FAQ on Repentance, Obedience and Faith
Questions asked about Repentance & Obedience in regards to saving Faith.
2 Timothy 2:25-26
"Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will."
Act 17:30 -31 30 "And the times of this ignorance God overlooked; but now commands all men every where to repent: Because he has appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he has ordained; whereof he has given assurance unto all men, in that he haa raised him from the dead"
2Co 7:10 "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."
Jesus said, "unless you repent you will perish". Luke 13:3
Jesus said in Mark 1:15 "Repent and Believe the Gospel [of Christ]." Also everyone in the OT got saved by the same. They repented [which we see all over OT, including later with John the Baptist] and believing in the coming Messiah who would take away their sins.
Ray Comfort and solid bible preachers are teaching the truth. Using the 10C as Jesus did to reveal sin as a mirror. You can read his books, audios, his study on Acts, and listen to the podcast for more clariity on the topic, to see its accurate. People misunderstand Ray because they only hear about tidbit or a short clip.
"Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith." (Galatians 3:24)
On the point of obedience...
John 14:15, Jesus said,"If you love me, keep my commandments."
John 14:23: "Jesus answered him, 'If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.'"
Luke 6:46: "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?"
Matthew 28:20a: "Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."(1)
This "obedience" is not about legalism for the believer [as many Jews lived in, or the volumes of things their leaders added to the 10C], but is showing the true nature (of the inner man) of the one born again.(2)
If we are born again... have the spiritual life in us/our new righteous nature, we are able to obey. As NT & Paul(2) points out we fail, as it wont be perfect [till eternity] but our desire is now of righteousness and not as the former man who loved and lived in sin, but the NT also shows we progress in sanctification [becoming more holy; more Christlike](3). Killing sin in our life when it's found; kill, conquer and have victory over it so it is dead to us and has no more lure or temptation to us.
Footnotes
(1) If we were fully perfect at salvation we wouldn't need the Scriptures, or the Holy Spirit to teach us, we would walk perfectly. But since we don't, we know as Scripture teaches this, we progress to become more holy [live like Christ who is perfect and holy].
2 Peter 3:18 "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."
Philippians 2:12-13: "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."
(2) Inner man is changed. Has spiritual life, and the inward outflows.
2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!"
Luke 6:45: "The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."
Matthew 12:34: "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."
Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." (Those whose fruit proves they're righteous in Christ will have this Fruit and grow in this fruit).
1 Peter 3:3-4: "Do not let your adorning be external....but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious."
(2) Paul on sin in Romans 7
Romans 7:15: "For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate."
Romans 7:18-19: "For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing."
Romans 7:24-25: "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin."
Philippians 2:12-13: "Therefore, my beloved..., work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."
(3) We take every thought captive, and renew our minds, as we grow in the knowledge of the Lord, or of the Word, which in turn makes us more and more like Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5: "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ."
Here are several verses that emphasize the importance of controlling thoughts, focusing on God's truth, and living in obedience:
Colossians 3:2 "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."
Romans 12:2 "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Proverbs 4:23"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." (This verse highlights the importance of guarding one's thoughts and emotions.)
5Matthew 15:19"For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander." (If your heart or inner man has been transformed, you dont love or live in sin as the unsaved do.)
James 1:14-15: "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death." (If your heart or inner man has been transformed, you dont love or live in sin as the unsaved do.)
Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
These verses collectively encourage believers to be mindful of their thoughts and to focus on what aligns with God's will and character.
Here are ones that emphasize the renewal of the mind and growing in the knowledge of the Lord:
Romans 12:2 "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Ephesians 4:22-24 "To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."
Colossians 3:10 "And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator."
2 Peter 3:18 "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."
Philippians 1:9-10 "And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ."
Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." (This verse highlights the foundational aspect of knowing the Lord in gaining true knowledge.)
And ones on us becoming like and being perfected by Christ.
Philippians 1:6: "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24: "Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it."
Hebrews 12:2: "Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
2 Corinthians 3:18: "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."
Ephesians 2:10: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Ephesians 1:4-5 :
"Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love, he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will."
Hope this helps clarify
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On worldly sorrow vs contrite heart
2 Corinthians 7:10 "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death."
Psalm 51:17 "My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise."
Isaiah 57:15 "For this is what the high and exalted One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy: 'I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.'"
James 4:9-10 "Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."
These verses highlight the importance of recognizing one's sinfulness and the need for repentance, contrasting worldly sorrow with the godly sorrow that leads to true repentance.
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Where does repentance come in if we are justified by faith alone?
Let's be absolutely clear: the doctrine of justification by faith alone - sola fide - is the heart of the gospel. The apostle Paul declares in Romans 5:1: "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Not by works. Not by penance. Not even by repentance itself. But by faith - faith in Christ alone.
So, where does repentance come in?
Let me put it this way: Faith turns us to Christ. Repentance turns us from sin.
And when the Holy Spirit regenerates a dead heart, He not only grants the ability to believe, but also a new disposition: a hatred for sin and a longing for righteousness. That is repentance.
Repentance is not the basis of our justification. The only basis is the righteousness of Christ. But repentance is a necessary fruit of saving faith. It is inseparable from true faith. If someone claims to have faith but there is no repentance, what kind of faith is that? Certainly not the kind that justifies.
Jesus said in Mark 1:15: "Repent and believe in the gospel." These are not two separate options, but two sides of the same divine call.
So, we are not justified by repenting, but there is no justification without repentance - because there is no true faith without it.
Repentance does not cause our salvation, but it does prove that salvation has truly begun in the soul.
Related
(You could listen to Ep 232-234)
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