MrWonder's Bible Chat

Belief and Repentance

Belief and repentance are two sides of the same coin.

If one believes they have repented.

If one repents they have believed.

To repent is "to change the mind" (Greek metanoia). One is to change their mind about sin and unbelief. One cannot change one's mind about either without in fact changing their mind. That is repentance.
To believe is to trust in Christ as Lord and Saviour. One cannot trust Christ unless one has changed their mind (repented). Trusting Christ is belief.

A person who PROFESSES Christianity and has not repented of his sins and unbelief is not a Christian at all, for belief and repentance are so wedded as to forever be inseparable.

II Cor. 5.17 states, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Such a few words but pregnant with such meaning! It is Christ Who makes the person new. It is Christ Who empowers the believer to live a new life; a life of holiness and devotion to righteousness.

If you have been deceived by someone preaching belief without repentance, heed them not. Confess and forsake your sins, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and He shall give you life eternal. Proverbs 28.13, "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."

The power of Christ is the power to change the life. If Christ has not changed your life, you have not believed. Note that I did not say it is impossible for a Christian to fall--Proverbs 24.16, "For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief." Every time you fall, look to the Lord Jesus, and He shall lift you to your feet again, for if you are saved, you live and move and have your being in Christ Jesus.