Repentance And Faith

Acts 20:21, “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The following very helpful excerpt is from Pastor Curtis Hutson (1934-1995), from his awesome booklet titled: 'Repentance: What Does The Bible Teach?'...

Not long ago I preached a simple sermon on salvation and invited sinners to trust Christ as Saviour. Over one hundred precious people trusted Christ in that particular Sunday morning service.  

After the service, a well-meaning Christian said to me, “I enjoyed your sermon, but you didn't say anything about repentance. You should have told those people they needed to repent.” He seemed to think that my telling those people to trust Christ as Saviour was not sufficient.  

And he is not alone in his thinking. Unless you use the word “repent” in presenting the plan of salvation, some preachers foolishly accuse you of preaching “easy believism.” Somehow they have gotten the idea that just to preach, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,” is not sufficient.  

In an article in THE SWORD OF THE LORD, Dr. John R. Rice said: 

“Sometimes the preacher does not himself fully understand the plan of salvation. He thinks of salvation as a process. First, there is a period of conviction, then a period of repentance, then an act of faith.” 

He went on to explain that when one trusts Christ as Saviour he also repents. 
Dr. Rice is absolutely right. Faith and repentance are the same; they are not two separate decisions. One cannot trust Christ as Saviour without repenting or changing his mind. The very fact that he trusts Christ for salvation shows that he has changed his mind regarding sin, salvation, and God.  

If one book of the Bible had to be considered “the salvation book,” it would have to be the Gospel of John. The Gospel of John is printed and distributed more than any other book of the Bible. The purpose of this book is given in John 20:31, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”  

According to this verse, the whole purpose of the Gospel of John is that men might believe that Jesus is the Christ and believing they might have life through His name. In other words, it is written that men might be saved. Yet “repent” or “repentance” is not used one single time in the Gospel of John. On the other hand, “believe” is used more than ninety times in the twenty-one chapters.  

The book of Romans was written to show how men are justified. After explaining in Romans, chapter 4, how men are not justified, Romans 5:1 states, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” “Repentance” is found only two times in the book of Romans and in only one case does it have reference to salvation.  

Romans 11:29 says, “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” If you make “repentance” here mean turning from sin, it would cause the verse to read, “For the gifts and calling of God are without turning from sin,” which doesn't make sense at all. The verse means that the gifts and callings of God are irrevocable, that when God calls a man to preach, He never changes His mind about it.  

While “repentance” is found only twice in the book of Romans, “faith” is found thirty-nine times. Romans 3:28 states, “a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” And Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God....”  

Since the word “repent” is not found at all in the Gospel of John, and “repentance” is found only twice in the book of Romans, and only one time is it used in connection with salvation, are we then to conclude that repentance is not necessary to salvation? Absolutely not! We have already shown the importance of repentance and its necessity. Now, since repentance is not found in connection with salvation in the Gospel of John and only once in the book of Romans, are we to conclude that neither of these two books tells one how to be saved or justified? Certainly not. Those who know the Bible best would have to agree that these two books of the Bible contain the clearest presentation of the Gospel and how one is to be saved.  

Since repentance is necessary to salvation, and since the word is not used at all in the Gospel of John and only once as referring to salvation in the book of Romans, then we must conclude that the word “repentance” is included in the words “believe” and “faith” which are found repeatedly in these two books.  

John, chapter 3, contains the heart of the Gospel. It is here we find that wonderful verse, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” That verse is used in the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus in this chapter. Jesus says to Nicodemus, “Ye must be born again” (vs. 7). In verse 9, Nicodemus asks, “How can these things be?” And Jesus gave the answer in verses 14 through 16, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  

Nowhere in this chapter does Jesus use the word “repent.” He only tells Nicodemus to believe in Him. In verse 18 He said, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” And He closes the conversation in verse 36 by saying, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”  

“Believe” in these verses means to trust, to depend on, to rely on. Nothing could be plainer. All one has to do to have everlasting life is trust Jesus Christ. Jesus has already died for the sinner and all we need do is depend on Him for salvation. But He warns in verse 36, “He that believeth not the Son [does not depend on the Son] shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”  

There is no promise in the Bible to those who partially believe on Christ. The promise is to those who believe on Him. We cannot trust Jesus 90% and something else 10%; we must fully trust Him, Him alone and nothing else, for salvation.  

Since Jesus did not use the word “repent” in telling Nicodemus how to be born again, then we must reach one of three conclusions. First, repentance is not necessary to salvation; second, repentance is necessary for salvation and Jesus didn't tell Nicodemus how to be saved; third, repentance is necessary to salvation and is included in the word “believe” which Jesus did use time and time again in this chapter. The correct conclusion, of course, is that repentance is necessary to salvation and is included in “believe.” A man cannot trust Christ without repenting. If you have never trusted Christ as your Saviour we urge you to do so today. 

SOURCE: Pastor Curtis Hutson, an excerpt from his helpful booklet titled: 'Repentance: What Does The Bible Teach?'

Dear friend, God loves you, and so do I, which is why I made this blog to help people find the truth. You and I are hell-deserving sinners. The Bible says that the wages we earn for our sins is death (Romans 6:23). This includes the second death in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:12-15; 21:8). But God in His unconditional love made a way of escape for all ungodly sinners, which includes everyone (Romans 3:10-23; 5:6-9). Jesus paid your sin debt and mine. Eternal life is a free gift that cannot be earned, deserved or merited. 

You simply need to receive God's free gift by faith. You do this by receiving Christ's sacrifice on the cross as payment for your sins. God can read your mind, and the very moment that he sees you've placed your complete trust in Jesus, because of what He did on the cross for you, you are immediately born-again (Romans 10:13). Salvation is not about what you can do for God, but about what He has already done for you, by sending His only begotten Son to die in your place on Calvary's cross (John 3:16). Jesus shed His precious blood to pay for everyone's sins (1st Peter 1:18-19). You don't have to turn from your sins to be saved, Jesus bore the full weight of your sins on the cross. Jesus didn't come into the world to save those who are willing to turn from their sins; but rather, to save those who believe, so that He can then turn them from their sins, as they grow in grace (1st Peter 2:2).

I like how Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001) said it:

“Redemption is a work of God the Son. Regeneration is the work of God the Holy Spirit. Justification is the work of God the Father as He declares the sinner righteous in the Son. Conversion then becomes the work of the church as we change the use and purpose of a life.” ―Pastor Jack Hyles, “Conversion And Salvation” (chapter 3) from his book: “Salvation Is More Than Being Saved”

The reason why saved people continue living worldly lives, is not because they weren't really saved, but because America's pulpits are weak! Brother Lester Roloff (1914-1982) is right, who said: “We need porcupine preachers, so that people will get the point!” The great need of the hour is preaching preachers! Brother Roloff said that too! If I say something that somebody else didn't say, I'll let you know...lol. No, seriously, today's pulpits are dried up and dead! Evangelist Billy Sunday (1862-1935) said a century ago: “The backslider likes the preaching that wouldn't hit the side of a house, while the real disciple is delighted when the truth brings him to his knees.” So true! 

The Devil has crept into so many churches. Most of the Bible colleges have gone liberal and perverse in their theology. I get tired of preaching against the same names and institutions, but they need to be preached against! Bob Jones University is as messed up as can be doctrinally these days, bidding Godspeed to Dr. John MacArthur and teaching Lordship Salvation. The same is true of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago! I thank God for Pastor Curtis Hutson. I hope you will read his entire book: 'Repentance: What Does The Bible Teach?' To God be the glory, great things He hath done, and is doing. Jesus is precious!!!