K103. How did the prodigal son repent?

One of the most perverted doctrine of repentance given by many radical grace or hyper grace preachers is when they preach 'repentance' from the parable of the prodigal son. A quick check on the background of those preachers who preach it reveals that they hated repentance teaching; but now they want to preach 'repentance' because they think that they can 'repent' like the sheep or the birds, and that they can 'repent' better than others. They tell us that, whenever people hear or believe them, people repent, and it is because of their 'good repentance preaching' which do not call people to repentance, and so people will just need to 'repent' (believe or change their minds) casually without feeling the stress or condemnation of sins even if they do not really repent (or turn from their sins).
I will tell them, That is good, but it is a lie which people love to believe. Yes, you can repent like a sheep or a bird, but in reality sheep and birds do not think and repent. Secondly, they do not have sins which they have to confess. I have explained that the use of metaphor must be read with God's wisdom and within the Bible context (Luk 15:4-7 - see my previous post K101).

Does the preaching of repentance mean the preaching of rest?
Today I want to discuss about another parable which the Lord had used to preach repentance - the parable of the prodigal son. We understand that we do not repent like the animals, but do we repent like the prodigal son? Certainly we can repent like the prodigal son. But many will say, "Well, do you know how the prodigal son repented? He just changed his mind and believed that his father was a good father who would forgive all his sins and give him plenty of good things. This should be the gospel, the goodnews, or the main message of repentance to all the sinners - that our Father is no longer angry with us. He is now very happy to give us everything to prosper us. Many preachers today do not present a happy or smiling God to the people; they would only want to give us an angry God or condemning God with an angry message of repentance which always tell you that you are not good enough and that you must repent from your sins. But, our God in the New Covenant is no longer an angry God or the God of the law; He is now the God of love and grace. Why do we still go back to the past, to the law, or to the old covenant and preach an angry God. Today if you hear the voice of God for you to be saved, to be blessed, to be happy, and to be prospered, do not harden your heart. Enter our rest:
Heb 4:7-10 KJV ..To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.  (8)  For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.  (9)  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.  (10)  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his."

The preaching of rest is for the believers; not for the sinners who have not repented
I will tell them, The Bible has shown us that Satan could quote God's words convincingly to deceive Eve. Satan can also quote from the New Testament to deceive the churches and the believers too.
I hate to say it, but I must say that your interpretation and invitation to enter into your rest is not from God. Heb 4:7-10 was speaking mainly to the believers in the churches. We can find many Bible verses which refer to the believers in the churches; not the sinners:
Heb 4:1  Let us therefore fear, lest, ..
Heb 4:2  For unto us was the gospel preached ..
Heb 4:3  For we which have believed
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Heb 4:14 KJV  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (15) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities ..
Heb 4:16 KJV  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Although we know that Paul was talking mainly to the Hebrew believers in the churches, his words are still applicable to us in the churches today. Please read Heb 4:11 again, Don't you think that it is serious enough for those who have believed to be warned of unbelief too? The Israelites believed that they were God's people and that none of them would perish like the sinners, and yet God sent prophets after prophets to warn them and rebuke them of their sins and unbelief. King Saul thought that he believed and obeyed God when he was rebuked by Samuel too. Similarly, there are believers in the churches whom God will rebuke today, and the letter of Paul (Heb 4:11) proves it.

The preaching of rest should never be used to replace the preaching of repentance
Hence, only the believers could enter into God's rest in Heb 4:7-11. But the sinners must have repented and come to God before they could enter. So, it is ridiculous to use Heb 4:7-11 to replace the Lord's doctrine, teaching, warnings, commandments, or the whole gospel of Jesus Christ who commanded us to preach repentance to the sinners of the world.
Yes, we may think that we are all the believers (and not the sinners of the world), and therefore, we do not need to be bothered how Heb 4:7-11 is preached to the sinners or believers. However, do you know that Adam and Eve were not sinners before they fell. If they could fall by listening and responding to the 'stealer of God's words', we (who are not the sinners of the world) can fall too.
2Co 11:3-4 KJV  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.  (4)  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
Obviously, Paul gave this warning to the believers and churches; not to the sinners too. It means that he is justified to fear it because the believers and churches could fall if they do not take heed.

Did the prodigal son repent by changing his mind or realizing something different?
Now, we must go back to the first question on how did the prodigal son repent? Did he just change his mind? Many will say, "Yes, of course, he just changed his mind, but that is all that we need today. That will lead us to go back to our heavenly Father and confess our sins to Him. But we should only focus on the change of mind now. Like the father who could hardly wait for his son to complete his confession of sins but immediately hugged and kissed him, our heavenly Father will forgive us too before we confess our sins or even repent. Hence, the only thing which we should always mention or preach  is changing of mind; all the rest will be automatic:"
Luk 15:12-19 KJV And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living .. .. (17) And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!  (18)  I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,  (19)  And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
They will ask, "Did you read (v17) ? When he came to himself, he repented - that is changing of mind to have good opinion of his father. Before he repented, he thought of his father as an angry father who will judge him; but when he came to himself, he though of his father as a loving father who would forgive him - that is true repentance."

Realization about God or others is not repentance
I will tell them, Oh, this is really deep. Suddenly I came to myself and realize that this is true. Would you say that I have just repented, just because I came to myself today and realized something new?
No, this is ridiculous. Realizing that God is love or God will forgive us is not repentance. Realizing that we have sinned and that we need to turn from the old ways or old thinkings is repentance. Hence, if we must preach only change of mind or coming to ourselves in realization, we may consider two types of 'realization'
  1. Realization by the proud people
  2. Realization by the sinners
The proud people can have many 'realizations' too, but none of their realizations would include confession or admitting of sins or wrongdoings. It is best to think of it with an illustration:
For example, I slapped you ten times and ran away. Then, like the prodigal son, I came to myself and said, "Ok, I knew that you are a very good, loving, and forgiving person. I will just arise and come back".
Do you think that that is repentance because I came to myself and realized about your goodness? Do you think that there is any repentance element? No. You may argue that it can be considered as repentance, metanoia, or change of mind; but it is just a realization of someone who can never repent.

Realization about ourselves and our sins could be repentance
I hope that I do not need to explain in detailed how a sinners will repent. Of course, a sinner will not always beat his chest whenever he repents. But when we read the following illustration of two men who came to God, we are expected to know how to differentiate who has only 'good realization' and who has repentance.
Luk 18:10-14 KJV  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.  (11)  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.  (12)  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.  (13)  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.  (14)  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Wrong teaching will not only 'kill' the fruit of the believers; it will choke their growth too
Since I have talked about Heb 4:7-11, I will talk about another parable which has been misunderstood by many believers too.
Many think that I am preaching to the world because I share it publicly. It is ok if you still cannot tell if I am preaching to the world or to the believers. But, if you are a Christian or a believer of Jesus Christ and you cannot recognize whether Jesus is speaking to you from His words, something is terribly wrong. That's why I want to share one more parable:
 Luk 8:11-15 KJV  Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.  (12)  Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.  (13)  They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.  (14)  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.  (15)  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Please ask ourselves, Is this parable given to the world or the believers? Now please think, If it was spoken to all those who followed and listened to Jesus and then it was explained in detailed (in private) to the twelve disciples, does it make sense to tell ourselves that this parable is for the world? No, if this parable has been taught in all the three gospel of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, it means important salvation truth for all those who receive the words, have the words, and believe; but it means nothing to the sinners who do not know Him or know His words.
In the parable, there is only one seed or one type of seed - ie the word of God; but many different types of growth from the believers who receive the word into their hearts. The sinners of the world can never come into the picture because they can never receive the word (into their hearts) when they would just hear and reject the word. Hence, Jesus was talking about only believers who have received the word into their hearts. I would not want to argue if the different types of believers are genuine believers, agnostic believers, carnal believers, temporary believers, new believers, young believers, weak believers, strong believers, fallen believers, false believers, godly believers, righteous believers, old believers, or mature believers. Of course, they can be many different types of believers; but I would just want to confirm that they are the BELIEVERS who have heard, received, and believed the word. They could be in the churches or in the world. Jesus would even add one more parable to confirm that they could be in the churches and believe like us; but they are not of us. They could be from us and they may remain with us and their growth may have been choked by deceitfulness of riches in the world, but they will choke the word in some of us too:
Mat 13:37-41 KJV  He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;  (38)  The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;  (39)  The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.  (40)  As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.  (41)  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
There are many definition of the 'wicked one'. But the children of the 'wicked one' may not be wicked. They could be fooled or blinded by the 'wicked one'. So, if they say that the children of the 'wicked one' can never be the believers or them because they themselves are not wicked, violent, and lawless, it shows that they have already blinded themselves. They are the tares themselves and they will pave the blinded way for the blinds and the foolish. I will ask them, How can you twist the serious warning of Jesus and interpret it as peace and safety with the tares around us or among us. Your kind of blindness mentality will only help more tares to multiply and grow in the last days. 
  
'Cheap repentance' lead to 'cheap grace'
Many radical grace preachers preach repentance like preaching 'cheap grace'. They may argue that they have never preached any 'cheap grace'. But  whenever they preach 'cheap repentance', they have shown us that they preached 'cheap grace'.
I do not have to explain what is cheap grace. If we have seen how many preachers preach repentance, we know that they have not only preached 'cheap repentance'; they have also preached 'cheap grace'. They may tell the people to confess a short repentance prayer, lay hands on their heads, and say, "I hereby declare that you have repented." They will subsequently preach that, therefore, there is no more sin, and no more repentance necessary because everyone in the church has repented. I will ask them, "Are you sure everyone has repented just because of that?" In fact, I have seen many internet prayers which say, "God, I repent !" and then in the next line (almost immediately) followed by "Hallelujah, thank you for forgiving all my sins. Praise the Lord. I am the righteousness of God .. I am in Christ .. I am .." I wonder if repentance can be confessed in this way:
For example, after I slapped you 10 times, few minutes later I come back and say to you, "I repent". But, before you say anything, I say, "Thank you for forgiving me. Thank you that you are so good to me .. Thank you .. thank you .." I don't know about you, but I find that it is so strange to confess repentance in this way when there is no showing of any sincerity, apology, or humility.
Of course, we do not encourage the people to beat their chest to show repentance; but we encourage them to show it through many other means. There are many ways to show repentance; but one of the easiest ways is to start by saying it out or admitting the wrongdoings in a more meaningful way. If we are serious enough to indicate our sincerity or apology, we will do more than a 'hollow' repentance prayer or thanksgiving prayer. I cannot teach you how to repent. Only the Holy Spirit can.

Can a believer still be condemned by his sins?
Many will argue, "No, absolutely not. Yes, a sinner can be condemned by sins, but A BELIEVER CANNOT be condemned by his sins because all his sins have been forgiven unconditionally and completely by the blood of Jesus Christ. The blood and the grace of Jesus is powerful enough to save and cleanse us from all our sins. Hence, how much God can forgive us is not dependent on how much we repent, keep God's commandments, or we do, to live godly lives. LONG LIVE to the grace of God ! Hallelujah !"
I will tell them,  You are still arguing and going back and forth with the old question: "Are we saved by God's grace or by our repentance?"
I have explained in K102 that we cannot preach the words of God by 'replacement' theology: for example, using the grace of Jesus to replace the laws of God, faith to replace the works of faith, preaching of grace  to replace the message of repentance or repentance works, love to replace obedience, rest to replace discipline or discipleship, radical doctrine to replace sound doctrine, .. and etc.
Of course, I agree that the lack of the works of faith, or the fruit of repentance, or discipline, or obedience, or sound doctrine may not condemn as sins, but it can still condemn like sins.
Have you read how the believers or those who followed Jesus could be condemned if they walked in lawlessness (Mat 7), fruitlessness (Mat 13), or foolishness (Mat 25). Jesus used the most serious words and warnings to describe God's rejection and judgement of them. We would be preaching a different gospel if we would just change His words or His tone to show less condemnation to the believers who did not take heed.

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