A CHANGE OF MIND

by Preach Christ Crucified on Monday, April 9, 2012 at 10:49am There has been an ongoing debate and confusion as to what really constitute salvation and of course the issue can be beclouded with a lot of different factors like unbelief, tradition, emotions, fellowships, wrong application of Bible verses, etc. but do we really understand what and how salvation comes to a person and where do we get our understanding of this greatest and most important subject which will determine our eternal destiny. Many are confused over the question of; Is salvation should be by believing with repentance or is it by believing alone and without repentance ? Analyzing the question will make one who really understand the issue conclude that both questions and positions will not really arrive to a satisfying answer since understanding of the word "REPENTANCE" is rather vague because of lack of study and understanding how the KJB define and classify what the word means.

Webster dictionary 1828 define it as such ; 1. Sorrow for any thing done or said; the pain or grief which a person experiences in consequence of the injury or inconvenience produced by his own conduct. 2. In theology, the pain, regret or affliction which a person feels on account of his past conduct, because it exposes him to punishment. This sorrow proceeding merely from the fear of punishment, is called legal repentance, as being excited by the terrors of legal penalties, and it may exist without an amendment of life. 3. Real penitence; sorrow or deep contrition for sin, as an offense and dishonor to God, a violation of his holy law, and the basest ingratitude towards a Being of infinite benevolence. This is called evangelical repentance, and is accompanied and followed by amendment of life.

Repentance is a change of mind, or a conversion from sin to God. Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation. 2Cor. 7. Matt. 3.

Repentance is the relinquishment of any practice, from conviction that it has offended God.

Among the definition recorded, which one will fit to the KJB's definition and application dispensationally!

1. A lost person has his mind connected to the flesh: Ephesians 2:3 " Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the FLESH and of the MIND; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.(emphasis mine)

yet now hath he reconciled. Mind is connected to the flesh and if there will be no changing of MIND there will be no salvation at all.

How will there be a Change of Mind or repentance? Dispensationally! What is the difference in application and the object of repentance in the OT and NT?

1.The ministry of John The Baptist:

Luke 3:8 " Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance,..." >> A repentance that is connected with works also confirmed by Paul " Acts 26:20 " But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should REPENT and turn to God, and do WORKS meet for REPENTANCE." A kind of repentance that is connected with the kingdom gospel that requires physical works. But there is the dispensation of the mystery of the gospel which is the object of repentance not in the physical sense but that is in the spiritual.

2. The dispensation of grace : after the final rejection of the kingdom offer the application and the object of repentance takes a different direction and operation.

2 Cor.7:10 " For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of : but the sorrow of the world worketh death. >> There must be a godly sorrow that will make a lost person get saved and what and how ?

2Tim.2:25 " In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them REPENTANCE to the ACKNOWLEDGING of the TRUTH;"

This is repentance in the KJB it is the acknowledging of the TRUTH, and what is the truth that saves a person? Ephesians 1:13 " In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard THE WORD OF TRUTH, THE GOSPEL OF YOUR SALVATION,: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise."

Repentance is a change of mind in the sense that a lost person acknowledge the truth and the truth regarding salvation is clearly defined in the gospel : 1 Cor.15 : 1 " Moreover, brethren I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which I also received, and wherein ye stand; 1 Cor.15:2 " By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in MEMORY what I preached unto you unless ye have believed in vain." 1 Cor.15:3 " For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, HOW that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 1 Cor.15:4 " And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

>> The MEMORY and the HOW all concerns the MIND a lost person cannot be saved without acknowledging that the ultimate and perfect sacrifice of Christ is enough to save him or her, that is totally abandoning any means of salvation outside of the perfect sacrifice and it all happens while the gospel was being presented as in the preaching of Peter to Cornelius: ACTS 10:44 " While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word."

The change of Mind has also a literal but in a spiritual manner in which a saved person possessed;

1 Cor.2:16 " For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the MIND OF Christ."

>>> Isn't it a Change of Mind?