Diagnosis: SPIT-WATER – Edition #6

July 28^th, 2007

Recovery from... Diagnosis: SPIT-WATER – Edition #6

Here are the three OT definitions I have found to translate into “Repent”:

Job 42:6 Repent (verb): nâcham:

• To be sorry, console oneself, repent, regret, comfort, be comforted, be moved to pity, have compassion, rue, suffer grief, repent, ease oneself, have compassion

2^nd Chronicles 6:37 Repent (verb): shûb (pronounced: shoob):

• To return, turn back
• To turn back (to God), repent
• Turn back (from evil)
• To restore, refresh, repair (figuratively)
• To be returned, be restored, be brought back

Job 34:33 Repent (verb): shâlam (Pronounced: shaw-lam')

• A primitive root; to be safe (in mind, body or estate); figuratively to be (causatively make) completed; by implication to be friendly; by extension to reciprocate (in various applications): - make amends, (make an) end, finish, full, give again, make good, (re-) pay (again), (make) (to) (be at) peace (-able), that is perfect, perform, (make) prosper (prosperous), recompense, render, requite, make restitution, restore, reward, X surely.

Now, onto Today’s study… I found this at www.crosswalk.com which gives a definition of repentance.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Repentance:

There are three Greek words used in the New Testament to denote repentance.

• The verb metamelomai is used of a change of mind, such as to produce regret or even remorse on account of sin, but not necessarily a change of heart. This word is used with reference to the repentance of Judas (Matthew 27:3).
• Metanoeo, meaning to change one's mind and purpose, as the result of after knowledge. This verb, with the cognate noun metanoia, is used of true repentance, a change of mind and purpose and life, to which remission of sin is promised.

Evangelical repentance consists of:

• A true sense of one's own guilt and sinfulness;
• An apprehension of God's mercy in Christ;
• An actual hatred of sin (Psalms 119:128; Job 42:5, 6; 2^nd Corinthians 7:10) and turning from it to God;
• And a persistent endeavor after a holy life in a walking with God in the way of his commandments.
• The true penitent is conscious of guilt (Psalms 51:4, 9), of pollution (51:5, 7, 10), and of helplessness (51:11; 109:21, 22). Thus he apprehends himself to be just what God has always seen him to be and declares him to be. But repentance comprehends not only such a sense of sin, but also an apprehension of mercy, without which there can be no true repentance (Psalms 51:1; 130:4).

Well, that’s easy for them to say. Very well, I am going to check into this myself and see what it says. It was odd, though, that during the search this morning, I did a Google search of “shub” and “repent” and stumbled across a Lesbian-Christian website. What’s even more interesting is that the lady who has the website did a study on Romans. She calls herself a heretic in that study. I don’t even know what that is, but it sounds like one of those words that means fake. Well, I guess I will look that up first and then move forward, just because I am curious.

Heretic (noun):

• A professed believer who maintains religious opinions contrary to those accepted by his or her church or rejects doctrines prescribed by that church.
• Roman Catholic Church. A baptized Roman Catholic who willfully and persistently rejects any article of faith
• Anyone who does not conform to an established attitude, doctrine, or principle.

What this woman brings as an argument is the argument of the whole hair issue (coverings, woman speech in the church, etc.). And because she reads these things and sees her church act differently, she then feels if one part of the scripture can be broken, why not the rest. She can live a lesbian lifestyle, worship idols, have a greedy in her heart, heck I don’t see why she just doesn’t rationalize killing. As far as the Bible is concerned, sin is sin. Killing isn’t any worse than stealing, according to the Bible. Both separate you from God. Off the soap-box.

Matthew 27:3 (NIV)

When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders.

Matthew 27:3 Repent (verb): metamellomai (pronounced: met-am-el'-lom-ahee)

• To care afterwards, that is, regret: - repent (self).
• It is a care to one afterwards; it repents one, to repent one’s self.

What? Where is the repent in this verse?

Mat 27:3

(ASV) Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

(BBE) Then Judas, who was false to him, seeing that he was to be put to death, in his regret took back the thirty bits of silver to the chief priests and those in authority,

(CEV) Judas had betrayed Jesus, but when he learned that Jesus had been sentenced to death, he was sorry for what he had done. He returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and leaders

(Darby) Then Judas, who delivered him up, seeing that he had been condemned, filled with remorse, returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders,

(GNB) When Judas, the traitor, learned that Jesus had been condemned, he repented and took back the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders.

(ISV) Then Judas, who had betrayed him, regretted what had happened when he saw that Jesus was condemned. He brought the thirty pieces of silver back to the high priests and elders,

(KJV) Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

(Webster) Then Judas, who had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

(NCV) Judas, the one who had given Jesus to his enemies, saw that they had decided to kill Jesus. Then he was very sorry for what he had done. So he took the thirty silver coins back to the priests and the leaders,

The kicker is what Judas did with his repentant heart. He killed himself. Not really showing the fruits of his repentance with actions such as that. I guess he hung it out to dry… (OK, bad pun…)

Psalm 51

God, be merciful to me because you are loving. Because you are always ready to be merciful, wipe out all my wrongs. Wash away all my guilt and make me clean again. I know about my wrongs, and I can't forget my sin. You are the only one I have sinned against; I have done what you say is wrong. You are right when you speak and fair when you judge. I was brought into this world in sin. In sin my mother gave birth to me. You want me to be completely truthful, so teach me wisdom.

Take away my sin, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Make me hear sounds of joy and gladness; let the bones you crushed be happy again. Turn your face from my sins and wipe out all my guilt. Create in me a pure heart, God, and make my spirit right again. Do not send me away from you or take your Holy Spirit away from me. Give me back the joy of your salvation. Keep me strong by giving me a willing spirit. Then I will teach your ways to those who do wrong, and sinners will turn back to you.

God, save me from the guilt of murder, God of my salvation, and I will sing about your goodness. Lord, let me speak so I may praise you. You are not pleased by sacrifices, or I would give them. You don't want burnt offerings. The sacrifice God wants is a broken spirit. God, you will not reject a heart that is broken and sorry for sin. Do whatever good you wish for Jerusalem. Rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will be pleased with right sacrifices and whole burnt offerings, and bulls will be offered on your altar.

This Psalm covers a lot about what repentance really is and is not. David doesn’t blame others for what he did. Instead he takes the blame completely and totally. Another noteworthy thing is that David did not even blame Bathsheba for his actions. “I have done what you say is wrong,” he says. He doesn’t list off what others have done to justify himself. Instead he rightfully stands up for his iniquities.

I have been lukewarm. I will change.

Johnny Out.