JavaJo,In this post you have not said anything which I hadn't already expressed concerning those who have genuinely Repented as is seen in 2Cor.7:8-12, "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."
Here's my beliefs: The matter which the Corinthian believers zealously wanted to be clear of was that in which the believer had had sex with his Dad's wife. Interestingly Paul told them in his first letter to turn him over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh THAT HIS SOUL MAY BE SAVED. Also, in the second letter the fellow was restored back to fellowship and comforted. So, he did not lose his salvation, but he lost fellowship for a time and almost lost his life.
From the article below...
In 2 Corinthians 7 the word metanoeo is used in verse 9 and 10. Read verse 10 carefully. "For Godly sorry WORKETH repentance (metanoeo a change of mind) to salvation"...
Notice that "Godly sorrow" is not repentance but rather it works to repentance. In other words a person can become sorrowful of his sinful ways and then repent (change his mind about Christ.) Jesus Christ is always the object of salvation not turning away, refraining, quitting or whatever of sin. In Mark 1:15 Jesus said speaking to unbelievers in Galilee "Repent (metanoeo change your mind) and believe the Gospel." It tells us right here what we are to change our mind about. The Gospel, not our sins. He was speaking to unbelievers who did not believe the gospel. We are condemned because of unbelief not because of our sins:
God never takes away one's power of Choice----That is seen in the "abiding". Seven times in Rev.2+3, GOD'S People are told ""To him the overcometh"" from the first church age to the last church age(the called out of GOD'S People) they are the Saved.
Yes, freely saved believers still fall into sin and should turn from it, but God does not cast them out of the relationship but they do lose fellowship. When a child disobeys the parent, they are still their child, but the fellowship can be marred. Rev. 2-3 is to freely justified believers who fell into sin, like we all do and if we say we have no sin we are lying and the truth is not in us. Christians are to confess their sins and not let them have dominion over them, but that does not mean sinless perfection, for that will not occur until we are changed to sinless and immortal at the rapture. Also, the Bible tells us who overcometh, one who is born OF GOD by faith in Christ:
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
The "simply means to change one's mind..."
First of all lets understand what it does not mean so that we can grasp the true meaning.
1. It does not mean to turn away from sin.
2. It does not mean to quit sinning.
3. It does not mean to feel sorry for sin.
4. It does not mean to change your sinful ways before you can be saved.
5. It does not imply salvation.
6. It is not the means of forgiveness of sin.
7. It is not salvation nor does it imply that we should live a sinless life.
8. It does not imply sin.
1. Metanoeo. This is a compound word. Meta means change noeo means thinking. This word is derived from nous which means mind. So, metanoeo means to change your mind
2. Metamellamai. This is also a compound word. Meta means change
mellamai means emotions. It means to have a change of emotions.
See this article about what repent means, oh and btw, God repented a few times, too...he changed his mind:
Hitland -"Repent: what does that mean?"
...can be as Paul in Galatians 2:17-21, "For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
Wow, that was completely out of context. Paul was saying how he rebuked Peter and NOT to go back under the law (build what I destroyed) but to have simple faith in Christ. They needed to change their minds about how they were saved, by keeping the law or by faith in Christ. Here is the passage:
11 But when
Peter was come to Antioch,
I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
12 For before that certain came from James,
he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
13
And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews,
why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
19For
I through the law
am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for
if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
That repenting again is necessary for each new sin just as 1John 1:8- 2:6 indicates. As long as one is alive, one has that option to "Repent"("change one's mind") from Sinning or from following the LORD.
One sin keeps one out of Heaven, so if we forget or die before confession is made, according to you, we are done for. No, salvation is a free gift, we are freely justified from all sin by faith in Christ. Christ said to repent and believe the Gospel. We change our mind and trust in Christ alone for salvation, for salvation is all from God to us, he does the free and undeserved saving, and he does the keeping. Then God works in our life and corrects us and we grow in grace and don't let sin have dominion over us. Repenting of sin does not save, it is repenting and changing one's mind about Christ and trusting him that saves. Of course when we trust Christ we are admitting we are a hopelessly lost sinner in need of salvation so we are aware of and sorry for sin, and we don't want to nor should we let sin reign over us. Ok, 'nuff said.