Repentance: revisted

[B-A-C]

It's funny, I've been here on TalkJesus about 14 years now. I've started over 3,000 threads. Posted over 9,000 messages.
Some of them get quite a of feedback and reaction. I have a few threads on here with over 300 posts on them.
I suppose some might consider that bragging... but that's not really my point here.

In fact, just the opposite, whenever I start a thread about repentance. Nobody wants to talk about it.
My last two repentance threads have absolutely no responses. Not one.
It's like it's the dirtiest word you can say on a Christian website or something. I saw a recent YouTube video where a person
took over 1,000 online sermons from well-known pastors, and the word "repentance" was picked up less than 7 times.

Seven times... I guess I'm not the only one who noticed no one wants to talk about repentance.

What was John the Baptists first message to people?

Matt 3:2; "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

What was one of Jesus's first messages to people?

Matt 4:17; From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Jesus went so far as to renounce people/cities who did not repent.

Matt 11:20; Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent.
Matt 11:21; "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

What did the 12 apostles preach to people?

Mark 6:12; They went out and preached that men should repent.

Jesus said if we don't repent... there are consequences...

Luke 13:3; "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Luke 13:5; "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

Somehow this message has gotten twisted into.. "God's OK with it. Jesus loves you. God will work with you on this".

Just in case you're wondering... God's not OK with it.

Acts 17:30; "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent,

A lot of people think saying they are sorry is repentance.
The cycle goes like... sin, say I'm sorry, sin again tomorrow... keep repeating. That is NOT repentance.
At some point you have to make a change. You actually have to stop doing that sin. Now some will say we will always sin...
Well, where does the Bible say that? Where it say that we "have" to sin after we are saved? But even if we do still sin sometimes...
There should be some sins you quit doing. You should be all sins less than you were before. They should continually decreasing.

A lot of people think that repentance is something you do once.. and it's done. They think it's over with.
But it's never over with until you stop sinning.

The letters to the seven churches of Asia were not written to unbelievers... they were written to the church.
.. but yet in five of these letters, the churches are told...

Rev 2:5; 'Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.
Rev 2:16; 'Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.
Rev 2:21; 'I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality.
Rev 2:22; 'Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds.
Rev 3:3; 'So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.
Rev 3:19; 'Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.

Now if these people are already saved... why would Jesus say they need to repent? In fact He says repent.. "or else". In Rev 2:16; it says unless he church repents, Jesus is going to make
war against them... ( gee, I wonder who will win? )

 

[B-A-C]

Peter preached repentance also.

Acts 2:38; Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
2Pet 3:9; The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

Paul preached repentance.

Rom 2:4; Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
2Cor 7:10; For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.

Note these letters weren't written to unsaved people. They were all written to the church.
Some will say, but I'm already forgiven for everything, I don't need to repent. ..and yet the churches of Asia needed to. What makes you different?

John 13:9; Simon Peter *said to Him, "Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head."
John 13:10; Jesus *said to him, "He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you."
John 13:11; For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, "Not all of you are clean."

Judas started off just as forgiven as all the other apostles. But he wasn't clean. Jesus told all the disciples... you might be clean, but you still need to have your feet washed sometimes.
He didn't just say that about Judas, he said that to all the apostles.

1Jn 1:9; If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

"IF" (if is a conditional word). If.. we confess our sins.. then He will forgive us. But we need to repent as well.

He forgave you for all the sins you did up until you got saved. How many sins have you done since then? Have you confessed them? Are your feet clean?

Heb 10:26; For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27; but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.

If we go on sinning "willfully".. there is no more sacrifice for your sins. Just a judgment of fire.

 

[B-A-C]

We have some "deceived" Chrsitians here on TalkJesus, and even others doing the deceiving.
If someones primary theme is about God loving you no matter what, beware. The love of God is not the salvation of God. God loves unsaved sinners.

1Cor 6:9; Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
1Cor 6:10; nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

Do not be deceived. If you're doing these things.. it doesn't matter if you believe in Jesus or not... you will not inherit the kingdom God. Repent today.

2Tim 3:13; But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

We have a number of deceivers here on TalkJesus. They are generally easy recognize. Almost all of their posts are about how God loves and will accept you no matter what.
But that isn't what the Bible says.

Gal 5:20; idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
Gal 5:21; envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

If you're living a certain life-style practicing certain sins, it doesn't matter if you believe in Jesus or not. Even the demons believe.
Do not be deceived. These people will not inherit the kingdom of God. That includes you if you are one of the people doing these things.

If you know God's commands (ordinances) and you continue to disobey..

Rom 1:32; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

Guess what, you're worthy of death. Don't think you can't become defiled again.

Heb 12:15; See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;

2Pet 2:20; For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
2Pet 2:21; For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.
2Pet 2:22; It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT," and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire."

 

[Waggles]

Fortunately, not all churches have sold out ...
in our Pentecostal church, The Revival Fellowship, repentance is still an important doctrine.
And when witnessing to people we share the fundamental need for people to repent from their own self will and to submit to God for salvation and healing.

Hebrews 6:1 Wherefore leaving the word of the beginning of the Christ, let us be borne on unto the perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,-
2 the teaching of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

 

[Dave M]

I have heard a lot of people say repentance is not necessary and that just believing in Jesus is good enough.

 

[Brad Huber]

Repentance is a good thing. Its recognizing we were wrong about something we thought or did and admitting it to those we might have hurt with our either indifference, or with our actions or both. Its sorta being humble enough to not let our pride of self (satans big sin) stand in the way of re-establishing our good relations with God and those around us. Most christians would probably agree with it and perhaps thats part of the reason its not spoken of much.

Did you get any likes in the past?

 

[Curtis]

The word, "repent" means, "to change your mind" Change our mind from what to what?

Col 3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Col 3:3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Col 3:4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Stop thinking about the things of this world and start thinking about the things above where Christ is seated.