Is repentance of sin necessary for salvation?
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I would say yes that Paul changed a lot since his conversion. The statement he said about being a sinner is in present tense not past tense. Paul is also real about his struggles with his flesh in Romans 7. I think Paul shows humility in being honest about his sin struggle. I would not want to follow someone who thinks they are sinless or who say that they are no longer sinners. When one says they are not sinners, to me that sounds like pride (such as if one thinks one is better than others or not like other people because that one thinks they are not a sinner) or ignorance.
Chief a different perspective
The word "Chief" in Tim 1:15 may not be applicable to the biggest or the worst. But, the Head/Leader
KJV Dictionary Definition: chief
Highest in office or rank; principal; as a chief priest; the chief butler. Gen 40:9.
Among the chief rulers, many believed on him. John 12.
Principal or most eminent, in any quality or action; most distinguished; having most influence; commanding most respect; taking the lead; most valuable; most important; a word of extensive use; as a country chief in arms.
A commander; particularly a military commander; the person who heads an army; equivalent to the modern terms, commander or general in chief, captain general, or generalissimo.
The principal person of a tribe, family, or congregation
1 Timothy 1:
15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
(NOTE: Paul is the 1st: the beginning of the Body of Christ. There couldn’t have been anybody before Paul, because he was the 1st one who's salvation was a result of the Gospel of Grace, not the 100% Jewish Kingdom gospel)
16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, """that in me first""" Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
(NOTE: Paul is the "1st" & a chosen patteren, we are to follow/mimic)
1 Cor 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a ""wise masterbuilder"", I have laid the ""foundation"", and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
(NOTE: The RISEN Christ choose Paul (Acts 26:16). As a ""wise master builder"" (1 Cor 3:10) who laid the ""foundation"" That foundation is: Christ died for our sins, was buried & rose on the 3rd day (1 Cor 15:3-4).
1 Cor 4:16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
(NOTE: Are we to be follower's of the worlds #1 SINNER?
1 Cor 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Phip 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
(NOTE: Scripture declares, we should be followers of this CHIEF. Who himself is a follower of Jesus the Christ.) My Opinion Only
The word "Chief" in Tim 1:15 may not be applicable to the biggest or the worst. But, the Head/Leader
KJV Dictionary Definition: chief
Highest in office or rank; principal; as a chief priest; the chief butler. Gen 40:9.
Among the chief rulers, many believed on him. John 12.
Principal or most eminent, in any quality or action; most distinguished; having most influence; commanding most respect; taking the lead; most valuable; most important; a word of extensive use; as a country chief in arms.
A commander; particularly a military commander; the person who heads an army; equivalent to the modern terms, commander or general in chief, captain general, or generalissimo.
The principal person of a tribe, family, or congregation
1 Timothy 1:
15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
(NOTE: Paul is the 1st: the beginning of the Body of Christ. There couldn’t have been anybody before Paul, because he was the 1st one who's salvation was a result of the Gospel of Grace, not the 100% Jewish Kingdom gospel)
16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, """that in me first""" Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
(NOTE: Paul is the "1st" & a chosen patteren, we are to follow/mimic)
1 Cor 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a ""wise masterbuilder"", I have laid the ""foundation"", and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
(NOTE: The RISEN Christ choose Paul (Acts 26:16). As a ""wise master builder"" (1 Cor 3:10) who laid the ""foundation"" That foundation is: Christ died for our sins, was buried & rose on the 3rd day (1 Cor 15:3-4).
1 Cor 4:16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
(NOTE: Are we to be follower's of the worlds #1 SINNER?
1 Cor 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Phip 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
(NOTE: Scripture declares, we should be followers of this CHIEF. Who himself is a follower of Jesus the Christ.) My Opinion Only
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The above are all examples of those who are living according to the sinful nature, the unrepentant. We as believers in Christ are sinners in that, we still have our sinful nature. This is why I included what John said:
"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us."
God sees us with the righteousness of Christ even though we still have sin. This is different from those who are willfully living according to the sinful nature. One is wrestling to overcome the sinful nature and the other is willfully living according to it.
I made myself very clear, so I don't know why you are responding as though I didn't.
We are covered sinners. As I said in a previous post, God sees us through the spectacles of Christ, even though we are still sinners. Since all sin has already been paid for on behalf of those who believe, then when we sin, if confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us our sin and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.
But my point in all this, was in response to the one who said that he had no sin.
"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us."
God sees us with the righteousness of Christ even though we still have sin. This is different from those who are willfully living according to the sinful nature. One is wrestling to overcome the sinful nature and the other is willfully living according to it.
I made myself very clear, so I don't know why you are responding as though I didn't.
We are covered sinners. As I said in a previous post, God sees us through the spectacles of Christ, even though we are still sinners. Since all sin has already been paid for on behalf of those who believe, then when we sin, if confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us our sin and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.
But my point in all this, was in response to the one who said that he had no sin.
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I see No Genuine Salvation without REPENTANCE. But you must understand, I see REPENTANCE as a work of the HOLY SPIRIT. HE causes DEEP REMORSE over our utterly sinful Lifestyle. AND creates in US as DESIRE to Honestly REPENT of our SINS. NEVER IS IT A WORK caused by self.
The Night that I was saved, I was overwhelmed by WAVE, after WAVE, after Wave, of DEEP REMORSE over my UTTERLY SINFUL LIFESTYLE. I fell to my KNEES, as I CRIED and Wept UNCONTROLLABLY, and blubbered out, "PLEASE FORGIVE, PLEASE FORGIVE ME! If You got a purpose for my life, You are going to have to come into it, and run my live, BECAUSE I CAN'T DO IT! I am making a total mess of it." I meant that pray with my WHOLE BEING, and no one ever taught me to pray like that in the Lutheran Church that I grew up in; I believe the Holy Spirit gave me that Prayer. I kept having that overwhelming GUILT come into my heart for 2 or 3 hours; as I continually cried out to HIM, "PLEASE FORGIVE ME, PLEASE FORGIVE!" That was after my third attempt at suicide in a week, but it was over my WHOLE LIFESTYLE, that I was Begging for Forgiveness. Why did it take 2 or 3 Hours? I am not sure, unless I it took time to repent, thereby recall ALL of a past SINS, THAT ARE an offense to HIM? So many SINS.
Near the END of that Wave, after Wave of GUILT, I was now Prone on my face, still begging for Forgiveness, I had a Vision, or had Fallen Asleep, and had a Vision or a DREAM. I cannot tell which, but if it was a Dream, it was the MOST VIVID Dream of my life. I was at the foot of the Cross, kneeing, as I reached up to HIM, STILL WEEPING AND CRYING, "Please Forgive Me, Please Forgive Me!" It was like every sin that I had ever committed was like putting an one pound weight on HIS arms, and there were SO MANY SINS, making HIS agony so much Greater. I remember I was looking up at the Nails, somewhat confused, as they were in the WRISTS, when the Lutheran Church taught they were in the Palms of the Hands. NO ONE EVER TAUGHT ME THAT IN THE PALMS THEY WOULD HAVE RIPPED RIGHT THROUGH THE FLESH, and that the JEWS considered the WRISTS to be Part of the Hands.
As I continued to cry and begging for Forgiveness, I SAW THE BLOOD DROPS FALL FROM THE NAILS, and they SLASHED on my Forearms, as I reached up to HIM. To my surprise the BLOOD FELT WARM on my Forearms! I KNEW I WAS FORGIVEN AT THAT MOMENT. That is where the Vision or Dream Ended.
That I know now was my Born Again experience. I was TRULY SAVED, and NONE OF IT Happened by my efforts, I was Forgiven, the Holy Spirit was in my Heart, He poured GOD's Love into my Heart (human spirit), Christ was IN ME, an HE was in control of my Life, and would NEVER LET GO!
well what is one being saved from? if not from the eternal consequence of sin? And Why would we be told in the word of God to "Repent" 46 times?
Jesus said to do so in Matt 4:17 Mar 1:5 Luke 13:5 Luke 17
the Apostles preached repent
Acts 3:19 Acts 8:22 Acts 26:20
Finally Jesus again in REV 2:5 Rev 2:22
Jesus said to do so in Matt 4:17 Mar 1:5 Luke 13:5 Luke 17
the Apostles preached repent
Acts 3:19 Acts 8:22 Acts 26:20
Finally Jesus again in REV 2:5 Rev 2:22
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You, as well as some others, are associating repentance to sinful works of the law only.
Repent, doesn't just mean to stop sinning, it means to change one's mind or to think differently, to reconsider. (Strong and Thayer)
What if someone doesn't believe the gospel?
One could say, repent of your ways or from doubting, and believe the gospel. Mar 1:15
Consider this one thing, if you will.
If you are before a court of law, and you swear to tell the truth, the WHOLE truth, and nothing but the truth, yet omit part of the truth, did you still tell the truth?
Is omission of a truth, basically a fabrication of a lie, misleading, and deceptive?
Lying by omission is when a person leaves out important information or fails to correct a pre-existing misconception in order to hide the truth from others.
Now think about what Paul said in Romans 10:8-10, how to receive salvation.
According to our laws and basic reasoning, omission is the same as lying.
If Paul failed to tell us to repent of our sinful works before we come to Christ, did he tell the whole truth, or did he mislead us by omitting part of a truth?
It is apparent however, one must come to God to confess Christ as their personal savior.
You don't have to repent of your sins of the law, but you still have to come to God with your heart, to pray to Him.
Paul never tells the sinner to repent of their sins first, before they come to Christ, but He does tell them they must confess Jesus as lord when they believe that in their heart.
Salvation occurs when one believes the gospel in their heart and confesses that with their mouth. No repentance of one's dead work to receive forgiveness and salvation.
They just need to believe the gospel with a corresponding act.
Did he fail to tell the whole truth by neglecting to mention a person must first repent of their sins before coming to Christ?
Repent, doesn't just mean to stop sinning, it means to change one's mind or to think differently, to reconsider. (Strong and Thayer)
What if someone doesn't believe the gospel?
One could say, repent of your ways or from doubting, and believe the gospel. Mar 1:15
Consider this one thing, if you will.
If you are before a court of law, and you swear to tell the truth, the WHOLE truth, and nothing but the truth, yet omit part of the truth, did you still tell the truth?
Is omission of a truth, basically a fabrication of a lie, misleading, and deceptive?
Lying by omission is when a person leaves out important information or fails to correct a pre-existing misconception in order to hide the truth from others.
Now think about what Paul said in Romans 10:8-10, how to receive salvation.
According to our laws and basic reasoning, omission is the same as lying.
If Paul failed to tell us to repent of our sinful works before we come to Christ, did he tell the whole truth, or did he mislead us by omitting part of a truth?
It is apparent however, one must come to God to confess Christ as their personal savior.
You don't have to repent of your sins of the law, but you still have to come to God with your heart, to pray to Him.
Paul never tells the sinner to repent of their sins first, before they come to Christ, but He does tell them they must confess Jesus as lord when they believe that in their heart.
Salvation occurs when one believes the gospel in their heart and confesses that with their mouth. No repentance of one's dead work to receive forgiveness and salvation.
They just need to believe the gospel with a corresponding act.
Did he fail to tell the whole truth by neglecting to mention a person must first repent of their sins before coming to Christ?
Act 11:15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
Act 11:16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Act 11:17 Forasmuch then as God gave [to] them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
Act 11:18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
Notice the repentance spoken of, was about and to those who believed only.
Act 11:16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Act 11:17 Forasmuch then as God gave [to] them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
Act 11:18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
Notice the repentance spoken of, was about and to those who believed only.