Must we repent in order to be forgiven?

  • 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.

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
56,015
26,143
113
Salvation is of the Lord. You do nothing, zero, zilch, nada to be born again and once saved
you can do nothing to be unsaved, for he who begins a good work in you will finish it.
So you consider yourself to be a puppet, and make no choice for
yourself for which God will none-the-less hold you responsible?


Good to know...
 

Lisamn

Active member
Dec 29, 2020
795
229
43
once saved you can do nothing to be unsaved, for he who begins a good work in you will finish it.
That’s not exactly true though.

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭4:1‬ ‭
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.​

Romans‬ ‭11:20-22‬ ‭
Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.
‭‭​
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
12,352
4,067
113
Salvation is of the Lord. You do nothing, zero, zilch, nada to be born again and once saved you can do nothing to be unsaved, for he who begins a good work in you will finish it.
you must receive it you do know you can reject Christ? Many already have. Obeying is what you do does God make you obey? foolishness.
 

NOV25

Well-known member
Nov 23, 2019
976
385
63
you must receive it you do know you can reject Christ? Many already have. Obeying is what you do does God make you obey? foolishness.
You may be able to but I cannot. I have been born from above, the Lord has begun a work in me that He promises to finish.
Lord willing you’ll figure it out someday.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
Do we not still have free will after we believe? God takes that from us to keep us safely with Him? I don’t think so..He didn’t do it with Adam and Eve, the Israelites and He doesn’t do it with us.

Sure not everyone claiming to be a Christian is a true Christian but that’s not 1 Timothy is talking about. It’s talking about people of faith falling away from faith.
So you think that you can have faith in someone, and everytime you do what that person says you are blessed, and he continually proves his faithfullness

that you would stop losing faith in that person?

sorry, I cannot see that
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
You may be able to but I cannot. I have been born from above, the Lord has begun a work in me that He promises to finish.
Lord willing you’ll figure it out someday.
I have been born from above also

i became like the tax collector, I did not earn my salvation by calling out
 
B

Blackpowderduelist

Guest
Confession embraces two parts: one is, that we confess our sins; the other, that we receive absolution, or forgiveness, from the pastor, as his authority to forgive sin is from God Himself, without doubt, but believe, that our sins are indeed forgiven before and by God in heaven.

To God we should plead guilty of all sins, even of those which we do not know, according to the Lord’s Prayer. But before the pastor we should confess those sins that we know and are burdened by.
The pastor's forgiveness is God’s forgiveness. According to the promise Jesus gave to his disciples as he turned over his earthly ministry to them.
John 20:23
Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. The modern World English Bible translates the passage as: Whoever's sins you forgive, they are forgiven them.

And the pastor should pronounce to you the forgiveness of Jesus, that as you believe, so it is done to you. And by the command of our Lord Jesus Christ I forgive thee thy sins, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Depart in peace.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
12,352
4,067
113
You may be able to but I cannot. I have been born from above, the Lord has begun a work in me that He promises to finish.
Lord willing you’ll figure it out someday.
never mind you see you failing as God failing that is not the case.
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,424
113
You may be able to but I cannot. I have been born from above, the Lord has begun a work in me that He promises to finish.
Lord willing you’ll figure it out someday.
It isn't a matter of rejecting Christ, it is a matter of saying that once you are saved you cannot sin, that your past forgiveness forgives your sins today. The sin you are doing also needs Christ to forgive it, your being forgiven in the past does not forgive the sin you are committing. You need Christ today. We always need Christ, daily as the Lord's Prayer tells us. It is not a matter of only needing Christ yesterday.

If you say that your past forgiveness allows you to be sin free, no matter what sin you commit today, then the Lord says that is lying. 1John_1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
 

NOV25

Well-known member
Nov 23, 2019
976
385
63
It isn't a matter of rejecting Christ, it is a matter of saying that once you are saved you cannot sin, that your past forgiveness forgives your sins today. The sin you are doing also needs Christ to forgive it, your being forgiven in the past does not forgive the sin you are committing. You need Christ today. We always need Christ, daily as the Lord's Prayer tells us. It is not a matter of only needing Christ yesterday.

If you say that your past forgiveness allows you to be sin free, no matter what sin you commit today, then the Lord says that is lying. 1John_1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Is anyone else confused? I didn't say anything about being sinless?
 
Oct 19, 2020
723
161
43
Each time the Holy Spirit reminds me of a sin I just quickly [repent] knowing that "sin" was retarded to do. Because, the Holy Spirit typically reminds me of sins that are a few days old I forgotten. By that time, I know how foolish committing that sin was. I want to [repent]. So i do!
 
B

Blackpowderduelist

Guest
When you understand what repentance is then you understand that forgiveness goes hand in hand with repentance. But that u turn definition isn't it. Basically it's contrition and then faith. So you know that you sinned and then are sorrowful, and then believe the Gospel.
 
T

TheWaytoGo

Guest
You may be able to but I cannot. I have been born from above, the Lord has begun a work in me that He promises to finish.
Lord willing you’ll figure it out someday.
Yes,

1Co 3:11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1Co 3:12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

1Co 3:13 each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work.

1Co 3:14 If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.

1Co 3:15 If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,699
113
What is the bottom line from all these?
Believe, repent, and ask Him into your heart to stay...

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
 
S

Scribe

Guest
For the high and exalted One He who inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy says this, “I dwell on the high and holy place, But also with the contrite and humble in spirit In order to revive the spirit of the humble And to revive the heart of the contrite [overcome with sorrow for sin].
 
S

Scribe

Guest
1Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;

According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.

2Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness and guilt

And cleanse me from my sin.

3For I am conscious of my transgressions and I acknowledge them;

My sin is always before me.

4Against You, You only, have I sinned

And done that which is evil in Your sight,

So that You are justified when You speak [Your sentence]

And faultless in Your judgment.



5I was brought forth in [a state of] wickedness;

In sin my mother conceived me [and from my beginning I, too, was sinful].

6Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,

And in the hidden part [of my heart] You will make me know wisdom.

7Purify me with [a]hyssop, and I will be clean;

Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8Make me hear joy and gladness and be satisfied;

Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.

9Hide Your face from my sins

And blot out all my iniquities.



10Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a right and steadfast spirit within me.

11Do not cast me away from Your presence

And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

12Restore to me the joy of Your salvation

And sustain me with a willing spirit.

13Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,

And sinners shall be converted and return to You.



14Rescue me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation;

Then my tongue will sing joyfully of Your righteousness and Your justice.

15O Lord, open my lips,

That my mouth may declare Your praise.

16For You do not delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it;

You are not pleased with burnt offering.

17My [only] sacrifice [acceptable] to God is a broken spirit;

A broken and contrite heart [broken with sorrow for sin, thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
12,283
4,964
113
We are told many things about this, but what is the bottom line?

We cannot be saved through obedience to the law.

In Gelasian’s 2: 19 “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God.

Romans 6: 2 “How shall we, that dead to sin, live any more therein”.

In Matthew 3;2 we are told that the ministry of Christ centered on repentance. As Matthew spoke of Christ beginning His ministry he said consisted of: Matt:2 “Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is in hand”. If we live in a state of repentance, we live by the perfection of Christ, wanting to be sinless like Christ.

Christ told us to be perfect as the Lord is perfect. We know that is impossible except through Christ. Can we accept the sin in our life as OK and still have Christ within?

We are told that if we claim perfection, we lie. Yet all our sins are forgiven through Christ and we can live as if are perfect.

We know that there is no sin except blasphemy that we can’t be forgiven for. We also know we can depend completely on the promises of the Lord, and we are promised forgiveness if we repent and ask.

What is the bottom line from all these?
if a slap you on the face and you forgive me , is that you telling me I don’t need to stop doing it ?
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
12,283
4,964
113
We are told many things about this, but what is the bottom line?

We cannot be saved through obedience to the law.

In Gelasian’s 2: 19 “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God.

Romans 6: 2 “How shall we, that dead to sin, live any more therein”.

In Matthew 3;2 we are told that the ministry of Christ centered on repentance. As Matthew spoke of Christ beginning His ministry he said consisted of: Matt:2 “Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is in hand”. If we live in a state of repentance, we live by the perfection of Christ, wanting to be sinless like Christ.

Christ told us to be perfect as the Lord is perfect. We know that is impossible except through Christ. Can we accept the sin in our life as OK and still have Christ within?

We are told that if we claim perfection, we lie. Yet all our sins are forgiven through Christ and we can live as if are perfect.

We know that there is no sin except blasphemy that we can’t be forgiven for. We also know we can depend completely on the promises of the Lord, and we are promised forgiveness if we repent and ask.

What is the bottom line from all these?

“But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice:

for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9:13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭13:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained;

whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭17:30-31‬ ‭KJV‬‬

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:10-11‬ ‭

repentance and salvation is a gift and celebration in the heavens

“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭15:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

repentance begins in what we believe
 

TMS

Senior Member
Mar 21, 2015
3,572
1,074
113
Australia
We are told many things about this, but what is the bottom line?

We cannot be saved through obedience to the law.

In Gelasian’s 2: 19 “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God.

Romans 6: 2 “How shall we, that dead to sin, live any more therein”.

In Matthew 3;2 we are told that the ministry of Christ centered on repentance. As Matthew spoke of Christ beginning His ministry he said consisted of: Matt:2 “Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is in hand”. If we live in a state of repentance, we live by the perfection of Christ, wanting to be sinless like Christ.

Christ told us to be perfect as the Lord is perfect. We know that is impossible except through Christ. Can we accept the sin in our life as OK and still have Christ within?

We are told that if we claim perfection, we lie. Yet all our sins are forgiven through Christ and we can live as if are perfect.

We know that there is no sin except blasphemy that we can’t be forgiven for. We also know we can depend completely on the promises of the Lord, and we are promised forgiveness if we repent and ask.

What is the bottom line from all these?
By asking for forgiveness you receive justification. Repentance is being truly sorry, sincere about he sin you ask forgiveness for.
If you really mean it you will not want to do it again. If you are not truly sorry and ask for forgiveness God knows and forgiveness is not given. Set your goal high and let Jesus transform you day by day.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
12,352
4,067
113
You may be able to but I cannot. I have been born from above, the Lord has begun a work in me that He promises to finish.
Lord willing you’ll figure it out someday.
you can and you have, each of us has disobeyed God, you are no exception. You may have a sincere desire not to, but you do.