What does the word repent mean to you personally?

My understanding of what repent means, is to change ones direction. Morally, ethically, mentally, emotionally, etc. To repent means to understand the natural consequences of what the life you are currently living will produce, and choose to change your direction. Another scriptural reference which is asking you to do the same thing, is when Paul says for us to have the same Mind in us that was in Christ Jesus. That is my understanding.

Peace and Namaste!

Job 28:28 (English Standard Version)

28And he said to man,'Behold,(A) the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,

and to(B) turn away from evil is understanding.'"

Cross references:

A.Job 28:28 : Deut 4:6; Psalm 111:10; Prov 1:7; Eccles 12:13

B.Job 28:28 : Prov 3:7; 14:16; 16:6

Proverbs 3:7 (English Standard Version)

7(A) Be not wise in your own eyes;

(B) fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.

Cross references:

A.Proverbs 3:7 : Rom 12:16; Proverbs 12:15

B.Proverbs 3:7 : Job 1:1; 28:28

Hebrews 13:1 (English Standard Version)

Hebrews 13

Sacrifices Pleasing to God

1Let(A) brotherly love continue.

Cross references:

A.Hebrews 13:1 : Rom 12:10; 1 Thess 4:9; 1 Pet 1:22; 2 Pet 1:7; 1 Pet 2:17; 3:8; 1 John 3:10; 4:7, 20, 21

In my own words:

If i may, let me tell a very short story of how i see it.

Your space ship as just landed on the moons surface , its a routine mining mission and the the robotic arm fails and you need to suit up and go out side to fix it, while your out there over the com set in your helmet you hear your fellow astronaut in your ship say

"your running out of air in your suit you need to return to the ship something must be wrong with the suit your in"

You tell them

" I got this i am almost done "

Much the same is the case of our souls, while God is in the right by telling us to come back IN now, we think we have all the time we need, when we should listen and repent, and get back IN the ship, but in this case its not only our lives , but our very soul is at risk.

Jesus said this in John 10

'' My sheep hear my voice "

some 30 years ago i heard that voice and i returned to the Ship.

Sinning for me is an activity that is reprehensible according to others and even according to my own conscience. Sinning may be a deleterious action, overt or covert, against good friendship, against good health, against some agreement that was entered with somebody for a reciprocal advantage.

Before I take "repent" as explained in a dictionary, I will think that my own repentance will be an attitude of regretting and of contrition, where regretting is a bitter sorry feeling of me wishing that I had not done something unpleasant shameful unfortunate,

while contrition is recollection and thoughts of expiation about how things have been, about how my public and private image has been damaged by my bad behaviour, about how my bad behaviour may have affected my health and perhaps also the health and happiness of somebody else or others.

But, instead of lingering all too long within the painful state of repentance, of shame, of bitter contrition, I would try and decide that, no matter how my sinful behaviour has been,

from now on and for the rest of my own life no matter how long or short it may be I will try and more diligently be working at building up, or more ardently adding up to, some good events and some proud memories for a future.

Amen. Have some great good laugh.

Jesus’ word for repent simply means ‘return’; it does not mean repentance at all. ‘Turn in’ it means, ‘return to the source’, it means, ‘return to your own being’. That’s what meditation is all about: returning to the source, returning to the center of the cyclone, returning to your very being.

Repentance is ugly. It is like playing with your wound, fingering your wound. It is unnecessary, and not only unnecessary but harmful — the wound may become septic, and fingering your wound is not going to help it heal either. If you have fallen, just know that you have fallen, with no guilt, with no repentance. There is no need to go anywhere to confess it, just knowing it is enough. And knowing it, you are helping your awareness to grow. Less and less will you fall, because knowing will become more and more strong in you.

In our Christianity one word has been very much misunderstood, and that is “repent.” The original Hebrew word for “repent” means return, not repent. That is the only repentance — if you return! But just by being translated as “repent” the whole thing is lost. Mohammedans have a similar word, toba. Toba means return. It means “go back to the source.” Toba also looks like repentance; that too is not repentance. Jains have a word: they call it pratikraman; that means return.

Repentance will always come if your decision is partial. And no decision lived out of conclusions can ever be total, because the conclusion has been carried from the past, and the situation is new — how can it fit totally? You have to respond again out of your newness of this moment, then the response is total. And total response is joy — whether it fails or succeeds, is irrelevant. In its totality it has succeeded already, and there will be no repentance.

May you always shine like a Star and be fragrant like a Flower,

God bless your Life with infinite Love and Peace, Amen.

Likewise Many and Much Blessing be upon the Questioner!

Well the Question Really and Truly came to where it supposed (Yahoo Answers) and therefore needs Perfect Answer. Therefore Questioner the Answer you have here is that which has been bestowed upon a Sinner Drugs (cocaine+heroin) Dealer in the Austrian Streets. You then here have not the single and simple Meanings and Significances of the word "REPENT". But mostly the PRACTICAL REPENTANCE Knowledge and Wisdom Provided to all of mankind in order to HELP them Look-See-Watch the Paths and Ways out of SINS.

N.B: The Austrian Repentance Chosen Sepecial Selected Preacher and Teacher BECOME through its FULFILLMENT a HOLY man-a SAINT. This is all that you were to Discover and Find in the word REPENTANCE. If it GUIDES and LEADS you not to these things Holy or Saint "STATE" then you have Completely FAILLED.

it is receiving a truth... which replaces the errors....

it is akin...

to saying... I did what i did then...

but now " I KNOW BETTER!"

A correction takes place in the heart of one who is fully repentant, the error stops for all time...

there is most likely a state whereby one could say... I think, kinda understand... but if the actions continue whereby one continues in haphazard ness... then, perhaps repentance is partially known...

there is a difference between remorse and Godly sorrow...remorse has more to do with being caught, wishing one hadn't done something... whereas Godly sorrow leads to a complete life change... which resonates inside out... everyone sees the fruit of repentance enacted in anyone who is fully repentant ~ a good tree bears good fruit...

Remorse leads to death, whereas Repentance leads to Life giving waters. Compare Judas with remorse, David to Life...

Love you

Lovingly

Kar

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It is a word and phrase I do not like one bit! It slightly sends shivers down my spine.

I relate it to all the hellfire and brimstone sermons that I have heard.

But then maybe I am not giving the real meaning a chance.

I like very much Young's Literal Translation of the Bible, where he translates word for word without embellishment, or without changing past or present tense. It is refreshing to read.

On the passage of Repent your Sins, his translation is as follows:

"Reform ye, therefore, and turn back, for your sins being blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,"

I've had a look at some notes that another contributor posted and, Repent comes from the hebrew word Shuv which means "to turn or to turn around". Teshubah is "the act of returning". In Greek, Repent comes from the word metonea which means: "a change of mind."

I know this verse comes from Peter when he is saying to the people that although they have crucified Jesus, they can change their mind and follow the teachings of Jesus.

So, "Repent Your Sins" seems to be a phrase that is used differently today and out of the context that it was originally intended.

The passage could mean: If we have a "change of mind" and reform our ways, our past errors will no longer matter and we will become refreshed and renewed by the presence of God.

Or that's how I prefer to see it anyway! LOL! Rose tinted glasses and all that!

Namaste

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True repentenace is to have a change of heart for something wrong you did, the way you have lived your life, the sins you have committed, and to ask for forgiveness from God. True repentance will mean you have decided to leave those things behind that were sins and don't do them again. If you keep going back to them, that usually means you didn't really repent and you are the same person as you were before.

I much prefer the Greek word in the bible that

was translated repent than 'repent' which is

the same root word as 'penance' and

penitentiary. The Greek word is 'metaknoia'

and has a lot of wonderful great meaning

like metamorphosis and knowledge. It

has the beauty of change without any

recriminations.

Repent....

"If you want to be somebody else you got to change your mind"

If you make a mess...you should clean it up....

Accountability

I F*&ked Up...........I know it, can't take it back, I'll do what I can, and I'm sorry...sincerely

Life is a journey....you may have a few wrecks

If you repent ...lol....hopefully you won't have...THE SAME wreck again

Not and end to a means....a means to an end

A means toward............REDEMPTION.......maybe just from yourself

Maybe something bigger...............seems like the right thing to do

Payoff or no payoff

"Somewhere over the rainbow beside amazing grace

I left my good intentions with a friend"

(Whiskey Red,obscure songwriter)