No Salvation without Repentance

(Acts 2:38; Matthew 3; Luke 3)
November 19
Salvation is both simple and extremely complex. There are actually ten things scripture declares happens in the process and the act of salvation. They are the complex part, and thankfully we don’t have to understand them all, nay few do, for God to implement them. It is absolutely critical we understand salvation is entirely a work of God that is impossible with man. No man can save himself. No man can do anything do deserve God’s grace and mercy, which is what we inherit when He saves us from spending eternity in the lake of fire and brimstone (aka hell, aka, Hades, aka sheol). I know there are those who argue sheol and hell are different places, but for the purpose of this devotional we are going to consider them all parts of the netherworld.

Salvation is a process that involves ten things: 1. election; 2 predestination, 3. effectual calling; 4. regeneration; 5. faith and repentance, 6. justification; 7. definitive sanctification; 8. adoption; 9. progressive sanctification; 10. glorification. It should be relatively easy to understand that one who does not believe in election and predestination might be in trouble. It isn’t necessary to understand it thoroughly, but I can attest to the fact that as a brand new believer I realized I had done nothing in my life that made me deserving of receiving salvation. I knew absolutely nothing about divine election and predestination, but I fully realized my salvation was based entirely on God’s grace and mercy. Any hint from the individual that he somehow did something to deserve salvation is the proverbial death knell to that salvation. To suggest I had to exercise my free will to get saved indicates a complete misunderstanding about the topic. Romans 3 clearly indicates the man who exercises his “free will” will always chose to do evil.

Repentance is likely one of the most misunderstood parts of salvation. Paul spent a lot of time dealing with those who thought salvation just meant confessing Jesus as Lord once and then going back to the lifestyle out of which Jesus had delivered them. Repentance is a lifelong act of turning away from the moment by moment temptations of the world and the devil. Many teach incorrectly that we need to repent once a week; some teach once a day is sufficient. The Catholic Church teaches the only way our confession can be accepted is if we do it in the presence of a Catholic Priest. Repentance must be done the moment we become aware something we have done displeases God. Failure to do that is like unplugging the lamp from the electrical socket. The lamp is still a lamp and the power to make it function as it is intended to function is still available, but sin, like unpluging the lamp causes a disconnect between God and His child (Is. 59:1-3; Psalm 66:18; I John 1:9; I John 5:14, 15). Many teach repentance is moving from the path to hell (south for example) to the path to purgatory (southeast takes us there). The bible teaches repentance is a 180 turn from the path that leads to hell to the path that leads to the kingdom of God. We cease going one direction, and begin going in the opposite direction.

The parable of the sower and the seed tells us there are four kinds of reactions to the gospel message (Matthew 13): 1. One who hears who is beside the path. He hears and immediately the devil takes away the word and he continues on to hell; 2. the second is the one who is in the rocky soil. He hears and receives the word with joy, but the moment persecution comes (people make fun of him for his faith), he turns back onto the path that leads to hell; 3. The third kind of person who hears the gospel receives it with joy, but the cares of the world, the lust of the flesh, eyes, and the boastful pride of life cause him to eventually turn back to the path to hell; The fourth kind of person who hears the gospel receives it with joy and produces fruits, some 30, some 60, some a hundredfold. This scenario fits the “many are called, but few are chosen” concept. Many people hear the gospel and many completely ignore what they hear. They never repent. Many hear and temporarily engage its principles but they don’t ever repent. Many hear and engage its principles for an extended period, but they don’t ever repent.

Without repentance, there is no salvation. Without repentance there is no regeneration or sanctification. Fortunately for the chosen, even the ability to repent is given to us by God so that we are able do that. Man, left to his own devices will never choose to repent. That’s the whole point of Romans 3:10-18. In Acts 2:38 Peter responded to the question from Scribes, Pharisees, and the masses about what they must do to be saved. Of course, we have to realize this was a group of people who had extensive exposure to the Law of Moses. They had deep theological roots. His response, “Repent, each one of you, and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” They needed no explanation for the implications of repentance.

I do some drug and alcohol and marriage counseling. It is uncanny how many have tried things like the twelve step plan. One of our more popular teachers of false doctrine, Rick Warren, decided to use the secular model to try building a religious model of drug and alcohol rehab. He made millions on his idea and, in the process led millions to hell since publishing it. I won’t attempt to systematically deal with these false doctrines in this devotional. I’m written a complete treatise on the topic for anyone who wants to have it. What I will say emphatically is that Jesus has a one step program. Follow Me! One cannot be a drunk, wife or child abuser, or drug addict while following Jesus. He leads us in the opposite direction. These 12 step programs tell you to fill your life with activities that will keep you out of trouble, and of course, if you do that it works. Jesus’ program says fill your life with Me and I’ll give you both the will and power to resist all temptation that comes your way (I Cor. 10:12). When one repents, the Holy Spirit literally enters into him and makes him a new creature (II Cor. 5:17). The Holy Spirit, among other things, leads him into truth, thus he is able to recognize lies, (John 16:13). Baptism by immersion symbolizes two things. While going into the water one is symbolizing dying to the things of the world. While coming out of the water, he is symbolizing resurrection unto a new life.

So, beloved, if you have attended any kind of service where the preacher asked you to raise your hand if you wanted to be saved while all eyes are closed. If he asked you to pray silently in your heart repeating the words he prayed out loud, and then told you, you were part of the kingdom of God as a result of doing that, you have been duped by one of Satan’s cleverly disguised angels of light. There is no such thing as the secret service Christian. What we have heard we are to proclaim on the housetops. God is weary of the great multitudes who go to church week after week, sit comfortably nicely padded pews, listen to a mundane monologue from some guy who spent a few minutes downloading a message from the internet that he reads to the congregation, and never tell anyone what great things He has done for them. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, and one of the most telling signs that you have not repented is that you don’t plan ways you can go and do the same. There is no priority for the born-again, God loving, regenerated, neighbor loving, on fire, unwavering, uncompromising, genuine, card carrying child of the King more important than helping the lost get found. And that’s His word for us today.