RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2020-05-22	Repentance vs Faith
		Act 20:21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Act 26:20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. This article is from the view of the unbeliever becoming a believer, as it relates to repentance. Repentance (Gk. G3341, metanoia) simply means “change of mind” So when Paul refers to “repentance toward God” (Ac.20:21) he has the idea of changing our view of God. That is, we have a newness of mind concerning God and His solution to our problem of sin. Repentance is focused on who God is, and that He is the solution to our sin issue. We do not repent of sin to be saved, that changes the focus from God to sin. Repentance is focused on our relationship with God. It highlights our relationship towards God as “broken”, and greatly strained. God's solution is not for us to try to “repent” of all our sins. We cannot do that! (1) We cannot remember them all (2) Trying to remember our sins shifts to our abilities The good news is that God's solution took care of the sins of the world through His Son. All of them (Jn.3:16; 2Co.5:21; 1Pe.2:24)! Repentance is the recognition of my sinnership PROBLEM before God. It is to acknowledge that I am as sinful as God has declared me to be in His Word. To change our minds concerning God, Paul called it “repentance toward God” means we no longer mock or ignore God. We now have a new way of thinking about God, and our life going forward. We now see Him as our Savior to cling to, and the One to follow. No one is saved by repenting. We are not saved by repentance. One interesting point is that the book of John, whose stated purpose is to bring people to salvation, does not use the word “repentance”. John's focus is on belief in Jesus for salvation. Repentance is a precursor to believing (Rm.2:4; 2Tm.2:25). This is why it SEEMS to be synonymous with believing (Ac.26:20; 2Pe.3:9). Rom 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 2Ti 2:25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, Act 17:30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent Again, no one is saved by repentance. It demonstrates the heart's condition before God. Repentance acknowledges there is a problem with our relationship toward God. Faith is the means to God's solution. To repent is to change one's mind, and look to God's solution to our relationship problem. Whatever we trusted upon in the past is no longer seen as valid. We have different thinking when we get saved. Our message to the unbeliever is not to repent. But we do tell them about the sin problem. Otherwise in their minds, if they do not understand their current standing before God (Jn.3:18,36, “condemned already”, “wrath of God”), they do not need a Savior. Our message to them is to believe on Jesus for the forgiveness of sin, and to receive everlasting life. Faith alone in Christ alone. SOLUTION: “Repentance toward God” • God the Father has the solution to my problem • I can no longer trust in myself • So I turn my current confidence to God OBJECT: “Faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” • Jesus Christ is the solution the Father has promised • I must lay all my confidence in Christ alone through faith alone. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

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