Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2022 4:14:14 GMT -5
If you are a troll 
reading this, you are not asking with right intentions and only want to fight, argue, lie and debate. Scripture warns us about those kinds of people.
reading this, you are not asking with right intentions and only want to fight, argue, lie and debate. Scripture warns us about those kinds of people. Now I urge you, brothers, to closely watch those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the teaching which you have learned, and avoid them.
Romans 16:17 MEV
Romans 16:17 MEV
For everyone else, to include me, I want to share with you what I believe the scriptures tell us on this topic of "Repentance". Before I can talk, I need help from God. I will pray now. Heavenly Father, You know that I am nothing and You are everything. Lord, please use me to speak the Word of God in clarity in Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
If you have your Bible, please open it to Mark chapter 1 verse 15. In here, we read the Lord's message
'After John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the gospel.”' Mark 1:14-15
The word is used by Jesus Christ here and it was also used by John the Baptists. Here are the english meanings of the word to "repent" taken from the Merriam-Webster dictionary
- to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life
- to feel regret or contrition
- to change one's mind
Here is the word in greek taken from the Strong's Greek Dictionary
- to change one's mind, i.e. to repent
- to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins
Here is another quote
Repentance (metanoia, 'change of mind') involves a turning with contrition from sin to God; the repentant sinner is in the proper condition to accept the divine forgiveness." (F. F. Bruce. The Acts of the Apostles [Greek Text Commentary], London: Tyndale, 1952, p. 97.)
Now you know the meaning of the word. Next question should be is.... "Where did Jesus teaching this and how is it known and understood?"
I believe the answer is found in one parable, very clear, which is Luke 15, the Prodigal Son. Have you ever heard that scripture? If you have, good, if you haven't, well, we are going to address it right now.
Then He said, “A man had two sons. Luke 15:11
The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.’ So he divided his estate between them.' Luke 15:12
Not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together, and journeyed to a distant country, and there squandered his possessions in prodigal living. Luke 15:13
When he had spent everything, there came a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in want. 'Luke 15:14
So he went and hired himself to a citizen of that county, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. Luke 15:15
He would gladly have filled his stomach with the husks that the swine were eating, but no one gave him any.' Luke 15:16
When he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have an abundance of bread, and here I am perishing with hunger! Luke 15:17
'I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. Luke 15:18
I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants. Luke 15:19
So he arose and came to his father. “But while he was yet far away, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and ran and embraced his neck and kissed him.Luke 15:20
The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Luke 15:21
But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him. And put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet. Luke 15:22
But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him. And put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet. Luke 15:22
For this son of mine was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ So they began to be merry. Luke 15:24
Now his older son was in the field. As he came and drew near the house, he heard music and dancing. Luke 15:25
So he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. Luke 15:26
He said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him safe and sound.’' Luke 15:27
But he answered his father, ‘Look! These many years have I served you. Nor have I ever transgressed your commands, yet never have you given me a goat, so that I might be merry with my friends. ' Luke 15:29
But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed the fattened calf for him.’' Luke 15:30
But it was fitting to be merry and be glad, for this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”' Luke 15:32
That is Jesus' telling us how a person repents.
- He spent all he had (he came to nothing, to poverty, no money, no family)
- He began to be in want (survival, needed bare necessities)
- He looks for a job by himself to try to meet his basic needs
- He gets a humbling job of feeding pigs
- He still has no food to eat, and even would have ate pig's food to feed his hunger.
- He came to himself (his senses, he woke up, he realized, he had a moment of divine clarity)
- He comes to the point that he is sinning against God and against his own family, his father specifically. (Father gave him money but son ruined it)
- The son realizes that is is unworthy to be called a son (he is humbled in heart) but also realizes that he can still try to beg for help and a job
- His Father saw him, was moved with compassion and hugs and kisses his son, welcoming him back
What is repentance? It's the story you just read.
The next question is? Where do I see myself in this story? With the Father and reconciled? or still trying to do things my way, far away from God, trying to survive on my own, now poor, lonely, without money, no job, and still in the sins.
The question now becomes, have I repented? Before we can understand it, we have to experience it. Understanding a theological point is not sufficient. You have to endure and experience your own repentance and that means you are now or you are not yet reconciled with God.
