Do Christians Repent?
IN the first act of repentance, sinful men turn from wrong to right, accept the Gospel message and become true believers in Jesus Christ.
In the process of going on to perfection, a believer sometimes falls back into the old pattern of sinful behaviour. And according to the Bible record whenever believers sin; they must also repent.
However, repentance is a change in mind that results in a change in outward actions. Some Christians associate repentance with emotions, like shedding tears and feeling sorry for wrong actions and thoughts. Repentance is not an emotion. It is a decision. Emotion sometimes accompanies true repentance. But it is possible for a person to shed tears and yet never truly repent.
Equally, some Christians associate repentance with meeting special religions requirements. This is sometimes called "doing penance", It is possible to fulfill many such requirements and yet never repent in the true Biblical sense.
Repeatedly, true repentance is a change of mind that results in a change in outward actions. Outward change, therefore, is the act of turning away from sin towards God and righteousness. This "turning away" shows the inward change of mind that has occurred.
However, a typical teaching that is now going on among some Christians does not believe that; that one who is born again can still backslide or fall back into old pattern of sinful behaviour. Such wrong teaching or doctrine believes that once one is born-again, one is born-again for ever. There is nothing like saying whether a born-again Christian can still backslide and later repent as an antidote to backsliding. This wrong teaching or doctrine also believes that Jesus Christ has carried one's sins once and for - all. This is also wrong. A Christian that does not maintain, retain, and sustain his/her salvation can easily backslide; and on realising this,, such Christian may repent and re-accept Jesus Christ afresh.
Let us go back to the question." Do Christians repent?" Yes, Christians who want to serve God indeed or genuinely do repent when they go wrong. In II. Corinthians 7 v 9 the Christians or believers at a city called corinth repented and their attitudes changed abruptly thereby creating joy in Paul and Titus. "Now I rejoice not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance" II. Cor. 7 v.9. For I fear, lest, when I come ... that I shall bewail many which have sinned already and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed" II. Cor. 12 v. 20-21. Also, believers at Ephesus were told to repent. "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent and do the first works11. Rev. 2 v. 5.
God also told the Christians In pergamos to "repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly; and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth'.' Rev. 2 v. 16. The believers in pergamos, I remind you were holding to the doctrines of Balaam and Nicolaitans, sacrificing unto Idols and equally, fornicating at will. In Rev. 3v3, the Christians in Sardis were told to "remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast; and repent". Equally Christians in Laodicea were told how God loves then and He wants them to repent. "as many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous therefore, and repent Rev.3v.19.
Where there is sin, there must be repentance. "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness". I.John l:vs 8-9.
Fellow Christians, because repentance is necessary for Salvation, God made a special plan to enable the message of repentance reach everyone. The call to repentance began in the New Testament with the ministry of John the Baptist. "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His path straight", John did baptise in the wilderness, and preached the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins". Mark 1 vs. 3-4. Repentance was the first message Jesus preached. "Now after that, John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God; And saying, the time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye and believe the Gospel", Mark 1 vs 14-15. Believers at that time also preached repentance in the early church: "And they went out and preached that men should repent, Mark 6v.12. Fellow Christians, do not believe in wrong doctrines as the end time is fast approaching, let us repent of our sins and re-accept Jesus Christ into our lives for the betterment of us, all our families, local areas, states and nation. God bless you richly as you obey the will of God this year.


From Dream to Reality
Dream Killers (2)
“When Herod the king had heard these things he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him. And when they were departed, behold the Angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying Arise and take the young child AND HIS MOTHER, AND FLEE into Egypt and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.” Matthew 2: 13.
The following is additional list of dream killers:
FEAR OF FAILURE: There is no man who has never failed. Even Adam that God created with his own hands failed.