WHY REPENTANCE OF SIN IS NOT A WORK

May 7, 2020 — By Historic Baptist

1. Salvation is not of works, Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9; Eph. 2:8–9, Romans 11:6.
2. Salvation is by grace through faith, thus it cannot be mix with works, Eph.2:8, Rom.11:6.
3. Grace and works cannot go together, Rom.11:6, Rom.4:4
4. Grace is harmonious with faith, but not with works, Eph.2:8–9, Titus 3:5
5. Repentance and faith are requisites to salvation, Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21; Heb.6:1
6. Repentance and faith are commands of the gospel, Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21; Heb.6:1
7. Obedience to the commands of the gospel is not work, 2 Thes.1:8; Acts 16:30
8. The word “do” in Acts 16:30 and “obey” in 2 Thes.1:8 does not imply work but a decision in the mind & heart.
9. There is no physical action and effort in obeying repentance and faith, it is a decision in the heart and mind and soul.
10. Both the thieves on the cross at first mocked at Jesus (Mat.27:44) , and then later the other one repented (changed his mind) and believed on Jesus, and he did not make any physical effort nor come down from the cross and do some works. (Luke 23:39–43).
11. When Jesus preached repentance, it is a requirement for salvation from hell, not a warning for some physical dangers, Luke 13:3,5; Mark 1:15.
12. When Jesus preached repentance, it is repentance of sin. He did not call the righteous but sinners to repentance, Mark 2: 17.
13. Repentance and faith are mentioned in Heb.6:1, and they are foundational truths before baptism. Repentance from dead works is repentance from sin, because dead works are sins.
14. The prodigal son repented of his sins prior to his works of going home and asking apology to his father. He admitted that he sinned and was unworthy. He did not work to repent but proved he repented by his works. Luke 15:17–19.
15. The first son repented before he went to work in the field. He did not work to repent. ( Matthew 21:28–29).
16. In Jonah 3:10, the work is the fruit of repentance. They did not work to repent, rather they worked because they repented. “God saw their works that they turned from their evil way”. The Hebrew word of that is “ki” and that mean also as “because”. And example of this is Genesis 26:20 where the Hebrew word “ki” is translated as because. “He called the name of the well Esek BECAUSE they strove with him”. It does not mean that he called the well Esek in order for them to strive with him. In the same way, the people of Nineveh did not work to repent, rather they work because they repented. It does not say that work is repentance or repentance is a work.
17. Repentance and faith are man’s sacred duties toward God through grace. (Acts 11:18; 18:27; 5:31; 2 Tim. 2:25).
18. Repentance and faith come through conviction of the Holy Spirit and hearing of God’s word. (John 16:8; Rom.10:17).
19. “Forsake his way… thoughts” mentioned in Isaiah 55:7 does not mean work or physical effort but rather a decision in the mind and heart to forsake his way and thoughts.
20. The word “repent” means “to turn, return”. From the Greek word “Metanoia” repentance means “a change of mind”. It is not a work.
21. “Turning from his way” mentioned in Ezek.33:11 does not imply work. It is a change of mind and direction. It is a decision in the mind and heart to turn from sin.