The "repent of sins" gospel is popular in modern Christianity, and it has been taught by very major figures within Evangelicalism like John McArthur, Wyane Grudem, Billy Graham, R.C Sproul alongside many other Evangelicals. It refers to the view that to be saved, one must make the decision to turn from their sins and submit to Jesus Christ. The advocates of this view however still pay lip service to faith alone by saying that "turning from sins is not a work". However, this article will demonstrate how this view abuses the meaning of the word "repentance" and that turning from sins is not necessary for salvation.
Firstly, it is evident that turning from sins is a work, as the book of Jonah clearly says:
Jonah 3:10
10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
However, the Bible often repeats that loving God and your neighbour fulfils the law (Matthew 5:17-20, Romans 13:8-10) and it is undeniable that submitting to God is an act of love. Thus, for one to make the claim that turning from sins in submission to God is a prerequisite of being saved, one is saying that one must keep the law to be saved. This is obviously in contradiction to Galatians 2:16, which reads:
Galatians 2:16
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
It is biblically impossible to maintain thus that turning from sin is necessary for salvation. However, then the question arises, what is repentance? The Bible clearly makes repentance a condition of salvation (Acts 3:19), thus what does it mean?
Well, looking at the very basic definition, repentance (metanoia) comes from two Greek words which literally mean a "change of mind". The context determining what one is changing their mind about, and in a salvific context it is a change of mind about the gospel, going from unbelief to belief. This is supported by many Bible passages such as:
2 Timothy 2:25
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
Luke 16:30-31
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
This is also supported by the usage of the term "metanoia" (repentance) within other Greek writings:
Flavius Josephus (37-100 A.D.): "And thus did Vespasian march with his army, and came to the bounds of Galilee, where he pitched his camp and restrained his soldiers, who were eager for war; he also showed his army to the enemy, in order to affright them, and to afford them a season for repentance, to see whether they would change their minds…" (The Genuine Works of Flavius Josephus, Wars of the Jews, Book 3, transl. William Whiston)
Shepherd of Hermas (c. 140 A.D.): "These are they that heard the word, and would be baptized unto the name of the Lord. Then, when they call to their remembrance the purity of the truth, they change their minds [metanoeō], and go back again after their evil desires." (Shepherd of Hermas, Vision 3, chapter 7, transl. J. B. Lightfoot, The Apostolic Fathers)
Polycarp (69-155 A.D.): "The Proconsul said unto him, 'I have wild beasts ready; to those I will cast thee, unless thou repent.' He answered, 'Call for them, then: for we Christians are fixed in our minds, not to change [i.e. not to repent] from good to evil." (A Translation of the Epistles of Clement of Rome, Polycarp, and Ignatius, transl. Temple Chevallier)
Tertullian (c. 155–c. 220 A.D.): "Now in Greek the word for repentance is formed, not from the confession of a sin, but from a change of mind, which in God we have shown to be regulated by the occurrence of varying circumstances." (Ante-Nicene Christian Library: Translations of The Writings of The Fathers Down to A.D. 325., vol. 7, eds. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, transl. Peter Holmes, Against Marcion)
"This is what Peter meant by repentance when he was asked by the people what they should do in the light of his message (Acts 2:38). The word repent means, of course, to change one's mind about something. But what that something is is all-important to the meaning of repentance in any given context. . . . The content of repentance which brings eternal life, and that which Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, is a change of mind about Jesus Christ. Whereas the people who heard him on that day formerly thought of Jesus as a mere man, they were asked to accept Him as Lord (Deity) and Christ (promised Messiah). To do this would bring salvation." (Ryrie, Balancing the Christian Life [Chicago: Moody Press, 1969], pp. 175-176.)
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