Those who can not repent

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Aeden

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What does the church say about those who say that they can not repent? Is there a teaching/document about this?
 
Someone might not be able to repent if they did not understand what they did was sinful. They would then be protected by ‘Invincible Ignorence’ and it would be for them as though they had not sinned.
 
DexUK said:
Someone might not be able to repent if they did not understand what they did was sinful. They would then be protected by ‘Invincible Ignorence’ and it would be for them as though they had not sinned.
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Let’s say the person knows that what they did was sinful, but claims that they can not repent. This is something I’ve heard from time to time, but it sounds kind of illogical to me. Isn’t God always trying to get sinners to repent?
 
Aeden said:
Let’s say the person knows that what they did was sinful, but claims that they can not repent. This is something I’ve heard from time to time, but it sounds kind of illogical to me. Isn’t God always trying to get sinners to repent?
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If someone says they “cannot” repent of something they know to be sinful, then it is necessary to ask why in order to understand what it is that’s stopping them.

They might honestly believe that what they’re doing is not actually sinful. They may have some mental condition that compels them to do whatever it is that they’re doing. Or, yes, they might be wilfully rejecting God. But whatever it is, there must be a reason.
 
Aeden said:
Let’s say the person knows that what they did was sinful, but claims that they can not repent. This is something I’ve heard from time to time, but it sounds kind of illogical to me. Isn’t God always trying to get sinners to repent?
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You are not giving us sufficient information. By “cannot” repent do you mean they refuse to repent? If not, what do you mean by “cannot”?
 
That involves free will. You cannot take away that if that person is not ready to repent, even if he knows what he has done is definitely evil in the eyes of God. That kind of person is dangerous. He needs a lot of prayers so he can repent from his evil life.
 
I call to mind a quotation of Christ: “Those, who by their hardness of heart…etc”.
Enough said.
 
You could mean several things by this. Perhaps you mean they try and try to make themselves have certain feelings and they can’t. They don’t feel all broken up for having done it. Such a person can walk into a confessional and repent, resolving not to do it again. Maybe with time the feeling of remorse or repugnance will come. But don’t worry about controlling your feelings. It is about what you will with your will for confession.
 
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