INTRODUCTION
The teaching of
the way of salvation has become perverted by leaving out, by misdefining, or by giving little weight to the necessity of biblical
repentance. This false message states that all a man has to do is to have faith in Christ, admit that he is a sinner
and be sorry for it, and then accept God's free and unconditional gift of salvation. If he does all that he has
a home in heaven and he is safe for all eternity.
One-sided Scripture quotations seemingly
justify this position, but only outwardly and superficially. God's way of salvation is not unconditional; without
repentance nobody can be forgiven. The way of salvation is free in once sense, however it costs one everything
in another sense (Matthew 13:44, Luke 14:26).
A false gospel message hinders people from being able to
be biblically "born again", since they believe that they are already saved. The Lord Jesus says that "Except
a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. " (John 3:3) As a result,
there are large numbers of people today who attend churches who think that they are saved and going to heaven, when in fact
they are still headed for hell.
THE WAY OF SALVATION BEGINS WITH REPENTANCE
The Bible speaks of "... repentance toward God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ"
(Acts 20:21). The Holy Spirit reproves the world of "sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment"
(John 16:8) and brings conviction to a sinner who doesn't harden his heart. Then, God's
grace brings such a person to repentance. We are commanded to repent and to bring forth fruit meet for repentance (Matthew
3:8) and to believe the Gospel (Mark 1:15). Faith is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galations 5:22) and applies only
to a "born again" (John 3:3) believer, one who is "in Christ". Someone who is
not a "new creature" (2 Corinthians 5:17) who is not "born again" (John 3:3) cannot
have faith in the biblical sense.
God promised that one who searches after
God with all of his heart will find God (Jeremiah 29:13). Through the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit one
learns from the Bible that he does not measure up to God's Laws. He learns that as a result of this, he is under God's
condemnation, and the subject of God's wrath, and as such, he is in eternal danger.
He also learns from the Bible that God has a way to save those who want to be saved from sin and hell. God's Word
draws him to investigate further and he finds out that instead of sending a repentant sinner to hell, Christ Himself suffered
the death penalty for his sins so that he could have life. This infinite and boundless love stirs his heart and soul
to be ashamed, conscience-stricken, and contrite.
Now he sees himself as God sees him:
Lost in sin, hell-bound, and unable to save himself. This realization and admission leads him to the cross of the Lord
Jesus Christ, where he stands in awe and wonder of God's great love. Under the cross he becomes aware of the enormity
and gravity of his sinfulness and sins, and asks Christ to forgive him, cleanse him and save him. He wants to change
his ways and he sets his will to obey God. This turn-around is called REPENTANCE, and this is the first step on the
way of salvation.
Love and gratefulness well up in his heart
toward Christ for all that He did. With his inner eyes he sees Christ on the cross and realizes that Christ is there
where he, the sinner, should be as just punishment for his sins. As a response to this kind of repentance and
determination not to sin and to obey God, God grants the gift of repentance and the 'new birth' (John 3:3) happens.
The Holy Spirit comes to indwell the new believer, giving him faith, and the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). He
is now a "new creature" (2 Corinthians 5:17). This is all in the redeeming power of the Lord Jesus
Christ. Every spiritual benefit that results from Christ's atonement is given to faith, and received by faith.
What is biblical repentance?
Biblical repentance is the first step on the way of salvation. It is the determination of the will to turn one's
heart from sin to God. Repentance is sorrow for sin, a detestation of one's sins and a self abhorrence for being
such a sinner. Repentance is the change of the inward springs of one's very being, it is a penitent attitude, a
changed mind-set, an admission that God is holy and right while I am a lost sinner. Repentance is to start obeying God.
Repentance requires action: it is sins acknowledged, despised and abandoned. It is making restitution for
wrongs. It is a change of heart that is demonstrated by a changed life. Repentance is to surrender to God, it
is a commitment to live a new life. Repentance is a self declared sinner's cry to God for mercy. Repentance
is also granted by God (Acts 11:18). When we repent this way God forgives us, and He will remember our sins no more.
Repentance always precedes being "born again" (John 3:3) and forgiveness
of sins. God's offer of pardon and walking on the way of salvation is conditional upon man turning away from his
sins. God's principle is: "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and
forsaketh them shall have mercy." (Proverbs 28:13). As the repentant sinner sets his will to follow God's
way and strives to repudiate sin in his life, God saves him and cleanses him, indwells him by His Holy Spirit, makes
him a "new creature", implants the "divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4) into his heart.
This is how a lost sinner is "born again" (John 3:3) according to the Bible. Assurance of salvation
comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit. "Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath
given us of his Spirit" (1 John 4:13) and "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are
the children of God" (Romans 8:16).
PRESENTATION OF A FALSE GOSPEL
"Do you want to go to Heaven? Just believe in Jesus, have faith.
He accepts you unconditionally. If you tell Him in a prayer that you believe, and you admit that you are a sinner, then
you are on your way to Heaven, eternally secure..." some say in an attempt to win souls, but is this true?
Neither the Lord Jesus Christ, nor His disciples ever called anybody this way!
The faith they
talk about is a 'mustered up' faith; it is not from God. Faith is a fruit of the indwelling Holy Spirit
(Galations 5:22). Trying to get to heaven without biblical repentance is the self effort of a sinful man; it is a subtly
deceitful manifestation of the old nature. It is trying to enter Heaven through some other way and not through
the "Door" (John 10:1). It is the manipulation of God's way of salvation, and not a repentant
man's cry to God for mercy. It wants to keep the fallen man's self-composure, dignity, and respectability.
C.H. Spurgeon explains: "If you... believe a gospel which you have thought out for
yourself, or a philosophical gospel which comes from the brain of man, it is of the flesh, and will wither, and you will die,
and be lost through trusting in it... If the work in us be not the Spirit's working, but our own, it will droop and die
when most we require its protection, and its end will be as the grass which to day is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven."
Beware of the danger!
The Bible
declares that we are lost, hell-bound sinners and we cannot save ourselves. From this hopeless predicament God offers
us only one way out: We can want it and cry out to God for it and start walking in it by repenting; or we can
ignore it, but we cannot change it. Tragically, modern gospel presentations have changed it, and are thus no longer
presenting the true Gospel to a lost and dying world.
Nowadays, when people talk about
salvation, repentance, is not mentioned. Even if it is sometimes mentioned, it is usually only in passing,
hastily and without explaining what biblical repentance means, or a false definition is given.
No repentance = No forgiveness of sins
There are
two groups of people in this world:
One group consists of "born again"
(John 3:3) Holy Spirit led people ("For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they
are the sons of God." --Romans 8:14), who repented and were granted repentance, and
want to please God. The Lord Jesus says "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross daily, and follow me." (Luke 9:23). They "obey" (John 14:15, Hebrews 5:9), "abide" (John 15:4, John 15:6),
"hold fast" (2 Timothy 1:13; Hebrews 3:6, 4:14, 10:23), "mortify the deeds of the body"
(Romans 8:13), work out their "own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12) all in the
power of the Holy Spirit, Who provides assurance of salvation (1 John 4:13; Romans 8:16), illuminates the meaning of the Scriptures
for them (Luke 24:45), and teaches
them (John 6:45).
They know that it is possible to depart from the living God, die outside of Christ, and perish. (Hebrews 6:4-6; Mark 13:13; Mark 4:13-20; 2 Peter 2:20, 21; John 15:5-6; Romans 11:21-22;
1Cor. 3:16-17; Colossians 1:21-23; Ezekiel 21-30)
In the other group are those who don't want to give up sin, and who want to please 'self'. They are lost
sinners, and the Bible teaches that at judgment day, they will be responsible for paying the penalty for their sins (which
is death/hell).
Some of these lost sinners think that by being good they can get
to heaven, while others think that religion will get them there; however many just don't care and won't necessarily
be surprised to end up in hell. However, there are others who at one time prayed a prayer to 'accept Jesus into
their heart' and they think that they have an 'insurance policy'. (They think that they are saved because
they followed a 'plan of salvation' with a couple of steps and a prayer at the end.) However, there is no such
teaching in the Bible. Some have gone further and have even gotten baptized, attend church, work for the Lord...
These are in for shock and horror: "there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew
22:13). They will be "speechless" (Matthew 22:12). They "will
seek to enter in, and shall not be able." (Luke 13:24) because they tried to enter in some other way, not
the way that the Bible says, which is: "repent ye, and believe the gospel." (Mark 1:15). They will say "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast
out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?" (Matthew 7:21). And the Lord Jesus will answer
them "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:23) This group
is so sure of their salvation that they will march right up to the gates of heaven as it were, and demand and beg entrance:
"Lord, Lord, open unto us" (Luke 13:25); however the Lord will answer "I tell you, I know you
not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity." (Luke 13:27)
We all are born onto the way to hell, and
to change direction 180° and be allowed/accepted onto the way of salvation, (in order to make peace with God and
to be saved from sin and hell), one must repent. His desires have to be to turn from sin, and to follow the Lord Jesus
Christ. This is what God expects from every lost sinner: Our first parents left God by their free will, taking us all
along, and so, God commands every one of us to return to Him. God "commandeth all men every where to repent"
(Acts 17:30). Our repentance is that returning. Without repentance it is impossible to be pardoned, or to be "born
again" (John 3:3) and have the Holy Spirit in one's heart.
A.W. Tozer said: "... the whole biblical revelation is addressed
to the intellect and through the intellect reaches the will,.. if the will responds in repentance and obedience, the Holy
Spirit illuminates the penitent heart and reveals Christ, the Image of God to it..."
What repentance is not?
Biblical repentance is not human
reformation, nor is it a change from unbelief to belief. It is not 'penance', nor is it confession to a priest.
Repentance is not the acknowledgement of being a sinner, while continuing to live in known sins. Repentance is
not simply remorse for one's actions. Asking for forgiveness is not the same as repentance. One
can be sorry for having to suffer the consequences of his sins, or his conscience can make him feel sorry for his sins, but
this is not biblical repentance. It is possible to humble oneself before God but then continue to live in sin.
Repentance is not the same as believing, or as having faith. It is not just a change of mind toward God. One may
even do some "works meet for repentance" (Acts 26:20) without being penitent, or without forsaking sin.
Only biblical repentance is "repentance unto life" (Acts 11:18) all of the above are not.
ISN'T REPENTANCE 'WORK' TOWARD SALVATION?
When one repents and turns away from sin and sets his will to follow Christ it has nothing to do with
what is understood today to be a 'works' salvation. By His grace, God, the Holy Spirit, is working in our hearts
to bring us to conviction of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:8) and to repentance. It is our decision whether
we respond or not and repenting/obeying involves as Matthew 3:8 says to "Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:" or as Acts 20:26 says to "repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance." For example, when Zacchaeus (Luke 19) repents, he repays what he has taken from others. God requires sincere repentance and a willing heart to turn from sin and by God's grace pursue
living a new life. The blood of Christ cleanses us from all iniquity; there is nothing man can add or do to pay for
forgiveness and salvation. Yet without repentance, salvation is impossible, for repentance precedes the 'new birth'.
REPENTANCE
IS THE KEY TO GOD'S HEART
The Lord Jesus said:
* "...
repent ye, and believe the Gospel..!" (Mark 1:15)
* "I came not to call the righteous,
but sinners to repentance" (Luke 5:32)
* "I tell you, nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all
likewise perish" (Luke 13:3)
John the Baptist's message was:
*
"Repent ye, for the Kingdom of God is at hand..." and "...bring forth…fruits worthy of repentance..."
(Luke 3:8a)
The Apostle Peter said:
* "Repent, and be baptized...
for the remission of sins..." (Acts 2:38)
The Apostle Paul called for repentance:
* "... the times of ignorance God winked at, but now commandeth all men every where to repent..."
(Acts 17:30)
* Paul's message of salvation was that people "should repent, and turn to God
and do works meet for repentance..." (Acts 26:20)
Repentance was preached
by Christ's disciples:
* "... and they went out, and preached that men should repent"
(Mark 6:12)
The Great Commission includes repentance:
* "...that
repentance and remission of sins should be preached ... among all nations" (Luke 24:47)
CONCLUSION
A.W. Tozer said: "I think there is little doubt that the teaching of salvation without repentance
has lowered the moral standards of the Church and produced a multitude of deceived religious professors who erroneously believe
themselves to be saved..."
While the way of salvation can be explained to
some extent, there is also mystery.
To start: Pray to have a hunger and thirst for the
Word of God, pray to have your eyes and ears opened to His truth, pray that God would open the eyes of your
understanding, pray that you would see heaven and hell, pray that God would show you your sins, pray that God would
make sin exceedingly sinful for you, pray that God would make you hate sin and love holiness, pray that God would show you
that you are lost and headed for hell and judgment, pray for salvation, pray with an obedient heart, pray for a willingness
to obey, start obeying whatever the Lord shows you, repent - turn from known sin in your life, pray for the gift
of repentance, put God on the throne of your life, make straight [your] crooked places, seek the Lord, read His Word
(the Bible), and if you don't feel like
it, set your will and seek the Lord anyway and pray that you would want to seek God and that the Lord would find you and that
you would find the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord says "And ye shall seek me, and
find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
*feel free to print and distribute