Q: Do you think repentance ( changing our minds) is a work?
A: No. Repentance is defined in the Bible as simply.. ‘change your mind’. For more details read this article.
Q: Do you think repentance (changing our minds) is a free will response to the conviction of the Holy Spirit? Do you think we have to change our minds once the Holy Spirit convicts us ?
A: God the father reveals to a person Jesus is the Messiah by the Holy Spirit. Repentance UNTO SALVATION is a free will choice to believe and have eternal life or reject Christ and remain condemned (John 3:18). In John 3, Jesus is addressing the Jewish Pharisee Nicodemus and Jesus tells him “WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM” (in Jesus as Messiah) Whosoever is whosoever believes by free will.
After salvation, we are positionally in Christ, if we truly believed. We are made the very righteousness of God, in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). Not that we achieved this righteousness; it was imputed to us.
After Salvation with the Holy Spirit indwelling us, things have changed. We still have the thought processes of the Flesh and it wars with the new us; The Spirit.
“And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
OF SIN, because THEY BELIEVE NOT on me;
OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
OF JUDGEMENT, because the prince OF THIS WORLD is judged.”
(John 16:8 KJV)
Based on John 16 and the context, the indwelling Holy Spirit for the believer does not ‘convict’ believers of sins. That is what the Holy Spirit does to an UNBELIEVER (verse 9) so they call out for mercy and Salvation through Christ crucified.
The Holy Spirit convicts the believer of their RIGHTEOUSNESS IN CHRIST (verse 10). And look at what Apostle Paul wrote in Romans :
“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is GOD THAT JUSTIFIETH. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also MAKETH INTERCESSION FOR US.” ( Romans 8:33-34 KJV)
As for judgement, that is not for the believer but for Satan as he is currently the ‘ruler of this world’ (verse 11). Satan wants us focusing on our sins and judgement for them. But Jesus came NOT TO CONDEMN BUT TO SAVE!
What believers should be doing is focusing on the GRACE OF GOD; our sin punishment paid in full on Christ on that cross! What we need to fear is what Hebrews tells us,
“Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of ENTERING INTO HIS REST, any of you should seem to come short of it.” (Hebrews 4:1 KJV)
One thing is a for sure and crystal clear in the Word of God and it is the truth that focusing on your sins with a sin consciousness, you have you SINNING MORE!
“Moreover the law entered, that the offence MIGHT ABOUND. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:” (Romans 5:20)
“The sting of death is sin; and the STRENGTH OF SIN IS THE LAW.” (1 Corinthians 15:56 KJV)
Focus on Gods grace, learning that God has made you the righteousness of God IN CHRIST. We need to take this truth to heart!
“As far as the east is from the west, so far HATH HE REMOVED our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12 KJV)
“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities WILL I REMEMBER NO MORE.”
(Hebrews 10:16-17 KJV)
This New Covenant is the Gospel of Grace Through Jesus Christ crucified!
