Repent! Salvation

[Tellyontellyon]

I'm still a little confused about repentance...
I know it means to turn away from sin and towards God.
What I'm confused about is... that some on here seem to say that it's a one time deal rather than an ongoing thing. If you turn back to sin and away from God, is your salvation lost?
Some argue that if you have truly been saved then it's not possible to lose that salvation...
... how is that deduced from scripture.

Thank you

 

[SabbathBlessings]

I'm still a little confused about repentance...
I know it means to turn away from sin and towards God.
What I'm confused about is... that some on here seem to say that it's a one time deal rather than an ongoing thing. If you turn back to sin and away from God, is your salvation lost?
Some argue that if you have truly been saved then it's not possible to lose that salvation...
... how is that deduced from scripture.

Thank you

Repentance is not a one time thing. If we sin, we need to repent. In the OT they sacrificed animals for sin daily. In the NC, Jesus is our High Priest and His blood paid the penalty of our sins, but in order to receive this free gift, we need to also die of sin (breaking God’s law 1 John 3:4 James 2:10-12) and repent of our sins, which means a change of heart and a change in direction. As a Christian we should not be living in perpetual sin, Jesus wants to free us of that bondage and while we can’t do that on our own, we can through Christ John 14:15-18 Phil 4:13 We are told we need to confess and forsake our sins Pro 28:13. God’s law is there so we can see our sins Rom 3:20 Rom 7:7 and so we are not depending on our righteousness (right doing) but on God’s Psa 119:172 and it shows us our need for Jesus our Savior, His perfect law converting the soul Psa 19:7. Its best to always ask Jesus to show us any covered sin and ask for His help in overcoming and when we submit to His will and through Christ we can gain victory of the bondage of sin and walk in harmony with Him. We are not saved in our sins Heb 10:26-30 we are saved from sin Mat 1:21

 

[d taylor]

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Repentance has noting to do with receiving God's free gift of Eternal Life salvation.

 

[Tellyontellyon]

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Repentance has noting to do with receiving God's free gift of Eternal Life salvation.

You can be saved without repenting?

 

[d taylor]

You can be saved without repenting?

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Yes, what gives a person Eternal Life salvation and the only way a person becomes a permanent born again child of God. Is by belief in Jesus, repenting has nothing to do with whether a person believes in Jesus.

As repenting has nothing to to do with other beliefs a person comes to hold.

Repenting is what people (believers) do to get back into fellowship with God their Father when they sin and in-turn get out of their relationship/fellowship with God when they sin. Read the parable of the prodigal son, it is about a son getting out of fellowship with their Father (God) by going the way of the world, but they repent and eventually come back to their Father.

 

[Piers Plowman]

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Yes, what gives a person Eternal Life salvation and the only way a person becomes a permanent born again child of God. Is by belief in Jesus, repenting has nothing to do with whether a person believes in Jesus.

As repenting has nothing to to do with other beliefs a person comes to hold.

Repenting is what people (believers) do to get back into fellowship with God their Father when they sin and in-turn get out of their relationship/fellowship with God when they sin. Read the parable of the prodigal son, it is about a son getting out of fellowship with their Father (God) by going the way of the world, but they repent and eventually come back to their Father.

I see where you are going at with this, but it may edify the OP to first properly distinguish between 'repentance' and 'forgiveness'. In addition, it may be of OP's interest that different denominations would phrase this in different ways.

 

[d taylor]

I see where you are going at with this, but it may edify the OP to first properly distinguish between 'repentance' and 'forgiveness'. In addition, it may be of OP's interest that different denominations would phrase this in different ways.

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No, what needs to be distinguished is repentance and forgiveness. With receiving God's free gift of Eternal Life, which is not the same as repenting and receiving forgiveness of sin or sins a person is committing.

A person believes (in Jesus) to receive God's free gift of Eternal Life and a person repents to receive forgiveness of sin or sins.

As John 20: 30,31 states about the only book of The Bible written to tell people how to have life (Eternal Life). A person has life by believing, not by repenting or repenting and believing.

And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

 

[Piers Plowman]

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No, what needs to be distinguished is repentance and forgiveness.

Why, yes, that is indeed what I said.

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A person believes (in Jesus) to receive God's free gift of Eternal Life and a person repents to receive forgiveness of sin or sins.

Yes, and in reality men cannot have one without the other.

 

[Piers Plowman]

We distinguish between the two, lest anyone reading this thread be subconsciously conflating those two terms.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

know it means to turn away from sin and towards God.

This is not what repentance means. It means a willful act of " changing your mind". For example, if one drinks and drives then one day they decide to stop drinking and driving then they have changed their mind, willfully taking a stance against repeating a sin. It is His Holy Spirit who works in the believer to take steps towards Holyness.
Be blessed.

 

[d taylor]

Why, yes, that is indeed what I said.

Yes, and in reality men cannot have one without the other.

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In reality all sin, believers and unbelievers has been forgiven and taken away by Jesus at the cross and Jesus defeated death when He rose from the grave.

So forgiveness of sin is not a condition to receive God's free gift of Eternal Life salvation only belief in Jesus.

 

[eleos1954]

I'm still a little confused about repentance...
I know it means to turn away from sin and towards God.
What I'm confused about is... that some on here seem to say that it's a one time deal rather than an ongoing thing. If you turn back to sin and away from God, is your salvation lost?
Some argue that if you have truly been saved then it's not possible to lose that salvation...
... how is that deduced from scripture.

Thank you

Every day is a battle with sin.

Luther spoke of justification by faith and theological sanctification in this way: "Christ has earned for us not only God’s mercy, but also the gift of the Holy Spirit, that we should have not only forgiveness, but also an end of sins. Whoever remains in his earlier evil ways must have another kind of Christ. Consequence demands that a Christian should have the Holy Spirit and lead a new life, or know that he has not received Christ at all."5 Indeed, "The righteousness of Christ is not a cloak to cover unconfessed and unforsaken sin; it is a principle of life that transforms the character and controls the conduct.

We will indeed mess up ... but if we confess we are fully forgiven and continue on.

If the Holy Spirit is indeed in us .... we will be led away from sin not toward it.

We are daily being transformed ... and this continues throughout our earthly life because we are constantly tempted by the devil. We are prompted by the Holy Spirit to change and resist temptations.

The only unforgivable sin is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit ... and that is continuously rejecting of the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Only God knows of this major offense.

We should see progress within ourselves .... getting better (turning away from sin) not towards it.

God treats us as though we have never sinned even though we have .... when He forgives ... He forgives fully.

We are in a constant state of being sanctified (changed) by the Lord and we do and will mess up here and there.

We should look at how our lives are trending .... towards sin ... or away from it.

 

[HarleyER]

I'm still a little confused about repentance...
I know it means to turn away from sin and towards God.
What I'm confused about is... that some on here seem to say that it's a one time deal rather than an ongoing thing. If you turn back to sin and away from God, is your salvation lost?
Some argue that if you have truly been saved then it's not possible to lose that salvation...
... how is that deduced from scripture.

Thank you

You are not saved by your works. You are saved by the works of Jesus Christ and placing your faith in Him.

You illustrate your love for Christ by doing good works. So when you pray, give, worship, evangelize, do acts in the name of Christ, these all are good things showing your love for Him. But these and other good works don't save you. Your faith in the finished work of Christ is what saves you.

Once you've placed your faith in Christ, He will not leave you. You are sealed with the Holy Spirit. However, you must guard yourself against your love growing cold. Your good works may diminish because of a love that grows cold. Though you might suffer lost of reward, you will never lose your salvation since it is based upon Christ's work-not your own.

 

[timf]

Repent is used to translate the Greek word metanoia which meant to change you mind. It was part of the kingdom gospel for Israel as they needed to change from what they had become back to what they were supposed to have been.

Many consider that for Christians to be saved today, they have to feel bad about their sins. Often people do feel bad, but this is not actually a requirement today. Also feeling bad is not an accurate translation of metanoisa.

A changed mind is often a part of the process where a person trusts in the gospel. This process usually involves the discerning of truth such that one feels confident in trusting in it. Paul describes salvation and repentance is not listed.

1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

 

[Tellyontellyon]

So can a person say:

"I'm not ready to give up the things I like yet, even though they are considered sin. But, I completely, 100% believe that Jesus died for my sins, so I know I'm saved. Thanks Jesus!"

Is that a good summation of your religion?

 

[Danthemailman]

The Greek word for "repent" is "metanoia" (noun) and "matanoeo" (verb) you see as defined in the Strongs #3340, 3341: to think differently or afterwards, reconsider. To change one's mind.

https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Lexicon.show/ID/G3340/metanoeo.htm#:~:text=Strong's #3340: metanoeo (pronounced met-an-o-eh'-o) from 3326 and,i.e. reconsider (morally, feel compunction):--repent. Thayer's Greek Lexicon:

Repentance basically means a "change of mind" and the context must determine what is involved in this change of mind. Where salvation is in view, repentance actually precedes saving faith in Christ and is not a totally separate act from faith. It is actually the same coin with two sides. Repentance is on one side (what you change your mind about) and faith in Christ is on the positive side, the new direction of this change of mind. Repentance and faith are two sides of the same experience of receiving Christ. (Acts 20:21)

Certain people misunderstand the term "repentance" to mean "turning from sin" to the extreme which means from that moment on we live a sinless, without fault or defect, flawless, absolute perfect life, 100% of the time, yet repent does not mean sinless perfection. (1 John 1:8-10) The word "repent" basically means to "change your mind."

The Bible also tells us that true repentance will result in a change of actions. Acts 26:20 declares, "I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds." This is the fruit of repentance (Matthew 3:8), not the essence of repentance (change of mind). I have heard certain people say, "if you want to be saved, repent of your sins, turn from your sins." If turning from your sins means to completely stop sinning, then people can only be saved if they completely stop sinning and, in that case, none of us will be saved because none of us are sinless, without fault or defect, flawless, 100% of the time.

 

[timf]

Is that a good summation of your religion?

Yes, with the understanding that "believe" in English may fail to fully capture the idea of trusting in the Greek word "pistis".

One should understand that God does not offer salvation as a result of fully understanding, repenting, or other achievement (works). Who of us actually understands all of his "sin" (hamatia, missing the mark). We are all sinners even after being saved. Our sins (often driven by being in the flesh) usually diminish as we learn to walk by the Spirit.

Christianity is the transition from the flesh (selfishness) to the Spirit (selflessness). This is the key to growing in Christ (Christ-likeness).

2Co 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

 

[Tellyontellyon]

Is that a good summation of your religion?

Yes, with the understanding that "believe" in English may fail to fully capture the idea of trusting in the Greek word "pistis".

One should understand that God does not offer salvation as a result of fully understanding, repenting, or other achievement (works). Who of us actually understands all of his "sin" (hamatia, missing the mark). We are all sinners even after being saved. Our sins (often driven by being in the flesh) usually diminish as we learn to walk by the Spirit.

Christianity is the transition from the flesh (selfishness) to the Spirit (selflessness). This is the key to growing in Christ (Christ-likeness).

2Co 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

So they need not even intend to try and stop sinning?
I can be saved even if I don't care to stop the murdering and the stealing and the rape. My desire to stop those things may or may not come afterwards, but have nothing to do with the essentials salvation?

 

[d taylor]

So can a person say:

"I'm not ready to give up the things I like yet, even though they are considered sin. But, I completely, 100% believe that Jesus died for my sins, so I know I'm saved. Thanks Jesus!"

Is that a good summation of your religion?

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Wow are you really missing the obvious, believing Jesus died for your sins saves no one.

It is plainly stated many times especially in The Gospel of John. What gives a person God's free gift of Eternal Life salvation is believing in The Person Jesus. Not in any actions Jesus accomplished, these accomplishments (miracles/signs) Jesus did should cause you to say hey! This person must really be who He says He is, The Son of God The Messiah, the resurrection and the life.
So then you can say: I believe in You Jesus for Eternal Life, you are The Son of God, the resurrection and the life.

The question you have to ask yourself is.

Do you want to conquer and defeat death. Well that is impossible to do on your own, to conquer and defeat death. You must believe in the only person who has conquered and defeated death, who is Jesus.
The promised Son of God / The Messiah, the resurrection and the life, with belief in Jesus for God's free gift of Eternal Life salvation, you may also conquer and defeat death, by belief in Jesus.

You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

There is no other way.

 

[Psalm 27]

I'm still a little confused about repentance...
I know it means to turn away from sin and towards God.
What I'm confused about is... that some on here seem to say that it's a one time deal rather than an ongoing thing. If you turn back to sin and away from God, is your salvation lost?
Some argue that if you have truly been saved then it's not possible to lose that salvation...
... how is that deduced from scripture.

Thank you

Luke 19
8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Imo, this is salvation. It has nothing to do with outward action.
The heart experiences a change, or 'comes to its senses'. At that point, a soul is saved. Can they lose that salvation...yes they can...osas is the biggest lie