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Repentance

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by God's_Servant, Oct 26, 2010.

  1. God's_Servant

    God's_Servant New Member

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    Tonight I was out on visitation with my church, and we went to visit someone who came to a youth activity. My youth pastor presented the Gospel, and I was very upset by something I have noticed. There was no repentance. He didn't mention that Jesus was God (I'll give him the benefit of the doubt on this one because I think the kid already knew, and I know he usually tells them). He didn't mention the resurrection. And at the end he led him in a prayer where he just told God that he accepts him.
    I was very upset by this, throughout the Bible the theme is repent and believe. There must be repentance in order to have sins be forgiven (Acts 2:38, 3:19; Luke 13:3).
    And how can they believe a story that they haven't been fully told? In Romans 10 Paul writes, "...because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.", so you must know that Jesus is God, and that he was raised from the dead.
    I don't think that he realizes that he is leaving things out and that many of the people he has lead to Christ may not be saved. Has anyone else noticed this hole in the Gospel that is being presented to so many?
     
    #1 God's_Servant, Oct 26, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 27, 2010
  2. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

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    It is very difficult to give a clear answer when we are not present even though you have offered some information. I would say however any presentation that is given without mentioning repentance is a presentation that very well could lead someone into being twice the sons of hell.
    One thing I would say however, and this is going to get a rise out of some but what ever, repentance in the NT is never stated as repent of your sins and I believe it is improper to state it that way. Repentance is not 50% or 75% or 99%. It is 100% or it is not repentance. Repentance is not asking for forgiveness nor is it confession of sin. Repentance is simply turning to God. The result of true repentance (turning to God) will be turning from sin, but simply turning from sin does not necessarily mean that the person has turned to God. Many people are eager to turn from sin, but they are not willing to surrender themselves to a holy God. Repentance from sin should be left at simple "repent" because that is how scripture leaves it. To tell someone that they need to repent of their sins gives them the idea that as soon as they stop sinning, or at least promise to clean up their act God will save them. That is a works salvation. So again. Repentance is turning to God and should be stated that way as does scripture. Acts 20:21
    Also it is not necessary to get them to understand that Jesus is God. For most people that is simply too much to handle before they are saved and scripture never says that a person has to grasp the Trinity to be saved. He is the Son of God and that is enough for them to handle.
    So first they need to know why they are lost. Then they need to know what happens to all lost people. Then they need to know how to escape the coming judgment, telling them about how God has paid the price for their sin (the Gospel) explaining if they are willing to turn (surrender) to God and put their faith in His Son they will be saved.
     
    #2 freeatlast, Oct 27, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 27, 2010
  3. God's_Servant

    God's_Servant New Member

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    Sorry, I just realized that one of the things I wrote looked more like it meant something other than what I intended. Originally is said " There must be repentance for sins to be forgiven", I changed it to "There must be repentance in order to have sins forgiven". Sorry about that.
     
  4. Jon-Marc

    Jon-Marc New Member

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    This reminds me of the day I visited a church with a friend when I was 16. During the invitation my friend asked me, "Are you saved?" I had no idea what that meant and chuckled and said, "Hard telling." He replied, "It's no laughing matter."

    After the service, they had me on my knees in a back room with someone saying, "Repeat these words after me." No one asked me any questions as to what I believed or understood. I was shy and afraid to say I had no idea what saved meant or what I was supposed to be saved from, and I just did what I was told.

    When I went home, my dad jokingly asked me, "Well, did you get saved?" He had been raised in a 7th Day Adventist church but wasn't a Christian. I replied, "Yes, but I don't know what from." We all laughed at my joke.

    The danger of rushing people into a decision is that they could be like me and not understand anything, but they're afraid to say so. They also (like me) could go through life thinking they're going to heaven when they're not. It was nearly a year later when God got through to me and made me realize that what I did didn't save me. I had kept going to that church because of the love and acceptance I got there that I didn't get from my dad.
     
  5. Jason Garrett

    Jason Garrett New Member

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    Explain the Criminal on the Cross. He simply said, "Surely, this must be the Son of God." Jesus in turn told this man he would be with Him in paradise. Here, there is no obvious repentance or a canned prayer given. Just an acknowledgement of a man being put to death that Jesus was indeed the Savior.

    I'm not disagreeing with you here, just posing a question that I admittedly don't fully understand.
     
  6. Max Kennedy

    Max Kennedy New Member

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    I agree though that there is no canned prayers in the bible.
     
  7. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

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    No one gets saved by accepting Jesus as Saviour. They must receive Him as Lord just like the man on the cross. He did not need all the explaining that most today do. He was in a state of repentance and faith by his words to the Lord and got saved. :thumbsup: There is no salvation without repentance.
     
    #7 freeatlast, Oct 27, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 27, 2010
  8. Tom Butler

    Tom Butler New Member

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    Does this send cold chills up anybody's spine.

    When I heard someone express her hope of heaven as "well, I said the prayer," I shuddered. Nothing about repentance.

    Is there a difference between "I prayed to receive Jesus" and "I accepted Christ?" Does accepting Christ involve praying to receive Jesus? Can one accept Christ without praying the prayer?

    When someone's testimony of salvation is "I walked the aisle," I shudder.

    When I hear a preacher say, "Repeat this prayer after me," I shudder.

    When I hear a preacher exhort, "Come [down to the front] to Christ," is that an unclear call?

    I am also intrigued by this thread. We probably all agree on the need for repentance and faith for salvation, but here, we don't agree on what repentance is.

    I'm grateful to God that he saves people despite the unclear gospel we preach.

    Don't get me wrong. I'm not against sinners' calling out to God for mercy (like the publican in Luke 13). I'm not against sinners' asking God to save them. What I do oppose is the "say these magic words" mindset.

    BTW, before you cite the publican's prayer as an example of the Sinner's Prayer, read it. He prays to God, but not to receive Jesus. In fact, he doesn't mention Jesus. Just thought I'd mention that.
     
  9. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    If we receive Jesus as Savior we are receiving Him as Lord.

    Repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin. Repentance means simply to turn from. When we acknowledge our condition and that we are only living for ourselves then turn to Christ to save us we have repented.
     
  10. Havensdad

    Havensdad New Member

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    Au contraire'. There was indeed repentance on the part of the thief. Perhaps you have never noticed before (most people do not), but BOTH thieves were mocking him and cursing him at first...
    Note the bolded sections...

    Mat 27:38 Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.
    Mat 27:39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads
    Mat 27:40 and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
    Mat 27:41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying,
    Mat 27:42 "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.
    Mat 27:43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, 'I am the Son of God.'"
    Mat 27:44 And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

    Note the plural? Both of the robbers who were crucified with him mocked him. But only one repented, and was saved...

    Luk 23:40 But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
    Luk 23:41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."
    Luk 23:42 And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."


    It is amazing to me. This thief started out cursing Christ, but then, seeing his reaction to the men, hearing Jesus say "Forgive them" to those who were killing Him...the thief realized his error, and turned from his sin unto the living God!
     
  11. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

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    No he acknowledged Him as Lord, not Saviour. Jesus became His Saviour because the man received the truth that Jesus is Lord and came to repentance for salvation.
    For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
     
  12. Amy.G

    Amy.G New Member

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    Absolutely! Now that is repentance!

    Praise :jesus:
     
  13. Crucified in Christ

    Crucified in Christ New Member

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    But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

    42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.


    This definitely speaks of repentance. The thief shows that he has a fear of God, realizing the guilt that he will die in. He asks the other thief if his actions demonstrates a lack of fear of God. Then he confessed that they were both (the two thieves) receiving their just punishment, but that Christ was without fault. Then he turns to the only source of salvation that there is...he throws himself upon the grace of Jesus, confessing Him to be Lord.

    To me that is as true and obvious a repentance as you will find.

    Our Lord must have thought so since he promised that thief entrance into paradise.
     
  14. Old Union Brother

    Old Union Brother New Member

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    Canned prayers scare me.

    Alter calls with "repeat after after me scare me"

    The lack of repentance being preached scares me.

    The thief on the cross didn't have to repeat after anyone, he had a godly sorrow, now that is repentance.

    I love what Paul wrote in II Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death .

    Then in I Peter 3:15
    But sancitfy the Lord God in Your hearts: Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
     
  15. HankD

    HankD Well-Known Member
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    In another forum someone else mentioned the fact that "repent, repentance" comes from the koine word metanoia which means a change of mind.

    While the word itself may not be used - such as in the account of the Ethiopian eunuch, the evidence of repentance is that which flows out of it.

    Not that the evidence is the cause but the effect.

    When the unregenerate is born anew then there must of necessity be a change of mind.

    Besides, the new birth is not of ourselves but of God and He has no still-borns (oops that one didn't know about "repentance").

    We don't have to know all the details of digestion and assimilation to enjoy a meal.

    HankD
     
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