Disclaimer: When reviewing these videos, it is only to prepare an audible subject for studies. It is not meant to confirm or deny our study below.
Here we see two reasons for repentance: Both are purposeful to enter the Kingdom of heaven which is the Lord’s domain and to receive him as Lord and Savior. And after repentance and establishing the relationship, the promise is also to receive the Holy Ghost which is the Comforter, which God the father will send. (Review “How the trinity operates”)
So get rid of all uncleanness and all that remains of wickedness, and with a humble spirit receive the word [of God] which is implanted [actually rooted in your heart], which is able to save your souls.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jas.1.21&version=AMP
In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.3.1,Matt.3.2&version=KJV
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son, In whom we have redemption through his blood, that is, the forgiveness of sins. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Col.1.12,Col.1.13,Col.1.14,Col.1.15&version=KJV
Paul explains what this looks like as he spoke to the Epicureans, the Stoics and others about repentance also.
Now after Paul and Silas had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul entered the synagogue, as was his custom, and for three Sabbaths he engaged in discussion and friendly debate with them from the Scriptures, explaining and pointing out [scriptural evidence] that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I am proclaiming to you, is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).”
And some of them were persuaded to believe and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and many of the leading women. But the [unbelieving] Jews became jealous, and taking along some thugs from [the lowlifes in] the market place, they formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and then attacking Jason’s house tried to bring Paul and Silas out to the people.
The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea; and when they arrived, they entered the Jewish synagogue. Now these people were more noble and open-minded than those in Thessalonica, so they received the message [of salvation through faith in the Christ] with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. As a result many of them became believers, together with a number of prominent Greek women and men. But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God [concerning eternal salvation through faith in Christ] had also been preached by Paul at Berea, they came there too, agitating and disturbing the crowds. So at that time the brothers immediately sent Paul away to go as far as the sea; but Silas and Timothy remained there [at Berea].
Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was greatly angered when he saw that the city was full of idols. So he had discussions in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place day after day with any who happened to be there. (Now all the Athenians and the foreigners visiting there used to spend their [leisure] time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)
So Paul, standing in the center of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I observe [with every turn I make throughout the city] that you are very religious and devout in all respects. Now as I was going along and carefully looking at your objects of worship, I came to an altar with this inscription: ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you already worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.
The God who created the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, because it is He who gives to all [people] life and breath and all things. And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands and territories.
Therefore God overlooked and disregarded the former ages of ignorance; but now He commands all people everywhere to repent [that is, to change their old way of thinking, to regret their past sins, and to seek God’s purpose for their lives], because He has set a day when He will judge the inhabited world in righteousness by a Man whom He has appointed and destined for that task, and He has provided credible proof to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”
Now when they heard [the term] resurrection from the dead, some mocked and sneered; but others said, “We will hear from you again about this matter.”
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts.17.1,Acts.17.2,Acts.17.3,Acts.17.4,Acts.17.5,Acts.17.10,Acts.17.11,Acts.17.12,Acts.17.13,Acts.17.14,Acts.17.16,Acts.17.17,Acts.17.21,Acts.17.22,Acts.17.23,Acts.17.24,Acts.17.25,Acts.17.26,Acts.17.30,Acts.17.31,Acts.17.32&version=AMP
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts.2.38&version=KJV
Let’s go back into the Old Testament to understand where repentance was used, also what the next step would be:
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2Chr.7.14&version=KJV
Enter not into the way of the wicked, and walk not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, and go not by it: turn from it, and pass by. For they cannot sleep, except they have done evil, and their sleep departeth except they cause some to fall.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Prov.4.14,Prov.4.15,Prov.4.16&version=KJV
The primary reason we are called to repent is that the Lord led us to examine ourselves, and follow his example. This makes it mandatory for us as well in our relationship with him.
And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Gen.6.1,Gen.6.2,Gen.6.3,Gen.6.4,Gen.6.5,Gen.6.6,Gen.6.7&version=KJV
This is the third time that I am visiting you. Every fact shall be sustained and confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses. I have already warned those who have sinned in the past and all the rest as well, and I warn them now even though I am absent [from you] as I did when I was with you the second time, that if I come back I will not spare anyone, since you seek [forensic] proof that Christ is speaking in and through me.
He is not weak or ineffective in dealing with you, but powerful within you. For even though He was crucified in weakness [yielding Himself], yet He lives [resurrected] by the power of God [His Father]. For we too are weak in Him [as He was humanly weak], yet we are alive and well [in fellowship] with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.
Test and evaluate yourselves to see whether you are in the faith and living your lives as [committed] believers. Examine yourselves [not me]! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves [by an ongoing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test and are rejected as counterfeit? But I hope you will acknowledge that we do not fail the test nor are we to be rejected.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2Cor.13.1,2Cor.13.2,2Cor.13.3,2Cor.13.4,2Cor.13.5,2Cor.13.6&version=AMP
Let’s teach this as a practice to be done out of fear of the Lord, however this is commonly taught in the traditional church setting that when one comes to Christ, one “should repent of their sins and accept Christ as their personal Savior” which is acceptable also as an introduction to Christ, as a relationship can be established with him using this method.
For the hope’s sake, which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye have heard before by the word of truth, which is the Gospel,
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Col.1.5&version=KJV
Understand that a different way should be taught biblically as first: one must have a believe in God and “opposes himself” already, to have a mind to repent and then second follow this: God is sovereign, it is to his glory that only if God will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil. Again, that is IF GOD WILL GIVE THEM REPENTANCE.
And the God of all grace, which hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a little, make you perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be glory and dominion forever and ever, Amen.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Pet.5.10,1Pet.5.11&version=GNV
There was a time before the great flood that the Lord God repented he made man. There may be evidence still worth looking into such as this:
As an example, John in preaching the baptism of repentance spoke:
6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
The basis of repentance is regarding judgement in terms of its old testament biblical roots from Jews and the Law.
Here is a New Testament teaching from Romans 7:1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
In the new testament also, Paul speaks that the goodness of God leads to repentence in Romans 2:4. to be transformed to the image of God. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth, against them which commit such things.
But thou, after thine hardness, and heart that cannot repent, heapest up as a treasure unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath, and of the declaration of the just judgment of God, Who will reward every man according to his works: That is, to them which through patience in well doing, seek glory, and honor, and immortality, everlasting life:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rom.2.2,Rom.2.5,Rom.2.6,Rom.2.7&version=KJV
After coming to this awareness that the wrath of God awaits the day of his wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, man’s measure of faith is stirred according to his spiritual being as The Called. The righteous judgement of God will render to every man according to his deeds:
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rom.2.7&version=KJV
Colossians 1:21
” And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled”
http://olivetree.com/b2/Col.1.21.KJV