From We Believe, Section 14: Faith, Salvation & Repentance …
• Repentance
From The GCI Statement of Beliefs:
- Repentance toward God is a change of mind and attitude in response to the grace of God prompted by the Holy Spirit and grounded in the Word of God.
- It includes awareness of personal sinfulness and trust in and allegiance to Jesus Christ through whom all humanity has been reconciled to God and accompanies a new life sanctified by the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ.
14.11 What is repentance toward God?
- It is a change of mind and attitude in response to the grace of God prompted by the Holy Spirit and grounded in the Word of God.
- Repentance includes awareness of personal sinfulness as well as trust in and allegiance to Jesus Christ, through whom all humanity has been reconciled to God.
- Repentance accompanies the new life sanctified by the Spirit through faith in Jesus.
- In repentance, we reject all attempts to justify ourselves, turning instead to God to receive our lives and righteousness from him as free gifts of his grace.
- We turn away from all evil and call upon God to open our eyes to deception and give us strength to resist all temptation.
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 [a]remission[forgiveness] of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- English Standard Version … And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- Amplified Bible … And Peter said to them, “Repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways, accept and follow Jesus as the Messiah] and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- Weymouth New Testament … “Repent,” replied Peter, “and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, with a view to the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:15 … and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not [a]imputing[reckoning] their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Romans 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Colossians 1:19-20 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Acts 5:31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
2 Timothy 2:25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,
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.”
- It is a change of mind and attitude in response to the grace of God prompted by the Holy Spirit and grounded in the Word of God.
- Repentance includes awareness of personal sinfulness as well as trust in and allegiance to Jesus Christ, through whom all humanity has been reconciled to God.
- Repentance accompanies the new life sanctified by the Spirit through faith in Jesus. In repentance, we reject all attempts to justify ourselves, turning instead to God to receive our lives and righteousness from him as free gifts of his grace.
- We turn away from all evil and call upon God to open our eyes to deception and give us strength to resist all temptation.
14.12 How may a person repent and place their faith in Jesus Christ?
Anyone may do so at any time. One way is by sincerely saying a prayer similar to this:
Father, I confess my faults, shortcomings, sins, and rebellious acts, and ask you to forgive me.
I embrace you, Lord Jesus, as my Savior and Lord.
Thank you for your atoning death on the cross in obedience to your Father’s will to put away my sins.
I enthrone you, Lord Jesus, to be in charge of every part of my life, and I ask you to indwell and empower me with your Holy Spirit, so that I may live as your faithful follower from now on.
In Jesus name, amen.
(John 15:16; Acts 16:31-34; Rom. 10:9; Heb. 12:12)
Teaching Notes: Faith, Salvation & Repentance
Concerning repentance:
- Through repentance, we stop attempting to contract with God, or to make deals with God to get him to bless us.
- We stop attempting to get our identity, security, significance and destiny from anything or anyone else, much less from ourselves.
- We no longer live for ourselves.
Here is a GCI article that further addresses the topic of repentance:
• Getting a Grip on Repentance