acts 17:31 Keep it simple.
That's what calvinism needs to prove itself. It has no verses that actually say what any of the main points teach ..That should trouble you . I have no problem with anything about Calvinism apart from it is not scriptural. I couldn't care less about ' fairness arguments, or if its hard to swallow . if it was what the scriptures said I'd believe it.