3 Reasons Why I Don’t Preach on Repentance (“Turn from Sin”)
Religious people often complain that we grace preachers don’t discuss repentance sufficiently. It’s true. I hardly talk about it at all. But then neither did the Apostle John.
Here’s something that will fry your mind: Repentance is one of the most important things you’ll ever do but John never mentions the word. Not once. Not in his gospel or in any of his three letters.
I guess John must’ve been a grace preacher.
I guess John understood that while repentance matters a great deal, you don’t get people to repent by preaching repentance.
Let me say that again: we all need to repent, but you don’t get people to repent by telling them to repent.
“How can you say such heresy, Paul?”
I’ll answer that question in a moment. But first, let me ask you which of the following is the best definition of repentance:
1. Repentance means turn from sin
2. Repentance means change your mind
Repentance, like football, means different things to different people. But Biblical repentance simply means “change your mind.” It’s what the word literally means.
You can change your mind about anything, but Jesus calls us to change our mind about God and believe the good news (Mark 1:15). Biblical repentance is evidenced by turning to God.
Your definition of repentance will reveal whether you are living under grace or works. In the Old Testament, sinners repented by bringing a sacrifice of penance and confessing their sins (Num 5:7). But in the new we bring a sacrifice of praise and confess his name (Heb 13:15).
We don’t do anything to deal with our sins for Jesus has done it all. Our part is to believe the good news and say thank you Jesus! Only when we receive his gift of no condemnation are we empowered to go and sin no more.
Yet no matter how much I preach on grace, some people just can’t see the cross for their sins. They tell me I’m under-selling repentance.
What they mean is, “Paul you’re not telling people to turn from their sin.” It’s true. I seldom do. I’d rather talk about God’s goodness than your badness.
Yet often the message we hear is this: “God is holy and he won’t accept you unless you turn from sin.”
It’s sold as a message of repentance and it appeals to our Adamic sense of “I can fix what I broke” but it’s utterly false. It’s a lie to promote the flesh and it will keep you from Jesus.
The fact is God is holy and he won’t accept your sacrifices and offerings no matter how costly they are. His acceptance comes by grace alone.
Got a sin-problem? Turn to the cross and behold Christ. Come boldly to the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace. His grace is your only hope.
Here are three reasons why you should reject any message that defines repentance as turning from sin:
1. It puts people under law
Preach “turn from sin or you’re not saved” and you are preaching pure law. You are prescribing sin-rejection as a means for salvation.
This false gospel actually leaves sinners worse off because it empowers the sin that enslaves them while scorning the grace that might otherwise save them (1 Cor 15:56, Rm 11:6).
The righteousness that God offers does not depend on your performance. Neither your good works nor your bad works enter the equation. The righteousness you and I need is a gift that is received by faith from first to last (Rom 1:17).
2. It doesn’t lead people to salvation
Let me give you a picture to illustrate true repentance. Suppose I call you up and give you an invitation to come to my house. You’ve never been here before so you need directions. There are two ways I could direct you. I could give you my address and provide an accurate picture of where I live. Or I could say, “flee from your house – just drive from your house as fast as possible and don’t look back.”
See the difference? In both cases you’re going to leave your house. That’s guaranteed. But only by trusting my directions will you arrive at my house.
Repentance is like that. It’s not fleeing from sin like a Pharisee; it’s turning to God in faith. In both cases you will leave your sin. But only by trusting God will you arrive someplace better than where you started.
To get people to repent (change their minds) Jesus preached the good news of the kingdom. He painted a picture of where God wanted them to be (with him here and now), and he gave them clear directions on how to get there (have faith in God).
It was the same with Paul. He didn’t walk into Corinth, one of the world’s most depraved cities and preach “turn from sin.” Instead preached “Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor 2:2).
People need to hear how much God loves them. They need to hear about his unconditional favor and grace, and the best way to tell them is to reveal the finished work of the cross.
When the Corinthian Christians fell into sin, even then Paul didn’t preach “turn from sin.” Instead he reminded the Corinthians of their identity in Christ. He understood that grace, not dead works, is the cure for sin.
3. We’re called to preach the gospel, not repentance
Should you repent? Of course! I actually think there needs to be more repentance, particularly from believers. Repentance should be our life-style. You cannot renew your mind without repenting for repenting means to change your mind. When I discover something new about the goodness of God, I repent – I change my way of thinking so that my life lines up with what is true.
I repent every day and it’s wonderful. I’m not the same person I was even six months ago because I am in the habit of repenting.
Repentance is one of the most important things you’ll ever do but you don’t get people to repent by telling them to repent. Instead, give them a reason to repent and they’ll repent.
Repentance comes as a consequence of hearing about the goodness of God (Rom 2:4). So if you want people to repent, tell them how good God is. Preach the good news: God loves you, he died for you and he offers you his righteousness. Do you believe it?
God’s power for salvation – for your forgiveness, healing, deliverance and provision – is revealed in the good news of grace. Do you believe it?
All the blessings of God come to us by grace alone. Do you believe it?
Faith and repentance are two sides of the same coin. Repentance, like faith, is a positive response to something God has said or done.
John says little about repentance but he talks about believing over and over. He wrote so “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). The key to life is not in turning from sin but trusting in Jesus.
You want others to repent? Then preach the gospel that reveals the goodness of God. Use words if necessary.
Jesus has done it all!
___________
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Escape to Reality 
Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying, I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me . . .
He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
Paul, I would like to give you 3 reasons why you should preach repentance but I think I will not have enough space maybe next time, but I would like to say I believe you have left off the most important aspect of repentance.
We know that most words have more than one meaning, some words 10, 15, or more and so it is with the word repentance. Its true repentance does mean to turn around, I was walking north and turned around and begain to walk south 180 degrees defferance. I can also turn from doing wrong, that is robbing people, prosititution and so on but not necessarily because it is morally wrong, its just that I dont want to go to jail, I dont care about other people, I dont believe in Jesus, I want to find a defferent way to earn a living so I dont wind up in jail.
There is also a moral repentance, Ive hurt people in the passed and I dont want to do that any more, I still dont believe in Jesus Christ but I dont get pleasure out of hurting people ether so I stop doing that.
We must believe in Jesus Christ, but for the sake of time the word I am getting at is contrite, contrition, remorse. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit and a contrite heart / The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart ; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. You know there are dozens of verse that teach this, for the lack of time ill stop here.
Hi Alan, a couple of questions:
Your scripture (Ps 51:17) comes from the far side of the cross. On this side of the cross – our side – Jesus declared that repentance is a noun (Lk 24:47) prompting both Peter and Paul to describe repentance as a gift given by God (Acts 5:31, 2 Tim 2:25). How do you do a gift? How can you do anything with a gift other than receive it?
If God is interested in our sacrifices, why does the Bible say “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them” (Heb 10:8)?
At the risk of stating the obvious, there is only one sacrifice that saves us and makes us holy and you didn’t make it. Repentance in a new covenant context means “change your unbelieving mind – stop trusting in your own sacrifices and moral choices and put your faith in Jesus.”
Paul,
Thanks for answering my comments and forgive me for my late reply.
I received a lot from what you said, almost every place in the new testament ( I cant say 100% yet ) where it talks about repentance seems to imply a turning around, a change of heart, not necessarly remorse or contrition.
Still there are two passages of scripture that stand out with me and Id be happy to get your input.
Luke 18:10-14 Two men went up into the temple to pray . .
And 2 Cor.7:8-11 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent . .
Alan, no need to apologize. This’ll be brief as I’m packing for a flight. The tax collector in the story is a picture of an undeserving and unrighteous man. He’s contrasted with the self-righteous Pharisee. The point is not that the tax-collector “beat his breast” but that he asked. This is the sole condition for receiving grace and mercy – you have to ask for it. You can ask with weeping, like this man, or boldly, like the Canaanite woman – as long as you admit your need for grace you’ll get it. Re: 2 Cor, Paul is saying, I don’t regret what I did.
Repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin. If you can have faith with joy then you can repent with joy. If you can repent with tears you can have faith with tears. It doesn’t really matter what emotion you have, it only matters that you respond positively to what God has done. If this means change your unbelieving mind, then that’s repentance.
Correct me Paul. The goodness of God leads to repentance. This is just saying the goodness of God leads to believing. Believing in salvation is a revelation. It is the Holy Spirit that opens our eyes of understanding. Once our eyes are open, we have repented. It is a gift. The bible says it has been given to us to believe and suffer for Christ. The only believing that is not a work, is by revelation. If I believed my wife’s hair is blonde, it’s because the eyes of my sight have been opened. If I believe my wife is a great cook, it is because of the eyes of my sight, the eyes of my taste, the eyes of my scent and the eyes of my touch. Once repentance (believing) has been given to us, it is a work to continue to repent. A work to sit at the feet of Jesus like Mary. It’s a work of rest. It’s the fruit of the Spirit that is the engine of works. Not dead works or dead repentance.
Paul, I have been saved for 5 years now and still do not understand if we need to confess/repent sins. One pastor (whom I admire a great deal) says we do not need to repent to be saved, but we need to repent to shut the door to demons. I noticed a big difference in my life and walk with the Lord after I started repenting of my sins.
S
Hi Sharon, in a recent post I contrast healthy and unhealthy confession. Check it out.
I think you are deceiving people,…are you saying we must continue with sins and by just believing in christ we will be saved….that doesn’t sound right, repentance is the way, you can not just have faith in jesus, but you continue with your sin and expect God to save you by grace alone, with out repenting. To me you don’t make sense at all
Repentance is just believing. The bible says it has been given to us to believe. And suffer. Our eyes of understanding have been opened by the Holy Spirit. We are actually seated (at rest) in the heavenlies in Christ. Thats in Christ. Wherever he is, we are, wherever we are, he is. Perfected forever. A complete work. The strength of sin is law. We look for solutions for sin and create dead works. Christ has given us repentance. What he started, he’ll finish. He is the solution. Cease from your dead works by believing. Paul is correct. But he still allows room for himself in Gods domain. He says (our father) it’s ok Liso, it’s ok Paul. I have got it. Sit at my feet and be Mary.
To Liso, Paul Ellis is not deceiving people. He’s just emphasizing the simplest way that leads to salvation. Grace is not a license to sin. Read Romans 5:19-21 to Romans 6:1-14. It’s as clear as crystal that the message of Grace does not condone sin. Repentance in the Bible means means “changing our way of thinking till we conform to His.” Repentance by “doing” it cannot save a person. The Word says that the only way for a person to be saved from eternal damnation is JESUS – by believing in Him. That’s why it’s called grace because we don’t deserve it yet He gave it to us. It’s only JESUS, not works. And remember Liso, God’s grace is sufficient for us to lead a Godly life.
Actually I repent alot whenever i read the gospel—grace. Even if i don’t do anything… alot of the law binding things which i have been taught has been changed. metanoia-repentance happens.. Thanks for the wonderful site.. i just wish i could print everything here. hehe…
‘Aba-Father why have You so blessed me!?’
We should only preach in the power of the Holy Spirit who is One with Father and Son. Since Jesus is the word, and since He is truth and grace, it is an error to proclaim yourself an exclusive “grace” preacher and possibly quench the Spirit in doing so. The gospel of John is one inspired book of 66 in God’s word. To model your preaching after John only is to put yourself in a man made box of perpetual eisegesis. If your hearers need a word on repentance which God’s word is rich in its instruction, then your predisposed self appointed identity would prevent you from obediently speaking truth.
It is easier for sure to be a prophet without a sharp word… but we should know what Jesus said about them and hope and pray to be obedient to Him alone.
???
I like the scripture where it says, the body of sins has been removed from my flesh. I feel dead to sin because of this. It’ like they have been imputed to someone else and I am free. As a captive, set free. It’ like, what he begun, he continues to do and I become less inclined to sin. Once, trying to overcome in the flesh, and now in the Spirit. As I rest in him. It’ a peace that surpasses all understanding. A righteousness conscience. I become weaker, he becomes stronger, stronger than my flesh. Repentance. Keep up the good work Paul.
I think most comments that seemed disagree with Paul because they interpreted that he somehow encouraged people to keep sinning and not to preach repentance. Well, I read the post and I think that is not what Paul Ellis’ message.
Maybe it will be easier if we discuss this issue about repentance with some practical examples. For instances, there are many preachers out there who try to scare unbelievers saying “Repent, or God will condemn you to the hell,” or “If you don’t leave your immorality, there is eternal punishment in Hell waiting for you.”
In my opinion, these types of preaches are the ones that opposed by Paul. If we as Christians want unbelievers to believe in Jesus Christ, we should not emphasizes too much about eternal punishments etc. That’s the old covenant. We should emphasizes on God’s grace and forgiveness. Human cannot win over sins, that why Jesus came to die at the cross. He offers people grace and forgiveness and the ability to overcome sins.
Sorry for my English. It’s not my first language.
I think your reply is a very helpful illustration of God’s unfathomable love and how he dealt once and for all with the sin problem. Its very clear and should help some people, but there will always be those whose gut reaction supersedes their ability to receive this revelation. Some people invest a lot of their energy both physical and emotional in being good for God and I would think its hard for them to receive the word to rest, and yet victory is in the rest. How can we be righteousness conscious if we are forever looking at our sin and confessing it! I think the rest idea is counter intuitive as we have all been taught to work to achieve. The only problem is we can never achieve rightness with God however hard we work at it because its not possible. Thanks for your contribution. I enjoyed it.
So when I pray as a sinner Lord, I turn from my sin to you with regards to salvation. I am praying, Lord I turn from my unbelief (sin) to belief in you. I believe that Jesus, being God, died on the cross for me I invite Him to be my Savior. Thank You for saving me. Amen. Sanctification follows genuine salvation. “He makes all things beautiful in His time.”
Paul, repent of your unBiblical view on repentance.
I would but my sack-cloth is at the cleaners and because of Isaiah 61:3 I don’t have any ashes.
I have a clean sack-cloth you can have but it is pretty worn
I have read several of the comments on here and quite honestly they just flat wore me out. The one common thread I’ve noticed from people who say, “you must preach repentance,” or they basically accuse you Paul, of being unbalanced or not preaching the “full” gospel is that this group of people cannot quite lay down or let go of the fact that “WE” (people in general) must “DO” something in order to be saved. They get, in a sense, a righteous indignation that in order to prove that “we are now followers of Christ, we shall continue living a life of repentance in order to maintain and stay in my Father’s good graces.” I believe therein lies the problem with people who call it easy believerism and what have you. They still want to hang on to that part of “what they must do.” As if I believe the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ but I can’t quite give up what “I” must do. There is that word again, “I.” It seems to be the focus and the root of the problem. I think those of us that agree with you Paul, clearly understand that once I receive/believe the grace of God(Good News) through faith and am now a “believer” that my life WILL be one that allows JESUS to produce fruit THROUGH me and that my “old” lifestyle will indeed start to change and be evident to others. Not because I repent over every sin I can remember that I’ve committed but as I understand HIS love for me I will no longer desire to walk as I did prior to becoming a believer. I really believe that one day we are going to run into to people in Heaven that will be shocked they made it as well as others who will agree with them and say, “wow, I can’t believe you made it.” In my opinion, Jesus is going to come beside them both, put His arms around them and just love them. Just as He always has. Blessings on you Paul! Sorry, if my post was just a bunch of disconnective ramblings. 🙂
How can you say “John doesn’t say one word about repentance” when John wrote the book of Revelation and in his letter to the Church at Ephesus he wrote “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” Rev 2:4-5
Then to the church at Laodicea he wrote “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Rev 3:19-20
The word “repent” is used in several of his letters to the New Testament churches of this time.
There is an arrogance to believing that you are right and almost everyone else is wrong, especially when the “everyone else” includes Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, Edwards, Wesley, Barth, Spurgeon, Derek Prince.
Millions of faithful Christians, leaders and theologians have been guided by the Holy Spirit into all truth over the centuries. Just because you write a book doesn’t make you a theologian and mean you can trump their hours of exegesis, research and study.
Sigh. Martin, you are vigorously attacking something I never said. I suggest you put your fists down and reread the first paragraph. Then you might want to read my post on the Laodiceans entitled “Be earnest and repent.” And then follow that with my post on the Ephesian church.
But hey, thanks for the free lecture!
So the Ephesian Church who had been lifted up into heavenly places with Christ, had lost their first love and needed to repent. Also David who was a man after God’s own heart had his sin of adultery and murder exposed and repented (Old Covenant you might say). There are many similarities between the lukewarm Church of Laodicea and the consumer Western Church of today.
Yes I totally agree that we are under grace rather than law, works or religion. Obedience to Christ is easy when we are passionately in love with Him and wanting to please Him in all that we do and say. The church does need to be set free from dead works.
However there is a “Word of Truth” as well as a “Spirit of Truth”.
We may get a fresh word from the well of revelation, but it is important that we don’t turn it into a law, because if we do, it becomes a weed, next to the well. You make me feel guilty about preaching repentance and are thereby putting me under condemnation.
The Spirit of Truth is sovereign and as we yield to Him (rather than the teaching of man) His anointing falls and the power of God is manifest. Most revivals have begun by people seeing how far they have fallen and crying out in repentance. When this occurs a spirit of repentance falls and an amazing work of God begins.
Let’s make Him sovereign and yield to the Word and the Spirit as He leads us and guides us and not allow our own dogma’s to get in the way.
I feel like the truths that “to him who DOES NOT work but believes” and “apart from Me you can do nothing” deliver us from understanding repentance as trying to earn anything or change ourselves before receiving God’s favor, as if we could make a pit stop to our own personal goodness before we receive God’s goodness. And I think we are all amazed to discover that when we turn freely to Christ, new Life results naturally.
That said, when someone believes that they have turned to Christ and yet embrace things that are clearly sin, would you say that they have not really repented, that is, turned to Christ?
It seems truly turning to Christ is evidenced by no longer embracing anything you know to be wrong.
Thanks!
No Jennie, it is not. What he posted was false. It is not what John nor Paul taught. People often take verses out of context and come up with false doctrine. When Phil sins, he certainly is sinning in his “spirit”. Sin is the deliberate, willful transgression of the law of God-1John 3:4. Sin is committed by the whole being. Paul said we needed to cleanse ourselves of all filthiness of spirit and of flesh, perfecting holiness in the fear of God-@Cor. 7:1
Martin. You died to the law in Christ. You are dead to sin. If you believe in your heart, that Christ came in the flesh. The Gospel says, you are dead to sin, so therefore do not sin. It does not say, do not sin, and therefore be dead to sin.
Until you believe this, it is difficult to stop sining because you cannot see the completed work of Christ. You remain under law, the strength of sin.
When you believe, you are justified and sanctified. Already sanctified. I will say it again, sanctified. Sin is not the choice of a Christian and so called repentance. Believing is your choice. Believing brought in the repentance to justification, salvation, sanctification. Now believing will bring repentance to fruitful living. Your unbelief is the only barrier of appropriating all that God has for you. Sorry Paul.
If what you believe is true, why would god repent that he had made man? Sin is defined as violation of the law. Wouldn’t the understanding of the law (immutable, and preexisting rules of conduct) be in understanding the foundation of it? id est, do not hurt nor destroy each other, in all of our special family, and stop learning (and practicing) war – an adversarial attitude. We see that attitude (that of being adversarial) in every society, and at all levels of society. We see it in the family. The family is the foundation, or building block, of a sustainable and enduring society. As the family goes, so goes society. If this approach is right, then isn’t that the core, or essence of the problems we see in the world. Isn’t the violation of those rules, what we read about in history, that has resulted in waste and destruction? Lying and stealing are violations . . .
Thank you, Paul for this information. I really appreciate this. God bless
This article was linked in another post and thought I would reread it. I was reminded of a recent teaching from Joseph Prince in regards to repentance.
Luke 15: 1-7 is the Parable of the Lost Sheep. This parable is one with a real life double meaning as in using the sheep example to represent real people as well. Verse 7(NKJV) states “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”
Since this story can apply to sheep as well as humans I ask, “how does a sheep repent?” If you can answer this question then that answer should shed light on how WE as humans repent. The sheep decided to let the shepherd catch it. Thus he changed his mind/direction. Once caught the shepherd carried the lost sheep home on his shoulders.
Is that not love or what?
And remember what had just happened to cause Jesus to state this parable along with the two following. One represents the Father, one the Son and one the Holy Spirit.
Paul you da man! 😉
I don’t think its your definitions that are the issue. All that stuff can become an abstract form of legalism about man’s defintions. I love the matter behind it though, grace is so good. But it”s a sort of equation that says this defintion plus that definition equals that result. But really, its a matter of the heart condition and God know’s the heart. Like salvation, you know repentance when you know it in your heart. You don’t receive it by definition you receive it by faith. He speaks all languages in heaven and in earth and in your heart. This is my humble opinion and my intention is to add this aspect to the blog not destroy it. The cross of Jesus is the remedy to hardness of heart.
If repentance and salvation are gifts you receive by faith and you believe faith is a gift from God then repentance is not by work,s the only work required is to step into the water, the Baptism is Gods work. Repentance is not a action or ceremony to complete with your new birth, it is a attitude that is lived out continuously with no effort
All hinges on whether you believe your faith is a gift, or a result of some effort by you.
A belief in either direction leads down two different and completely opposite paths.
When repentance is preached as work there is no true repentance.
When repentance is preached as a gift by the gift of faith, faith the revelation of Christ and the cross. The gift is released.
Paul you are right on grace and repentance .But what people are missing here is that they are not rightly dividing the word of truth.Tim 2 2 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
The four gospels mark,matthew,luke and john where preached to Israel only,they where still under law ,this is why repentance is still a big factor .Pauls gospels are for the nations not under law but grace.
Appreciate the comments by participants. It reveals how people view things differently and attach emphasis differently. What cannot be in dispute is the existence of repentance and faith and that they have relevance to growing and being IN CHRIST. All things relating to our life, past, present and future is because of what Jesus has done and will do through the Holy Spirit. Life is a gift, faith is a gift, repentance is a gift, the Holy Spirit is a gift, Jesus is the gift and grace and all our good works is the result of those gifts. Praise God! All find their meaning through Christ, for Christ and IN Christ.
The problem is sin. Who defines what a sin is? what is the nature of sin? Who decides what act is moral or immoral? When you discover that dilemma there, you’ll realize that God cannot be the creator of morality. Because by doing so He would undermine all morality itself as being arbitrary.
It’s summed up as so :Is an act immoral because God declares it, or does God declare it immoral because the act itself is immoral? It can’t be both.
You are right God is not the creator of morality, he is morality the better you know and obey him the more moral you are.
Its easy.
God defines what sin is… sin is anything that is not of faith (rom 14:23)
acts of morality can be just as sinful as acts of immorality – look at the pharisees…
sin is no longer the issue – Jesus paid the price for the condemnation of our sin with His death… and was resurrected to give us life through His Spirit! what is the issue is whether or not we believe this truth. condemnation kills… the Spirit gives life….
it’s life vs death – not good vs evil
Luke 13:3 if you don’t repent you shall perish…. Yes Titus 3:5 Ephesians 2:8-9 but still if we don’t repent we will perish!!!!!
Monique, I’m not sure what you are adding to the discussion. As I say in the post, repentance is one of the most important things you’ll ever do. But you don’t get people to repent simply by telling them to repent. You’ve got to give them a reason. The gospel is a good reason.
Interesting that this article states that Jesus didn’t preach repentance, yet the very first words out of his mouth when he returned from the wilderness temptation were, (Mark 1.15; Matthew 4.17). I wonder how this squares with this article?
Not Jesus, John. And the point about John is incidental, as in, John didn’t see the need to emphasize repentance. As the post clearly states, repentance is one of the most important things you’ll ever do. You just don’t get people to repent by telling them to repent. Like Jesus, you give them a reason to repent. Jesus is the reason.
As Spurgeon said, “Repentance will not make you see Christ; but to see Christ will give you repentance.”
Paul, I commend you for your patience. Wow. I am so grateful (I say again and again) for your ministry and teaching about repentance, forgiveness and grace. How you manage not to lose your cool when folks do not read the content in the post carefully but just start shooting from the hip – I marvel every single time. Love ya bro! 🙂
Hi Paul,
I can testify to this, in my conversion I was confronted and commanded to repent and confess , I did not repent and then come to the revelation of who Jesus is . So for me there is no doubt. Repentance is not a requirement for salvation but a result.
great lesson brother. Few understand theessage of repentance unto baptism Peter preached in Acts 2:38, and Grace by faith (not repentance in eph 2:8.. difference being Peters message at Pentecost was tpo resurrection WITNESSES,faith wasnt necessary, where as, the gentile who didnt have firsthand information or the witness of the Resurrection the Jew had, was justified merely by his faith alone. no act of obedience was required, or necessary.
Acts 8 vs 13 to 22, Peter told Simon to repent, it may not be an issue of salvation, but repentance is still important after we stuff up, god likes humility in us, and repenting is important to keep our heart and relationship pure with jesus, dont go on a hunt looking to repent all the time, instead wait for the holy spirit to reveal things in your life rather than live in fear, there is a big difference if you live by the spirit,
Hi Craig
Repentance after salvation only gives us a device that enables us to say there is something we can do to please God . Accepting Grace says that salvation and acceptance is achieved and maintained by Jesus it is true humility and unfortunately leaves us with no work to brag about , but then God did say all the Glory will be his .
Biblical repentance has NOTHING to do with “turning from sin”. Repentance in the literal Greek means to “change your mind”. Change your mind about what? About everything (Proverbs 14:12 and 1 John 5:19). Nothing an unsaved person does is good or righteous. Nothing. REPENTANCE IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO BE SAVED. And, again, repentance is NOT turning from sin. That’s self righteousness. Repentance means that I must agree with God’s word that EVERYTHING about my sinful life is wrong. Everything. Salvation alone does NOT produce eternal life. New Testament salvation is NOT a ticket to heaven. It’s salvation from SIN and access to God the Father. Nothing else. It gives us power and authority over sin and our sin natures through Jesus Christ, and an opportunity, if we wish, to enter into the New Covenant with God by being baptized. At this juncture we begin our prodigal son journey back home to God (again, if we wish Matt 22:14). Does God grant eternal life by only this formula? No. God’s love/grace is a powerful thing. He granted eternal life to the thief on the cross next to Jesus without baptism or a prodigal son journey home. God loves us dearly. It’s not his will that any perish. Only He knows the hearts of men. I’m certain many have found eternal life on their death beds, just as the thief did.
This is what the early church taught. This doctrine is neither “easy believism” (lie from the devil) nor is it self-righteous “lordship salvation” (the other side of the devils coin). This is the truth. Don’t take my word. Seek and you shall find the truth (Matt 7:7). God be with you all.
Literal baptism cleanses and unites ceremonially by means of water. Figurative baptism cleanses and unites by means of spirit. It accomplishes what water baptism accomplishes, but without the towel.
Today, we are baptized into Christ’s death (Rom. 6:3-4). Being a figurative baptism (it’s not a ceremony or ritual involv- ing water), it unites and cleanses by means of spirit.
Galatians 5,4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace
Grace means grace ,when you are justified in Christ ,ceremonies become extinct ,the effect of Christs death and ressurection become null and void if you keep in the law.John the baptist preached (Be baptisted )to the Israelites before Christs death , then after Christs death ,Paul took a new message to the nations , Paul did baptize a few people early on—not into John’s baptism, but into the name of the Lord Jesus.In other words, the Paul of the middle of Acts is not the Paul of Ephesians. Paul gradually removed all rites and ceremonies from his message, so that it eventually and finally be- came a message of pure grace for us today.
Thanx for the article Paul. Its good that we keep our faith under a microscope, because of the times we live in! when I red the last part of your article I could agree on what you wrote! That repentance is something we have to do daily.. True repentance! For when I realised how lost I were and is and will be, in through an by my self, or any works or the lack of it, I realised HOW GREAT is HIS LOVE for all sinners and me! I no that true repentance will lead to finding true LOVE of GOD. And even repentance is given by HIS spirtit as a Gift I just need to accept it. I no that I will have to choose to change/renew my mind. And I no that theres many people that use grace as an ecscuse not to make a choise !Love for myself and my way , becomes grater than my LOVE for GOD! Thats the sad part of not repenting! JUst accepting his Love is what many people do….truly living in it, through it, and by it, is a daily choise that will ultimatley show us HOW much in need of HIM (JESUS FULL SACRAFISE) we truly are.. Leading to repentance..again. As you said..its the same coin. But if we start believing that we do not have to repent or that once is enough…we fall in the getting saved by works category cause then even our un chainging faith are becoming only good deads that doesnt change our hearts…. I ask God to give me a Heart of David…Full of repentance…and full of His Love…
I learned that to live in truth (of His word) is a daily choise it doesnt happen by accident…my inabality to be perfect in my choises is coverd by His grace if I am humble enough to realise and accept it… again leading me to repentance! Therfore Im saved by HIS GRACE ALONE
( English is not my first language)
I would rather follow the words and teachings of Jesus than of John. Verse after verse in the bible speak to repent. Jesus spoke it, John the Baptist, Paul… and Revelations 2 as well. It is vital to repent. James 2:14-26. I could post many chapters and verses that speak on repentance. Matthew 7:21-23 speaks of those who prophesy and cast out demons but who are workers of iniquity will not enter heaven. Jesus made a way to the Father and Jesus gave us that opportunity to make it in to Heaven and so we do not have to continue in sin. He says to pick up your cross DAILY and follow him. Not one time. People don’t want to think about the consequences of sin so they only ever think about Gods grace. Well, God is a judge too and will judge accordingly. People have this idea about God is only grace because they like sin.
Well Lauren
Jesus died to save you from your sin,s and from what you say it seems you are still a sinner, so the cross has obviously not worked for you you are still a sinner . Only sinners are judged so if you believe that your faith in Jesus has left you being a sinner you should expect judgement.
Luke 13:3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 22:16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’
Titus 3:5 He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
There are MANY, many more, you’re deceived and deceiving others. I pray you find the truth.
Yes, there are dozens of scriptures on repentance and even if there weren’t I would still say, as I do in the post, that “Repentance is one of the most important things you’ll ever do,” and “there needs to be far more repentance, particularly from believers,” and “repentance should be our life-style.”
So tell me again how I am deceived and deceiving others?
I’m stunned by what I read here. WE ARE UNDER LAW! IE The 10 commandments ARE still in effect, it WAS / IS ONLY the ceremonial laws that were nailed to the cross!
So Paul was wrong when he said, “For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace” (Rom 6:14)? I just don’t see how the ceremonial laws are causing us to sin. And I guess Paul was wrong when he said, “Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes” (Rom 10:4). What he should’ve said was Christ is the end of only some of the law. And when Jesus died he should’ve said it’s only half-finished.
I’m not poking fun at you. I’m trying to show you that your statement is unbiblical and anti-Christ. With respect, you need to repent and believe the good news that the old law covenant has become obsolete and we are now under a new covenant forged in Christ’s blood.
Deuteronomy 9:9 calls the 10 Commandments of stone the “tables of the covenant”. So the 10 C’s are part of the old testament covenant. We see in Hebrews 8:6-13 that, there is a better and new covenant, the old had fault and was decaying and vanishing away. There is no scripture that says we can be part old and part new covenant. It all clearly points out that we are either all old or all new.
This division of the law into ceremonial and moral appears to be of human origin. Sometimes by context it is clearly worded and explained that the passage is talking about a specific part of the law as in the first few verses of Hebrews 10. But in general when it says law it means the whole and not parts.
Just ask yourself would the Jews, especially the Pharisees have persecuted the church to the insane extent they did if all that Jesus did changed with was the animal blood shed?
Do you seek righteousness, that is a right standing with God, because you obey the 10 commandments or because of what Jesus did for you? The 10 commandments, while a helpful moral guidepost, have no spiritual power to make a person right or righteous with God.
so this blog is for people who agree with Paul and not the truth. Paul has deleted and blocked all my posts. Hey Paul, I have screen saved this entire blog including ALL my posts, I WILL BE SHARING with EVERYONE I know including FB and you tube and WHERE EVER I CAN. You are of your father Lucifer. I know you are reading all my posts so delete them . I’ll be praying for you, you deceiver.
I routinely delete comments that violate E2R’s comment policy. You’re welcome to disagree with me. You’re not welcome to rant and make personal attacks.
I can’t believe what is happening here. Some people need to seek the Lord. ” The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”…
Blessings to all.
REPENT
Act 17:30 You must REPENT of your sins, The word of God says, God Commanded every men, everywhere to REPENT.Luke 13:3 Jesus said except you REPENT you shall likewise perish, and It is not so difficult to repent, as we praise, to think what our sins cost our creator ( Jesus ) and king of Universe, He Left his home in heaven and come to earth inn person of the LORD JESUS CHRIST to suffer and bleed that we may be forgiven and given Eternal life.sad to say most of the preacher don’t speak the TRUTH ,ask the holy spirit to always lead and guide you, do not rely on our understanding and self righteousness, Its not acceptable to our creator, instead you been filled w/ the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit giving you GRACE And empowerment to be able to leave a holy life to pursue holliness, Because w/o holliness , we can’t enter to heaven
May the Lord Bless you All.
I like what Sarah wrote . 🙂
If “repent” means to turn why are folks so hung up on what they are turning from and not Who they are turning to? It is almost impossible to turn away from sin but quite easy to turn to Jesus as the solutions for your trouble. A truly lost person will only have a vague notion of what sin is anyway so how can they turn away from it properly? Because there are no qualifiers in scripture how can someone tell which kinds or how much sin they need to repent of in order to be saved? This is really an important issue because if you were to repent of the wrong kind of sin or not repent enough you will still be lost which is a scary thing. The sad thing is I only hear “Repent from sin!” screeched out loudly coupled with “Stop being naughty so God will save you” which isn’t the gospel at all. 😦
Jesus didn’t die for the good kids or the kids who promised to be good in the future He died for those still drowning in their own sins. Romans 5:8
Hi everyone I read a lot of people’s responses and I feel bad that we r all arguing and fighting… And I am sorry for posting my argument/post .. And I’m sorry Paul Ellis for some hurtful comments and thank u for ur kindness .. I’m just grateful that we r able to think about Jesus and his mercy love and grace!!!!! I just encourage everyone to seek the truth in the bible . The Holy Spirit will help is to know the truth. I pray we will all agree and be united in what we believe in. And be able to strengthen . And build one another up instead of tear apart people. May the Holy Spirit , gods love , gods grace and peace be with u all. Love u all
I am a Pastor who want to preach repentance pls help me
I encourage you to preach what Jesus told us to preach – the gospel. Do that and people will repent.
Mathew 4:17
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
I don’t get it, we are called Christians = Followers of Christ, yet we refuse to follow what Jesus has been doing, which in this verse it clearly states that Jesus went out to preach repentance. I think there is a need to preach repentance with love.
I agree that there are preachers who go out and preach repentance like this..
“Repent of you sins or you will go to hell!” <<- kind of preaching that doesn't show love, and will just cause a fight.
At the beginning of my walk I was told that I had to forgive to be forgiven. When I read the scriptures, I saw I was forgiven already because I believed. Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sin. I don’t remember making a decision to believe. Just hearing the Gospel, and then believing. It must have had power to save. Once I believed, I had a new heart and a renewed mind. I received a measure of faith. And the Holy spirit. I heard faith. The Holy Spirit must have come by faith. Faith by the word. Thank goodness for the preacher. Then all of a sudden, I could acknowledge the Lord. I became a new creation. Born again. Because of his seed in me, I could not sin in this born again spirit. But, I was still left with my unrenewed flesh. Then I saw where Paul said we are to serve this new Law. Not that I served the old. The Law of life in the Spirit of Jesus Christ. So I figured God saw me as this new creation in Christ all the time. Purified, justified, sanctified, perfect and having received his glory. If I could see this amazing work of Jesus, then I would be renewed in the mind and my flesh would fall away.
It feels like God has wrought this repentance in me by his power. What he started, he will finish, as I dwell with him in Spirit and his word. I feel like a child with no sin conscience, knowing that God sees me as he sees his Son. And I have his Spirit in me to do his work. Just wondering what I did?
beautiful truth 🙂
Hi Phil
What awesome truth , you are fortunate that you responded to the scripture and not some corrupt message of conditional salvation that we have to change God,s mind through our prayers in order for him to bless us.
Amazing Praise God! I’m glad you can see yourself the way that God does. I hope I can also reach this point as He renews my mind through His Word. It’s awesome that you don’t have a sin conscience, because many believers do including myself and it really prevents us from acting as who we are.
I’m sick of people saying that repentance is turning away from sin, because sin is a fruit. Trying to simply turn away from your sins is like trying to grow new fruit without first cutting down the old tree. The old tree is the Law, because the strength of sin is the Law. Everyone has their own view on what repentance is, but I see it as turning from Law to Grace. I don’t know everything, but I think it means to give up on your own efforts and put your faith in the Gospel. Less sin and more good fruit will be a result of this, not a prerequisite. Turning away from your sin keeps you in bondage to the Law, and you’re putting faith in yourself and not Jesus.
This is heretical nonsense. SO Finney, Wesley and all the greatest and most anointed evangelists in history were all wrong? Repentance is a change of heart and mind about sin and God. It involves sorrow and conviction of sin.
Which part of the post do you believe is heretical nonsense? Is it the part where I say, “Repentance means to change your mind” or the part where I say “there needs to be far more repentance”? Or is it the part where I say “Repentance is one of the most important things you’ll ever do”? Because as far as I know Finney, Wesley, et al. said the same thing.
Why are the Scriptures I had with my comments not in my reply?
Please read E2R’s Comment Policy. Thanks.
So by your logic the courts (law) can save us ,most criminals once found out, or convicted, repent of their sin this unless they are psychopaths. Most people are aware and sorry for their known sin. I believe you have got half of it right , they need to change their mind about God , Jesus does this, he gives them a new heart, he changes them. I don,t care how good an evangelist you are, you have no power to change anyone you have no Glory. SORRY!
If it is the power of the cross that changes a person all we need to preach is Jesus crucified and he does the rest by his power. Why would you in a message for salvation say turn from your sin, as if it is a prerequisite to salvation, this is denying the power of the cross. It only illustrates a lack of faith and maybe even faith in your power of persuasion no reliance on the Spirit and even putting men,s faith to change in themselves not God but themselves . If Jesus says that he will turn men,s hearts back to God and all the Glory is God,s.All you have to do is present him.
If we preach the message you present I believe the first thing you and me might say to one another in Heaven is “Its real nice here but what smells like burning hair”.
I was convicted of my sin, sorrow first, and then joy followed. I praised God for my new heart of flesh, replacing my heart of stone. My mind was renewed. Is being renewed. Now I see what he sees. All Grace, through Faith. Jesus in me, I in him. Seated in him. Seated. I have received his Glory. Phew!! What a plan. Not mans plan.
I came across Romans 1:24-25 when…
I’m sorry Glenn, but I couldn’t see what relevance your comment had to the post above. Please see E2R’s Comment Policy.
Luke 24:46-48 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.
Jesus’ Words Hmmmm
You have quoted probably the most exciting passage on repentance and forgiveness in the Bible. See this post for more.
I guess things will be different in Heaven. We will all believe the same thing. Until then, I apologise if I have sounded prideful. However, if believing is not repentance, is there something else we must do to enter? How can we repent without believing. We cannot acknowledge Christ without first believing. Thats scriptural. We cannot believe unless we are born of the spirit. When we were walking according to our flesh, we believed by our senses. However, now the Holy Spirit has opened our eyes of understanding and we have been born again by the Spirit, to walk according to the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit is in you. At times behaving in the flesh while being in the Spirit. (Guilty) So, can we repent before we believe? It happens together? It’s granted to us on behalf of Christ? Or after we believe? Granted, repentance continues after we believe.
Both repentance and grace go hand in hand. There can be no grace without repentance. Grace naturally follows true repentance. Jesus preached repentance (e.g. “Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand”). Paul, I understand your point, but think you are diluting the gospel by not teaching repentance. Of course, it all depends on your audience. If your audience is comprised of true believers, then I would assume they have already repented. Just my thought.
When John the Baptist came preaching repentance, he was preparing the way for The Lord. The Kingdom was “at hand”. When Christ came preaching, the Kingdom was “at hand”. Christ was preparing the way. Not only for the Kingdom, but for the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. He was also preparing to shed his blood on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. The Kingdom being preached, could not come until Christ died. We have to die with him to enter the Kingdom. A new birth. The coming of the Kingdom with the in dwelling Spirit of Jesus Christ, comes with power. The same power that spoke the world into being. The word of Faith, the gospel. If we believe the word of Faith does not have this power, then we revert to works. 50/50. If God does his 50 percent, I will do my 50. It’s call making a decision. His power is enough to show you what is right, a bit like the 10 commandments. Then you have to make a decision to follow. A bit like the 10 commandments.
When Christ was preaching, he was doing many things preparing the way. When he preached the beatitudes, he was being prescriptive. This is what we would be like in the Kingdom. He was not being descriptive to us in the Kingdom to behave like this as a dead work. Turning the other cheek is prescriptive. As The Lord God causes us to increase and abound in love for one another, establishes our hearts without blame in holiness, and we bear fruit, we turn the other cheek. His power in us. We are only able to repent in his power. He knew you before you were formed in your mothers womb. From the beginning.
@Paul, your writing appeared (to me) as arrogant, Phariseeal and judgmental.
ARROGANT, because you wrote, “Some RELIGIOUS PEOPLE often complain…” and then went on to state that churches that preach what conflicts with your understanding preach a brand of “lies from the pit of hell”. The insinuation is that such people are merely religious, or, worse, irreligious.
But I have an issue – like most. The Lord Jesus Christ repeatedly preached repentance lest people perish. ALL SCRIPTURE is given for inspiration… Or, why were the 7 churches in Asia warned? Peter wept. Zacchaeus made reparations. The Prodigal Son repented in his heart (already) when he felt sorry and went back to his dad. Yes, the father loved him and yearned for his return but he had to return first!
Let us preach Christ crucified, sin, repentance, judgement and grace. There is no better example of a preacher than Christ himself.
My apologies if I come across as arrogant. That is never my intention. I was simply making an observation that I and others who preach radical grace are often criticized for not emphasizing repentance sufficiently. It is a complaint frequently made against us. Who is making these criticisms? It is not sinners. It is religious people. That is an observation, a fact, not an attempt to pass judgment.
As I say in the post, “there needs to be far more repentance” and “Repentance is one of the most important things you’ll ever do.” I am sure you agree. However, the repentance Jesus inspired and sometimes called for is not the repentance preached by the sin-conscious. They say “turn from sin” but Jesus and the apostles said “turn to God.” Big difference. Proper repentance is that practiced by the prodigal. Again, I think you know this and agree so I’m not sure why you are throwing stones.
What an APOSTATE TIME we live in! Christians opposing the FOUNDATION DOCTRINE OF REPENTANCE-Heb 6:1-2. Repentance is taught all over the Bible in Old and New dispensations. It is HERESY to oppose this Biblical and historically blessed doctrine. John Wesley was wiser than all of you, and used of God in ways all of you combined can never touch, because of your carnal, sin-loving false doctrines.
And yet the John whom Wesley was named after never said the word. Is he an apostate too?
This Biblical doctrine that you are upset about (“turn from sin”), is, in truth, an old covenant doctrine, a Pharisaical doctrine. We preach new covenant repentance which is turn to God. You are accusing us of apostasy and heresy for telling people to turn to God.
How ironic that you should quote Hebrews 6 which exhorts us to leave these elementary teachings and go on to maturity. “God permitting, we will do so.”
Paul how often do people shoot off scathing comments without actually studying up on the scripture references in your articles?
P.S. Yup I’m a heretic- justified and sanctified by the holy blood of Jesus shed for me while I was an enemy of God.
Have you actually taken the time to read many of the articles that Paul has authored here? It is clear by your post that you have NOT. If so you would have understood that YOUR definition of “Repentance” is a religious one and not the same as intended in scripture. Please save the finger pointing to where it’s deserved. You might try looking in a mirror first.
For instance look at Luke 15. The parable of the lost sheep. How does a sheep repent?