What if repentance is not about feeling guilty, regretful or ashamed? How do you define repentance?

biblestudent78 said:

IMHO, the word repentance may have been misunderstood by Christians for generations. In English it sounds like guilt, regret, and endless apology. But the original Hebrew word is teshuva, derived from the verb shuv, meaning to return. Not to feel sorry. To physically turn around and move in a completely different direction. Our Understanding of this single word could reframe everything Jesus meant when He said repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For easy reference:
Matthew 4:17: "From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'"Mark 1:15: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." Luke 13:3 & 13:5: "No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."Luke 5:32: "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." Jesus taught that heaven celebrates when a person repents, comparing it to a lost item being found or a prodigal child returning home (Luke 15:7, 10).

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I agree. We have examples such as Cain, Essau and Judas Iscariot who regretted what they had done, but did not repent. Of Essau we read:

NKJV Heb 12:17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

biblestudent78 said:

IMHO, the word repentance may have been misunderstood by Christians for generations. In English it sounds like guilt, regret, and endless apology. But the original Hebrew word is teshuva, derived from the verb shuv, meaning to return. Not to feel sorry. To physically turn around and move in a completely different direction. Our Understanding of this single word could reframe everything Jesus meant when He said repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For easy reference:
Matthew 4:17: "From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'"Mark 1:15: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." Luke 13:3 & 13:5: "No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."Luke 5:32: "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." Jesus taught that heaven celebrates when a person repents, comparing it to a lost item being found or a prodigal child returning home (Luke 15:7, 10).

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Yes, repenting is turning from rejecting/ignoring God/God's Word toward Him/seeking His salvation.
It is an act of will more than a guilty emotion, like the prodigal son who finally learned his lesson and returned home.

Ever tasted something other people claim is great but you found it to be disgusting or revolting?

You tasted it and said, "yuck! I'm never eating that again"

Same thing as repentance.

JohnDB said:

Ever tasted something other people claim is great but you found it to be disgusting or revolting?

You tasted it and said, "yuck! I'm never eating that again"

Same thing as repentance.

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Yes, but unfortunately some people acquire a taste for yuck and never repent (Matt. 13:14-15).

The Greek word translated repent is metanoia and means a change of mind.

GWH said:

Yes, but unfortunately some people acquire a taste for yuck and never repent (Matt. 13:14-15).

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Well, my euphamistic explanation is kinda incongruent for the reality.

Going "goth" is better....then going clean cut....
But it still misses the mark.

Repentance is repentance....a complete changing of your mind about your behavior and attitudes.

And since most people today believe themselves to be right....they may have been wrong in the past, but now? Not even close to being wrong....the chance of anyone repenting is almost zero.

It's what made Nebachadnezzar golden.

timf said:

The Greek word translated repent is metanoia and means a change of mind.

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Correct, and true repentance involves a drastic change in our minds. We accept that we are separable, independent entities, that is our mindset and we operate off of it, we can do to others without any real effect on ourselves. But to turn out minds around would be to recognize that we are not separable, independent entities but rather all interconnected and that any action we take towards another also impacts ourselves, harm for harm and good for good. The problem is that while we exist in the physical, once we decide that we are separable entities, we cannot relinquish that very specific lie, we have too fully internalized it, and it refuses to allow us to return to the recognition that we are interconnected. That very specific lie takes the place of the truth about God and creation away from us, and leads us into various immoral actions for the duration of our physical lives.

biblestudent78 said:

IMHO, the word repentance may have been misunderstood by Christians for generations. In English it sounds like guilt, regret, and endless apology. But the original Hebrew word is teshuva, derived from the verb shuv, meaning to return. Not to feel sorry. To physically turn around and move in a completely different direction. Our Understanding of this single word could reframe everything Jesus meant when He said repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For easy reference:
Matthew 4:17: "From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'"Mark 1:15: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." Luke 13:3 & 13:5: "No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."Luke 5:32: "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." Jesus taught that heaven celebrates when a person repents, comparing it to a lost item being found or a prodigal child returning home (Luke 15:7, 10).

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Sometime a bright light bursts through. Great post!

2 Corinthians 7:9 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.

If a person repents but does not feel sorry, guilty, and ashamed, then how does that count.

Those type of people will not repent for it does not bother them to sin and they enjoy sin.

Oh I repented because I want eternal life but I am not sorry for doing it.

That does not make sense.

Also repentance means turn away from sins so we have to abstain from sins to be able to do that for if not how did we turn away from sins.

A Spirit led person will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh for they have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Every time we sin we forfeit repentance until we correct it.

Some people say I have the Spirit but then say they cannot abstain from sin but that is a contradiction.

How can a person be led of the Spirit but operate by the sins of the flesh.

They sin on purpose making that choice but they could of not sinned so what is the excuse.

I cannot stop stealing when you could of made the choice not to sin.

Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

If they say they cannot cease from sin then they are holding on to sin which then the blood of Christ cannot wash away their sin.

biblestudent78 said:

IMHO, the word repentance may have been misunderstood by Christians for generations. In English it sounds like guilt, regret, and endless apology. But the original Hebrew word is teshuva, derived from the verb shuv, meaning to return. Not to feel sorry. To physically turn around and move in a completely different direction. Our Understanding of this single word could reframe everything Jesus meant when He said repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For easy reference:
Matthew 4:17: "From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'"Mark 1:15: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." Luke 13:3 & 13:5: "No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."Luke 5:32: "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." Jesus taught that heaven celebrates when a person repents, comparing it to a lost item being found or a prodigal child returning home (Luke 15:7, 10).

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Repentance is simply turning from our way to the way of the caller.

Everytime we turn to Jesus with a personal surrender to Him and a life inspired by such surrender, that is a NT act of Repentance.

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

These are interesting verses regarding dealing with the contentious. They are called "being in a snare". Escape from the snare seems to be a sequence of

receiving instruction.
being given a change of mind.
acknowledging the truth.
disentangling themselves..

Paul might be seen as having gone through a similar process. On the road to Damascus he was asked to explain himself. He was given instruction and acknowledge the truth. One might see critical to this process is a humility that can recognize truth and an absence of pride that blinds one to it.

Watchman22 said:

Repentance is simply turning from our way to the way of the caller.

Everytime we turn to Jesus with a personal surrender to Him and a life inspired by such surrender, that is a NT act of Repentance.

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Something i forgot, the turning from our way to His way is in our minds.

biblestudent78 said:

it sounds like guilt, regret, and endless apology

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If a person does not forsake and confess their sins, then they are still on the hook for their sins according to Proverbs 28:13 and 1 John 1:9

Romans 2:4 - Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

2 Corinthians 7:10 - For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Godly sorrow is the stronger of the 2 references since it leads to "repentance to salvation not to be repented of"

The Apostle Paul demonstrates in numerous places that he maintained godly sorrow for his past sins which was a major part of him not returning back to his old sins.

ScooterJackson said:

If a person does not forsake and confess their sins, then they are still on the hook for their sins according to Proverbs 28:13 and 1 John 1:9

Romans 2:4 - Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

2 Corinthians 7:10 - For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Godly sorrow is the stronger of the 2 references since it leads to "repentance to salvation not to be repented of"

The Apostle Paul demonstrates in numerous places that he maintained godly sorrow for his past sins which was a major part of him not returning back to his old sins.

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Care to fit Rom. 7:14-21 into your understanding?

Paul, describes in Rom. the sanctification state of being.

not to be repented of

This is one of the few time "repented" means regret instead of a changed mind. This is because the KJV translators chose to use repented instead of regretted for ametamelētos

If a person does not forsake and confess their sins, then they are still on the hook for their sins according to Proverbs 28:13 and 1 John 1:9

These verses apply to the law for Israel. For those saved by the gospel of grace, adding works would mean that Christ's payment for sin was somehow inadequate.

Watchman22 said:

Care to fit Rom. 7:14-21 into your understanding?

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The fella described in Romans 7 says he is sold under sin which is how we know he is not a Christian.

You really need to keep reading and understand that Romans 8 provides the answer to Romans 7

That is if you want to be led by the Holy Spirit instead of what carnal minded religious traditions teach that came from the devil who taught the reformers to ignore God's Word and listen to him instead.

The devil is very religious. He goes to church every Sunday to lead pastors and teachers to teach carnal minded religious traditions instead of God's Word. And the devil makes it sound so plausible too for the canal minded who are easily deceived because they don't study God's Word for themselves.

No, they just accept what the guy up front says because if they don't they'll be kicked out of the religious social club. This is how things work in pretty much all the churches these days.

timf said:

If a person does not forsake and confess their sins, then they are still on the hook for their sins according to Proverbs 28:13 and 1 John 1:9

These verses apply to the law for Israel. For those saved by the gospel of grace, adding works would mean that Christ's payment for sin was somehow inadequate.

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So this must explain why all the Christians are living in sin these days then, right?
They mock God thinking they can sow to the flesh and not reap corruption the Lord talked about in Galatians 6

Do you believe all future sins are already forgiven even before you commit them?
If so then this frees you up to go ahead and live in sin thinking you are still saved.

That would be mocking God.

timf said:

If a person does not forsake and confess their sins, then they are still on the hook for their sins according to Proverbs 28:13 and 1 John 1:9

These verses apply to the law for Israel. For those saved by the gospel of grace, adding works would mean that Christ's payment for sin was somehow inadequate.

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Jesus in Luke 16:16 - The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

Repentance from sin and reaping what we sown that you claim that were only for the Jews and for Israel were given under the New Covenant and are in fact applicable to Christians right now.

Unless you want to make the claim Jesus taught error?

if a person doesn't feel guilty about committing sin & you repented, there's something missing big time. there's no such thing as a born again Christian NOT feeling guilty after committing sin. whether it's swearing, lying, getting drunk, you are going to feel guilty. it's in our nature as born again Christians. study Hebrews 8:10. when you are convicted, converted, transformed & regenerated, you will feel guilty after committing sin.