REPENTANCE - No need for confusion!
    What a wonderful topic of discussion! Repentance!! Who needs it and  why? Much of the controversy over the issue of repentance comes about first of all because of the "misguided notion" often being taught in religious circles as to the definition. Many believers and unbelievers alike seem to erroneously already have that issue settled pretty soundly. Repentance simply means "a change of mind". Repentance has always meant "a change of mind". As you well know, most bible teachers say repentance means a change of direction in life style. While repentance might lead to a change of direction, a change of mind can indeed take place without a change of direction.
    Another misconception is that the word repentance means "Godly sorrow". This usually comes from the passage found in 2 Corinthians 7:10: For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. Here,Paul says that "Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation (deliverance) not to be repented of." Repentance is not "the sorrow" Paul has in mind here! Of course "Godly sorrow" (this has to do with believers) oftentimes leads to a change of mind. But "sorrow" need not be present for "a change of
mind" to take place. We must understand that "repentance" simply means "a change of mind" sorrow and performance not withstanding!

    IN THE AGE OF GRACE, the word "repentance" means the same thing "a change of mind". In every age the application of that word is distinctly different depending upon the economy and the context under which it is being used. For instance, when dealing with God under "a law contract" repentance from sin was an absolute requirement! And why not? The law contract demanded obedience. So the Israelites  while under the law would of a necessity have to "change their minds about their behavior" and get back to the contract! In other words...they would have to see their behavior as wrong. Not an easy thing to do when "self-justification" is a constant companion. And they were always "justifying themselves"! But "under the contract" they would need ANOTHER change of mind as well. And that change of mind would have to do with the fact that they were continually unable to live up to the dictates of the contract. The confession of Leviticus 26:40 and 1 John 1:9.

Leviticus 26:40-43 40 If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; 41 And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: 42 Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

In these verses, there are two different "changes of mind" that would have to take place in connection with Israel and the contract under which they were operating. In addition, there is a third application of repentance where Israel was concerned! They would have to change their minds about "who Christ was". You see, Israel did NOT believe Jesus Christ was "their messiah" much less "the very Son of God"! They would certainly have had to change their minds about that. 
How about "repentance today"? Under God's special dispensing of grace committed to the apostle Paul, repentance would have to do with "a change of mind" for those who are ALREADY SAVED! To be SAVED...does not always mean "from the debt and penalty of ones sins".  As an example, to be "delivered from false doctrine" a grace believer would require a "change of mind" if "incorrect doctrine" had been the previous mindset. So, here is an application of repentance for "BELIEVERS" of this present age. Paul uses this application in his epistles.
    The issue that really lies at the crux of the matter is whether or not "repentance"  is necessary for salvation today. Keeping in mind again the meaning of the word repentance is simply 'a change of mind'. Here is the long and short of the issue: If an individual is simply unaware of what Christ
accomplished at Calvary and has no preconceived ideas about God's righteousness and salvation then I suppose one could say that "hearing the gospel" and "believing the gospel" would require no change of mind simply an acceptance of truth. On the other hand...if an individual has had "an association with
modern day "religianity", he or she has most likely "BELIEVED THE FALSE GOSPEL SATAN'S MINISTERS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS ARE PROPAGATING TODAY". After all, this false gospel (a gospel devoid of the justification aspect of Paul's gospel) is pretty much accepted across the "religianity" board in our day. Forgiveness on the installment plan is the main course of denominationalism. One group seeks forgiveness on a weekly basis at what they call "mass". Another group on a nightly basis when the jammies are on and bedtime arrives. Another group...continually throughout the day...because they believe salvation can be lost and regained should that (imaginary) line be crossed and God decide to "give up on them"; The "short accounts people".
    Problem is...no matter how we try to get around it...these folks have never really understood Paul's gospel have they? "THE GOSPEL" by which folks can be DELIVERED TODAY...from the debt and penalty of their sins... should they simply BELIEVE IT. But you see... believing....in these instances will indeed require "A CHANGE OF MIND" from what these folks had previously held as truth. Sometimes, (not always) the acceptance of truth requires we discard what we had previously believed to be true... which we at some point find to be...not true at all! If I believe that my righteous deeds (church membership, baptism, commitment, re-commitments, tithing, turning....etc., etc., etc.)..is that which establishes my righteous standing with God today....then I must change my mind about those things in order to "adopt the truth of Paul's gospel". I must discard those false beliefs and replace them with "God's way of approaching Him". This by the way... is the only application of "a change of mind"...where "the issue of salvation from the debt and penalty of one's sins" is concerned in this age of grace! Not "turning away from sin". Not "changing life-style direction'. Not hot scalding tears where the past is concerned. While all those may be beneficial in their proper place, none of them are a change of mind that brings salvation for heaven. In fact...there is NO CHANGE OF MIND...pertaining to ANY BEHAVIOR WHATSOEVER...required for the deliverance from the debt and penalty of sins in this age of grace. A change of mind from "PREVIOUSLY HELD ERRONEOUS BELIEFS"...is the only application of "repentance" that can be made.... where believing Paul's gospel is concerned. And believing Paul's gospel is the only thing God requires for heaven. Hope this helps. Sometimes I can do more to cloud the issue than to clear it up. If such is the case here...I don't mind trying again. Just let me know where the confusion lies...as this computer never seems to 'run outta ink'!     Luv ya all.....Pastor Curt

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