I know it sounds stupid, but when I look at scripture, I see that if we truly believe in/on the name of Jesus, we become children of God. Now if you are talking about turning from doubt to believing then, yes, that kind of repentance is necessary. What I was referring to was repentance from somethings like, sins one might commit all the time, say maybe they drink alcohol and get drunk, smoke, take drugs, curse, or the like. I'm not saying these things are okay to do, just that it is not a requirement for one to repent of, before they can believe and receive Christ in their heart, thereby receiving salvation. I don't see scripture backing this up when you look at each verse individually as a truth.
When I look at repentance in scripture, what I see is that it opens the door for a person to receive forgiveness so that they can
1) get answers to prayer
2) get delivered
3) get healed
for your self and those under your covering.
Perhaps I am wrong, and feel free to correct me, but I do not see forgiveness of your sins as a requirement to get into heaven.
I see repentance and forgiveness of sins different than being justified, made righteous, or put in right standing with God. I think one can be righteous before God in Christ Jesus and going to heaven when they die even when they have unforgiven sins in their life. This is one reason why I don't see repentance of sins, not from doubting the name and person of Jesus, but of doing bad things, as a requirement to receive eternal life or to make one just and righteous before God.
If salvation is by faith only then why do we add the repentance scriptures as though it is part of the requirement for it.
Rom 4:1
What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
Rom 4:2
For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
Rom 4:3
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Rom 4:4
Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
Rom 4:5
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Rom 4:18
Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
Rom 4:19
And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:
Rom 4:20
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
Rom 4:21
And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Rom 4:22
And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
The above verses talk about a salvation kind of Faith. Abraham was made righteous because he believed God, not because he repented of his sins, then believed. It doesn't mention anything about repentance.
I you don't add anything to verses 4 or 5, then faith is the only requirement to be justified before God. Therefore, repentance of ones sins must be for something else, and a lack of forgiveness from God for those sins committed by that unrepentant person would not prevent him or her from going to heaven when they die.
Just;
- Definition:equitable(in character or act); by implication innocent holy (absolutely or relatively): - just meet right (-eous).
1.
righteous, observing divine laws
a.
in a wide sense, upright, righteous, virtuous, keeping the commands of God
1.
of those who seem to themselves to be righteous, who pride themselves to be righteous, who pride themselves in their virtues, whether real or imagined
2.
innocent, faultless, guiltless
3.
used of him whose way of thinking, feeling, and acting is wholly conformed to the will of God, and who therefore needs no rectification in the heart or life 1a
b.
only christ truly
1.
approved of or acceptable of God
righteous;
to render (that is show or regard as) just or innocent: - free justify (-ier) be righteous.
repent; - Definition:
1. to change one's mind, i.e. to repent
2. to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins
- Origin: from G3326 and G3539
- TDNT entry: 20:15,6
- Part(s) of speech: Verb
- Strong's: From G3326 and G3539; to think differently or afterwards that is reconsider (morally to feel compunction): - repent.