What is repentance exactly?

Please read this and share your perspective. Thank you.

Repentance and faith and closely linked and are the same exact things.

In 2 Peter 3:9, the word repentance is defined as a change of mind, a change of the inner man (G3341. metanoia.) It is a complete change of heart from thinking one way to thinking a different way. This is how the word repentance is defined through the New Testament.

So how is repentance and faith the same? In faith, we are also changing our mind from unbelief in Christ to belief.

We can tell that repentance is not sinless perfection because sinless perfection is not achievable. For example, people still sin after repentance including people like Peter (Matthew 26:69-75) and Paul (Romans 7:15-20.)

If repentance is sinless perfection then absolutely no one has ever repented due to the sins they continue to commit throughout the course of the remainder of their life.

If you sin after "repentance" then that isn't repentance. You will be repenting for the rest of your life. Repentance is a one time thing. Even I am understanding this slowly since the Bible doesn't tell people to repent more than once.

God has spoken and said "there is none good, but God" (Matthew 10:18.) And that "the righteousness of man is a filthy rag" (Isaiah 64:6)

So what makes us think that any of our vain striving to earn Gods good graces comes from our so-called repentance and efforts to do good?

This is not a reason to not do good, but doing good doesn't mean repentance. If striving to be sinless was what gave salvation then Christ died in vain. (Galatians 2:21.)

In the narrative of John 8:24, Jesus said:

24I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

No mention of repentance specifically because believing in Christ is repentance. Faith in Christ is exactly what repentance is, a change of mind, heart, and the inner man. We come to agree with God.

We access the grace of God through faith in Christ alone:

Romans 5:1-2
1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

And we are saved by grace through faith:

Ephesians 2:8-9
8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Nothing more, nothing less. God takes care of the rest such as making us born again, forgiveness of sins, and progressive sanctification through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 10:14
14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Runningman..

enjoyed your Thread.

- you are sort of branching into some variations in the Thread, ..sort of "riffing" on the central idea of your Thread's central core idea..
So, let me share a simple revelation, based on your thoughts, that can take a Believer out of self..... and into:

" Christ always gives me the Victory".

That verse is interesting, as most believers read it, like this........"what do i do now to stay saved, after im saved"........and the verse says....you are to do nothing.
You are to exit in the place of Faith and Grace where CHRIST, who lives in you, provides His power through you as your CHRISTIANITY.
And once a believer sees this, then they stop trying to DO, and start living in the POWER PROVIDED by God's Grace that produces this...
.
""""as many as be perfect".....that is this......"the fullness of the Stature of Christ"..

Look at this verse, reader....

1 John 3:9 says. """"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, = because he is born of God"""

Now, why does this verse by John, teach, that you live SINLESS? = "cannot sin".

Its because John is talking about the REAL YOU......"born again"...
See that?
That is your Born AGAIN Spirit.......not your body, or your mind as those are not born again.
And where Christians , most, fail, is by not understanding that the REAL YOU< is not your body or your mind., as John is explaining.
See John is teaching = Spiritual Light, that has to be Spiritually Discerned.
John says, the "Born again".....is the = "cannot sin".
That is your born again SPIRIT, that is the REAL YOU......that has become the ...."new creation, in Christ".

So, a person who does not see themselves as the "new creation, born again", will read John's verse that says you cannot sin, and think......
>"that heretic is teaching sinless perfection"........And he is..., but most dont understand it, because nearly all believers do not understand that they have a body, and they have a mind, but that is not the REAL YOU if you are born again. The real you, is the "SON OF GOD or Daughter of Christ.....that you became....which is the BORN AGAIN SPIRIT, that is become a """New Creation , in Christ."""
And that YOU, Reader, if you are born again....... as John just told you, ....."can't sin".

And what does it mean to SEE this REVELATION of who you are become, as the sinless "new creation, in Christ"?
= This is Paul explaining the "renewed mind",....as that mind SEES this revelation of who is the REAL YOU, that is the SON OF GOD, "made righteous", born again, as the "new Creation, in Christ."

When a believer gets this LIGHT of Revelation, then they actually being to exist in God's Grace as their power that is found in real faith as the "renewed mind".

How does the "renewed mind" think?
It thinks just like this.....>"i AM The Righteousness of God in Christ".... "Made righteous".... always and forever.......that is who i am.....that is the REAL ME.......= "Born again" spiritually as "One with God, in Christ, as the "new Creation".

I think of repentance as agreeing with God about my condition before Him.

That embraces all elements of having come to believe and having faith in
the plan He has laid out for humanity, made plain in Scripture, through the
shed righteous blood of His only begotten Son for the remittance of sin as a
propitiatory sacrifice, that I may be reconciled to Him and attain to life ever after.

That makes a lot of sense. Also really ties off a few loose ends I have been wrestling with for a while.

Hello Runningman, I agree with you that repentance and faith are, closely linked, but I don't believe that they're the same thing. "Repentance" involves a 180 degree change of direction, a turning ~away~ from something (that is bad/evil/sinful, etc.), while "faith", on the other hand, principally involves turning ~towards~ something (or specifically, towards Someone, in the case of saving faith ).

Faith involves trust/trusting of/in something or Someone, and embracing the object of your faith (drawing near to it or to Him), but it seems to me that repentance is all about escape, about putting as much distance as possible between yourself and whatever it is that you are trying to run away from.

I also believe that true/Christian "repentance" is the result or fruit 1. of the mighty work that God does in our hearts and minds .. e.g. Ezekiel 36:26-27, as well (then) 2. of faith/of our having come to saving faith in the Lord Jesus (specifically).

Hmmm, is that true After all, and as the Lord Jesus told us,


The Apostle John told us that when we sin, we need to confess that we've done so to God (to be forgiven and cleansed of our sin, as well to have the "joy" of our salvation/the joy of our relationship/full fellowship with God restored to us .. Psalm 51:12). In fact, if memory serves, I believe that repentance is inherent in the word that we translate as "confess", such that they are, in a sense, two sides of the same coin (IOW, God wants us to confess our sins to Him, but He also wants us to walk away from doing them again, e.g. "go and sin no more").

Those are some of my thoughts anyway

God bless you!

~Deut

Ezekiel 36:25-26

Great read. Thank you.

What's your take on these verses?

2 Timothy 2:25-26
25In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

yep I agree part of that phylosophy
Repent from not beLieve to believe and from not agree to agree all Jesus teaching
And yes after repented we/I still fall in sin
Both believer and unbeliever still sin the different is believer agree all Jesus teaching though still fall in sin
Believer strive to make effort doing His teaching dough the weakness of the body against it
But nothing wrong with keep repent every time we do sin

I also believe there is priority in God teaching that we must do to make us save
For example Noah is not perfect but He obey what God priority command for him that is build an arch, he obey and save.
For us the priority is to Love Jesus and love His teaching.
If we no longer Love Him than we have to re repent or lost our salvation.
If we try to make effort to love His teaching and fail we need ask forgiveness and try again that what I believe bible teaching
Make mistake need confess before Him and ask Him strenght to do His will

This is what I believe repentance is--it is simply a turning from sin. It is not wanting to sin.

It seems to me that the Lord is a straight forward God, and the more we keep our thoughts focused, the more we understand. The truer a thought is the more thought gets to the bottom line. To make things complicated by adding in lots of details can obscure the bottom line.

When the Lord tells us we must have faith, that is what the Lord tells us. When the Lord tells us to repent, that is also what we are told. We must understand each separately. It takes clear precise thinking not thinking that is muddled with complications.

God is our heavenly Father. Yes, we are in Christ and our sins have been forgiven. We have the victory and are made overcomers in Jesus. He paid the penalty for sin.

Yet, we can still get in ourselves and do wrong. At that time, we need to discuss these issues with the Father. We do need to turn from sin and renew our minds.

Now I don't know, what anyone wants to call it.... repentance, confession, an honest conversation with God, or just renewing our minds but it is needed. We should be able to go to God as our Father knowing that he is there to help us, not fearing that he is just going to beat us down or kick us aside. Jesus is our advocate. He LIVES to make intercession for us and we are in HIM.

The Holy Spirit leads, guides and teaches us. He is the comforter and guides us in all things. He always leads us to the Lord.

However, if when you do wrong and hear a voice saying, you had better run from God and try to get it fixed on your own, before going to Him because He is going to kick you aside...then we know that is the Devil the accuser of the brethren. On the other hand, if you hear a voice saying, it's okay just keep pleasing yourself, do as you want, and don't worry about it...that is also the Devil...trying to get you to remain in the flesh.

So from my view, there is a balance in this. It does take renewing our mind and redeeming the time daily to learn and grow in the Spirit.

There is this......"the mind of Christ'......... and that mind is literally a very simple understanding, and when believes have it, then they are this....

Philippians 2:2. Paul said.... """""Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind."""""

See that "One mind"?

Its because the world of Christianity does not have one mind that is the cause of so many doctrines, and so many cults and denominations.

How to get the one mind?
Its very simple. All you have to do is understand God's perspective of you, once you are born again.
Most believers do not have God's perspective, they have their own....which is the mind of the flesh, or the "natural mind".
The Natural mind cannot understand the things of God, as it tries to analyze them and that is a fail because with God everything is Spiritual Truth and Revelation.
So, you have to discern that, vs, try to figure it out. For example....>"the word of God is spiritually discerned"....Its not read and understood as if its a dictionary.
The bible , the word of God, is spiritual Light, that has to be REVEALED spiritually., and "the natural man (mind) receives not the things of God, because they are Spiritually Discerned".

Here is the one mind.....= ONLY and ALWAYS see yourself as God sees you, and that is the real you, the born again spirit, that is "in Christ", and has eternal life, and is : "the righteousness of God, in Christ".
NEVER see yourself as "what i am thinking about" or "opppps, i messed up again".......or as you body.
See....... all that is not the real you.....the real you is the BORN AGAIN SPIRIT.
The """ONE MIND"""< is to always see yourself as the "new Creation", which is the born again Spirit,.... See yourself as that always, which is to have the right mind, or the '"one mind", which is the renewed mind.

Paul teaches us that we are to renew our minds, and that is how you do it.

Hello again @Runningman, this is turning out to be a great thread/GREAT topic I am going to need to return later to answer your question (as I need to look into this a bit more before commenting further), but quickly, I believe the word "repentance" (in verses like 2 Timothy 2:25 & 2 Peter 3:9) was used as a means of illustrating the Lord's meaning (for our sake), rather than defining it, because in both of these cases (and in a couple of others, if memory serves), I believe that "repentance" means more than our Lexicons would lead us to believe that it does.

Again, all VERY interesting. Thanks

Talk to you soon (Dv).

~Deut
.

you know where you are talking about our mind changing ? What changes someone’s mind and heart thier inner attitude towards sin ?

you said faith is the same as repentance

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭10:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

I agree and so repentance also comes by hearing the word of God and believing like this regarding repentance d faith

this is why people think they need to repent and start acting right they’ve heard Gods word and believe so it creates a word of faith in thier mind

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

then they hear

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:21‬ ‭

then they hear other various things like that then move into Paul’s doctrine md it becomes eventually faith when we see this stuff

“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:1-7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

we don’t have to ignore it because or faith is built on the gospel nothing else but Jesus word Gods word is faith and faith brings repentance but it has to be the truth

The reason Jesus told
Then to preach the gospel
He taught them the gospel of the kingdom is this

“In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2:25-26‬ ‭

Jesus gives us the Will to repent and walk right but then we are
Meant to start repenting and walking upright

there’s a reason people become convinced that repentance is needed it’s because that’s what Gods living word manifest to the world says and it’s the truth

it’s why God is waiting still even with all the evil in the world for us to hear and repent let the gospel do this part this is the effectual way our mind is actually changed and the spirit fills us

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:12-15‬ ‭

I agree with you that no one is sinless , but repentance is a part of it that comes when we begin to hear the gospel Jesus sent into the world when we look beyond the cross then we hear the word that transforms our mind and heart and changes our will from sin and love of the world to righteousness and love of God

Everyone isn’t there yet is the thing we don’t know how to repent or what to obey until we hear Jesus doctrine we need to believe the gospel because that’s the very thing that changes our minds and hearts from the word of man to Gods things

if you notice how upside down Jesus said we were regarding judgement and what he said seems opposite of the world we know it’s because it is opposite

it’s Gods will and word not the worldly version people believe they need to repent when they hear what God said about it , and then faith is able to
Love us into repentance and out of the devils snare we are priorly unaware of until we hear the truth Jesus came to teach us that we didn’t know


“God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”

Faith is forst but it then grows into repentance and right living not as if we are opposed and working things to be saved , but as our minds and hearts change by faith , repentance becomes a fruit of faith but we can also reject it and claim we don’t need repentance that’s when we begin going wrong God will
Never tell us repentance isn’t important it’s against his whole character he will forever guide us to repent and act away from sin this is true because n is death and he wants us to live

if only we will hear the lords word and believe he can make repentance where none exists

That sounds like more than just mere armchair Christianity. You speak from experience like you've been on the spiritual battlefield more than once.