REPENTANCE

[Michael]

"Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” says the Lord God. “Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel?" - Eze 18:30-31

God has always required that His people (Israel, and now we who have been grafted in) "repent", and actually strive to "stop sinning." Repentance is one of the conditions God has placed on receiving cleansing from our sins. "Walking in the Light", "confessing our sins", "forgiving others", and "working righteousness" are other conditions. When God sent John the Baptist to announce the coming of the Lord, He told him to preach "repentance" that God's chosen people might be forgiven.

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.’ ”
4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins."
- Mark 1:3-4

After His sacrifice and Resurrection, Jesus gave His closest followers new insight and sent them out to preach "repentance for the forgiveness of sins"

"Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in His Name to all nations." - Luke 24:45-47

Repentance is one of the main topics of the New Testament, yet is seldom taught from the Biblical perspective today, and is often greatly misunderstood even when it is mentioned.
Delving here into the Scripture and the teaching of Jesus on the absolute necessity of walking in True Repentance before God if we are to inherit the promises to those who "repent" and "overcome" in Revelation chapters 2 & 3.

God's wisdom and understanding to us all,
Michael


https://youtu.be/LpN_Z1Wdc0U

 

[Michael]

Repentance (part 2)

"If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." - 2Chron 7:14

Let us know that God is calling us - His Church - to Repent, that He may bring healing and deliverance upon the nations.
God knows sinners in the world will sin, but He expects His Church - those who have been set free by the Blood of the Lamb - to "stop sinning" and "turn from our wicked ways" of selfishness and disobedience to God's commands.

Continuing our look at Repentance as the Bible defines it.

And please feel free to ask questions, comment or rebuke on the Youtube video or the website, as the Lord leads you.

Peace & Blessings


https://youtu.be/5yvmgNBQrjk

 

[Michael]

REPENTANCE (part 3)

"Repentance is the relinquishment of any practice, from conviction that it has offended God."
- Webster (1828 Dictionary)


"Repentance" today has been largely reduced to 'feeling bad' or 'changing our mind' about the way God views our continued sin. And we see the results in our society and churches today due to such poor understanding of True Biblical Repentance: which is an actual "turning away" from sin, and "ceasing" from doing those things which we know displease God.

Continuing in our study of Repentance as the Scripture teaches this vital, necessary part of our salvation.

God's wisdom & understanding to us all,
Michael


https://youtu.be/vBpcQnWbIFM

 

[Josiah]

In Lutheran, Anglican, Catholic and Orthodox churches, there is Repentance at EVERY worship service, within the first 5 minutes or so. There may be a hymn or the invocation before it, but it's pretty much first thing addressed,

Is that the case in your church, Michael?

 

[Michael]

In Lutheran, Anglican, Catholic and Orthodox churches, there is Repentance at EVERY worship service, within the first 5 minutes or so. There may be a hymn or the invocation before it, but it's pretty much first thing addressed,

Is that the case in your church, Michael?

Indeed "godly sorrow" for sins committed is a good thing… but only if it leads to an actual "turning away" from our sin. Oh yes, many Orthodox and Protestant churches include "godly sorrow" and “confession” in their services, but True Biblical Repentance, as we've been studying here, doesn't take place during a few minutes at a church service... Repentance, as the Scripture teaches, takes place when we make up our mind that something in our behavior is contrary to God's will and ways and we actually stop doing it. Repentance is a "ceasing from sin." It is a work that God requires of His Elect if they are to inherit His promises to “those who overcome.” This type of teaching is seldom heard from pulpits in any denomination, for it puts responsibility on us, and that is offensive to our watered down Gospel of today.

We find a clear example of Biblical Repentance in Isaiah, where God rebukes His chosen ones -

“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;
Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes.
Cease to do evil,
17 Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Rebuke the oppressor;
Defend the fatherless,
Plead for the widow."
- Isaiah 1:16-17

And James emphasizes this as well -

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." - James 4:8

Repentance is not a feeling of remorse or sorrow, or even a confession of sin. Repentance is when we actually “stop sinning” as Jesus taught, when we cease going our own way and turn to God, proving we have by our behavior. Our “works” or “deeds” are not the fruit of repentance, but ARE the repentance that God requires.

Hope this helps clarify my position. Thanks for watching.
God’s wisdom and understanding to all.

 

[Arsenios]

In ... Orthodox churches, there is Repentance at EVERY worship service, within the first 5 minutes or so.
There may be a hymn or the invocation before it, but it's pretty much first thing addressed,

Addressing repentance verbally is not repentance...

But you are right anyway, Josiah...

Because we do not have pews...

We stand for up to three hours in Services...

Our legs and backs ache, and our feet hurt...

We are tired and hungry from fasting...

THAT is repentance from our addiction to pleasurable sensation...

Ontological repentance from addiction to the feel-goods...

And in this agony we find Joy...


Arsenios

 

[Bluezone777]

When you divorced action from belief which many have done, you can get wacky ideas about what repentance is. If you believe now something you did is wrong then it should come naturally that your actions should change as a result. If you claim to feel differently about what you did yet not change your behavior then you are simply lying to others and/or yourself.

As for what sacrifice is, it is not a group of people forgoing a chair just for the sake of appearing to be sacrificial. Sacrifice is forgoing the use of a chair because you saw a disabled man walk into your church looking for a seat with you knowing that they aren't any left. You then beckon the man to you so you can give up your seat so he can sit down. THAT is sacrifice and is definitely the fruit of a repentant heart that has turned itself to God because it is striving to walk in accordance to what it has been called to do which is to be an image bearer of Jesus.

Another thing, a man who genuinely repents does not go back to what he has repented from. If you profess to repent from something then go right back into it then you didn't repent from anything.

 

[Michael]

Another thing, a man who genuinely repents does not go back to what he has repented from. If you profess to repent from something then go right back into it then you didn't repent from anything.

Amen. You are absolutely correct! That is what I've been teaching in great depth in this video series.

Posting these video's - which are entirely backed and supported with Scripture - in the "Christian Theology" debate section on this site brought me much debate and opinionated responses, but lacking Biblical support.
That's why I am now posting them in this "no debate" Bible Study section. I've taught on this subject in church and home fellowships, as it truly is a study from God's Word.

Peace & Blessings to all who walk with Jesus,
Michael

 

[NewCreation435]

repentance to me means that you are not only turning the other way but from that point on going in a different direction. It is the difference between confession which is simply agreeing and repentance as you have mentioned here

 

[Arsenios]

Repenting is a struggle...

An ongoing struggle against sin in one's own soul...

It is never finished in this life...

Because there are always challenges to it...

Which is why the Gospel proclaims:

"Be ye repenting..."

Ongoing present tense...

As a way of life...

Always poised against sin...

And those succeeding can help others...

Directly in prayer, or by overcoming a sin someone else is not doing well with...

For them...

Doing an act of penance FOR someone else is very Orthodox...

Arsenios

 

[NewCreation435]

Repenting is a struggle...

An ongoing struggle against sin in one's own soul...

It is never finished in this life...

Because there are always challenges to it...

Which is why the Gospel proclaims:

"Be ye repenting..."

Ongoing present tense...

As a way of life...

Always poised against sin...

And those succeeding can help others...

Directly in prayer, or by overcoming a sin someone else is not doing well with...

For them...

Doing an act of penance FOR someone else is very Orthodox...

Arsenios

Of what benefit would it be to do penance for someone else?

 

[Arsenios]

Of what benefit would it be to do penance for someone else?

Depends on circumstances...

We had one Russian woman whose young husband died in an accident prior to taking up his repentance... He was a soldier... She put on his soldier's coat and entered into a men's monastery as if she were him, and entered into a life as an ascetic for the sake of his unrepented sins... And won his Salvation for him, and came out of the monastery a living Saint, who then lived her life as an ascetic "Food for Christ" on the Streets of St. Petersburg, doing all manner of miracles, and especially those of prophetic insight... I may have details wrong, but if you are interested, her name is Saint Xenia...

It is good for YOU to repent for another, because it is selfless to do so...

And IF you repent for another, who is still alive, that person will get better with his or her sins...

If you do not believe me, I do not blame you, and I challenge you to DO the following:

You can either love or else not even like the person you are repenting for...

Take someone you know pretty well,

Whom you see all the time...

And begin the following:

Pray for him or her every night and every morning for 10 minutes...

And fast from, say, meat or dairy for a month for that person...

Keep what you do a total secret...

Tell no one at all, or maybe only your pastor...

Watch what happens to you...

And watch what happens to the person you know well...

And you will not need to argue about it with anyone...

And you will know first hand the benefits of repenting for another...

Thank-you for asking...

Arsenios

 

[Lamb]

Depends on circumstances...

We had one Russian woman whose young husband died in an accident prior to taking up his repentance... He was a soldier... She put on his soldier's coat and entered into a men's monastery as if she were him, and entered into a life as an ascetic for the sake of his unrepented sins... And won his Salvation for him, and came out of the monastery a living Saint, who then lived her life as an ascetic "Food for Christ" on the Streets of St. Petersburg, doing all manner of miracles, and especially those of prophetic insight... I may have details wrong, but if you are interested, her name is Saint Xenia...

It is good for YOU to repent for another, because it is selfless to do so...

And IF you repent for another, who is still alive, that person will get better with his or her sins...

If you do not believe me, I do not blame you, and I challenge you to DO the following:

You can either love or else not even like the person you are repenting for...

Take someone you know pretty well,

Whom you see all the time...

And begin the following:

Pray for him or her every night and every morning for 10 minutes...

And fast from, say, meat or dairy for a month for that person...

Keep what you do a total secret...

Tell no one at all, or maybe only your pastor...

Watch what happens to you...

And watch what happens to the person you know well...

And you will not need to argue about it with anyone...

And you will know first hand the benefits of repenting for another...

Thank-you for asking...

Arsenios

Could you start a new thread on this topic in Christian Theology? It's new to the forum and can't be hashed out here in this Bible Study section. Thanks.

 

[Michael]

Just to get us back on track here...

Here's a brief (5 minute) look at the definition of Repentance as the Bible uses it; and what Jesus, the Apostles and Prophets meant when they admonished God's people to "Repent."

God's Wisdom & Understanding to all,
Michael

https://youtu.be/jhJ0UXo1rx8

 

[Michael]

REPENTANCE (part 4)

"Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of My God.
Remember, therefor, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent."
-Rev 3:2-3

This Word is for us today in the churches. We've understood remorse, and may even have progressed into the confession of our sins. Now is the time to actually "turn away" from sin and heed the Master's command to "stop sinning", lest we are found wanting in that Day. May we have "ears to hear what the Spirit is saying."

Wrapping up (for now) our study of Biblical Repentance.

Peace & Blessings to all who walk with Jesus,
Michael

https://youtu.be/zVu4u54-GvM

 

[Michael]

Another old time saint whose video here confirms again what the Lord has shown me and led me to share in my Repentance series.

https://youtu.be/qJfpqwcAVq0

 

[popsthebuilder]

"Repentance is the relinquishment of any practice, from conviction that it has offended God."
- Webster (1828 Dictionary)


"Repentance" today has been largely reduced to 'feeling bad' or 'changing our mind' about the way God views our continued sin. And we see the results in our society and churches today due to such poor understanding of True Biblical Repentance: which is an actual "turning away" from sin, and "ceasing" from doing those things which we know displease God.

Continuing in our study of Repentance as the Scripture teaches this vital, necessary part of our salvation.

God's wisdom & understanding to us all,
Michael


https://youtu.be/vBpcQnWbIFM

Was gonna say repentance is to stop and or turn from a thing / turning towards and walking after the things of GOD in one's life wm life.....but you pretty much seem to have it covered

Sent from my moto g(7) supra using Tapatalk

 

[popsthebuilder]

Repenting is a struggle...

An ongoing struggle against sin in one's own soul...

It is never finished in this life...

Because there are always challenges to it...

Which is why the Gospel proclaims:

"Be ye repenting..."

Ongoing present tense...

As a way of life...

Always poised against sin...

And those succeeding can help others...

Directly in prayer, or by overcoming a sin someone else is not doing well with...

For them...

Doing an act of penance FOR someone else is very Orthodox...

Arsenios

I don't understand how one would repent for the doings or words of another

Sent from my moto g(7) supra using Tapatalk

 

[Andrew]

Repenting is a struggle...

An ongoing struggle against sin in one's own soul...

It is never finished in this life...

Because there are always challenges to it...

Which is why the Gospel proclaims:

"Be ye repenting..."

Ongoing present tense...

As a way of life...

Always poised against sin...

And those succeeding can help others...

Directly in prayer, or by overcoming a sin someone else is not doing well with...

For them...

Doing an act of penance FOR someone else is very Orthodox...

Arsenios

Could you explain what an act of penance for someone is? I never understood it, the Catholic church would give you a prayer recital to repeat over and over, I always thought as a kid that it was like a "time out" punishment or like a teacher telling me to write something over and over again for acting up in class.

 

[Michael]

I don't understand how one would repent for the doings or words of another

Sent from my moto g(7) supra using Tapatalk

Not sure how Arsenios might answer, but my belief is that one must repent personally (turning away from their sins and begin walking in the Way) if they are to enter into the promises of God. And this is True, whether we've been "saved" or not.

The only example perhaps of "doing penance for another" that comes to mind is Daniel's intercessory prayer in Daniel 9 -

"Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. 4 And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, 5 we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments. 6 Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the land. 7 O Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but to us shame of face, as it is this day—to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those near and those far off in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of the unfaithfulness which they have committed against You.

8 “O Lord, to us belongs shame of face, to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. 9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him. 10 We have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His laws, which He set before us by His servants the prophets. 11 Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law, and has departed so as not to obey Your voice; therefore the curse and the oath written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against Him. 12 And He has confirmed His words, which He spoke against us and against our judges who judged us, by bringing upon us a great disaster; for under the whole heaven such has never been done as what has been done to Jerusalem.

13 “As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us; yet we have not made our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand Your truth. 14 Therefore the Lord has kept the disaster in mind, and brought it upon us; for the Lord our God is righteous in all the works which He does, though we have not obeyed His voice. 15 And now, O Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and made Yourself a name, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have done wickedly!

16 “O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all those around us. 17 Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake [a]cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies. 19 O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.” - Dan 9:3-18


Now indeed God did show mercy toward His people, yet each individual would still need to personally repent to enter into the promises of God.
And the same is True today. God has had mercy on us and given us "all things that pertain to Life and Godliness" (2Pet 1:3). Question is... will we turn from going our own way and diligently "add to our faith" the things the Apostle (by the Spirit) instructs (and yes, they are only proven by "works"!), if we are to "make our call and Election sure." (2Pet 1:10)

God's Wisdom and Understanding to all.