Jesus Revealed in Doctrine JESUS REVEALED BY REPENTANCE
Repent ye therefore, and be converted. Acts 3:19.
Which comes first--repentance or forgiveness? Is repentance a condition for coming to Christ? Do we have to make ourselves sorry for our sins before God can accept us? Probably the most important truth to understand in the doctrine of repentance is that it is never to be a barrier between the sinner and Christ. We can always come to Him just as we are, and it is then that He gives to us the gift of repentance.
But notice that repentance comes before forgiveness, or justification. Acts 5:31 says that God has exalted Christ to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. Steps to Christ makes this comment on page 26: "Just here is a point on which many err, and hence they fail of receiving the help that Christ desires to give them. They think that they cannot come to Christ unless they first repent, and that repentance prepares for the forgiveness of their sins. It is true that repentance does precede the forgiveness of sin; for it is only the broken and contrite heart that will feel the need of a Saviour. But must the sinner wait till he has repented before he can come to Jesus? Is repentance to be made an obstacle between the sinner and the Saviour? The Bible does not teach that the sinner must repent before he can heed the invitation of Christ, 'Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' " (Italics supplied.)
So the sequence is that first we come to Christ, then we are given the gift of repentance, which we are to accept. And after that we are forgiven. Does this sound as though there is a condition to having our sins forgiven? Well, there is! But this truth teaches us a very beautiful thing bout God. Jesus and His love is revealed in a unique way. Jesus accepts us just as we are, and He gives us the necessities for salvation.
Jesus already knows that we have no merit to recommend us to Him, so He doesn't even look for it or expect it. There are conditions for the blessing of salvation that He offers, but they are not conditions that we are able to meet. So when He comes to us, offering us life and salvation, at the same time He offers us as free gifts all the prerequisites for salvation. He has made every provision so that none except those who stubbornly refuse His grace need fail of receiving the salvation He has provided.
Repent ye therefore, and be converted. Acts 3:19.
Which comes first--repentance or forgiveness? Is repentance a condition for coming to Christ? Do we have to make ourselves sorry for our sins before God can accept us? Probably the most important truth to understand in the doctrine of repentance is that it is never to be a barrier between the sinner and Christ. We can always come to Him just as we are, and it is then that He gives to us the gift of repentance.
But notice that repentance comes before forgiveness, or justification. Acts 5:31 says that God has exalted Christ to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. Steps to Christ makes this comment on page 26: "Just here is a point on which many err, and hence they fail of receiving the help that Christ desires to give them. They think that they cannot come to Christ unless they first repent, and that repentance prepares for the forgiveness of their sins. It is true that repentance does precede the forgiveness of sin; for it is only the broken and contrite heart that will feel the need of a Saviour. But must the sinner wait till he has repented before he can come to Jesus? Is repentance to be made an obstacle between the sinner and the Saviour? The Bible does not teach that the sinner must repent before he can heed the invitation of Christ, 'Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' " (Italics supplied.)
So the sequence is that first we come to Christ, then we are given the gift of repentance, which we are to accept. And after that we are forgiven. Does this sound as though there is a condition to having our sins forgiven? Well, there is! But this truth teaches us a very beautiful thing bout God. Jesus and His love is revealed in a unique way. Jesus accepts us just as we are, and He gives us the necessities for salvation.
Jesus already knows that we have no merit to recommend us to Him, so He doesn't even look for it or expect it. There are conditions for the blessing of salvation that He offers, but they are not conditions that we are able to meet. So when He comes to us, offering us life and salvation, at the same time He offers us as free gifts all the prerequisites for salvation. He has made every provision so that none except those who stubbornly refuse His grace need fail of receiving the salvation He has provided.
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