IS REPENTANCE NECESSARY FOR SALVATION?

We heard a preacher preach that repentance was not necessary for salvation. I was troubled to hear this but was reminded about just how important repentance is as I read Romans 2 this morning:

·       We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things...Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. (Romans 2:2, 4-5 ESV)

Repentance is at the heart of the Gospel and our heavenly hope. However, there is much disagreement about the absolute need for repentance, even among those who take the Bible seriously. Therefore, I’d like to look at some honest objections to the belief that repentance is necessary for salvation.

“Only faith is necessary to be saved.”

While many verses only mention “faith” as a requirement for salvation, many others mention “repentance”:

·       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.” (Acts 2:38)

·       For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. (2 Corinthians 7:10)

“Repentance is a work, and salvation is ‘by faith apart from works of the law.’” (Romans 3:28)

Actually, the Bible distinguishes between repentance and its works or obedience that should arise from it. John the Baptist proclaimed to the Pharisees that they should “bring forth fruit worthy of repentance” (Matthew 3:8). The fruit of obedience is the proof or result of repentance, which is a change of heart and mind. Paul too distinguished between repentance and its fruit:

·       “Wherefore, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: but declared both to them of Damascus first, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judæa, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.” (Acts 26:19-20)

“There are many verses that claim that faith that is the necessary condition for salvation without mentioning repentance.”

While this is true, there are also many verses that mention repentance instead of faith.

“Repentance is an additional and unbiblical requirement.”

Instead, these terms or concepts are used interchangeably. They both are gifts that accompany a regenerated heart and the indwelling Spirit. Consequently, we read that as faith is a gift (Ephesians 2:8-9), so too is repentance:

·       in meekness correcting them that oppose themselves; if peradventure God may give them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth, and they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him unto his will. (2 Timothy 2:25-26; Acts 5:31; 11:18)

Both faith and repentance also produce the fruit of obedience. They both represent a single turn towards God. When we turn to God in faith, we automatically turn away from the old life (repentance) - one single turn! Therefore, they are not separate requirements. Instead, both faith/repentance, together as one, are required for salvation. One aspect of faith is repentance. We can also think of them as opposite sides of the same coin. Consequently, we cannot have one without the other.

Just consider what would happen if faith didn’t include repentance. We would baptize into the church those who claimed to have faith but refused to repent (turn away) from their adulterous relationships. Consequently, we would receive them into the church with a hug, but then quickly withdraw it to bring disciplinary charges against them. Absurd? To the max!