What does it mean to repent?

[jlay]

Jesus said "Unless you repent ye shall likewise perish" What did Jesus mean when he said this? Did this mean a change in behavior? To ask forgiveness of past bad behaviors? Or something else. Is this something that applies only to the people he was talking to or is this something that everyone must do?

Ken

Kenny,

Specifically regarding your question, and the meaning of repent, Jesus was talking about a change of mind. Not about feeling sorry or changing behavior to live a certain way. I think the response in the link I posted explains that pretty well.

Repent and believe in Christ, simply means change your mind about who Christ is and what He has done, and trust Him for salvation.

Again; how about those who do not need to change their mind about who Christ is and what he has done because of their Christian upbringing? Is it fair to say they have no need to repent?

We all need to repent. I was in this situation, raised Christian, going to church, Sunday-school, and I believed, I have always believed and known the message of Christ. But I was lost, lost in the world and lost in my sin. I was making wrong choices left, right and center and my sins were many and varied, I still sin, but I am no longer in bondage to them.
I didn't fall to my knees and ask God to forgive me, because of guilt, I did it because without My Father firmly in my heart and center of my spirit, I am stumbling. God didn't lift me up because I had realised my sinful ways, had seen I was a 'bad' girl that needed repentance, but because when I was hurting so was Jesus. He does not want to see one of His own, burdened , troubled and lost in the world. He brings us to Him not so we can see how wicked we are, but so we can find peace and love in His presence.
The repentance I have now is so that I stay firmly in Gods love not lost in the world.

So when you repent now, what exactly do you do? Do you attempt a change in behavior? Do you ask God to forgive you for the sins you may have committed? What do you do?

Ken

Kenny, Good questions. If you really want to invest in a study of this word, I would recommend, http://www.cocoris.com/Topical%20Pages/ ... %20PDF.pdf
This will provide a thorough examination of the word and what we are to do with it.

Regarding your OP, context, context, context. repentance has to do with our mindset. The way we think. For example, just read the context of the verse you provided and see if it mentions anything about thinking. Jesus said, unless you repent, you shall likewise perish. Here is the context. 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." (Luke 3:2,3)
The word highlighted here is from the Greek Dokeo, which means, 'think.' Many are guilty of taking v. 3 out of context and then applying an incorrect definition of the term 'repent' (metanoia) and thus preaching a false Gospel. The context reveals that Jesus was in fact challenging their twisted thinking.
A modern way might read. Do you think those Galileans were worse than others because of the troubles they suffered? Well, you need check your thinking. All this wrong thinking is going to cause you to suffer the same fate.
What repent doesn't mean.
-Stop sinning
-Forsake your sin
-reform your life

Examples:
"I think people can go to heaven by just trying to be good people."
You need to repent.
"Jesus taught some very good things, but I don't believe he died and rose from the dead. I refuse to believe that."
You need to repent.
"Nick Saban is good for college football."
You need to repent.
"I think to be saved you must turn from and forsake your sins and commit to following Jesus."
You need to repent.

[1over137]

Jlay,

But it means reforming our thinking, right?

If I sin by following my goals, by being proud, by boasting, not having in mind God's intentions, I need to reform my thinking, right? I need to reform my thinking in a way to give credit to God, to give thanks to Him, to boast in Him and not in me.

[jlay]

Jlay,

But it means reforming our thinking, right?

If I sin by following my goals, by being proud, by boasting, not having in mind God's intentions, I need to reform my thinking, right? I need to reform my thinking in a way to give credit to God, to give thanks to Him, to boast in Him and not in me.

I guess you could say something to that effect. Wrong thinking is really the center of all rebellion and sin. Our actions and behaviors ultimately flow out of our thoughts. Paul says it this way, Be not conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2 A renewed mind can test and approve the will of God. "Let this mind that is in Christ be in you."

[Kenny]

So if I understand you guys correctly, repenting is something Christians do on a regular basis when they mess up; by asking God to forgive them and attempting to do better next time. Is that correct?

Ken

[Lonewolf]

Once upon a time I thought of repent as a change of mind., a turning away from doing the regular type of sinning., you know, lying, hating, bad mouthing, smoking, this and that., the same old preached about bad habits and not following the norm of good behavior., I thought of repenting as changing from bad to good., but who in this world can claim to be good? none of us are anywhere near being good., none!

We'd like to think that after we've gone through a redemption process, that we have indeed repented., but then we fall and fall again, time after a time we fall right back to a lot of what we used to be., we just feel a little bit better after the -so called- redemption fact., because we feel that we are now good and dandy ~> now that we have "repented"

and then., then we move on with our lives thinking that if we do this or that, that if we believe this way or that , that we will be alright, that we in fact have "repented"

but "repenting" is not the all of it

repenting is worthless without Christ redeeming you

so you can repent all you want, but without Christ, it is all in vain!

Just like any goody-two-shoes feeling you may have about yourself

..

Repent can be a change of mind, but it is useless for redemption

Redemption is from Christ Alone

and redemption means a New Life

You Living in Christ

and Christ Living in You

you can feel sorry about whatever the hell you feel sorry about ~> but it all means squat-diddly IF
you're not Living in Christ!

and Living in Christ is True Redemption

[Kenny]

Once upon a time I thought of repent as a change of mind., a turning away from doing the regular type of sinning., you know, lying, hating, bad mouthing, smoking, this and that., the same old preached about bad habits and not following the norm of good behavior., I thought of repenting as changing from bad to good., but who in this world can claim to be good? none of us are anywhere near being good., none!

We'd like to think that after we've gone through a redemption process, that we have indeed repented., but then we fall and fall again, time after a time we fall right back to a lot of what we used to be., we just feel a little bit better after the -so called- redemption fact., because we feel that we are now good and dandy ~> now that we have "repented"

and then., then we move on with our lives thinking that if we do this or that, that if we believe this way or that , that we will be alright, that we in fact have "repented"

but "repenting" is not the all of it

repenting is worthless without Christ redeeming you

so you can repent all you want, but without Christ, it is all in vain!

Just like any goody-two-shoes feeling you may have about yourself

..

Repent can be a change of mind, but it is useless for redemption

Redemption is from Christ Alone

and redemption means a New Life

You Living in Christ

and Christ Living in You

you can feel sorry about whatever the hell you feel sorry about ~> but it all means squat-diddly IF
you're not Living in Christ!

and Living in Christ is True Redemption

What does it mean to live in Christ?

Ken

[jlay]

So if I understand you guys correctly, repenting is something Christians do on a regular basis when they mess up; by asking God to forgive them and attempting to do better next time. Is that correct?

Ken

No. It doesn't matter what people think it means. What matters is what did the authors of the NT understand it to mean.

[jlay]

Once upon a time I thought of repent as a change of mind., a turning away from doing the regular type of sinning., you know, lying, hating, bad mouthing, smoking, this and that., the same old preached about bad habits and not following the norm of good behavior., I thought of repenting as changing from bad to good., but who in this world can claim to be good? none of us are anywhere near being good., none!

We'd like to think that after we've gone through a redemption process, that we have indeed repented., but then we fall and fall again, time after a time we fall right back to a lot of what we used to be., we just feel a little bit better after the -so called- redemption fact., because we feel that we are now good and dandy ~> now that we have "repented"

and then., then we move on with our lives thinking that if we do this or that, that if we believe this way or that , that we will be alright, that we in fact have "repented"

but "repenting" is not the all of it

repenting is worthless without Christ redeeming you

so you can repent all you want, but without Christ, it is all in vain!

Just like any goody-two-shoes feeling you may have about yourself

..

Repent can be a change of mind, but it is useless for redemption

Redemption is from Christ Alone

and redemption means a New Life

You Living in Christ

and Christ Living in You

you can feel sorry about whatever the hell you feel sorry about ~> but it all means squat-diddly IF
you're not Living in Christ!

and Living in Christ is True Redemption

What does it mean to live in Christ?

Ken

Ken, that is a great question. In fact I think one of the best questions you can ask is, "What do you mean by ____________?"
So yes, Lonewolf, I would also like to know, what do you mean by 'live in Christ?"

[Lonewolf]

To me, to live in Christ is to have Him always in your thoughts and actions. Every moment since you wake up and get up from your sleep, have Christ in your mind. To say a little prayer, to have a little thought, to think right and have that Good Spirit and go out into that world and be ready to act in Christ. To tolerate in His name., to give in His name., to be humble in His name., to perform one's duty in His name., to take responsibility in His name., to converse in His name., to decide things in His name., to learn in His name and for His glory., so many times we try and do things right, but we try and do them for our benefit, as if to gain something from our prayers, thoughts and actions, but that's not it., when we give, don't give to feel good about yourself, but give with your heart, feel the need of that person., when you do good acts, don't do it because it is right to do so, do it with the conscious of mind that it is the right thing to do., when you humble yourself, don't do it because you want to be meek, but because you truly acknowledge how little you really are in the face of it all, and you bow down to Him., To have a mindset, a worldview, a personal view, a creation view and everything, that you are one with Him as if you walked with Him in that first century., imagine yourself a disciple walking with Him, not in Galilee and Judea, not through the streets of Jerusalem, but in the streets of the concrete jungle, the streets of the present age, here today in this world of confusion and soul neglect, where everything is truly temporary., imagine yourself with Him in true reality, as if He is really here present with you, walking with you, confiding in you, whispering to you, opening your eyes as you walk through the darkness and showing you what is wrong and what is right., it is not about you feeling that you're doing the right thing, but it is about you knowing that you're doing the right thing., the secular world can have morals and standards of good decent behavior, but that's just for this this world's measuring rod., it is not the measuring rule that you're under grace to fulfill.

Living in Christ is not simply learning all there is to know about the Bible, and it is most certainly not simply going and congregating and trying to be a good Christian., Living in Christ means exactly what it implies to be one with Him., of one mind., of one purpose., of one Spirit!

Please excuse my bad grammar. No excuses, just asking for you to never mind the bad grammar.