My Struggle Through Repentance

This is a guest post from our friend and ministry partner Brandon, so all the credit for this goes to him.

 

Daddy, when I wake up tomorrow, I’m going to ask Jesus into my heart!

    While I realize this may sound like the best news ever to a Christian parent, hearing those words caused one of the biggest moments of contemplation in my life. How do I respond to my little girl? Should I be happy for her that she is outwardly expressing a desire to be identified with Jesus by the age-old practice of asking Jesus into one’s heart, or should I be terrified that she will fall into the same concept of “salvation” that I was taught when I was her age? What!? How could you dare not be thrilled by such a statement!?

    Well, I guess it all started when I was a young child going to a church, sitting in my Sunday school classes, singing Bible songs, and attending a private Christian school. Oh boy, did I have it all. I was getting the Bible pumped into my mind from every angle and yet I came to believe that Jesus, the God/man who died on the cross for the sins of the world, needed to be presented with a prayer, declared from my heart to his heart, which stated my desire for him to be my Savior, for him to come into my heart—for him to forgive me of my sins after I opened the door to his knocking. Basically, the Christians around me were giving us kids the standard “altar call,” and unless we responded appropriately, our destination was sure to be hell.

    Ok, now that’s motivation! Why would I want to burn forever in the lake of fire? Only a fool would not accept Jesus' free gift of salvation. Yes, I’m a sinner and I need to be saved by what Jesus did on the cross. That’s a no brainer. “Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God and Savior of the world. I believe that you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I believe that through your sacrifice, I can be forgiven. Forgive me for my sin and fill me with your Spirit” or something like that and presto, BOOM, now I am saved; yet it came with a caveat from the Pastor that I must have prayed with sincerity. Hurray! I repented. I am now a new person in Christ, right? In retrospect, I do believe my request to Jesus was sincere. I was fully convinced of the gospel, that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again for the sins of the world (stated concisely in I Corinthians 15:1-5). Then what ended up being my problem?

    Well, it was the prayer! That lousy prayer connected my mind’s concept of salvation to an EVENT where I had asked Jesus to save me. When sin entered again into my life, the Holy Spirit’s conviction was present and I felt horrible, but being a new babe in Christ, I looked back to the event that I was focusing on as the foundation of my salvation and was left wondering about the Pastor’s caveat. Oh no! Was I not sincere enough when I prayed? Did I not have enough repentance? Was I not sorry enough about my sins? No, Jesus surely wouldn’t un-save me because he will not lose one of his sheep. How can eternal life be a temporary gift? Hmm… Nevertheless, I better pray that sinner’s prayer again, just to be sure that God understood my sincerity and maybe I can be more sincere this time, so that he knows I truly believe that he died and rose again for my sins. Ok good, I feel much better now. I said that with a lot more conviction this time. I even cried while praying. I now feel that all of my sins are forgiven. Praise God! Oh look, there I am again on my knees a few weeks later, praying ashamed behind locked doors while everyone else is asleep; but this time I’ve got a really strong amount of godly grief and am really sure that I can convince God that I believe. 

    Ok everyone, I hope you get the picture now. I grew up for decades doubting my salvation, but I want to share with you and your family the good news of how to avoid falling into the cycle of what some call “repentance” that I once struggled through. While it’s true that godly sorrow does lead to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10), by default, sorrow leading to repentance means that repentance is something else. I didn’t understand that repentance wasn’t the altar call prayer that I had delivered through my “sinner’s prayer.” My mind had strongly connected my own “repentance” to the event of me asking Jesus to save me, to the event of the prayer I made confessing my belief in His substitutionary atonement, to the event of me declaring myself a sinner and himself my Savior. Basically, I was trying to connect one of those moments in time—when I had with conviction and sincerity prayed to God, declared my faith and asked Jesus into my heart—to being my repentance. I had the WRONG EVENT. One small change of thought would have saved me so much grief and doubt.

    THE EVENT that is the foundation of everyone’s salvation is never our prayers, but rather is and always will be the substitutionary propitiation that took place by the shedding of Jesus' blood at THE CROSS (Romans 3:25, Ephesians 1:7). Put your faith in his blood, in his finished work, in his death, burial and resurrection and stand on that foundation alone. You will find peace, assurance, and eternal security in Christ. Don’t let anyone tell you that believing the gospel isn’t enough, unless you’ve “accepted” God’s salvation by asking for it. Do you really think that after having believed the gospel God waited around for you to get on your knees and to “repent” before he saved you? That’s not true!!! God seals a new believer with the Holy Spirit of Promise at the very moment they first believe the good news of the gospel. There is no delay (Ephesians 1:13). Any subsequent prayer that a Saint may come to make, based on the prompting of a pastor or another person telling them that doing so is needed, is nothing more than trying to put a cherry on top of their belief in the gospel that is made of dung. (see Philippians 3:8).

    Repentance happens when one’s mind changes from unbelief to belief. One can ask Jesus into their heart all day long, but yet have never believed the gospel. One can say a “sinner’s prayer” every day of their life and yet never have believed the gospel. One can with sorrow admit their sinfulness and with conviction ask Jesus to save them, but yet still never have believed the gospel. Will God use that sorrow to lead people to repentance? Yes, but please stop begging God for salvation and instead stand firm, having faith in His finished work on the cross.

In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; (2 Tm. 2:25) 

    I explained to my daughter that Jesus’ righteousness is a gift given at the very same moment that one believes that Jesus paid the penalty of their own sins, by shedding His blood on the cross, when he died, was buried, and rose again. After having heard this good news, which she already believed, she dropped the topic of asking Jesus into her heart and was instead thrilled to learn that the Holy Spirit was already in her. She believes that God made her righteous and has taken away her sins.

    Well, is God waiting on people with such childlike faith to accept him into their hearts by praying a sinner’s prayer or has he already saved them?  

    We know that God is not a liar. He will send the Comforter at the very moment that one first believes. If you’re wrestling with this topic as I once did, I would encourage you to read this article discussing “What is Repentance?”. Also, here is a reading of the article provided to us by Chooch. It made a tremendously positive impact on my life. 

    It just sounds so "Christian" to accept Jesus as Lord, so that through a life dedicated to building a "relationship" with God one can come to faith in Christ. Have you ever been told you're a lost sinner going to hell, who needed to repent of your sins and accept Jesus as Lord?

STOP, STOP!!! WARNING, WARNING!!! 

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (2 Cor. 11:3)

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2 Cor. 11:14–15)

 

    Don't fall victim to the subtle serpent transformed into a messenger of light, who seeks to devour by the preaching of another Jesus, another spirit, another gospel. Satan’s best tactic is the forgery of "truth"! 

    A person who believes they have a relationship with God because of their yielding, their obeying, or their service, is a person with a beguiled mind; thinking themselves wise because of their "yielded life" to the Lord. They follow the broad path leading straight to destruction.

    The gospel is not a lifestyle to be followed, but rather is good news to be BELIEVED; Christ's life to be received.

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures . . . (1 Cor. 15:1–4)

    Many don't like this message unless it's been mixed with another. Basically, the preaching of grace alone by faith alone is now peddled by many self-righteous "preachers" as a dirty concept, rooted in the "wickedness" of "hyper-grace." A vile spreading of lies by sinful people seeking to justify their own immorality by their "easy believism."

Hogwash! 

    The gospel is the good news of Jesus' sacrifice alone being the propitiation for the sins of the world for all who believe. If you don't trust Paul, who received this message from God, then how about the resurrected Christ's words?

And said unto them, 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. (Lk. 24:46–47, KJV)

and He said to them, “Thus it has been written, and thus it was necessary [for] the Christ to suffer, and to rise out of the dead [on] the third day, and conversion and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in His Name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem . . . (Lk. 24:46–47, LSV)

    Notice how "repentance" and "conversion" are used to translate the same Greek word, which is Strong's Greek 3341 metanoian (μετάνοια): a change of mind. That's because when a mind has changed to believing the good news of the gospel, one has been converted from unbelief to belief. Such a person has been baptized into Christ and sealed with the Holy Spirit.  

    Also worth noting is that the (dismissal/forgiveness/release/pardon) for sins then occurs—not because of someone asking to be forgiven, but rather because one converted/repented through a changing of their mind from unbelief to belief. It's not that we "accept Jesus" into our life, but rather that God accepted Jesus' sacrifice. In turn, we believe that God accepted Jesus on our behalf.

    Jesus laid down his life willingly as payment for our sins, so that through the preaching of his death, burial, and resurrection salvation and the blessed hope of our own resurrection would be given as a free gift to all who believe.

To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Eph. 1:6–7, KJV)

    Can you see it? We don't accept Jesus. God accepts Jesus' shed blood on our behalf, which he graciously and freely provides to all those who believe the gospel. If you feel more is needed to be saved, then beware, for you have believed "another gospel" which is therefore not the gospel at all.

And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise, grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise, work is no more work. (Rm. 11:6) 

    This world is very much filled with perversions of the gospel. Therefore, let us share the good news in simplicity, that it may be believed for the salvation of one's soul.

    

    Forever is a very long time, but that's how long Jesus has reconciled those that believe unto himself. How did he accomplish this reconciliation? Well, I hope to paint a big picture showing the all-sufficiency of what Jesus has accomplished for you and me, so please read on.

    In this dispensation of the grace of God, the Holy Spirit indwells each believer, his purchased possession, making our redemption guaranteed. 

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Eph. 1:13–14)

For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. (Heb. 10:14)

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. (Acts 20:28)

    This once and forever eternal payment for our sins is all made possible because of the sufficiency of his blood shed for our sins and his own willingness to take the penalty of our sins upon himself.

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Cor. 5:21)

In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Col. 1:14

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Rm. 3:25)

    The new covenant is an everlasting covenant because it's fully dependent on Jesus' faithfulness, on his ability to do what he has said he will do, to complete the good work he has started, for all those that believe the gospel.

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:2)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Rm. 1:16)

He takes those who believe the gospel out from being under the law and gives them "salvation."

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law . . . (Gal. 4:4)

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Gal. 4:5)

But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. (Gal. 5:18)

    Being not under the law, since a believer's sin debt has been once and forever paid, there are no sins left unpaid to be credited to our account. If there were, then Jesus didn't do what he has said he has done!

For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. (Rm. 5:13)

    Fortunately, he is faithful. His grace is sufficient. His blood is power. His gift is eternal life, God's very own life; by baptizing the church into himself, a new identity is given. It's Jesus' identity a Christian possesses! By his shed blood, through the riches of his grace, those that believe have received a full pardon and have been removed from being under the law and are never able to be condemned by the law, for all their sins are forgiven. When God sees a believer, he positionally sees them in Christ, for that is where they are.

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Gal. 3:27)

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Cor. 12:13)

Should those sanctified in Christ use this liberty to sin?

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Rm. 6:1–2)

    We're not waving grace around like a ‘do whatever feels right to you’ flag. No, we're showing people that salvation is through grace alone by faith alone, so that they can believe the good news and be saved. Jesus has changed what a believer wants because He has removed his or her heart of stone and replaced it with a new heart that is constrained by love.

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. (Gal. 5:13)

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Gal. 5:25)

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (Gal. 5:16)

Focusing back on the bottom line:

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (2 Cor. 5:18–19)

    Basically, the good news of the gospel reveals the means by which Jesus has made available through his blood, the gift of eternal life that positions one into the body of Christ, having nailed all of their sins to the cross, and thereby forever removed them from having those sins be able to be imputed to their account, which thereby removes such believers from being under the law and guarantees their redemption.

5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 

6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. (Rm. 4:5–8)

    He accomplished a believer's reconciliation when he took our sin debt on himself, dying as our sacrifice, in our place, being himself accursed on a tree because he loved us, so that through his blood, shed for our mercy, we could receive his gift of eternal life. His resurrection is our blessed hope!

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Rm. 3:25)

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Eph. 1:7)

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree . . . (Gal. 3:13)

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (Mt. 5:17)

Thank you, Jesus, for offering yourself on the mercy seat for our sins. May we be swift to share the good news of the gospel, for the ministry of reconciliation that you have so graciously called us to receive and share. May all praise and glory and honor be yours alone forevermore.

Further reading: download this PDF, it explains Salvation In Romans 10:9-13.

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