What does 'Repent' mean ?

  • 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.

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,441
1,213
113
#61
Well, if you do not have repentance toward God and Faith in Jesus Christ, you are not saved. It is not that complicated.
If someone thinks that attending church saves them, they need to repent and have faith in Jesus Christ.
Jesus is Lord no matter what.

If you do not come to Jesus Christ every single moment with a heart that says.. "I repent of anything in my life that is not pleasing to you and turn from it and I will follow your will and your word" then what is it that you are calling saved? That to me is the result of what happens to a person when they are saved. They love righteousness and hate iniquity. And therefore the Lord pours out on them the oil of gladness and the anointing of the Holy Spirit and spiritual illumination. When you don't have that heart, and think to yourself that you can hold on to certain things that are not pleasing to God but they are not "deal breakers" and that you are "saved" anyway, you show a heart condition that is already backsliding toward apostasy if not already there.

Now this topic has been hashed and rehashed so many times it is a waste of my time to state the obvious, but I encourage all those who have the opportunity to preach to emphasize the freedom and joy that comes from total surrender to Jesus Christ in these last days. There is no other way to have the joy that makes the Christian life so full of excitement and energy even when facing difficult situations. Many Christians are miserable simply because they are continuing to indulge in sins that they can be free from if they would repent and recognize that there is no joy in the Lord while indulging in pet sins at the same time. They are forsaking the mercy and joy that could be theirs because they are observing lying vanities. (Jonah)
I am in agreement with you, if you are applying this advise to regenerated children of God.
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#62
Yes we all begin in unbelief. Post did say unbelief until/at life's end/death.

Here:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
(NOTE: The only SIN that condemns one to eternal separation/damnation is UNBELIEF! Continued rejection of Christ's sin payment & resurrection, until/at life's end.)

Last paragraph as well:
Unbelief in & the rejection of, Christ's sin payment & resurrection, until/at life's end/death.
Apologies if I misread.
I think he's awesome. He's bringing atheists to God in a very effective way. He has love of God in him and is a gentle meek soul. This is very obvious as soon as he speaks and when you see how he treats others.
My only concern is he preaching Lordship salvation?
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#63
Agreed. (y)


___________


...and as to the thing I'd written about Peter's call for them (in Acts 3) to have a "change of mind" regarding His IDENTITY, this is because:

"And there is salvation in no other, for there is not another name under heaven having been given among men, by which it behooves us to be saved." - Acts 4:12

(and that is basically what the entirety of what Peter's point is in Acts 3:12-26--the Man you put to death on the Cross was/is indeed HIM/YOUR MESSIAH; there is no other name or way of salvation [/or, forgiveness of sins]. ;) )
Hi ,you may have answered already, whats your take on these verses please . Genuine question, value your response .

Acts 20:21
King James Version



21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

And Acts 17 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#64
repent means turn to God.
Do you know the phrase 'turn over a new leaf'? Its kind of like that.
Latin term repent actually means to be contrite.

It doesnt just mean, change ones mind, although theres that component, because people change their minds all the time, deciding what to do. 'Oh Ive repented and decided to go to the shops today after all,' says nobody EVER.
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#65
repent means turn to God.
Do you know the phrase 'turn over a new leaf'? Its kind of like that.
Latin term repent actually means to be contrite.

It doesnt just mean, change ones mind, although theres that component, because people change their minds all the time, deciding what to do. Oh Ive repented and decided to go to the shops today after all, says nobody EVER.
What do you make of Jesus s use of repentance, when he says ' he repented and went " ? its saying he ' changed his mind...and then went.
 

14Christ

New member
Mar 27, 2020
3
3
3
San Diego, California
#66
It means to ease oneself. . be sorry. . have empathy or mercy . Turn from ones anger.

Sometime being ones own best friend can be by having mercy on oneself, (not saving mercy but healing mercy ) so in turn we can ease the pains of others Mercy without judgment will be shown to those who do not turn after God who repents and turns his love toward the one he is calling or pulling the reigns to turn.

I would think a perfect example defining the word "repent" is shown in the context a parable below. Using a bullock to represent the resisting power of him at the reigns. Having sorrow for the creature he gently pulls the reigns. After having been turned the creature can rejoice in a merciful master and worker harder the next time it feels the tug of the reigns .

Two tunings First Christ eases his own pain ( repents)and has mercy. And once turned the creature can ease his own burden making it lighter.

Repentance is a work of God. he holds the reigns of our salvation.

Jerimiah 31: 18-18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God.
Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.
Repentance is having a genuine sorrow for your sins.
It's a godly sorrow granted by God. Knowing the truth about HIS righteousness and it's working power, I believe, is an important factor in true, godly repentance.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#67
What do you make of Jesus s use of repentance, when he says ' he repented and went " ? its saying he ' changed his mind...and then went.
no it means obeyed and went, i.e did what he was told to do, the right thing.

Before, he disobeyed and didnt go. It wasnt just he changed his mind, because the father had requsted him to do something, it wasnt just that he suddently thought 'oh thats a good idea'
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#68
he was sinning by refusing to go.

Maybe read that passage again and imagine YOU are the son. How do you think the father feels when the son doesnt go? How do you think the son feels?
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#69
Repentance is having a genuine sorrow for your sins.
It's a godly sorrow granted by God. Knowing the truth about HIS righteousness and it's working power, I believe, is an important factor in true, godly repentance.
Is that from a reformed perspective?
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,470
13,784
113
#70
(Exodus 32:12-14; 2 Samuel 24:16; 1 Chronicles 21:15; Psalm 106:45; Jeremiah 4:28; 18:8; 26:3, 13, 19; 42:10; Joel 2:13-14; Amos 7:3, 6; Jonah 3:9-10; 4:2).
You claimed the following: "The work of Christ who first repents working in us turns us so that we can then can turn to repent comfort one self console oneself." God, prior to the incarnation, changed His mind several times, as you have noted. Where does Christ repent as you described in your previous post?
 

Sipsey

Well-known member
Sep 27, 2018
1,481
695
113
#71
From Spiros Zodhiates-
3340. μετανοέω metanoéō; contracted metanoṓ, fut. metanoḗsō, from metá (3326), denoting change of place or condition, and noéō (3539), to exercise the mind, think, comprehend. To repent, change the mind, relent. Theologically, it involves regret or sorrow, accompanied by a true change of heart toward God. It is distinguished from metamélomai (3338), to regret. Intrans.:
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
14,137
5,720
113
#73
“And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6:5-8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Repentance begins in the heart but leads to corrective actions. Well never repent until we first acknowledge our sins and faith then should hit somewhere deep in our hearts enough to cause us to begin the changes we’re aware of.

When we learn the truth it spurs and motivates and gives us faith to make changes we need to make repentance begins in the renewing of our thinking by accepting the truth of Gods word. Repentance begins in what we believe and what we’re willing to believe of Gods word
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,774
113
#74
Somehow crying, condemnation, lack of self worth has also crept into the meaning of repentance...
And that is as it should be. Which means that you have a shallow view of repentance, and the preaching of repentance is hardly being heard anymore.

2 CORINTHIANS: GODLY SORROW WORKETH REPENTANCE
9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.


While the literal meaning of the Greek metanoia is a change of mind, the actual biblical meaning of repentance is far deeper. It is (1) a change of mind, (2) a change of heart, (3) a change of direction in life, (4) a recognition of past sins, (5) an earnest desire to make restitution for past wrongs, (6) a wholehearted acceptance of Christ as Lord and Savior, (7) an earnest desire to obey and serve God and Christ, and (8) a total turning away from sins and idols as well as the occult. See the conversion of the Pharisee Saul for a proper understanding of repentance.
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#75
I have no idea whatsoever. I've only seen his evangelizing content.
its the ' " There's two things you have to do to be saved , you have to repent, which is turn from your sins and trust in Jesus '
 
E

EleventhHour

Guest
#76
My understanding is that repentance simply means ' change of mind ' .
Agree .... change of mind away from one thing and towards another.

In the Old Latin and Latin Vulgate metanoia was translated as paenitentia which came to mean penance or acts of penance that had to be done if one hoped to obtain grace.... Augustine wanted to add in some contrition for sin.

It was actually the Reformation that saw the new church fathers begin to go back to the Classical Greek.

The word in Greek carries no sorrow, contrition or penance and is sin is not part of the meaning of the word..... context determines what is in view.
 
S

Scribe

Guest
#77
Apologies if I misread.

My only concern is he preaching Lordship salvation?
You should explain what you mean by "lordship Salvation."
As opposed to what "mental agreement salvation" I give my vote for Jesus salvation? What salvation does not includ Jesus Lordship?
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
14,137
5,720
113
#78
“And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6:5-8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Repentance begins in the heart but leads to corrective actions. Well never repent until we first acknowledge our sins and faith then should hit somewhere deep in our hearts enough to cause us to begin the changes we’re aware of.

When we learn the truth it spurs and motivates and gives us faith to make changes we need to make repentance begins in the renewing of our thinking by accepting the truth of Gods word. Repentance begins in what we believe and what we’re willing to believe of Gods word
what we accept as truth becomes what we think about , becomes thought patterns , becomes what we believe , becomes what is natural for us to do . Treat other folks as if we love them
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,774
113
#79
its the ' " There's two things you have to do to be saved , you have to repent, which is turn from your sins and trust in Jesus '
And you think that is not Gospel truth? Evidently you have been looking at (or promoting) a watered down Gospel. Check Acts 2:38 for starters.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,774
113
#80
The word in Greek carries no sorrow, contrition or penance and is sin is not part of the meaning of the word..... context determines what is in view.
This is incorrect. See my post above.