The Necessity of Repentance
by Andy Lapins

Repentance is a word and subject that seems to be missing from most of our modern preaching and evangelism. In an attempt to make salvation “easier” and to attract and appeal to more sinners, the topic of repentance is purposefully avoided by many preachers and Christians. This is certainly a tragic example of having zeal without knowledge (Proverbs 19:2). Because repentance is so commonly exclude from most evangelistic appeals is would seem quite clear that many Christians do not believe that repentance is necessary in order to be saved. So the question needs to be asked, and answered from the Bible, “Is repentance necessary for salvation?”

It is true that numerous Bible verses speak of the promise of salvation with no mention of repentance. These verses merely say to “believe” on Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31, Romans 10:9). It is these verses that many preachers and Christians use to justify their lack of speaking about repentance contending that it is not necessary for someone to be saved. But this is so foolish because they are using just a few verses to support their beliefs without considering the other clear commands in scripture that speak about salvation. This is equivalent to someone having a list of instructions that they need to follow in order to properly assemble something that they have purchased, and instead of reading and doing each of the instructions they choose to only do a few of them and not even consider the rest. We know that if a specific process is needed in order to produce a specific product or outcome and that process is not followed correctly then the outcome will be a deficient product or outcome. Yes, the Bible clearly states that someone must have faith in Jesus Christ in order to be saved but that is only part of the instructions.

The Bible makes it clear that God is holy and man is sinful, and that sin makes a separation between the two (Isaiah 59:1-2). Without repentance wicked people cannot have fellowship with a holy God. Repentance does not only mean to feel sorrow because of our sins, but it also means to confess our sins to God and forsake them – to agree with God that it is wrong and to turn and go in the opposite direction. We are dead in our sins (Ephesians 2:1) and until we forsake them through repentance, we cannot be made alive in Christ. Proverbs 28:13 states, “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses them and renounces them (repentance) finds mercy.”

Jesus said that He came to call “sinners to repentance” (Matthew 9:13). The very first message that Jesus preached when He began His ministry was that people should repent (Matthew 4:17). John the Baptist started his ministry the very same way, by telling people that in order to be saved they needed to repent of their sins (Matthew 3:2). Jesus twice told the people who were listening to Him preach that unless they repented they would perish (Luke 13:3 & 5). As the Apostle Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost he commended his hearers to repent “for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38). He taught this because without repentance there is no forgiveness of sins, we are still under the wrath and condemnation of God (John 3:18 & 36). A little later on Peter said that people were to “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out” (Acts 3:19). The Apostle Paul clearly taught that repentance was not optional. He said that “he (God) commands all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30).

Paul said that God commanded people to repent. Has God changed? He God “lightened up” over the years and no longer requires people to actually confess their sins and turn from them? No, God has not changed! Hebrews 13:8 clearly says the “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” In Malachi 3:6 God emphatically states, “I the Lord do not change.” God has not changed in any way whatsoever over the years and neither has His requirements in order for a person to be saved. What has tragically changed is how preachers and Christians have chosen to present the Gospel. Because of the fear of man and a desire to be socially accepted the church as a whole has hidden away the doctrine of repentance in the closet of indifference and embarrassment.

People do not understand that to tell a sinner merely to believe in Jesus without repenting of their sins is sure to result in a false conversion. Jesus taught that a false convert “believes” and yet is not saved (Luke 8:13). Listen to the warning of scripture: “If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.” Jesus spoke about the horrific end result of this when He spoke prophetically in Matthew 7:21-23: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” Jesus said that there will be multitudes (many) who thought they were going to heaven only to be condemned to hell. The basic reason for this had to do with repentance. Even though these people did many good works and religious things they had never truly repented. This is why Jesus called them “evildoers” (vs. 23). Jesus taught that only those who did the will of God will enter the kingdom of heaven. Part of God’s will is clearly described for us in II Peter 3:9 “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” It is God’s will and desire that every human being should repent of their sins and live in obedience to the Gospel. If repentance wasn’t necessary for salvation, why then did Jesus command that repentance be preached to all nations (Luke 24:47)?

One can only suspect that those who preach salvation without repentance are strangers to repentance themselves, and thus strangers to true conversion.