Posted on 12/19/2016 7:24:12 PM PST by DWW1990
Pleased with the efforts of his demonic protégé, Screwtape nevertheless cautioned Wormwood not to waken his waffling churchgoing “patient” to “a sense of his real position.” In chapter XII of C.S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters, Screwtape further warns Wormwood that his patient “must not be allowed to suspect that he is now, however slowly, heading right away from the sun on a line which will carry him into the cold and dark of utmost space.”
Screwtape goes on to contend that the man’s church attendance could even be used as an advantage in their demonic schemes. He explains,
"As long as he retains externally the habits of a Christian he can still be made to think of himself as one who has adopted a few new friends and amusements but whose spiritual state is much the same as it was six weeks ago [before he became a Christian]. And while he thinks that, we do not have to contend with the explicit repentance of a definite, fully recognized, sin, but only with his vague, though uneasy, feeling that he hasn’t been doing very well lately."...
Fewer and fewer Americans these days seem willing “to contend with the explicit repentance of a definite, fully recognized, sin.” Of course, to a great extent, this is because fewer and fewer Americans are able to recognize what is sin—or, many Americans are simply becoming comfortable with their sin, and are eagerly strolling along the “gentle slope” to hell.
Thus, no one should be surprised that a nation so deceived about sin is steeped in “fake news.” Tragically, peddling what I’ve dubbed “fake Christianity,” many in the church today are responsible for this widespread confusion and deception.
(Excerpt) Read more at trevorgrantthomas.com ...
I see you're enjoying your own personal flavor.
Nothing new about it - Jack Chick's been peddling the same snake oil for decades.
Wendle: “There is no need for repentance . ZERO...”
__________+++__________
Jesus Christ our Lord our tells us in Matthew 21:32:
For John came to you in the way of justice, and you did not believe him. But the publicans and the harlots believed him: but you, seeing it, did not even afterwards repent, that you might believe him.
So repentance is a means of reaching the state of belief.
Where in the Bible does it say or when did the Church ever teach that one need not repent?
So when Jesus said “repent and believe” He didn’t really mean it. There is no “belief” without repentance: https://bible.org/question/repentance-necessary-salvation
Nicely cited!
The Greek word where repentance is used as a noun is “metanoia” which means “a change of mind.” In this case, Jesus used the verb form of repentance which is “metanoeō” which again means “to change one’s mind” or “heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins” so we see that repentance is not just a change of mind but a change of intention or a change of the heart. It is an intentional change or turning away from sin and turning to God; from wanting to sin to not wanting to sin. (This explanation is sourced from: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/christiancrier/2014/10/10/top-7-bible-verses-about-repentance/
The question then is, what does the word "repentance" mean? It's a Greek word that means "change of mind", literally, "think differently afterwards" (see http://biblehub.com/greek/3340.htm). It's not what is usually thought of as a "turning from sin". Although, true repentance that brings one to the knowledge of the truth and salvation by faith in Christ WILL result in a change of ones lifestyle. But until we change our way of thinking and accept the gift of God by His grace through faith, we will not see our need to live in righteousness and holiness. The new birth is what makes that happen and it is not something we generate.
That’s because they’re liberals.
You’ll be much better off.
You both speak truth! Saved me from having to look it up. Thanks!
“Repent” means doing more than required by the “cheap grace” offered so often over the last 500 - 1000 years. This is one of many grave errors we are taught in all churches.
So, the thief did repent.
“WHICH IS SIMPLE —BELIEF IN JESUS AS THE SON”
Two men with demons ran from the tombs to see Jesus they said to him:
Matthew 8:29 King James Version (KJV)
And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
The two demons obviously believed Jesus to be the Son of God.
Are they saved?
Good point. If you don’t repent then you really don’t believe. They are two sides of the same coin. “If you love me you will follow my commandments”
Part of the problem is the thinking that’s creeping into the church that God doesn’t really care what we do, even if it’s sin as long as our heart is *right*.
Holy living is now considered legalism and holding to sound doctrine will get you accusations of being *intellectual* and *intellectualizing* God and not being in true relationship with Him.
But you simply cannot *accept* Jesus and continue to live a life of sin.
Repentance is a change of heart TOWARDS Jesus and away from sin.
Jesus is more than fire insurance.
And you know that how?
There is no true turning to Jesus unless there is a change of mind and heart about it.
Blame the culture which has become very hostle to the Christians and to Christ.
That is correct, and the Scripture teaches so.
His repentance, the righteous resolution of the inner struggle with one's alter ego, was shown by his external act of admonishing the unrepentant malefactor, thus exhibiting public confession, godly repentance (metanoia)(not merely regret), and saving faith (pistis), as certified by his Savior forthwith.
"And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on
him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou
fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of
our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou
comest into thy kingdom.
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day
shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Lk. 23:39-43 AV).
Actually, Apostle Paul contrasted the phony "Christianity" with the real thing which is manifested by the ability to be corrected by admonishment and willingness to put the faith into practice:
"For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent (metamelomai = regret),
though I did repent (again, metamelomai): for I perceive that the same epistle hath
made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance
(metanoia = irreversible change of mind): for ye were made sorry after a godly
manner, that ye might receive damage (zemiooh = injury) by us in nothing.
For godly sorrow worketh repentance (metanoia) to salvation not to be repented of
(ametameletos = not to be regretted): but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness
it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea,
what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things
ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter" (2 Cor. 7:8-11 AV)
Here Paul commended the Corinthians in their function as a local church for putting into practice the admonishments that he gave them in (a) previous letter(s). But this kind of repentant and righteous response is necessarily expected from individuals as true followers of Christ.
Could it be that President-Elect Trump will treat Christians a whole lot better than under Hillary if she was to have been elected instead?
There was no comprising by Christians, rather it being practical.
Belief and repentence go together.
RSVCE 8:29 gives a clear and full teaching in regular English.
Merry Christmas!
Wanted to post this that I was told that Paul did not write the letter to the Hebrews. Also his letters are the oldest part of the NT.
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