Repent for the Kingdom of God is at Hand

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A

arthurfleminger

Well-known member
#1
Aug 18, 2021
1,405
780
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#1
The first words spoken by Jesus, when He started His earthly ministry were, "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand."

When Jesus said this, He said it with authority, a commandment and not a suggestion.

So, my question is, "How do we repent, what does it mean to repent, and what happens when we fail to repent?"
 
JaumeJ

JaumeJ

Senior Member
#2
Jul 2, 2011
21,465
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#2
What went through my mind and heart when I repented. I was prayer-talking with the Father about the world then and the condition thereof, and it occurred to me how wicked mankind can be. I was thinking "boy is mann evil. Oh he is so wicked, and again boy is mankind evel." Then it came to me, "Hey, I am a man! You are It! You are all!"
With this realization down to the quick of my soul I turned from the world and this age to our Maker, and from there I was drawn to Jesus Yeshua by one miracle after another, or as many would mistakenly say one coincidence after another.

God comes to eaach of us as each is needful of. The result is always our Savior, but the way is individual. If others share their experience in repenting you will find this to be truth.
 
L

Level72

Banned
#3
Sep 20, 2022
53
20
8
#3
arthurfleminger said:
The first words spoken by Jesus, when He started His earthly ministry were, "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand."

When Jesus said this, He said it with authority, a commandment and not a suggestion.

So, my question is, "How do we repent,
what does it mean to repent, and what . happens when we fail to repent?"
Click to expand...
I think we should define what sin is first
 
Mem

Mem

Senior Member
#5
Sep 23, 2014
7,227
2,206
113
#5
The Hevrew is teshuvah, which is teshu; 'turning to' and vah; god, and
the Greek is metanoia, whis is meta: above; beyond and noia: thinking

So, I'd summarize repentance as turning to God and setting our mind on the things of heavenly, rather than the earthly, matters.
 
D

Dirtman

Well-known member
#6
Jul 19, 2022
1,151
441
83
#6
arthurfleminger said:
The first words spoken by Jesus, when He started His earthly ministry were, "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand."

When Jesus said this, He said it with authority, a commandment and not a suggestion.

So, my question is, "How do we repent, what does it mean to repent, and what happens when we fail to repent?"
Click to expand...
Jesus gave an example of what repentance looks like.
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 18:10‭-‬14 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/luk.18.10-14.NKJV
 
F

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
#7
Jul 8, 2018
8,441
1,213
113
#7
arthurfleminger said:
The first words spoken by Jesus, when He started His earthly ministry were, "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand."

When Jesus said this, He said it with authority, a commandment and not a suggestion.

So, my question is, "How do we repent, what does it mean to repent, and what happens when we fail to repent?"
Click to expand...

The first thing that we have to realise, is that the unregenerate person will not, and even, cannot repent of breaking one of God's spiritual laws. (1 Cor 2:14 & Rom 8:7) God is a spirit and we must worship him in spirit and in truth.

When a born again child of God yields themselves to the Temptations of this world, they, temporary, lose their fellowship with God, until they repent, because God will not fellowship sin, even turning his back on his Son on the cross during the three hours of darkness when Jesus was bearing the sins of those he died for.

When a child of God repents, and God forgives them, they are saved (delivered here in this world from the burden of the sin).. Saved=delivered, according to Greek translation.
 
F

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
#8
Jul 8, 2018
8,441
1,213
113
#8
JaumeJ said:
What went through my mind and heart when I repented. I was prayer-talking with the Father about the world then and the condition thereof, and it occurred to me how wicked mankind can be. I was thinking "boy is mann evil. Oh he is so wicked, and again boy is mankind evel." Then it came to me, "Hey, I am a man! You are It! You are all!"
With this realization down to the quick of my soul I turned from the world and this age to our Maker, and from there I was drawn to Jesus Yeshua by one miracle after another, or as many would mistakenly say one coincidence after another.

God comes to eaach of us as each is needful of. The result is always our Savior, but the way is individual. If others share their experience in repenting you will find this to be truth.
Click to expand...

Yes, there is a sweet deliverance (salvation) here in this world, when a child of God repents.
 
F

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
#9
Jul 8, 2018
8,441
1,213
113
#9
arthurfleminger said:
The first words spoken by Jesus, when He started His earthly ministry were, "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand."

When Jesus said this, He said it with authority, a commandment and not a suggestion.

So, my question is, "How do we repent, what does it mean to repent, and what happens when we fail to repent?"
Click to expand...

The "kingdom of heaven" is referencing Christ's church, in which, he is the husband of, and we are his bride. His kingdom is present here on earth, and will be gathered up at the last day, and carried home to heaven.
 
F

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
#10
Jul 8, 2018
8,441
1,213
113
#10
arthurfleminger said:
The first words spoken by Jesus, when He started His earthly ministry were, "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand."

When Jesus said this, He said it with authority, a commandment and not a suggestion.

So, my question is, "How do we repent, what does it mean to repent, and what happens when we fail to repent?"
Click to expand...

When we fail to repent, we lose our fellowship with God, until we repent, however, if you are one of those that Jesus died for, you will never lose your inheritance of heaven.
 
A

arthurfleminger

Well-known member
#11
Aug 18, 2021
1,405
780
113
#11
ForestGreenCook said:
Yes, there is a sweet deliverance (salvation) here in this world, when a child of God repents.
Click to expand...
You are correct,, Jesus said, "I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance." Luke 15

That's why I ask, what does true repentance mean???????????
 
Jocund

Jocund

Banned
#12
Jan 14, 2021
1,599
526
113
#12
arthurfleminger said:
You are correct,, Jesus said, "I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance." Luke 15

That's why I ask, what does true repentance mean???????????
Click to expand...
When I think of what it means to repent, like the tax collector in Luke 18 or Job in Job 42, it is a submission to God, and an acceptance in your heart that you need Him and aren't self-sufficient in your morality. For all the pride we have in "our" ability to do the right thing, we are nothing without Him.
 
A

arthurfleminger

Well-known member
#13
Aug 18, 2021
1,405
780
113
#13
I think that I may have found my answer as to what true repentance for sin is. We all know that King David had one of his generals killed in order that King David could have his wife. After murdering the general, David repented and was forgiven by God. However, while forgiven by God, God still punished David by taking his son.

The essence of David's repentance/sorrow for his sins against God can be found in Psalm 51. David acknowledges his sins and begs for forgiveness :

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
 
F

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
#14
Jul 8, 2018
8,441
1,213
113
#14
arthurfleminger said:
You are correct,, Jesus said, "I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance." Luke 15

That's why I ask, what does true repentance mean???????????
Click to expand...
When a born again child of commits a sin they lose their fellowship with God, temporary, until they repent. God will not fellowship sin, even turning his back on his only Son during that three hours of darkness, when he bore the sins of those that God gave him.

When God forgives them and accepts them back into his fellowship, they have been saved (delivered here in time) from the consequence of the sin. They had already been delivered (saved) eternally by Christ's death on the cross.
 
ResidentAlien

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
#15
Apr 21, 2021
8,420
3,677
113
#15
"And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, 'Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.' " Matthew 18:2-3

It's not complicated.
 
R

Randy4u2c

Active member
#18
Sep 13, 2022
177
79
28
#18
arthurfleminger said:
The first words spoken by Jesus, when He started His earthly ministry were, "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand."

When Jesus said this, He said it with authority, a commandment and not a suggestion.

So, my question is, "How do we repent, what does it mean to repent, and what happens when we fail to repent?"
Click to expand...
To repent is to realize that you have sinned against God and are sorry for it, reconsidering your actions, and having a change of heart, thus asking for forgiveness.
 
F

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
#19
Jul 8, 2018
8,441
1,213
113
#19
arthurfleminger said:
I think that I may have found my answer as to what true repentance for sin is. We all know that King David had one of his generals killed in order that King David could have his wife. After murdering the general, David repented and was forgiven by God. However, while forgiven by God, God still punished David by taking his son.

The essence of David's repentance/sorrow for his sins against God can be found in Psalm 51. David acknowledges his sins and begs for forgiveness :

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
Click to expand...

A thing to take note of about repentance, is that the unregenerate person will not, and even cannot, repent of breaking a spiritual law that comes from a spiritual God (1 Cor 2:14). The only people that repent, are those whose heart has been changed in the new birth, and can feel guilty when God pricks his heart.
 
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