From: abvax!ALF.CS.HH.AB.COM!BENNING
Newsgroups: alt.messianic
Subject: Is repentance necessary?
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 10:51:26 -0500 (EST)


 SOMEONE ASKES THE QUESTION:

 Is t'shuvah (repentance) a requirement in the Messianic movement?

  Read below just a FEW of the verses and see for yourself.
*****************************************************************

Matthew 3:1-2 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert
of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

Matthew 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to
where [John] was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned
you to flee from the coming wrath?
Matthew 3:8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

Matthew 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the
kingdom of heaven is near."

Matthew 11:20 Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of
his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.

Matthew 11:21 "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles
that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they
would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

Matthew 12:41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this
generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah,
and now one greater than Jonah is here.

Matthew 21:32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness,
and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes
did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

Luke 13:2 Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse
sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?

Luke 13:3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

-Peter says:

Acts 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the
name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 11:18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised
God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto
life."

-Paul says:

Acts 17:29 "Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think
that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone--an image made by
man's design and skill.

Acts 17:30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands
all people everywhere to repent.

Acts 17:31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice
by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by
raising him from the dead."

2 Cor 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and
leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.


- Someone says:

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ
and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from
acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,


- Peter again:

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand
slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but
everyone to come to repentance.

Rev 2:5 Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the
things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and
remove your lampstand from its place.

---------------- Here are a lot more references -------------------------

Matthew 3:2, Matthew 3:8, Matthew 3:11, Matthew 4:17,
Matthew 11:20-21, Matthew 12:41, Matthew 21:32, Mark 1:4,
Mark 1:15, Mark 6:12, Luke 3:3, Luke 3:8, Luke 5:32, Luke 10:13,
Luke 11:32, Luke 13:3, Luke 13:5, Luke 15:7, Luke 15:10,
Luke 16:30, Luke 17:3-4, Luke 24:47, Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19,
Acts 5:31, Acts 8:22, Acts 11:18, Acts 13:24, Acts 17:30,
Acts 19:4, Acts 20:21, Acts 26:20, Romans 2:4, 2 Cor 7:9-10,
2 Cor 12:21, 2 Tim 2:25, Hebrews 6:1, Hebrews 6:6, 2 Peter 3:9,
Rev 2:5, Rev 2:16, Rev 2:21-22, Rev 3:3, Rev 3:19, Rev 9:20-21,
Rev 16:9, Rev 16:11

 I sure hope this helps clear up the misunderstanding.

 Bruce Benning -- BENNING@ALF.CD.HH.AB.COM