Repent

Repent It seems there is a misunderstanding of the meaning of repent. Penance is substituted for repent, and they are not similar, they have totally different definitions. Repent as Defined by Strong’s Number: 3340 Transliterated: metanoeo Phonetic: met-an-o-eh' -o Text: from 3326 and 3539; to think differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider (morally, feel compunction): --repent. http://www.htmlbible.com/ Penance as defined by “The Catholic Encyclopedia”. Penance is a sacrament of the New Law instituted by Christ in which forgiveness of sins committed after baptism is granted through the priest' s absolution to those who with true sorrow confess their sins and promise to satisfy for the same. It is called a "sacrament" not simply a function or ceremony, because it is an outward sign instituted by Christ to impart grace to the soul. As an outward sign it comprises the actions of the penitent in presenting himself to the priest and accusing himself of his sins, and the actions of the priest in pronouncing absolution and imposing satisfaction. This whole procedure is usually called, from one of its parts, "confession", and it is said to take place in the "tribunal of penance", because it is a judicial process in which the penitent is at once the accuser, the person accused, and the witness, while the priest pronounces judgment and sentence. The grace conferred is deliverance from the guilt of sin and, in the case of mortal sin, from its eternal punishment; hence also reconciliation with God, justification. Finally, the confession is made not in the secrecy of the penitent' s heart nor to a layman as friend and advocate, nor to a representative of human authority, but to a duly ordained priest with requisite jurisdiction and with the "power of the keys", i.e., the power to forgive sins which Christ granted to His Church http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11618c.htm When we become Christians God enters into us, we have repented. Where we thought our way, we now think His way. Our desires are replaced with His. Our sense of guilt is replaced with freedom. There can be no greater way to repent then to let God rule over us. Repent is a change of heart, even God repented. 1 Chronicles 21:10. “Go and tell David, saying, Thus saith the Lord, I offer thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee. 11. So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Choose thee 12. Either three years'famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the Lord, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me. 13. And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the Lord; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man. 14. So the Lord sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.

15. And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the Lord beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the Lord stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. 16. And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the Lord stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. 17. And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O Lord my God, be on me, and on my father' s house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued. 18. Then the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the Lord in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.” Jeremiah 26: 9. “Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the Lord. 10. When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the king' s house unto the house of the Lord, and sat down in the entry of the new gate of the Lord' s house. 11. Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears. 12. Then spake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard. 13. Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the Lord your God; and the Lord will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.” Regarding penance: I talk direct to God the Father through Jesus. I have no other advocate. All my sins were nailed to the cross; the Sacrifice paid them in full. I can boldly say I deal directly with God, as all Christians can.