Hi Fran
Can you clarify for me what you mean by "In other words, you must repent of your sins in order to receive salvation"
Happy to.
In Mark 1:15 John, the Apostle, is saying to repent and believe the gospel.
He was the last O.T. prophet (really Jesus was, but we can't include Him: Jesus was a Prophet, a King, and a Priest).
So John taught repentance. God does not change.
Any tract will tell you the way to be saved:
We are born lost.
Jesus has come to save that which is lost. Mathew 18:11 Mathew 1:21
You must be aware that you are a sinner. Romans 3:23
You must want to be saved, or be sorrowful 2 Corinthians 7:10
Now you repent, turn around... Luke 13:3
Confess your sins 1 John 1:9
Our faith saves us 1 John 5:4
So repentance is up there.
Repent means to change one's mind, to TURN AROUND, and go the other way.
So we repent of past sins
We confess future sins
As long as we believe and have faith in Jesus who saves us, we will be saved.
(if one is not sorry for their sins, could they be saved?? No.)
Do you agree?