First Word of Jesus was repent

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Blik

Blik

Senior Member
#1
Dec 6, 2016
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#1
Christians often scold other Christians for trying to be perfect before the Lord. They point out that it is impossible to achieve perfection and it is prideful to even try. They point to the fact that our personal righteousness does not save us, we are misinformed to even try to achieve it.

Repentance would necessarily mean working toward our personal ability to be righteous. Jesus told us in His very first message to us to repent.

Matthews 4:17 From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven has become near”.
 
PennEd

PennEd

Senior Member
#2
Apr 22, 2013
13,614
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#2
Blik said:
Christians often scold other Christians for trying to be perfect before the Lord. They point out that it is impossible to achieve perfection and it is prideful to even try. They point to the fact that our personal righteousness does not save us, we are misinformed to even try to achieve it.

Repentance would necessarily mean working toward our personal ability to be righteous. Jesus told us in His very first message to us to repent.

Matthews 4:17 From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven has become near”.
Click to expand...
Repent from what? Never ever sinning again?

Or repent from your dead works to attain and maintain Salvation?
 
Relic

Relic

Active member
#3
Apr 29, 2020
249
104
28
#3
Blik said:
Christians often scold other Christians for trying to be perfect before the Lord. They point out that it is impossible to achieve perfection and it is prideful to even try. They point to the fact that our personal righteousness does not save us, we are misinformed to even try to achieve it.

Repentance would necessarily mean working toward our personal ability to be righteous. Jesus told us in His very first message to us to repent.

Matthews 4:17 From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven has become near”.
Click to expand...
none of us are perfect but that should never preclude us from striving
for perfection even knowing we will not get there...God doesn't ask
us to be the best but to be the best we can be
 
G

Guojing

Banned
#4
Jan 12, 2019
7,497
1,399
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#4
Blik said:
Christians often scold other Christians for trying to be perfect before the Lord. They point out that it is impossible to achieve perfection and it is prideful to even try. They point to the fact that our personal righteousness does not save us, we are misinformed to even try to achieve it.

Repentance would necessarily mean working toward our personal ability to be righteous. Jesus told us in His very first message to us to repent.

Matthews 4:17 From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven has become near”.
Click to expand...
Is the Kingdom of Heaven still at hand for us now?
 
M

Micaiah-imla

Banned
#6
Feb 29, 2020
1,563
571
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#6
Our Lord told us to be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect.

“One thing thou lackest...” said our Lord to the rich man.

We should rid ourselves of whatever it is that is causing us to lack, whatever the cost, in order to be perfect.
 
Blik

Blik

Senior Member
#7
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
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#7
Magenta said:
How do you define perfect?
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I don't think the word "perfect" is included in the definition of the word "repent". To repent is to turn from all sin, it does not have anything to say about our ability to perfectly do this.

It is best to follow the Lord and what the Lord tells us. We are told to repent, we are told we can't be perfect, we are told to be perfect. There is no instructions to us to give up on our goal of perfection because we can't reach it. If that was what the Lord wanted from us God would tell us so, God hasn't. Our instructions are to repent and to be perfect, nothing about not making perfection our goal.
 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#8
Jul 3, 2015
61,169
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#8
Blik said:
I don't think the word "perfect" is included in the definition of the word "repent". To repent is to turn from all sin, it does not have anything to say about our ability to perfectly do this.

It is best to follow the Lord and what the Lord tells us. We are told to repent, we are told we can't be perfect, we are told to be perfect. There is no instructions to us to give up on our goal of perfection because we can't reach it. If that was what the Lord wanted from us God would tell us so, God hasn't. Our instructions are to repent and to be perfect, nothing about not making perfection our goal.
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Run around contradictory non-answer.
 
Dino246

Dino246

Senior Member
#9
Jun 30, 2015
25,619
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#9
Blik said:
Christians often scold other Christians for trying to be perfect before the Lord. They point out that it is impossible to achieve perfection and it is prideful to even try. They point to the fact that our personal righteousness does not save us, we are misinformed to even try to achieve it.
Click to expand...
Which Christians? Who are "they"? Can you quote them?

No, of course not. You haven't yet stepped up and identified the people who supposedly make all the assertions that you claim they make. Because you won't identify and quote them, and given your demonstrated propensity to grossly misconstrue the words of others, your assertions are groundless, and no further response is warranted.
 
P

pottersclay

Guest
#10
#10
Blik said:
Christians often scold other Christians for trying to be perfect before the Lord. They point out that it is impossible to achieve perfection and it is prideful to even try. They point to the fact that our personal righteousness does not save us, we are misinformed to even try to achieve it.

Repentance would necessarily mean working toward our personal ability to be righteous. Jesus told us in His very first message to us to repent.

Matthews 4:17 From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven has become near”.
Click to expand...
And that is exactly what they and everyone else needs to repent of "trying to be perfect" you can't.
We are presented through Christ to the father as perfect, holy, and righteous.
Your justification does not come from the law it comes from Christ.
Least you be born again you may not enter the kingdom of God.
So yes good people do end up in hell. Christ is the only way.
Grant you that you should try not to sin but that is not where our main focus should be.
Seek you first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.
From the Pharisees to the rich young ruler each one pointed to the law as there justification and only by the law do we know we sin. So if we focus on perfecting ourselves we deny the work of Christ. We hinder the Holy Spirit, and we allow the law to judge us.
By grace you are saved through faith not by your own works but it is a free gift from God.
 
posthuman

posthuman

Senior Member
#15
Jul 31, 2013
37,982
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#15
Micaiah-imla said:
Our Lord told us to be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect.

“One thing thou lackest...” said our Lord to the rich man.

We should rid ourselves of whatever it is that is causing us to lack, whatever the cost, in order to be perfect.
Click to expand...
Amen

"He must increase, and i must decrease"
 
Blik

Blik

Senior Member
#16
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
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#16
PennEd said:
Repent from what? Never ever sinning again?

Or repent from your dead works to attain and maintain Salvation?
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You should read scripture, it tells you what to repent from. I don't think our sins are dead at all, they work perfectly to kill unless we repent and take them to Christ for forgiveness. I wonder what happens with our sins they we don't take to Christ with our repentance?
Diakonos said:
Actually, Jesus' first words were "Let there be light"
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Thanks for reminding us that Christ is eternal God.

I don't think, however, that it makes it untrue that Christ started His earthly ministry by asking us to repent.
 
Diakonos

Diakonos

Well-known member
#17
Jan 19, 2019
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Anacortes, WA
#17
Blik said:
You should read scripture, it tells you what to repent from. I don't think our sins are dead at all, they work perfectly to kill unless we repent and take them to Christ for forgiveness. I wonder what happens with our sins they we don't take to Christ with our repentance? Thanks for reminding us that Christ is eternal God.

I don't think, however, that it makes it untrue that Christ started His earthly ministry by asking us to repent.
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It would do you well to be more specific.

If someone asked me "what were Jesus' first words?" I would say "Let there be light". (Eternity)
If someone asked me "what were Jesus' first words in the flesh?" I would say "Where are you?". (Eden)
If someone asked me "what were Jesus' first words after His incarnation?" I would say "Why is it that you were looking for Me?" (The Temple)
If someone asked me "what were Jesus' first words as an adult?" I would say "Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness". (Jordan River)
If someone asked me "what were Jesus' first words after His baptism?" I would say "It is written: 'Man shall not live by bread alone'". (The Wilderness)
If someone asked me "what were Jesus' first words as a teacher?" I would say "What do you seek". (Jordan River)
If someone asked me "what were Jesus' first words of His earthly ministry?" I would say "Give me a drink." (Samaria)
If someone asked me "what were Jesus' first words as a preacher?" I would say "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand". (Galilee)
If someone asked me "what was Jesus' first words as the risen Lord?" I would say "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking". (The tomb of Joseph)

You see...You're gonna get different answers if you're not specific :)
If you specified "Jesus first words in his Galilean ministry (first words as a preacher)", we would all be on the same page about the season you were referring to.
 
Blik

Blik

Senior Member
#19
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,428
113
#19
Diakonos said:
It would do you well to be more specific.

If someone asked me "what were Jesus' first words?" I would say "Let there be light". (Eternity)
If someone asked me "what were Jesus' first words in the flesh?" I would say "Where are you?". (Eden)
If someone asked me "what were Jesus' first words after His incarnation?" I would say "Why is it that you were looking for Me?" (The Temple)
If someone asked me "what were Jesus' first words as an adult?" I would say "Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness". (Jordan River)
If someone asked me "what were Jesus' first words after His baptism?" I would say "It is written: 'Man shall not live by bread alone'". (The Wilderness)
If someone asked me "what were Jesus' first words as a teacher?" I would say "What do you seek". (Jordan River)
If someone asked me "what were Jesus' first words of His earthly ministry?" I would say "Give me a drink." (Samaria)
If someone asked me "what were Jesus' first words as a preacher?" I would say "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand". (Galilee)
If someone asked me "what was Jesus' first words as the risen Lord?" I would say "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking". (The tomb of Joseph)

You see...You're gonna get different answers if you're not specific :)
If you specified "Jesus first words in his Galilean ministry (first words as a preacher)", we would all be on the same page about the season you were referring to.
Click to expand...
You surely do have lots of answers! But all the answers don't erase the fact that when Jesus began to preach it was "Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven has come". Matt. 4:17.
 
PennEd

PennEd

Senior Member
#20
Apr 22, 2013
13,614
9,127
113
#20
Blik said:
You should read scripture, it tells you what to repent from. I don't think our sins are dead at all, they work perfectly to kill unless we repent and take them to Christ for forgiveness. I wonder what happens with our sins they we don't take to Christ with our repentance?
Click to expand...
I'm sorry, but you are wrong on just about every aspect of your thread.

First off, I said nothing about sins being dead or alive. I have no idea why you made that comment. I DID say we need to repent of dead works. This was the primary stumbling block for the Jew, and what Jesus was talking about.
Hebrews 6:1 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Peril of Not Progressing
6 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
Secondly, if we are talking about the first words Jesus spoke, what you posted are at least the 3rd recorded words.

This one when He was 12:
Luke 2:49 New King James Version (NKJV)
49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”

This, when He was an adult:
Matthew 3:15 New King James Version (NKJV)
15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.

Lastly, EVEN the verse you quoted doesn't fit the narrative that we have to follow any Law, or that Jesus' Sacrifice ALONE isn't sufficient for Salvation. Mark expounds upon the verse:
Mark 1:15 New King James Version (NKJV)
15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL.”
 
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