The Role of Repentance

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Is the act of repentance an evidence of faith, an evidence of salvation, or is it a required element of salvation?
To answer this three-part question we need to start by defining the terms of “repentance”, “faith” and “salvation”.
“Repentance is an act of acknowledging past wrongdoing, expressing regret or contrition, and committing to right behavior and obedience to God. It is a transformative process that involves turning away from sin or transgression and turning back to God.” (Lesley DiFransico, “Repentance,” ed. Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Theological Wordbook, Lexham Bible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).)
There are two Hebrew terms שׁוּב (šûb) and נָחַם (nāḥam) that are translated in the OT as repentance. שׁוּב (šûb) captures the idea of turning away form sin and turning toward God. נָחַם (nāḥam) captures the emotional element of repentance, communicating the emotions of sorrow and remorse for one’s sin.
There are also two Greek terms μετάνοια (metanoia) and ἐπιστρέφω (epistrephō) that are translated in the NT as repentance. μετάνοια (metanoia) means to change one’s mind. ἐπιστρέφω (epistrephō) means to turn back. Acts 3:19-21 uses both of these terms in Paul’s exhortation to the Jews.
Acts 3:19–21 ESV
19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.
Jesus uses μετάνοια (metanoia) in Luke 13:1-5
Luke 13:1–5 ESV
1 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
Faith, πίστις (pistis) in the Greek, in its general meaning, is to put one’s trust in and commit to a person, a cause, or an idea.
Faith, in the context of this question, is the individual trusting and committing to Jesus, the Messiah, as Paul writes in Galatians 2:16
Galatians 2:16 ESV
16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
Faith placed in Jesus Christ is to believe the gospel, as Paul outlines in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8
1 Corinthians 15:3–8 ESV
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
Salvation, יְשׁוּעָה (yĕšûʿâ) in Hebrew, and σωτηρία (sōtēria) in the Greek, means to rescue from a state of danger and restore the rescued to a state of wholeness.
In the context of this question, salvation is the rescue from the penalty of sin and the restoration of one’s relationship with God. Paul defines that salvation in Colossians 1:13-14,
Colossians 1:13–14 ESV
13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Praise God, for he has saved us through the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Christ.
The question is pondering the process of salvation. How does it come about and where does repentance fit into that process?
We need to, at the front, recognize that salvation is a free gift from God to us. Ephesians 2:8-9 and Titus 3:3-7 makes this crystal clear.
Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
In thinking of the process of salvation, we need to ask, “How does one receive God’s free gift?”
The answer is that one is to believe, as Acts 16:30-31 states so clearly.
Acts 16:30–31 ESV
30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Where does this faith come from?
Is it something that I stir up within myself? That would imply that my salvation is by works, as if I could bring forth faith.
Faith does not come from within ourselves, but is a gift of God, given to us (Romans 12:3). The Spirit, who’s role on earth is to reveal Jesus to the lost (John 16:7-11), uses the proclamation of the word of God to give faith to those who hear. Paul explains the process in Romans 10:9-17.
Romans 10:9–17 ESV
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
How does one hear, if the natural man cannot accept spiritual truths (1 Corinthians 2:6-16)?
1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV
14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
What, then, needs to happen for the natural man to hear the word of Christ, and thus receive the gift of faith from God?
The Spirit of God has to make him alive. (Romans 8:5-11; Ephesians 2:1-7)
Ephesians 2:1–7 ESV
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Faith, then, is a gift from God, which is given through the hearing of the word of Christ to those whom the Spirit has made alive.
Through the gift of faith, we are empowered by the Spirit to believe Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God raised him from the dead, resulting in our salvation (Romans 10:9).
We now understand that salvation is the result of believing in Jesus and his work, through the work of the Spirit.
When we receive the gift of faith from God through the work of the Spirit, we are receiving his grace and kindness. Through this, we gain understanding of the error of our ways, the seriousness of our sin, resulting in the Spirit of God leading us to repentance (Romans 2:4 ).
Repentance, then, is the proper response to believing that Jesus is Lord, and believing in his work.
In light of this, how are we to understand Acts 2:36-38?
Acts 2:36–38 ESV
36 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.
This text could be understood that both baptism and repentance are required for salvation. This interpretation is not in agreement with what we discussed today or the rest of Scripture.
God does not contradict himself, so how might this apparent contradiction be resolved?
First, Peter defines how to be saved in his sermon. He says in Acts 2:21
Acts 2:21 ESV
21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
He also states in Acts 2:36
Acts 2:36 ESV
36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
If they follow Peter’s command by the power of the Spirit, to call on the name of the Lord, and know for certain that Jesus is Lord and the Messiah, what would the result of that be?
They would be saved through the work of the Spirit.
What would the proper response to that salvation be?
Repentance would be the proper response, because the Spirit has already been at work, making them alive to know God and his kindness, leading them to repentance.
Will you rest in the salvation of the Lord worked out in you by the Spirit of God?
Will you respond to the kindness of God and be led to repentance?
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