Thanks for that link.I took the time to read it, and now I see how dangerous this hypergrace movement is!
Besides quoting part of a verse out of context (Romans 2:4b), quoting Watchman Nee, a heretic; and using false or twisted definitions for repentance (copied off an internet site with mistakes), the author has completely lost sight of the gospel.
What did Jesus come to save us from?
"But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matt 1:20-21
Jesus did not come to the earth, minister to people and die on the cross just so people could "change their minds."
In fact, I am going to do a bit more study on repentance, and post it later. Because it is a total lie, according to Bauer (BAGD) that metanoia or metanoeo means "change of mind." That is never a use for repentance in the Bible. (Although it is translated that way in some early Christian llterature it is never used that way in the Bible.)
And certainly, there is a point concerning repentance meaning "turning about" but, in fact, it is more often "turning away."
The entire narrative of the Bible, from the Fall in Genesis 3, through to the coming of Jesus, is deliverance from sin! And yes, when we turn away from sin, we also turn to Christ. But that link totally misses this, and in fact repeatedly condemns "preachers" who somehow mix grace and law, But if we do not understand law, then what motive do we have to repent? I do believe God gives us the grace through faith to repent. But if we don't repent, and side step repentance, have we really received the grace of God, and are we truly saved?
This website misses the point of grace. It misses the fact that God had grace in the Old Testament, because he is the same God, yesterday, today and forever! And God did establish the law for a reason - to help his people live better - to give them boundaries and rules which the capricious gods of the surrounding cultures never had. (Instead these gods never told people how to live, or what they did wrong - but just keep the sacrifices coming!)
Further, the link in that article to Bible Hub shows Bible hub is in fact slightly wrong, which makes a HUGE difference in understanding the meaning of the word. In fact, in BAGD, the Lexicon that scholars use, the passages where "metanoia"is found in the Bible do not start after "change of mind." In fact, there is not one Bible passage found after that definition. Instead, the references start after the definition:
"repentance, turning about, conversion; as in turning away."
So is Bible Hub at the root of some of this bad theology for slipping up where it put the definitions with respect to the Bible versus early church literature? And, does this mean that some of these early church writers were influenced by gnostics, who were only concerned with the mind, and not the body? (Just asking rhetorically right now!)
Anyway, I will try and do a separate post on this. I want people to understand what an untruth it is that repentance only means "turn to God," when in fact, the historical and Biblical meaning in the Greek is "to turn away from sin."[/QUOTE]
Thank you for your opinions and I understand that the word for "repentance" in Greek does mean "change your mind". So, we actually must repent before we believe which Jesus said "Repent and believe the gospel". God is the one that grants repentance too. ( Acts 11:18; 2 Tom. 2:25 )
Yes..I suppose everyone is a heretic too if they believe differently then what our religious upbringing has taught me.
I also realize that our religious upbringing has hi-jacked the meaning of some words and can be hard to accept what the word actually meant to the listeners back in those days.
Let's look at it through what scripture has to say about repentance ( changing our mind - the way we think ) concerning preaching the gospel. I know we have been taught differently through our religious upbringing and beliefs handed down to us. Let's let God's word speak life to us.
Peter preached the gospel of the grace of Christ. to Cornelius ..no word used for repentence was said
Acts 10:43-44 (NASB)
[SUP]43 [/SUP] "Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins."
[SUP]44 [/SUP] While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message.
They were not told to "repent" here.
I love how the Holy Spirit "falls upon " them as soon as they hear about the forgiveness of sins proclaimed to them because of Christ!
Peter got in trouble with the Jewish Christians when he went back because he went into a gentile's house and preached the gospel to them...he says in Acts 11:17,18
Acts 11:17-18 (NASB)
[SUP]17 [/SUP] "Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?"
[SUP]18 [/SUP] When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, "Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life."
What was there repentance even tho the word "repent" was not used?...they changed their mind toward God and had faith in Jesus and in His complete forgiveness of sins. This is the gospel message.
Notice that it was God that granted them repentance.
New Covenant repentance is not something we conjure up on our own nor is it a work we produce.
2 Tim 2:24-25 says that God may grant them repentance so that they may know the truth. God grants the repentance..not a work we do on our own.
Paul preached the gospel of grace here in the only recorded time in scripture.
Acts 13:38 (NASB)
[SUP]38 [/SUP] "Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,
Again ..no telling them to "repent" was voiced here either by Paul...but Paul did tell them .." urged them to continue in the grace of God"
Both of the examples we have of New Covenant preaching about the gospel of grace had NO words of telling people to repent. - and yet..they did repent!
These clearly show that "repentance " was not told to them.
So, repentance does not mean "turn from sin '..it means change your mind ( change your way of thinking and rely on God only for things dealing with your life) and turn to God and believe in Jesus and what He has already done.
There is a change after we come to Christ and His life in us transforms us. This is where we see the "fruit" of repentance. Fruit is not the "root" of repentance.
Fruit of an exchanged life comes after we have "repented " - changed our thinking to rely on Christ's work only for salvation.
We all need to repent every day as we hear the beauty of our Lord proclaimed!