Just Believe or Repentance & Faith?

Does salvation come by just "believing" in the Lord Jesus Christ or do we need "Repentance & Faith"?

Doug

considering Jesus is God, and he died for our sins, and that he is the author and finisher of our faith i am convinced he was dead serious when he said "repent and believe" . There is no salvation if one is left out, true faith includes both.

DougRenz wrote:
Does salvation come by just "believing" in the Lord Jesus Christ or do we need "Repentance & Faith"?

I was reading the REPENTANCE book by Michael Pearl and in the last chapter he wrote that there is no where in God's word written "repent from sin", only "repent from bad works".

He went on to say that "repentance" from sin is Man's work of salvation and those on the other side justify it as "God preparing a mans heart to repent".

This verse:
"Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." —Acts 20:21

He went on to say that Repentance is not from sin but toward God (which I agree), but don't we need to turn from sin (an act of Repentance) to be saved and not just have faith? Don't the demons also believe and are going to hell?

This article here:

[url=http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Believer%27s%20Corner/Doctrines/repent.htm]Repentance is NOT Forsaking One's Sin[/url]

Here are the last few paragraphs from this article:

It is false doctrine to make repenting of one's sins an event in itself to be saved. Again, repentance is not turning from one's sins; Repentance is turning to the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved from one's sins (Romans 4:5). Jack Chick, David Cloud, Ray Comfort, Aiden Tozer, John MacArthur and the Salvation Army all make repentance an isolated act by itself. The Bible stands against them for perverting the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The word "believe" is mentioned 85 times in the Gospel of John; YET the word "repent" is not mentioned even ONCE!!! Clearly, the sinner who believes on Jesus as the Christ to forgive their sins has repented. False prophets today define repentance as merely turning from one's sins. This misunderstanding of repentance has spawned multiple false gospels. Repentance is turning TO THE LORD from the guilt and condemnation of sin, to have those sins washed away by the precious literal blood of Jesus Christ (1st Peter 1:18,19). To believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness of one's sins is repentance. To merely turn from sin is nothing more than "turning over a new leaf," which is the false gospel of Perry Stone. True Biblical repentance means turning to Jesus Christ by faith to be forgiven of one's sins. The "turning" is not from the act of sin itself; but rather, TURNING TO THE LORD to be forgiven from the condemnation which sin has brought upon all mankind (Romans 3:19-23; 5:12). Lordship Salvationists have perverted the Gospel. They teach that repentance and faith are two separate steps to salvation, and that faith alone in Christ is insufficient to save anyone unless they've turned from their sinful lifestyle. In sharp contrast, Genesis 15:6 tells us that Abram was justified by faith in the Lord. The Gospel of John mentions the word "believe" 85 times without ever mentioning the word "repent" even once. This is because the person who has believed on the Lord to be forgiven of their sins has repented of their sins. Salvation is turning to Jesus to be forgiven of one's sins; NOT turning from one's sins in order to be forgiven by Jesus.

I always thought that repentance is necessary for salvation... even if "repent from sin" is not in the Bible, can't we believe it is a Biblical Truth?

Doug

The other idea I read was that Repentance was written for those who are hypocrites and not the unsaved, and the "just believe" is for the ungodly/unsaved.

Romans 4:5 says... "But to him that WORKETH NOT, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is COUNTED for righteousness."

DougRenz wrote:
I was reading the REPENTANCE book by Michael Pearl and in the last chapter he wrote that there is no where in God's word written "repent from sin", only "repent from bad works".

He went on to say that "repentance" from sin is Man's work of salvation

This verse:
"Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." —Acts 20:21

He went on to say that Repentance is not from sin but toward God (which I agree), but don't we need to turn from sin (an act of Repentance) to be saved and not just have faith? Don't the demons also believe and are going to hell?

The "from sin" is implied when it says "toward God"
Therefore, he is wrong, it does say that Repentance is from sin also.

I was reading the REPENTANCE book by Michael Pearl and in the last chapter he wrote that there is no where in God's word written "repent from sin", only "repent from bad works".

This man who is calling others a false teacher, is clearly teaching false doctrine.

Mark 1:15 Jesus said repent AND believe the gospel (two seperate things).

Matthew 9:13 Jesus said He came to call SINNERS to repentance (repent from what? Being sinners!)

Luke 24:47 Jesus said 'Repentance and remission of sins should be preached to all nations...'

Repentance is clearly turning FROM sin and TO Christ. Faith invoves both and to try to say that you are believing (trusting and relying)on Christ without turning from your old life of sin is crazy.

Sometimes the bible describes the act of repentance without using the word 'repentance' as this passage shows...

1 John 3:4-6 ' Whover commits sin also commits lawlessness.
And you know that He (Jesus) was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him is no sin.
Whovever abides in Him does not (continue in) sin. Whoever (continues to) sin has neither seen Him or known Him.'

for "DougRenz"

"Just Believe or Repentance & Faith?
Does salvation come by just "believing" in the Lord Jesus Christ or do we need "Repentance & Faith"?"

A sermon I've always appreciated is "The First Word of the Gospel" by J Edwin Orr. I think that it will help you to understand the answer to your question. You can find it on this page https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/viewcat.php?cid=11&min=60&orderby=titleA&show=20 the second last sermon.

why is not Jesus words enough? why need we other mens words? if it where a very obscure and hard passage to understand i can see need fr consulting others.... but Jesus said "repent and believe"

As the other responders have pointed out, faith without repentance is not faith at all. If we believe in God, then we must believe his teachings. His Word and His Spirit will lead us into repentance IF WE TRULY BELIEVE.

Regarding repentance from sin:

Repentance is NOT Forsaking One's Sin

I don't see the need to belabor this point.

one needs to read the entire book to understand what Michael Pearl said. He did not do a false teaching, he said that repentance is to GOD, not from something. His book has every verse on repentance clearly expounded on. One should not call him a false teacher because one line of his book was quoted here without the rest of his explanation to go with it.

If we REPENT TO God- we will turn away from sin- yes. But that is not what repentance means, it is a result of it.

Nobody called him a false teacher. I actually like most of his teachings. I am trying to understand this theological understanding of faith, repentance and salvation.

Doug

onlyHIS wrote:
one needs to read the entire book to understand what Michael Pearl said. He did not do a false teaching, he said that repentance is to GOD, not from something. His book has every verse on repentance clearly expounded on. One should not call him a false teacher because one line of his book was quoted here without the rest of his explanation to go with it.

If we REPENT TO God- we will turn away from sin- yes. But that is not what repentance means, it is a result of it.

re⋅pent⋅ance  [ri-pen-tns, -pen-tuhns]
–noun
1.\tdeep sorrow, compunction, or contrition for a past sin, wrongdoing, or the like.
2.\tregret for any past action.
Origin:
1300–50; ME repentaunce < OF repentance. See repent 1 , -ance

Synonyms:
1. contriteness, penitence, remorse. 2. sorrow, qualms.

Antonyms:
1. impenitence.

The phrase "repentance to God" means "deep sorrow, compunction, or contrition for a past sin and turning to God". The author did a shortcut.

Please enough of semantics.

If he is not a false teacher, then he is dangerously close to being one because it appears he would have people believe that turning away from sin is not a necessary component of salvation.

This verse: "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." —Acts 20:21

This verse was rendered in KJV 17th century English. The more precise wording in the modern English that we can all understand easily is:

Ac 20:21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. (NIV)

Wittingly or unwittingly, the author is misreading the meaning of the verse as rendered in 17th century English.

One should not call him a false teacher because one line of his book was quoted here without the rest of his explanation to go with it.

Unfortunately it appears that it is Michael Pearl who calls people false teachers.

Jack Chick, David Cloud, Ray Comfort, Aiden Tozer, John MacArthur and the Salvation Army all make repentance an isolated act by itself. The Bible stands against them for perverting the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

To accuse Ray Comfort or Tozer (or anyone else who teaches we should turn from sin)of not teaching faith in Jesus Christ is nonsense and worthy of our rejection. I would reject the book on this point alone, even if he had a point of view to emphasise because he is clearly unbalanced in his own self opinion.

Michael Pearl did not write that quote about Ray Comfort and Tozer. Would you like to share your source of that article Doug Renz? it is not Michael Pearl.

I will stand that one should not accuse someone of being a false teacher when you are getting one line of his teaching here. He wrote an entire book, and you are getting one quote of his here, along with someone's interpretation on here.

I clicked on the link provided and found that the author of the article is one David J. Stewart

Repentance is NOT Forsaking One's Sins!
By David J. Stewart

"Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." —Acts 20:21

Repentance is not turning from (i.e., forsaking) one's sins, nor even being willing to turn from one's sins; Repentance is turning to the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved from one's sins (Romans 4:5). Salvation is receiving; NOT giving. Eternal life is the free gift of God (Romans 5:15;6:23), paid for by Jesus' precious literal blood (1st Peter 1:18,19). To be saved we simply need to come as a guilty sinner to Jesus Christ to have our sins washed away by His redeeming blood (1st John 1:7). Salvation is turning to Jesus to be forgiven of one's sins; NOT turning from one's sins in order to be forgiven by Jesus...

His handling of the verse from Acts 20:21 is faulty, as mentioned in preceding posts.

Acts 20:21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must TURN TO GOD IN REPENTANCE and have faith in our Lord Jesus. (NIV)

The Greek word for "repent" is μετανοέω (metanoeō), it means "to change one's mind".

The Gospel is news that confronts someone. It is the good news that Christ has died for sinners and has made a way of peace with God.

In order to change one's mind about this is to forsake ALL hope in one's self righteousness, or one's works to achieve peace with God. It is not only turning from BAD works, but even our GOOD works as a means of justification, or rightness with God.

Of course, repentance without faith is not what leads to salvation, neither is faith without repentance. BUT, the new birth produces faith and repentance in the sinner. It is not the cause of new birth. God shines the light of the glory of Christ into the heart, God gives a heart of flesh in place of a heart of stone, and this new heart longs for Christ and grieves that it has so offended One who is so loving and good.

From day one of the Christian life to the day we are glorified, the true Christian lives a life of repentance and faith, it's not a one and done type of thing at all.

I wanted to add a point to clarify.

When I said this-
[i]it's not a one and done type of thing at all[/i]

I did not meant that justification is a process; justification is a one time legal declaration based on faith in Christ's work.

Sanctification on the other hand is a process which is worked out in us by continual repentance and faith.

I'm sure we would all admit(if we're honest; and lying is a sin) that there are things we do and don't do each day that would give God the right to condemn us. But thanks be to God that Christ has borne our wrath in our place so we might be welcomed in His place as if His righteousness were ours!

by roaringlamb on 2009/9/2 15:24:52 The Greek word for "repent" is μετανοέω (metanoeō), it means "to change one's mind". The Gospel is news that confronts someone. It is the good news that Christ has died for sinners and has made a way of peace with God. In order to change one's mind about this is to forsake ALL hope in one's self righteousness, or one's works to achieve peace with God. It is not only turning from BAD works, but even our GOOD works as a means of justification, or rightness with God. Of course, repentance without faith is not what leads to salvation, neither is faith without repentance. BUT, the new birth produces faith and repentance in the sinner. It is not the cause of new birth. God shines the light of the glory of Christ into the heart, God gives a heart of flesh in place of a heart of stone, and this new heart longs for Christ and grieves that it has so offended One who is so loving and good. From day one of the Christian life to the day we are glorified, the true Christian lives a life of repentance and faith, it's not a one and done type of thing at all.

Very well said, together with your clarification on justification.