Did Jesus say Repentance is just change of mind?

Did Jesus say Repentance is just change of mind?
Most of the preachers who say it is so do not really read the Bible. They may argue, "Although Jesus did not say it, He meant it."  I will tell them, If we read the Bible, we will know that Jesus would never mean or explain repentance as just change of mind.

• Mat 12:38-42 KJV Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. (39) But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas .. (41) The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here .. 

Jesus said clearly that the people of Nineveh repented. Although He did not explain clearly how they repented, the Bible did explain clearly how they repented:

• Jon3:4-10 KJV And Jonah began.. and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. (5) So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.. (10) And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way;  

Did they believe God only or change their minds only? No, God saw their works. In another words, God saw their repentance; not just change of their minds only. Hence, if we still insist that repentance must involves the change of mind, it must be the change of mind with the will or determination to turn away from sins. Hence, repentance is not just any change of mind just because we change our thinking or our preference: for example, last time, we loved to eat from Burger King, but now we eat from McDonald; or last time, we believed in an angry God, but now we think of Him as a smiling God; or we change from negative thinking to positive thinking ..
Please think, If repentance is just change of mind to adapt ourselves better in different environments or beliefs, the Pharisees would repent or change their minds better and faster than anyone of us.

Hence, please don't be deceived by the preachers or prophets who will never read or explain the Bible properly. They may claim that they are 'Christ' or the anointed who preach a better version of 'repentance' which can draw more sinners, but their repentance doctrine and they themselves could be as fruitless as the Pharisees who were under the the law:

• Mat 3:5-10 KJV  Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,  (6)  And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.  (7)  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  (8)  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:  (9)  And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.  (10)  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Yes, I do not deny that repentance involve change, but it is more than the change of mind or mental change. In fact, Jesus showed the Pharisee, Nicodemus, that there must be a bigger change, not so much on the physical change or mental change, but the spiritual change - or the change of being born again or being born of water and of the Spirit:

• Joh 3:1-12 KJV  There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:  (2)  The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.  (3)  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  (4)  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?  (5)  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  (6)  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7)  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  (8)  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.  (9)  Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?  (10)  Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?  (11)  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.  (12)  If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

Did Paul say Repentance is dead work?
No, Paul did not say Repentance is dead work; he said We should all know repentance from dead works - it means that he wants us to repent from dead works and sins.
Many will argue, "Why should we be so particular about what to repent? Why must we repent from sins? We can repent of anything. What would a believer do before he can believe? Of course, he repent or just change his mind from believing in the wrong religion to right believing. Hence, a believer in Christ must have repented or changed his mind when he believed. Hence, we have all repented when we just change our minds from unbelief to right believing, or from believing in an angry judgemental God to believing in a gracious smiling God. Hence, repentance and salvation in Christ should never be preached as behavioural modification, change in behaviours, or dead works; but just change of mind. It's because we just need to change our mind and believe Jesus, and we are saved .."
I will tell them, Yes, of course I believe that God is gracious, and that not all of us can be very exact in the definition of repentance. If we make a big mistake on the definition of repentance and lead many people to damnation, we may probably still find grace for making it right. Hence, I would not judge preachers or believers based on whether they can definite repentance accurately or not. It is because repentance is not about thinking, definition, or confession only; it is about doing it. We may not express it, explain it, or confess it correctly. If we can simply do it, it speaks louder than any words.
However, if we preach the easier version of 'repentance' intentionally and deliberately for the purpose of drawing more people to ourselves and accusing others who preach repentance, we may not find any room for our own repentance before God. Wrong teaching of repentance with the wrong motive will not show suddenly overnight. It could be deliberately planned for a period of time, to deceitfully hide sins, carnal thinking, or lawless philosophy, with a series of linked and complicated, but deceitful teaching, to remove God's doctrine and commandments: eg. with no more keeping of God's commandments, no more earnest prayer, no more sacrificial godly living, no more discipleship, no more righteous suffering, no more righteous judgement, no more conviction of sins, no more serious warnings against sins, no more repentance or conscientious effort to turn away from sins and do good works, recompense, or confession of sins .. etc.  Hence, Paul has given us serious warning, especially if we are the preachers of God's words and the doctrine of Christ:

• Heb 6:1-6 KJV  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,  (2)  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.  (3)  And this will we do, if God permit.  (4)  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,  (5)  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,  (6)  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Of course, Paul did not say that the foundation of repentance is dead work; but he did say that repentance is turning away from dead works or sins. If repentance is the foundation principles of the doctrine of Christ, it is more important than what we think. In fact, it is one of the most important doctrine before a believer can leave for higher principles of the doctrine of Christ. If we cannot get it right or cannot repent with the true conviction against sins or dead works, I don't think Paul would permit us to preach other things or other repentance with no mention of sins. Contrary to what the radical grace preachers preach, repentance is not dead work. Yes, repentance will always involve turning away from licentiousness and making conscientious effort to do more good works. But doing this is not dead work under the law.

• Eph 4:17-28 KJV  This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,  (18)  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:  (19)  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.  (20)  But ye have not so learned Christ;  (21)  If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:  (22)  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;  (23)  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;  (24)  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.  (25)  Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. ..   (28)  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
• 1Pe 1:13-17 KJV  Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  (14)  As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:  (15)  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;  (16)  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.  (17)  And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

What is dead work? I will say, Dead work is self-effort, testifying, or boasting which we do deliberately to promote ourselves or make others think that we are more anointed or more righteous than others.



Did Jesus say that we are saved if we just believe ?
I will tell them, You said that we are saved by believing in Jesus, not by doing anything in Him. I understand what you mean. You've probably quoted from the following Bible verses and focused on 'whosoever that believeth':

• Joh 3:16 KJV  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

But did you read on?  

• Joh 3:16-21 KJV  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  (17)  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  (18)  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  (19)  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  (20)  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  (21)  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God (revealed).

Jesus meant that those who truly believe in Him will believe and do what He said, and their deeds, actions, or behaviours will reveal if they have truly believed in Him. In another words, He would want us and 'whosoever that believeth' to do more than just believing or change of mind only. The Pharisees and false prophets would only want to believe or repent with just the mental change which no one could see, but Jesus knew them too well:  

• Mat 7:21-27 KJV  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  (22)  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  (23)  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.  (24)  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  (25)  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.  (26)  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:  (27)  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
• Joh 8:51 KJV  Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
• Joh 14:15 KJV  If ye love me, keep my commandments.
• Joh 14:23-25 KJV  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.  (24)  He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.  (25)  These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
• Joh 15:10 KJV  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
• Joh 10:26-30 KJV  But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.  (27)  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:  (28)  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.  (29)  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.  (30)  I and my Father are one.

The fruit will show if we have truly believed or repented
This is common sense because we can never see what a person believe until he shows it in his speech, attitude, behaviour, or action. Hence, Jesus has said it very clearly, Those who truly believe in Him are those who hear Him, understand Him, keep His words, and do and teach His words. There would be changes in their deeds, actions, thinking, speaking, and even teaching. If there is only change in the thinking or believing without any change in the things that will show, they have probably not believed yet. They have only heard and walked away without bearing any fruit:

• Mat 13:18-23 KJV  Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.  (19)  When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.  (20)  But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;  (21)  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.  (22)  He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.  (23)  But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Most of the disciples, including Paul, understand His words and do and teach His words:

• 2Co 9:5-11 LITV  Therefore, I thought it necessary to exhort the brothers, that they go forward to you and arrange beforehand your promised blessing, this to be ready, thus as a blessing and not as by greediness.  (6)  And this: the one sowing sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one sowing on hope of blessings will also reap on blessings.  (7)  Each one as he purposes in his heart, not out of grief or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. (8)  And God is able to make all grace to abound toward you, that in everything, always having all self sufficiency, you may abound to every good work;  (9)  even as it has been written, "He scattered, he gave to the poor, his righteousness abides forever." (10)  Now He that supplies seed to the sower and bread for eating, may He supply and multiply your seed and increase the fruits of your righteousness,  (11)  in everything you being enriched to all sincerity, which works out thanksgiving to God through us.
• Heb 6:6-12 KJV  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.  (7)  For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:  (8)  But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.  (9)  But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.  (10)  For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.  (11)  And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:  (12)  That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

In fact, Paul told us that we should do and work like those who are full of faith and who inherit the promises with patience.


::