What does it mean to repent and believe the gospel? This lecture explores turning from sin, trusting in Christ, and the relationship between saving faith, God's grace, and a transformed life.
Theme: Understanding How Sinners Turn From Sin and Trust in Jesus Christ for Salvation
Key Scripture: Mark 1:15 (KJV)
"And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."
In biblical theology, repentance is a genuine change of mind and heart concerning sin that results in turning away from sin and toward God, while saving faith is a personal trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, based upon His person and finished work.
Repentance and saving faith are two essential aspects of Christian conversion.
They are closely connected but emphasize different dimensions of the sinner's response to the Gospel.
Two important Greek terms help explain these doctrines:
Repentance involves turning from sin toward God.
Saving faith involves trusting in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.
Acts 20:21 (KJV)
"Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."
Notice that Paul connects repentance and faith in his proclamation of the Gospel.
Both are essential to genuine conversion.
Repentance and saving faith are not two competing ways of obtaining salvation. They are complementary aspects of one genuine turning to Jesus Christ.
The necessity of repentance and saving faith arises from humanity's sinful condition.
Because mankind is fallen and separated from God, salvation requires reconciliation with Him through Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:23 (KJV)
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
Humanity cannot obtain salvation through personal righteousness, moral improvement, or obedience to the law.
Ephesians 2:8–9 (KJV)
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Salvation is a gift of God's grace, received through faith rather than earned through human works.
However, Scripture also commands sinners to repent.
Acts 17:30 (KJV)
"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:"
Repentance and faith are necessary because sinners must abandon their rebellion against God and place their trust in Jesus Christ.
This does not mean that repentance or faith earns salvation.
Rather, they are the appropriate responses to God's saving grace.
The sinner is not saved because repentance and faith are meritorious works, but because Christ saves those who turn to Him in genuine repentance and faith.
Biblical repentance involves a fundamental change in one's attitude toward sin and God.
It is more than feeling guilty, regretting consequences, or becoming emotionally distressed.
True repentance involves recognizing sin as an offence against God, acknowledging personal guilt, and turning toward God with a desire to obey Him.
Acts 3:19 (KJV)
"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;"
Biblical repentance includes three closely connected elements.
A sinner must recognize the reality of sin and acknowledge God's righteous judgment.
Romans 3:20 (KJV)
"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."
God's law reveals sin and exposes mankind's guilt.
Repentance begins with a changed understanding of one's condition before God.
True repentance involves sorrow for sin because it dishonours God, not merely because it produces undesirable consequences.
2 Corinthians 7:10 (KJV)
"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."
Paul distinguishes between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow.
Worldly sorrow focuses primarily on the consequences of wrongdoing.
Godly sorrow recognizes sin as an offence against God and leads to genuine repentance.
Repentance involves a changed direction in life.
Isaiah 55:7 (KJV)
"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."
True repentance produces a willingness to forsake sin and pursue obedience to God.
This does not mean that a repentant believer immediately becomes sinless.
Rather, repentance establishes a new attitude toward sin and a new direction in life.
Biblical repentance is not merely feeling sorry for sin; it is turning toward God with a changed heart and a genuine desire to abandon sin.
Scripture provides examples demonstrating that sorrow and regret do not always amount to genuine repentance.
After betraying Jesus, Judas experienced remorse.
Matthew 27:3 (KJV)
"Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,"
The expression repented himself here translates a Greek term associated with regret or remorse.
Although Judas recognized his wrongdoing, the biblical account does not present his response as saving repentance leading to faith in Christ.
After denying Jesus, Peter experienced deep sorrow.
Luke 22:61–62 (KJV)
"And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly."
Peter's denial was serious, but the later biblical account records his restoration by Christ and continued discipleship.
John 21:15–19 describes Jesus restoring Peter to service.
The distinction is important.
Judas experienced remorse over his betrayal.
Peter experienced sorrow that was followed by restoration and a continuing life of faith.
The outward expression of sorrow alone is therefore not sufficient to establish genuine repentance.
True repentance is demonstrated not simply by regret, but by a genuine turning toward God.
Saving faith is more than believing that God exists or accepting historical facts about Jesus Christ.
It is a personal reliance upon Jesus Christ alone for forgiveness, righteousness, and eternal life.
Romans 10:9 (KJV)
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."
Saving faith involves a genuine conviction concerning Jesus Christ and a personal trust in His saving work.
Christian theology traditionally identifies three elements of saving faith.
Saving faith requires knowledge of the Gospel.
A person must know who Jesus Christ is and understand the essential message of His death and resurrection.
Romans 10:17 (KJV)
"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
Faith is not blind belief without an object.
Its object is Jesus Christ as revealed in the Scriptures.
A person must believe that the message of the Gospel is true.
This includes acknowledging that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died for sinners, and that He rose from the dead.
However, intellectual agreement alone does not constitute saving faith.
James 2:19 (KJV)
"Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble."
Even demons recognize certain truths about God.
Therefore, merely acknowledging biblical facts is insufficient.
Saving faith involves personally entrusting oneself to Jesus Christ for salvation.
Acts 16:31 (KJV)
"And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."
The command to believe involves placing one's confidence in Christ rather than personal righteousness.
Saving faith is not merely believing facts about Jesus Christ; it is trusting Jesus Christ Himself as the only sufficient Saviour.
The effectiveness of saving faith does not depend upon the strength of human belief.
It depends upon the person and work of Jesus Christ.
John 3:16 (KJV)
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Notice that the promise of eternal life is connected to believing in Him.
The object of saving faith is not a religious institution, personal morality, or good works.
It is Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:9 (KJV)
"And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:"
Paul rejects confidence in his own righteousness and rests upon the righteousness received through faith in Christ.
This establishes an important principle:
Faith does not save because faith itself possesses saving merit. Faith saves instrumentally because it receives and rests upon Jesus Christ, who alone accomplishes salvation.
Repentance and saving faith are inseparable aspects of genuine conversion.
Repentance emphasizes turning away from sin and toward God.
Faith emphasizes trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation.
Mark 1:15 (KJV)
"And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."
Jesus commands both repentance and belief.
These are not contradictory requirements.
They describe complementary aspects of responding to the Gospel.
A person cannot genuinely embrace Christ as Saviour while remaining committed to rejecting God's authority.
Likewise, biblical repentance is not simply a moral decision to abandon sinful habits without turning toward God in faith.
The relationship may be summarized as follows:
TWO INSEPARABLE ASPECTS OF CONVERSION
Repentance
Turning from sin and rebellion toward God
Saving Faith
Trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation
Conversion
The sinner genuinely turns to God through faith in Jesus Christ
Repentance and faith are distinguishable, but they should not be separated in Christian conversion.
A person does not earn salvation by repenting first and then qualify for faith. Both are expressions of a genuine response to God's grace.
An important question concerns the origin of repentance and saving faith.
Does fallen man independently produce them, or are they enabled by God's grace?
Reformed theology teaches that repentance and faith are graciously granted through God's saving work.
Philippians 1:29 (KJV)
"For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;"
Paul describes believing in Christ as something granted to believers.
Acts 11:18 (KJV)
"When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."
Repentance is described as something God grants.
2 Timothy 2:25 (KJV)
"In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;"
These passages establish that repentance and faith are inseparably connected to God's grace.
In the Reformed understanding, regeneration enables the sinner to respond willingly through repentance and saving faith.
However, repentance and faith remain genuine human responses.
God does not repent or believe on behalf of the sinner.
Rather, God renews the sinner's heart so that the sinner willingly repents and believes.
God provides the grace that makes conversion possible, while the regenerated sinner genuinely responds in repentance and faith.
Not everyone who expresses belief in Jesus possesses genuine saving faith.
Scripture distinguishes between superficial responses and enduring faith.
Jesus illustrates this in the Parable of the Sower.
Luke 8:13 (KJV)
"They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away."
Some individuals initially respond positively to the Gospel.
They may experience enthusiasm or emotional conviction.
However, their response does not develop into enduring discipleship.
True saving faith produces perseverance and spiritual fruit.
Colossians 1:23 (KJV)
"If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;"
From the Reformed perspective, perseverance is evidence of genuine saving faith.
This does not mean that true Christians never struggle with doubt, sin, or spiritual weakness.
Rather, genuine saving faith is sustained by God's preserving grace and ultimately continues in Christ.
One of the most important theological distinctions concerns the relationship between faith and works.
Scripture teaches that justification is received through faith apart from works.
Romans 3:28 (KJV)
"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."
However, Scripture also teaches that genuine saving faith produces obedience.
James 2:17 (KJV)
"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."
These teachings are not contradictory when their different emphases are understood.
Paul explains how a sinner is declared righteous before God.
James explains how genuine faith demonstrates its reality through actions.
Good works are not the basis upon which God justifies sinners.
They are evidence of genuine faith and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 2:10 (KJV)
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
Paul teaches that believers are not saved by good works, but are saved unto good works.
This leads to an important principle associated with the Protestant Reformation:
We are justified by faith alone, but the faith that justifies is never alone.
Saving faith produces a transformed relationship with God and a growing desire for obedience.
Although repentance is essential at conversion, it does not end when a person becomes a Christian.
Believers continue to recognize sin, confess wrongdoing, and turn toward God throughout their lives.
1 John 1:9 (KJV)
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Christians are justified once, but they continue to repent as part of sanctification.
The believer's ongoing repentance does not mean that justification must be repeatedly earned.
Rather, it reflects a continuing awareness of sin and dependence upon God's grace.
Psalm 51:10 (KJV)
"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."
David's prayer demonstrates the importance of humility and spiritual renewal.
The Christian life is therefore characterized by continuing faith in Christ and continuing repentance from sin.
The following passages provide biblical support for the necessity, nature, origin, and evidence of genuine repentance and saving faith.
Mark 1:15 (KJV)
"And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."
Acts 17:30 (KJV)
"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:"
Acts 20:21 (KJV)
"Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."
Acts 3:19 (KJV)
"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;"
2 Corinthians 7:10 (KJV)
"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."
Isaiah 55:7 (KJV)
"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."
John 3:16 (KJV)
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Acts 16:31 (KJV)
"And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."
Romans 10:9–10 (KJV)
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
Ephesians 2:8–9 (KJV)
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Romans 3:28 (KJV)
"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."
Romans 4:5 (KJV)
"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."
Acts 11:18 (KJV)
"When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."
Philippians 1:29 (KJV)
"For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;"
2 Timothy 2:25 (KJV)
"In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;"
James 2:17 (KJV)
"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."
Ephesians 2:10 (KJV)
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
James 2:26 (KJV)
"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."
1 John 1:9 (KJV)
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)
"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."
| Biblical teaching | Principal scripture |
|---|---|
| God commands sinners to repent and believe | Mark 1:15 |
| Repentance involves turning toward God | Acts 3:19 |
| Genuine repentance is connected with godly sorrow | 2 Corinthians 7:10 |
| Saving faith involves trusting in Jesus Christ | Acts 16:31 |
| Faith comes through hearing God's Word | Romans 10:17 |
| Repentance and faith are both aspects of conversion | Acts 20:21 |
| Salvation is by grace through faith | Ephesians 2:8–9 |
| God grants repentance | Acts 11:18 |
| Believing in Christ is granted by God's grace | Philippians 1:29 |
| Justification is by faith apart from works | Romans 3:28 |
| Genuine saving faith produces good works | James 2:17 |
| Christians continue to confess their sins | 1 John 1:9 |
The doctrines of repentance and saving faith explain the sinner's genuine response to the Gospel.
Because humanity is fallen and spiritually unable to save itself, salvation must originate in God's grace.
Through the work of the Holy Spirit, God renews the heart and enables the sinner to respond willingly to Jesus Christ.
Repentance involves recognizing sin, acknowledging guilt before God, and turning away from rebellion.
Saving faith involves personally trusting in Jesus Christ and His finished work as the only sufficient basis of salvation.
Neither repentance nor faith earns salvation.
Christ alone accomplishes redemption, and salvation is received through faith.
These truths should produce humility, gratitude, obedience, and continued dependence upon God's grace.
Acts 20:21 (KJV)
"Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."
Paul summarizes his Gospel ministry through two inseparable truths: repentance toward God and faith toward Jesus Christ.
Genuine conversion involves both.
The central biblical truth is this: Repentance is turning from sin toward God, and saving faith is trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. Both are genuine human responses made possible by the grace of God.
Repentance acknowledges our need for salvation.
Faith rests upon the Saviour who alone can provide it.
Next Topic: Adoption into God's Family — The Believer's New Identity and Privileges in Christ
Having examined regeneration, repentance, saving faith, and justification, the next question is:
What new relationship does the justified believer receive with God?
This leads to the doctrine of adoption.
Adoption explains how God receives believers as His children, grants them the privileges of His family, gives them the Spirit of adoption, and makes them heirs together with Jesus Christ.
Key Scriptures: Romans 8:14–17; Galatians 4:4–7; John 1:12; Ephesians 1:5; and 1 John 3:1–2.
Foundations · Topic 5Why did Jesus tell Nicodemus, a teacher of Israel, that he must be born again? John 3 and Ezekiel’s promise of a new heart frame this study of spiritual life, saving faith, and growth in holiness.
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Foundations · Topic 4What does it mean that the Lord opened Lydia’s heart? Reading Acts 16 alongside Romans 8:30, this lecture explores the Reformed distinction between hearing the gospel and being drawn to Christ.
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Foundations · Topic 3What does Paul mean by being chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world? This lecture explores Ephesians 1 and Romans 8–9 and compares Reformed and Arminian readings of foreknowledge and faith.
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