Paula Fether Lifelong student of the scriptures

The Greek word simply means to change one's mind (https://tritheos.com/repent-repentance-3-bible-dictionaries-lexicons/). Context in each case tells us what the change of mind is for.

At Pentecost, Peter exhorted the Israelites to move from rejection to acceptance of Jesus as Messiah (Acts 2:38). In Mat. 3:2 John the Baptist told them to accept that the kingdom of God was near. Though it never says to repent "from your sins", it is likely the implication, as seems clear in many contexts.

As for what God promises, again it depends on the context. Israel was promised right standing with God and the material blessings this would bring, but once Jesus arose the promise is of eternal life by accepting this Jesus as Savior (e.g. 1 Tim. 4:10). 

What scripture does *not* say is that one must confess all sins *in order to be saved*. But certainly we must turn from them afterwards, out of love and gratitude for God.

May 28 2023 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

One of the words for repentance is used to express the spiritual transition from sin to God (Acts 9:35; 1 Thessalonians 1:9). It is turning from something to something, specifically from sin to the Savior, God. 

Both non-Christians and Christians need to repent. For non-Christians, the verses that say that they should repent include Mark 1:15, "The time has come He said. 'The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!'"

Also, see Mark 6:12, "They [the Twelve disciples] went out and preached that people should repent."

Christians need to repent, too:

One of my Bible memory verses talks about there being "a type of grief that issues in repentance and another which plunges into remorse. There is a godly sorrow and also a sorrow of the world. The former brings life; the latter, death (Matthew 27:3; Luke 18:23; 2 Corinthians 7:9,10)." --Byron H. Dement

2 Corinthians 7:10 is that verse. 

It was a bright Sunday morning in 28th century London, but Robert Robinson’s mood was anything but sunny. All along the street there were people hurrying to church, but in the midst of the crowd Robinson was a lonely man. The sound of church bells reminded him of years past when his faith in God was strong and the church was an integral part of his life. It had been years since he set foot in a church—years of wandering, disillusionment, and gradual defection from the God he once loved. That love for God—once fiery and passionate—had slowly burned out within him, leaving him dark and cold inside.

Robinson heard the clip-clop, clip-clop of a horse-drawn cab approaching behind him. Turning, he lifted his hand to hail the driver. But then he saw that the cab was occupied by a young woman dressed in finery for the Lord’s Day. He waved the driver on, but the woman in the carriage ordered the carriage to be stopped.

“Sir, I’d be happy to share this carriage with you,” she said to Robinson. “Are you going to church?” Robinson was about to decline, then he paused. “Yes,” he said at last. “I am going to church.” He stepped into the carriage and sat down beside the young woman.

As the carriage rolled forward Robert Robinson and the woman exchanged introductions. There was a flash of recognition in her eyes when he stated his name. “That’s an interesting coincidence,” she said, reaching into her purse. She withdrew a small book of inspirational verse, opened it to a ribbon-bookmark, and handed the book to him. “I was just reading a verse by a poet named Robert Robinson. Could it be…?”

He took the book, nodding. “Yes, I wrote these words years ago.”

“Oh, how wonderful!” she exclaimed. “Imagine! I’m sharing a carriage with the author of these very lines!”

But Robinson barely heard her. He was absorbed in the words he was reading. They were words that would one day be set to music and become a great hymn of the faith, familiar to generations of Christians:

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace’
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.

His eyes slipped to the bottom of the page where he read:

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it—
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

He could barely read the last few lines through the tears that brimmed in his eyes. “I wrote these words—and I’ve lived these words. ‘Prone to wander…prone to leave the God I love.’”

The woman suddenly understood. “You also wrote, ‘Here’s my heart, O take and seal it.’ You can offer your heart again to God, Mr. Robinson. It’s not too late.”

And it wasn’t too late for Robert Robinson. In that moment he turned his heart back to God and walked with him the rest of his days.

"Prone to Wander" --bible.org

May 28 2023 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report