By: Robert Serreyn
Question? When a person believes in the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus, Have they repented?
Answer: Yes they have.
The word REPENT in the Greek is METANOIA, and it means “A Change Of Mind”.
When a person believes in the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Christ as the ONLY PAYMENT for their sins, they have REPENTED, In other words they have Changed Their Mind from what they thought that would allow them to enter heaven to God’s way that WOULD allow them to enter heaven.
The sad reality to all of this is that many churches and pastors INCLUDING some well meaning ones have taken and used the English definition of the word repent (Feel or Express sincere, regret or remorse about one’s wrongdoing or sin) and have taught and preached that if they the listener really wanted to get saved they would Turn from, and Be sorry for all their sins.
That is a FALSE MESSAGE which has caused many to not put their trust in Christ as the only payment for their sins but rather a combination of their works, or good deeds along with faith in Christ, let me tell you my friend this DOES NOT save.
The ONLY thing a person has to do to GET SAVED is to BELIEVE that the Lord Jesus Christ had PAID all of their sins when he was crucified on the cross for them.
When Jesus arose from the grave that was the proof that God had accepted Christ payment for everyone’s sins.
THAT IS THE GOSPEL, their is no other, The Bible declares in…
Acts 16:31 – And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
A lost person cannot turn from their sins until after they are saved and have the Holy Spirit indwelling inside of them.
There are many christians that struggle with sin, (some by choice), so if there are christians that haven’t turn from all their sins, then why ask or expect a unsaved person to do what some christians cannot or will not do.
The Apostle Paul knew the battle well between the Old Nature (the desires of the flesh – 1 John 2:16) and the New Nature (obeying God’s Will and Word – John 14:15) when he penned the words of scripture to paper in Romans Chapter Seven, Verse Fifteen which states…
For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
In Conclusion:
Just to recap of what I said above…
– When a person places their trust in Christ and his payment for their sins alone they at the same time Repent (Change Their Mind) at the moment of belief.
– AFTER a person Trust Christ as saviour, THEN, the christian SHOULD (Ephesians 2:10) Turn from their sins (Repent) so that they MAY be Pleasing and Useful to the Lord.
The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as YOUR savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved – Acts 16:31
The moment that you do, YOU HAVE (at that second and forever) Everlasting Life which WILL NEVER be taken away no matter what.
John 10:28-29 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (29) My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8
-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24
-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9
“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23
IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH