Do you have to repent to be forgiven

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I dunno… I just think you all are making it WAY too complicated.

Say to the priest, “I’m sorry for my sins”.

He has the authority to forgive sins.

Remember that Jesus said “your sins are forgiven… go and sin no more”.
 
Philthy,

You are exactly right Philthy.

Now, by your stressing the words “possiblity” and “might” I am assuming that you intended to allude to the point that no-one can be saved unless they “accept the free gift of salvation”… right?

John
www.gideonsword.net
Without unnecesarily committing to the conditions effecting salvation and without disagreeing with the condition you put forward, I will simply say that the fact that Christ died for the sins of all mankind means that the possibility of salvation for every single human has existed since the Crucifixion. At the same time however, we recognize that not everyone has been actually saved to eternal life (Hell’s population is not fixed: it is growing) and so we recognize that eternal life requires something in addition to Christ’s work on our behalf.
 
Milliardo,
"Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: "

Repentance of sin is a “work” of ourselves when it occurs before salvation, and is an attempt to gain salvation apart from grace.

"Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. "
John
Did you forget verse 10 “For we are his hadiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the **GOOD WORKS **that God has PREPARED in advance that we SHOULD live in them.”

Why do so many of you guys forget verse 10 oh yeah because you want it to say what you are trying to get out of it. Obviously God wants us to do good works and verse 10 says we SHOULD not that we dont have to. And WORKS are not APART from Gods GRACE he has PREPARED them for us John. It is because of his GRACE that we can do such things as repent. This is why we should not boast of out works because it is not us but Jesus. We agree with you on verse 9. Verse 8 says faith is a gift of God and verse 10 says Works is a gift of God that we Should be doing. You should be repenting.

Read the bible in context John this verse only bolsters Catholics:thumbsup:
 
Philthy,

“Rev 11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.”

John
www.gideonsword.net
John I still see no QUANTITATIVE separation of reward in this statement. Please re-read my previous sentence and come to understand why the word QUANTITATIVE was added to it.
When you do you will see that the portion you bolded simply says that God will give reward to his servants. It does not say that MORE (ie quantity) reward will be given to prophets, less to saints and less to those that fear his name.
Your original post was an attempt to justify your contention that a distinction between salvation and reward in Heaven exists, and, as several of us have pointed out more than once, this verse does nothing to support your contention.
Unless you have something better to offer your claim of a separation of salvation and reward remains invalid.
 
Philthy,
That is not false dichotomy, and I will show you why…

That same Paul, who specified that those “worst” of sinners would not enter the kingdom of heaven, was also the same Paul who said this…

"1Ti 1:15 This [is] a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. "

If those; prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, drunkards, robbers etc. won’t get into heaven… what chance would the Apostle Paul have as being the chief of sinners?

I can tell you… the very next verse Paul tells us that Christ shewed forth in him… not by repentance, but by believing on Him unto life everlasting.

"1Ti 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. "

John
www.gideonsword.net
Please let the record show that John’s rebuttal fails to invalidate my conclusion which he attempted to respond to. He has not invalidated either premise of the syllogism and he has not demonstrated that the conclusion is not a result of necessity from the premises. He has chosen instead to go off on a tangent without clearly demonstrated how it relates to the original topic. I will use his post to bear fruit nonetheless. Unfortunately I cannot post now…
 
Philty,

Therefore, the only sin we will be judged for (or are already judged for) is the rejection of Christ.

John
www.gideonsword.net
Interesting - so everyone who goes to Hell has an equal punishment for the one sin of rejecting Christ, correct?

Yes or no, please

But for those who accept Christ, rewards will differ as a function of good works performed?

Yes or no, please
 
If those; prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, drunkards, robbers etc. won’t get into heaven… what chance would the Apostle Paul have as being the chief of sinners?
I can tell you… the very next verse Paul tells us that Christ shewed forth in him… not by repentance, but by believing on Him unto life everlasting.
You know this is very interesting because most baptist I know use this very verse to prove to me homosexuals are going to hell. without geting to far off topic do they go to hell or not John? Just a yes or no answer would be good. keep inmind that Paul was showing ghis humility and Paul in no way belives the same as you Paul even realised he can lose his own salvation. Paul in no way believed that his sins are worse than these of prostitutes… but did realise that he may comit a sin worth damnation.
 
Interesting - so everyone who goes to Hell has an equal punishment for the one sin of rejecting Christ, correct?

Yes or no, please

But for those who accept Christ, rewards will differ as a function of good works performed?

Yes or no, please
Dear Friends,
Please consider, what I believe to be the essence of the key to your contention:
It is not the rejection of Christ which prevents a soul from experiencing salvation, but the rejection of the Holy Spirit, whom Christ sent to save us.
Us means everyone, not just the repentant.
All souls will stand in the presence of God.
God is One, alone, and unequalled, though percieved in three aspects by Trinitarians.
Thus there is non other for a soul to stand before.
The presence of God is Paradise.
Though this word is indeed derived from a Greek word meaning ‘garden’, it is indeed, a lousy bi-lingual pun on ‘para’, Greek, ‘alongside’, and ‘Deus’, Latin, ‘God’.
The experience of Paradise will depend on the state of the soul.
If the soul is unrepentant, God will be experienced as the hated enemy, and seen as Satan, and Paradise will feel like Hell.
The repentant soul will know God as the loving Father, and will experience Paradise as Heaven.
This may seem like heresy.
Indeed, I am a self confessed heretic.
Nevertheless, I believe these words contain the kernal of truth.
 
Milliardo,
But where there is no fear, in like manner there is no amendment; where there is no amendment, repentance is of necessity vain, for it lacks the fruit for which God sowed it; that is, man’s salvation.
As Turtullian so wisely said… the fruit of salvation is repentance. Which is what I have been trying to convey.

John
www.gideonsword.net
 
Philthy,
so we recognize that eternal life requires something in addition to Christ’s work on our behalf.
Paul didn’t think so…

"Gal 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. "

Even those works that you speak of Philty, were nailed to the cross…

"Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; "

John
www.gideonsword.net
 
Odell,
You know this is very interesting because most baptist I know use this very verse to prove to me homosexuals are going to hell. without geting to far off topic do they go to hell or not John?
Without getting too far off topic… those baptists, if they are preaching that a homosexual is going to hell whether they are saved or not… they are preaching an entertaining sermon, but not a very biblical one. To answer your question, I can’t say yes or no to generally say that all homosexuals are going to heaven or hell.

If they have accepted the free gift of salvation, no they are not going to hell. But when that person is saved, they will no longer live a homosexual lifestyle without guilt, because the Holy Spirit lives within them.

John
www.gideonsword.net
 
Philthy and Odell,

"Heb 11:6 But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. "

The only way to please God by presenting yourself a living sacrifice to God… is by faith.

That verse taken by itself (out of context), could mean that every sinner and his body is holy and pleasing to God… but we know that isn’t the case… we are sinners, and are displeasing to God.

But Paul qualified his statement about sacrificing our bodies… that it was “spiritual worship”… which is BY FAITH. Therefore, if our bodies are presented to God “by faith”, it is pleasing to God.

John
www.gideonsword.net
Hmmm. Our bodies presented to God “by faith”? Sounds a lot like good works to me. What EXACTLY do you mean here. Are you EQUATING good works done by the Christian cooperating with Gods Will by Gods Grace as “faith”?

Yes or No first please…
 
Milliardo,

As Turtullian so wisely said… the fruit of salvation is repentance. Which is what I have been trying to convey.

John
www.gideonsword.net
Since you have written articles about Tertullian and referenced him frequently, I looked up his work, “On Repentance”. Can you tell me what is going on here in Chapter 9 because what he is describing as repentance sounds like a lot more than just “a changing of mind”?

CHAPTER 9

Concerning the outward manifestations by which this second repentance is to be accompanied.


The narrower, then, the sphere of action of this second and only (remaining) repentance, the more laborious is its probation; in order that it may not be exhibited in the conscience alone, but may likewise be carried out in some (external) act. This act, which is more usually expressed and commonly spoken of under a Greek name, is exomologhsis, whereby we confess our sins to the Lord, not indeed as if He were ignorant of them, but inasmuch as by confession satisfaction is settled, of confession repentance is born; by repentance God is appeased. And thus exomologesis is a discipline for man’s prostration and humiliation, enjoining a demeanor calculated to move mercy. With regard also to the very dress and food, it commands (the penitent) to lie in sackcloth and ashes, to cover his body in mourning, to lay his spirit low in sorrows, to exchange for severe treatment the sins which he has committed; moreover, to know no food and drink but such as is plain,–not for the stomach’s sake, to wit, but the soul’s; for the most part, however, to feed prayers on fastings, to groan, to weep and make outcries unto the Lord your God; to bow before the feet of the presbyters, and kneel to God’s dear ones; to enjoin on all the brethren to be ambassadors to bear his deprecatory supplication (before God). All this exomologesis (does), that it may enhance repentance; may honour God by its fear of the (incurred) danger; may, by itself pronouncing against the sinner, stand in the stead of God’s indignation, and by temporal mortification (I will not say frustrate, but) expunge eternal punishments. Therefore, while it abases the man, it raises him; while it covers him with squalor, it renders him more clean; while it accuses, it excuses; while it condemns, it absolves. The less quarter you give yourself, the more (believe me) will God give you.

newadvent.org/fathers/0320.htm

You frequently refer to Tertullian and his work “On Repentance” but the chapter above clearly contradicts what you said earlier:
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Bibleapologist:
The only way to please God is by faith… God is not pleased in any way with your works… in fact, He abhors them.
 
Philthy,

That is not false dichotomy, and I will show you why…

That same Paul, who specified that those “worst” of sinners would not enter the kingdom of heaven, was also the same Paul who said this…

"1Ti 1:15 This [is] a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. "

If those; prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, drunkards, robbers etc. won’t get into heaven… what chance would the Apostle Paul have as being the chief of sinners?
John
www.gideonsword.net
A very good chance because he REPENTED of his sin. Thank you for bringing this most relevent fact up! We are back on target! The difference is that Paul repented of his sin and thereby accepts Christ on His terms; those who choose not to, are choosing to reject Christ and will not be saved. Again, this is one of the most fundamental realities of Christianity.
Also, perhaps your bible reveals that Paul is in Heaven, but mine doesnt. What we DO know for a fact is that the inspired word of God says that drunkards, thieves, adulterers, etc wont get to Heaven. You dont simply get to refute a clear statement by raising an unprovable speculation.
Consider your first objection refuted and the fact remains that choosing to sin is rejecting Christ - to say otherwise is to create a false dichotomy.
 
Philthy,

Paul didn’t think so…

"Gal 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. "

Even those works that you speak of Philty, were nailed to the cross…

"Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; "

John
www.gideonsword.net
I can make no sense of this. I can however, say that Paul felt compelled to preach the Gospel which proves he didnt beleive everyone was saved.
Your second reference makes no mention of works which you alluded to in referencing it. You will have to do much better if you expect anyone to understand you.
 
Milliardo,

As Turtullian so wisely said… the fruit of salvation is repentance. Which is what I have been trying to convey.
Tertullian’s point here is that one’s recognition of Christ is also recognizing one’s self as sinful. Nothing there that contradicts the Catholic position at all.
 
alleged quote of Turtullian provided by ba:
But where there is no fear, in like manner there is no amendment; where there is no amendment, repentance is of necessity vain, for it lacks the fruit for which God sowed it; that is, man’s salvation.
As Turtullian so wisely said… the fruit of salvation is repentance. Which is what I have been trying to convey.

John
www.gideonsword.net
Hmmm. Is that what this says? Lets see.
Where there is no fear, there is no amendment, or correction of one’s behavior. OK, fear of God (Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom Prov1:7) is a necessary requirement to bring about amending a wrong. And if there is no amending, or correcting, then repentance is necessarily vain. This also makes sense, you cant just say you are sorry without attempting to correct what you can. And why is it vain? Because it lacks the fruit for which god SOWED that repentance. And what is the fruit of repentance? SALVATION. **This statement seems to be saying that SALVATION is the fruit *of ***REPENTENCE. That is not at all what you have been saying - you have been saying that repentence is the fruit of salvation, which is a complete reversal of what the quote above says. :yup:
 
How about just saying you’re sorry… get absolution from the priest … and then quit doing whatever the sin(s) was/were?

And if you do backslide … go back to the confessional and tell the priest that you’re backsliding.

In the Catholic religion, penitents don’t need to write treatises. Or attempt to define or redefine words that have different meanings to different religious traditions.

It’s ok to just say you’re sorry … and then go and sin no more.
 
Philthy,
Paul didn’t think so…
]
Was is not Paul who said to PICK UP OUR CROSS DAILY
What does he mean by this if Jesus already picked up the Cross? And why must we do this daily if we are saved at one particular point in time? Isnt this a work?
 
How about just saying you’re sorry… get absolution from the priest … and then quit doing whatever the sin(s) was/were?

And if you do backslide … go back to the confessional and tell the priest that you’re backsliding.

In the Catholic religion, penitents don’t need to write treatises. Or attempt to define or redefine words that have different meanings to different religious traditions.

It’s ok to just say you’re sorry … and then go and sin no more.
Surely what you really mean, is to say, and indeed be, sorry, and ATTEMPT to sin no more.
You will of course fail.
You are human.
Failure is sin, and sin is failure.
The FACT that we continue to sin is irrellevant.
What is important is that we continue to acknowledge our sin in sorrow.
To acknowledge your sin in sorrow is to repent.
But all this is for our perception.
Forgiveness of God is not in any way dependant upon us, or our actions, or our attitudes: it is UNCONDITIONAL.
It is our attitude, or our actions, or even ourselves, which prevent us from accepting this forgiveness.
But to God, our acceptance is irrelevant, we are still forgiven.
 
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