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I’m a newer Christian so sorry if it sounds like a stupid question, but in one of my previous posts I asked about repentance, and some replies seemed to say I had it wrong about repentance. I thought repenting meant praying to God for forgiveness, but I also read people saying repenting is changing your mind. So what does repenting mean? Do you have to pray for forgiveness to repent or do you not have to pray for forgiveness but stop the sin? And if you have to pray for forgiveness, do you have to pray for each sin one by one? Thank you for reading.
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The repentance of Christ is entirely different from the repentance of today’s Christians, which is like a child writing a reflection promising never to make the same mistake again. The reason Christians inevitably continue to repeat sin and repentance, over and over, is because their repentance is never truly accomplished. The repentance that Christianity speaks of today does not understand the fundamental reason why sin must continually be repeated, and it is completely different from the repentance of Christ—where one is fully delivered from sin, forgiven, reborn, transformed, and changed.
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.(James 1 : 14~15)
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.(Ephesians 2 : 3)
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.(Matthew 10 : 37~39)
The repentance of Christ is to abandon the fleshly life that is bound to sin at its very root. In other words, it is to live a life of sacrifice, following the love of God, even to the point of laying down one’s own life, and to live out that love in action. This is the life of a true Christian. A true Christian is not made by human zeal, willpower, or pride, but by receiving and living through the power of God. In other words, it is to obtain the power that appears in those who receive and act by the love of God, who is love. That power is the divine power that transcends the human limits which can never bring about true rebirth, change, or transformation through mere awakening, resolutions, or determinations of man. Therefore, repentance is to abandon the life of the flesh and to receive the power of God in order to live the life of Christ.
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.(Romans 5 : 2~10)
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.(Titus 2 : 11~14)
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:…(Colossians 1 : 10~14)
It is to break free from the fleshly life that can only continue repeating sin, by receiving the love of God that is pursued through love and mercy, and by that supply of love, the power of God works to deliver us from the habits and members of sin that we cannot escape no matter how much we awaken, resolve, or determine throughout our lives. This is true repentance. For this reason, I have never yet seen anyone within Christianity who has truly accomplished the repentance of Christ. Christians are not true disciples of Christ. Therefore, because they serve God while mingling with the world and material things, they inevitably teach and believe in all manner of corruption, heresy, and falsehood, and thus they cannot be freed from sin. This is why the wretched reality of Christians today is to keep sinning and repenting, sinning and repenting, until the day they die.
Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.(1 John 3 : 6~10)
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.(Romans 6 : 17~23)
A true Christian does not commit sin but is set free from it. This is repentance. In other words, repentance is the power found in the love of God, revealed in those who desire to abandon the fleshly life that can only repeat sin. The one who obtains this power becomes the true shepherd of God, a saint, a faith, a salvation, and the one who fulfills repentance. The repentance of those who seek only their own happiness, success, and prosperity is nothing more than an emotional or theoretical value; it is not the beautiful repentance that follows after the love of Christ. The repentance of a true Christian does not commit sin, nor does it repeat sin. If you continue repeating sin, then your faith is fleshly, and because you will only keep sinning and repenting until the day you die, such repentance has no meaning. If you continue to repeat sin, what value is there in reflecting and repenting? Therefore, the majority of Christians today do not even know the repentance of Christ. The only way to truly accomplish the repentance of Christ is to take up one’s cross and live in the hope of Christ, practicing the love that surrenders even one’s life.