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What Is Biblical Repentance?
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Apr 6, 2009 5:21 am
Mood: sealed & delivered,
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What Is Biblical Repentance?
Biblical repentance is repenting and believing in Jesus atoning work on the cross for salvation NOT your own work.
Acts11:18
When they heard these things they held their peace and glorified God saying,"Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life".
The Bible does not call this a repentance from sins but a repentance unto life which can only be found in Jesus Christ.The Word of God does not teach that we must give up our sins to be saved.If this were true no one could be saved because we are all sinners incapable of ceasing to sin.As we are saved and listen to the Holy Spirit of God He will convict us of sin but are by no means perfect but are being perfected.
There is a misunderstanding about repentance circulating in some churches today & even here on the blogs.Biblical repentance is turning to Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins.It is a change of mind.
Mark1:15
The time is fulfilled,and the kingdom of God is at hand;repent ye,and believe the Gospel.Repentance leads to believing the Gospel.No mention is made of forsaking our sins.
So do Christians have a license to sin?Of course not.But that is another point we will get to later.
The only thing we need to repent of is our unbelief.Do we have to realize our sinful condition to be saved?Of course we do!If we didn't realize it why would we think we were in need of a Saviour then.We don't give up our sins to become a christian rather we forsake our sins because we know are Christians.
The repentance unto salvation is a`one time repentance but the repentance from sins has no limit.Just as a person cannot be unborn physically,neither can we be unborn spiritually.Once we are truly saved,we are always saved!To teach otherwise is to add works to faith alone and corrupt the simplicity that is in Christ.{2Corinthians11:3,4}
Once a person is saved they begin to grow in grace by feeding on the truth of Gods Word{1Peter2:2}Gods Holy Spirit works in that persons heart and only then do we see the fruit of genuine repentance.A changed life is the FRUIT of genuine repentance and NOt a prerequisite to salvation or a part of saving faith.
Proponents of Lordship Salvation place the cart before the horse
and have it all backwards.The change comes as a result of true
repentance;not as a means to it.
In Mark1:4
John the Baptist speaks of"repentance for the remission of sins;"
NOT"repentance of sins."
Acts20:21 reads:
Testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks,repentance
toward God,and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.Notice that Biblical repentance is toward God.
Acts11:21
And the hand of the Lord was with them;and a great number believed,and turned unto the Lord.
This is Biblical repentance ,turning to the Lord.To turn toward Jesus Christ in faith for salvation,is to turn ones back against sin even though the person may not be able to forsake all sin at the time of salvation.
Repentance is the regocgnition of my sinship-the owning before God that I am as vile as He has declared me to be in His Holy Word.
This is vastly different than ceasing from ones sin to be saved,
which is a false gospel.This is why we need a Saviour.
Repentance and faith are inseparable.You don't repent & then have faith the two go hand in hand.
The internet is plagued with heretics who teach that a person must forsake their sinful life to be saved.
2Corinthians5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ,he is a new creature old things are passed away;behold,all things are become new.
A man does not become a new creature until AFTER he is in Christ{saved}.The change comes AFTER a person is saved,NOT before,but
AFTER.If a person claims to be a Christian but continues to lead a wicked life,then one would sincerely doubt that persons salvation as well.However I am not going to start teaching damnable heresy by saying that sinners must forsake their sins to be saved.
salvation comes by childlike faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,nothing may be added.
Once a man becomes a new creature in Christ,then he begins to change by the power of Gods spirit in Him.
by David J.Stewart
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Was John,Jesus"Beloved"Disciple"?
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Apr 6, 2009 3:43 am
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Was John,Jesus"Beloved"Disciple"?
I know that I have always heard and been taught that Jesus beloved disciple was John but as I have been reading more of the Bible it doesn't really say who the beloved disciple is but it is implied to some degree.
According to the Gospel of John,the beloved disciple was the one who leaned on Jesus during the Last supper and the only male disciple present at the crucifixion.But His name is never given.
In the other 3 Gospels the name"beloved disciple"is never mentioned and they don't say anything about him leaning on Jesus or being present at the crucifixion of Christ either.
According to the early church{but not too early}John,the son of Zebedee,the brother of James,was him.And John is identified as the actual author of the Gospel of John according to the church.
We know that He was a man & that Mary went to live with him after Jesus death.In Acts1:14 it says that she was part of the early community of believers,known as the Nazarenes,who lived in Jerusalem at that time so the beloved disciple most likely lived in or near Jerusalem too.
The Gospel of John gives a detailed description of Jesus interrogation by the Jewish leaders & Pilate and it sounds like firsthand knowledge although one can not be totally sure.Also as he stood by the cross of Jesus & none of the other disciples did as far as we know evidently he wasn't afraid of being arrested or most likely he had more courage and total trust and love in Jesus than the rest.
As Jesus had secret disciples such as Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus that also lived in Jerusalem I'm sure He had others as well.So just who is the disciple that Jesus loved?
The church has always identified him from the second century on as John Zebedee.Some think Lazarus could be the beloved disciple and they base that on John11:1-3 which says that as Lazarus lay sick,his sisters{Mary & Martha}sent a message to Jesus which said,"Lord,the one you love is sick".
Also in John11:5 and John11:36 it is stated that "Jesus loved Lazarus."
But John never mentions Lazarus by name again after chapter 12.
So I'm not so sure about that.
Also I was trying to figure out if John was Jesus cousin?
John was one of the first disciples called;He witnessed the miracle Christ had over death at the house of Jarius;Jesus took him to the mount of the transfiguration.He was in the garden of Gethsemane;He beheld Jesus glory & majesty.He initially started out as a "Son of Thunder" but later became quite humble and filled with humility .He was peaceful and happy in the Lords presence.He displayed a disposition totally different from his natural one and was quite blessed as being insightful into Christs agape love for him & others.
And in John 21:24 John states:
This is the disciple which testifies of these things and wrote these things and we know that his testimony is true.
So I think John was the beloved disciple after all.
Does anyone have any insight into this?
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What Does True Repentance Entail?
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Apr 6, 2009 1:40 am
596 Views
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True Repentance?
Gods Word tells us that by repenting and believing in Christ we will be saved and also that the Holy Spirit will dwell inside us at that moment of salvation and forevermore.
So why is it that 50% of people who say they believed on Jesus have turned their backs on Him?Is it because He is not faithful to uphold us as the Bible states?God forbid!No!
No,perhaps it is because people have not truly repented of their sins.Belief and repentance go hand in hand.
Repentance means you fully realize what a sinner you truly are,the depth of your depravity and that and without Jesus to save you,you are fully doomed & can't save yourself.
If one is truly saved the Holy Spirit will move in you & convict you and He{the spirit of God}will guide your steps forevermore.
2Corinthians7:10
For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation.
Godly sorrow is what causes this repentance to occur and once the Holy Spirit moves in you He will illuminate your mind & heart of your sinful nature so you have the conviction and the power to change.
God commands that we repent:
Acts17:30
Truly these times of ignorance God overlooked,but now commands all men everywhere to repent.
Acts3:19
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.
Luke13:5
I tell you,No;but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
Mark2:17
Those who are well have no need of a physician,but those who are sick.I did not come to call the righteous,but sinners,to repentance.
So in order to be truly saved and converted one needs to be truly repentant with godly sorrow not worldly sorrow.
Romans2:4
The goodness of God leads you to repentance.
So God is causing a godly sorrow to be in us so we can see what sinners we truly are.At the same time He is showing us His goodness.He also shows us a way out of our sinful state and nature by the blood of Jesus shed on the cross.
Once one realizes how good,merciful and loving God and Jesus really are one can never walk away from their salvation as God is faithful to complete a good work in you.
Psalm51:2
Have mercy upon me,Oh God,according to thy lovingkindness;according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity,and cleanse me from my sin.
Mark1:15
The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand:Repent ye,and believe the Gospel.
John3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,that whosoever believeth in Him,should not perish but have everlasting life.
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