Repentance: The Requirement
for
or
the Results of Salvation!
By Dr. Ken Matto
(1 Ki 8:47 KJV) Yet if they shall bethink themselves in
the land whither they were carried captives, and repent, and make
supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captives, saying,
We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness;
(Jonah 3:9 KJV) Who can tell if God will turn and repent,
and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?
(Mat 3:2 KJV) And saying, Repent ye: for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand.
(Mat 9:13 KJV) But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I
will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but
sinners to repentance.
(Mat 21:29 KJV) He answered and said, I will not: but
afterward he repented, and went.
(Rom 11:29 KJV) For the gifts and calling of God are
without repentance.
When doing a study on a word like "repent" it is
necessary to understand what that word means. In the Bible one English word can
be translated out of several Hebrew and/or Greek words. That is the case with
the biblical word "repent" and it behooves us to understand the word so we may
be able to grasp the true biblical meaning. In other words, we want to make sure
we are using the word the way God meant it to be used.
Let us look briefly at the words for "repent" used in the
above verses.
1 Kings 8:47 - The Hebrew Word is "shawb" which means to
turn back.
Jonah 3:9 - The Hebrew Word is "nawkham" which carries
with the idea of sighing, or sorrow or pity.
Matthew 3:2 - The Greek word is "metanoeo" means
"to change one's mind or be converted."
Matthew 9:13 - The Greek word is "metanoia" which
means "a change of mind or a turning about."
Matthew 21:29 - The Greek word is "metamelomai"
which means "regret, feel sorry for."
Romans 11:29 - The Greek word is "ametameletos"
which means "not to be taken back or regretted."
If you notice every Greek word undergirding the English
word repentance has in it the preposition "meta." According to Vine's the root
word "meta" really means mid or middle and meta goes with whatever case it is
attached to. It can mean "with, after, behind or among." When used with the
words above it brings to the surface a meaning of change and that is the focus
of this study. The major question involved with repentance is, does man effect
the change or is he changed as a result of salvation?
We have all heard famous evangelists, when giving their
invitation, call for repentance by the seeker. Billy Graham makes repentance the
first on his list of requirements for salvation but he is not the only one, many
preachers seem to make it part of their list when doing an invitation. Is it
wrong to call for repentance? The answer is no but in the case of asking a
person to repent before salvation, it reverses the order. When repentance is
called for prior to salvation, it is classified as a work for salvation.
When repentance takes place after salvation it is a result of salvation.
A vast difference!
One good example in Scripture which shows the correct
order that salvation comes before repentance is the Thessalonians. Paul is
commending them for their tremendous growth in the gospel and their outward
showing of their true salvation by doing one of the most dangerous works of all,
especially in ancient times.
(1 Th 1:4 KJV) Knowing, brethren beloved, your
election of God.
(1 Th 1:9 KJV) For they themselves show of us what manner
of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to
serve the living and true God;
Notice the order here. Paul speaks that they are elect of
God and as a result the true works follow, namely, they turned from idols to
God. I am not speaking in terms of order of verses but in terms of which came
first. Salvation or repentance (the turning around or change of mind)? The next
question which must be answered is, when was salvation initiated and then
imputed to the individual?
The answer to this question is quite simple in that God
gives five verses attesting to the fact that salvation comes first. How first
does it come? How about from before the foundation of the world! If a person had
to repent before they received salvation, this means they would have had to
repent before they were created.
(Mat 25:34 KJV) Then shall the King say unto them on his
right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared
for you from the foundation of the world:
(Eph 1:4 KJV) According as he hath chosen us in him
before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame
before him in love:
(Heb 4:3 KJV) For we which have believed do enter into
rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my
rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
(Rev 13:8 KJV) And all that dwell upon the earth shall
worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb
slain from the foundation of the world.
(Rev 17:8 KJV) The beast that thou sawest was, and is
not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they
that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the
book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast
that was, and is not, and yet is.
These five verses teach us some forthright principles
concerning the salvation of the Elect of God. Let's summarize them: The Kingdom
was prepared, we were chosen, the works of Christ, and we were written in the
Lamb's Book of Life all from the foundation of the world. With God
revealing this aspect of His salvation program, those who teach repentance as a
pre-condition or requirement for salvation do err greatly as they are placing an
unreachable goal on an unbeliever. So then let us raise another question. If God
then saves first, then how does one repent since it is a biblical principle. The
answer to that question is found in 2 Timothy 2:23-25:
(2 Tim 2:23-25 KJV) But foolish and unlearned questions
avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. {24} And the servant of the Lord
must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, {25} In
meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure
will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
Here in no ambiguous terms God tells us that He is the
one who grants repentance and man does not have the ability to repent unless
salvation takes place first. Therefore repentance is a result of salvation not a
requirement. When you were an unbeliever, how much concern did you have for the
things of God? When you sinned, were you worried about the consequences you
would face or did you believe there were any?
If we are honest we will answer by saying that we did not
concern ourselves with the things of God and didn't worry about the
consequences. Why is that? I believe God gives us an understanding in two verses
of why the unregenerate mind cannot comprehend the things of God:
(2 Cor 4:4 KJV) In whom the god of this world hath blinded
the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel
of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
(Jer 17:9 KJV) The heart is deceitful above all
things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
[Note: Psychologists and Psychiatrists think they know
the mind] The reason people cannot repent of their own "free will" is because
their minds are blinded, deceitful, and desperately wicked. If you notice in the
Scriptures, God speaks to believers about repenting of evil deeds and sins, but
never unbelievers. Instead, he warns and judges them. As you go through the New
Testament, note how many admonitions there are for Godly and holy living. Are
these admonitions aimed at the unbeliever or believer? Only the believer.
Can an unbeliever repent of a sin in their life? Yes,
they can, but that repentance is of a different nature. Let's say a
person is a drunk for 10 years and then goes into a rehabilitation program at a
hospital and never drinks again. Have they had repentance unto salvation or a
moral repentance? It is a moral repentance which is good for society in that the
sober person will no longer be a danger on the highway. Has this repentance won
any favor with God in fulfilling a requirement for salvation? The answer is no,
because that person is still unregenerate which means they are still under the
wrath of God and even though they are sober now, they will still stand before
God and give account for those 10 years of drunkenness. Too many times,
Christians make the mistake of believing that a moral repentance is a repentance
from salvation. The two are totally different. If the person who makes a moral
repentance is being given assurance they are in good standing before God because
of their actions, they are being lied to and the person assuring them is
guilty of lying.
We must realize that those who are not saved are under
the condemnation of God, no matter what they do in the physical realm or how
exemplary they live their lives. The Scripture is clear on this in two ways:
Even if a person is good, they still have the wrath of God abiding on them and
if they do not have the Holy Spirit, then they are not a child of God. It is the
Holy Spirit who indwells us that makes us sensitive to sin and disobedience in
our lives. As a Christian, have you ever sinned and felt very convicted about
it? That was not your dead conscience, that was the fact you grieved the Holy
Spirit. Your dead conscience couldn't care less what you do although God in His
mercy has not allowed sin to develop to its fullest potential or else the human
race would have destroyed itself.
(John 3:36 KJV) He that believeth on the Son hath
everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but
the wrath of God abideth on him.
(Rom 8:8-9 KJV) So then they that are in the flesh
cannot please God. {9} But ye are not in the flesh, but in the
Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not
the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
In ending this study let's take a look at some salvation
experiences from the Bible and see what came first, salvation or repentance?
(Acts 13:47-48 KJV) For so hath the Lord commanded us,
saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be
for salvation unto the ends of the earth. {48} And when the Gentiles heard this,
they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were
ordained to eternal life believed.
(Acts 17:11-12 KJV) These were more noble than those in
Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind,
and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. {12} Therefore
many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of
men, not a few.
(Acts 26:13-18 KJV) At midday, O king, I saw in the way a
light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and
them which journeyed with me. {14} And when we were all fallen to the earth, I
heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why
persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. {15} And
I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
{16} But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this
purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou
hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; {17}
Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send
thee, {18} To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from
the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and
inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
I saved the best for last!
(Luke 19:1-10 KJV) And Jesus entered and passed through
Jericho. {2} And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief
among the publicans, and he was rich. {3} And he sought to see Jesus who he was;
and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. {4} And he ran
before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him: for he was to pass that
way. {5} And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and
said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at
thy house. {6} And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
{7} And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be
guest with a man that is a sinner. {8} And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the
Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken
any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. {9} And
Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch
as he also is a son of Abraham. {10} For the Son of man is come to seek and
to save that which was lost.
Acts 13:47-48 - They Believed
Acts 17:11-12 - Received the Word and Believed
Acts 26:13 -18 - Saul asked "Who art thou Lord?"
Let's take a look at Zacchaeus for a minute. Jesus saw
Zacchaeus and told him that he must abide at his house. Notice what happened
next, Zacchaeus was convicted of his thievery and pledged to return to those he
stole from 4 fold and that he was going to give half of his goods to the poor.
Then Jesus makes a major statement, "This day is salvation come to this
house,..." Was Jesus saying that because of the conviction of Zacchaeus,
he was saved by the act of confession and restitution? To understand this
statement, we must see what this statement points to and it brings us right to
the book of James. Let's look at James 2:
(James 2:17-18 KJV) Even so faith, if it hath not
works, is dead, being alone. {18} Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith,
and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show
thee my faith by my works.
Jesus is showing us that genuine salvation contains
works, confession, and repentance. It is interesting to note that Jesus seeks
and saves, not man. In these four examples (and there are others in Scripture)
before someone believed, did they repent? No, repentance came as a result of
salvation not as a prerequisite. We must teach this biblical truth in the way
God gave it to us or else we will be liars.
The chronology is:
1.Salvation
2. Repentance
3. Spiritual Warfare
The Christian life always begins with Salvation and every
other element is built on that. We must discern between transformational and
moral repentance. When we understand the distinction, our gospel understanding
will grow rapidly because we will begin to see everything from God's point of
view. Salvation was initiated before the foundation of the world and at sometime
in our life, because God named us, imputes that salvation to us and we become a
child of God:
(John 6:39 KJV) And this is the Father's will which hath
sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but
should raise it up again at the last day.