Repentance and Faith: A Marriage Made in Heaven

Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:14-15, NKJV).

Repentance and Faith Must Always Be Joined
Jesus preached both repentance and faith. Repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin: Tails, we turn tail on the corrupt fruits of sin and unbelief; heads—we head straight for Jesus and trust His promises. Repentance is not optional anymore than faith is optional. Repentance and Faith are both commanded by Christ. The gospel is both an invitation and a command.

What is repentance? Repentance is a turning from sin and to God (Acts 3:19). In true repentance, one cannot turn to God without turning from sin and one cannot turn from sin without turning to God. Two Greek words are translated “repent” in the New Testament. First, metanoia means literally “a change of mind.” This word is used in Acts 17:30, “God . . . now commands all men everywhere to repent.” The other word is epistrophei which means “to turn to, to cause to return, to bring back.” It is used in 1 Thess 1:9, “you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.” Both words are used in Acts 26:20, “repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.”

What is faith? Faith is unwavering trust in the promises of God. Saving faith is not mere mental assent, but an active response to God in trust and obedience. The Reformers identified three aspects of biblical faith: (1) I understand with my mind – notitia, (2) I accept with my emotions – assensus, (3) I trust with my will – fiducia. Peter put it this way, “He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God” (1 Pet 1:20-21).

We must not think that we can be saved by reforming our lives without trusting in the righteousness of Christ. We must us also not think we can be saved by trusting in Christ without having a change of life. Christ preached both repentance and faith and what Christ has joined together let no man separate!

We create hideous and monstrous distortions of the gospel when we separate repentance and faith. Imagine what you would have with repentance without faith:

• Repentance without faith leads a man to despair by not hearing or believing the promises of God in the gospel (God’s love, forgiveness, acceptance, security). He is left with bitter regret, no hope, no assurance.
• Repentance without faith leads a man to pride in thinking he can “pull himself up by his own bootstraps.” He doesn’t need a Savior. He’s a self-made man or woman.
• Repentance without faith makes God a liar: “he who does not believe God has made Him a liar” (1 John 5:10).
• It’s impossible to repent without faith: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb 11:6).
• Repentance without faith cannot save. Two examples in the Bible of those who had repentance without faith are Esau and Judas Iscariot. Neither is a positive role model!

Imagine what you would have with faith without repentance:

• Faith without repentance presumes on the grace of God.
• Faith without repentance is not real faith because it doesn’t actually believe God’s Word (ignores the command to repent).
• Faith without repentance is nothing more than the faith of demons: “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” (Jas 2:19).
• Faith without repentance cannot save: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matt 7:21).
• Those who never repent of their sin will never inherit the kingdom of God: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor 6:9-10).
• Those who refuse to repent will end up in hell: “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Rev 21: 8).

What we need is to proclaim both and practice both. We need repentance that causes us to deny ourselves and follow Christ because He has redeemed us through faith in His shed blood. We need to be stripped of our pride and our sin in repentance, and clothed with grace and righteousness in faith.

Repentance ejects sin from the heart and faith enthrones Christ as Lord. Repentance purges the soul from dead works and faith fills the soul with living works. Repentance tears down the fortress of hostility to God and faith builds a temple for the habitation of the Spirit of God. Repentance is the time to weep and mourn over sin and faith is the time to rejoice in the grace and salvation of God.

The Problem of False Converts
The greatest hindrance to the purity of the church and the spread of the gospel is not the existence of unbelievers in the world. Rather, it’s the existence of unrepentant and unbelieving people in the church. Nominal Christianity is the greatest obstacle to real Christianity.

There are many who profess faith in our churches, but never manifest the fruit of repentance and faith—a heart that loves to obey God. You’d think I was nuts if I tried to explain to you a sun that never did shine or a fire that never did give heat. That would be no kind of sun or no kind of fire. If you saw a body lying still with no signs of life you’d say it was dead.

If you see a professing believer who does not love God, does not obey God, does not produce any evidence of being born again, then we must conclude we are dealing with someone who does not know God.

He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him (1 John 2:4).

The Greatest Need We Have
What is the greatest goal of salvation? To escape the consequences of Sin? To go to heaven when you die? To make your grandmother happy?

No! The greatest goal of salvation is to have every obstacle that interferes with your enjoyment of God removed, namely, the eradication of your sinful nature in exchange for a new, Holy Spirit-wrought nature that is able to truly love God and delight in God. Your greatest need is not to escape judgment, or go to Heaven, or experience forgiveness for past sins. Your greatest need is for conversion, for transformation, for regeneration! Prior to conversion, your sin nature dominates your heart (emotions), mind, and will. You need to be liberated from the bondage of sin so you can: (1) Understand and believe the truth of God in your mind, (2) Obey God with your will, (3) Love God from the heart (affections).

As a Christian, you will continue to need to practice repentance and faith because not one of us does these perfectly (believe God, obey God, love God).

If you’ve never been converted, allow me to summarize the main issue for you. (1) Your sins are an offense to God and have separated you from God. (2) You are totally unable to remedy your situation. (3) Only Christ, as He is offered to you in the gospel, can save you. If you agree with and believe these three truths, seek God for salvation. Plead with Him for deliverance from the bondage to sin. Appeal to His grace to grant you repentance and faith. Ask Him for the gift of the Holy Spirit to give you a new heart and to bring you to a sound and thorough conversion.

Why must we keep faith and repentance joined?

• You cannot dirty your hands and expect to be clean.
• You cannot run from God and expect to be reconciled to Him.
• You cannot be ignoring Him and be believing Him.
• You cannot be saved by faith without repentance.
  

What We Believe, Part 1

The following is the first in a series of posts on Christian doctrine. These studies originate from my teaching ministry at First Baptist Church of Española, New Mexico.

WHAT WE BELIEVE
A STUDY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE

By Massimo Lorenzini

INTRODUCTION

GOALS OF THIS STUDY

1. To Attain Assurance of Eternal Life
   1. and that from childhood you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus (2 Tim 3:15).[1]
      
   2. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 The one who has the Son has life. The one who doesn't have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life (1 John 5:11-13).
      
2. To Grow in the Knowledge of God
   
   
   1. Now if I have indeed found favor in Your sight, please teach me Your ways, and I will know You and find favor in Your sight. Now consider that this nation is Your people (Exod 33:13).
      
   2. This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and the One You have sent--Jesus Christ (John 17:3).
      
3. To Strengthen Our Love for God's Word
   
   
   1. 97 How I love Your teaching! It is my meditation all day long. 98 Your command makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is always with me. 99 I have more insight than all my teachers because Your decrees are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the elders because I obey Your precepts. 101 I have kept my feet from every evil path to follow Your word. 102 I have not turned from Your judgments, for You Yourself have instructed me. 103 How sweet Your word is to my taste-[sweeter] than honey to my mouth. 104 I gain understanding from Your precepts; therefore I hate every false way (Ps 119:97-104)
      
   2. 7 The instruction of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, making the heart glad; the commandment of the Lord is radiant, making the eyes light up. 9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are reliable and altogether righteous. 10 They are more desirable than gold-than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey-than honey dripping from the comb. 11 In addition, Your servant is warned by them; there is great reward in keeping them (Ps 19:7-11).
      
   3. 1 How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path of sinners, or join a group of mockers! 2 Instead, his delight is in the Lord's instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted beside streams of water that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers (Ps 1:1-3).
      
4. To Be Equipped for Ministry
   
   
   1. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work (2 Tim 3:16-17).
      
   2. 11 And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God's Son, growing into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ's fullness. 14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. 15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head—Christ (Eph 4:11-15).
      
5. To Be Able to Share and Defend our Faith
   
   
1. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect (1 Pet 3:15, NIV).
   

WHAT IS SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY/DOCTRINE?

1. We all do Systematic Theology.
   
   
   1. Any time you say, "The Bible teaches . . . " you are doing systematic theology.
      
2. Systematic Theology should be done right (i.e., biblically).
   
   
   1. It's possible to have bad/unbiblical theology.
      
   2. When someone says, "I think God would never send anyone to hell," that is a person who has bad/unbiblical theology.
      
3. What is Systematic Theology? What is Doctrine?
   
   
   1. The word "theology" comes from two Greek words—theos meaning "God" and logos meaning "study"—theology then is "the study of God."
      
   2. Systematic Theology answers the question, "What does the whole Bible teach about a particular topic?"
      
   3. The biblical teaching of a topic is a "doctrine."
      
      
      1. The word "doctrine" means "teaching."
         
   4. Anyone who thinks about God is a theologian. The question is, "Is our theology biblical and true?"
      
4. We must be careful to base our theology on God's Word.
   
   
1. All theology must find its basis in a careful study of the Bible.
   
   
   1. The Bible is our source of authority for learning about God because it is God's revelation of Himself to mankind.
      
   2. The Bible contains God's redemptive acts and the inspired interpretation of those acts.
      
   3. If God did not reveal Himself to us, we could never know Him.
      
2. We can also refine our understanding of theology by reading/hearing the teaching of those theologians and teachers God has given to the church.
   
   
   1. You could and should try to develop your theology from a personal study of Scripture, but it would take you many years of diligent study. We can benefit from the study of others who have gone before us.
      
   2. Someone said, "Christian theology is entering into a 2,000 year old conversation."
      
   3. "Consequently, if you do not listen to Theology, that will not mean that you have no ideas about God. It will mean you have a lot of wrong ones." –C. S. Lewis
      
3. Theology and doctrine must be written down for clarity and correction.
   
   
1. The church has always written down its beliefs to clarify teaching and protect the church from error.
   
2. The early creeds were written in response to heresy.
   
3. Confessions of faith also clarify the doctrine of the church.
   

The Baptist Faith and Message

1. The Baptist Faith and Message is the statement of faith adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention.
   
2. Who are Southern Baptists?
   
   
   1. Since its organization in 1845 in Augusta, Georgia, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has grown to over 16 million members who worship in more than 42,000 churches in the United States. Southern Baptists sponsor about 5,000 home missionaries . . . [and] . . . more than 5,000 foreign missionaries in 153 nations of the world.
      
   2. The term "Southern Baptist Convention" refers to both the denomination and its annual meeting. Working through 1,200 local associations and 41 state conventions and fellowships, Southern Baptists share a common bond of basic Biblical beliefs and a commitment to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the entire world.[2]
      
3. What is the purpose of the Baptist Faith and Message?
   
   
   1. On June 14th, 2000, the Southern Baptist Convention adopted a revised summary of our faith. The committee's report says in part:
      
      
      1. "Baptists cherish and defend religious liberty, and deny the right of any secular or religious authority to impose a confession of faith upon a church or body of churches. We honor the principles of soul competency and the priesthood of believers, affirming together both our liberty in Christ and our accountability to each other under the Word of God. Baptist churches, associations, and general bodies have adopted confessions of faith as a witness to the world, and as instruments of doctrinal accountability. We are not embarrassed to state before the world that these are doctrines we hold precious and as essential to the Baptist tradition of faith and practice. As a committee, we have been charged to address the "certain needs" of our own generation. In an age increasingly hostile to Christian truth, our challenge is to express the truth as revealed in Scripture, and to bear witness to Jesus Christ, who is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life."
         
      2. The 1963 committee rightly sought to identify and affirm "certain definite doctrines that Baptists believe, cherish, and with which they have been and are now closely identified." Our living faith is established upon eternal truths. "Thus this generation of Southern Baptists is in historic succession of intent and purpose as it endeavors to state for its time and theological climate those articles of the Christian faith which are most surely held among us."
         
      3. It is the purpose of this statement of faith and message to set forth certain teachings which we believe."[3]
         
4. The fact that the SBC has an official confession of faith demonstrates that Southern Baptists are a doctrinal people and what we believe matters.
   
   
   1. The BF&M demonstrates that we hold essential doctrines in common with other Christians and denominations, thus testifying to our basic unity.
      
   2. The use of such confessions is voluntary and in no way should be imposed upon believers or churches against their consent.
      
   3. Confessions are used to testify to the world our basic beliefs.
      
   4. Confessions also are to be used to prevent false brethren from entering the fellowship of a church and thus pollute and destroy the fellowship and to discipline those who have erred in their doctrine.
      
5. As a church and denomination, we must know, defend, and pass on the deposit of divine truth that has been entrusted to us. A study of doctrine helps us do that.
   
   
   1. Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding irreverent, empty speech and contradictions from the "knowledge" that falsely bears that name (1 Tim 6:20).
      
   2. 13 Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard, through the Holy Spirit who lives in us, that good thing entrusted to you (2 Tim 1:13-14).
      
   3. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn't need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15).
      
   4. Contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints once for all (Jude 3).
      
6. Throughout this study your theology will be clarified, challenged, and possibly corrected.
   
   
1. We must remain teachable. Our theology should be "corrigible."
   
   
1. Dictionary definition of corrigible: "subject to being revised, improved, or made more accurate."
   

APPLICATION

1. What would be the gradual result in a church that did away with or neglected their confession of faith?
   
2. What would be the gradual result in a church that affirmed, taught, and utilized their confession of faith?
   
3. Read Matthew 28:18-20. How does a study of theology help us fulfill the Great Commission (note the following "…teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you…")?
   
4. Think of a jigsaw puzzle. If you have ever tried to complete a jigsaw puzzle you know that in the beginning it is hard to put the pieces together. But the more pieces you have put together, the easier it becomes to put the remaining pieces together. In what way is systematic theology like doing a jigsaw puzzle?
   
   
5. How would a better knowledge of all that the Bible teaches benefit your life?

Notes:

[1] Unless otherwise noted, all Scriptures from the Holman Christian Standard Bible.

[2] From the official SBC web site under “About Us,” http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/.

[3] from the Preamble to the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 found at http://www.sbc.net/bfm/bfmpreamble.asp.

God Has Gifted Us to Participate in His Eternal Purpose, Part 2

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, (Eph 4:11-12, NKJV).

Here we find the divine plan for ministry. The Lord Jesus has gifted His church with leaders who equip the believers for ministry. Verse 11 lists those Christ has given as gifts to His church: “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.” The gifts are the men themselves, not just the capacities given them or the offices they hold.

The first two offices are “apostles” and “prophets.” These appear to be limited to the first Christian generation as foundational to the church (cf. 2:20; 3:5). Apostles were those who had seen Christ (1 Cor 9:1-2), were witnesses of His resurrection (Acts 1:8, 21-23), and were immediately commissioned by Him to preach the gospel (Matt 10:5; Gal 1:1). In a broader sense, others closely associated with the apostles directly commissioned by Jesus are also called apostles (Barnabas in Acts 14:4,14; Timothy and Silas in 1 Thess 2:6).

Prophets performed a preaching function; they spoke under the direct inspiration of the Spirit of God. Through them, God gave guidance and instruction to the church when there was no written New Testament (NT). After the writing of the NT, the offices of apostle and prophet appear to have ceased. Evangelists and pastor-teachers are needed for every age and so continue.

The word “evangelists” occurs only three times in the NT, to describe Philip (Acts 21:8), Timothy (2 Tim 4:5), and here in Ephesians 4. It means “one who announces good news.” This is a special gifting and ability to preach the gospel clearly and effectively to the unconverted, often in an itinerant ministry. It also may be a special enablement to equip others to share their faith. Our text certainly indicates that the function of these gifted men is for the equipping of the saints for their ministry.

The next office is translated “pastors and teachers.” The original Greek text signifies one office with a dual function. Note the text reads “some pastors and teachers” rather than “some pastors and some teachers.” When the modifier “some” is used with the conjunction “and” then it applies to both nouns.

Rather than being itinerant, the emphasis of the teaching pastor is on shepherding and instructing in a settled ministry. This office is synonymous with bishop/overseer and elder. We find all three terms used together by Peter:

1 The elders [elder] who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd [pastor] the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers [bishop/overseer] (1 Pet 5:1-2a, emphasis added).

The pastor-teacher is to give himself to the teaching of the Word of God. He is to present every believer under His charge mature in Christ: “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus”(Col 1:28). They are not to be distracted by other tasks that can be delegated to others (see Acts 6:1-6).

Christ’s gift of apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers are given for a specific purpose: “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (v. 12).

The word “equipping” means “to make fully ready.” The dictionary defines equip as, “to supply with intellectual, emotional, and spiritual essentials.” The believers are equipped “for the work of ministry.” We can define “work of ministry” as whatever role God has for you that either directly or indirectly contributes to the fulfillment of the Great Commission. “Ministry” means service; to minister means to serve. Every Christian should be “in the ministry.”

And what is this work of ministry or serving supposed to achieve? It all should contribute to “the edifying of the body of Christ.” To edify means to build up. It refers to growth in maturity.

The process then is: (1) The gifted men equip the saints, (2) the saints then serve (using their own gifts, (see Rom 12:3-8; 1 Cor 12; 1 Pet 4:10-11), (3) the body is then built up or edified and we all grow into maturity (i.e. Christlikeness). Every Christian is to contribute to this goal.

Every Christian is commissioned, for every Christian is a missionary. It has been said that the gospel is not merely something to come to church to hear but something to go from the church to tell—and we are all appointed to tell it. It has also been said, “Christianity began as a company of lay witnesses; it has become a professional pulpitism, financed by lay spectators!” Nowadays we hire a church staff to do “full-time Christian work,” and we sit in church on Sunday to watch them do it. Every Christian is meant to be in full-time Christian service . . . There is indeed a special ministry of pastor-teachers and evangelists – but for what? . . . For the perfecting of the saints for their ministry. –Vance Havner

What an amazing plan God has for us! What a privilege to be part of His church! I trust you are already engaged in ministry or moving in that direction. If not, what is keeping you from it? God has a plan for His church and that plan includes YOU! A body needs all its parts functioning to be healthy. Ask yourself, “Am I doing my part?”