Repentance Unto Salvation

Repentance Unto Salvation
Carlos Aguilar

Hearing the word of God develops faith. Paul writes in Rom 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” This brings us to the next step. It too, flows as smoothly as hearing does to faith. A belief in God brings man face to face with his limitations. The Bible reveals to us that there is not a man or women who has ever lived who has not sinned and rebelled against the commandments of God. Rom 3:23 states, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Faith then flows into repentance.

In Acts Chapter 2 we can see a clear example of church membership as we have described up to this point. First of all we note that the Jews were assembled for the Day of Pentecost as was commanded by God. They are brought to where the apostles were gathered as a direct result of a miracle. In fact, Peter explains what is happening in verses 16-17, “But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh…” Once they had an audience Peter begins to preach. The Jews heard the first gospel sermon ever preached. Evidence was presented to them that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the Messiah, which God promised He would send. They were also brought face to face with the fact that they had killed Him. Did hearing the word of God produce faith? Most certainly! In the midst of the sermon the people ask, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). These people were persuaded by the inspired sermon of the apostle Peter that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the Son of the Living God. Hearing the word of God cut their hearts. It produced in them a strong emotion; it stunned them violently (Vine’s). Their question demonstrates their faith. Their question also demonstrates their guilt, in other words their sin. God, in turn, demonstrates His mercy and His plan for man’s salvation. The natural flow from faith to repentance is seen by Peter’s answer. These once hardhearted individuals softened their hearts due to the preaching of the gospel. In verses 38 Peter answers their question by saying, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Repentance, as is hearing the gospel and faith, is an essential component to church membership and obviously forgiveness of sins. Acts 2:47 says, ““And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” The saved are those who have been added to the Lord’s church----those who are members of it---those who obeyed God’s words in verse 38.

The gospel is indeed “the power of God to salvation” (Rom 1:16). These Jews were the same ones that not too long before were saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him” (Luke 23:21). The Bible clearly points out that those who have a clear mind, and have not ruined their conscience through sin and dishonesty will admit to that fact that they are not perfect, and that they have some serious flaws. When the gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed to honest people, faith is born. Rom 10:7 states not only that the only source of true faith is to be found in the word of Christ, but that the very proclamation of the gospel will produce such a faith in the hearts of men. It did exactly this in 33 A.D. on the Day of Pentecost.

Bible repentance involves far more than just being sorry for being caught. In 2 Cor 7:8 Paul writes, “For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while.”

Paul’s letter, an inspired epistle written to the Corinthians, caused their hearts to be cut. It produced in them a strong emotion; it stunned them violently (Vine’s). Paul goes on to say in verse 9, “Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.” Once again we see the power of the gospel in that the sorrow produced by it causes repentance. Godly sorrow prevents loss.

Bible repentance involves far more than just being sorry for being caught. Paul made the point in 2 Cor 7 that his epistle (God’s inspired word) made them sorry. In fact, he says in verse 10, “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” True repentance occurs when one is made aware that what was previously done was wrong and displeasing to God. This process brings about a severe wrenching of the conscience, which forces some kind of action. The kind of action taken determines whether it is the sorrow of the world that works death or godly sorrow that leads to repentance and in turn salvation. One is no loner guilty of that sin. Those who turn away from it with a decision that they will never do it again and then ask for God's forgiveness have exhibited godly sorrow. Those who wish they had not done it, but simply resolve to be more careful next time in how they go about it are exhibiting worldly sorrow.

Notice the change in the Corinthian’s lives in verse 11, “For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.” What a change!!! Their hearts were activated by faith, their sorrow was activated by God’s word, which reveals powerful truths, which are greater burdens than any heart of true understanding, and pure conscience will be able to bear. The difference in the two possible reactions is found in the book of Acts. Last weeks lesson demonstrated godly sorrow. The Jews of Acts chapter 2 repented after hearing God’s word proclaimed. It produced in them the desire to make their lives right with God. “Men and brethren what shall we do?” was the question. In Acts chapter 7 we see a different reaction to God’s word proclaimed. Stephen preached God’s word to the Sanhedrin council. One would think of all the people in Israel that these men would have sincere and honest hearts to receive God’s message. But, in reality, they exemplify the opposite reaction to those of chapter 2. In Chapter 7:54 the Bible says, “When they heard these things they were cut to the heart…” Don’t forget the Jews of chapter 2 were also cut in the heart (2:37). However, these folks reacted differently. The latter part of the verse says, “they gnashed at him with their teeth.” In verses 57-59 Luke writes, “Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’" This is worldly sorrow, which produces death.

Repentance therefore is, simply speaking, Godly sorrow, leading to a change of the mind and the will, and resulting in a change of life. If any of these are lacking, then no repentance has occurred. Consider it then on its broadest level. In Rom 3:9-11 Paul writes, “What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.’” He also writes in verse 23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” In chapter 6 of Romans Paul again writes, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” These are Bible facts!! It weighed so heavily in Acts 2 that they actually interrupted Peter’s sermon to find out if there was any way to absolve them from the guilt of sin, which they knew was theirs. The only way to get rid of the guilt, and receive the remission from God, is to repent, or change the mind. Repentance is the key that unlocks the door of guilt and accountability and brings forgiveness and seasons of refreshing. Acts 3:19. In essence, Repentance therefore is the simple change of mind that accompanies a new set of facts that proves a previous conduct wrong. It is simple, yet essential to membership where salvation is found.

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