“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” Mark 1:14-15
Many have been confused and hindered in their relationship with God because of misunderstanding the concepts represented in the words repent and believe. Repentance is often turned into works causing some to doubt their salvation. Faith is sometimes watered down to mere acknowledgment without volitional trust.
Down through the centuries, theological extremes have produced other theological extremes. The needed confrontation of one extreme has too often generated a reaction that adopts the opposite extreme. Certainly, the gospel has not been exempted from this pendulum effect. What does one need to know in order to be “saved”? What constitutes in simple form the transaction of salvation? Where and how does the process of spiritual growth fit into this picture?
Jesus said, “Repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15). What does repent mean? What does it mean to believe? Does the condition for salvation have one step or two? Why do so many passages just mention believe? Why do others just mention repent? What about the passages that mention both? Is the mention of believe or repent always an indication of salvation, or are these words sometimes used in the sense of personal revival or spiritual growth?
We will seek to answer these and similar questions in this series of articles, “Repent and Believe.” May the Word and the Spirit blow away any fog of confusion regarding these important biblical concepts.
John Van Gelderen
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I look forward to reading your thoughts on this most important subject. Thank you for taking the time to dig deep and share with us the diamonds of Truth you have mined and polished.
Brother John I am looking forward to this series. So many have equated repentance as being a work. We have a wonderful song called Victory in Jesus that some say is evil. They say it is evil because of the phrase in the song ” then I repented of my sins and won the victory.” But what I believe is just this: If repentance is a work then faith must also be a work. One is turning from (repent) and the other is turning to (faith). In order to be saved one must believe on the gospel of the Lord… Read more »
THIS NEEDS TO BE IN A GOSPEL TRACT .IN MY CHURCH,HARDLY ANYONE GOES DOOR TO DOOR WITNESSING,NO ONE KNOWS AND NO ONE CARES ,EVEN AFTER 9/11.WHY NO REVIVAL AND SOULWINNING?UNBELIEF,LETHAGY,APATHY,COMPLACENCY,LUKEWARMNESS AND INDIFFERENCE.ALMIGHTY GOD CAN’T BE PLEASED WITH THE BRAND AND QUALITY OF CHRISTIANITY AND SPIRITUALITY IN THIS GENERATION.I USE A TRACT FROM JERRY SIVNSTY”THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS”.