Repent of your sin

[Judith]

Hopefully this can be kept in accord with the question I ask and not get to chasing rabbits. Today some preach that salvation is a gift and not of works yet they will turn around and tell the person that they have to repent of their sin. The NT NEVER says a person has to repent of sin to be saved. There is simply no passage with the configuration "repent of your sin." What the scripture DOES say is repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Acts 20:21.
So here is my question. How is telling a person that they must repent of their sin to be saved not a works salvation?

 

[Blank]

I see faith and repent as two sides of the same coin. When we repent we turn from and when we have faith we turn to, so when they say repent and believe that would be turning from the way we are going and turning to Christ. There can't be one without the other.

 

[MMDAN]

The Greek word for "repent" is "metanoia" (noun) and "matanoeo" (verb) you see as defined in the Strongs #3340, 3341: to think differently or afterwards, reconsider. To change one's mind.

https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Lexicon.show/ID/G3340/metanoeo.htm#:~:text=Strong's #3340: metanoeo (pronounced met-an-o-eh'-o) from 3326 and,i.e. reconsider (morally, feel compunction):--repent. Thayer's Greek Lexicon:

Repentance basically means a "change of mind" and the context must determine what is involved in this change of mind. Where salvation is in view, repentance actually precedes saving faith in Christ and is not a totally separate act from faith. It is actually the same coin with two sides. Repentance is on one side (what you change your mind about) and faith in Christ is on the positive side, the new direction of this change of mind. Repentance and faith are two sides of the same experience of receiving Christ. (Acts 20:21)

Certain people misunderstand the term "repentance" to mean "turning from sin" which then redefines repentance as "moral self-reformation" and flirts with sinless perfection. I have heard certain people say, "if you want to be saved, repent of your sins, turn from your sins." If turning from your sins means to completely stop sinning, then people can only be saved if they completely stop sinning and, in that case, none of us will be saved because none of us are sinless, without fault or defect, flawless, 100% of the time. (1 John 1:8-10)

The Bible also tells us that true repentance will result in a change of actions. Acts 26:20 declares, "I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds." This is the fruit of repentance (Matthew 3:8), not the essence of repentance (change of mind). Certain folks confuse the fruit of repentance with the essence of repentance and the end result is works salvation.

 

[Judith]

I see faith and repent as two sides of the same coin. When we repent we turn from and when we have faith we turn to, so when they say repent and believe that would be turning from the way we are going and turning to Christ. There can't be one without the other.

Thank you for the reply but that was not my question.

 

[canadyjd]

Hopefully this can be kept in accord with the question I ask and not get to chasing rabbits. Today some preach that salvation is a gift and not of works yet they will turn around and tell the person that they have to repent of their sin. The NT NEVER says a person has to repent of sin to be saved. There is simply no passage with the configuration "repent of your sin." What the scripture DOES say is repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Acts 20:21.
So here is my question. How is telling a person that they must repent of their sin to be saved not a works salvation?

It is a good question.

I guess defining the terms is a good idea. I see salvation as being in a right relationship with God. How do we acquire that right relationship? It is not by works, but according to God’s grace. If God responds to what we do to grant salvation, that is works. If we respond to what God does in our lives, that is grace.

I see repentance as the response a person has to the work of God Holy Spirit in conviction of sin and conviction of the truth of the person and work of Jesus Christ.

The response to that work is repentance (change of mind, turning from that sin) and faith in Christ as Lord and Savior.

I do have an issue with a “formula” for salvation… that is “you do this, then God will save you”. As you pointed out, that is very difficult to separate from works salvation.

Additionally, God Holy Spirit does not work the “same” on every person. My experience might be very different than yours.

I had an acquaintance once that believe if you didn’t weep at salvation you weren’t really saved. He believed true repentance required the tears, or godly sorrow, as he would say.

He would ask people in the church if they cried at salvation. If they had not, he would tell them they weren’t saved and that he was praying for their salvation.

He believed his experience was normative, I guess, for everyone.

Peace to you

 

[37818]

So here is my question. How is telling a person that they must repent of their sin to be saved not a works salvation?

It is not what is taught to do in order to be saved, anywhere, in the written word of God.

 

[Judith]

The Greek word for "repent" is "metanoia" (noun) and "matanoeo" (verb) you see as defined in the Strongs #3340, 3341: to think differently or afterwards, reconsider. To change one's mind.

https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Lexicon.show/ID/G3340/metanoeo.htm#:~:text=Strong's #3340: metanoeo (pronounced met-an-o-eh'-o) from 3326 and,i.e. reconsider (morally, feel compunction):--repent. Thayer's Greek Lexicon:

Repentance basically means a "change of mind" and the context must determine what is involved in this change of mind. Where salvation is in view, repentance actually precedes saving faith in Christ and is not a totally separate act from faith. It is actually the same coin with two sides. Repentance is on one side (what you change your mind about) and faith in Christ is on the positive side, the new direction of this change of mind. Repentance and faith are two sides of the same experience of receiving Christ. (Acts 20:21)

Certain people misunderstand the term "repentance" to mean "turning from sin" which then redefines repentance as "moral self-reformation" and flirts with sinless perfection. I have heard certain people say, "if you want to be saved, repent of your sins, turn from your sins." If turning from your sins means to completely stop sinning, then people can only be saved if they completely stop sinning and, in that case, none of us will be saved because none of us are sinless, without fault or defect, flawless, 100% of the time. (1 John 1:8-10)

The Bible also tells us that true repentance will result in a change of actions. Acts 26:20 declares, "I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds." This is the fruit of repentance (Matthew 3:8), not the essence of repentance (change of mind). Certain folks confuse the fruit of repentance with the essence of repentance and the end result is works salvation.

I certainly agree. Telling someone to "repent of their sin" for salvation is clearly a works salvation. Here we see the devils trap of adding just three little words (of their sin) to what the bible actually says destroys the real message. For one it makes salvation a works salvation. The other it causes people to continually doubt their salvation and even believe that they can lose it. The "repentance of our sin" (the actually turning from it) is a work that is caused BY our salvation not a work that initiates our salvation; Eph. 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Lastly by adding those three little words to what scripture says we risk bringing on ourselves the anger of God.

Deuteronomy 4:2 ESV​

You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.

Proverbs 30:5-6 ESV​

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.

Deuteronomy 12:32 ESV​

“Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.

 

[Blank]

Thank you for the reply but that was not my question.

I realize that, but it clarified your question

 

[37818]

Deuteronomy 4:2 ESV​

You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.

Proverbs 30:5-6 ESV​

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.

Deuteronomy 12:32 ESV​

“Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.

James 2:10, For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Romans 3:19-20, Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

 

[Scarlett O.]

So here is my question. How is telling a person that they must repent of their sin to be saved not a works salvation?

Most all here know that works do not and will never save.

However is repentance a work?

I think that repentance and faith in Christ are flip sides of the same coin. Just like works and faith. Some say that Paul [Ephesians 2] and James [James 2] contradict each other, but I say no they do not. Again, flip sides of the same coin.

Consider 2 Corinthians 7:10 = "For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death."

There's got to be more to this than meets the eye.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

Repentance without faith is mere remorse and does no one any good as Judas Iscariot could tell you.
Faith without repentance likewise does no one any good as Simon Magus could tell you.
Our faith is to be a repentant faith, and our repentance to be a believing repentance. Both are found to be gifts of God (2 Tim. 2:25; Romans 12:3; Eph. 2:8-9).

The NT NEVER says a person has to repent of sin to be saved.

How about Acts 11:18? 'Repentance unto life' would surely tend to mean salvation. And how about Luke 13:8. 'Unless you repent you will all likewise perish' surely suggests that if you do repent you won't perish?

There is simply no passage with the configuration "repent of your sin."

What about Acts 2:38? 'Repent ...... for the remission of sins' seems to connect repentance with sin (c.f. also Acts 3:19).

 

[Silverhair]

Hopefully this can be kept in accord with the question I ask and not get to chasing rabbits. Today some preach that salvation is a gift and not of works yet they will turn around and tell the person that they have to repent of their sin. The NT NEVER says a person has to repent of sin to be saved. There is simply no passage with the configuration "repent of your sin." What the scripture DOES say is repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Acts 20:21.
So here is my question. How is telling a person that they must repent of their sin to be saved not a works salvation?

I think we can trust Christ on that one

Mar 1:15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."

Do you think He was telling people they had to work for their salvation?

 

[37818]

I think that repentance and faith in Christ are flip sides of the same coin.

That is a way to see repentance and faith.
I also see repentance always precedes the faith, the faith is not counted as a work.

Romans 4:5, But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Acts of the Apostles 20:21, . . . repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

[37818]

Do you think He was telling people they had to work for their salvation?

My personal thinking on this is two things. A change of one's mind is a work which cannot earn the gift one changes one's mind to accept by faith.

Ephesians 2:8-9, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, . . .

 

[Tenchi]

Hopefully this can be kept in accord with the question I ask and not get to chasing rabbits. Today some preach that salvation is a gift and not of works yet they will turn around and tell the person that they have to repent of their sin. The NT NEVER says a person has to repent of sin to be saved. There is simply no passage with the configuration "repent of your sin." What the scripture DOES say is repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Acts 20:21.
So here is my question. How is telling a person that they must repent of their sin to be saved not a works salvation?

Well, "repent" means "to change your mind." How does a lost sinner come to a saving faith in Christ except he changes his mind about himself, his sin, and his need of a Savior? So, repentance is unavoidable, it seems to me, in being saved.

Anyway, look at it this way: Imagine you have an aching tooth but haven't gone to the dentist to get it tended to because you're afraid of dentists. A friend convinces you of the good sense in seeing a dentist and you change your mind - repent - of your determination not to see one. Has your tooth been fixed just because you changed your mind about seeing the dentist? No.

Now, maybe your repentance from your attitude toward dentists prompts you to go to a dentist and sit in his dental chair. Does this fix your tooth? No. Though you've both repented of your view of dentists and have taken action in reflection of your change of mind, your tooth still aches. And it will continue to do so until the dentist appears and fixes your tooth.

When the dentist does arrive to repair your tooth, you just sit there in his chair, mouth wide open, and receive his work; you can't do anything to contribute directly to what he does to your tooth. You don't inject yourself with anaesthetic, or drill out the cavity from your tooth, or fill it with amalgam; all you do is receive his work on your tooth. All your change of mind - repentance - about dentists and your going to see one does is put you in the right position to have your tooth fixed by him.

In the same way, a lost person's repentance from a sinful, God-defying life and their going to Christ for salvation doesn't save them. Not unless, and until, the saving work of the Savior is applied to them, are they saved. All their repentance and going to Christ in faith for salvation does is put them in the right position to be saved by Christ.

 

[Piper 2]

Reopent also includes a change of direction, not just a change of mind.

 

[Tenchi]

Reopent also includes a change of direction, not just a change of mind.

A change of direction is the effect of a change of mind. The latter generally precedes the former - at least in regards to salvation.