How does a Protestant repent after Baptism and after being "saved"?

[jwilder]

To answer the original question, “How does a Protestant repent after Baptism and after being ‘saved’?”, this Protestant would say essentially in the same way a Roman Catholic does: through repentance, confession, and absolution. That is the way it is done in my tradiiton, although we do not view confession as a sacrament.

I would point out that there is no one “Protestant” church, and so there is no one “Protestant” way of theology and practice, and there is a wide range of practices and theology among Protestant church bodies. So it may be a little confusing to ask, “How does a Protestant…” Potentially you will end up with as many differing answers as there are “Protestants” viewing this thread.

 

[SPOKENWORD]

Catholic4aReasn:

Hi Dan!

Repenting and confessing is not the same thing though. Is repentence necessary for the Protestant after salvation?

I think that this is an area of disagreement for Protestants, but please correct me if I’m misunderstanding something:

Some Protestants would claim that if one does not repent after one is saved that that is proof that that person was never saved to begin with. So, strictly speaking repentence is not “necessary” but if he does not he was never saved.

In Christ,
Nancy

Hi Catholic,Without repentance no one will enter into the kingdom of heaven. God Bless

 

[Exporter]

I am about to ruffel some feathers, but that is alright.

I think it is a rare occurance for a Protestant to get on his knees and actually do a confession - naming each sin commited. If they do confess it is more likely somethilike this." Lord forgive me of my sins" - AND THAT’S IT!

Those few Protestants who think they confessed - did not use the formula for confession. They do not mention each sin. They confess like a 4 year old.

 

[SPOKENWORD]

Exporter:

I am about to ruffel some feathers, but that is alright.

I think it is a rare occurance for a Protestant to get on his knees and actually do a confession - naming each sin commited. If they do confess it is more likely somethilike this." Lord forgive me of my sins" - AND THAT’S IT!

Those few Protestants who think they confessed - did not use the formula for confession. They do not mention each sin. They confess like a 4 year old.

Jesus did say come to me like a little child. God Bless

 

[bkniceley]

how does a protestant repent after baptism and after being “saved”? well for one we have a different interpretation of baptism as i think u know which to us baptism is just an outward expression of an inward commitment. So even after baptism we still sin and to show true repentence for us is to humbly come to the lord and sincerely confess our sins to him. Now u asked “is there anything physically that you do to at least symbolize your change of heart or repentance?” To answer this if we truly repent we do not repeat the same sin over again. This is how we show that we truly repented to god. And “please tell me if you method of repenting helps you stay on the narrow path or do you fall into the same sin easily even after repentance?” Well if we truly have a change of heart and repent then yes it helps us stay on the right path however if we arent sincere and committed to what we said then obviously not… id think it would be the same for the catholic church as well.

 

[TODD1]

I can’t even imagine growing in the grace of God without the sacrament of confession-- it baffles the mind that people have a problem with the way Christ set up HIS way for the forgiveness of sins.

I’m 24 years old, and thanks be to God that I’ve grown “leaps and bounds” in my “walk with the Lord” in no little way thanks to frequent confession.

If anyone needs biblical proof, it’s out there; I’m sure on the catholic answers website.

 

[TODD1]

SPOKENWORD:

Jesus did say come to me like a little child. God Bless

sorry spokenword but your quote is taken way out of context my friend.

 

[okieflyer]

Curious on the Catholic (name removed by moderator)ut for these questions. Do not take into account Gods grace since it is impossible for us to grasp.

Lets say a Protestant and a Catholic commit the same sin.

The Protestant conffesses to God thru prayer with a sincere heart and the Catholic does as well but to a Priest. Has God forgave both of them or just one?

        I feel the key is a **sincere heart**.

If a Catholic and the Protestant each confess as listed above but with no intentions of turning from this sin does God forgive them? Does God forgive the Catholic if he as pulled the wool over the eyes of the priest in having the priest belive he is sincere? The Protestant goes without saying… you can’t fool God.
I feel there would be no forgiveness for either.

 

[okieflyer]

On this I think most Protestants miss somthing and I’m Protestant. Often they badger and beat up on Catholics for confessing to a preist. The Bible states very clearly to confess your sins to one and another. Most Potestants do not practice this or they feel it is for those they have sinned against. If you sinned against someone they allready know and there is nothing to confess. It should be done with all sin. It holds you accountable to some one. To call you out when you are wrong and in denial. Not many Protestant churches practice formal confession to their pastor, just a few Lutheran churches that I know of some time prior to communion. I attend an Assembly of God and here many people divide into small groups of believers to confess sins to one another without condemnation and to encourage each other. While there is no condemnation you do not get a free pass there is allways correction. The following week you recieve direct questions about what ever you have been dealing with. It is a tough thing to go thru as I can imagine Catholic confessions with a priest. Once it is over you seem to weigh tons lighter than when you went in! I encourage ALL Protestants to start meeting weekly with a small group (4-5persons) of your close Christian friends and mentors.