Repentance
The biblical repentance does not constitute a change of attitude promoted by human consciousness. Integrates a life before men says another aspect of the Christian life, not repentance promoted by the gospel. True repentance says a change in the design (metanoia), ie, a change in thinking about how man attains salvation of God.
“And think not to yourselves, saying, We have Abraham to our father…” (Mt 3: 9)
To achieve salvation in Christ was necessary a big change (radical) in its way of thinking, this change was when you heard the gospel message and believed in Christ. The gospel is good news that produces a radical transformation in the way we understand salvation. This radical change in thinking that the gospel down the man Who was without God is named in the Bible of Repentance. Repentance is change in design, concept, about how man attains salvation of God.
Many scribes and Pharisees came to the baptism of John the Baptist, but even after being baptized, still declaring that they were children of God by being descendants of Abraham. John the Baptist observed through what professed that they had a genuine repentance “And think not Just say we have Abraham to our father” (Mt 3: 9). It was necessary to the scribes and Pharisees repent of their misconceptions about how to be saved, that is, as a child of God. John the Baptist is emphatic, for even the stones God is able to make children to Abraham, that is, to make (create) children to Himself.
What is your conception of salvation? Have you ever regretted fact? You are producing fruits worthy of repentance?
For you to answer and check that you have reached the genuine repentance, note the following:
- a) All men have repented of something they did wrong in the course of his life. Repent of their mistakes, attitudes, decisions, etc. But is this kind of repentance granting Salvation?
- b) A person Who lived a dissolute life of crime, promiscuity and lies, but at the repent of mistakes (attitudes) and goes to live in a monastery, reached the genuine repentance?
- c) A citizen dedicated to live an orderly life in society, religious, and to commit an unlawful or wrongful act, and feel deep sorrow for his act, reached true repentance?
Do Not! Are not these types of regrets that described above that John recommended! This repentance promoted by human consciousness is what the Bible calls repentance from dead works.
The biblical repentance does not constitute a change of attitude promoted by human consciousness. The life of integrity before men says another aspect of the Christian life.
True repentance says a change in the design, ie, in thinking about how to achieve the salvation of God.
For the Pharisees and scribes was not enough to assume that they were children of God by being descendants of Abraham “And think not to yourselves, saying, We have Abraham to our father” Matthew 3: 9 For the Rich Young Ruler was not enough to fulfill the Law or do something for salvation “Good Teacher, what good must I do to have eternal life?” (Matthew 19: 16). Nicodemus was not enough to be a judge, master, Pharisees, Jewish, etc. “There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews” (John 3: 1).
Peter, speaking of repentance, urged the Jews to change their thinking and point of view about the Christ Who crucified. Only after the Jews believe in Christ as Lord would repentant fact (Acts 2:38).
Note that John the Baptist did not rebuke the Pharisees and scribes about mistakes they had committed. Before, should repent because, that is, because of the proximity of the Kingdom of God, which is Christ among men “Repent, because it is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 3: 1 -2).
The mission of John the Baptist was this: to prepare the way of the Lord, that is, proclaim to men that they needed to abandon their conception of how to be saved, and receive Christ.
On one occasion Jesus rebuked some disciples who had no genuine repentance. Note that these disciples believed in Christ, but they trusted that they were saved by being descendants of Abraham. They had not had a genuine repentance, since they were still attached to the old concept of how to achieve the salvation of God.
“Jesus Said to those Jews which believed on him, If ye abide in my word, then are ye my disciples the know the truth and the truth will set you They said.. We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves of anyone” (John 8: 11 -34).
Those Jews had not repented. They were simple followers of Christ, because of Bread, miracles, of a king, etc. But, when defendants that to be true disciples had to know the truth, that is, leave the ignorance of sin (repentance), showed what was their conception of salvation: they trusted in their own conceit, that they were the descendants of Abraham.
The followers of Christ (the Jews Who believed in him) were in the same condition of the scribes and Pharisees Who were the baptism of John the Baptist: they trusted that salvation came from the generation (offspring) of Abraham (Mt 3: 9) compare with (John 8:33).
So if you believed in Christ as your one and only savior, and left the old conception that it was necessary sacrifices, prayers, punishments, origins, charity, religion, etc., to be saved, you have reached the genuine repentance. Have you repented of fact, there was a change of mind comes from knowing the gospel Who freed from ignorance of sin.
Because you have repented genuinely now to profess the name of Christ as the only savior, you are producing the worthy fruit of repentance, that is, the fruit of lips that profess Christ as Lord (Acts 4:12; Heb 13:15 ).
An error on repentance arises from misinterpretation of the verse: “Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance” (John 3: 8), when infer that ‘fruits worthy of repentance’ refers to human behavior. Note that the fruit that John the Baptist Said says what the man professes about how one attains salvation, since then He comes to the presumption of the Pharisees and scribes.
Why what one professes (fruit) evidence if she repented or not? Because the behavior is something external, that no evidence what is in the human heart. Note that the false prophets come disguised as sheep (behavior), but inwardly they are ravening wolves, and only by their fruits (which profess) can meet them (Mt 7:15 -16).
Questions and Answers:
1) What is the thinking of the scribes and Pharisees on how to achieve salvation? (Mt 3: 9)
- They thought it was enough to be a descendant of Abraham (son in the flesh) to reach the divine sonship.
2) Name four examples of ‘repentance’ that does not promote salvation:
- Repent a fight with her husband; repent to behave poorly in school; repent not make an important decision in life; repent for having omitted helps someone.
3) What is repentance to salvation?
- abandon the old concepts on how to achieve salvation and accept the doctrine of Christ.
4) What the rich young man thought was needed to be saved?
- Do some ‘good’ to God.
5) What advice of Peter to the Jews who crucified the Lord Jesus?
- Repent, or abandon the concepts concerning membership in the flesh of Abraham and the law of Moses, and be baptized in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38).
6) What advice would John the Baptist gave to the scribes and Pharisees to be saved?
- Do not think that just say, we have a Father Abraham. Repent, or abandon this concept!
7) As the true believer produces worthy of repentance fruit?
Professing Jesus as Lord of your life according to the truth contained in the Bible.
