Must I Repent to be Saved?
The Difference between Saving Belief and Intellectual Belief
The Ability to Repent is given by God
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The purpose of this writing is to carefully examine what the Bible teaches concerning salvation. What is it that must be done in order to be saved? Must one simply live a good life and generally be a good person to be saved? Or, must one just make an intellectual decision to ‘accept’ Jesus as Savior? Or, is there another answer?
The fact that Christians are saved by faith (i.e., belief) in Jesus Christ alone is a fact of Scripture that cannot be denied. The following Scriptures testify to this (see also Eph 2:8-9, Ro 3:20-24, Gal 2:16, 3:11, Ro1:17,etc):
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
(Rom 3:28)
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.
(Joh 20:31)
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
(Act 16:30-31)
Is Simple Faith Enough?
Although the Bible teaches that it is faith alone that saves, there are other indications in the Bible that saving faith involves more than just intellectual agreement with the facts about Jesus or an emotional feeling about Jesus. In fact, there are several examples in the Bible of ‘believers’ who are not saved at all. Consider the following verses:
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
(Jas 2:19-20 – see also Mk 1:24, 34,5:7, Mat 8:29, Lk 4:34,41)
The demons who believe are obviously not saved. Rather, the Bible teaches that they are damned to an eternity in prison (2 Pet 2:4, Jude 6). Similarly, those referred to in James 2 as having dead faith are not saved. Although they have exercised belief, it was not saving belief Moreover, the Scripture recognizes many other examples of people who ‘believe’ in Jesus, but are not saved. The following passage is an example:
Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, ‘but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, 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? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Mat 7:21-23
Here, we see people who cry out Lord, Lord and have even done mighty works and signs in the name of Jesus Christ, but they were not saved. In fact, as verse 21 reveals, they were in reality workers of iniquity. Now, some may say that these people really did not have faith. While it is true that they did not have saving faith, they did have enough intellectual belief to call Jesus ‘Lord’ and do works in His name. This raises the question as to just how much faith is enough to be considered saving faith?
The following Scripture also testifies to the fact that some who think they have saving faith indeed do not. They may have belief enough to even share the Lord’s Supper, attend church faithfully and do mighty works, but if they do not have the faith of Christ, they are damned:
Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.
(Luk 13:23-30)
In this passage, Jesus was questioned as to how many would be saved. He responded that people should strive to enter by the narrow gate. In other words, many will strive to enter, but it is only by the narrow fate that people are to be saved. The illustration of the narrow gate instructs people that it is the minority of those who believe in Jesus who are to be saved. In Lk 13:25-26, Jesus teaches that many will be knocking at the door only to find that the door is closed. Those outside will argue that they ate and drank in Christ’s presence and were under His teaching. In other words, they will argue that they shared communion with believers and participated in all types of religious observance and sat under the teaching of the word of God. But, it was fruitless. They are told to depart. The significance of this passage for our discussion I that those who stood at the door and knocked had some type of faith (or believe) but it was not saving faith. It was merely intellectual belief and religious observance.
The Scripture contains man more examples of people who ‘believed’ in Jesus, yet were not saved. Additional Scriptures are listed below. The reader is encouraged to carefully study the following passages. These ‘believers’ may have thought they were doing service to God. But, their works were detestable (see Mat 7:21-23):
- The seed on the thorny and rocky soil (Mat 13:3-9, 18-23, Luke 8:13)
- The Samaritans & Simon, the Sorcerer (Acts 8:12-20, especially vv.l3,17)
- The Multitudes who departed (John 6:1-15, 66)
- John’s Disciples (Acts 19:1-8)
- The Man who had his Father’s Wife in Corinth (1 Cor 5)
- Ananias & Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11)
- False Brethren (2 Cor 11:26, Gal 2:4)
- False Teachers in the Congregation (Jude 4, 2 Pet 2, 2
- Tim 4:3-4, Gal 1:6-9, 2 John 7-11)
- Those Who Have Climbed in Another way (John 10:1-2)
- Those Who Fall Away from the Faith (2 Thess 2:3)
- Those who depart from the Faith (1 Tim 4: 1-4)
- Those who are Divisive Men (Titus 3:9-11, Ro 16:1718)
The Difference between Saving Belief and Intellectual Belief
Well, what exactly is the difference between intellectual belief and saving belief? What makes the true believer different from one who has intellectual knowledge about Christ and is not saved? To answer these questions, we turn to the Scriptures.
The Bible teaches us that it is repentance that will be evident in each person being saved. The following Scriptures illustrate this truth:
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luke 13:3
Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel
Mk1:14-15(see also Mat4:17)
I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
(Luk 5:32)
And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
(Luk 24:46-47)
When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
(Act 11:18)
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
(Act 17:30-31)
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
(2Pe 3:9)
There are many other scriptures that could be listed that teach that repentance is a necessary element for salvation (e.g., Acts 20:21, 26:20, 3:19, 2:38, 5:31, Heb 6:1-6, 2 Tim 2;25, Rev 2:16, 1 John 1:9, Mk 6:12, Lk 3:3, Pr 28:13, Is 55:7, Deut 30:1-10, 4:30-31, Lev 26:40-42, etc). The important thing to be learned from the above Scriptures is that unless repentance is part of one’s belief in Jesus Christ, one cannot be saved.
What is Repentance?
This leads us to the next question. What is repentance? Repentance means to change one’s mind and turn to another direction. In the context of the verses just quoted, repentance has altogether to do with the turning from sin and following the Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, when one repents, he now realizes that his lifestyle of sin, worldliness, and rebellion towards God is wrong and he now wants to be a disciple of Jesus and be obedient to the word of God.
All people are sinners and in rebellion to God. Therefore, it is necessary to understand that true salvation must involve a realization of one’s sinfulness and the significance of one’s sin.
The following Scriptures testify to the sinfulness of man:
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Ro 3:10-12
This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
Ecc 9:3
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all
Is 53:6
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Jer 17:9
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
Col 1:21
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away
Is 64:6
God is a holy God. That is, He cannot have fellowship with darkness since He is light (1 John 1:5-7, Hab 1:13). It is because of this that we are cut off from God. It is only through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ that one may be saved (1Cor 15:1-4).
A Significant Objection
A serious question may be raised at this time. Does not the Bible seem to contradict itself when it clearly teaches that salvation is by faith alone, yet simple belief alone does not save? Moreover, there are many other Scriptures that teach that repentance must exist for one to be saved. If repentance is really necessary for salvation, doesn’t that leave us with a works salvation program since repentance involves some action or change in will of the person being saved?
Why Repentance is not a Work
We have seen that the Bible teaches that man is saved by faith alone. However, simple intellectual faith does not save. Moreover, we saw that to be saved one must repent and have a changed attitude towards God.
Many have debated this seeming contradiction between simple faith and repentance. On the one hand, many recognizing that no one can be saved by works have held that repentance is not necessary for salvation. They believe that a simple intellectual decision to believe in Jesus is all that is needed for salvation. As we have just studied, we see that this just cannot be. The Bible teaches that one must repent in order to be saved.
On the other hand, others have rightly agreed that repentance is necessary for salvation, but they have erred by giving man the credit for this repentance. That is, they teach that to be saved, one must generate his own repentance and believe the Gospel. The problem with this thinking is that this leads to a works based salvation plan.
The Ability to Repent is given by God
The solution to the paradox that man is not saved by works, yet the Bible teaches that repentance must exist to be saved is somewhat simple. The Bible teaches that it is true that repentance is necessary for salvation. But the Bible also teaches that this repentance is completely the work of God and not man. Repentance will be present in each and every person being saved, but this change in attitude is the result of the convicting work of the Holy Spirit (see John 16:7-11).
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
(Rom 2:4)
In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
(2Ti 2:25-26)
Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
(Act 5:31)
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
(Php 2:13)
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
(2Pe 1:3)
In the verses above, we see that it is God Himself who works in the one being saved to cause him to repent. God gives repentance. He also is working in all Christians. He has given them all things that pertain to salvation. Therefore, we see that repentance is caused by God and, therefore is not a work of man, but of God.
We should now see the simple truth of the plan of salvation:
All people in their natural unsaved state are sinful and in rebellion to God. To be saved, they must exercise saving faith in Christ. This saving belief in the Lord Jesus Christ includes repentance from their sinful rebellion from God. This saving faith of man cannot be considered a work since the Scriptures teach us that it is God Himself that causes man to repent through the convicting work of the Holy Spirit.
We must be very grateful and humble about the salvation that has been given to us. It is entirely the work of God. God has even given us the will to repent. This must be part of our saving faith. He knew that none of us were capable of repentance. In our natural state, we are in miserable rebellion towards God. We selfishly seek our own gratifications through the physical world that we live in.
But, what about you? Have you repented and believed in Jesus? Have you seen the futility of the world and its sensual pleasures? Maybe you have ‘accepted’ Jesus Christ and believed in Him. But, have you repented of your sins? That is, have you recognized the extent and significance of your sins? Have you realized that you were in rebellion to God? Hopefully, you have. If you have repented of your sins, today is still the Day of Salvation. You may have been brought up ‘believing’ in Jesus. You may have even made a decision for Jesus and experienced an emotional feeling. But have you repented of your sins?
Do the things of the world still appeal and excite you? True saving faith will always result a spirit of discipleship (Mat 28:19-20, John 8:30-32, Lk 14:25-27, John10:3-5, 12:24-26, etc). Even the newest believer will want to start learning about God in order to be more and more pleasing to Him. He will begin to repudiate the things of the world (1John 2:15-17, Mat 6:19-24) and become more and more concerned about the sin he sees in his or her life (1John1:8-10, Mat5:3-6, James1:22-25). If you have never experienced this change in attitude, you assuredly have not been saved. You have not become a new creature in Christ (2 Cor 5:17).
If you are feeling uneasy or unsure of your salvation, take heart in the fact that all believers are commanded to examine themselves to see whether they are truly in the faith (2Cor13:5, 1Cor 9:27). But, the wonderful news is that because you are reading this and are feeling uneasy about whether you have ever truly repented and been saved, it is likely that God is convicting you and drawing you to Himself. Could it be that today, you humble yourself and plead to God for salvation. It is only this earnest and repentant soul that God will hear and save:
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit
Ps 34:18
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Is 55:6-7