In order to gain salvation, we need to believe and repent. Can repentance come before our belief? This is the second devotion in the Believe and Repent series that looks at where repentance falls in gaining salvation.
Nuggets
- When being convicted by the Holy Spirit, people are led to see that their relationship with God has been fractured.
- We must acknowledge that God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.
- What if you can’t have believe without repentance and vice versa?
- When we are convicted by the Holy Spirit, we are urged to change from our current sinful state to the state of being forgiven.
To read devotions in the Believe and Repent series, click the appropriate button below.
Repenting is expressing sorrow for things we’ve done wrong. But it is not just feeling sorry for doing those things. It is making the commitment to changing ourselves so that we no longer do the wrong things.
It is about changing our minds about Who God is. It is about expressing sorrow that we thought we did not need Him. It is about changing our lives to give Him control of our thoughts and actions.
How Do We Know We Need to Repent?
"And [the Philippian jailor] brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" (Ac. 16: 30 KJV)
When being convicted by the Holy Spirit, people are led to see that their relationship with God has been fractured.
In the previous devotion, we discussed how this fracture was created by the original sin committed by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. This act made everyone sinners.
To read a related devotion, click the button below.
Because we are sinners, we must ask forgiveness from Sovereign God. This is a critical component in gaining salvation. We have to confess our sins in order to be forgiven by God.
Sinners are all people who have not made a genuine profession of faith — who have not sincerely ABCDed.
Forgiveness is, when we ask, the act of God pardoning us because we have shown repentance for breaking His laws and commandments, which allows us to become holy as He is.
Salvation is the gift of life through the deliverance from condemnation and sin to acceptance and holiness and changes us from being spiritually dead to spiritually alive.
- Sins are actions by humans that disobey God and break one of His reasonable, holy, and righteous laws and commandments, goes against a purpose He has for us, or follows Satan’s promptings.
- Holiness is the transcendent excellence of His nature that includes elements of purity, dedication, and commitment that lead to being set apart. Purity means possessing God’s moral character, having eliminated the stain of sin.
- Spiritual death is the spiritual separation from God that occurred as a consequence of Adam and Eve’s original sin. The spiritually alive are those who have ABCDed, so they are no longer separated from God.
The ABCDs of Salvation
If you have not become a believer in Christ, please read through the
Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
A – admit our sins
B – believe His Son Jesus is our Redeemer
C – confess God as Sovereign Lord
D – demonstrate that commitment by making any changes needed in our lives to
live the way in which God has called us
The Disciple’s Job Description
Glossary
If we do not admit that we are sinners, we continue to commit Adam and Eve’s original sin — disobedience to and rejection of God. If we do not admit that specific actions we do are sins, we do not fully repent.
Satan was not only pointing out to Eve the restriction God placed on them, but he was also enticing her to want to be like God (Gen. 3: 5). If we cannot admit that we are sinners, we say we don’t need God. We say that we are as good as God.
We Need to Know We Need God
We must acknowledge that God is omnipotent, ‘ omniscient, and omnipresent.
Those are more big, churchy words.
Omnipotent means God is all-powerful. God is omnipotent because He is all-powerful. He has control of all things, including physical elements.
“All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him. He does as he pleases among the angels of heaven and among the people of the earth. No one can stop him or say to him, ‘What do you mean by doing these things?’” (Dan. 4: 35 NLT). His power is limitless.
Omniscient means God is all-knowing. He knows what has happened in the past, what is happening in the present, and what will happen in the future.
Psalm 139: 15-16 says, “You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed” (NLT). He knows everything about everybody and everything.
Omnipresent means God is everywhere. He is a spirit, so our physical boundaries mean nothing to Him.
David asked, “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!” (Ps. 139: 7 NLT). The answer was, “nowhere.”
So, Which Comes First?
What if we can’t have believe without repentance and vice versa?
Belief is the process — believing — by which we gain faith in God.
- Faith is a gift from God that enhances the conviction that the doctrines revealed in God’s Word are true, even if we do not understand all aspects of them, a belief which impacts our lives and distinguishes us from others.
Repentance is acknowledging our separation from God and expressing sorrow for breaking God’s laws and commandments by making the commitment to change our sinful ways to ways of righteousness through obedience.
- Obedience means to hear, conform to, and carry out the instructions that God gives us.
Maybe we really can’t parcel belief and repentance out. We have to have repentance to be sorry for something. But we can’t believe that Jesus is our Savior until we know that we need saving.
It is more than that, though. We have to believe that Jesus is the only way we can be saved (Jn. 14: 6). Saving grace won’t come our way any other way. We can’t earn it. We can’t be good enough to counteract the sin.
To read a related devotion, click the button below.
So, maybe this is the timeline.
- The Holy Spirit starts convicting us that we need forgiving.
- We start believing that we need that forgiveness.
- We figure out that Jesus is the only one Who can do that.
- We get to the point where we admit we are sinners, are truly sorry for our sins, believe Jesus to be the only one Who can save us, and confess all this to Him by asking Him to save us.
- At that same time, we commit to changing our lives in order to live for God.
What Happens When We Are Saved?
When we are convicted by the Holy Spirit, we are urged to change from our current sinful state to the state of being forgiven.
God shows us not only that we need to mend our relationship with Him. But He also shows us where we have broken His laws and commandments.
We get to come to God just as we are. We don’t have to start living right, and then go to Him for forgiveness. We gain salvation the moment we believe and repent. It is after that, when we obediently follow the Father’s Will, when we begin to clean up our lives and live in the way He desires.
To read a related devotion, click the appropriate button below.
When we ask forgiveness from the sins we have committed, we are set free from the consequences of sin (Jn. 8: 36). We receive the gift of salvation.
Everyone who asks will be saved. Joel 2: 32 says, “Then everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved …” (CSB).
We become children of God when we believe and repent. “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God” (Rom. 8: 14 NIV).
Glossary
We then must work out our salvation (Phil. 2: 12). We must determine the areas of change needed in our lives and work out how God wants us to change those.
The Disciple’s Job Description
Complete Job Description
Individual Description
Job Duty #2
Work Out Our Salvation (Philippians 2: 12)
Is the Worldview Correct That Sin Is Okay?
So many times, we convince ourselves that the worldview is correct in that we do not need God — it isn’t.
Yet, those are the same people who will slam believers for continuing to openly sin. They feel believers are hypocritical when professing to be believers who do not live a lifestyle to back up that claim.
To read a related devotion, click the button below.
When disciples truly repent, that change is evident. Disciples must attempt to do the do’s and refrain from doing the don’ts. We must not change the gospel to fit our lifestyles.
To read a related devotion, click the approprite button below.
We must trust in God alone. “For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation” (Ps. 62: 1 ESV). We cannot follow the worldview.
We have to go through a process when we are struggling with turning our lives over to God. I love what Adam said the other day. “Faith isn’t a lack of questions, but working through our questions and finding God.” We have to work through those questions so we can believe through faith in what God has done for us and repent of our sins.
Gracious Heavenly Father. You convict us, Lord. You show us that we need You in our lives. Help us to turn to You and seek You to be our Savior and Lord. Help us to withstand Satan’s attempts to tempt us. Lord, we look to You to help us grow stronger in You. Amen.
The following article was used as the foundation for this series:
If you have not admitted that your relationship is not right with God,
have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior,
and have not confessed your sins,
please read through the Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
What do you think? Leave me a comment below (about this or anything else) or head over to my Facebook group for some interactive discussion.
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Greetings, perhaps you know someone who would reflect about this message.
TOPIC: If we understood God knows everything we think, say and do we might want to change some things.
Luke 5:22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?
I left a church after 5 months and said I would never go to church again. Seven years later at a church I had never been to the minister said I want to welcome all who were abused by their former church. After the sermon he told me in 25 years he had never said that and at the time wondered why; I have put my words in your mouth Jer. 1:9.
Who am I: *Someone who looked in the mirror and said God help me stop drinking before I thought HE knew me.
* I gave God’s Testimony to someone and 3 weeks later he said didn’t you give me some papers I stopped drinking.
*Bill, addicted to cocaine, said Jesus if you’re real help me; Bill saw a flash and heard NEVER WILL I LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU Heb. 13:5.
*A card dealer in Vegas filled the tub and said God if you’re real baptize me – she is now a minister.
*I am someone who cried for 2 hours at age 74 from God’s Love, and 150 times since +/-.
Jesus is in the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of God is in our midst Luke 17:21 -not a million miles away.
GOD’S LOVE is not words but something you can feel – pursue it. He said seek me and you will find me Jer. 29:13.
This is the same Jesus from Luke 5:22! The one they say will appear with 10,000 angels IS WITH YOU! You can look up 2 Cor. 13:5. He is waiting for us to sincerely call for HIM.
He said TELL ABOUT MY LOVE. It’s a book; I’m not promoting it here but if you read the front and back cover you will see God in my life: “The Greatest Discovery in Life is to know How Much God Loves You, How to Love Him, The Holy Spirit is REAL” – on Amazon.
HE said ARE YOU JUDGE AND JURY (to me): The verses: judge not lest ye be judge Mat. 7:1; There is only one judge, but you, who are you to judge your neighbor Jms. 4:12 apply to everyone and more to those who know them and ignore them and turn people away from God. Let your gentleness be evident to all for the Lord is near Phil.4:5
PRAYER REQUESTS: Millions think someone in church should pray for them, teach people they do not need someone anointed to pray for them they can pray to Jesus on their own. Ephesians 2:18, NLT: “Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. I’ve been healed of several issues.
FEAR GOD: I’ve met Christians who think they are to fear God; Nearly 300 verses mention this; God said their fear of me is false teaching of men Isa. 29:13. Fear is punishment 1 John 4:18, Love does not keep a record of wrongs 1 Cor.
HARDEST VERSE IN THE BIBLE SOLVED; Dennis Prager says the hardest verse is to love God; Pray JESUS REMIND ME OF MY LOVE FOR YOU, say I don’t know how to love you, I pray for the gift of Your presence.
THE DREAMS: I’ve had a thousand. Just wake up and start praising God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit for 10-15 minutes and you can do this in your mind. You will be amazed at the change. You don’t have to feel like you love them as you may not in the state of mind you are in at that time, but you will see the change; reference 2 Cor.13:5.
WHY DO WE BLAME GOD: I’ve heard Christians say God must have had a reason for someone dying. If you believe God controls everything you are blaming HIM for disease, accidents, murders, suicides, children to starve, children to be used as sex slaves, wars ect. See Job. 1:7, 2 Cor. 4:4, John 10:10. The devil causes hate but things happen in life.
EVERY WORD FROM GOD?: God said the prophets prophesy lies and priests rule by their own authority. Abraham said God told him to sacrifice Isaac in Gen. 22, God said the thought of sacrificing a child would not enter His mind Jer. 19:5. Jer. 8:8 says how can you say we are wise……… the lying pen of the scribes handled it falsely.
learn to hide our ego; watch Todd White, Dan Mohler, Randy Clark Graham Cooke et.al. who preach about love.
PASTORS, it is GOD’S CHURCH, and everyone is welcome, people come for love not to be judged! Some have led HIS people astray, some preach by their own authority Jer. 5:31. They led me astray and God knew it and redeemed me.
It’s not my place to judge, just making an observation and I guarantee HE knows what I think, say and do and that is why I say every day forgive me for my thought, words and deeds that are not kind.
May God guide your good works for HIM,
Ron Ziegler http://www.1lifesaved.com – nothing sold here but Jesus.
Watch you tube video 26 Miracles RW Shambach -13 minutes; most amazing work of God you will ever hear.
Thank you for your comments. Praise God for working in your life! I am going to have to process all of your points and get back to you. Have a blessed day.
Howdy! This article couldn’t be written much better!
Looking at this post reminds me of my previous roommate!
He continually kept preaching about this. I am going to forward this post to him.
Pretty sure he’ll have a good read. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for your kind words! Loving God and others — that is what we are to be about.
Very well written, thank you, Lord bless you. I happen to believe a bit differently on salvation, belief and repentance.
Before Jesus’ ministry John the Baptist prepared the way saying repent, not to unbelievers, no he was saying repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand to people who believed God, pharisees some of them. Just let that sink in a little. Are we ready for more of Jesus?
Now to the familiar passage of old testament repentance in 2 Chronicles 7:14 is again directed not at unbelievers, but God says ‘if my people, which are called by my name’ this is to us the believers, and oh Lord we need to stay repentant.
When a unbeliever hears the gospel 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, when a unbeliever hears John 3:16, and believes that very act is one of God moving a heart from stone to flesh, it is from heaven, it is of repentance unto salvation.
The Holy Spirit then moves in permanently sealing the Child of God unto the day of redemption. Salvation is all of God, none of man, eternal life, Jesus doesn’t lose any sheep, not one, can’t be saved, and lost. Eternal life, everlasting life.
Repentance the more you look at in all of the Bible it is always directed at the one who already believes, and nothing about repentance, nor water baptism saved anyone, but turns the believer back into intimate fellowship with the LORD.
We can not use our understanding of one verse, or passage to cancel out any another we must pray, and trust God to give us understanding of His whole Word, staying repentive with a spirit of learning more of Him, this my view of God’s Word. The thief on the Cross had belief that was repentive unto salvation.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
John 6:47 KJV
Thank you for your comments. You bring up some interesting points. I will have to process them and get back with you. Thanks for making me think.
Elaine.