Repentance... is it from sin or from unbelief?

[popsthebuilder]

2 hours ago, Josheb said:

Don't forget conduct or action. Changes in mind, belief, and/or feelings that are not operationalized are not thorough change or repentance. 

I have changed my mind about murder; I know it is wrong but I like to hear the little children scream and they taste so good with dijon.  

Yes. 

The problem is that of "onlyism." Onlyism is a very common problem among Christians, both teacher and student alike. Onlyism occurs when we insert an "only" into a text where it does not exist or treat a scripture as if it is definitive and what it says is the only thing scripture says on the matter. We should all be very careful not to insert "only" into God's word in thought or deed where the scriptures do not say such a thing. 

Yes, we are to repent of unbelief but that does not preclude us from also repenting of sin. Furthermore, the two are not mutually exclusive conditions because at a foundational level all sin is a matter of failure or refusal to believe in God and scripture tells us quite plainly whatever is not from faith is sin (Rom. 14:23).  Sin and unbelief often overlap. 

Jeremiah 15:7
"I will winnow them with a winnowing fork At the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children, I will destroy My people; They did not repent of their ways."

Acts 8:22
"Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you."

Revelation 2:21-22
"I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality.  Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds."

Revelation 9:20-21
"The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk;  and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts." 

Revelation 16:10-11
"Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain,  and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds."

 

Repenting from unbelief is important. Doubt is an inherent part of our faith!!! We can easily understand this contemplating the unique nature of Christianity: we are saved by grace through faith, not works. Often may we be faced with the question from within: Do I believe what I read?

"Onlyism". I like that. I call it compartmentalizing.

[Eternally Gratefull]

I think since he who believes is not condemned, he who does not believe is condemned already

 

repentance is from unbelief, 

 

God changes our thinking on sin after we are saved in my view

[DeighAnn]

12 minutes ago, Eternally Gratefull said:

I think since he who believes is not condemned, he who does not believe is condemned already

 

repentance is from unbelief, 

 

God changes our thinking on sin after we are saved in my view

How does that work? 
I will find myself 'dwelling' on some thought,  let's just say 'revenge' for the sake of discussion, when all of a sudden the Spirit convicts me of this evil.  I immediately repent with a prayer not only for forgiveness but also strength to not let it happen again.  I know it works because there was a time when it was well, a lot of my thought and now,  almost never ever is.  How does that come from a place of unbelief?  I think it comes from a place OF BELIEF because without that belief, no sin and the repenting of it wouldn't come, would it?    

[Waggles]

6 hours ago, JohnD said:

To repent is to turn away from something. To change your mind. Your belief. Your feelings.Is it from sin?

Or unbelief?

John 20:27 (AV)
27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

REPENT  G3340  μετανοέω  metanoeō
From G3326 and G3539; to think differently or afterwards, that is, reconsider (morally to feel compunction): - repent.
Total KJV occurrences: 34

A famous British preacher explained that regret was personal sorrow for mistakes made; remorse was sorrow for offences against other people; and repentance was recognition of wrongdoing against God and contrition over this. 

Matthew 4:17  From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Acts 3:19  Repent 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;

2Cor 7:9  Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to *repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 
10  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 

* G3341 > From G3340; (subjectively) compunction (for guilt, including reformation); by implication reversal (of [another’s] decision): - repentance.

[Waggles]

3 minutes ago, DeighAnn said:

How does that work? 
I will find myself 'dwelling' on some thought,  let's just say 'revenge' for the sake of discussion, when all of a sudden the Spirit convicts me of this evil.  I immediately repent with a prayer not only for forgiveness but also strength to not let it happen again.  I know it works because there was a time when it was well, a lot of my thought and now,  almost never ever is.  How does that come from a place of unbelief?  I think it comes from a place OF BELIEF because without that belief, no sin and the repenting of it wouldn't come, would it?    

there is repentance from dead works and their is contrition > Godly sorrow

Contrite > broken-hearted for sin; deeply affected with grief and sorrow for sin; penitent; > contrition being penitent and prayerful in seeking forgiveness for sin. 

[leah777]

Whatever words are used to define different repenting, make no difference to me.

I sin in some way or another. I feel in prayer that I am wrong and not in a good place with God. I talk to God about it, He helps me to see where I went wrong, uncovers the sin (sometimes I am not aware that I have sinned) I ask Him for strength and He gives the strength and knowledge I need to deal with the source of my unease. Sometimes He reassures me that I am feeling false guilt, so I ask for deliverance from evil and His shield around me. Then the discomfort, or whatever is correct word to use, is gone. Simple, like a child talking to Father. There may be things i need to do to put things right with another person, not always.

This is my personal experience. 

I apologise to God. Some may say this is not part of repentance. it is to me in my prayer experience with God. Not sorry as if by rote, but deep sorry like apologising to anyone who I have hurt.

I cant explain more, I dont have the words to expand on such a difficult to explain subject. I share my heart with you as best I can about this.

I believe and have faith my Father will understand me, forgive me, and teach me (with love) what I need to learn from these things.

 

[Waggles]

Hebrews 6:1  Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 
6:2  and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 
6:3  And this we will do if God permits. 

so is repentance becoming God conscious ?? and ceasing from worldly pursuits? 

Isaiah 55:6  “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; 
55:7  let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 

[johnthebaptist]

6 hours ago, JohnD said:

To repent is to turn away from something. To change your mind. Your belief. Your feelings.

Is it from sin?

Or unbelief?

John 20:27 (AV)
27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

 

What good does it do to believe if we continue to sin?

[leah777]

there seems to be different schools of thought on sin.

some think we dont sin anymore once we are saved

some think we are still human, so we sin due to humanity

some think that we dont have to say sorry anymore or ask for forgiveness as forgiveness is automatic.

some think the opposite.

is very confusing.

Edited March 7, 2021 by leah777
clarity

[Eternally Gratefull]

50 minutes ago, DeighAnn said:

How does that work? 
I will find myself 'dwelling' on some thought,  let's just say 'revenge' for the sake of discussion, when all of a sudden the Spirit convicts me of this evil.  I immediately repent with a prayer not only for forgiveness but also strength to not let it happen again.  I know it works because there was a time when it was well, a lot of my thought and now,  almost never ever is.  How does that come from a place of unbelief?  I think it comes from a place OF BELIEF because without that belief, no sin and the repenting of it wouldn't come, would it?    

But this is not why you were saved, this is not why you came to faith, this is God sanctifying you

 

in my example, unbelief is us before we came to Christ, belief is after we repented and come to faith,