What is repentance? How does it apply to Christians and the church?
 

Regarding the church’s need to repent, God is very clear throughout scripture that there cannot be "sin in the camp" (Joshua 7). II Chronicles 7:14 says, "If My people…will humble themselves, and pray…, and turn from their wicked ways…then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

Below is a partial definition of "Repentance" from Hayford’s Bible Handbook. By reading this, we can very well see where we as believers can fall into "dead works," lack of humility, unwillingness to have our minds continually renewed, become unteachable in our doctrines and/or traditions, etc. It is a daily decision for us "…to do justly, and love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God" (Micah 1:8).

"…Repentance is turning from wickedness and dead works (Acts 8:22; Hebrews 6:1) toward God and His glory (Acts 20:21; Rev. 16:9), eternal life (Acts 11:18), and a knowledge of the truth (II Tim. 2:25).

"Repentance is associated with prayer (I Kings 8:47), belief (Mark 1:15), baptism (Acts 2:38), and conversion (Acts 3:19) and is accompanied by humility (Matt. 11:21). Repentance is God’s will and pleasure (Luke 15:7-10; II Peter 3:9), as well as His command (Mark 6:12; Acts 17:30). It is a gift of His sovereign love (Acts 5:31; 11:18; Rom. 2:4; II Tim. 2:25), without which we cannot be saved (Luke 13:3).

"Repentance ought also to be seen as a life-long attitude of availability to the ongoing renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:1-2). The teachable soul never hunkers down in a doctrinaire notion of presumed perfection. Constant and progressive transformation (II Cor. 3:17, 18) calls us to a growth in the mind of Christ (Phil. 2:1-6), a mindset that necessitates ongoing "repentance" because only a will to be changed will allow that transformation."

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"Brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He consecrated for us..."
Hebrews 10:19-20


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