thanks, Jason. comprehensive!
Thank you. I forgot one New Testament passage (that is a quote from the OT).
Romans 4:3
"For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." (c.f. cross reference with Genesis 15:6).
can we repent (of our sins) before God saves us?
We Are Not Righteous:
Isaiah 64:6
"But we are all as an unclean thing, and
all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."
Romans 3:9-12
"What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved
both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written,
There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one."
Romans 3:23
"For
all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
That is Why We Need To Repent & Accept Jesus Christ:
For Repentance is a part of believing in Jesus Christ. For Jesus Christ preached people to repent. For He said,
"Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (
Matthew 4:17)
"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
(
Luke 13:5)
For Jesus taught about repentance in the Parable of the Tax Collector (Publican) and the Pharisee:
"Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." (
Luke 18:10-14)
Matthew 4:17 – “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say,
Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
This was His message from the beginning of His ministry.
Mark 1:14-15 – “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, [15] And saying,
The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
Jesus taught that repentance is not only to forgive us of our sins but it is also to sin no more, too.
John 8:10-11
When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her,
'Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?' She said,
'No man, Lord.' And Jesus said unto her,
'Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.'
Matthew 27:3 KJV says that Judas “repented”, when he returned the 30 pieces of silver for betraying Jesus. He said: “I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood.”
However, was that "true repentance"?
What did Judas do next?
Well, he went out and hanged himself!
Why?
He was sorry … but it was not a "
Godly Sorrow."
He was "
sorry" he did wrong …
"
sorry" he got caught …
"
sorry" it turned out the way it did.
But … "
Repentance" is when you bring your sins to Jesus. Judas never did that.
For the Bible says,
"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:" (
1 John 2:1).
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (
1 John 1:9).
"If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (
1 John 1:6-8).