Repentance

[idea]

One of the key themes in Christianity, and in other religions as well is repentance, or changing from darkness to light. What are your thoughts on this central doctrine? Have you experienced this change in your life?

Last year I went through this. You are supposed to do this before baptism, but I did not fully understand the concept when I was baptized. I wonder if I should be baptized again now that I understand more fully what it means to repent? Anyways, last year we were asked to write up our personal histories to submit to the genealogy library in Salt Lake City. A friend gave an enrichment lesson in which she brought in a little sign she had hanging in her bedroom for many years, the paper was faded, it had the word, “honesty” in big letters between two lines. She talked about trying to find the truth of what her life was – about feeling like a puck on an air hockey table skidding from one extreme to the other with truth in the center between two lines. I went home and wrote a personal history, not the boring kind with dates of vacations, awards, not a resume… I tried really hard to be honest with myself and whoever else would read it of who I was and what had really shaped my life... I then emailed it off to the people that needed to read it. The people I needed to apologize to. You can’t imagine how hard it was to do this. Anyways, it changed me, it humbled me, I see a new reality now. There is a difference between living in front of people and living with them. I am closer to living “with” others now that I no longer have things to hide from them if that makes sense… from feeling distant and alone to beginning to understand how to join in and be “with” people, that was my change.

“Most of us feel that others will not tolerate emotional honesty and communication. We would rather defend our dishonesty on the grounds that it might hurt others; and, having rationalized our phoneyness into nobility, we settle for superficial relationships.” - John Powell.

Does anyone else have any experience with Metanoia?


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Guide to the scriptures…
Forgiveness for wrongdoing upon condition of repentance. Remission of sins is made possible by the atonement of Jesus Christ. A person obtains a remission of his sins if he has faith in Christ, repents of his sins, receives the ordinances of baptism and laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, and obeys God's commandments (A of F 1:3–4).

Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, Isa. 1:16–18.

REPENT, REPENTANCE. See also Atone, Atonement; Broken Heart; Confess, Confession; Forgive; Jesus Christ; Remission of Sins

A change of mind and heart that brings a fresh attitude toward God, oneself, and life in general. Repentance implies that a person turns away from evil and turns his heart and will to God, submitting to God's commandments and desires and forsaking sin. True repentance comes from a love for God and a sincere desire to obey his commandments. All accountable persons have sinned and must repent in order to progress toward salvation. Only through the atonement of Jesus Christ can our repentance become effective and accepted by God.

Make confession unto the Lord, Ezra 10:11. Put away the evil of your doings; cease to do evil, Isa. 1:16. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions, Ezek. 18:30–31. Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, Matt. 3:2. There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, Luke 15:7. God commandeth all men every where to repent, Acts 17:30 (2 Ne. 9:23; 3 Ne. 11:31–40; D&C 133:16). Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation, 2 Cor. 7:10. The Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent has wrought a mighty change in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, Mosiah 5:2. If he confess his sins and repent, him shall ye forgive, Mosiah 26:29. After Alma's preaching, many people began to repent, Alma 14:1. Do not procrastinate the day of your repentance, Alma 34:33. Alma taught Helaman of his repentance and conversion, Alma 36 (Mosiah 27:8–32). Repentance could not come unto men except there were a punishment, Alma 42:16. Let your sins trouble you, with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance, Alma 42:29. Ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit, 3 Ne. 9:20. Whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, 3 Ne. 9:22. Repent, all ye ends of the earth, 3 Ne. 27:20. As oft as they repented, they were forgiven, Moro. 6:8. Say nothing but repentance unto this generation, D&C 6:9 (D&C 11:9). How great is his joy in the soul that repenteth! D&C 18:13. Every man must repent or suffer, D&C 19:4. He that sinneth and repenteth not shall be cast out, D&C 42:28. He who confesses and forsakes his sins is forgiven, D&C 58:42–43. The dead who repent will be redeemed, D&C 138:58. We believe in repentance, A of F 1:4.

[oldcajun]

Just believe! Just open your heart to Jesus! Come to Jesus! Jesus is waiting with open arms!

Do these terms sound familiar? We hear them repeatedly from TV preachers and pulpits across this land every week. I've noticed though, in many of these calls to salvation, something desperately important is missing. It seems to me that modern "Christianity" has either forgotten or watered down the first step in salvation; the step that all the rest depends on. The word 'repent' seems to fade into the background when many ministers today approach their congregations with the gospel message of salvation.

Genuine repentance and sincere acceptance of Jesus as our Lord and Savior cannot be ignored if we expect forgiveness and remission of sins. God's granting of the Holy Spirit will not take place without it. John the baptist said "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt. 3:2). Jesus said "Repent and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:15) and again "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matt. 4:7). Peter, in (Acts 2:38) "Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit". Repentance---according to Webster's Collegiate Dictionary means to turn from sin, to feel regret, to change one's mind. If we are to turn from sin then we need a good New Testament definition of sin. (I John 3:4) "Whoever commits sin transgresses also the law, FOR SIN IS THE TRANGRESSION OF THE LAW".

It appears to me, if we are to repent of our 'sins', then we must be truly sorrowful for breaking God's Laws and we must begin to keep them. In (Matt 19:16-17) when the rich young ruler approached Jesus and ask Him "what shall I do to obtain eternal life?" Jesus told him "if you want to enter into life, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS. The young man then ask Him, "which commandments?" Jesus went on to quote enough of the commandments to show that He was speaking of the ten commandments. And finally, in (I john 2:3-4) John said "Now by this we know that we know him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, 'I know Him' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." We must be willing to obey Jesus. Otherwise, He is not our Lord. In order to love God we must keep his commandments. (I John 5: 2-3).

I believe it is obvious why modern mainstream "Christanity" has watered down the teaching of repentance. Repentance calls for commitment; a commitment to God and His Word that many are not willing to accept. Instead, they teach a weak gospel of do-nothing "churchianity". This type of teaching certainly fattens the church member rolls but in the end it will become a denial of Christ Himself.
Remember what our Savior said: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord', shall enter the Kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, cast out demons in your name, and done many wonders in your name?' And then I will declare to them, I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice LAWLESSNESS!" (Matt. 7: 21-23) NKJV True repentance must be returned to the Gospel message!

[Charity]

Repent to be sorry for, desire to make right......Repent with a broken heart and a contrite spirit.......But also come in faith believing.............

[zenzero]

Friend idea,
What you talk about is a 24 hour activity.
It is HERE-NOW. Meaning to start with itself if one is not having that EGO the question of asking forgiveness or repenting does not arise.
Anyway, still this is surely better than those who do not repent.
This too is spiritual progress.
Love & rgds

[Peace]

In Islam, if we commit a sin we need just to repent so as to be forgiven and for the sin to be wiped out from our book of record.
To repent , we need to ask a sincere forgiveness from God and promising not to go back to that sin.

[Charity]

Originally Posted by Peace

In Islam, if we commit a sin we need just to repent so as to be forgiven and for the sin to be wiped out from our book of record.
To repent , we need to ask a sincere forgiveness from God and promising not to go back to that sin.

I agree with you Peace,

[idea]

Originally Posted by oldcajun

Just believe! Just open your heart to Jesus! Come to Jesus! Jesus is waiting with open arms!

Do these terms sound familiar? We hear them repeatedly from TV preachers and pulpits across this land every week. I've noticed though, in many of these calls to salvation, something desperately important is missing. It seems to me that modern "Christianity" has either forgotten or watered down the first step in salvation; the step that all the rest depends on. The word 'repent' seems to fade into the background when many ministers today approach their congregations with the gospel message of salvation.

I agree - I think we talk about forgiving others a lot more than we talk about repenting. I guess it is not a popular fuzzy-happy topic - and who has the right to tell everyone else to repent!!!" the beam mote things:

Matt 7:
3And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

It is the topic that probably got the most prophets killed...

Originally Posted by Peace

In Islam, if we commit a sin we need just to repent so as to be forgiven and for the sin to be wiped out from our book of record.
To repent , we need to ask a sincere forgiveness from God and promising not to go back to that sin.

What are all the steps to repentance in Islam? LDS lists them as:

recognition,
sorrow,
abandonment,
confession,
restitution where possible
faith in Christ
(am I missing any?)

I like the AA 12 step program - I think it can be used for just about anything in life:

AA Steps

1. We admitted we were powerless over ___________ - that our lives had become unmanageable.

2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

5. Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

Originally Posted by zenzero

Friend idea,
What you talk about is a 24 hour activity.
It is HERE-NOW. Meaning to start with itself if one is not having that EGO the question of asking forgiveness or repenting does not arise.
Anyway, still this is surely better than those who do not repent.
This too is spiritual progress.
Love & rgds

Repent is one way to get rid of your ego
How do you get rid of the ego?

Originally Posted by Charity

Repent to be sorry for, desire to make right......Repent with a broken heart and a contrite spirit.......But also come in faith believing.............

the faith / believing that Christ will make everything OK is actually the part that has always been the most hard / confusing to me. There are some things I just don't see a solution for, and I don't understand how another dieing can solve anything. I feel loved by the atonement, but I don't understand how it solves the problem. Any thoughts on that?