Salvation Summaries

If you’ve read some of my posts over time, you know that I am concerned with (or not a “fan” of) “easy believism.”

I believe there are far too many people who acknowledge a belief in Jesus as someone who died to save us from our sins, and on this basis view themselves as a Christian, but their lives have never changed (after believing in Him) due to a lack of repentance, and on account of this, they likely are not saved.

Now, not everyone agrees with this view – and maybe that includes you.

Those who emphasize salvation by grace without the need for any change in one’s life can simply turn to Ephesians 2: 8-9, which says ⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith– and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Or, they can point to John 3:16, which says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Neither of these verses says anything about the need to repent.

While true, that doesn’t mean one does not need to repent to become saved. Why? What if what these verses say is true, but it’s not the whole story. What if there is more to the story of salvation? I believe there is.

Consider the following.

When John the Baptist starting preaching in the wilderness before Jesus came, what did he tell people to do? That they should repent (Mt 3:1-2).

When Jesus sent out His disciples to various towns, what did He command them to preach? That the people should repent (Mk 6:12).

When Jesus Himself began to preach, was it simply, “Believe in Me” or “believe in God”? No, He also preached that people should repent (Mt 4:16-17).

In fact, Jesus took it a step further and issued a warning for those who do not repent. In Luke 13:3 and 5 He says, “I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” Perish means that you don’t make it to heaven.

So, why is repenting so important? Because it’s one of the first steps a person must take to become saved. In Luke 5:32, Jesus says, “I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.“

The first step to becoming a Christian is to realize or know that you are a sinner, and that your sin prevents you from going to heaven. The next step is to repent, which is a change of mind that leads to a change in how you live. The third and closely related step is to believe in and put your trust in Jesus – that He alone can save you from your sins, and help you live a changed life.

So now you know.