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Clear Gospel Campaign
by Ronald R. Shea, Th.M., J.D
 
Topics Touching the Message of Salvation
— Repentance —
Curriculum Outline and Study Guide | Resurrection | Assurance | Baptism | The Bema | Calvinism | The Gospel Message & Content of Saving Faith | The Creator | Dispensationalism | Eternal Security | Evangelism & Discipleship | Expiation, Propitiation and Redemption | Faith | Fruit . .. Don't you need it? | Grace | Hebrews 10 | Hebrews 6:1-15 | Heirship and Rewards | James 2:14-26 | Jesus is God | 1st John | John MacArthur | Justification | Bilateral Contract Salvation or "Lordship Salvation" | The Market Driven Church | Perseverance of the Saints | Predestination and Free Will | Public Confession of Christ | Regeneration | Repentance | Roman Catholicism | Salvation | Sanctification | The Sheep and Goats Judgment | Silly Gospel Substitutes | "Sovereign" (Irresistible) Grace | Stewardship of the Gospel Message | The Modern "Testimony" | The Ten Commandments: Their Relationship to the Believer | Theology and Doctrine | Total Depravity and `The Bondage of the Will` | Worship Music | Appendix I: Church History from a Free Grace perspective
Introduction and Overview of Repentance
Confusion Over Repentance 3
Repentance in a Nutshell
In a Nutshell, Repentance in the Old Testament
In a Nutshell -- Repentance in the New Testament
Generic Repentance
What Is Saving Repentance?
Repentance: Looking at the Context
Repentance and the Divinity of Jesus, Part 1
Repentance and the Divinity of Jesus, Part 2
Repentence and the Divinity of Jesus, Part 3
Savins Repentnace About the Person and Work of Christ
Repentance and Jesus' Offer of Salvation
Repentance from Religion, Matthew 3:5-9 Part 1
Rep;entance from Religion, Matthew 3:5-9 Part 2
Repentance from Religion: Matthew 3:5-9, Part 3
Repentance from self righteousness: Luke 13:4-5
Repentance from Self Righteousness, Luke 13:4-5
Repentence from Self Righteousness, Luke 13:4-5
Repentance from Religious Ritiuals, Hebrews 6:1-2
Repentance from Religious Rituals, Hebrews 6:1-2
Repentance and Jesus' Offer of Salvation, Summary
Repentance from Sin
Why Would God Need a Bull Horn?
Repentance throughout the New Testament, Introduction
Repentance in Matthew 3
Repentance in Matthew 4:17
Repentance in Matthew 9:13
Repentance in Matthew 11:20-24
Repentance in Matthew 12:41
Repentance in Matthew 21:29
Repentance in Matthew 27:3
Repentance in Mark 1:4
Repentance in Mark 1:15
Repentance in Mark 2:17
Repentance in Mark 6:12
Repentance in Luke 3:3
Repentance in Luke 3:8
Repentance in Luke 5:32
Repentance in Luke 10:13
Repentance in Luke 11:32
Repentance in Luke 13:3, 5
Repentance in Luke 15:7
Repentance in Luke 16:30
Luke 17:3-4
Repentance in Luke 24:47
Repentance in Acts 2:38
Repentance in Acts 3:19
Repentance in Acts 5:31
Repentance in Acts 8:22
Repentance in Acts 11:18
Repentance in Acts 13:24
Repentance in Acts 17:30
Repentance in Acts 19:4
Repentance in Acts 20:21
Repentance in Acts 26:20
Repentance in Romans 2:4
Repentance in Romans 11:29
Repentance in 2 Corinthians 7:8-10
Repentance in 2 Corinthians 12:21
Repentance in 2 Timothy 2:25
Repentance in Hebrews 6:1
Repentance in Hebrews 6:6
Repentance in Hebrews 7:21
Repentance in Hebrews 12:17
Repentance in 2 Peter 3:9
Repentance in Revelation 2:5 (2x)
Repentance in Revelation 2:16
Repentance in Revelation 2:21-22
Repentance in Revelation 3:3
Repentance in Revelation 3:19
Repentance in Revelation 9:20 & 21
Repentance in Revelation 16:9 & 11
Appendix C, Repentance as a Condition for Salvation, pg. 1
Appendix C: Repentance as a Condition for Salvation, pg. 2
Appendix D - Repentance from Sin in the New Testament
Appendix E, Other Theological Usages of Repentance in the New Testament
Appendix F: Generic Repentance in the New Testament

Verse: Matthew 9:13

Quote:

1          And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.

2          And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

3          And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.

4          And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

5          For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

6          But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

*      *      *

12        But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not  physician, but they that are sick.

13        But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

 

Subject(s) called to repentance:       Sinners

 

Object of that repentance:    The object of repentance is not expressly stated.  Since repentance means "a change of mind," we can only inferentially determine the object of repentance by indentifying, in the context, the concepts or propositions about which men must change their mind.  The best contextual indicator is the occurrence of the word "belief" or "suppose" or "regard."  Here, Jesus healed the palsied man "in order that (for the purpose that, "hina" in Greek) you might believe that the Son of man has power to forgive sins."  To have such a purpose means that some of those present did not already appreciate and believe that Jesus had the power to forgive sin.  To believe this would be to change their mind about who Jesus was, and the divine prerogatives he held.  Jesus, as the forgiver of sins, is object of repentance.  Repentance here is synonymous with faith in Jesus as the one who can forgive sins.

 

Consequence of that repentance:    Forgiveness of sin.

 

NOTE:                        There is a distinction between the experience of entering a once-for-all relationship with Christ, and the process of abiding in, and/or restoring fellowship with him.  A marriage is an easy analogy to appreciate.  One can be legally married, but not in fellowship with their partner.  Marriage is a legal state.  Fellowship is a relational state.  One must first be justified by God before they can experience relational forgiveness.  Justification (Gk. dikaio%u014D) is the declaration by a subject that an object is "all right."  When God is declaring one justified, this term is always in reference to eternal salvation, not simply fellowship.  In the passage above, however, the term used in verse 2 is not "dikaio%u014D," but aphe%u014Dntai (v) from the root verb aphieimei.  This term is generally translated "forgive."  The noun form, apheisis, is often translated "forgiveness" or "remission."  Because 1st John 1:9 clearly uses "aphei" (from the root aphieimei, forgive) in a sense of fellowship, many Christians hastily conclude that the word aphieimei is always directed to fellowship, rather than eternal salvation.  Virtually all words, however, have a "field of meaning."  And when the general meaning of a term is known, it must be the context that defines the exact nuances of the term.  To insist, on the basis of 1st John 1:9, that the word "forgive" always refers to momentary fellowship and not eternal salvation is as silly as concluding that the term "fruit" must always refer to "love, joy, peace, patience, etc." on the basis of Paul's use of the term fruit in Ephesians 5:9.  Words have a "field of meaning."  It was not until His public ministry was over in the upper room discourse in the Gospel of John that Jesus focused on the believer's moment-by-moment of fellowship with God.  His public ministry was to present Himself as the servant king who was to lay down His life for His sheep.  In the ninth chapter of Matthew under examination herein, it is readily apparent to the casual observer that, when Jesus publicly proclaims to the palsied man "your sins are forgiven," He is proclaiming something more significant than momentary fellowship with God.  It is transparently obvious that the use of the term "forgive" in verses 2, 5 and 6 of Matthew 9 that Jesus is addressing something equivalent to justification.  Jesus is not simply putting this man in fellowship with God, He is proclaiming the eternal forgiveness of this man's sins.  In view of this, Jesus' entreaty for sinners to repent in verse 13 is, by any reasonable measure, soteriological.  No other interpretation fits the context of the forgiveness spoken of in verses 1-8.


Repentance in Matthew 9:13

 

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