This post describes our conversion to God through his Son.
So which comes first in our response to the gospel of grace? Repentance or faith? I say they happen at the same time because when we repent, we also place our complete trust in the Savior and Lord.
Faith is multifaceted, and in this post, towards the end, we will focus on saving faith. Now let’s explore its basic meaning in Hebrew and Greek.
I.. Hebrew Words for Repentance
A.. One verb is naḥam
It is pronounced nah-khahm (the ḥ is pronounced like -ch- in Bach). It is used 108 times. It has two distinct meanings: “to comfort, console” and “to relent, repent, change one’s mind, be grieved.” These latter definitions can sometimes apply to God’s seeming change of mind. However, this change is never a surprise or unanticipated. Rather, it means that he has conditions attached to his promises or decrees, whether stated or implied.
For example, he promises something positive, and people obey, and the promise of blessing to them is fulfilled. That is his attribute of goodness. However, if they do not obey, then his attribute of justice-judgment comes forth to then, and he sends a prophet to warn them. Therefore, God is not fickle, as humans are. He simply gauges how people behave, and then he acts to support (reward) or counter (judge) their behavior.
Now let’s return to the topic of repentance.
B.. Another verb is ‘anah
It is used 79 times. In some contexts it denotes humbling in a positive sense (repentance or contrition). In other contexts ‘anah pleases God (Lev. 16:31; 23:27; Ps. 35:51).
C.. Another verb shub
It is pronounced shoob and is used 1075 times, which is a huge number. God must think it is important, when it is in the context of returning to God or turning back to him. Basically it means “to turn, return, repent, go or come back.” It mostly has a physical meaning, like turning back to a point of departure. But theologically it means the act of repentance, for example, turning from idolatry to the living God. “Return to me” (Is. 44:22).
II.. Greek Words for Repentance
A.. The noun metanoia
It is pronounced meh-tah-noi-ah and is used 34 times. It is derived from meta– (after) and nous (mind); when the prefix meta is attached to a noun, as here. It means a “change of place or condition.” In this case it denotes a radical and profound moral turn of the whole person from sin to God. Repentance goes together with the forgiveness of sins (Luke 3:3; 24:7). Sins are blotted out in repentance (Acts 3:19; 5:31; 11:18; 21:21).
B.. The verb metanoeō
It is pronounced meh-tah-noh-eh-oh and appears 34 times. It usually means “change one’s mind.” When metanoeō is used, it means a radical turn from sin to a new way of life. “Repent of your wickedness!” says Peter to Simon the sorcerer (Acts 8:22). True repentance brings forth fruit or visible evidence showing repentance (Matt. 3:8 Acts 26:20). Then one has to believe as one changes course. He has to believe in the gospel (Mark 1:15) or the atoning death resurrection (Acts 2:38).
C.. Another verb is epistrephō.
It is pronounced eh-pea-streh-foh and is used 36 times. It’s basic meaning is to turn physically, (e.g. turning around and going or looking the other way). Peter turned and saw the disciple Jesus loved (John 21:20). Theologically it can be translated as “turn” (e.g. turn to God). Theologically, it can “indicate a spiritual and moral turn from sinfulness to the true God. In other words, it indicates a spiritual conversion” (Mounce, p. 750). Some references for further study: 1 Thess. 1:9; Acts 14:15; see 3:19; 9:35; 11:21; 15:19; 26:18, 20, 27; 1 Peter 2:25; 2 Cor. 3:16. This turning is called “conversion,” from the Latin noun conversio. Literally it meana “turning around,” which is related to the verb converto, “to turn around, to whirl around,” especially “to turn in the opposite direction” or “to turn back” or “to direct towards.”
D.. Bible Scholar William Mounce
He summarizes metanoia and metanoeō: It is “essentially to grasp the gospel message, because it does not allow for someone to obtain salvation simply by intellectually believing that Jesus is the Son of God without repenting of sins and turning to live for him” (p. 581). So intellectual assent or agreement or changing one’s mind is insufficient. It must be a profound moral and radical change of one’s whole life.
E.. Summary
The basic meaning of repentance is a radical and profound change of course and direction away from sin and self-rule and towards God. You were going in one direction, but now you are going in the opposite direction. The whole person, body (behavior), soul and spirit, must go through this change that only God initiates and can work in you. This is called conversion.
For further word studies on repent and repentance, click on this link:
III.. The Call to Repentance
A.. God calls everyone to repent.
Jeremiah 18:11 promises disaster in the Old Covenant unless Judah and Jerusalem turn to God and reform.
11 “Now therefore say to the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, ‘This is what the Lord says: Look! I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways, each one of you, and reform your ways and your actions.’ (Jer. 18:11)
Ezekiel 18:30-32 says that people should turn away from their offenses and get rid of their wickedness and get a new heart. So turning and changing in the heart is part of the message of repentance.
30 “Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. 31 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live! (Ezek. 18:30-32)
Paul told the Athenians that God commands everyone to repent, because God has set a day to judge the world (Acts 17:30-31).
30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31)
God is not willing that anyone would perish, but that everyone would come to repentance.
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Pet. 3:9)
B.. Christ calls everyone to repent.
In Mark 1:14-15 Jesus proclaimed that the kingdom of God has come, and now everyone must repent.
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:14-15)
In Luke 13:1-5 Pilate had mixed the blood of some men with sacrifices, and in Galilee a tower fell on eighteen men. Are they worse sinner than all the other people? “No! But unless you repent, you will all perish!”
Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke 13:1-5)
That means when everyone dies, they will perish if they did not repent—they are all headed for destruction without repentance, not just those unfortunate people.
C.. John the Baptist called everyone to repent.
Matthew 3:2 teaches us that John was in the wilderness, preaching “Repent, for the kingdom of God has come near!” The kingdom of God demands repentance, or else judgment will fall on the unrepentant.
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (Matt. 3:1-2)
D.. The apostles called everyone to repent.
In Mark 6:12-13, Jesus gave his twelve apostles authority to proclaim the gospels, heal the sick, and eject demons. They called everyone to repent and did those signs and wonders.
12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. (Mark 6:12-13)
In Acts 2:38, on the day of Pentecost, when the Spirit had come with great power, Peter stood up in the middle of the people and told them to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. And then they too will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit—everyone.
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)
In Acts 3:19-20, when God worked a miracle through Peter, in the body of the beggar at the gate called Beautiful, Peter told the gawkers that they should repent and turn to God, so that their sins would be wiped out and times of refreshing would come from God. Incidentally, “wiping out” is another way of saying “atonement.”
19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. (Acts 3:19-20)
Peter in the same sermon uses a synonym for repentance, “turning”:
When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.” (Acts 3:26)
In the context of the above verse Peter latched on to the teaching of the blessing of Abraham, as seen in Galatians 3, for example. Jesus the Messiah is the blessing to these Jews. Later, the Messiah will be the blessing to all the nations. But in the broader, general context, everyone must turn from their wicked ways.
In Acts 26:20, Paul is standing trial and giving his testimony to King Agrippa II (and others). Paul said that he preached the gospel to everyone in Jerusalem and Judea and then to the Gentiles. They must repent and turn to God and then demonstrate repentance by their deeds.
20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. (Acts 26:20)
E.. The call must go out to everyone.
In Luke 24:45-49, the resurrected Jesus, just before his ascension, said that repentance for the forgiveness of sins must go out to all the nations.
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Acts 24:45-50)
IV.. The Elements of Repentance
A.. People must admit they are lost.
In Luke 15:3-10 Jesus tells two quick parables about a shepherd who lost one sheep and went out to look for it, and woman who lost a coin and turned the house upside down until she found it. Then the angels rejoice in heaven because a sinner who repented—the one lost sheep and the one lost coin.
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:3-10)
In Luke 5:31-32, Pharisees and teachers of the law criticized Jesus for eating with despised tax collectors, but Jesus replied that he came to call sinners to repentance, not the righteous. Elsewhere Jesus said that unless our righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees (Matt. 5:20), we won’t enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, Jesus was being ironical when he implied that the Pharisees and teachers of the law were righteous.
29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:29-32)
B.. People must feel conviction.
As noted, in Acts 2:37-38, when Peter preached to the crowd on the day of Pentecost, the listeners were “cut to the heart.”
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:37-38)
In Acts 8:20-23, Peter told Simon the sorcerer that his heart is not right with God, and he was full of bitterness and captive to sin.
20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” (Acts 8:20-23)
C.. People can sometimes feel godly sorrow.
Second Corinthians 7:9-10 teaches that godly sorrow—as opposed to human sorrow—leads to repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret. If you feel regret after you genuinely repented, then this is wrong. You have an overactive conscience. Repentance does not leave behind any leftover regret or guilt (see below in the application section for how to deal with this lingering guilt after heartfelt and godly repentance).
9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. (2 Cor. 7:9-10)
D.. People return to the Father.
In the famous parable about the prodigal son (Luke 15:17-24), the son ran off with his share of his father’s wealth and squandered it. Then he came to himself and returned to his father, who ran out to his son, fell on him with a big hug, and escorted him home. He put a robe on his son and celebrated his return. The point is that the son went in the wrong direction and did an about-face towards God.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:21-24)
E.. People must believe in the good news.
The good news says that (1) salvation in Christ has come; (2) faith in Christ as distinct from law keeping is brings salvation; (3) the Spirit comes on us with great power. People must repent and believe in Jesus, then all the benefits follow.
15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15)
F.. People must believe in Jesus Christ.
In Acts 20:20-21, Paul told the Ephesian elders that that everyone—Jews and Gentiles—must turn to God in repentance and have faith in Jesus Christ. That’s the essential gospel: Repent for the forgiveness of sins and believe in Jesus.
20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. (Acts 20:20-21)
G.. People who have repented must do good works as evidence.
In Matthew 3:8, John the Baptist rebuked the “extra-righteous” Pharisees and Sadducees, calling them a brood of vipers who were liable for the wrath to come. Then he told them to “produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” “Fruit” in this context means “good works” or “evidence” that they have repented.
8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. (Matt. 3:8)
In Acts 26:20, as noted, Paul is very clear that people must repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. This corresponds to Paul’s practice of writing in his epistles the ethical or behavioral side of faith in Christ (the last three chapters of Ephesians is good example).
Paul is giving his defense before King Agrippa:
20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. (Acts 26:20)
In Revelation 2:5 Jesus himself tells the “messenger” of the church in Ephesus that the church must repent and do the things they had done at first. Apparently, they were good deeds.
5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. (Rev. 2:5)
V.. The Results of Repentance
A.. People will experience salvation.
As noted, in 2 Corinthians 7:10, godly sorrow leads to repentance, which leads salvation. In the larger context, the man who sinned was forgiven and restored.
10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. (2 Cor. 7:10)
B.. The rest of Theology 101: The Basics
This online series in the rest of the Soteriology section, will describe the results of repentance.
VI.. Refuting a Strange Belief
A.. Statement of the strange belief
There is an odd teaching going around the church that there is no reference in all of Scripture that says “repent from sins” or “repented of sins” or “repenting of sins.”
B.. Reply to this belief
Here are some verses that word the phrase either exactly or nearly exactly. The concept is certainly biblical.
Job 36:10: “He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil.”
Isaiah 59:20: “The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 8:6: “I have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right. None of them repent of their wickedness, saying, ‘What have I done? Each pursues their own course like a horse charging into battle.”
Jeremiah 18:8 and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned.
Ezekiel 14:6 “Therefore say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!”
Luke 3:3: “He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”
Luke 5:32: “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Luke 15:7: :I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” (See Luke 15:10)
Luke 24:47: […] “and repentance FOR the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
Acts 2:38: “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'”
Acts 8:22: “Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.”
Second Corinthians 12:21: “I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.”
Hebrews 6:1: “Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God”
C.. Conclusion
Not every verse has “repent from sins” (and so on), but most have just about the exact wording. We need biblical teaching about repentance in the church nowadays.
VII.. Hebrew Words for Faith
A.. Brief intro.
I let these theologians quickly define the term in the Old Testament. The terms faith and faithfulness are aligned with trustworthiness and truth.
B.. What theologians teach us.
1.. Reformed theologian Louis Berkhof writes:
The Scripture uses several words to express the veracity of God. In the Old Testament ‘emeth, ‘amunah, and ‘amen, and in the New Testament alethes (aletheia), alethinos, and pistis. This already points to the fact that it includes several ideas, such as truth, truthfulness, and faithfulness. (p. 69)
2.. Reformed theologian Herman Bavinck says:
The Hebrew and Greek words are translated, as follows:
English translations, accordingly, have “true,” “faithful,” and “faithfulness.” That is why the trustworthiness of God is an attribute of the will as well as of the intellect. Veracity and truth, trustworthiness and faithfulness, are so closely associated that they cannot be split apart (Reformed, p. 202)
3.. Norman Geisler defines it more straightforwardly:
The Hebrew word for truth (emet) means “firm,” “stable,” “faithful,” “reliable,” “correct.” The Greek word for truth (aletheia) means “truthful,” “dependable,” “upright,” “real.” In brief, the term truth, as used in Scripture, means “that which, because it corresponds to reality (the facts, the original), is reliable, faithful, and stable. Used of words, truth is telling it like it is. True statements are those that correspond to reality and, hence, are dependable. (p. 581, emphasis original).
4.. Millard Erickson boils biblical truth to these synonyms.
He places integrity in the bigger category and these terms fitting under it: Genuineness, veracity, and faithfulness (pp. 260-62).
VIII.. New Testament Words for Faith
A.. Brief intro.
Now let’s move on past those theologians get right to the Bible. Here what the New Testament says:
B.. Greek noun
In Greek the noun for faith is pistis (pronounced peace-teace or piss-tiss), and it is used 243 times. Its basic meaning is the “belief, trust, confidence,” and it can mean “faithfulness” and “trustworthy” (Mounce p. 232). It is directional, and the best direction is faith in God (Mark 11:22; 1 Thess. 1:8; 1 Pet. 1:21; Heb. 6:1) and faith in Jesus (Acts 3:16; 20:21; 24:24; Gal. 3:26; Eph. 1:15; Col. 1:4; 1 Tim. 3:13).
One key verse is, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Heb. 11:1). This faith is directed to God, because we do not see him. Faith is very serious to God; it is his language. We live on the dim, dirt clod called planet earth, so the heavenly kingdom is invisible to us. We must believe–have faith–that it exists. It is a blessing that he reveals himself most clearly through his Son (Heb. 1:1-2).
C.. Deeper definition
BDAG devotes four columns of fine print to define the noun. I summarize them here.
1.. Faith means total trust and faith.
It is “that which evokes trust and faith, the state of being someone in whom confidence can be placed, faithfulness, fidelity, commitment” (Rom. 3:3; Tit. 2:10; 2 Tim. 1:4; 2 Tim. 4:7) That is, a person of pistis is faithful and committed. He will follow through. You can depend on him. This is the basic meaning in Galatians 5:22 (one fruit of the Spirit is faithfulness), says BDAG. Pistis is “a solemn promise to be faithful and loyal, assurance, oath, troth.” So now we have narrowed the last definition to promise keeping. That is, a person of pistis is so consistent that he keeps all of his promises. As noted in the first definition, pistis can mean my and your faithfulness (Heb. 10:38). This definition also fits Galatians 5:22.
2. The one to be trusted is important.
Pistis is “the state of believing on the basis of the reliability of the one trusted, trust, confidence, faith.” The application here is that you can put your trust, confidence and faith—your pistis—in someone who is reliable. So now we shift from your character to the one in whom you place your trust, faith, and confidence. Specifically, you can place your trust, confidence, and trust in God and Christ and his finished work on the cross (Mark. 11:22; Acts 19:20). He won’t cast you aside, when you do. Abraham placed his pistis in God (Rom. 4:5, 9, 11-13, 16, 19). Then God declared him righteous.
Christ is the beginning and goal of faith (Heb. 10:38; 11:3; 13:7). Faith is the opposite of doubt (Matt. 17:20; Jas. 1:6; 5:15). We can place our faith and trust in him during our physical and spiritual stress, often in the Synoptic Gospels (Matt. 8:10; 9:2, 22, 29; 15:28; Mark 2:5; 4:40; 5:34; 10:52; Luke 5:23; 7:9, 50; 8:25, 48; 17:19; 18:42).
3. Faith and trust and confidence go together.
You can have faith and trust and confidence in his name (Acts 3:16a), in the gospel (Phil. 1:27), and truth (2 Thess. 2:13). Pistis can stand alone without an object, indicating true piety and devotion or being a Christian believer (Luke 18:8; 22:32; Acts 6:5, 8; 11:24; 6:7; 13:8; 14:22; 15:9; 16:5; Rom. 1:5, 8, 12, 17b. “Faith to faith” does not mean gradation, but faith is the beginning and end.
4. Joy comes from faith (Eph. 2:8; 3:17; 4:5, 13; 6:6; Phil. 1:25).
There are such things as the word of faith (Rom. 10:8), words of faith (1 Tim. 4:6); and the mystery of faith (1 Tim. 3:9).
5. Gentiles can now have faith in God through Christ.
God has opened the door of faith to the Gentiles; that is, they now have a relationship with the true God (Acts 14:27).
6. Faith and love are often coupled (1 Thess. 3:6; 5:8; 1 Tim. 1:14; 2 Tim. 1:13; Phm. 5) or with love and other fruit (2 Cor. 8:7; Eph. 6:23; 1 Tim. 2:15; 4:12; 6:11; 2 Tim. 2:22; Tit. 2:2; Rev. 2:19.
Faith, hope and love (1 Cor. 13:13; see also Col. 1:4ff; 1 Thess. 1:3; 5:8). Hope and faith are put together (1 Pet. 1:21). This means that these Christian virtues grow together.
7. Pistis can mean fidelity to Christian teaching
This must be worked out with good deeds (Jas. 2:14, 17, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26). It can also lead to freedom or strength–conviction (Rom. 14:22 and 23).
8. Faith can even be doctrine itself.
It is “that which is believed, body of faith / belief / teaching” (Acts 6:7; 13:8; 14:22, 27; 16:5; Rom. 1:5; 12:6; Phil. 1:27; Gal. 1:23; 6:10; Eph. 4:5; 1 Tim. 1:13; 1:19; 4:1, 6; 6:10, 21; 2 Tim. 2:18; 4:7; Tit. 2:2; Jas. 2:17; Jude 3). The point here is to get one’s basic beliefs settled. No, one does not need complicated theology, but faith in Christ and God is a good start. The posts in this series is designed to help you with more thorough beliefs and doctrines.
D.. The adjective
The adjective pistos (pronounced peace-toss and used 67 times) is almost always translated by the NIV as “faithful,” “trustworthy,” “reliable,” and “can be trusted.” It is sometimes translated as “believer” or “believe.” So once again “faithful” and “faith” are closely linked.
E.. The verb
The verb is pisteuō (pronounced pea-stew-oh), and it is used 241 times. It means to “believe, be convinced of something.” In a more specific definition it goes in a direction: “to have faith in Christ or God” (Mounce p. 61). This is much better than a vague believing in oneself or the universe. Believe in Jesus first, then study Scripture slowly as you move along. When you advance, you can study basic doctrine.
IX.. Saving Faith and Trust
A.. To be saved
To be saved, all one has to do is to obey the truths in these verses:
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:31)
15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. (1 John 4:15)
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father [God] loves his child [the Son of God] as well. (1 John 5:1)
11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I write 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)
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. […] 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Rom. 10:9-10, 13)
B.. Summary
To be saved: Just call on his name, and with saving faith, and believe in Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God. Profess your saving faith out loud. Declare him Lord, with your mouth. Believe in your heart that God resurrected him (= vindicated his Son’s entire life, ministry, and death). And then you shall be saved and born of God. Simple. Even a child can do this with his childlike faith.
X. Results of Saving Faith
A. Declared righteousness.
A major theme in Romans and Galatians is that believers are declared righteous or justified by faith without works (Rom. 3:28, 30; 4:5, 11, 12-13, 16; 5:1-2; 9:30-32; 10:6; Gal. 2:16; 3:8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 22, 24; 5:5). Peter and Paul and others preach salvation through faith in the name of Jesus throughout Acts (Acts 3:16; 14:9; 15:9; 20:21; 24:24; 26:18). This introduces a new way of living from Judaism, which is more about obedience to the law.
B. Adoption
We are adopted into the family of God. We are now members of it. Romans 8:14-17 says:
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[f] And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
In Genesis 12-50, the Bible teaches us that Jews belong to a family that descended from Abraham, who ultimately produced the Messiah. Can Gentiles become members of a new family of faith, if they belong to the Messiah? Yes, when they are filled with Spirit. Can Jews belong to this global family, which goes beyond the sign of circumcision? Yes, if they have their hearts circumcised and also belong to the family of God through faith. The rest of this book explores other results of saving faith.
XI.. Application
A.. Repentance is a great scriptural doctrine.
Repentance is one of the greatest doctrines in all of Scripture. God offers us a way back to him. What is the old saying? “You can walk a million steps away from God, but it is only one step back.” The point to that saying is that you should just turn around and backtrack from your path of sin and self-rule and allow God to change you. Then you will instantly experience his forgiveness. How great is that! Your guilty conscience is clean.
B.. Be warned about guilt after genuine repentance.
But if you feel guilty after you genuinely repented, either you have an overactive conscience or the devil is attacking your mind. Either way, the solution is the same. Proclaim this biblical truth: “I am the righteousness of God in Christ” (1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 5:21). After you sincerely repent and receive his forgiveness, you can receive his righteousness as a free gift.
God declares over you that Christ has become your righteousness. Repeat: read those two verses aloud, and proclaim that Christ is your righteousness. Let them renew your mind. Repeat this as often as needed.
C.. God will forgive genuine repentance
Then those lingering regrets and guilt will disappear. And now you can begin again, with him as your Lord and God. How do you know when your repentance is genuine? When your life begins to change for the better.
D.. Faith is the currency of heaven
Believing is the currency of heaven. We have faith in Jesus and his salvation first. And then we believe in him for everything else, like walking in holiness, healing, and the gifts of the Spirit. All good things flow from our faith in Jesus Christ apart from works of the law.
E.. Starve your doubts feed your faith
The opposite of believing is doubting. You may have doubts, but starve those doubts through the power of the Spirit. Ask God to fill you more. The second way is to starve your doubts by feeding your faith, and this happens when you study Scripture. As you study Scripture, say key verses that are meaningful to you out loud. Speak them out.
F.. God’s faithfulness will sustain you
As to faithfulness, only the Father by the Spirit living in you can work in you consistency, reliability, dependability, trustworthiness—all synonyms of faithfulness.
G.. God’s faithful will work good character in you
Only the Father by the Spirit living in you and in the name of his Son can work in you those virtues or qualities, so that people can put their confidence in you at your work and your family life. You will be honest and reliable. Then they will see your character and good works that flow from your good character and glorify your Father in heaven (Matt. 5:16).
H.. Reminder
Here is a time-tested acronym to explain faith:
F-A-I-T-H = Forsaking All, I Trust Him.
You have to abandon your self-rule and self-lordship and your old ways and sins (repent), and fully trust in Christ. It is a total commitment to him.
I.. Which comes first?
Faith or repentance? They happen at the same time. As you place your total trust in the Son of God, you repent. And as you repent, you place your total faith in him. I don’t see any need to get more complicated than that.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Dr. Jim's Essential Bible Teaching 