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
Dear Lord Jesus,
May we all be blessings to one another, sharing the Truth in boldness and in love, and encouraging each other to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Lord, I ask that You may give us the grace to repent of our sins; turn from our own ways, and turn to You, Jesus. May we obey You because we love You: The Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).
True Saving Faith Must Have Repentance
Christians will still sin every day in this broken world, but true saving faith means we repent and fully surrender ourselves to Christ, sincerely trusting in Him. Repentance is not a work we do to earn heaven. Repentance starts with a change of mind that brings us in line with the Truth; where we realize how wretched, poor, blind, and naked we are, and utterly dependent on God for everything. Those who truly believe, repent, and those who repent are saved. In Scripture, repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin.
True repentance happens when we’re confronted by the gospel and what Christ did for us on the cross, where we rethink everything. We rethink who we are and if we’re really as good, rich, deserving of eternal life, and ready for death as we once thought. True repentance humbles us and goes hand in hand with brokenness. There is no such thing as boasting in true repentance. Repentance starts with a change of mind and heart, where a change of actions and a change of life follows. You will follow what you are convicted of. I pray that we all are so convicted of the Truth and unashamed of the gospel that we all repent of our sins and follow boldly after You, Lord – our only hope and our only way to eternal life.
Having repentance is turning away from our sins, often found in our own pride and self-sufficiency; it’s turning away from worldly comforts and idols that we often cling to and put before Christ; and it’s turning to God in humility and trusting obedience to do His will, not ours. Many times in the New Testament, Jesus commands us to repent. Repent and believe in the gospel! (Mark 1:15) See also (Mat. 4:17), (Luke 5:32). Jesus also said, Unless you repent you will all likewise perish (Luke 13:3). Repentance is absolutely necessary for salvation.
All the Graces of Christianity Flow Together
We know we cannot earn our salvation by works, and we know that we are saved by grace through faith, but faith that does not bear evidence of good fruit - is dead. Scripture connects bearing good fruit to repentance and obedience, while bearing bad fruit is connected to selfishness, sin, and immoral behavior. Jesus said, Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven (Matthew 7:20–21).
True saving faith causes us to be sensitive to sin and instills in us a real desire to obey Christ. Furthermore, faith produces love, and love produces good fruits. Jesus connects these good fruits with obedience and keeping His commandments, and having love in our hearts. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples (John 15:8). If you love me, you will keep my commandments (John 14:15). True saving faith is building a life on what God says in His word.
Having faith is not just a deep feeling or an inner knowing based on our own human wisdom, it is not just a mental affirmation of Christ’s existence, it is not just an assent to the truth, but true saving faith must include repentance and a real desire to obey the Word of God and follow Christ over ourselves. Obedience to Christ is love, and love for Christ is obedience. Faith fills our hearts with love and the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Where there is genuine faith in Jesus Christ there is also a genuine transformation of the heart. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come
(2 Corinthians 5:17).
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 1 Thessalonians 5:28
Love, Jenna
All the graces of Christianity always go together. Where there is one, the rest follow. Where there is faith, there is love, hope, and humility, and where there is love there is also trust; and where there is a holy trust in God, there is love to God; and where there is gracious hope, there also is a holy fear of God. - Jonathan Edwards in “Charity and Its Fruits"
Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40
If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8
You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold guiltless anyone who takes his name in vain. Exodus 20:7
And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says, “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1 John 2:3-4
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. Philippians 3:8
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 4:17
And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. Luke 5:31-32