Repent!! REPENT!!

[acerrak]

I download alot of mp3's from various denominations. exspecially if im studying a specific topic. i like to hear how other interpret and preach this message that i am going to preach on.

On thing im seeing alot of, is this call for repentance. Maybe its just me, but it seems like there is just so many preachers yelling at the assembly to repent than they are telling sinners to repent.

Peter preached to sinners repent.
Peter and john to the sanhedrin court, repent and be converted

todays preachers to their congregation , repent.

Im just wondering have people forgotten what repantance actually is? There teaching repentance for every thing they do.

repentance is a change of mind, change of direction, to go the other way. But many preachers are screaming at the people in the pews to repent. Some to the point of trying to lay this massive guilt trip on them.

Im just wondering are there to many preachers out there treating people in the Body of believers as though they are born again sinners?

Thoughts? questions? stories? comments?

[Esther]

Paul talked about dying daily. I think this means to repent daily.

I think we do need a revival of repentance. The world has gone after their own ways and forgotten God's. (Not all of course)

It is always a good thing to repent. IMO

[acerrak]

Originally Posted by Esther

Paul talked about dying daily. I think this means to repent daily.

I think we do need a revival of repentance. The world has gone after their own ways and forgotten God's. (Not all of course)

It is always a good thing to repent. IMO

repentance isnt dying daily. repentance means turning the other direction. when you accepted christ you repented. Means you turned from your ademic nature to walk after the spirit. that doesnt mean you dont struggle with the flesh.

That is where Paul is speaking of the things i know i should do i dont do.

Forgiveness and repentance are two different things. I had a bible lesson at homw with my family today and we talked about baptism, repentance and forgiveness.

However what i am pointing at, is the same message over and over that is being declared all the time.

so when you say we need a revival of repentance, your saying we need a revival of changing directions?

what direction do you want us to go in? If we are pressing on tword the prize before us, do we change to go after last place?

I expected a little more discussion on the topic, i guess people are getting use to the ye old repent. Im just finding it Odd that as a Body of belivers we as a church are still stuck in square one unable to move on because we cant get past the first step.

lets look at hebrews

6 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

do you see how the author here even says lets not get hung upon this laying it down over and over again, lets move on to being perfected in Christ.

But lets watch this

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame

here the writer talks about the falling away of a saint, that they couldnt be renewed to repentance,

Yet preachers are beating the message over the pullpit to a congregation that needs to be moving on to perfection but is held back with this same message of repentance over and over.

when clearly true repentance comes about from the beginning.

We need revival, but i think we need a greater understanding of what grace is, what repentance is and what edifying is.

[Sam]

In Revelation 2:1-7 Jesus spoke to the church in Ephesus and told them to repent.

[acerrak]

Originally Posted by Sam

In Revelation 2:1-7 Jesus spoke to the church in Ephesus and told them to repent.

To the Church in Ephesus
1 “To the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.


first i dont believe this is speaking of salvation, cause if it is then it will contridict many scriptures about grace and works.

2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance.

so what was the first love they forsook,obvious the works they do is good according to this verse, who are the nicolations.

what are they told to repent of... do yoiu have a idea? Do you treat your church as ephesus even though this letter was specifically directed at them?

we cant just say repent repent sam, there is no edification in that, what are we telling them to change from. Are we going to constantly beat the body of belivers and keep yelling at them to turn from their wicked ways? How then can you move on to perfection in Christ according to hebrews

[KeptByTheWord]

I didn't have time yesterday to respond in the way I wanted to. Here are my thoughts.

Repentance is always a key ingredient in any revival that takes place. Many pastors no doubt believe that if they could just get their congregation to take on a repentant attitude and spirit, then revival would break out.

The thing is, you are right about constantly hearing something until you begin to tone it out. What the church really needs to hear is "Are you willing to take up your cross and follow Jesus?." The church needs to be encouraged to quit trying to serve two masters...

Man has made religion into a bunch of dos and don'ts so that the church as a whole begins to follow those rules, and has ended up in the same condition as the church of Galatians, who had been "bewitched" by the Jewish legalistic minded folks, and became more caught up in works (which indeed are necessary in their proper place) but their focus was the works, instead of their relationship with Christ.

Maybe the focus needs to begin with repentance from following legalistic dos and donts... which will never save you.... and instead begin focusing with faith on Jesus, and having a personal relationship with Jesus encouraged in every way, following and seeking after personal holiness, and godliness for one's self. Not looking for acceptance or a pat on the back from the preacher, but looking to the Lord Jesus and the Word to see how you're measuring up....

I am not bashing preachers, or anyone leading a congregation of people, but .... if that leader feels it is "my" church and teaches complete obedience to "his" set of rules or laws, then that is where repentance needs to start ... right there. For we cannot be made holy by laws and rules, but true holiness of heart will bring about the fruit of holiness....

Romans 6:22 "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life."

And WHAT is the fruit of holiness? Standards, long sleeves, uncut hair, no jewelry, no makeup.... ???? Are those the fruit that are being written here?

No, the fruit of holiness will produce the fruit of the spirit which is found in Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness meekness, temperan: against such there is no law."

There is no law against the fruit of the spirit? Why? Because the Spirit of Christ has so transformed one's life, because they are connected with the vine, and living waters and life are flowing through them, that their life will manifest the fruit of the spirit and holiness, without any "law" needing to be given... because the Spirit is now our law, and teacher.

To sum it all up.... if we would turn our focus to connecting to the Vine of Jesus, we would then begin producing the fruit of the spirit and holiness, and repentance would no longer be an issue..... because our flesh will have taken a back seat to the power of the Holy Ghost living in us, producing the works of holiness, godliness, and fruit of the Spirit.

Then we could move on into greater, and more wonderful things in Christ... and then we would see more of the supernatural moves of the Spirit than in recent times!

[acerrak]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

I didn't have time yesterday to respond in the way I wanted to. Here are my thoughts.

Repentance is always a key ingredient in any revival that takes place. Many pastors no doubt believe that if they could just get their congregation to take on a repentant attitude and spirit, then revival would break out.

The thing is, you are right about constantly hearing something until you begin to tone it out. What the church really needs to hear is "Are you willing to take up your cross and follow Jesus?." The church needs to be encouraged to quit trying to serve two masters...

Man has made religion into a bunch of dos and don'ts so that the church as a whole begins to follow those rules, and has ended up in the same condition as the church of Galatians, who had been "bewitched" by the Jewish legalistic minded folks, and became more caught up in works (which indeed are necessary in their proper place) but their focus was the works, instead of their relationship with Christ.

Maybe the focus needs to begin with repentance from following legalistic dos and donts... which will never save you.... and instead begin focusing with faith on Jesus, and having a personal relationship with Jesus encouraged in every way, following and seeking after personal holiness, and godliness for one's self. Not looking for acceptance or a pat on the back from the preacher, but looking to the Lord Jesus and the Word to see how you're measuring up....

I am not bashing preachers, or anyone leading a congregation of people, but .... if that leader feels it is "my" church and teaches complete obedience to "his" set of rules or laws, then that is where repentance needs to start ... right there. For we cannot be made holy by laws and rules, but true holiness of heart will bring about the fruit of holiness....

Romans 6:22 "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life."

And WHAT is the fruit of holiness? Standards, long sleeves, uncut hair, no jewelry, no makeup.... ???? Are those the fruit that are being written here?

No, the fruit of holiness will produce the fruit of the spirit which is found in Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness meekness, temperan: against such there is no law."

There is no law against the fruit of the spirit? Why? Because the Spirit of Christ has so transformed one's life, because they are connected with the vine, and living waters and life are flowing through them, that their life will manifest the fruit of the spirit and holiness, without any "law" needing to be given... because the Spirit is now our law, and teacher.

To sum it all up.... if we would turn our focus to connecting to the Vine of Jesus, we would then begin producing the fruit of the spirit and holiness, and repentance would no longer be an issue..... because our flesh will have taken a back seat to the power of the Holy Ghost living in us, producing the works of holiness, godliness, and fruit of the Spirit.

Then we could move on into greater, and more wonderful things in Christ... and then we would see more of the supernatural moves of the Spirit than in recent times!

exellent post and thank you for it but i do disagree that repentance is the key ingrediantg for revival.

Revivals come in praise and worship of God, This i have seen many times over.

Im just wondering why are we preaching repentance constantly to a body of believers when they are trying to go from Glory to glory so to speak.

there is great power in praise, and i Have seen revivals kick off because a few people Got on Fire with God just by loving Him. while i am not knocking out repentance as a ingredient cause people go through different levels of change.

im just woinder what type of change do preacherswant bashing people behind the pullpit.

to me its more about the sermon than it is about the people.

Your cut off repent, Cant do anything repent, God doesnt hear you repent.

to many preachers get confused with forgiveness and repentance.

while we strive for personal holiness, we all know we will never reach a state in this flesh where we will achieve perfection. Knowing that why do we beat ourselver up over it.

God took you in as a dirty sinner and begain cleaning you up. This process will happen until we die. However people are trying todo this themselves failing to understand that the battles between the Spirit man and the flesh, (they try to win on their own strength) they lose.

problem im having. Is we have the Holy Ghost that brings conviction and opens our eyes to what needs to happen, yet to many people are bent on listening to the man behind the pullpit taking the que off of them when its time for repentance, Not allowing the Holy Spirit of God to move in their Life on a personal level.


when i struggled, when i was luke warm i Knew it. God let me know it. I tried to deal with it in my own strength. My pastor knew it. he didnt run to me REPENT brother do it now.... I came to him for help in prayer on a personal level.

The part i strongly agree with is the list that there preaching. i think we are on the same page.

To many do's and dont some not even about sin, but some one elses personal conviction or tradition.


I just think it would be hard for a church to progress when your treating the saints as unborn -again sinners..