Is repentance a work ? Absolutely NO
Faith and repentance are inter-connected. It is not possible to have faith in Jesus Christ yet not keeping his word of repentance. You cannot have faith without having repentance. Repentance is expression of faith.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
This verse says that we are saved by faith and Faith alone. And it is gift of God, that’s all we need. Some people misunderstand the meaning of faith in this verse and believe that- “we do not need repentance to receive born again experience. Preaching Repentance or telling people to repent is a work based gospel so it brings legalism”.
But we need to understand this – Faith includes repentance.
James 2:20…. faith without works is dead
We need to understand faith without action is dead. Repentance is individual’s expression of faith. It is impossible to place your faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior without first repenting for your sins. Repentance means turning from sin & self rule to God.
On the other hand faith without repentance is hypocrisy. The faith that helps a person to receive born again experience the same faith helps the person to grow up in maturity of new life. Thus repentance is absolutely necessary for salvation.
Let’s check what the word of God says.
Mark 1: 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
Mathew 3:1-2 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
Mathew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
They called people to repent for their sins. Repentance is the centre message of gospel. Believing in Jesus means to receive the born again experience by grace through faith. Without repentance we cannot have born-again experience. Without repentance faith is nothing.
Let’s see how people received born-again experience in book of acts.
Acts 3:19 Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord
Here repentance is necessary for returning back to God. Without repentance you cannot return to God.
Acts 2: 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Repentance is necessary for water baptism. Without repentance your water baptism is meaningless.
Acts 11:18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”
Here God has granted these people repentance to life……it clearly shows repentance starts the new life
Acts 17:30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,
You cannot share gospel without telling people to repent from their sins. Faith without repentance is a false faith. If you are preaching gospel omitting repentance then you are preaching wrong gospel. Repentance is not work it is part of faith in Jesus Christ.
Mathew 9:13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
Jesus came to call sinners to repentance. So repentance and faith works together. Repentance always comes first.
James 2:20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
Faith demands action. Without action faith is dead faith. The outworking of faith is repentance. If you are preaching gospel omitting repentance then you are preaching false gospel.
