Page 149 - Bible Doctrines II w videos short

Formerly they had considered Him to be only a blasphemous human being claiming to be God; now
they changed their minds and saw Him as the God-man Savior whom they would trust for salvation.
That kind of repentance saves, and everyone who is saved has repented in that sense.
There is a third use of the concept of repentance and that is in the Christian life. A Christian need to
repent—that is, to change his mind about particular sins committed. If he does repent, then he will
confess those sins and experience forgiveness.

Sometimes hymns and gospel songs express good theology and sometimes bad. But there is at least
one song that does state clearly the requirement for being saved. It is, “Only Trust Him.” That is
exactly right. Faith is the only condition. Anything added becomes a work attached to the grace of
God. Faith is the condition, and it is faith in Him who alone can save. This is the grace of God.
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What About Repentance Need to Be Understood?

1. The basic word repentance means to “change your mind.”
2. Context determines the content of repentance in a passage.
3. Repentance is not necessary for salvation unless it means to change your mind about rejecting
Christ.
4. Repentance is necessary for daily fellowship with Christ in the life a believer (but has no bearing on
whether a person is a believer). There are many passages in Scripture telling believers to repent of
their sins and obey Christ. Notice though, they are believers when told this.
5. Repentance and obedience effect a person’s evaluation and reward – not their justification.
6. Repentance has been understood theologically in four major ways since the Reformation:
a. “According to Robert Wilkin [the four major understandings of repentance are]:
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i. A willingness or resolution to stop sinning and a concomitant commitment to the Lordship of Christ
[Adherents include: J. Anderson, W. Barclay, H. Conzelmann, J. D. G. Dunn, D. Fuller, K. Gentry, J.
Gerstner, L. Goppelt, W. Graham, G. Ladd, I. H. Marshall, J. I. Packer, J. R. W. Stott, and L. Strauss];
ii. A change of thinking [Adherents include L. S. Chafer, G. M. Cocoris, H. A. Ironside, and C. C. Ryrie].
iii. Contrition, confession, and doing acts of penance [Roman Catholic Church];
iv. Turning away from sin [Adherents include J. Graham, G. Peters, A. H. Strong, and the Westminster
Confession of Faith Shorter Catechism].”

Biblical Examples.
Acts 2:36-41 –
“Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this
Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter
and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be
baptized every one of you 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 for your children and for all who are far off,
everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and
continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who
received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”

Notice that the Jews present were to repent from rejecting Jesus and accept Him as their Messiah.
Repentance in this passage is not an extra condition for salvation. This is the same as believing.

2 Corinthians 7:8-10 –

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