More on Repentance

I have started this thread as a follow up on the various posts that I have on the subject of Repentance. I noted in another thread, "What makes a Church Group Become a Cult", that a member called, Lodic, mentioned me in his post:

@SavedByGrace wanted me to show where we are saved by faith alone. The passages are just that - they show that we are saved when we place our faith in Christ. Baptism doesn't save us. (That may need to be a new conversation.) Remember, the Penitent Thief was never baptized. Regarding repentance as a requirement, I'll agree that we repent of our sins when we give our lives to Christ.

Five Latin phrases came out of the Protestant Reformation that summarize the Reformers theological convictions. They are:
Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone) - The Bible alone is our highest authority.
Sola Fide (Faith Alone) - We are saved through faith alone in Christ Jesus.
Sola Gratia (Grace Alone) - We are saved through the grace of God alone.
Solus Christus (Christ Alone) - Jesus Christ alone is our Lord, Savior, and King.
Soli Deo Gloria (To the Glory of God Alone) - We live for the glory of God alone.

(what makes a church/group become a Cult?)

This guy has been arguing on this thread, that, "we are saved by our faith in Christ" (#129).

However, in his comments above (#136), he says, "Regarding repentance as a requirement, I'll agree that we repent of our sins when we give our lives to Christ."

He then give the "5 Solas", where one states, "Sola Fide (Faith Alone) - We are saved through faith alone in Christ Jesus"

I said before this, that salvation by faith alone, is not taught in Scriptute; and the Bible clearly says that BOTH Repentance and Faith (Mark 1:15) are required before a sinner can be saved.

Here we have one "Reformed" who have admitted "we repent of our sins when we give our lives to Christ." And yet says that, "We are saved through faith alone in Christ Jesus". His own comments contradict when he quotes "Sola Fide", in agreement. This I believe to be true of many who call themselves "Reformed", who really cannot get their "theology" to agree with the Word of God, and are therefore left confused by what they really believe in!

 

Would agreeing with God I am a sinner and that I need Jesus to save me be repenting?

 

In a way, yes. But I cannot understand why people oppose saying "sorry" to the Lord for our sins, when we have no problem saying this to fellow humans? When I tell another person who I have wronged, "sorry", how is this a "work"? I have not done this on the basis of any "merit", but simply acknowsledging that I have wronged someone, and need to tell them "I am sorry"! As the NLT has Psalm 38:18, "But I confess my sins; I am deeply sorry for what I have done"

 

You are confusing your actions before God's redemptive work in your life with your actions after God's redemptive work in your life.

When you quote Psalm 38, you seem to miss the fact that God had already redeemed the author. His repentance came afterward.

You insist on putting the cart before the horse.

 

Our church watched the Wau of thr master, amd they did seem to teach to us sinners must repent and change their life and then accept jesus to get saved!

 

AustinC, PLEASE in the Name of the Good Lord. TAKE OFF YOUR REFORMED LENS!!!

 

so Jesus, and Peter, for example got it wrong!

 

Or perhaps you should remove whatever lens you're using and try to genuinely listen to what is said. :Whistling

 

A thoughtful response as always.

 

Yeah

 

Remember the Greeks that came to speak to Jesus, and asked what they had to do, and Jesus replied believe in him!

 

NM

 

Hi, SBG. Just discovered this post. Based on your long history of numerous posts, you really have a burden about repentance. I must commend you for your tenacity on the topic.

Having said that, I will try to summarize my understanding of repentance. As the NT tells us, we must repent or be condemned to Hell. When I gave my life to Christ, I confessed that I am a sinner, and I repented of my sins. That doesn't contradict the Biblical teaching that we are saved by faith alone. Please explain your specific disagreement with this view .

 

Greetings! There are some on this board, who are "reformed", who insist that Justification is by faith alone, and does not require the sinner to repent for the forgiveness of their sins, for their salvation. These argue that repenting is something that the sinner has to "do", and therefore it is seen as a "work", and excluded from a requirement for salvation. You say that you believe that repentance is a requirement for salvation, I am sure that earlier you argued against this? Even so, you cannot believe in this, and then say that we accept, "by faith alone"! By faith alone means just that, only faith and nothing else, not even repentance! If I have got this wrong, please enlighten me

 

ah the typical empty comment from this great reformed thinker! :D

 

Those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.:rolleyes:

 

I recalled these words and chose to delete what I had wrote. Even though I have provided a vast amount of contextual scripture for my position and I have refuted your few sentences upon which you cling, I felt my words were not given with grace. Therefore, I removed them.

Ephesians 4:15-16,25-32
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

You are free to speak as you wish and to mock me as you wish. I am free to say NM when I review and retract.

 

Greetings to you, Brother. My apologies, as I didn't really state my views very clearly. The passages I mentioned in the "cults" thread do show that we are saved by faith alone, and not by any works. If we see repentance as a work that we must do before giving our lives to Christ, that goes against Scripture. I believe repentance is part of the process of placing our faith in Christ. We recognize our sinful state and repent even as we confess Christ as Lord and Savior. Do you agree with this view?

 

yeah! in which case, are you "reformed" and if so, how does your view here agree with "by faith alone"? It is my understanding, if right, that "faith alone" means nothing else, not even repentance?