Repent or Perish!

[The SquawkBox Master]

'True repentance involves completely and eternally forsaking and giving up all sin without exception and overcoming all sin and living a righteous, pure and holy life. The only exception to this is accidental sin which must be immediatedly renounced and turned from.
God demands that you are already living as perfect and holy a life as possible and able to overcome all temptation without exception BEFORE he will save you.
ONLY THEN when you have proved that you have truly repented and can live a righteous and holy life can you then accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour and are eligible to accept the grace of God.
The grace of God is only given to those who truly repent FIRST and are completely and totally penitent BEFORE accepting Christ as saviour and Lord.
You are only a genuine christian if you are living a pure, righteous and holy life committing only and repenting of accidental sin after your conversion due to being truly Born Again of the Holy Spirit. It is not possible to be truly saved and deliberately sin ever- if you do you have NEVER been saved.'

'If you EVER deliberately sin after your conversion you are ETERNALLY CONDEMNED.'

'God is perfect and demands that we achieve perfection and become sinless before we die or we will eternally perish.'

These are not neccessarily my opinions but are of some Christians. What exactly in God's opinion do you think constitutes genuine and true saving repentance?

Discuss.

The Extreme Squawk Box Master.

[Wildfire]

A good example of this is found in the book of Luke chapter 7.

And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment.
And stood at his feet behind him weeping and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
and as the Pharasee watched this, he thought with some criticism; and Jesus speaks a parable,
and says to Peter,
Seest thous this woman? I entered into thine house; thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I hath come in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
My head with oil thou didst not annoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
Wherefore I say unto thee: Her sins, which are many, are forgiven: for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
Egg

[zamar]

so God will not save you until you prove to him that you are worthy of being saved.

Guess that Jesus died in vain then if we have to prove our worth.

Z

[Wildfire]

Well, despite the fact that this "sinner" had humbled herself before him; Jesus had acknowledged that this woman loved much, and that her sins were also many. Maybe what he is saying is that those who love little, shall be forgiven of little.

[InspectorVol]

The example from Luke that was listed is a good story. That kinda looks like to me she was doing a good work. Hmmmm.

[zamar]

so which sin in particular is the one that sends a person to Hell?

Z

[The SquawkBox Master]

Any sin, even a wrong thought according to some.
Don't get me wrong, these are not my views but I have presented them to get debate. Some Christians believe that repentance is no more than admitting you are a sinner and turning to Jesus for salvation. I want to read peoples views on what they believe is actually the true repentance as demanded by Jesus in the bible and what exactly this consists of.
As the bible says Repent or Perish, we simply cannot afford to get it wrong. A person is not saved on faith alone, God demands that we repent.

[zamar]

we are not saved by faith alone, We are saved by Grace through Faith.

BTW. The only sin that sends a person to Hell is the sin of not receiving Jesus as Lord.

Your posts are full of fear and that is not of God. Why would you want to add to the work that Jesus did by saying that we need to repent of every sin (many of which you can never remember) before God will recieve you?

I'll rest in what Jesus did and when I sin I will confess it to the Lord and go on.

Z

[InspectorVol]

Read and understand.

Acts.10
[2] A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
[22] And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.
[35] But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
Acts.13
[16] Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.
[26] Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

[zamar]

So are you sayng that we need to discuss the meaning of "Fearing God"?

I would be open to that.

Z

[ZiSunka]

This notion is exactly the dogma of several Christian-based cults!

If you read the Bible completely and in context, you will understand that we are to do everything we can to abstain from sin, but if we do sin, we have an advocate who will speak on our behalf on the day of judgement. That advocate's name? Jesus Christ, who will be our judge, and our defender, who will not see evidence of our sins when he judges us, but will see the righteousness and forgiveness that he applied to us on the day we first believed.

So, if you sin, go straight to your defense attorney and judge and plead guilty. He will know the truth, and His mercy will set you free!

[StogusMaximus]

lambslove,

I agree 110%! Most people are on one side or the other.

Either you are saved and you can sin all you want, or you are saved and if you dare sin again you go straight to hell.

His word says "Go and sin no more" but it also says that our sins shall be "White as snow".

[zamar]

1 John 1:9 state that if we confess our sin God is faithful and just to forgive our sin and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.

I don't make it a point of running around sinning but when I do, God forgives and cleanses me of it.

Praise God for His goodness!!! (and that is the fear of the Lord).

Z

[Da Berkshire Massive]

My own personal opinion on repentance is:

1. You are convicted that you are a sinner, the consequences of your sin and your need of salvation.
2. You are genuinely sorrowful for your sin- being unhappy about the existance of sin in your life is sorrow- you don't have to be in tears.
3. You turn to Jesus from your rebellious existance separated from God and ask him to forgive you for all your sins and ask him to truly become your Lord over you and everything in your life and save you as his child.
4. You ask Jesus to help you through the power of the Holy Spirit to live a righteous and holy life pleasing to God
5. You ask the Holy Spirit to help you refrain from any sins you know you are going to struggle with and ask him to change you so that you no longer want to commit these sins.
6. You give the Holy Spirit complete control over you and everything within your life and make a commitment not to disrupt the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in your life through deliberate acts of sin.
If you are genuine God then accepts you as his Child.
Saving Faith and repentance are both God given if you have trouble believing or repenting, you simply ask God to bring you to true saving faith and/or repentance.

Am I right?

[zamar]

I guess the question that I would ask is. Who determine if you are genuine?

The Bible state ALL that call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

If you are calling on the name of he Lord and you are not being forced into it by another person, is that not genuine?

Let's not add layers of works onto the saving Grace of God.

Z

[Da Berkshire Massive]

But all these things above are simply asking God, calling upon the name of The Lord. What part of this is works?- you refrain from sin in God's strength and ask him to stop you wanting to commit any sin you struggle with.
You don't lose your salvation if you do ignore the Holy Spirit and sin, though believe me God will give you a good thrashing if you persist in disobeying.

[StogusMaximus]

Originally posted by zamar
I guess the question that I would ask is. Who determine if you are genuine?

The Bible state ALL that call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

If you are calling on the name of he Lord and you are not being forced into it by another person, is that not genuine?

Let's not add layers of works onto the saving Grace of God.

Z

"Not everyone 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

[Da Berkshire Massive]

I don't think it is enough to just ask Jesus to come into your life or save you, you have to specifically ask him to deal with your sin in addition to asking him to forgive it and let him work in your life through the Holy Spirit. I only realised this recently and it was a real shock to realise that there could be a chance that I still was not truly saved.

[Wildfire]

Z; I like your questions. In Luke 12 there is an interesting passage about fearing God; it says,
And I say unto you my friends, be not afraid of them that kill the body, and then after that have not more that they can do.
But, I will forewarn you whom ye should fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath the power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear Him.
And concerning sin, in the same chapter it says;
And whosoever shall speak a word against the son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall NOT be forgiven.

In the parables of the New Testiment, Jesus talks about heaven in several different ways that would make one believe that it is not so simple to enter into. It is quoted over and over, that many shall be called and few shall be chosen. So, is it enough to ask forgiveness of Jesus or is there much more required of ourselves?
Curious, Soup

[Da Berkshire Massive]

In the parables of the New Testiment, Jesus talks about heaven in several different ways that would make one believe that it is not so simple to enter into. It is quoted over and over, that many shall be called and few shall be chosen. So, is it enough to ask forgiveness of Jesus or is there much more required of ourselves?
Curious, Soup [/B][/QUOTE]

Soup is Good Food, if you don't mind me asking, what have you done to make sure you have truly repented as Jesus asked, or are you still searching for the truth?

[Wildfire]

I am always searching for the truth; that will never cease. Have not done enough with God? no. Repentance (to me) is something I ask of God more than once; there is no weekly kneeling for me; as my communication with him is continual. Thank you for asking. Soup

[SenseiPiccolo]

"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jeus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto rightiousness, and with the mouth confessions is made untoo salvation.... For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Rom 10 : 9-13

By grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: NOT OF WORKS, lest anyman should boast. Eph2:8-9

^_^

[Wildfire]

I Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Does this indicate that our sins are forgiven by degree outside of repentance?

[zamar]

No because Peter is speaking to the church. He speaks to those who have already received Christ, not those who have not.

Z

[SenseiPiccolo]

Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish" Luke 13:3

^_^

[InspectorVol]

I am not sure how to link here so cut and paste if it doesn't work and read. I would copy it here but it is a little long.


http://www.westarkchurchofchrist.org/chadwell/2000/011600am.htm

[SenseiPiccolo]

Originally posted by InspectorVol
I am not sure how to link here so cut and paste if it doesn't work and read. I would copy it here but it is a little long.


http://www.westarkchurchofchrist.org/chadwell/2000/011600am.htm

*cough*URL*cough*
note suppose to use urls
^_^

[Da Berkshire Massive]

For those who are uncertain about what genuine true repentance actually is read this arcticle by Charles Spurgeon:

http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0044.htm

Even if you think you are certain, read it anyway, you might get the shock of your life as I did!

Sadly far too many people only understand and live by half of the gospel message asking for only half the grace of God. You have to have both faith and repentance -if one is missing, you won't go to heaven when you die- both are purely the grace of God and not of ourselves.
Jesus I pray that people will read the arcticle and make certain they are truly right with God.
Don't let Satan try to stop you from investigating it- he tried to stop me bothering to find out what repentance really was!
Believe me it is not simply admitting you are a sinner and asking for forgiveness for all your sins as I mistakenly believed for over 5 years- there is much more to it as the arcticle will show you.
Though don't let Satan confuse you into thinking it involves works and giving up sin by your own efforts to earn salvation- it doesn't before salvation! It is PURELY the grace of God which you have just ask for to recieve!

http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0044.htm

[Da Berkshire Massive]

Just so no one misses it, I have pasted this again as to what true repentance actually is.......

1. You are convicted that you are a sinner, the consequences of your sin and your need of salvation.
2. You are genuinely sorrowful for your sin- being unhappy about the existance of sin in your life is sorrow- you don't have to be in tears.
3. You turn to Jesus from your rebellious existance separated from God and ask him to forgive you for all your sins and ask him to truly become your Lord over you and everything in your life without exception and save you as his child.
4. You ask Jesus to help you through the power of the Holy Spirit to live a righteous and holy life pleasing to God
5. You ask the Holy Spirit to help you refrain from any sins you know you are going to struggle with and ask him to change you so that you no longer want to commit these sins.
6. You give the Holy Spirit complete control over you and everything within your life without exception and make a life long commitment not to disrupt the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in your life through deliberate acts of sin.
If you are genuine God then accepts you as his Child.
Saving Faith and repentance are both God given if you have trouble believing or repenting, you simply ask God to bring you to true saving faith and/or repentance.