Repentance Without Change Is Not Repentance

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   Precious Pearlposted 14 years ago

   I have been visiting the threads lately and noticed that there has been a lot of "Let's apologize to ..." The heart of the people posting the thread I believe is sincere.  They desire to see people showing respect for one another and our right to share what we believe no matter what it may be.    I am greatly appreciative of that heart and I strongly agree that if we offend or hurt someone with our words, we should apologize if we really mean it.
   
   Here in lies the problem,if in the apologizing it leads to more of the same type of insulting, belittling behavior then we may as well not bother to say anything.  Repentance no matter what your faith may be without change means absolutely nothing.  To repent or apologize to someone without doing something differently to show that you are sincere in that apology completely negates the apology.  If I say I am sorry for offending a person or hurting them in some way and then continue repeating the same behavior either with them or someone else, am I truly repentant or just feeling remorse for the moment?
   
   Just a thought ... tell me what you think.

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      yolanda yvetteposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I think you are right on, and I need add nothing more to what you have said.

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      thetruthhurts2009posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Amen!

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   william.m.posted 14 years ago

   Very true . Repentance is not just apologising  for sin , but a turning away from sin-"-with grief and hatred of his sin , and turn from it unto God , with full purpose of,- and endeavour after new obedience."

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      Precious Pearlposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Amen!!

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   mandybeau1posted 14 years ago

   Gosh we are all so serious.

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      BadCoposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Not all

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   ralwusposted 14 years ago

   There ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them through these forums.

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      Precious Pearlposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      True enough.

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   JulietduPreezposted 14 years ago

   Good point
   I've always wondered about "confession" and whether it is just a way of feeling better and doing nothing about it.

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      Precious Pearlposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Exactly my point.  Thanks!

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   Sanctus Vesaniaposted 14 years ago

   Several here have the idea that repentance means to completely turn away from something.  While this is somewhat true, here is the definition of repent as according to Strong's Concordance.
   
   1) to change one's mind, i.e. to repent
   
   2) to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins

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      quietnessandtrustposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      When one has really changed their mind, they do NOT act the same.
      Repentance needs evidence.
      
      That is why it says to "bring forth the good deeds of repentance".....
      show your works to back it up.

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         Sanctus Vesaniaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Want a good example?  A person has a sinful desire, let's say that he tends to steal a lot.  Now that man could stop stealing, but unless he changes his mind (from "Stealing is alright" to "stealing is wrong") then he hasn't repented.
         
         That's the problem with so many Christians, they say that repent is to stop doing, when it's really change your mind.
         
         Once a person has changed their mind, then they can easily turn from sin.
         
         (But, it is not the person who changes his/her mind, but God who unlifts the veil.)

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            quietnessandtrustposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            The evidence of a changed mind and true repenting is what you do.
            Like the scripture where Messiah told a story about 2 men and 1 said he would not do as he was told but went and did it, then the man who said he would do as he was told but did not........the real change came in the one who did something, the other was words that sounded good.

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               Precious Pearlposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               This is one of my favorite examples in the Bible.

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         pacwriterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         confession without repentance is nothing more than sorrow
         
         to repent requires commitment

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            Precious Pearlposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Exactly!!  Sorry I have been out of the net.

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   Williamjordanposted 14 years ago

   Thanks for your Christian boldness we must learn the turn part of repentance at least I need to,I used to believe once saved always saved untill God delievered me from my crack habit and how the more I cry out about the sin in my life God removes it and it dosent return I have to face new ones, it awesome when you are free from something and it dosen't continue to dog you. God really cleans us.

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      Precious Pearlposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      No, thank you ... I appreciate your comments.  Blessings to you and I praise Him for your deliverance.

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