Metanoia/Repentance

  • 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.
Sep 4, 2012
14,424
689
113
#1
Metanoia (μετάνοια) is the Greek word that is translated as repentance in the New Testament (NT). It conveys the idea of reconsideration (or consideration); e.g., thinking about something in the midst of new information (meta = amid; noieo = exercise the mind, ie, think).

In the NT, the word is virtually always used to convey the idea of reconsidering one's path in relation to GOD, forsaking that path and returning to his ways. This necessarily always involves the acknowledgement of what separates GOD and man, ie., sin. For example.

​Now in those days John the Baptist came preaching in the Judean wilderness and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near!” ... And they were baptized in the Jordan by him, acknowledging their sins. Matthew 3:6Matthew 3:1-2

This concept got twisted when Jerome translated metanoia in the Vulgate with a Latin word meaning do penance (which is where the word repentance derives from).

Hyper grace doctrine takes the concept of metanoia and twists it to mean framing and focusing on an identity (ie., a mental concept).

IMO, hyper grace doctrine is a modern-day manifestation of the gnostic heresy that appeared in the church almost from its beginning. John refuted several gnostic ideas in his letters to the church. Some gnostic traditions hold that gnosticism began with Simon the sorcerer mentioned in Acts 8:9.

So I did a search for gnosticism + metanoia, and was stunned to find that it is the foundational principle of gnosticism. For example:

Christ then took a human form (Jesus), to teach humanity how to achieve Gnosis. The ultimate end of all Gnosis is μετάνοια metanoia, or repentance—undoing the sin of material existence [wrong identity] and returning to Pleroma [the fullness of the godhead].

So what I'd like to do with this thread is show the similarity between the gnostic and hyper grace concepts of metanoia; they are virtually identical. But I want to do it in a fun way. So as I find new material I'll post a quote from a source and ask the question - Gnosticism or Hyper grace? - and let everyone try to decide. Here's the first:

Gnosticism or Hyper grace?

When the texts in the Old Testament were eventually translated into English, the Greek word metanoia was translated as ‘repentance’. However, this word actually signifies much more than simply asking for forgiveness of sins. It literally means ‘to change your mind’.... The second coming is the raising of our consciousness to that of the Christ. But, as we make an effort to change our minds, it is expected that, occasionally, we will miss the mark. Christ is the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Christ.
 
Last edited:
Nov 22, 2015
20,436
1,430
0
#2
The ultimate end goal for all Christians is to "repent" from our way of thinking to believe what God has said about Himself, ourselves in Him and how He views others in the world. If He says we are new creations in Christ - We need to "repent" and believe what He says.

In Christians it is the Holy Spirit that transforms us not our own thinking or self-effort in the flesh.

Here in the video below is a very clear biblical view of repentance as taught in the scriptures. Religion has hi-jacked the Greek word to turn into something it isn't.

True biblical repentance is when God tells an unsaved ( and saved ) person to repent - change your mind in Greek about how to reach God and accept His way of salvation. The person must change his way of thinking ( repentance ) from any idea of saving himself through religion or good works, and trust Christ's death and resurrection only as payment for everything he has done wrong or will ever do in the future.

[video=vimeo;112172173]https://vimeo.com/112172173[/video]
 
Last edited:
Sep 4, 2012
14,424
689
113
#3
The ultimate end goal for all Christians is to "repent" from our way of thinking to believe what God ahs said about Himself, ourselves in Him and how He views others in the world.

Here in the video below is a very clear biblical view of repentance as taught in the scriptures. Religion has hi-jacked the Greek word to turn into something it isn't.

True biblical repentance is when God tells an unsaved ( and saved ) person to repent - change your mind in Greek about how to reach God and accept His way of salvation. The person must change his way of thinking ( repentance ) from any idea of saving himself through religion or good works, and trust Christ's death and resurrection only as payment for everything he has done wrong or will ever do in the future.
Thank you. Your input will help to delineate and establish the hyper grace position.

For those who don't know, this person is the one of the pre-eminent advocates of hyper grace doctrine here. He has said that he loves hyper-repentance.
 
Nov 22, 2015
20,436
1,430
0
#4
Gnosticism is no more related to the gospel of the grace of Christ then Daffy Duck and Donald Duck are the 2 witnesses in the book of Revelation.

To the natural mind of man that does not understand about the new creation in Christ - created in righteousness and holiness - it is all gnostic and a mystery.

To some one that doesn't believe that Christians are born again until the get a new body in the future - the fact that Christ is in us and He is the one that bears His fruit in and through us as we participate with Him -this is a mystery to them as is anything to do with being spiritually in union with Christ as we are one spirit with Him through the Holy Spirit in which we are sealed .

Thank you Jesus! We have a great salvation in Him!

There are "Fruits" of repentance.

The word "repentance" - metanoia as been shown by others simply in the original greek means " to change the mind ". In Jesus and Paul's day the word would be used in a sentence like this. " I was going to the synagogue but I metanoia (changed my mind ) and went to the market.

There are "fruits" of repentance ( changing the mind ) as in the case above...the person "went to the market". ( every fiber of my being wants to say..."and this little piggy stayed home".....but I will refrain )

To us it means to change our mind to stop relying on ourselves and our thinking and turn to God. Stop living our own life with our own thinking and come to Christ and let His life live through and in you. Receive all that Jesus did for us in His finished work.

We should be repenting ( changing how we think towards something ) constantly as we see the Lord's true nature, love and grace revealed to and in us.

There will always be "fruits" of having a changed mind ( having repented ) to God but the "fruit" is not the repentance within itself. True repentance is the "root" before the "fruit" comes.

The fruit will manifest itself in the form of having a changed heart because we are a new creation in Christ. This will also show in behavior as the life of Christ transforms our outward life to reflect what has already happened in our inner man - that new creation in Christ.

Sometimes our religious traditions can "hi-jack" the meanings of words and can present false assumptions.

I am a very firm believer in "hyper-repenting" ( changing my mind ) as we learn new truths about the love and grace our Lord has for us and as we see more of who He really is in character and true nature. And yes - this pertains to sinning too.
 
Last edited:
Sep 4, 2012
14,424
689
113
#5
We report, you decide.

Gnosticism or Hyper grace?

Metanoia doesn’t have anything to do with crying, asking for forgiveness, or confessing your sin; it has everything to do with changing your mind. Metanoia is like a light switch, I used to believe this way, now I believe differently.
 
F

FreeNChrist

Guest
#6
We report, you decide.

Gnosticism or Hyper grace?
Metanoia doesn’t have anything to do with crying, asking for forgiveness, or confessing your sin; it has everything to do with changing your mind. Metanoia is like a light switch, I used to believe this way, now I believe differently.
That's right. You got it. Metanoia, has to do with a changed mind that leads to a change of action.
 
Feb 24, 2015
13,204
168
0
#7
I have asked many in here not to make threads personal and it seems yet again the same three do so ......
 
Last edited by a moderator:

FlSnookman7

Senior Member
Jun 27, 2015
1,125
135
63
#8
Sadly many will never "change their minds" and accept who they really are in Christ. They wont be able to follow Jesus' commandments to love God and others because until we realize our true identity we can't really love at all.
 
Feb 24, 2015
13,204
168
0
#9
Change you mind

A deep hurt, a serious regret, a commitment to not do something again, a desire
to make up a broken relationship that is repentance. It delves to the bottom of
who you are and recognises you do not deserve to walk on planet earth.

Changing you mind is just a mental assent, a flip flop of perspective with no backbone
or emotional perspective. People change their minds every day, and it could change
back tomorrow. That is what John the Baptist called people to do?

These are a people with no heart and no understanding and no conviction of sin.
It is like a child caught stealing something who regrets being caught and will face
the punishment but has no clue why it is wrong or the damage they have done.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
#10
You have to be kidding me, another hate thread. Why is it a certain group of people seem they have the god given right to make these "deceptive" threads, seemingly about talking about a christian term (ie repentance) when in reality it is another "hate/attack" thread.

This is getting rediculous
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
#11
I would recommend we all run to the hills. Every one of these "hate" threads has been based on false information, Mostly taken from the world wide web from people who are against the group they are attacking (as if those can be considered reliable sources)

These threads are for the birds. It is time to stop feeding them.. so the birds can realise they have no home here.
 
Feb 24, 2015
13,204
168
0
#12
Sadly many will never "change their minds" and accept who they really are in Christ. They wont be able to follow Jesus' commandments to love God and others because until we realize our true identity we can't really love at all.
You love because you know you are a child of God? How does this work?

I have never realised my true identity and I love, and I know many people christian and
non-christian who love. This sounds like wish fulfillment. You only recognise love in the
people you call christian so therefore it is true.

I wonder if a car came and hit you in the road, does that make you realise you are actually
a mortal human being who will die, or everyone can actually realise what they are and do.

What God calls us to realise is we are failed sinners, trying to make the best of a failed life,
yet He offers reality and truth, eternity and purity, love and joy that will never end, we just
need to open up and walk in it. The start is accepting our sinful state and need, then to obey
and follow. But this is the part you guys deny and change, dooming people to hell as much
as they were before and exstinguishing any hope of knowing God.
 
F

FreeNChrist

Guest
#13
A change in your behavior without a change in your thinking is meaningless. It's just you sitting at the table eating your peas because you were told to, but all the while standing up and shaking your fist on the inside.
 
Feb 24, 2015
13,204
168
0
#14
Every one of these "hate" threads
The only people who have hate is yourself. Before you guys came along and spread all
this condemnation and legalism is the sin of the world lie, the gospel was fine to talk about
righteousness and purity and how in Christ we can become Children of the living God.

You can always tell when people use the term, false information, they mean information
that disagrees with their position, their distortions and redefinitions of everything Christian.

And you know their theology will die, because while truth can be preached and spoken about
while all the options fairly presented, it is obvious to all who is lying and who is telling the truth.

Why we do not work like these folk is because we actually dwell in love and forgiveness and
have no ill will against these slanderers and emotionally abusive folk. You know their true fruit,
when you start sharing and "hate" becomes on their lips.
 
Sep 4, 2012
14,424
689
113
#15
Quote in post #1 is from a gnostic website

When the texts in the Old Testament were eventually translated into English, the Greek word metanoia was translated as ‘repentance’. However, this word actually signifies much more than simply asking for forgiveness of sins. It literally means ‘to change your mind’.... The second coming is the raising of our consciousness to that of the Christ. But, as we make an effort to change our minds, it is expected that, occasionally, we will miss the mark. Christ is the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Christ.

Quote in post #5 is from a hyper grace website

Metanoia doesn’t have anything to do with crying, asking for forgiveness, or confessing your sin; it has everything to do with changing your mind. Metanoia is like a light switch, I used to believe this way, now I believe differently.

We report, you decide.
 
F

FreeNChrist

Guest
#16
Quote in post #1 is from a gnostic website
When the texts in the Old Testament were eventually translated into English, the Greek word metanoia was translated as ‘repentance’. However, this word actually signifies much more than simply asking for forgiveness of sins. It literally means ‘to change your mind’.... The second coming is the raising of our consciousness to that of the Christ. But, as we make an effort to change our minds, it is expected that, occasionally, we will miss the mark. Christ is the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Christ.

Quote in post #5 is from a hyper grace website
Metanoia doesn’t have anything to do with crying, asking for forgiveness, or confessing your sin; it has everything to do with changing your mind. Metanoia is like a light switch, I used to believe this way, now I believe differently.

We report, you decide.
So when the OT says that God "repented" it meant that He was crying, asking for forgiveness, and confessing His sin??
 
Sep 4, 2012
14,424
689
113
#17
You have to be kidding me, another hate thread. Why is it a certain group of people seem they have the god given right to make these "deceptive" threads, seemingly about talking about a christian term (ie repentance) when in reality it is another "hate/attack" thread.

This is getting rediculous
Your methodology is indistinguishable from progressives who try to shut down free speech by labeling opposing views as hate speech.
 
Sep 4, 2012
14,424
689
113
#18
So when the OT says that God "repented" it meant that He was crying, asking for forgiveness, and confessing His sin??
The word most often used for repentance in the OT (nacham) does indeed convey the idea of regret.

H5162 נָחַם nacham (naw-kham') v.
1. (properly) to sigh, i.e. breathe strongly
2. (by implication) to be sorry
3. (hence, in a favorable sense) to pity, console
4. (reflexively) to rue
 
F

FreeNChrist

Guest
#19
The word most often used for repentance in the OT (nacham) does indeed convey the idea of regret.

H5162 נָחַם nacham (naw-kham') v.
1. (properly) to sigh, i.e. breathe strongly
2. (by implication) to be sorry
3. (hence, in a favorable sense) to pity, console
4. (reflexively) to rue
That didn't answer the question asked.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
#20
Your methodology is indistinguishable from progressives who try to shut down free speech by labeling opposing views as hate speech.
Apposing view is one thing, (although this is a bible discussion thread, I am sure there are religious view threads someplace in CC where this would be more appropriate)

Saying "this group teaches this or that" is hate speech.

especially when it has been proven wrong SO MANY TIMES..