Myths of Repentance

Myths of Repentance:

Repentance is the penalty, punishment, and

payment for sin

Repentance is a check-list or series of steps

Repentance is stopping or changing a behavior

Repentance

is not

the penalty,

punishment,

Unfortunately the original Hebrew and

Greek were translated into

Latin

, the

common language; ‘shuwb’ and ‘metanoeo’

were translated into

‘Poenitere,’

which means, ‘to punish, make penance, be

penitent,’ and it came to eventually mean,

‘hurting, whipping, cutting, mutilating,

There are always negative consequences

resulting from our sins, but Jesus paid the

penalty, suffered the punishment, and

You may feel discipline and

some suffering in the

process of repentance, but

the cause of all discipline

and suffering

Elder Christofferson, October 2011

Suffering for sin does not by itself

change anything for the better. Only

repentance leads to the sunlit

uplands of a better life. And, of

Repentance is

not a check-list

Repentance is

not

a list of

things you should do.

Elder Bednar

When I was the president of BYU–Idaho, I spoke with a bishop, and

he shared this experience. He had received a confession from a young

person who said, “I was involved in fornication Friday night. You’re the

last thing on my list. Now that I’ve confessed to you, I feel great It can’t be repentance unless it involves the Redeemer, even if they

confess. This was a confession with no regard for the Redeemer. . .

So many young people . . . never miss a question in seminary about

repentance. They can list all the R’s in of repentance, but there’s no Redeemer. That’s not all the young people, but some of the ones

who are coming [on missions] have never missed a question in seminary

Elder Christofferson, October 2011

Attempts to create a list of

specific steps of repentance

may be helpful to some, but it

may also lead to a mechanical,

check-off-the-boxes approach

with no real feeling or change.

Repentance is

not stopping or

changing a

certain

President Ezra Taft Benson

[We must understand] the relationship of repentance to the

principle of faith. Repentance is the second fundamental principle of the gospel. The first is that we must have faith in the Lord Jesus

Christ. Why is this so? Why must faith in the Lord precede true repentance?

Even the most just and upright man cannot save himself solely on his own merits, for . . . If it were not for Jesus Christ there could be no remission of sins. Therefore, repentance means more than simply a reformation of behavior. Many men and women in the world

demonstrate great will-power and self-discipline in overcoming bad habits and the weaknesses of the flesh. Yet at the same time they give no thought to the Master. Such changes of behavior, even if in a

positive direction, do not constitute true repentance.

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation upon which

sincere and meaningful repentance must be built. If we truly

seek to put away sin, we must first look to Him who is the

Author of our salvation.

(

President Packer,

President Joseph F. Smith taught: “Men cannot forgive

their own sins; they cannot cleanse themselves from the

consequences of their sins. Men can stop sinning and can

do right in the future, and so far [as] their acts are

acceptable before the Lord [become] worthy of

consideration. But who shall repair the wrongs they have

done to themselves and to others, which it seems

impossible for them to repair themselves? By the

Atonement of Jesus Christ the sins of the repentant shall

be washed away; though they be crimson they shall be

made white as wool [see Isaiah 1:18]. This is the promise

given to you.”

Elder David A. Bednar, October 2012 Conference

The essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ entails a fundamental and permanent change in our very nature made possible through the Savior’s Atonement. True conversion brings a change in one’s beliefs, heart, and life to accept and conform to the will of God and includes a conscious commitment to become a disciple of Christ.

Repentance is, therefore, more

than mere remorse; it

comprehends a change of

nature befitting heaven.

…This changing of life, this

repenting is what the world

needs. It is a change of heart.

Men must change their way of

thinking! Change their way of

feeling!

Teachings of David O.

Elder B. H. Roberts, Seventy’s Course in Theology, 4:87

The Helplessness of Man in the

Presence of Broken Law:

. . . How can satisfaction be made to justice in order that

redemption may reach fallen man? Admittedly man, the

transgressor of law, is powerless to make such satisfaction.

True, it is conceivable that he might, through struggle,

maintain himself in righteousness for the future. But that

does not reach the past. If he should by struggle maintain

himself in righteousness for the future, that is no more than

he ought to do. Man owes that duty every day in the

Elder Roberts (cont.)

Repentance is

not what saves

us, and makes

salvation

It is

not

repentance per se

that saves man. It

is the blood of

Jesus Christ that

saves us.

“Christ is the

power

behind all

repentance”

•

_{Repentance is NOT the}

punishment, penalty, or payment

of sin!

•

_{Repentance is NOT a check-list!}

•

_{Repentance is NOT just a change}

of behavior!

•

_{Repentance is NOT what saves us!}

Question: What else is repentance

Repentance is NOT the process of

earning forgiveness.

Repentance is the process of

qualifying ourselves to receive the gift

of forgiveness through the

John Donne

1572-1631

Holy Sonnets IV, 248

Yet grace, if thou repent, thou canst not

lack;

But who shall give thee that grace to

begin?

O make thyself with holy mourning black,

And red with blushing, as thou art with sin;

Or wash thee in Christ’s blood, which hath

this might

Alma 22

15 And it came to pass that after Aaron had expounded

these things unto him, the king said: What shall I do that I

may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken?

Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this

wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his

Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be cast

off at the last day? Behold, said he, I will give up all that I

possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive

this great joy.

16 But Aaron said unto him: If thou desirest this thing, if

thou wilt bow down before God, yea, if thou wilt repent

of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on

his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then

17 And it came to pass that when Aaron had said

these words, the king did bow down before the Lord,

upon his knees; yea, even he did prostrate himself

upon the earth, and cried mightily, saying:

18 O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God;

and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou

make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all

my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from

the dead, and be saved at the last day. And now

Elder Bednar

When I was the president of BYU–Idaho, I spoke with a bishop, and

he shared this experience. He had received a confession from a young

person who said, “I was involved in fornication Friday night. You’re the

last thing on my list. Now that I’ve confessed to you, I feel great.

That’s not repentance! It can’t be repentance unless it involves the Redeemer, even if they confess. This was a confession

with no regard for the Redeemer. So many young people . . . never miss a question in seminary about repentance. They can list all the R’s in of repentance, but there’s no Redeemer. Not all of them, but some of the ones who are coming [on

missions] have never missed a question in seminary [about repentance] . . .but they have no idea what it means.

What Repentance is

NOT

•

_{Repentance is NOT the punishment, penalty,}

or payment of sin!

•

_{Repentance is NOT a check-list, or a series}

of steps usually beginning with ‘R’!

•

_{Repentance is NOT just a change of}

behavior!

The Merits of Christ

When we understand that we are saved and redeemed, by His

merits not ours, we will worry less about us being good enough to repent and be forgiven, but rather we will focus more on the truth that because He was good enough we can repent and be forgiven. We are saved and redeemed, by His righteousness not our own.

2 Nephi 2:3-4, 6-8; 31:19

Mosiah 2:19-24

Alma 22:13-14; 24:10-11

Helaman 14:13

Moroni 6:4

WHAT REPENTANCE IS . . .

Repentance is turning around, facing

the Savior, moving toward Him, laying

your sins at His feet, relying on His

merits by receiving His Atonement and

giving yourself wholly, completely to

Him. Repentance is exercising your

faith in Christ, knowing that He will

forgive you and understanding that the

ultimate display of your gratitude for

His suffering is to receive His

The

BIGGEST

See Elder Nelson, April 2011 CR, “…cafeteria approach of obedience…”; Also see: James 2:10; Alma 22:15-18; Omni 1:26

Start

to repent of sinning!

STOP

C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, 167

The Christian way is different: harder and

easier. Christ says 'Give Me ALL. I don't want so much of your time and so much of your

work. I want YOU. I have not come into your life to torment your 'natural self' but to KILL IT! Hand over the 'natural self', all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked—the whole outfit. I will give you a 'new self' instead. In fact, I will give

President Spencer W. Kimball

In connection with repentance, the scriptures use the phrase, ‘with all his heart’ (see D&C 42:25). Obviously this rules out any reservations. Repentance must

involve an all-out total surrender to the Lord. That transgressor is not fully repentant who neglects his tithing, misses his meetings, breaks the Sabbath, fails in his family prayers, does not sustain the authorities of the Church, breaks the Word of Wisdom, does not love the Lord nor his fellowmen. A reforming

adulterer who drinks or curses is not repentant. God cannot forgive unless the transgressor shows a true repentance which spreads to all areas of his life.”