Is repentance essential for salvation?
If your belief in Jesus Christ does not cause you to turn from your sin, then this kind of faith will not save you. Unrepentant faith is what the devils have and they will burn in the Lake of Fire and be punished forever. (James 2:19)
One can believe without repenting, but one cannot repent without believing!
If repentance was not essential for salvation, why did Jesus command it to be preached to all nations and all people? There are so many verses in the Bible that speak of the necessity of repentance (a willingness to turn from one's sin and seek after righteousness), one can only conclude that those who preach salvation without repentance, are unrelated to it themselves. "Easy Believism" is the modern day, evangelical movement that says one only needs to believe in order to be saved.
Luke 13:3 Jesus said, I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish (Repentance is essential, right??????????)
Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. Note: Believing and repenting are two different things. They are not the same!
If one does not include repentance in the salvation message and invitation, he is misrepresenting the gospel. Christ Himself gave the command to preach repentance to all nations in His name:
Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
After Peter preached the gospel on the day of Pentecost, he gave an invitation and told his hearers to repent:
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
At the end of Peter's life he was still telling the same message he heard his Saviour preach many times: Repent!
2Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
As the New Testament church grew and spread through all Asia, the call to repent went with it:
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
The Apostle Paul echoed the same call as he planted churches:
Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Charles H. Spurgeon, one of the greatest preachers in the 19th century, believed that no one could truly be saved without repentance. Do you believe that? Suggested reading: The Soul Winner, by Charles H. Spurgeon.
