Repent First or Not?

[Rollo Tamasi]

Are we to repent of our sins and then give our hearts to Jesus?
Or are we to give our hearts to Jesus and then, through the power of the Holy Spirit, he will help us overcome our sins?
Or is repent simply mean, stop looking at the world and look towards the Kingdom of God?
Are there two meanings to repent?
Do we, as humans, really have the power to change our sinful lives without the power of the Holy Spirit in us?
What is the Bible actually saying?

 

[Willie T]

CLICK HERE for one of the best explanations of the word, "repent" that I have read.

 

[JLB]

Repent as used in ancient times when an army went out to overthrow another kingdom.


The leader of the army or the king himself would have his army surround the capital city, letting nothing out or in.

He would then announce the unconditional terms of surrender, which would sound something like this -

"Turn away from the king of Babylon for the kingdom of Persia is at hand, or your will perish".

This meant that whoever turned away from serving the king of Babylon and his kingdom and came and served the king of Persia would be spared.

However this usually meant a life of slavery to that kingdom.

The terms of unconditional surrender was called the "gospel" of that kingdom.


The "good news" [of the kingdom of God] is that when we repent and turn away from serving the dominion of darkness, ruled by Satan, we now have the right to become sons of God, not just slaves without any inheritance.


JLB

 

[reba]

So one repents form this list of sins.... A-Z then gives his heart to the Lord..

Oops ! i forgot sins 1-10 so do have to start over... ?

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

So one repents form this list of sins.... A-Z then gives his heart to the Lord..

Oops ! i forgot sins 1-10 so do have to start over... ?

Let's start with your sins Reba.

 

[reba]

the longest thread ever

 

[Gary]

Are we to repent of our sins and then give our hearts to Jesus?
Or are we to give our hearts to Jesus and then, through the power of the Holy Spirit, he will help us overcome our sins?
Or is repent simply mean, stop looking at the world and look towards the Kingdom of God?
Are there two meanings to repent?
Do we, as humans, really have the power to change our sinful lives without the power of the Holy Spirit in us?
What is the Bible actually saying?

Repentance comes first. Giving ones heart to Jesus before repenting of ones sins accomplishes nothing.

Acts 3
19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

Acts 2
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Luke 13
1 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things?
3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?
5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

Matthew 3
1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

Repentance comes first. Giving ones heart to Jesus before repenting of ones sins accomplishes nothing.

Acts 3
19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

Acts 2
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Luke 13
1 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things?
3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?
5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

Matthew 3
1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

.

Yes, I agree, but what is your definition of repent?
That's the question here.

 

[Gary]

Yes, I agree, but what is your definition of repent?
That's the question here.

Heartfelt feelings of regret or remorse for past wrongdoings or sins.
.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

Heartfelt feelings of regret or remorse for past wrongdoings or sins.
.

Thank you Gary.
Now Willie T. posted "click here" in post #2 discussing exactly that.
I always thought that was true until someone one day told me to "think outside the box".
I did, and came to a different conclusion.

Repent basically means to change your point of view.
Stop looking at the world and start looking at God.

In my Southern Baptist days, repent meant to turn away from your sins and then turn to Jesus.
This interpretation is prevalent I believe.
When a Pastor says from the pulpit, "repent of your sins and give your heart to Jesus", I think he has it backwards.

But before I conclude that I am right, I wanted to hear what others have to say.
I am willing to "think outside the box".

 

[Gary]

Repent basically means to change your point of view.
Stop looking at the world and start looking at God.

If ones repentance is true, your definition happens automatically.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

If ones repentance is true, your definition happens automatically.

I consider that a very evasive reply.
Could you be more definite?

 

[Gary]

I consider that a very evasive reply.
Could you be more definite?

Yes. :yes

 

[Willie T]

Gary, I think you have it..... but maybe reversed a bit. If you have changed your mind, and started looking to God, THEN you have repented.

 

[Gary]

It's all good.

 

[Willie T]

Admittedly, in a lot of cases, I guess it could all come so much at the same time as to not really be distinguishable as to be one before the other.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

Admittedly, in a lot of cases, I guess it could all come so much at the same time as to not really be distinguishable as to be one before the other.

The thing that I disagree with is saying that one must repent of their sins first.
How can anyone do that?

 

[Gary]

The thing that I disagree with is saying that one must repent of their sins first.
How can anyone do that?

Anyone can feel remorse. A belief in God isn't necessary to have regrets or feel remorseful.

 

[Deborah13]

Thank you Gary.
Now Willie T. posted "click here" in post #2 discussing exactly that.
I always thought that was true until someone one day told me to "think outside the box".
I did, and came to a different conclusion.

Repent basically means to change your point of view.
Stop looking at the world and start looking at God.

In my Southern Baptist days, repent meant to turn away from your sins and then turn to Jesus.
This interpretation is prevalent I believe.
When a Pastor says from the pulpit, "repent of your sins and give your heart to Jesus", I think he has it backwards.

But before I conclude that I am right, I wanted to hear what others have to say.
I am willing to "think outside the box".

It seems to me that when one hears the gospel message, they repent (change their mind) "I need a Redeemer", and they start talking to Jesus. I don't think God needs any long winded forgive me Lords. He knows what is in one's heart.
The fellow on the cross just asked Jesus to remember him. And the angels rejoiced!

 

[Deborah13]

The thing that I disagree with is saying that one must repent of their sins first.
How can anyone do that?

How and why?
People who don't believe that Jesus is the Redeemer pray to God and ask Him to forgive their sins. Jews. So I think it's fair to say that there are many people who know they have sinned but they don't know about or don't believe in Jesus.
Joh 16:9 concerning sin indeed, because they do not believe in me;
The sin is not believing in Him.
Repent and believe.
Change your mind and believe.