What good is repentance?

[DPMartin]

Without the promise of resurrection, to what good is repentance? If you don’t believe that you are to be in the Presence of the Lord God forever, and He with you, then why repent?

 

[Samson01]

The Kingdom will be at hand.

 

[jochoa]

Without the promise of resurrection, to what good is repentance?

What an excellent question! Please consider the following concept:

If one formally repents*, one’s relationships and self will grow in greater peace, happiness, wisdom, patience, and kindness.

*Formal repentance means:

1. Reflecting on how the self was offensive to another.
2. Telling the offended person sorry for exactly what one did.
3. Telling the offended person whether or not the offense was committed intentionally/unintentionally and why.
4. Telling and asking the offended person: “What will/can be done to repay the debt?” If the repayment requested is immoral, then let him/her know this is not doable and ask for another means of repayment.
5. Doing what needs to be done to repay the debt.
6. Directly and sincerely asking the offended person for forgiveness by stating: “Will you please forgive me?”

 

[tonyrey]

What an excellent question! Please consider the following concept:

If one formally repents*, one’s relationships and self will grow in greater peace, happiness, wisdom, patience, and kindness.

*Formal repentance means:

1. Reflecting on how the self was offensive to another.
2. Telling the offended person sorry for exactly what one did.
3. Telling the offended person whether or not the offense was committed intentionally/unintentionally and why.
4. Telling and asking the offended person: “What will/can be done to repay the debt?” If the repayment requested is immoral, then let him/her know this is not doable and ask for another means of repayment.
5. Doing what needs to be done to repay the debt.
6. Directly and sincerely asking the offended person for forgiveness by stating: “Will you please forgive me?”

And an excellent reply!

 

[DPMartin]

The Kingdom will be at hand.

Samson01

Good answer, short but good and points to the Truth, as in a place with God. I believe there is a little more to it or could be said about it, but thanks.

 

[DPMartin]

What an excellent question! Please consider the following concept:

If one formally repents*, one’s relationships and self will grow in greater peace, happiness, wisdom, patience, and kindness.

*Formal repentance means:

1. Reflecting on how the self was offensive to another.
2. Telling the offended person sorry for exactly what one did.
3. Telling the offended person whether or not the offense was committed intentionally/unintentionally and why.
4. Telling and asking the offended person: “What will/can be done to repay the debt?” If the repayment requested is immoral, then let him/her know this is not doable and ask for another means of repayment.
5. Doing what needs to be done to repay the debt.
6. Directly and sincerely asking the offended person for forgiveness by stating: “Will you please forgive me?”

thanks for the reply

This all seems to be strait out of some religious text, for a more wonderful world. Without the expectation of being resurrected, just what would be the point of repenting unless it is for self gain, if there be nothing at the end if life in this flesh? I mean anybody can repent form anything and go another direction, or path.

 

[Samson01]

Samson01

Good answer, short but good and points to the Truth, as in a place with God. I believe there is a little more to it or could be said about it, but thanks.

I would, but it seems the Kingdom is experienced differently by different people and in varing degree’s.

 

[DPMartin]

I would, but it seems the Kingdom is experienced differently by different people and in varing degree’s.

Samson

That may be so, but it’s the same Kingdom of God, and the same King, for all in the Kingdom. Therefore it would seem that what is experienced is the same, if indeed it is of the Kingdom of God.

 

[tonyrey]

An afterlife doesn’t necessitate resurrection. That is a bonus!

 

[jochoa]

And an excellent reply!

Thank you very much for your consideration and compliment!

thanks for the reply

This all seems to be strait out of some religious text, for a more wonderful world. Without the expectation of being resurrected, just what would be the point of repenting unless it is for self gain, if there be nothing at the end if life in this flesh? I mean anybody can repent form anything and go another direction, or path.

Thank you for your consideration! I am thoroughly enjoying pondering your questions and perspective. Would you please consider the following concepts and requests?
Regarding religious texts
Please note that I am poorly versed in religious texts. However, my writings are fundamentally based on the best practices of achieving the experiences of a limitless happiness without losing any peace in any relationship, including the self. Therefore, my writings are based on what works to achieving that goal. Now my research, experimentation, and development of what works has revealed that the Sacraments and Catechisms of Catholicism are the fullness of Truth, and therefore if my writings are correct, they will be in-alignment with Catholicism.
Out of curiosity, what religion did you associate with it?

Regarding self-gain
I find the benefits of greater peace, happiness, and wisdom within my relationships and self to be of incredible self-gain. Do you?

Lastly…
Since I find formal repentance to be repentance completed, anything less would be incomplete and therefore not repentance. Therefore, if one goes another direction or path after repentance, s/he did not completely repent.
How do you define repentance?

 

[DPMartin]

Thank you very much for your consideration and compliment!

Thank you for your consideration! I am thoroughly enjoying pondering your questions and perspective. Would you please consider the following concepts and requests?
Regarding religious texts
Please note that I am poorly versed in religious texts. However, my writings are fundamentally based on the best practices of achieving the experiences of a limitless happiness without losing any peace in any relationship, including the self. Therefore, my writings are based on what works to achieving that goal. Now my research, experimentation, and development of what works has revealed that the Sacraments and Catechisms of Catholicism are the fullness of Truth, and therefore if my writings are correct, they will be in-alignment with Catholicism.
Out of curiosity, what religion did you associate with it?

None, though religion is a system of belief, it doesn’t mean a system of belief is a religion. Hence system of belief- the Torah. The Torah, is not a religion, though yes that is what the world says it is. Why? It is the system of belief given to us by the Lord God in His Presence. The fulfillment thereof, or maybe better said, how is it done successfully (meaning the Torah) is the Lord Jesus Christ the Beloved Son of God who is the Truth the Way and the Life that is of the Father. The Torah is what the Lord God has given mankind, and is to be fulfilled, the Lord Jesus fulfilled it to the Father’s satisfaction for mankind, because there is no man that can.

Regarding self-gain
I find the benefits of greater peace, happiness, and wisdom within my relationships and self to be of incredible self-gain. Do you?

It all depends on what you love, if one says one loves this or that is one thing, but the focus of one’s attention is what he truly loves. Fulfillment in Christ requires love for, and focus on the Lord, fulfillment of self requires love for and focus on self.

Lastly…
Since I find formal repentance to be repentance completed, anything less would be incomplete and therefore not repentance. Therefore, if one goes another direction or path after repentance, s/he did not completely repent.
How do you define repentance?

OED Repent:
To affect (oneself) with contrition or regret for something done, etc.

Other:
re-pent
verb (used without object)

1. to feel sorry, self-reproachful, or contrite for past conduct; regret or be conscience-stricken about a past action, attitude, etc. (often followed by of ): He repented after his thoughtless act.
2. to feel such sorrow for sin or fault as to be disposed to change one’s life for the better; be penitent.

So, in short the successful result of repentance: repent from anything and go another direction, or path. Repenting in and of itself is to regret doing this, but the successful of that is to do that instead of this. Depending on circumstance and situations, repenting is not necessarily a moral issue. Any undesired out come of an action can bring regret, and the desire to do otherwise.

 

[DPMartin]

An afterlife doesn’t necessitate resurrection. That is a bonus!

thanks for the reply

I do believe I understand what you’re getting at, but I don’t like that term afterlife.

The term “afterlife” is used by those who say they are Christians, but they are not familiar with what they say they agree with, or believe most of the time. The term “afterlife” isn’t found in the Bible. The term eternal life, yes, but not afterlife. Eternal as in Infinite in past and future duration; without beginning or end; that always has existed and always will exist, in other words always exists. Could be seen as always now. Therefore there is nothing after, or before eternal life. In the view of this, the flesh is a place for man to be in existence, but not existence for man, though it exists. In the Lord God’s view He can replace your body, and your soul He will not replace, but redeem it to its former place with Him.

 

[tonyrey]

thanks for the reply

I do believe I understand what you’re getting at, but I don’t like that term afterlife.

The term “afterlife” is used by those who say they are Christians, but they are not familiar with what they say they agree with, or believe most of the time. The term “afterlife” isn’t found in the Bible. The term eternal life, yes, but not afterlife. Eternal as in Infinite in past and future duration; without beginning or end; that always has existed and always will exist, in other words always exists. Could be seen as always now. Therefore there is nothing after, or before eternal life. In the view of this, the flesh is a place for man to be in existence, but not existence for man, though it exists. In the Lord God’s view He can replace your body, and your soul He will not replace, but redeem it to its former place with Him.

…Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting:
The Soul that rises with us, our life’s Star,
Hath had elsewhere its setting,
And cometh from afar:
Not in entire forgetfulness,
And not in utter nakedness,
But trailing clouds of glory do we come
From God, who is our home:
** Heaven lies about us in our infancy**!.. - William Wordsworth, Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood