Yes, very true. Like Adam, even though God lets us know the danger, we are free to choose. But the closer our walk with Him the less evil can encircle and entrap us.
Is repentance needed for salvation?
- Thread starter Hobie
- Start date
Repentance is absolutely necessary for salvation. Without repentance, there is no salvation.
2 Corinthians 7:10
"For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death".
I STILL would like to know who these people are??
I simply cannot understand the dilemma of salvation that so many want to make it into.
Most of the time when someone is in a very dark place = done with life... and OPEN to the possibility of a SAVIOUR....
RAW words are spoken.... a CRY for help comes from the sinner and JESUS in HIS MERCY and GRACE SAVES that soul
because they cried out to JESUS.
Repentance is a FRUIT that comes from LOVING GOD. PEOPLE who FIRST cry out to be saved often don't even understand the things they need to repent for.
I am so GLAD that JESUS cuts through all this red tape that us HUMANS like to wrap around SALVATION... and other biblical topics.
It's EASY.... COME to JESUS... HE will SAVE YOU if you ASK HIM... and HE will CLEAN YOU.
I simply cannot understand the dilemma of salvation that so many want to make it into.
Most of the time when someone is in a very dark place = done with life... and OPEN to the possibility of a SAVIOUR....
RAW words are spoken.... a CRY for help comes from the sinner and JESUS in HIS MERCY and GRACE SAVES that soul
because they cried out to JESUS.
Repentance is a FRUIT that comes from LOVING GOD. PEOPLE who FIRST cry out to be saved often don't even understand the things they need to repent for.
I am so GLAD that JESUS cuts through all this red tape that us HUMANS like to wrap around SALVATION... and other biblical topics.
It's EASY.... COME to JESUS... HE will SAVE YOU if you ASK HIM... and HE will CLEAN YOU.
The word repentance in the Bible literally means “the act of changing one’s mind.” True biblical repentance goes beyond remorse, regret, or feeling bad about one’s sin. It involves more than merely turning away from sin. Eerdmans Bible Dictionary includes this definition of repentance: “In its fullest sense it is a term for a complete change of orientation involving a judgment upon the past and a deliberate redirection for the future.” (from gotquestions.org, which I wouldn't ordinarily use as a source, but it seems spot on).
Repentance is an act of changing one's mind, and going in another direction (Jesus, please come into my heart and take over my life. I'm through doing it my way and I want to do it Your way). This is essential for salvation.
I know where you're coming from. I've heard some state that there are certain things that you have to say or do in order to be saved. My understanding of scripture as far as salvation is as follows:
1/ A person has to realize that they are lost without Christ and can't save themselves. They have to realize they are a sinner.
2/ Exactly what level of understanding a person needs to know about Christ's atoning death I'm not sure. But they need to know WHO is saving them.
3/ They have to wholeheartedly repent (turning FROM sin and turning TO God. This also involves sorrow for past sin).
I don't believe any two people are saved exactly the same though. God looks at the heart and He is the ultimate judge.
Repentance is an act of changing one's mind, and going in another direction (Jesus, please come into my heart and take over my life. I'm through doing it my way and I want to do it Your way). This is essential for salvation.
I know where you're coming from. I've heard some state that there are certain things that you have to say or do in order to be saved. My understanding of scripture as far as salvation is as follows:
1/ A person has to realize that they are lost without Christ and can't save themselves. They have to realize they are a sinner.
2/ Exactly what level of understanding a person needs to know about Christ's atoning death I'm not sure. But they need to know WHO is saving them.
3/ They have to wholeheartedly repent (turning FROM sin and turning TO God. This also involves sorrow for past sin).
I don't believe any two people are saved exactly the same though. God looks at the heart and He is the ultimate judge.
This is the MOST BEAUTIFUL explanation of repentance that I have EVER heard. THIS I am able to DIGEST.
I appreciate that, In Awe of Him. I can only speak from experience, it went down that way for me. Only difference was, I began by confessing any sin I could remember. I tried to remember every sin I ever committed! God must get a chuckle at us sometimes but the love He has for us when we pour out our heart to Him is immeasurable.
Good morning, drequeen;
Thank you for sharing an excellent post, brother, and emphasizing what you shared based on your life experience. It's a blessing when we do make mistakes but learn from them while going forward in our daily faith walk.
What threw me off was the avatar,
as if he was laughing at what you posted. lol! 
(just kidding!)God bless you, drequeen.
Bob
Jesus says not all who call themselves his followers will be saved. How can one know he isn't talking to one's self? It seems mighty arrogant to assume salvation.
Well, here us one of the better known ones who claimed to be a follower, and was given many a chance by Christ, but who never repented for his love for money..
John 12:4-6
4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
Here's my reasoning:
If you say you follow Christ yet are not saved, will you accept his judgement? If you will, then you are saved and won't need to find out, but if being sent to hell makes you want to cry "foul" then you aren't and need to correct your position.
In other words, God is always good and if he won't save you, that's by definition good. If you have a problem with that, you reinforce God's wisdom, but if you accept his choice, even upon your own damnation, then you'll likely be saved.
The result. True repentance brings about a 'peace that passes all understanding'. Impossible to misinterpret, in my opinion.
I'm not sure if I've heard Christians saying no repentance is necessary to be saved, and no change of life is necessary to be justified by faith in Christ. Is that universalism? I mean, doesn't even the new age movement speak of living differently after conversion.
In any case, repentance certainly is with faith in Jesus Christ. Just by grammar alone, it's always mentioned first with faith and conversion:
Mark{1:15} The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Acts 3:19Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
2 Cor 7:10For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of:
We certainly can't believe the gospel and be saved without repentance.
Heb {6:1} Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
The first principle of Christ is repenting from dead works and having faith toward God. They are both together, and one is not without the other.
Ezek 18:31Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Jerem 3:10And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.
The repentance commanded by God is also from any and all dead works, not just some of them.
Rom 10:9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
And finally repentance and faith toward God for salvation must be from the heart:
Mat 23:25Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess…Cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Mat 5:28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Personally, I haven't heard anyone state that no life change will come. I mean, even the police sometimes write off a past convict for surveillance, because they have 'gone Christian'.
Perhaps, some Christians say there doesn't need to be any life change to be saved? And yet, even they acknowledge there will be change for the good.
Well, there are people who confess Christ solely for earthly gain. Such as politics, social standing, financial reward...
How many conversion to Christ were from the heart, when Constantine made Christianity the state religion of Rome? How many confessed Christ in Christendom, just to be approved in public affairs?
In America, there are still places where you can't be elected, without being a known member of a local church. I'm not saying that's at all bad, but it certainly does tend to make confessing Christ all the more 'sweeter'?