Repent – What Does It Mean?

I ran across this word recently, where it was defined as:

A Hebrew word for:  "To turn from the way you were going and return to God for healing, forgiveness, and instruction in righteousness."

But, it was in a meme graphic and I’ve come to not trust those without some research. So, I checked Strong’s Concordance for “repent” in the Old Testament, and did not find Teshuva, but:

H5162    נָחַם    nâcham (naw-kham')
A primitive root; properly to sigh, that is, breathe strongly; by implication to be sorry, that is, (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavorably) to avenge (oneself): - comfort (self), ease [one’s self], repent (-er, -ing, self).
Total KJV occurrences: 108

Then I tried Google:

Repentance in Judaism – Wikipedia:   Repentance (Hebrew: תשובה, literally, "return", pronounced "tshuva" or "teshuva") is one element of atoning for sin in Judaism. ... Thus, the primary purpose of repentance in Judaism is ethical self transformation.

Then a Jewish source:

The 10 Days of Repentance  YOM KIPPUR
In the Jewish tradition, repentance is called teshuvah , a Hebrew word translated as “returning.” One of the Hebrew words for sin is chet, which in Hebrew means “to go astray.” Thus the idea of repentance in Jewish thought is a return to the path of righteousness.  . . .  The process of repentance, as laid out by Maimonides, includes three stages: confession, regret and a vow not to repeat the misdeed.

Which is exactly the same meaning of “repent” in Christianity – confession, regret for our sinfulness, and a promise to not repeat. Somehow people have problems with all three of those actions – especially the repeating of the error/misdeed/sin.

Take a moment to read about Peter’s promise to never leave Christ’s teaching – and his betrayal that same evening. Rather than give you scripture from all four Gospels (because it is in all four!), you may look them up yourself or read in Wikipedia. 

Every Christian who publicly makes a profession of faith in Jesus Christ as God’s gift to man for the purpose of reconciliation makes just about the same statement Peter did:

Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. (Matthew 26:33-35 KJV)

I ask you, Christian, have we not done the same? I ask you, non-Christian, doesn’t that confirm that we do not believe? Actually, it doesn’t. It confirms we are humans who need our Lord, even when we don’t act like it. I can assure, a follower of Jesus will repent, will turn and confess – most likely not to the people around us, but definitely to our Lord – for it is against our Lord that we’ve done our sin.

We learn this from David’s example:

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. (Psalms 51:1-4 KJV)

The lead in to that scripture is:

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

David had sinned by desiring Bathsheba, taking her while both were married, having her husband killed, then taking her as another wife in a chaotic family because of his multiple wives. Don’t feel self-righteous because our sins do not seem as serious.

Bottom line – have we set the example that helps another person fail? Do our actions keep another from learning of God’s love and forgiveness? Do we need to turn back to His will and righteous path?

Or do we continue in error:

Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. (Luke 17:1-2 KJV)

Is Christ speaking to us as He did to Ephesus?

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. (Revelation 2:4-5 KJV)

Religion and/or Science?

Portrait of Galileo Galilei (1636), by Justus Sustermans

The Wikipedia article explains how religion and science conflicted with Galileo, to the point that he “was tried by the Inquisition, found 'vehemently suspect of heresy', and forced to recant. He spent the rest of his life under house arrest." Today, we know his theories were correct – and do not conflict with scriptures. What changed? A lot on both sides. But people still see a conflict between the religion and science when the conflict is both more and less. 

John Carson Lennox on “Why ‘Evidence-Based’ Faith Is So Valuable” helps us understand:

“This idea that there is a conflict between science and God cannot be true,” Lennox declared. “Why? Because if you go the very top of science, Nobel prize level, there are scientists on both sides.”
“Let’s take physics. Take Higgs, who won the Nobel Prize for the Higgs Boson — a brilliant physicist and an atheist,” Lennox said. “But William Phillips, a low-temperature physicist, who won the same prize, he’s a Christian!”
So, “there is a conflict — but it’s not between science and God,” Lennox explained, “it’s between theism and atheism — the two worldviews.”

This article came to me the week after our Sunday School study of 2 Peter 1, where we read:

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. (2 Peter 1:5-7 KJV)

Yes, we are saved by grace through faith. We see that in more than one verse and I’ve used them time and time again. Look them up if you doubt it. Then we add virtue to our faith – meaning we should have high moral values whereby we are living examples.

Then we are to add knowledge. How can that not include the sciences, especially as they pertain to our religion. These are studies that can increase our foundational beliefs, not necessarily wipe them out as sand. Does science really conflict with religion, or is it closed mindedness of people on both ends of the spectrum.

Yes – I am closed minded on one aspect. I believe God is the creator of all, but how I think He might have done it is of no value. In reality, geology does not deny God, but some people who deny God are geologists. And archeologists, geophysicists, chemists, astrobiologists, etc. The fields do not preclude Christians, and Christians should respect those fields.

So, how do we “prove God exists”? Lennox explains:

“When we use the word “proof” [in terms of God’s existence] we mean it in the sense in which lawyers mean it — evidence, pointers, indicators that are beyond reasonable doubt,” the professor noted.
Of course, the natural response from the atheists is that this type of evidence is not extensive enough.

I love the continued quote and his example:

Giving a real-life example, Prof. Lennox said: I’ve been married to the same woman for 50 years. I believe she loves me, I couldn’t prove it to you mathematically — but I’d risk my life on it!”

With that being said, Lennox qualified that “evidence is a hugely important thing,” when it comes to personal faith.

Indeed, even those who are not Christian would understand that blind faith in things or people is foolish and ill-informed.

“Why do I believe my wife loves me? Because I believe there is strong evidence for it,” Lennox explained. “All of us are familiar with evidence-based faith. You’re crazy if you believe things without evidence or trust people without evidence.”

That’s an excellent example because it requires love – on both sides – for that faith to exist.
Think about John’s writings while you consider evidence:

And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. (1 John 3:23-24 KJV)

Making A Move

In February my sister joined us in our home. It took more than a day to move, although we all refer to “moving day” as it was a single event. There are adjustments made for some time before that day, and adjustments continue afterward. We had to empty the room she was moving into – she had to pack a home, with a single room in mind upon her arrival. For us heading into the fourth month, it has worked well – but more adjustments are coming and we know that.

How does that fit into a scripture covered in Sunday School?

Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: (1 Peter 4:4 KJV)

It’s not a complete thought, is it? Who thinks it strange? What kind of riot? What evil speaking? Just as all scripture, context is very important, so let’s go back to the first verses in chapter 4:

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: (1 Peter 4:1-3 KJV)

When we accept God’s gift of salvation through faith in Christ, our goal becomes following His example, thinking of what He taught, ceasing from the sins He defined. We no longer list the rest of our time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. Before we became Christians, we sinned in the categories Peter listed.

Lasciviousness = indicates sexual interest or expressions of lust or lewdness. Can we go a day without seeing such an expression?

Excess of wine = drunkenness. alcoholism. Which may not show up in front of us, but don’t we see the results in broken lives and families?

Revellings - If you go out to celebrate your graduation and you are drinking, partying and having a great time, this is an example of when you are revelling. So, what’s so wrong with that? Take a look at the definition from the Free Dictionary = “A boisterous festivity or celebration; merrymaking. [Middle English revelen, to carouse, from Old French reveler, to rebel, carouse, from Latin rebellāre, to rebel; see rebel.]” Goes much further than celebrating a milestone event, doesn’t it? 

Abominable idolatries = according to Quora, a detestable thing or idol, an unclean thing, an abomination, detestation. 2. Strong's definition: filth, an idolatrous object. Yet we use “idol” to denote a celebrity or a television show, right?

We do some of these things daily, without giving consideration to the fact that we should move away from them, becoming closer to what God has laid out for our lives. We should no longer live without Christ in our lives – and many of us have accepted that. In today’s world we are mocked, called hypocrites, people speak evil of them, and in some places in the world people are killed simply because they are Christians.

Peter says the people who do those things will think us strange when we don’t run around with them after accepting Christ.

When a convict finishes his time in prison, he is encouraged to stay away from the people he was running around with when he was arrested. In most cases, they were doing the same thing then – and would be doing similar when the convict is released. Going back to the same lifestyle and same friends can result in the same ending.

Lifestyle changes are necessary when we make a move. Especially when we purpose in our hearts to live our lives as followers of Christ. What we do as Christians impacts other persons’ concept of Christianity. Learning how to reflect Christ requires learning about Him. The first place to look is the Bible, the scriptures that convinced the Bereans. We have more now than they did – we have the first person accounts of men who walked with Jesus, recorded His words, saw Him die, and experienced His resurrection.

Take time to read Peter’s two books, then read John’s three, beginning now. Then go back and begin with Matthew and read the remainder. You’ll find love, He promised.