Izzy in blue:
Sorry about "ignorant." Sometimes I use you and Judy as
examples and I get into trouble. Thank
you for blaming your unkindness on my “example”.
Anyway -- why don't you fashion (or maybe study) out a
definition of repentance that allows a difference between it, confession, and
the pursuit of "holiness" (as you, David and Judy use the the
term). Three different words -- must mean three
different definitions. Seems reasonable.
But to answer your question (and I am going somewhat from memory,
here) - repentance
has, at its root meaning, a change of mind (thinking one way and then,
changing your mind allowing a move in the opposite direction). Confession, on the other hand, is very
interesting to me in that at its root meaning is the idea of
"agreement." The former, repentance, if used in a
spiritual sense, would lead one to confession. The latter is spoken
by one who has ALREADY repented. A Christian does not, in every case,
repent and then confess sin. He already knows the truth of sin and
is full agreement with this truth ------------- so he
confesses. We are never told to "keep on
repenting." Rather, the words"keep on confessing"
are used (I John 1:7-9).
In the sense that repentance leads to remorse -- I have done
that. In the sense that repentance is a change of direction
-- I have been given the truth of scripture from my early
childhood. I have "always" been moving in THAT direction
(nothing to do with perfection by the way.) I have always been in
agreement with the purposes and vision of God in Christ. And how many
others, proven in what they do and not what they say, have the same
history? More than we might suppose.
Now, I can support the above, I am sure, with references. If you
are going to counter (why on earth would you), you will be wasting my
time using yourself as an
authority on the meaning and application of the words actually used by the
biblical writers -- don't bother.
I am interested when you actually have something to say -- but not
when you ignore accepted scholarship -- from the very people
you translated the bibles you use !!!!
John
I am happy for you, John, that you were raised in the
faith. That is a tremendous blessing, as you know. This is very
unlike my story. You should be light years ahead of me spiritually, and
apparently you believe you are. Izzy
