Common Misunderstandings about the Gospel (Part 5)

Mark Broadbent

MISUNDERSTANDING
> Repentance means to 'change your life'


So many people define 'repentance' as turning your life around. The problem with such a definition is that it implies that changing our life is necessary in order to be saved.

The Bible clearly teaches two things regarding 'changing our life' and salvation...

1. No change of life (for better or worse) can save you.
We are saved by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

2. A saved person will eventually see a change in their life.
Once they receive the Holy Spirit, they will not be able to help but change. Luther said: "We are saved by faith alone, but faith will never be alone".

THE CORRECT DEFINTION
The true definition of repentance (metanoia) means ‘to change one's mind'.

John the Baptist said: "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance". (Matthew 3:8)

Paul said: "I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds". (Acts 26:20)

Neither of these statements make any sense if repentance means 'to change one's life'.

Repentance happens in the heart and mind. A changed life is the fruit of repentance.

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Great point for

Submitted by Will (not verified) on Wed, 2008-10-29 09:29.

Great point for consideration, Mark. When explaining the gospel to people I have always simplistically explained repentance as a 180º change. I have always had an understanding that real life change comes through time and sanctification, but I agree that it is prudent to explicitly distinguish between the mental commitment to change (that is, turning from one's sins and trusting in Jesus unto salvation) and the actual change in one's life: one is the gospel, the other is not (that is, it is not a requirement for justification).

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some thoughts

Submitted by Joe (not verified) on Tue, 2008-11-04 10:28.

Mark 1:15
"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

Acts 11:18
When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."

Acts 20:21
I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

I have always viewed repentance as the realization that one's life is headed to destruction and then a turning to Jesus for the forgiveness of sin. It is interesting in the verses above that repentance seems to precede faith/belief in the salvation process.

The Acts 20:21 passage I think makes a very clear statement that "turning to God" is involved in repentance. I think too much emphasis is placed on the "turning away" rather than the "turning to" when both are essential. As you have stated Mark the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ is the only grounds of our salvation and therefore it is irrelevant where we "turn from" (because it is always sinful if it is outside of Him), the important thing is that once this sin is recognized the person "turns to" Jesus alone.

This has huge implications for our proclamation... we must preach Christ crucified if we are to see true salvation. The Holy Spirit is convicting the world according to sin, righteousness and judgment, we need to walk closely with the Spirit so that we can know when someone is feeling the weight of that conviction and lovingly point them to Jesus and Jesus alone. A small group won't save them, nor will a church, nor will a church activity, nor a "change your life" seminar - only Jesus Christ and Him crucified and risen can save!

PS - I don't know where you will go next with this series Mark, but perhaps I could suggest you look at the misconception of: "I can claim Christ and willingly hold onto my lifestyle of sin homosexuality/depravity/drunkenness/etc..." Seems to me that postmodernity has given people freedom to hold conflicting views/lifestyles in tension and think it is OK. You only have to look at the many facebook pages that have Religious Views: Christian but claim homosexual preferences and/or "loves getting smashed with his mates", etc... It would be good to see how people combat this problem.

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