Re: Repentance and the Universal Call of the Gospel
| Posted On: 11/16/06 11:11:45 AM |
Age 37, TX |
I would suggest that this view of repentance commits the word-loading fallacy (illegitimate totality transfer). For example, defining the word "drive" as "navigating a car", but you can drive a lot of different things--cattle, a nail, or one crazy. Kittel's "theological" dictionary, the one quoted by the author, often commits this fallacy, lumping all the uses of a word or all the things associated with its use into a definition. If "turning away from sins and to God" is the definition of repentance then how can the Bible say God repented (Jonah 3:9-10, Jer. 18:8 in the Septuagint)?
It seems that in Acts 26:20 Paul is commanding the result of repentance and not equating a change of ways with repentance. The text says Paul commanded works "befitting"(axios)not "equal" (isos) to repentance. If a change of ways were equal repentance then that would make Luke 17:3,4 hard to understand. How could a man who repented seven times commit seven more sins in the same day? Therefore, when we preach men to change their belief and embrace Christ through faith, we must also preach a changed life (deeds) to follow faith/repentance. But we don't make the changed life equal to repentance.
How could John, who heard the command to preach repentance for the forgiveness for sins (Luke 24:47), not preach repentance in the Gospel of John? He did preach repentance; he preached belief in Christ for eternal life. Also, maybe that is why Paul could summarize John the Baptist's preaching on repentance as believing in Christ. In Acts 19:4 he said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus."
P.S. Faith is not a mental assent to facts, "it is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen." (Heb. 11:1)
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Re: Repentance and the Universal Call of the Gospel
| Posted On: 11/16/06 11:06:37 AM |
Age 37, TX |
I would suggest that this view of repentance commits the word-loading fallacy (illegitimate totality transfer). For example, defining the word "drive" as "navigating a car", but you can drive a lot of different things--cattle, a nail, or one crazy. Kittel's "theological" dictionary, the one quoted by the author, often commits this fallacy, lumping all the uses of a word or all the things associated with its use into a definition. If "turning away from sins and to God" is the definition of repentance then how can the Bible say God repented (Jonah 3:9-10, Jer. 18:8 in the Septuagint)?
It seems that in Acts 26:20 Paul is commanding the result of repentance and not equating a change of ways with repentance. The text says Paul commanded works "befitting"(axios)not "equal" (isos) to repentance. If a change of ways were equal repentance then that would make Luke 17:3,4 hard to understand. How could a man who repented seven times commit seven more sins in the same day? Therefore, when we preach men to change their belief and embrace Christ through faith, we must also preach a changed life (deeds) to follow faith/repentance. But we don't make the changed life equal to repentance.
How could John, who heard the command to preach repentance for the forgiveness for sins (Luke 24:47), not preach repentance in the Gospel of John? He did preach repentance; he preached belief in Christ for eternal life. Also, maybe that is why Paul could summarize John the Baptist's preaching on repentance as believing in Christ. In Acts 19:4 he said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus."
P.S. Faith is not a mental assent to facts, "it is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen." (Heb. 11:1)
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Re: Repentance and the Universal Call of the Gospel
| Posted On: 11/15/06 06:15:03 PM |
Age 48, IN |
I agree wholeheartedly with this article and respect the research and presentation; it is professional and spoken in love.
While it will not add to the truth of the Bible, I would like to share my story. This is not repentance as seen from the eyes of someone wanting to forgive, but repentance as seen from the eyes of someone wanting forgiveness.
For 21 years, I was in a grounded, Biblical church, nearly every time the doors were opened. I was passionate about lost souls. I grieved for them and prayed nightly. I sang myself to sleep with songs of worship every night. I had complete and utter faith in the truth of Who God is and what Christ did and the reality of my separation from God because of sin. I witnessed with passion about Gods work in lives around me. I weeped at Gods love and grace. I wanted to be saved from the consequences of sin, but not freed from the power to sin. Man cannot serve two masters. I could not submit what I wanted to pursue. I knew, every day, that I would forever be separated from God as I was, yet I would not repent. I was even sorry I wouldnt repent, but I would not repent.
Twenty-one years later, I willingly and without reservation turned from my sin; putting my faith in Christ. I wanted to be forever with God instead of separated from Him. From that moment, I was a new creature in Christ. Not by my own power or choice, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, I had victory after victory where, before, I had had only failure.
Repentance is not in addition to faith, it is required for faith. Faith is God, the Holy Spirit, in us. Sin is separation from God. One cannot want to be IN Gods presence and choose to be separated FROM Him, simultaneously.
Thank you!
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Re: Repentance and the Universal Call of the Gospel
| Posted On: 11/15/06 12:40:47 PM |
Age 40, FL |
AMEN!!! AMEN!!!!
100% Truth. Preachers need to get back to the truth of Gods word. We live in dark days. Actually the last days and Jesus said that many (not some) will fall away from the truth. Too many so called preachers are preaching the gospel of walk an aisle; say a prayer and you will be saved. My bible says Salvation is of the LORD. As Jesus said Repent or Parish"
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Re: Repentance and the Universal Call of the Gospel
| Posted On: 11/15/06 10:34:43 AM |
Age 46, AR |
Bob, Thanks for presenting a clear, well reasoned essay. It appears that you have presented a way of thinking that is Biblical, mature -- and affirms both the role of grace and our appropriate response. In the end, I suspect that biblical belief entails (or includes) repentance, however I greatly appreciate the way in which you have presented repentance as essential, and as a grace.
Kirk Jordan, Conway
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Re: Repentance and the Universal Call of the Gospel
| Posted On: 11/15/06 09:39:19 AM |
Age 56, FL |
I wholeheartedly agree with Bob DeWaay's efforts to recover the biblical view on repentance as an essential part of the Gospel message. According to Paul in 2Cor 5:15-21, the goal of belief in Jesus is reconciliation with Yahweh God the Father. Jesus makes that possible by providing forgiveness of sins, deliverance from our iniquitous and godless life-style, and provisions of the righteousness of God. On our part, remorse is a necessary element in the first, repentance in the second, and faith in the third, so that we might be reconciled to Yahweh and born again as His children. From Peter's sermons in Acts, we learn that repentance involves a converted attitude towards ourself, Yahweh God the Father, and towards Jesus Christ. This converted heart attitude results in "fruit worthy of repentance" (Mt 3:8, WEB), which certainly includes altered behavior patterns.
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Re: Repentance and the Universal Call of the Gospel
| Posted On: 11/15/06 07:33:16 AM |
Age 49, FL |
Way to go! If a man had an adulterous affair against his wife and he wants to be reconciled back to her, the issue is not about the mans well being and life enhancment but about turning away from the affair and never to see the woman again(called REPENTANCE!). That would be the only proper and correct response! Again, it is not about the man's life enhancement but only about the evil done against the wife. She will NEVER NEVER take him back UNTIL he REPENTS and so it is with God. Those who never repent I fear may be the ones on that day when Jesus says "depart from me, I never knew you you workers of inequity" or "lawlessness".
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