Not Faith Plus Repentance

Not Faith Plus Repentance

Quite a few maintain that salvation depends on repentance. The book of Romans presents most clearly the salvation of God, yet not once does it ever mention salvation by works. The Gospel according to John expresses itself most definitely on the gospel, but it never once says that salvation is through repentance. Salvation hinges on faith, not on repentance.

Does this mean that repentance is unnecessary? According to the Scriptures, those who believe must first repent; but even believers must also repent. Before the exercise of initial faith there is repentance; and after once believing, there is also the necessity of repentance. Unless a person changes his views on sin, on himself, on the world, and on the Lord, it is not possible for him to be saved. The very meaning of the term "repentance" signifies a change of mind. What one considers as precious before salvation is now looked upon as dross. Repentance is therefore not a condition for salvation; it is instead an element attached to faith and thus to salvation.

What is faith? Faith is not believing in some theological doctrines. We do hear the doctrines, but we believe in Christ. "In whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation,—in whom, having also believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise" (Eph. 1.13). Hearing is hearing the word, a hearing the gospel; but believing is a believing in Christ. Some acknowledge that they have believed, yet actually they may only be agreeing to certain doctrines—they may not have believed in Christ. Or, some people may profess to believe for some ulterior reason, but they never really know Christ. Such persons are not saved. Hence preaching of doctrines can never serve as our aim; our aim is for people to believe in Christ.

What is meant by believing in Christ? Consider what 1 John 5 tells us:
If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for the witness of God is this, that he hath borne witness concerning his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in him: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he hath not believed in the witness that God hath borne concerning his Son. And the witness is this, that God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life. (vv.9-12)
Faith is none other than receiving the witness which God has borne regarding His Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has eternal life.

We rejoice today because we are saved by faith and not by any other requirement. We should have good works, we should confess Christ before men, we should repent and confess our sins, we should also be baptized and pray much—so that God may be pleased with us. But we do not depend on these things to get saved. We are saved through faith alone.