RELATIONSHIP OF REPENTANCE WITH FAITH & CONVERSION

THE RELATION OF REPENTANCE TO FAITH AND CONVERSION

    

          Repentance is associated with both.

                        Acts 20:21  "Repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."

                        Acts 3:19   "Repent ye therefore, and be converted."

            

  When mentioned together, Repentance always comes first. This point deals with order.                              However, there is a psychological sequence.

                        Matt. 21:32 “Repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.” They did not  repent after hearing the message of John the Baptist. But failing to change their minds, it was impossible for faith to be exercised. Psychologically there must be a  change of mind on certain essential facts concerning sin, God, Christ before faith takes over.

                     

   Mark 1:15 "Repent ye, and believe the gospel."

    Heb. 6:1 "Not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of  faith toward God."

                        See above texts. Acts 20:21; 3:19.

              

These three are not three steps but three aspects of one act of the soul.

                        Strong makes Repentance and Faith the two elements in Conversion.

                        But I prefer my own statement as a better psychological accounts.

                        Illustration

                        Repentance is the change of mind; Faith is the movement of Spirit, in the direction of God; Conversion is the turning around in conduct.

           

Faith is certainly the more comprehensive act. Why?

                        Repentance precedes and prepares the way for faith. Conversion follows as the                              evidence of faith. Faith involves repentance and conversion.

                        Illustration

                                  cf. Jonah 3:5 with Matt. 12:41 "People of Nineveh believed." "They re­pented after the preaching of Jonah."

                        cf. the simple "believe" of John's Gospel, no mention of Repentance. But this does not mean that repentance is not present; nor does it mean that conversion is not understood. This is merely emphasis on that one central act of the soul in moving in the direction of God. Repentance is absolutely necessary before faith can follow (Matt. 21:32).

  "For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him."