Does repentance mean just turn to God in prayer and confess sins and therefore ask Him for forgiveness?

In response to our "resident cult hunter" it is true that believe is a prominent word in the scriptures. The importance of believing cannot be understated, however, after belief comes REPENTANCE. Without belief there is no repentance but contrary to his opinion without repentance there is NO salvation.

Repentance - There are three words in Old Testament Hebrew which are translated "repentance" which mean either to sigh, to be sorry, or to turn back or away. There are two words used in the Greek New Testament that mean to regret or to think differently. The idea expressed by the combination of all these words seems to point to a change in the whole person; both in his attitudes, affections and behavior.

This meaning is confirmed by prophetic speeches like Ezekiel 18:30,31 where repentance is defined as "casting away transgressions and making a new heart". The importance of repentance is revealed by its connection with forgiveness. Peter joined the two together in his preaching on the day of Pentecost and following the healing of the lame man at the temple.

(Acts 2:38; 3:19) When Jesus appeared to Paul He commanded him to preach repentance and forgiveness together. (Acts 26:15-20) Even human relationships can only be restored through repentance as Jesus taught in Luke 17:3,4. This significance of repentance has led some to conclude that we are not saved by faith alone without our works.

However it should be remembered that repentance itself is a gift of God to His elect and not a human accomplishment. (Acts 11:18; 2 Timothy 2:24-26) We find in the Old Testament as well as the New that true salvation comes only with repentance. "Turn from your wicked ways and you shall live" In Acts 3:26 we find that repentance is one of the blessings of grace, "...God raised up His Servant, and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your iniquities."

Whosoever is the recipient of this grace turns from his own ways to God's ways. This does not mean that he never sins, but he does not walk in sin or the way of the sinner. The difference is in how we relate to our sin and how we deal with it.

Those in a covenant relationship with God are those who walk in the ways of God. In the Old Testament, one of the ways of such a walk, because of God’s mercy, was to make animal sacrifice for sin. In the New Testament, confessing one’s sin to God is a part of walking in the covenant ways of God (1 John 1:9).

So then, when the believer sins it is not because he has turned aside from God and is no longer walking in the way of God, backslidden in heart and filled with his own ways, but rather because of the weakness of his flesh he may fall into sin. Yet he abhors his sin, confesses it, and seeks to forsake it. If we define backsliding as individual acts of sin in the believer's life we would rightly say that a believer, not only can, but will backslide.

If however we define backsliding, as the Scriptures do, it cannot be true of the believer. This definition totally NULLIFIES the belief that if one believes they are saved forever! I pray that the "resident cult hunter" would study the Word more and realize in his PRIDE he is wrong and that by calling out names of others in a hateful manner is a SIN against them and God!

Also, it it easy to claim a certain belief is a cult, however, it takes a great deal of wisdom and compassion to study, gather facts and become acquainted with the beliefs of a "cult" before labeling them as such. Please also note there are never any references used in his answers. Even more importantly he needs to be mindful that he is, in anger, lying and in need of repentance.

"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." Rev. 21:8 gatita Apostolic Believer In One, Jesus.

The word believe is mentioned 85 times in the book of John, however, the word repent is mentioned forty-five times in the King James Bible; "repentance" twenty-six times; "repented" thirty-two times; "repentest" one time; "repenteth" five times; "repenting" one time; and "repentings" one time - a total of 111 times in both the Old and New Testaments. The word in its various forms is found forty-six times in the Old Testament and sixty-five in the New. Of the forty-six times the word appears in the Old Testament, twenty-eight times God does the repenting, not man.

The times God repented represent sorrow, often that He created man. Also the gospel of John does not contain the entirety of the plan of salvation which is presented fully in the book of the Acts of the Apostles. The Word of God is comprised of 66 books not just one.

BTW, not one Apostolic wants anyone to go to hell! James Apostolic Minister of 50 years.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.