Here is one point that he made....
For instance, that to repent is to deplore past sins and not commit what is to be deplored.
Again that it is to bewail past evils and not to sin to do what is to be bewailed. Again, that
it is a kind of grieving revenge, punishing in itself what it grieves to have committed."
That phase of which is manifested in having repentance is what could normally take place in a new believer.....
For its the foundational stage of learning the new life in Christ, and attending the funeral of one's old self.
Since new believers will often have fresh in their minds their depravity they once lived in. And, are just coming out of it?
Repentance in that case can easily be manifested strong feelings of grief and painful regret.
But that is not what repentance means in the Greek.
What Calvin described is a typical phase one "baby Christian" repentance.
Because, the word "repentance" simply means
to change one's mind.
The word in the Greek is ' metanoia. '
Metanoia -repentance - does not have to accompany any emotion.
It simply means deciding for a change in ones thinking in regards to something.
Often, when repentance involves a life changing event... the "change in thinking" can become quite emotional in effect.
For example....
Someone just learned that why they were so miserable and sick all the time is because they have developed Diabetes type 2.
They had long been lovers of junk food, and now deeply regret how much they used to crave what they now realize is bad for them.
So? As they face the bad effects of their condition they wish to heal from?
They can easily kick themselves and emote with great sorrow in deep regret for having been so foolish.
Next, they may become rigid and militant against all junk food.... Some may even wish to blow up a food processing plant.
But as time goes on? And, that mature?
They stabilize, and learn to accept what is proven good nutrition.
And, in greater maturity simply learn what to avoid and what to eat.
All those phases involves having a changes in mind. ("repentance")
Repentance does not have to involve sorrow and pain any longer as they learn
and keep on changing their mind about what to eat, and what to avoid.
The mistake legalists tend to make is to say that repentance means you must feel sorrow and pain when changing one's mind.
While metanoia /'repentance' - simply means to change ones thinking.
We need to know this because some legalists will claim one's repentance was not genuine unless the person grieves
and hurts.
On the other hand.. Some repentance can end up being joyful.
Like when someone had been oppressed in some church that teaches you can lose your salvation.
When he is shown the Scriptures that shows it would be impossible that change in thinking can cause jubilation and relief.
That joyful one after being shown the evidence had 'changed his thinking' on the matter. The unrepentant will deny the truth.
That is why true growth in Christ comes from a life of repentance.. being taught sound doctrine on many areas of life
that cause the one learning to go from repentance to repentance...
grace and peace .................
