Repenting

[Adam14]

Hello Everyone! I haven’t posted here in a long time, but I’ve stopped by and read some threads from time to time.

Anyway, I have a question that I’d like to read your thoughts on. Regarding repentance…

I know that we are to repent, and I’ve always understood that as meaning “turn away” from. So when I sin, I should repent…i.e. turn away from that sin and never do it again.

I’m really struggling with this. I sin often, I’ll be honest. I know that I will sin again. I think some sins are “easier” to totally turn away from. For me, I feel as if I have a lot of control over using the Lord’s name in vein, and although I’ve done it before, I’m confident that I can not do it again, hence repent from it.

There are other sins that are much more difficult, in my opinion. I’m a happily married 29 year old male. My wife is absolutely stunning, and if you saw her, you’d wonder why someone as beautiful as her ended up with a dude like me . But if I’m driving and see an attractive female walking down the sidewalk, wearing clothes that don’t leave much to the imagination, I’m sinning if I look at her in lust, even if it’s the slightest bit. I can catch myself and immediately stop, but I think it’s almost impossible for a 29 yr old male to not do this!

Of course I have never acted on this, nor will I ever! But I think we are programmed to be attracted to others.

How can I honestly repent of this sin when I know that I will most likely gaze at the next “knock out” walking by me, even if it’s only for a split second?

PS: Please don’t get me wrong, I don’t STARE or anything like that…my question is regarding that initial thought that I think everyone gets saying, “hey, that’s a good looking lady” etc

 

[spoiltvictorian]

Confess your general weakness in addition to the sin itself. When I remember, I confess particular sins and also confess my propensity toward those sins.

Also, you must understand that when you are absolved of sins by your priest/pastor, you leave the church with a clean slate. You are innocent again! If you confess cynically, and afterward think it did you no good, you don’t understand the real power of absolution given by Christ to his pastors.

 

[Muslim_Woman]

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Salaam/peace

… I’m sinning if I look at her in lust

it’s good that you are conscious about your weakness . Ask God to help you ’ to lower your gaze’

 

[Steadfast]

The word in Greek is Metanoia which means a change of mind (or heart).

It means that you have changed in your attitude toward sin, where before you did not, now you agree with God about it, you hate it, it saddens you so deeply that were it not for the grace of God in Christ you would have no hope. Your mind has changed.

Only the regenerate can do this.

 

[Steadfast]

I have often thought that Paul is talking about something similar when in Romans 12 he tells the church to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind”.

 

[ralphinal]

there are two aspects of repentance in my mind. THe first occures after you acknoledge that you committed a sin and ask forgiveness. The first step is to posses firm purpose of amendment that you will not sin again. Let’s say that the sin is watching porn. Firm purpose of amendment would not only include not watching it again, but getting rid of any in your house. The second part, and harder part, is to avoid that sin in the future. Sometimes, that can only be accomplished with God’s help.

 

[StMarina303ad]

Hello Everyone! I haven’t posted here in a long time, but I’ve stopped by and read some threads from time to time.

Anyway, I have a question that I’d like to read your thoughts on. Regarding repentance…

I know that we are to repent, and I’ve always understood that as meaning “turn away” from. So when I sin, I should repent…i.e. turn away from that sin and never do it again.

I’m really struggling with this. I sin often, I’ll be honest. I know that I will sin again. I think some sins are “easier” to totally turn away from. For me, I feel as if I have a lot of control over using the Lord’s name in vein, and although I’ve done it before, I’m confident that I can not do it again, hence repent from it.

There are other sins that are much more difficult, in my opinion. I’m a happily married 29 year old male. My wife is absolutely stunning, and if you saw her, you’d wonder why someone as beautiful as her ended up with a dude like me . But if I’m driving and see an attractive female walking down the sidewalk, wearing clothes that don’t leave much to the imagination, I’m sinning if I look at her in lust, even if it’s the slightest bit. I can catch myself and immediately stop, but I think it’s almost impossible for a 29 yr old male to not do this!

Of course I have never acted on this, nor will I ever! But I think we are programmed to be attracted to others.

How can I honestly repent of this sin when I know that I will most likely gaze at the next “knock out” walking by me, even if it’s only for a split second?

PS: Please don’t get me wrong, I don’t STARE or anything like that…my question is regarding that initial thought that I think everyone gets saying, “hey, that’s a good looking lady” etc

There are 5 levels of spiritual attack which come from negative logismoi (thoughts) which are from either ourselves or demons.

Seeing something can trigger a logismos (thought) - like a beautiful 1/2 naked girl walking down the street (for a guy).

Anyway, the first level of spiritual attack is the Assault - that initial logismos/thought. - there is no sin yet, since it just popped into your head…the question is what are you then going to do with that thought? Your defense at this point is: Indifference - simply ignore the thought or what is called Splitting - completely shift your focus - (try to memorize the license plate of the guy in front of you or something)

The second level of spiritual attack is: Interaction - where you think about that thought - still no sin yet, since you are considering what to do with it - you can ask yourself questions like: Will this allow Christ to be victorious in me? Will this bring me closer to salvation? Will this help my relationship with my wife?

The third level of spiritual attack is: Consent - where you have made the decision to sin, in this example you give - to give yourself over to lustful thoughts - taking lustful pleasure from it - this is where sin comes into the picture. This is something you would need to go to Confession over.

The fourth level of spiritual attack is: Captivity - like a bad habit - where you see a 1/2 naked woman and you automatically give in to lustful thoughts - still sinful.

The final level of spiritual attack is: Passion - you are now addicted to that particular sin, in this case - lust. You seek out women or pictures of women for the purpose of lust. This also sin.

For the 4th and 5th levels of spiritual attack, the best defense is a great offense: which is praxis, including: Watchfulness - constant careful examination of thoughts; Prayer - both personal and corporal; Fasting - especially every Wednesday and Friday from all meat, dairy, olive oil, wine, sexual relations; Study of Sacred Scripture, Lives of the Saints, Receiving the Mysteries of the Church - especially Confession and Eucharist; Metanoia - repentence and protrations; etc. Your spiritual father or mother can design for you an appropriate Prayer Rule for your state of life and your passions.

 

[Fisher]

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I know that we are to repent, and I’ve always understood that as meaning “turn away” from. So when I sin, I should repent…i.e. turn away from that sin and never do it again

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repent Def from the Greek (metanoeō) μετανοέω 1) to change one’s mind, i.e. to repent 2) to change one’s mind for better

If repentance means turning from sin, and turning from sin means to stop sinning, then a person must live a sinless life in order to be saved. And if that is the case, then nobody could ever be saved, because there are no perfect people.

James 4:17 says, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

For instance, in Exodus 32:14 the Bible says, “And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.”

In addition to the twenty-eight times that God repents in the Old Testament, there are nine other passages that tell of things about which God does not or did not repent. Of the forty-six times a form of the word “repentance” appears in the Old Testament, only nine times is man doing the repenting. Thirty-seven times it has reference to God’s repenting or telling us of things about which God did not or will not repent.

Now, if “repent” means to turn from sin, we have a problem. We have God turning from sin, and that is certainly inconsistent with Bible teaching. God is sinless and has no sin to turn from. But if “repentance” means a change of mind, then it is consistent. You have God changing His mind about some things, but you have at least nine things in the Old Testament about which God says He will not change His mind.

“Repentance is the recognition of my sinnership — the owning before God that I am as vile as He has declared me to be in His holy Word.”

Isaiah 53:6, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
John 3:3, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." **
Revelation 20:15, "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."
Revelation 21:8, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” **
1st Peter 1:18-19, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ…”

John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

 

[StMarina303ad]

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repent Def from the Greek (metanoeō) μετανοέω 1) to change one’s mind, i.e. to repent 2) to change one’s mind for better

If repentance means turning from sin, and turning from sin means to stop sinning, then a person must live a sinless life in order to be saved.

And if that is the case, then nobody could ever be saved, because there are no perfect people..- my bold

That’s why Sacred Scripture tells us to: “Be Perfect as your Father in Heaven is Perfect.”

There are saints who have reached that level of perfection prior to death. It is what we are ALL called to do.

With God all things are possible. It is very difficult to be sure, but certainly not impossible.

That is way the path to salvation is narrow and the road to perdition is wide.

Thanks be to God for His Abundant Mercy.

 

[Fisher]

That’s why Sacred Scripture tells us to: “Be Perfect as your Father in Heaven is Perfect.”

There are saints who have reached that level of perfection prior to death. It is what we are ALL called to do.

It is a proper desire to want to live without sin before God. John told the brethren, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not” (1John 2:1). We should always aim to avoid sin in our lives.
The believer never has to commit any single sin. God’s grace is sufficient to avoid each and every sin. For the one who is indwelled by the Spirit of God (that is, every true believer), there is no such compulsion as, “the devil made me do it.”

There is a victorious Christian life that is far above what most believers experience. It is an abundant life (John 10:10). It is a Spirit-filled life (Ephesians 5:18). It is a life surrendered to God and lived by the faith of the Son of God (Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 2:20).

The major error in the teaching of sinless perfection is that it thought to be a state that can be entered into by some sort of experience and maintained from that time without sin; or, as many teach, without conscious sin. There is no Bible doctrine of a state of sinless perfection for the believer.

Those who claim sinless perfection tend to minimize sin. Years ago, I heard a preacher talk about his personal experience. He worked with a man who claimed to be sinless. One day, this man was hammering a nail, struck his finger instead, and let out a curse word. When reminded that he was supposed to be sinless, he replied, “O no, that was just a mistake. It was not a real sin.” Consider the following Biblical definitions of sin.

Sin is the transgression of the law (1John 3:4)

All unrighteousness is sin (1John 5:17); that is, if it is not righteous, it is sin.

Failing to do something you should have done is sin, because James 4:17 states, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” d. **Whatsoever is not done in faith is sin **(Roman 14:23) e. The thought of foolishness is sin (Proverbs 24:9) f. A proud heart is sin (Proverbs 21:4)

This last one may be the most condemning of all. For, when one man says to another, I have no sin, he certainly reveals his proud heart. We should always seek to live the life of Christ in our own bodies. We should desire the victorious Christian life. But more than all, we should seek to know Him, the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings (Philippians 3:10).

You also claim that you know of Saints that are sinless before they died can you prove that?