Post by Jesse Morrell on Jul 2, 2009 21:18:42 GMT -5
Justification by works is not the idea that repentance is necessary for pardon (As Eli and Alan claim).
Repentance, or repenting of sin, is defined as a change of mind about sinning, when a free moral agent makes up his mind to start obeying God. It is not uncommon for a preacher of repentance to be accused of preaching “works based salvation” or “justification by works”. This is a grave error. This misunderstanding of what justification by works is has turned the Bible into a weapon against repentance! Any definition of justification which is in any way inconsistent with repentance must be false. Biblical truth cannot contradict biblical truth. Any view of justification that does not include the necessity of repentance is nothing short of antinomianism.
Those who teach an anti-repentance justification always appeal to the writings of the Apostle Paul (which verses we explain later in this article) which is not surprising. The Apostle Peter said that Paul’s writings would be twisted and were “hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16). Almost all who teach theological errors appeal to the Apostle Paul for their support. Though these anti-repentance groups appeal to the Apostle Paul for their support, the ministry of the Apostle Paul was specifically to call Gentiles to repentance. “But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all of the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance” (Acts 26:20). An anti-repentance theology is an unbiblical theology. A biblical theology is always anti-sin. A biblical theology promotes lawfulness, not lawlessness.
Repenting of sin, as in a change of mind about sinning, is taught in the Bible as a condition of God’s mercy or pardon. “Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions, so iniquity shall not be your ruin… Cast away from you all of your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die… For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves and live ye” (Ezekiel 18:30-32). “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” (Isaiah 55:7). “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). It is very clear from these passages that repentance is not at all incompatible with or contrary to gracious and merciful pardon (justification by grace) but is in fact a condition of it.
It is very clear in the Scriptures that repenting of sin must come before the remission of sin. “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee” (Acts 8:22). “Then Peter said unto them, Repent…. For the remission of sins…” (Acts 2:38). “Repent, ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…” (Acts 3:19). “Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life” (Acts 11:18). The problem from the very beginning has been sin. This problem must first be solved if there is to be reconciliation.
The word repent is the most neglected word from the pulpit yet it was the first word Jesus publically preached? Repentance is a word forgotten by the Church and hated by the world, but those who are of God love it! "From that time Jesus began to preach and to say repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17). "And they went out and preached that men should repent" (Mark 6:12)
Is it not demanded by wisdom and benevolence that only those who are repentant be forgiven? Suppose a Ruler was to release into the community through pardon criminals, whether they were reformed or not. Would not the community be endangered by such an unwise and unloving pardon? Imagine rapists who are pardoned, who still intend on raping! Or murderers pardoned, who still plan on murdering! How cruel and foolish it would be to pardon a criminal who has not had a change of mind about crime, who does not intend on living lawfully, who does not plan on acting differently. If a Ruler is to pardon a criminal at all, he must only pardon upon condition of repentance, or else he is unwise and unloving. None can have the grace and mercy of God but those who have had a change of mind about disobedience.
The law itself makes no room for repentance. The law simply states that “the soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20). It is the Gospel, not the law that says that God will have mercy upon the sinner that repentance. Repentance for forgiveness is actually contrary to the demands of the law. The law demands the death of the sinner, but through repentance the Gospel says that the sinner can live.
Repentance would only be inconsistent with justification by grace if those who repent somehow no longer deserve punishment. Those who forsake their sin have not and cannot undue the past. Those who repent of their sins still deserve punishment for their sins. Therefore the forgiveness of those who repent is still credited to God’s grace and mercy. Those who repent are not forgiven because they have merited it, earned it, or because they are innocent. Therefore the forgiveness of those who repent is not justification by the works of the law. Grace is unmerited favor. Since those who repent still deserve punishment, the forgiveness of those who repent is still unmerited favor. Those who repent are justified, not because they are innocent in all of their works, but because of God’s grace. Those who repent of their sins are not declared innocent (justification by the works of the law) but are rather forgiven and treated as if they were innocent, treated as if they were not guilty (justification by grace). Even though those who repent still deserve hell, God will not give them what they deserve, and therefore their salvation is by mercy.
Repentance, or repenting of sin, is defined as a change of mind about sinning, when a free moral agent makes up his mind to start obeying God. It is not uncommon for a preacher of repentance to be accused of preaching “works based salvation” or “justification by works”. This is a grave error. This misunderstanding of what justification by works is has turned the Bible into a weapon against repentance! Any definition of justification which is in any way inconsistent with repentance must be false. Biblical truth cannot contradict biblical truth. Any view of justification that does not include the necessity of repentance is nothing short of antinomianism.
Those who teach an anti-repentance justification always appeal to the writings of the Apostle Paul (which verses we explain later in this article) which is not surprising. The Apostle Peter said that Paul’s writings would be twisted and were “hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16). Almost all who teach theological errors appeal to the Apostle Paul for their support. Though these anti-repentance groups appeal to the Apostle Paul for their support, the ministry of the Apostle Paul was specifically to call Gentiles to repentance. “But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all of the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance” (Acts 26:20). An anti-repentance theology is an unbiblical theology. A biblical theology is always anti-sin. A biblical theology promotes lawfulness, not lawlessness.
Repenting of sin, as in a change of mind about sinning, is taught in the Bible as a condition of God’s mercy or pardon. “Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions, so iniquity shall not be your ruin… Cast away from you all of your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die… For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves and live ye” (Ezekiel 18:30-32). “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” (Isaiah 55:7). “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). It is very clear from these passages that repentance is not at all incompatible with or contrary to gracious and merciful pardon (justification by grace) but is in fact a condition of it.
It is very clear in the Scriptures that repenting of sin must come before the remission of sin. “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee” (Acts 8:22). “Then Peter said unto them, Repent…. For the remission of sins…” (Acts 2:38). “Repent, ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…” (Acts 3:19). “Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life” (Acts 11:18). The problem from the very beginning has been sin. This problem must first be solved if there is to be reconciliation.
The word repent is the most neglected word from the pulpit yet it was the first word Jesus publically preached? Repentance is a word forgotten by the Church and hated by the world, but those who are of God love it! "From that time Jesus began to preach and to say repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17). "And they went out and preached that men should repent" (Mark 6:12)
Is it not demanded by wisdom and benevolence that only those who are repentant be forgiven? Suppose a Ruler was to release into the community through pardon criminals, whether they were reformed or not. Would not the community be endangered by such an unwise and unloving pardon? Imagine rapists who are pardoned, who still intend on raping! Or murderers pardoned, who still plan on murdering! How cruel and foolish it would be to pardon a criminal who has not had a change of mind about crime, who does not intend on living lawfully, who does not plan on acting differently. If a Ruler is to pardon a criminal at all, he must only pardon upon condition of repentance, or else he is unwise and unloving. None can have the grace and mercy of God but those who have had a change of mind about disobedience.
The law itself makes no room for repentance. The law simply states that “the soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20). It is the Gospel, not the law that says that God will have mercy upon the sinner that repentance. Repentance for forgiveness is actually contrary to the demands of the law. The law demands the death of the sinner, but through repentance the Gospel says that the sinner can live.
Repentance would only be inconsistent with justification by grace if those who repent somehow no longer deserve punishment. Those who forsake their sin have not and cannot undue the past. Those who repent of their sins still deserve punishment for their sins. Therefore the forgiveness of those who repent is still credited to God’s grace and mercy. Those who repent are not forgiven because they have merited it, earned it, or because they are innocent. Therefore the forgiveness of those who repent is not justification by the works of the law. Grace is unmerited favor. Since those who repent still deserve punishment, the forgiveness of those who repent is still unmerited favor. Those who repent are justified, not because they are innocent in all of their works, but because of God’s grace. Those who repent of their sins are not declared innocent (justification by the works of the law) but are rather forgiven and treated as if they were innocent, treated as if they were not guilty (justification by grace). Even though those who repent still deserve hell, God will not give them what they deserve, and therefore their salvation is by mercy.