What is repentance unto life? In his widely-used catechism, Charles Spurgeon stated:
“Repentance to life is a saving grace, (Acts 11:18) whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sins, (Acts 2:37) and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, (Joel 2:13) does with grief and hatred of his sin turn from it to God, (Jeremiah 31:18, 19) with full purpose to strive after new obedience. (Psalm 119:59).”
Spurgeon’s definition summarizes what Christians have historically believed about the doctrine of repentance (see nearly every historic evangelical confession or catechism). Today, however, many within the church are confused about the nature of saving repentance. Some would even argue that repentance isn’t necessary for salvation at all! In today’s post, I would like to answer a few common questions to help bring clarity to this essential response to the gospel.
Isn’t Repentance Just a Change of Mind about Jesus?
In 1948, Dallas Theological Seminary published Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer’s Systematic Theology, which marked a significant turning point in the church’s thinking about repentance. Chafer taught that repentance was merely a “change of mind” regarding the person of Christ… a “synonym of believing.”[1] According to Chafer, to define repentance as anything more than a change of mind about Jesus is to add an unbiblical requirement to simple faith and therefore tantamount to preaching “works salvation.”
The writings of popular Bible teacher Dr. Charles Ryrie proliferated Chafer’s theology of repentance. In his Basic Theology, Ryrie stated that saving repentance is simply a change of mind about Jesus Christ, “so that whatever a person thought of Him before, he changes his mind and trusts Him to be his Savior. That is the only kind or content of repentance that saves (Acts 2:38; 17:30; 2 Pet.3:9).”[2] In Balancing the Christian Life, Ryrie remarked, “The content of repentance which brings eternal life, and that which Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, is a change of mind about Jesus Christ.”[3] According to these men, saving repentance doesn’t necessarily include the sinner’s attitude towards sin or his intent to turn from it to God.[4] Sadly, this deviant definition quickly spread and influenced the easy-believism that has become so prevalent in Christianity today.
Is this watered-down “repentance” the same message preached by the prophets, Jesus, and the apostles (see my previous article)? Can a person really love darkness and come to the light of Christ at the same time (Jn. 3:19-20)?
The Scriptures teach (and church history affirms) that repentance is more than just a change of mind about Jesus. It’s is a whole-hearted turning from sin in order to receive and follow Christ in faith. This turning and trusting results in a changed life, which is the fruit of true conversion (Acts 26:18-20; I Thess. 1:9).
Does Repentance Contradict the Gospel of Grace?
Chafer, Ryrie, and others within the “free grace” movement have argued that preaching repentance as a turning from sin is essentially heralding a works-based salvation. “Works salvation” is the belief that a person can merit eternal life through their own righteousness. Those who pursue works-based salvation either add their own efforts to Christ’s finished work or proudly reject Christ altogether in order to establish their own way of righteousness (Ro.10:1-3).
Repentance is not about trying to earn God’s favor. The repentant sinner knows that he has no righteousness to offer God as a payment for sin. He doesn’t try to “clean himself up” before coming to Christ – rather, he humbly comes to Christ for cleansing. He embraces Christ as the only way of salvation, depending solely upon God’s grace for eternal life.
What is the Relationship between Faith and Repentance?
Repentance and faith are not two distinctively different responses to the gospel. Rather, they are united together as one. “Repent and believe the gospel,” Jesus proclaimed. Sometimes, the Scriptures emphasize the call to repent (Mt. 4:7; Mr. 6:12; Lk. 5:32, 13:3-5; Acts 2:38; 3:19). Other times, the Scriptures emphasize faith (Jn. 1:12, 3:16; Acts 16:31; Ro. 4:1-5). Both, however, are essential and inseparable responses to the gospel.
In many ways, repentance and faith are like two sides of the same coin. They both describe the same response, but from two different vantage points. Together, they emphasize what a person is turning from (sin) and who he turning to (Christ).
We could say it this way: in repenting a person believes, and in believing a person repents.
How Do I Communicate Repentance Faithfully?
To help believers communicate repentance faithfully, I’ve written an evangelistic Bible study handbook called “Discovering Hope: Exploring the Good News of Jesus Christ.” I am actually using this with resource with my two older children (ages 10 and 12) right now! If you would like a free PDF copy of the book, you can download it by clicking here or by emailing me at colberts@odbm.org.
[1] Lewis Sperry Chafer, Systematic Theology, vol.3. (Grand Rapids: Kregal Publications, 1948, 1976), 376-378.
[2] Charles Ryrie, Basic Theology. (Chicago: Moody Press,1999), 390.
[3] Charles Ryrie, Balancing the Christian Life. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1994), 184.
[4] Ryrie, Basic Theology, 390. After defining repentance exclusively in terms of changing one’s mind about Jesus, Ryrie shockingly states: “Saving repentance may be preceded by a repentance concerning sin (which activates an individual’s sense of need for forgiveness) or a repentance towards God (which alerts him to the fact that he has offended a holy God and therefore needs a way to appease Him).” In light of Lk. 24:44-47, Acts 20:21, and a host of other Scriptures, I would argue that repentance MUST include these things if it indeed is a repentance that leads to salvation.