Is repentance necessary for forgiveness?

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know1

Senior Member
Aug 27, 2012
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The idea that we must confess verbally is a new idea to me, I question that requirement. If God required it of all people, then all people would have that opportunity to verbally confess to other Christians, and there are humans that live in places that it is not possible. I am one. I live in a facility with no Christians around me, I'm wheelchair bound. I have outlived my friends.

The new testament does not list all sins Christ forgives us for, but the old testament lists every sin as Christ fulfilled the forgiveness offered. One group of sins are the sins we are not aware of. Christians cover these sins when they confess repentance of all sin, stating they turn from all sin and want to be sin free. You could not confess a sin you are not aware of.
I did not say you had to confess Jesus before Christians, or even before man or people. However, Jesus did say, if you confess me before men, I will confess you before my father, and it is also written, let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven.
In Ephesians 2:8 it is written, we are saved by grace through faith and that not of ourselves ...
Without faith, there is no Grace. And there is only one Faith or one kind of Godlike faith and it operates only one way, the same way, every time.
The Bible talks about Acts or works of faith and words of faith but not belief of faith, for faith without a corresponding action or work is, as James put it, dead.
I would also like to stress the difference between a work of faith versus a work of the flesh or work of the law as Paul called it. They are two different things entirely.
A work of the flesh or work of the law is something you can do without God's help, versus a work of faith is something you cannot do without the power of God or the hand of God operating in the situation.
The way Faith works is, you act on what you truly believe in your heart. It is a corresponding action to what you believe in your heart. Therefore, if you believe that if you confess Jesus as your lord and savior, you will saved and go to heaven, and you simply say that with your mouth, not necessarily before men, but certainly before God, then God is obligated to fulfill his word, which no man can do, and that is to take away or remove the Stony heart and give you a heart of flesh and put a new spirit within you along with his holy spirit. That is something no man can do. Therefore when you act on what you believe, God will fulfill that which you acted on, and not before. That is what faith is and how it works. As I said, it works one way only and the same way, every time without fail. But if you have any doubt or reservation or wonderment or wishing or hoping God will answer your request, again I say, absolutely nothing will happen. And if you don't act on said Faith or belief, then again, absolutely nothing will happen.
Have you ever read where Jesus cast out a spirit by simply believing, without any action? No, Jesus cast out spirits with his word, always. For it is written, his word was with power. And therefore, when we speak forth God's word, it is God's word itself that goes forth out of our mouth, and shall not return to us void, but shall accomplish that which we please, and prosper in the thing or person where to we sent it, which also applies to salvation. We are literally saved by the word of God we keep in our hearts.
Going back to confessing Jesus in order to be saved, have you read Romans 10: 8 - 10?
It basically says, if you believe in your heart and confess what you believe in your heart with your mouth, that is what shall come to pass. And yes Paul specifically mentioned salvation, but it applies to everything, for that is how Faith works. Faith must have a corresponding action, and speaking what you believe is a work, as well as a word of faith.
 
May 22, 2020
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Our sins are already forgiven, forgiveness is a gift and it is free like salvation. God does not require us to do anything to receive his forgiveness. Repentance sets us free from sin.
2 Samuel 12:13
You say we must do nothing then....you say Repentance sets us free.
If i understand you ...you are wrong...we must ask for forgiveness. It is not automatic....as you seem to suggest.
Please clarify your point.
 
May 22, 2020
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Our sins are already forgiven, forgiveness is a gift and it is free like salvation. God does not require us to do anything to receive his forgiveness. Repentance sets us free from sin.
2 Samuel 12:13
That is miss leading the novice...we must request forgiveness.....it is not automatic.
 
May 22, 2020
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Our sins are already forgiven, forgiveness is a gift and it is free like salvation. God does not require us to do anything to receive his forgiveness. Repentance sets us free from sin.
2 Samuel 12:13
Not biblical.

That is a new new age religion teaching and does not represent God's commandments..
 

know1

Senior Member
Aug 27, 2012
3,100
180
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Our sins are already forgiven, forgiveness is a gift and it is free like salvation. God does not require us to do anything to receive his forgiveness. Repentance sets us free from sin.
2 Samuel 12:13
That is flat out wrong or incorrect.
To think our sins are automatically forgiven, covered under the blood of jesus, and cleansed of said sins, is just wrong and will get a lot of believers into trouble.
If we are automatically covered in the blood of Jesus and our sins forgiven and washed away by said blood of Jesus, then why in 1 John 1:9 are we told to confess our sins and he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness? If we are already cleansed then why do we have to confess to be cleansed yet again?
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
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That is flat out wrong or incorrect.
To think our sins are automatically forgiven, covered under the blood of jesus, and cleansed of said sins, is just wrong and will get a lot of believers into trouble.
If we are automatically covered in the blood of Jesus and our sins forgiven and washed away by said blood of Jesus, then why in 1 John 1:9 are we told to confess our sins and he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness? If we are already cleansed then why do we have to confess to be cleansed yet again?
Why did Jesus have to shed his blood ,if all we had to do was confess our sins ?
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
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What's necessary is 1 Cor 1.21
In one way or another and to one degree or another , certain people believe subtlety and have been taught/ deceived subtlety , in some form 'Lordship salvation ,and or the Galation error '. Somehow being back under the law .
 

justahumanbeing

Well-known member
Mar 25, 2020
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We know that God told us to repent, but did God tell us that if we don’t repent, we will not be forgiven?

Psalms 51: 17 The sacrifices of god are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

God hears our repentance, but is it a requirement?
We're all sinners in need of the saving grace of God. The world we live in connects us to people who are sinful and we come in contact with them and live among them on a day to day basis.

The media we consume and the things that we do makes us sin before God so that not one of us can say that we are perfect. And I know some people who say they are perfect Christians but that would mean that they don't see a side of them that is actually sinful. It could be their pride or it could be ignorance to the pain their actions cause others around them whether those affected by them are either family members or outsiders they meet at work or elsewhere.

Sin is something which we do. Some of the sins we do, we're used to doing it at regular intervals. There are different kinds of sin as we all know. So if we are used to sinning the same kind of sin and we know it but we can't help ourselves. That means we've become comfortable to sinning those sins against God and our hearts have hardened.

So, when our hearts have hardened to the extent where we don't feel any remorse for the sins we commit against Jesus, we have to pray to Him to give us a heart of flesh so that we actually are able to feel the extent to which we take His sacrifice for our sins on the Cross for granted. Once that happens, and the person who sins realises how hurtful it is to God when his children sin against Him without feeling bad about it and that person would begin to realise the life God calls his followers to live, I think that is where repentance begins.

Our God is a merciful God. When you read the book of "2 Kings", from the Bible, you will see that King Hezekiah gains favour from God and His life is extended. Hezekiah turns and faces the wall and sheds tears. Also you will read how people in the Old Testament mourn for their sins. They cover themselves with sackcloth and ashes. Queen Esther and Job are good examples of such prayer. God hears the prayer of a repentant heart. So if a believer does not have a heart that feels remorse, then that believer must pray to God so that He or She gets such a heart. (heart of flesh). A heart that is able to feel the magnitude of the sin which is committed by the person.

Repentance itself is a gift from God. How many people truly repent for their sins or are really sorry when they hurt someone? The more we pray to God, God will show us the way to repentance. With the help of the Holy Scriptures and good Christian guidance from your Christian community and from your parents or elders or someone you look up to in faith, you must make that journey of repentance which is a life long one. Because we aren't perfect. Even if we think we are. Especially when we think we are. Jesus has paid the debt we owe to God for our sins once and for all on the cross. But our salvation depends on how far we are willing to acknowledge what Jesus did for us on the cross and change our sinful ways.

If you're saved and if you're free from sin, then you should live like you are free from sin. You cannot live in sin and say, Jesus has died for my sins. You have to fight for God's love and forgiveness. That starts with repentance.

“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;” - Acts 3:19

To answer the question asked in short: Is our repentance a requirement?

Answer: Yes, it is. Without repentance, there can be no forgiveness of sins.
 

Sipsey

Well-known member
Sep 27, 2018
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Can one truly repent before being confronted by God? Is repentance a choice by simply agreeing with God? Or is repentance looked at as something we do once, or is ongoing?

I personally don’t think that a person is even capable of changing their thinking or repenting till God gives them a choice, and by confronting us, actually enables us to repent.
 

know1

Senior Member
Aug 27, 2012
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Why did Jesus have to shed his blood ,if all we had to do was confess our sins ?
Why do you ask me a question when you failed or refused to answer my questions to you?
And why are you equating jesus' shed blood on the cross with confession of one's sins? I thought we were talking about receiving forgiveness of one's sins and not about salvation of one's soul.
Being forgiven of one's sins does NOT save a person. For Jesus said, except you eat My flesh and drink my blood, you have no life in you. However, at the same time, Jesus will not come into a person who has not been forgiven of their sins.
And in the New testament, we are saved by grace through faith in Christ's work on the cross, NOT through repentance and/or confession of one's sins.
So to be brief, one does not receive salvation via repentance of one's sins through confession.
As I stated earlier, repentance of one's sins is reserved for the Christian, not the heathen.
Now I ask you again, if we are automatically forgiven of all sin for all time, why are we told in 1st John 1:9, to confess our sins to be both forgiven and cleansed of said sins and of all unrighteousness?
If we are automatically cleansed, then we should not have to repent and confess anything, if that were the case, as you believe it to be.
And why does God tell us to judge ourselves? Isn't it so we would not be judged by God? If we are automatically forgiven of all sin for all time, then we should not have to judge ourselves, neither would God judge, reprimand, or chastise us, his children, for failing or refusing to repent of our sins. Isn't that why many were weak and died?
The two are contrary to each other.
So in order for your argument to hold any weight, you would have to explain away the contrariness of, at the very least, 1st John 1:9.
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
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Why do you ask me a question when you failed or refused to answer my questions to you?
And why are you equating jesus' shed blood on the cross with confession of one's sins? I thought we were talking about receiving forgiveness of one's sins and not about salvation of one's soul.
Being forgiven of one's sins does NOT save a person. For Jesus said, except you eat My flesh and drink my blood, you have no life in you. However, at the same time, Jesus will not come into a person who has not been forgiven of their sins.
And in the New testament, we are saved by grace through faith in Christ's work on the cross, NOT through repentance and/or confession of one's sins.
So to be brief, one does not receive salvation via repentance of one's sins through confession.
As I stated earlier, repentance of one's sins is reserved for the Christian, not the heathen.
Now I ask you again, if we are automatically forgiven of all sin for all time, why are we told in 1st John 1:9, to confess our sins to be both forgiven and cleansed of said sins and of all unrighteousness?
If we are automatically cleansed, then we should not have to repent and confess anything, if that were the case, as you believe it to be.
And why does God tell us to judge ourselves? Isn't it so we would not be judged by God? If we are automatically forgiven of all sin for all time, then we should not have to judge ourselves, neither would God judge, reprimand, or chastise us, his children, for failing or refusing to repent of our sins. Isn't that why many were weak and died?
The two are contrary to each other.
So in order for your argument to hold any weight, you would have to explain away the contrariness of, at the very least, 1st John 1:9.
Could you read this verse and tell me what you think it means ?

Eph 1 .13
13¶In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
Could you read this verse and tell me what you think it means ?

Eph 1 .13
13¶In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Confessing sins AFTER a person is saved is not to stay saved . Its to stay in fellowship.
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
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I did not say you had to confess Jesus before Christians, or even before man or people. However, Jesus did say, if you confess me before men, I will confess you before my father, and it is also written, let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven.
In Ephesians 2:8 it is written, we are saved by grace through faith and that not of ourselves ...
Without faith, there is no Grace. And there is only one Faith or one kind of Godlike faith and it operates only one way, the same way, every time.
The Bible talks about Acts or works of faith and words of faith but not belief of faith, for faith without a corresponding action or work is, as James put it, dead.
I would also like to stress the difference between a work of faith versus a work of the flesh or work of the law as Paul called it. They are two different things entirely.
A work of the flesh or work of the law is something you can do without God's help, versus a work of faith is something you cannot do without the power of God or the hand of God operating in the situation.
The way Faith works is, you act on what you truly believe in your heart. It is a corresponding action to what you believe in your heart. Therefore, if you believe that if you confess Jesus as your lord and savior, you will saved and go to heaven, and you simply say that with your mouth, not necessarily before men, but certainly before God, then God is obligated to fulfill his word, which no man can do, and that is to take away or remove the Stony heart and give you a heart of flesh and put a new spirit within you along with his holy spirit. That is something no man can do. Therefore when you act on what you believe, God will fulfill that which you acted on, and not before. That is what faith is and how it works. As I said, it works one way only and the same way, every time without fail. But if you have any doubt or reservation or wonderment or wishing or hoping God will answer your request, again I say, absolutely nothing will happen. And if you don't act on said Faith or belief, then again, absolutely nothing will happen.
Have you ever read where Jesus cast out a spirit by simply believing, without any action? No, Jesus cast out spirits with his word, always. For it is written, his word was with power. And therefore, when we speak forth God's word, it is God's word itself that goes forth out of our mouth, and shall not return to us void, but shall accomplish that which we please, and prosper in the thing or person where to we sent it, which also applies to salvation. We are literally saved by the word of God we keep in our hearts.
Going back to confessing Jesus in order to be saved, have you read Romans 10: 8 - 10?
It basically says, if you believe in your heart and confess what you believe in your heart with your mouth, that is what shall come to pass. And yes Paul specifically mentioned salvation, but it applies to everything, for that is how Faith works. Faith must have a corresponding action, and speaking what you believe is a work, as well as a word of faith.
Thats a terrible interpretation of Rom 10 .9
 

know1

Senior Member
Aug 27, 2012
3,100
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Could you read this verse and tell me what you think it means ?

Eph 1 .13
13¶In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Of course I can, but I'm not going to until you answer mine first, which I've already asked twice.
Is there a reason why you continue to ignore and/or dodge such a simple question?
I have already answered your first question without you answering mine, and now you are asking me yet another question while continuing to either Dodge and/or ignore my question.
Like all scripture, it is in the Bible and it won't go away. So stop dodging and deflecting, and answer the question please.
 

know1

Senior Member
Aug 27, 2012
3,100
180
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Thats a terrible interpretation of Rom 10 .9
Would you care to give your own rendition of how word of Faith works inverse 9? Because verses 9 and 10 are a continuation of verse 8, which talks about, word of Faith. Which happens to be the very thing Paul preached.
So now I ask, what is, word of Faith, and how does it work?
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
Of course I can, but I'm not going to until you answer mine first, which I've already asked twice.
Is there a reason why you continue to ignore and/or dodge such a simple question?
I have already answered your first question without you answering mine, and now you are asking me yet another question while continuing to either Dodge and/or ignore my question.
Like all scripture, it is in the Bible and it won't go away. So stop dodging and deflecting, and answer the question please.
Already answered . John 1 is referring to fellowship not staying saved .
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
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Would you care to give your own rendition of how word of Faith works inverse 9? Because verses 9 and 10 are a continuation of verse 8, which talks about, word of Faith. Which happens to be the very thing Paul preached.
So now I ask, what is, word of Faith, and how does it work?
“The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart.” So if a person wants to know what the Lord says, he can have access to it. And if a man wants to be saved, “the word of faith” is right at the two places that enable him to trust Christ: the heart and the mouth (vss. 9–10). God will make sure that any man who really wants to know how to be saved will get “the word.” A man is saved when he believes the Gospel (1 Cor. 15:1–4). In Romans 10:9 10, and 13, Paul explains how to believe the Gospel. The first thing is to confess Jesus Christ. When you confess something, you admit or declare that it is so. When a man gets saved, he will confess Christ as the only way that he can get to Heaven. He will confess that Jesus Christ died for his sins. He will confess to God that he is trusting Christ alone for salvation.
 
Jul 11, 2020
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We know that God told us to repent, but did God tell us that if we don’t repent, we will not be forgiven?

Psalms 51: 17 The sacrifices of god are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

God hears our repentance, but is it a requirement?
My answer is a resounding yes. To support my stand, I will quote only one scripture from Paul and another from Peter and leave the rest.

1. When Paul defended himself against the evils levelled on him by the Jews, he recounted his encounter with Jesus Christ our Lord on his way to Damascus. In Acts 26:18 (KJV), he said, he was sent to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified in Christ Jesus

2, He went on in Acts 26:19 - 20 to say, whereupon O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision, but showed first unto them of Damascus and at Jerusalem and throughout all the coasts of Judea and then to the Gentiles that they should repent and turn to God and do works meet for repentance. This explains clearly his understanding of item 1 above.

3. I can actually say that "Repent and turn to God and do works meet for repentance" shows in a nutshell, a summary of Paul's preaching. All his teachings could be said to fall under this. He expatiated on it in different ways and manner in his epistles.

4. Also in Acts 20:21 we read, "testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks, repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ" First, repentance towards God because it is all about God and his WORD. In his WORD, we find faith forgiveness etc


5. For Peter, I will take Acts 8:22. Here we see his encounter with Simon the sorcerer who wanted to buy the the holy Spirit. Peter called this act wickedness and said to him , repent of this your wickedness and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.

Do I need to say more?