Repentance is definitely the most controversial term from the whole Bible. Most people think that repenting means to turn from your sins. But that's not the biblical meaning. If you look closer, you will find out that the terms "repent of sins" and "repent of your sins" appear nowhere in the Bible. Most people are quite shocked that this term is not in the Bible.
If you look closer, you will also find out about God repenting. And as we know, God cannot sin.
“Repentance is not some little silly, ‘I’m sorry.’ Repentance is not simply a fear of God. Repentance is not a monk fasting and afflicting his body in a monastery. Repentance is not remorse because of sin’s consequences. Repentance is not penance performed before the pope as you kiss his toe… Repentance is not being sorry for what I’ve done wrong. It is not confessing one’s sins to a priest. It is not just conviction of sin. It is not the signing of a pledge of abstinence. Repentance is that thing when you come before God and see yourself as you are, and see Him as he is, and say with Isaiah 'Woe is me, for I am unclean!’“ (Dr. Jack Hyles)
“Repentance and believing are not two separate steps to salvation; but rather, repentance is a change of mind that prompts a man to believe the Gospel. They are two parts of one step. The man who has repented has believed, and the man who believes has repented. This is why the Gospel of John mentions the word “believe” and “believed” 85-times, but the word “repent” is never mentioned, not even once. Repentance unto salvation is very simple—you turn to Jesus to be forgiven of your sins; not turning from your sins as a prerequisite to trusting Christ.“ (David J. Stewart of jesus-is-savior)
“Repentance means to change your mind—change your mind—change your mind about how you want to get to Heaven to what God says you've got to do to get to Heaven. If you've got to repent of all your sins, you're still headed for Hell tonight.“ (Bob Gray Sr.)
“Repentance is necessary for salvation.
The Greek word for repent is metanoeo, which, translated into English is: to change ones mind. It does not mean to turn from sin. That would add works to salvation.
Repentance for salvation means a change of mind from men's ideas of salvation and religion, to an acceptance of Gods only way of salvation.
This results in a completely new creation, not a reformation of the old. The old nature remains as evil as ever after salvation and has not been reformed . . . The old nature can now be controlled by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.
God guarantees salvation. This is His gift to us.
God guarantees reward and fruit to the obedient son.
God guarantees chastening and loss of rewards to the disobedient son.
God does not cast out disobedient children, but in some cases, does take them home. He does not permit His children to live as they please without His discipline and guidance.
Many teach repentance for salvation incorrectly, by including some form of human effort or righteousness, such as willingness to turn from sin, or turning from sin. This is heresy and has confused many people. It adds works to salvation and causes many to not understand Gods great gift. It is probation, not salvation. It is completely unscriptural. It is Galatianism and a counterfeit of the gospel.
It is a tragedy that many Christians live shallow Christian lives. The Cambron Institute is dedicated to the task of training Christian men and women in the importance of total dedication and making Jesus the Lord of their lives not to be saved but because they are saved.
Shallow Christianity cannot be cured by adding works to salvation.
Salvation is not the result of what we do, but is by receiving what God has done for us. Acts 13:38, 39; Acts 20:20: Gal. 1:8,9; Gal. 2:4; Gal. 2:21; Gal. 3:1.3; Gal. 5:1-4; Eph. 2:8-10; II Cor. 5:21;John 3:16-18; Phil. 3:9; Titus 3:5-8:11 Cor. 11:13-1 5.“ (Dr. Mark G. Cambron)
“Repentance is the very opposite of meritorious experience. It is the confession that one is utterly without merit, and if he is ever saved at all it can only be through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, 'who gave himself a ransom for all.' Here is firm footing for the soul who realizes that all self-effort is but sinking sand. Christ alone is the Rock of our salvation.“ (Harry A. Ironside)
“So you can repent, and not believe, but you can't believe without repenting. So when you believe you do repent, then it's a part of a process. You change from whatever you previously trusted in to trust in Christ when you trust him as your savior. And so every believer has repented.“ (Dr. Hank Lindstrom)
“If a man quits smoking, he has repented. And then it wasn't necessarily a Christian.“ (Charles F. Stanley)
“Repent means "to change" or "to turn". You can change your mind about something, you can turn to something, you can turn away from something.“ (Jason Jack, YouTube user and autor of the book "In Spirit And Truth - A Seeker's Path To Jesus Christ")
“So the Bible is clearly defining repentance here as a turn from dead works to a faith towards God. Dead works are the things that we do to try to save ourselves. It's not what Christ did on the cross. Repentance is simply turning from unbelief toward faith in God through Jesus Christ.“ (Afshin Yaghtin)
Overall "Repent of your sins to get saved" became the biggest heresy in modern Christianity. No Christians works on giving up his sins TO go to heaven. Rather BECAUSE he is going to heaven.
Truth....