The Need to Repent

The Bible repeatedly promises salvation and eternal life based on faith, or believing (a form of the same word in the Greek and Hebrew) (Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 4:4,5, John 3:16-18; Acts 16:31). But there are also Biblical passages that mention repentance (Mark 1:15; Luke 15:7; Acts 2:38; 17:30). If repentance is a second added condition, then God's promise of salvation based on faith in Christ is void. How then should we fit them together?

Faith is faith in Christ, that He is the One who saves us from our sins (Romans 3:21-26; Colossians 2:11-14; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11). This presumes that people realize they have sins to be saved from (Romans 3:23; Isaiah 64:6; Jeremiah 17:9). It  is helpful here not just to mouth the idea that we are all sinners, but to recognize we have specific sins we need to be saved from. This is, I am convinced, what the Bible means by repentance. What it does not mean is for us to decide to turn over a new leaf. We cannot change our lives without the work of the Spirit in our life to change us (John 15:5; Romans 7:14-18; 8:8). Therefore, the resolutions of the natural man are meaningless. Now I do hold that when a person comes to Christ they will change as a response to God's love for them (1 John 4:19; 2 Corinthians 5:14,15; Titus 2:11-13). But this is the result of the work of God in us, not any decisions we made as an unbeliever (2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:3). Further, we must be careful of expecting perfection in this life, since Lot and Samson, for all their defects, are stated to be saved men (2 Peter 2:7,8; Hebrews 11:32).

But what about recognizing Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9,10; 1 Corinthians 12:3; Philippians 2:11)? Now Jesus is Lord, and all will one day recognize this. But the fact that I am a sinner implies there is a Lord, someone I should be obeying. (I do think the main emphasis of "Jesus is Lord," is that Jesus is Yahweh; that is, Jesus is God, Lord being the Greek equivalent used for this Hebrew word. But if Jesus is God, certainly He is Lord, the One to be obeyed.) It follows that, because Christ has redeemed us, we now belong to Him and should live for Him (1 Corinthians 6:20; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 2:9). But this is not produced in us all at once, but is a result of growth over time (Philippians 3:12-16; 1 Timothy 4:7,8; Hebrews 5:11-14).

Now God knows the heart; He knows if we have a real and genuine faith or are just kidding ourselves. Also, if person has a genuine faith in Christ, it will, however haltingly and imperfectly, have an effect on their life. But it will not be because of any resolutions they make to change as a condition for their salvation.