Biblical Repentance/The Connection of Repentance and Faith
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By L.R. Shelton Jr.
About Repentance
Chapter 3 of the book Biblical Repentance
Repentance and faith are inseparably connected in the Word of God, and they must be preached together. The Word of God plainly teaches that God commands “all men every where to repent” (Act 17:30). Further-more, the Bible plainly teaches that repentance is as necessary as faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul told his hearers in Acts 20:20-21,
“I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Therefore, repentance and faith are commanded by God in the call of the gospel. Let us not put asunder what God has joined together (Mat 21:32; Mar 1:15; Act 2:38; 5:31; 20:21; 2Ti 2:25).
The Evidence of Scripture
Listen to these verses of Scripture where these great truths are set forth together in the Word of God!
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15).
“For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him” (Mat 21:32).
Paul gives this testimony of his ministry:
“Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Act 20:21).
The epistle to the Hebrews says,
“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God” (Heb 6:1).
Then, one of our Lord’s last commandments to His disciples before He returned to heaven is found in Luke 24:46-48:
“Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem; and ye are witnesses of these things.”
The Bible gives us illustrations of those who came to Christ in repentance and faith; these looked to Him to forgive them of their sins. The prodigal son repented and believed (Luke 15:11ff); the thief on the cross re-pented and believed (Luke 23:39ff); and so we call upon men today to repent and believe.
