"Repent" means o change one's mind, they see that they are sinning and want to be changed by Christ. When we change our minds it leads to a change in behavior. If there has been no change in behavior there has been no change of mind. No matter what anyone says, if their behavior remains the same they have not had a changed mind.
If someone says they have become a Christian but their life has not changed on any level, then their words are dead words and their faith is a dead faith.
A heart change always leads to changed habits and attitudes.
Ezekiel 11:19
"And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,"
Did we see that? GOD gives us a new nature entirely opposite of the old one when we become born again. It is not any effort on our part. Our only part was to desire to be changed by Christ into that which we cannot change in ourselves.
Helplessness is the best place for anyone to be, it drives us to the One Who can truly help us.
Psalm 51:10
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."
There it is again; a prayer to change the heart of a man.
Psalm 37:4 ESV / 44 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
God says that all we have to do is a delight in Him and His desires will become ours. God never gives us what we want, He gives us what He wants us to have. But only if we trust in Him.
Ezekiel 36:26
"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."
There it is again, God is the One Who makes a new heart in us. Anyone who is attempting to make themselves good by doing better will not be changed. They will only appear to be changed and it does not last because it is fleshly and superficial.
For many years I wondered why so many people didn't grow out of their wrong attitudes and actions within the church. I know now it is because many are not born again, they wanted to associate with an idea of being good but never wanted to be changed by Christ.
How do I know this? Its because many of these people are aggravated by the mention of the scriptures or correction by them. They don't read or know the Bible and have no desire to, they live in cultural Christianity based on feelings and the culture around them.
When we become born again we no longer fit into the culture, we are outcasts. Those who fit well with their culture are likely not born again.
Hosea 10:12
"Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you."
It is only through Christ that we can become holy, righteous, and steadfast because it is He Who is so, we are merely His vehicle to glorify Him. He gets all the praise and glory.
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