Is repentance really necessary for salvation? Yes!
Matt. 4:17. From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Luke 13
Call to Repent
1. Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.
2. And Jesus said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were
greater sinners than all
other Galileans because they suffered this
fate?
3. "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
4. "Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were
worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem?
5. "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."
6. And He
began telling this parable: "A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any.
7. "And he said to the vineyard-keeper, 'Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?'
8. "And he answered and said to him, 'Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer;
9. and if it bears fruit next year,
fine; but if not, cut it down.' "
John 8:36. "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
Acts 2:37. Now when they heard
this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?"
38. Peter
said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39. "For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself."
40. And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation!"
41. So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.
42. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.
Acts 3:9. "Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;
(All scriptures NASB, 1995)
