Repentance and Salvation in Scripture, Pt. 4
by Ronald R. Shea, Th.M., J.D.
This is Part 4 of an ongoing series on Repentance in Salvation by Ron Shea.
What Is Saving Repentance
If you have not read the prior sections, I highly recommend you read them first.
WHAT SAVING REPENTANCE IS NOT:
1. Saving repentance is not being sorry for your sins.
2. Saving repentance is not turning from your sins or reforming your life.
3. Saving repentance is not the willingness to turn your life over to God so that He can direct your path.
Saving repentance has absolutely nothing to do with regretting your sins or resolving to turn from them.
God is willing to save you just the way you are.
The Bible says:
While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
WHAT SAVING REPENTANCE IS:
The principle word for “repentance” is from the Greek noun “metanoia,” and the Greek verb metanoeo.”
Metanoia simply means “a change of mind.” When used in the context of eternal salvation, repentance is a change of mind about Jesus Christ, and His eternal divinity, His atoning death, His victorious resurrection, and His offer of eternal salvation by faith alone, apart from the works of the law.
On page 19 of The Gospel Booklet, the content of saving faith is summarized as follows:
I. Man’s Need:
i) Man is sinful, and his sins separate him from a Holy God.
II. Salvation:
i) God will declare a lost sinner “Not Guilty” of all his sins, past, present, and future; and
ii) God offers a perishing man the gift of eternal life.
III. The Requirement:
i) Faith
III (a) The Object of Saving Faith:
Jesus Christ.
III (b) (The content of Saving Faith):
i) That Jesus is the eternal creator God;
ii) That Jesus death paid in full for our sins;
iii) That Jesus rose again from the dead; and
iv) That Jesus offer of salvation is a gift apart from any work of man.
If someone denies, or does not understand his need for salvation, he must repent. He must recognize his lost condition before his Creator, and the salvation offered by his Creator.
If someone denies that Jesus is the one true God, he must repent. He must recognize that Jesus is not simply an exalted created being, or a god of a great pantheon of Gods, but the eternal Creator God.
If someone believes that his relationship with God can be restored through any work of man, he must repent, and recognize that Jesus has paid the sin debt through His death on the cross, and that it is through Jesus alone that salvation can be found.
It should come as no great surprise, therefore, that, in the context of salvation, we see the object of repentance directed to some of these very elements.
The Object of Repentance: Looking at the Context
The easiest way to identify the object of repentance is when it is specifically cited: “repent from XYZ.”
Oftentimes though, the object of repentance is not stated this explicitly. Remembering that repentance is “to change one’s mind,” if the object of repentance is not specifically stated, the second contextual marker you should look for to identify the object of repentance is what a lost man is said to “believe,” or “suppose” or “understand” or “think” or “regard.” This identifies the object of repentance (the belief about which the lost sinner must “change his mind“).
If neither of these two features are available to identify the object of repentance, one should be a little less than dogmatic in identifying the object of repentance. However, the overall context should be considered, and the conclusion drawn therefrom must be consistent with the rest of Scripture.
Not surprisingly, in passages calling for repentance in conjunction with eternal salvation, we find the object of repentance either specifically identified, or, inferentially identified by what the lost persons “believe,” as being the same elements we see a lost man is called to believe unto salvation. He is called to repent from beliefs inconsistent with saving faith in Jesus Christ.
Repentance Concerning the Deity of Jesus
Jesus is God incarnate, and His divinity is part of the saving message (Matthew 16:16-18; John 8:23-24; 11:25-27; 20:31; Acts 16:30-31; 1st John 5:13). A doctrine or belief that denies the undiminished divinity of Jesus Christ is therefore incompatible with saving faith. Such heretical doctrines include, but are not limited to, polytheism, in which Jesus is just one of many gods, pantheism, in which everyone and everything is part of god, and radical evolutionary philosophy wherein there is no creator whatsoever . . . only a powerful being who stumbled across a pre-existing universe and proclaimed himself the sovereign over it.
It is obvious that one cannot believe that Jesus is God if one holds a bankrupt understanding of who God is.
Therefore we see that those who hold a bankrupt understanding of God are told to repent (change their mind) about their understanding of God as part of their conversion process. In contexts that appear related to salvation or conversion, we see the word “repent” directed to a change in mind about the nature of God.
In Acts 17, Paul preaches on Mars Hill to a group of Greek philosophers, Bohemians, New-Ager’s and unemployed dilatants. Paul takes note of the numerous altars to the numerous Greek gods, as well as the altar to “The Unknown God.”
Recalling that Jesus’ divinity is part of the saving message, we should naturally expect Paul to say something about their polytheism, which is ultimately a denial of the undiminished divinity of Jesus Christ.
Repentance and the Divinity of Jesus
“Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” Acts 17:29-31
Four questions need be asked of the above passage:
- Is the context of this passage soteriological? (Dealing with eternal salvation). The answer is unquestionably yes. Paul is not instructing these Athenians on the selection of deacons and elders in the local church. He is addressing lost men about their most urgent need, their need for eternal salvation through Jesus Christ. In the above passage, Paul teaches that God will judge the world in righteousness by the man (Jesus) whom He (God the Father) hath ordained. To fail to regard this passage as soteriological is just plain nonsense.
- Is repentance presented as a requirement for eternal salvation? The answer is unquestionably yes. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent. Simply put, repentance is not an option.
- Is the object and/or content of repentance disclosed? Yes. The Greek word is “metanoeo” (change one’s mind). And in the verse immediately preceding the use of the word repent, Paul states, “we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.” To “ought not think” is virtually synonymous with the meaning of “repent” (to change one’s mind). And the belief or doctrine that men “ought not think” is that God is simply some silly gold, silver or stone idol fashioned by the hands of mortal man.
- Is the soteriological message derived from this passage consistent with the soteriology of other parts of Scripture? Again, the answer is Yes. The divinity of Jesus is repeated over and over as part of the saving message. And divinity must be defined! One cannot say “I believe Jesus is God,” and then turn around and point to a statue of gold or silver and say that it is god. Such a belief reduces to mere rhetoric any affirmation of Jesus’ divinity.
The Gospel of John, which is written that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, begins by providing a basic sine-qua-non of Jesus divinity. He is eternal–“In the beginning”, He is the Creator — “all things were made by Him, and without him was not made anything that was made”, and He is personal — “In him was life.” Here, Paul draws on the same notion, recognizing that one cannot believe Jesus is the eternal God if one holds a corrupt understanding of God. If one believes that the Godhead is like unto gold, sliver, stone, or graven art, he must repent.
A similar theme redounds in Paul’s First Epistle to the Thessalonians:
“For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (epistrepsate from root strepho). 1st Thessalonians 1:9
In view of the above, the doctrinal statement of Clear Gospel Campaign includes the following carefully crafted statement about the Gospel message:
New Ageism
We regard the belief that we are all children of God in an equal sense with Jesus as effectively reducing a profession of Jesus’ divinity to meaninglessness. We therefore believe that a true saving faith in Jesus as the unique Son of God is not evident in a profession of faith that is tainted by the new age belief in the divinity of mankind.
Polytheism
We regard the belief that Jesus is one of many such gods as incompatible with the believe that He is the eternal God. We observe that Scripture records polytheistic converts as turning from their idols (1st Thessalonians 1:9) in their conversion to Christ. We believe that a true saving faith in Jesus as the unique Son of God is not evident in a profession of faith that is tainted by the belief that Jesus was one of many equivalent Gods.
Cosmological and Biological evolution
We freely acknowledge that as stars use up their nuclear fuel, that they progressively change in composition from hydrogen to heavier elements, and that the universe grows in entropy daily as a result. We further acknowledge that mutations occur in most living creatures, including man, and that in the case of a virus, simple mutations may even increase their survivability. We believe that these observable phenomena are consistent with the witness of Scripture (Hebrews 1:10-12; Romans 8:22), and that these entropic phenomena offer no support to the evolutionary theory.
In view of this clarification, we believe that a fundamental definition of God is set forth in John 1:1-3. We believe that the most fundamental understanding of God therefore must include an affirmation that He is eternal (“in the beginning”), that He is the Creator (“all things were made by Him”), and that He personal, and not simply a “force” (“in Him was life”). We believe that to adopt a cosmological evolutionary view of the universe as a self creating entity, or a biological evolutionary view that mankind “evolved” from some “pre-biotic soup” of chemicals afloat in the sea or atmosphere, is incompatible with believing there even is a Creator God, and therefore, is incompatible with believing that Jesus is God at all. Although we reject as unbiblical and unscientific the belief in “theistic evolution,” we do not hold that a perfect understanding of God’s activity in creation is necessary for salvation. Without defining a specific point at which the erosion of faith in God’s activity as the Creator falls below that of a saving profession of faith, we hold that a true saving faith in Jesus Christ God is not evident in a profession of faith that has reduced the meaning of “God” to a powerful being that stumbled upon a pre-existing universe. God is not and explorer who discovered the world. He is the Creator of the world. Accordingly, we hold that a true saving faith the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not evident in a profession of faith tainted by a radical evolutionary view of man or the universe.
To this end, Clear Gospel Campaign affirms that a defense of the Creatorship of God is intrinsically bound to the defense of the divinity of Jesus, and therefore, to the message of salvation.
FREE PDF DOWNLOAD BY PASTOR THOMAS CUCUZZA ON REPENTANCE
Sermon – Understanding Repentance Part 1 by Pastor Tom Cucuzza
Sermon – Understanding Repentance Part 2 by Pastor Tom Cucuzza
Holly, have you studied the connection between the mind and heart? The gospel has to be received in the heart, per the drawing of the gospel of Christ, so that it takes root in the heart when believing on Christ for salvation. The devil comes either directly or indirectly, and takes the gospel away from the heart, so that the receiving in the heart won’t happen. I believe satan does so through getting man to turn his ears away from the drawing of the word, to his own carnal reasoning (wisdom of men) that denies the word. So, it’s more than just a change of mind, i believe. I believe it has to do with a change of heart, too. Calvinism takes this change of heart too far, though. The change of heart is a prerequisite to being born again through believing on Christ for salvation, but the Bible is clear that faith is how a man becomes born of God (Galatians 3:26).
Sean, thanks, Yes I have, quite some time ago. Sometimes heart/mind/ used interchangeably, other words are used, such as the bowels or reins being related to the heart. Our spirit is also sometimes also used, such as ‘renew a right spirit’ in me. But of course the whole point is when we believe, we are given a new heart, we don’t do the work in our heart first, then receive the Word.
We are told to believe upon Jesus Christ. We can believe about Him, but have we believed/placed our faith on what He did for us personally upon the Cross?
Shouldn’t we be careful with our “I thinks” or “I believe”, and try harder to back up what we think with what the Word says? The book of John alone, almost 100 times gives the qualification for being saved, and it is believe. The devil wants to redefine belief into a bunch of different things; heart belief, head belief, carnal belief, etc. etc.
We either believe upon Him, or we have not understood, and we have not believed.
There are believers, and there are unbelievers.
You said: The devil comes either directly or indirectly, and takes the gospel away from the heart, so that the receiving in the heart won’t happen. I believe satan does so through getting man to turn his ears away from the drawing of the word, to his own carnal reasoning (wisdom of men) that denies the word. So, it’s more than just a change of mind, i believe. I believe it has to do with a change of heart, too.
But the Word tells us the simple reason why it has happened (Lk 8:11b), lest they should believe and be saved.
Seem’s pretty straightforward.
Matt 13:19, tells us “When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart.”
We are saved one way, by the washing/baptism/sanctification of the Spirit, and belief in His truth (2 Thess 2:13), and how did we get to belief? By being called by the GOSPEL (vs. 14). The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation, (to those of us who believe), (Rom 1:16-17, 1 Cor 1:17-18)
We are beget BY the Word of truth, the perfect Gift given from above (James 1:16-17)
Take note to this verse below, these people understood and believed it to be the truth, the Word of God.
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. 1 Thess 2:13
When we believe that truth, we are born again of an incorruptible seed, by the Word of God, which lives and abides forever (1 Pet 1:23 pp)
I don’t see ‘believing’ regarding unto eternal life, differentiated in the Bible. I see either belief or unbelief. I have to reject the rest of men’s additions and understandings. Too many of them in this last century. I remember when I saw blueletterbible add F.F. Bruce’s understanding to repent/repentance metanoeo/metanoia and if you look him up you will see he is well favored by Roman Catholics for his penance/penitence stance).
I’ll leave it up to God whether one has believed, and I don’t want to help the enemy sow seeds of doubt and make a young one stumble. The best remedy to be sure one is saved, is be sure they are preached a clear gospel, sans any excellency of speech and wisdom of men’s words (1 Cor 15:3-4, 1 Cor 2:1-5)
If I believe that someone may not have been saved and are not growing, we have a MULTITUDE of instructions about making disciples, abiding in His Word in order to be one, feeding His sheep if we love Him, commending them to the Word of His grace so they can grow, washing the feet of the saints (a picture of practical sanctification in our walk in this life).
Hope I helped clarify my understanding of His Word. In Christ alone, Holly
Holly, how does understanding in the heart come about? When God draws through the preaching of the gospel. Man’s wisdom doesn’t receive the word. That’s why God has to spiritually draw a man to understand, through the gospel. Isn’t that a change of heart happening along with a change of mind? Repentance is in the heart, is it not? In order to have that change of mind, you have to be spiritually drawn by the word first. And then when you understand in your heart, you will believe on Christ for salvation.
Do you agree…or do you believe a man can understand the gospel in his heart without being spiritually drawn by the gospel? Nice chatting with you…may God bless,
Sean
I think maybe you’re misunderstanding my answer. I think the differential between understanding and believing with the mind or heart are the same. So I am not talking about man’s wisdom, we believe with our mind, and heart is often used as if a heart could have understanding. It’s about understanding and believing the truth. I’m saying, let’s not differentiate, the Bible doesn’t. The gospel is power, and Yes, as I stated in my last comment, we are called by the gospel. It is the power of God unto salvation to those of us who believe. It pleased Him to give this ‘foolish message’ power. The Scriptures can make people wise unto salvation. Faith can come by the hearing of the Word.
So, I just prefer to let the Word speak. And I don’t want to use religious speak that has snuck into the church or gospel presentations that are not found in the Word. If one believes they have proof in the Word, they can just lay it out, His Word will show us what the answer is.
And God has also drawn all men, by the lifting up of Christ on the cross. Maybe go back and reconsider the passages. We have a multitude of ways that we are drawn. By the prayers of the saints 1 Tim 2:1-6. By the examples of them (Titus 3:8), by the planting and watering of the gospel. By being all things to all men. By sound speech that cannot be. By walking in wisdom towards those who are without, redeeming the time, keeping our speech seasoned at all times prayerfully with grace and salt. By being ready with an answer of the reason of the hope that is within us. By not withholding our hand, by sowing seed, not regarding the weather, but to sow.(Ecc 11). By speaking His Word which will not return void (Is 55:10-11), by preaching in and out of season. We have so many instructions on how to be laborers for the harvest that is white, as well as praying for laborers.
May we continue to do that, I don’t agree with differentiating between different kinds of belief. One believes the truth, or He does not. If He has believed, then He has been born again, beget by the Word through belief. Hope that helps somewhat. In Christ’s love.
Would add a complexity involved regarding FORGIVENESS. Repentance and forgiveness are inseparable. My experience was that repentance was not so much changing my thoughts about Jesus but about my life after having a repentant hear manifested by God by His Measure of Faith Given to me…which led me TO The Son…but it was by Revelation that I Knew Who Jesus is, in Truth, that is the only way to Know that Reality..not a carnal assent…my ‘repentance’ was through Christ’s forgiveness and turning over my life to Him in the Baptism of Death into Him so as to live again in Him (Life). I Am the Resurrection. Only God can gives us the New thoughts from the Understanding that comes from The knowledge of God is the way I experienced it..as well as laying myself on ‘the threshing floor’ then to the altar to underto The Knife (the Word) that separates spirit from soul. So as to receive the new spirit of the New Adamic man (Christs resurrection Life)…and from then on walk in repentance in His state of Grace by being a forgiving spirit (Merciful)…to others. One of the grave errors people make is pointing out peoples ‘sins’..it accomplishes nothing in many regards but might manage to scare them away…the forgiveness occurred in the act of repentance from desiring to fully forgive my family past regardless of who was right and wrong. Being set Free in that regard was to be freed from ‘the family curse” which can pass on for generation.
Stephen, thank you for joining us, but you know there are several things I’d like to put out there for you to consider.
Our experience many times has nothing to do with the truth and authority of God’s Words. There are some things you said such as pointing out other’s sins, there is an established way within the church to do this, “removing the beam from your eye first”, “judging with a righteous judgment and not according to appearance”(Jn 7:24), and remembering we never judge the world (1 Cor 5).
Forgiveness of sins is simple, and comes the moment we believe upon Jesus as our Savior, that is when we are turned from darkness to light and have received forgiveness of sins. That forgiveness is forever (Heb 10:10,14) although we still live in the flesh and still sin in the old man, we confess our sin to Him, in order to have our relationship right with Jesus and also with other believers (1 John 1).
The Word is powerful and when we study it with His approval in mind (Heb 4:12, 2 Tim 2:15), His Word does discern the thoughts and intents of our heart. Being sorry is not the same thing as ‘repent’ although in a few cases it is used that way, such as Paul not being sorry for writing the letters to the Corinthians which made them sorrow.
There are no more generational curses though, that is past, every man shall bear the guilt for his own sin. We can indeed carry on some bad habits from things we have learned.
I was a little confused with your comment “I Am the Resurrection”, the way it’s worded, looks as if you are pointing that at yourself. Can your clarify?
Fascinating, and a recent realisation for me, even how to use language. I believed in Jesus, that’s what I called it, and I know Satan does too and demons tremble, but why does the KJV say believe on Jesus? That sounds weird. I thought it should read “in” and the only reason it didn’t was because it is arcane English. Wrong! Now I understand it’s a matter of what difference he makes. Someone (trying to explain) said they believed in an aspirin tablet, there it was in their hand, but they believed on it to stop their headache, to be effective, and suddenly I understood I believe Jesus saves me, not just in his existence or that he’s the Son of the most High, as demons said.
Now here you are saying repentance is a change of mind about who he is (and what he’s done), not a change of mind about whether I want to continue sinning, which of course I don’t – very keen to stop in fact! But that’s what I’ve always heard we should be repenting of – our sin. It’s only ever been presented to me as a result of progressive sanctification that I will turn from sin, and then there would be the godly sorrow to reassure you’re on the right track.
Yes I believe on Jesus, thank you ! Thankfully both happened together.
I still think the language sounds strange to modern ears. On? We don’t say that. I don’t say I believe on aspirin either, but I know they work quite well.
Hi Bea, I love the way you think out loud as you work through things. I tend to do that too.
I think a person who comes to belief may want to turn from sin. Thing is they are ‘without strength’. They are sinners. They are ungodly. They are not righteous. They are not good (Paraphrasing Rom 5:6-8).
Turning from sin is good, but is a work. Jonah 3 helped me there, to see when they repented it was to belief, and that whey they turned from the evil deeds, God called it a work. I also appreciate the book by Richard A. Seymour called all about…repentance. His walk to looking into understanding the original meaning seemed to be a lot like mine. Anyways, after we come to believe on/in/upon Jesus >>as our Savior (the demons aren’t offered salvation), we now have the Holy Spirit. He is the only way to have any power over sin in our lives. Hiding His Word in our heart, and taking heed to His Word (Ps 119:9-11). Otherwise it’s just flesh cleaning up flesh. That’s where understanding our two natures helps clear up things. The difference between the new creation (which cannot sin – 1 Pet 1:23; 1 John 3:9), and the flesh (old man) which constantly wars with our soul and does sin till we die (Gal 5:16-17; 2 Cor 10:3-4; 1 Pet 2:11; Rom 7:22-25).
Too many preachers (many deceivers) and too many people (many deceived), I’m afraid get that wrong. Turning from sin is a work of the law (Num 5:6-7). Again, a good thing to do once we’re saved. And only accomplished by yielding to the power of the Spirit. We cannot do it in the flesh. But we cannot be saved by a work of the law (Gal 2:16).
If turning from sin was automatic in a believer’s life, we probably wouldn’t have ever seen 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Hebrews, James, etc. 🙂
I think the believe ‘on’ I can see how that might be confusing to some. I think that what is important, is that people understand that belief in the person and work of Christ to save us is the only way to receive eternal life. Being saved apart from any works of our own, is what the focus needs to be. Once people understand there is nothing they can ‘do’, and they realize that God is not a man that He should lie, it is so much easier to rest knowing we can rely on Him.
People are so ‘works’ focused (all religions are based on it), they don’t hear what Jesus tells them to ‘do’.
Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. John 6:28-29
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. John 6:47
Have a wonderful week.
Thanks Holly, that’s good stuff! I’m buffing up my new understanding that repentance is about our thinking about Jesus, not about sin, not at the point we’re saved. Happy to change my mind about sin too of course!
Thanks Bee.
We all repent (think differently) about something we once believed. A Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, needs to think differently about Who the true God is.
A works-based Catholic needs to change their mind about sacraments contributing to salvation.
But basically the sin the Holy Spirit convicts the world of is unbelief (John 16:7-11). We have to hear to believe (Rom 10:14-17). People sometimes are suck in certain sins that are more ‘obvious’ and yet others don’t see sin in themselves. Maybe an angry disposition, or a prideful, stubborn or rebellious one. Maybe impatience or selfishness. Maybe just not doing good when it’s in our power to do it. Spending time with the Lord in His Word helps us to see those things (the entrance of His Word brings light – Ps 119:130).
Happy to change my mind about it too, however, we know it will be will us until we’re delivered from the presence of it forever (Rom 7:24-25).
Another wrinkle from poor translation: Rom 11:29
God does not repent of his calling and gifts. Means that these are irrevocable (not the mind changing “metanoia” in this case). Well, I’m wondering whether the WOF thinkers are correct in taking this to mean a prophet will not lose his gifting even if there are problems with his fruit, let’s say. My question is: is the context of this verse rather about God’s gift of salvation, to the Jewish remnant and to us, and not necessarily about spiritual gifts – should we still pay attention to a prophet who seems not to be living a godly life, for example. What do you think?
It’s a different word that is translated as repentance. Ametameletos vs meta-Noia or metanoeo.
Learning that the meaning isn’t always conveyed perfectly in that we understand words differently is super helpful. Richard Seymour in the book “All about repentance” goes through the different words throughout the Bible and their meaning. Also Kees Boer on YouTube does short helpful videos. He speaks a few languages and is very humble and apt to teach. He explains a few of the issues in different instances.
Getting ready to get on a plane soon and on my phone so missed your last part.
Not sure I completely understood it all but let me try.
//“My question is: is the context of this verse rather about God’s gift of salvation, to the Jewish remnant and to us, and not necessarily about spiritual gifts – should we still pay attention to a prophet who seems not to be living a godly life, for example. What do you think?”//
It is spoken to His promise of the blessing in the Abrahamic Covenant which promise covered a Savior which was to all people. Never is this particular Greek word used in context is salvation. Yes it basically means irrevocable, He will not change His mind. Or what He has promised, He will do.
Romans 9-11 is primarily about Israel. As far as the question about a prophet? I do not believe there is new revelation and that whatever is revealed has to line up with His Word. Do they have wholesome words? The Words of our Lord Jesus Christ? If not we withdraw from them. So doctrine, watching out for leaven, being in the strong meat of His Word—all important.
Yes, repentance is a change in the wrong things that he used to believe, but it’s more than that. It’s a change in your affections. The sin you used to love doing is now the sin you hate. Can a man who used to love visiting brothels continue to visit brothels after coming to Christ? No! He will hate the evil he used to love. “Let the wicked forsake his way…” – Isaiah 55:7
Hi Gavin, thanks for commenting. I think it depends on what the change of mind is about. For example, in receiving the free gift of eternal life, the Scriptures over and over again declare it is free and by belief upon the giver and what He did for us. But after we believe, we also change as we grow in His Word. Some stay carnal, for example the one in 1 Corinthians 5 that Paul came to chasten the church, because they were committing sins, not even named among the heathen. That’s pretty bad. And serious. And the church didn’t even care that this guy was fornicating with his father’s wife. So Paul gave this guy’s flesh over to Satan yet his soul would still be saved. Same with those in 1 Corinthians 11, who I marvel at the carnality of coming for the Lord’s supper with the motive of getting drunk and gorging. And some were getting sick, and some were chastened to physical death because of it.
I agree with Isaiah 55:7 obviously, but this is about how one who knows Him ‘should’ walk. Obviously in context, we see that eternal life is free (just back up to verse 1).
Here is the remedy for those who seem to love their sin yet say they have believed the gospel.
So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.” John 21:15-17
If we love Jesus, we will feed His sheep so they can grow. So their way can be cleansed (Psalm 119:9; Eph 5:26)
If we think they may not have believed the truth, then what is the remedy?
Preach the gospel and trust the power of the gospel unto salvation (Rom 1:16-17; 1 Cor 1:17-18)
I don’t see the remedy is ever questioning whether they were really saved. (I know some misuse 2 Cor 13:5, or even James 2, not at all understanding context). But you won’t see it done in Scripture, therefore we should not do the same. We should wash the feet of others like Jesus did in John 13, an example of helping others in their walk/practical sanctification.
God bless your week Gavin.