Who ever said that God forgives us without repenting? Whoever did is wrong. To forgive is to remove the punishment due to a transgressor......without repentance, we remain accountable for our actions/sins, and payment will be exacted one day.
-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Who ever said that God forgives us without repenting? Whoever did is wrong. To forgive is to remove the punishment due to a transgressor......without repentance, we remain accountable for our actions/sins, and payment will be exacted one day.
Sorry to fall behind replying, but am working a lot these days.
Grace is not "forgiveness". Grace is "acceptance", similar to "giving favor". I have accepted some people as close friends without considering whatever their sins might be. Such favor comes from love. God will not accept a rebellious sinner as "friend", but will respond to anyone pleasing him with faith. He extended his love towards all people such that any who call upon the Lord can be saved. That calling upon him involves conditions on our part, beginning with repentance. No repentance, no forgiveness, no favor.
God awards his grace on condition, that we look to Jesus as lord and savior, thereby receiving favor from God. The word of God requires via the gospel of Christ to repent. True repentance can't possibly mean we spend our lifetime forsaking the same sins over and over, but we overcome each one. Once washed clean by the Lord we ought not think we are then free to be dirtied up again with the same filth like a hog in a muddy pen.
Last edited:
A
atwhatcost
Guest
GRACE, PEACE AND MERCY
(In all of Paul's Epistles except Hebrews) must carry a little tinsy winsy bit of importance. I know that I am totally dependant on that from our Lord.
Romans 1:7 (KJV) To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:3 (KJV) Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 1:2 (KJV) Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1:3 (KJV) Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
Ephesians 1:2 (KJV) Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:2 (KJV) Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Colossians 1:2 (KJV) To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 1:1 (KJV) Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 1:2 (KJV) Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 1:2 (KJV) Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
2 Timothy 1:2 (KJV) To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Titus 1:4 (KJV) To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Philemon 1:3 (KJV) Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(In all of Paul's Epistles except Hebrews) must carry a little tinsy winsy bit of importance. I know that I am totally dependant on that from our Lord.
Romans 1:7 (KJV) To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:3 (KJV) Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 1:2 (KJV) Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1:3 (KJV) Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
Ephesians 1:2 (KJV) Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:2 (KJV) Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Colossians 1:2 (KJV) To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 1:1 (KJV) Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 1:2 (KJV) Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 1:2 (KJV) Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
2 Timothy 1:2 (KJV) To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Titus 1:4 (KJV) To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Philemon 1:3 (KJV) Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I've seen that many years, but I don't find it in the Bible.
If "unmerited", then God would not have been justified letting the commandment of repentance from sin to appear in his holy scriptures. It was Jesus' first sermon message. Repent. No mention from Jesus about unmerited grace, or any grace. Matthew 4:17 (KJV)
[SUP]17 [/SUP] From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
If salvation is available no matter what you believe, trust in, or agree to, then all the world would be saved without any knowledge of Jesus. Grace is limited. It can't be wide open like the air we breathe, in defiance of gospel teaching.
Grace targets those who repent, believe the gospel of Christ, and follow the Lord instead of the Devil or that guy downtown that has a neat promise, who is a possibly a disciple of Satan.
Last edited:
Whoa, back the truck up a bit.
Forgiveness IS to remove the punishment due to a transgressor - HOWEVER - God did not just decide to not punish transgressors for their sins - that would be unjust according to His Law.
Someone had to take that punishment - and did - CHRIST:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (from 1 Jn. 2)
God's justice was satisfied with Christ's Sacrifice. Payment has already been "exacted", and Hebrews 9 tells us this:
28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
Sin was already dealt with completely at the Cross. When Jesus comes back, He will simply sort those who believe from those who don't believe - the only unpardonable sin is the sin of unbelief.
Forgiveness AND righteousness AND New Life are gifts entered into by faith - believing in what Jesus did and what that means.
Repentance is a part of that, but not in the way you might think (turning from sin). Repeating from an earlier post in this thread:
Repenting is often mis-defined as 'turning from sin'. Let's look at the Biblical definition for repentance:
Repent - Strong's G3340 - metanoeō
[*=1]to change one's mind, i.e. to repent
[*=1]to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins
Repentance - Strong's G3341 - metanoia
[*=1]a change of mind, as it appears to one who repents, of a purpose he has formed or of something he has done
One might change their mind about Christ and who He really is, or one may have a basic religious understanding of Who Christ is but never understood just what Christ accomplished with His Work and High Priesthood on their behalf. In that case, one would need to change their mind about Christ and His Work and then believe - put their faith in - Christ.
Turning from sin will eventually be a result of believing and becoming a New Creation in Christ, but it is not a requirement. Saying that one must turn from sin to receive salvation is akin to requiring one to become clean before taking a bath - it makes no sense, and asks the spiritually dead to accomplish what only spiritual life can do for them.
Now about that changing of one's mind.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (from Rom. 12)
How does this happen? By sheer willpower?
And who is that written to?
Believers or unbelievers?
Repentance, Biblically defined, is a part of salvation (the changing of one's mind to believing rightly about Christ and His Work) and faith is how we enter into His New Covenant.
Repentance is also an ongoing process in the believer, as we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. As we learn to believe rightly about Who Jesus is, what He did, what that accomplished, and who we as believers are in Him, right behavior follows. It's actually Fruit. As we align with and abide in and rest in Christ, being led by His Spirit, Fruit happens (Gal. 5) \o/.
For those who are willing, the following communicates the above and other concepts really well:
- God’s Solution to Man’s Problem – Life! (free download/player)
-JGIG
The doctrine of repentance goes way back.
Ezekiel 14:6 (KJV)
[SUP]6 [/SUP] Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.
There are older references, but that one is directly akin to what Jesus was preaching. It turned out that Israel refused to repent and they fell into the curses the prophets warned would happen. They didn't find grace in the eyes of the Lord like Noah did. Do you ever wonder why God let Noah have his grace, saving him from destruction of the whole world? Might it be because he and his family were not typical of the then rampant sin lifestyles? We don't know, can only assume based on the full content of scriptures concerning what pleases God. We do know only Noah found grace from God.
The concept of grace is popular among men. If you are a little late making your home insurance payment, your policy probably affords a "grace period". They won't cancel your coverage under terms of the contract. But if you keep missing payments, getting later and later, then they will be forced to withdraw grace, eventually cancelling your policy. The idea is to stay in favor by doing your part, so they can do theirs. Technically, if you are one minute late with the agreed payment, that's a violation, but there's that latitude for you to make better payment arrangements.
In Noah's case, the man obeyed God, so was saved in the ark through the waters of death. That was a limited application of God's grace, lasting through the flood. Grace from God can apply to a particular personal need for a while, or benefit many generations.
While Jesus didn't mention God's grace, his disciples recognized grace in Christ Jesus. Not in Allah or Buddha. Favor from God is only in Christ, so his grace is limited to disciples of Christ Jesus. Grace is limited. But in me, because of Christ in me, and I in Christ, I benefit from his grace without measure day to day. Because of that grace I determine to overcome the Devil and sin daily.
Ezekiel 14:6 (KJV)
[SUP]6 [/SUP] Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.
There are older references, but that one is directly akin to what Jesus was preaching. It turned out that Israel refused to repent and they fell into the curses the prophets warned would happen. They didn't find grace in the eyes of the Lord like Noah did. Do you ever wonder why God let Noah have his grace, saving him from destruction of the whole world? Might it be because he and his family were not typical of the then rampant sin lifestyles? We don't know, can only assume based on the full content of scriptures concerning what pleases God. We do know only Noah found grace from God.
The concept of grace is popular among men. If you are a little late making your home insurance payment, your policy probably affords a "grace period". They won't cancel your coverage under terms of the contract. But if you keep missing payments, getting later and later, then they will be forced to withdraw grace, eventually cancelling your policy. The idea is to stay in favor by doing your part, so they can do theirs. Technically, if you are one minute late with the agreed payment, that's a violation, but there's that latitude for you to make better payment arrangements.
In Noah's case, the man obeyed God, so was saved in the ark through the waters of death. That was a limited application of God's grace, lasting through the flood. Grace from God can apply to a particular personal need for a while, or benefit many generations.
While Jesus didn't mention God's grace, his disciples recognized grace in Christ Jesus. Not in Allah or Buddha. Favor from God is only in Christ, so his grace is limited to disciples of Christ Jesus. Grace is limited. But in me, because of Christ in me, and I in Christ, I benefit from his grace without measure day to day. Because of that grace I determine to overcome the Devil and sin daily.
Christ fulfilled ALL the conditions of the Covenant. We are to place our faith in Him (repentance being the flipside of faith).
Romans 5:18-19 (KJV)
18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Romans 5:18-19 (KJV)
18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
So, I'm guessing you just missed the whole point of my comment? And if you believe that one does not need to repent and confess their sins and ask God's forgiveness through the precious blood of Jesus Christ, you are simply wrong. The VERY FIRST sermon Jesus preached was:
REPENT!
(see Matthew, Chapter 4)
Why is “repentenc” necessary?Consider what the Holy Bible teaches us about the need for repentence.
Matthew 10:32) Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 .) But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Luke 12:8) Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
9 .) But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
The first word Jesus preached in public was “repent”………..
Matthew 4:17) From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Look at what is said in Acts 4:16) Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
17 .) Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
18 .) When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
And again in Acts 20:20) And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
21 .) Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
So, in Acts 2:38, when Peter said:“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
He was well in line with the teaching of Jesus…….
This is not a new concept/teaching…….consider Proverbs 28:13) He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
John taught this as well……consider 1[SUP]st[/SUP] John 1:6) If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 .) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 .) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 .) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Again, consider what Luke wrote……….Luke 15:10) Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.And in the 13[SUP]th[/SUP] Chapter, Luke records this…..from verse 3) I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
And Peter taught in Acts 3:19) Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Matthew 10:32) Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 .) But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Luke 12:8) Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
9 .) But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
The first word Jesus preached in public was “repent”………..
Matthew 4:17) From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Look at what is said in Acts 4:16) Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
17 .) Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
18 .) When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
And again in Acts 20:20) And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
21 .) Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
So, in Acts 2:38, when Peter said:“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
He was well in line with the teaching of Jesus…….
This is not a new concept/teaching…….consider Proverbs 28:13) He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
John taught this as well……consider 1[SUP]st[/SUP] John 1:6) If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 .) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 .) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 .) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Again, consider what Luke wrote……….Luke 15:10) Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.And in the 13[SUP]th[/SUP] Chapter, Luke records this…..from verse 3) I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
And Peter taught in Acts 3:19) Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Jesus did his part, making the way for many to receive the grace of God by faith. Even if each of us immediately turned from every possible sin in our lives, from now on living free of any transgression, still one of us would deserve to live with God for eternity. The reason is we all have sinned. Just one sin in a lifetime makes a person undeserving of eternal glory.
That's where God's grace meets our incredibly deep need, but to enjoy that we have our part, to repent, believe the gospel of Christ the way the Bible says to believe it, to do his commandments. That act of love for Jesus' disciples justifies us before holy God. We are made righteous by the righteousness of Christ by the grace of God. By his grace then each believer is equipped to promote the gospel around the world.
Few will inherit eternal life. So many are called, but few will know God's grace that goes far beyond forgiveness of sin. His amazing grace deserves a lifelong day to day rejection of sin, and every believer has what it takes to do that.
In the absence of repentance lies regret, condemnation, and as terrible decommissioning of a life towards God. When a great ship sails it's last trip it is decommissioned, removed from service. If it is prematurely damaged and found unseaworthy, it is decommissioned, put in the shipyards to be parted out, or sunk in an ocean. People can find themselves facing a similar condition because of refusal to meet God's conditions. Nobody wants to experience being gathered up like dead sticks in an orchard and burned up. We don't want to be pruned off the vine for lack of fruit.
Take heed once again of the several "if" conditions Jesus was very firm about:
John 15:1-12 (KJV)
[SUP]1 [/SUP] I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
[SUP]2 [/SUP] Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
[SUP]3 [/SUP] Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
[SUP]4 [/SUP] Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
[SUP]5 [/SUP] I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
[SUP]6 [/SUP] If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
[SUP]7 [/SUP] If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
[SUP]8 [/SUP] Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
[SUP]9 [/SUP] As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
[SUP]10 [/SUP] If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
[SUP]11 [/SUP] These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
If we disobey Jesus, we are subject to being cast out. One can't possibly remain in the grace of God when cast away. To be cast off requires having been a part of. I wouldn't make grace a cheap thing to be held by unrepentant sinners. Grace is too precious, a matter of holiness granted to a child of God that then knows how important Jesus' words are if one will remain in his household.
One moment we are talking salvation, the next moment we are talking of bearing fruit. Which one are you referring to?
How much 'repentance'/'faith' is needed to become regenerate...born again?
It's true, repentance continues daily in a Christian's life, but then we are speaking of fruit bearing.
God's grace is limitless, as is everything about Him. It has to be. Because every Christian living still sins.
Amen....the ones that know the truth...there are a few here that never sin, always walk upright, are more righteous than Jesus and set the standard for biblical Christianity.....um I mean pseudo religion!
Gee Wally, I mean really, how good is good enough for you?
You seem to be going down the rabbit hole that is the WOF works based salvation here. I agree with crossnote here, why are you bringing up fruit here?
A
atwhatcost
Guest
Unmerited favor. "For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." (Part of Matt 5:45. I skipped the other part because that's what we become if we love our enemies.)
Sometimes he doesn't play favoritism with his kids.There are a lot of truly graced people who have no idea God is doing that for them. God is more of a broadcaster than you believe. (As in he casts broad enough to give nonbelievers and the unjust unmerited favor too.)
Mt. 4:17 says, "17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Repent there is
Repent - Strong's G3340 - metanoeō
[*=1]to change one's mind, i.e. to repent
[*=1]to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins
No mention of the confession of sins in that verse or any other verse in that chapter.
In fact, Jesus regularly ticked off the Pharisees when He just went 'round forgiving sins. How many of those folks repented and confessed their sins to Him before He would forgive them?
Not. One. Single. One.
On top of that, when Jesus preached, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" He was preaching the coming of the New Covenant - which would be ratified by His own Blood. Repent - change your mind - prepare yourselves for the New Covenant of the kingdom!
In John 6 the disciples ask Jesus, "What is the work of God?" to which He replies, "The work of God is to believe in the One He has sent."
No mention of confession or repentance as requirements there either - just believe in the One God has sent.
How about after the Cross?
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (from Rom. 10)
18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
It is not we who change our behavior in order to be saved, but God Who changes us with the gifts of forgiveness, righteousness, and New Life when we receive Christ and His Work. Out of the New Creation that we become flows behavior changing for the better, which may include confession of sins to a trusted one or two for prayer and healing, and/or confession to our Father at His Throne of Grace in our times of need (Heb. 4).
Salvation is a gift that we receive by grace through faith, consisting of a three part gift of forgiveness, righteousness, and New Life, not a benefit that we must earn through cleaning ourselves up before we are permitted to ask for forgiveness.
-JGIG
Maybe it's "lost in translation?"
From your comment: to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins
Now, why on earth would anyone "change one's mind for better, heartily to amned with abhorrence of one's past sins" UNLESS they had realized that they were living APART from God and were in dire need to be RECONCILED to Him? The very act of "changing one's mind" is CONFESSION.
If you honestly believe that God will pour out His wondrous Grace on an unrepentant sinner who has NOT confessed their sinful life and asked Jesus to become Lord and Savior of their lives, then I'm just sorry for you.
The definition of "repent" is to turn around, to change course............Biblically it is quite simple..........don't care what word/translation one wishes to paint it with...........Biblically to repent is to realize one is living apart from God and in need of being reconciled to Him, and TURNING AWAY from the course their life is on, and TURNING TO His pathway.
You said:
In fact, Jesus regularly ticked off the Pharisees when He just went 'round forgiving sins. How many of those folks repented and confessed their sins to Him before He would forgive them? No one, not a single one!
Show me in Scripture an example please.............where Jesus forgave sins without someone repenting/requesting Him to do so................Now, before you throw out the old argument about those possessed with demons, please remember that SOMEONE was begging Jesus to cast out the demons from the person...........
If you want more examples showing your statement to be false............I suggest you read through ALL of the Scriptures I posted in the Law of Faith thread.........Scripture is full of examples showing your statement to be false.
Just saying.........Clearly your understanding of Scripture is way different than mine...........and it is quite clear that there will be no agreement...................so..............anyway............
From your comment: to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins
Now, why on earth would anyone "change one's mind for better, heartily to amned with abhorrence of one's past sins" UNLESS they had realized that they were living APART from God and were in dire need to be RECONCILED to Him? The very act of "changing one's mind" is CONFESSION.
If you honestly believe that God will pour out His wondrous Grace on an unrepentant sinner who has NOT confessed their sinful life and asked Jesus to become Lord and Savior of their lives, then I'm just sorry for you.
The definition of "repent" is to turn around, to change course............Biblically it is quite simple..........don't care what word/translation one wishes to paint it with...........Biblically to repent is to realize one is living apart from God and in need of being reconciled to Him, and TURNING AWAY from the course their life is on, and TURNING TO His pathway.
You said:
In fact, Jesus regularly ticked off the Pharisees when He just went 'round forgiving sins. How many of those folks repented and confessed their sins to Him before He would forgive them? No one, not a single one!
Show me in Scripture an example please.............where Jesus forgave sins without someone repenting/requesting Him to do so................Now, before you throw out the old argument about those possessed with demons, please remember that SOMEONE was begging Jesus to cast out the demons from the person...........
If you want more examples showing your statement to be false............I suggest you read through ALL of the Scriptures I posted in the Law of Faith thread.........Scripture is full of examples showing your statement to be false.
Just saying.........Clearly your understanding of Scripture is way different than mine...........and it is quite clear that there will be no agreement...................so..............anyway............
Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. We have access by faith into grace (Romans 5:2). No faith, no access to grace.
First, there is no grace upon the life of anyone refusing to repent. I posted about fruit bearing to point out the destiny of perishing. If we bear no spiritual fruit it is because we choose to live in a sin (or many sins) without repenting. The vineyard keeper (husbandman) prunes out branches that are diseased, and improves branches that do produce so they can produce more. Branches that need to be removed are destined to die and be burned up.
Lack of repentance is serious, an insult to God who offers grace. Luke 13:1-5 (KJV)
[SUP]1 [/SUP] There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
[SUP]2 [/SUP] And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
[SUP]3 [/SUP] I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
[SUP]4 [/SUP] Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
[SUP]5 [/SUP] I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
It is impossible for a person to produce fruit of the Spirit while in rebellion, refusing to repent of a sin God says to stop. When God finds your branch is hopeless towards bearing fruit, such as advancing from occasional sexual sin to same sex marriage and flaunting sin before God and neighbors, he will be forced to prune those branches off the vine. Wickedness kills fruit bearing.
It is absurd to suppose God continues to allow grace in such lives. There is no favor from God for spiritual rebels. The first condition of being in Christ is REPENT. The Holy Spirit will not come to an unrepentant sinner choosing to live in slavery to sin. He will ignore a person saying "I believe and want Jesus in my heart", while in his heart saying "But I won't give up some sins".
All God has to do is observe your fruit. He is justified in withdrawing grace, repenting of any good done, letting that person perish.
Romans 6:1-7 (KJV)
[SUP]1 [/SUP] What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
[SUP]2 [/SUP] God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
[SUP]3 [/SUP] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
[SUP]4 [/SUP] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
[SUP]5 [/SUP] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
[SUP]6 [/SUP] Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
[SUP]7 [/SUP] For he that is dead is freed from sin.
If you are committed to that, then you have repented, are repenting, and will always repent of any sin you are aware of, not forever repeating sins repented of. Be about bearing good fruit, demonstrating the grace of God upon your life.
Pull it all together, figure it out. Most haven't.