Repentance and Faith

"Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His Name among all nations" (Luke 24:47).

Repentance and faith are like two sides of the same coin; one cannot exist without the other. True repentance (the transformation of one's mind in its entire attitude toward God, submitting to His sovereign holiness and hatred of sin) is essentially synonymous with true faith (full commitment to, and trust in, the person and work of God's Son as one's Redeemer and personal Saviour). See Acts 20:21.

To repent means to accept the truth of the Bible that we are lost, dead in trespasses and sins, and deserving of God's judgment because of our sins. To believe on the Lord Jesus Christ means to place our full dependence on His sacrificial work on the cross for our eternal salvation. Faith is both belief of the facts concerning Christ, and trusting oneself entirely to Him.

The problem is that what has become known as "easy believism" is widespread, and multitudes have become "professing Christians," simply on the basis of a mental and verbal, least-common denominator "statement of faith," and/or some kind of "conversion experience," all of which are meaningless without genuine repentance. Repeating a prayer at the end of a gospel tract or sermon does not save, if it consists merely of words.

Repentance is not merely sorrow for past sins, but a complete change of mind, and this can only be proved real (even to the believer himself) by a changed life. "Repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance" (Acts 26:20).

--Adapted from Days of Praise and Growing

From Moments For You Magazine, Q1 1999