- Oct 6, 2015
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Amen, I sure agree but many disagree when I say that we need to lead a repentant life in order not to perish.
Thanks for agreeing with me, that's refreshing. The Reformed Faith does teach repentance. But placing it in its proper category is key. If you confuse Justification with Sanctification, or Faith and Repentance then it becomes dangerous. Our good deeds or repentance flows from True Faith in Christ. They are distinct but not separated. They are like two links in a chain. Repentance will flow from true Faith. Repentance is the fruit of a living Faith as Luther puts it. We repent because we believe in Christ who came to save sinners. We believe in who He is, and believe what He has done for us! This is where stand before God. He is our Justification, Our Sanctification, and Our Redemption. Our evangelical works are tainted with sin. But being hidden in Christ we can perform them as if flawless. Because of our union with Christ. Am I denying a repentant Christian life? Once we lose focus of Christ and boast about our evangelical obedience we lose Christ! He is the object of our Salvation.
30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
Mark 1:15 shows - Jesus said, "Repent and believe the good news". Both of the words "repent" and "believe" are Present Active Imperatives meaning that Jesus commands us to continue in repentance and belief.
Yes I agree that repent and believe is the proper response to the Gospel. But what you left out is what should I being believing in, and why should I repent? And you are mixing up the command with the Gospel. The good news is in Mark 1:15.......“The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Who is the Kingdom of God? Christ Jesus. Why has the kingdom come near to save the ungodly from their sins. So we believe in God who saves sinners. And we repent because we are made alive in Christ by God! This is the good news, which is why I provided Ezekiel 36, where God says, "27And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
I am just sharing with you, that even our faith & repentance is a gift from God. He gives us new hearts and removes the heart of stone to believe and follow him.
Then in Luke 13:3 Jesus said "Unless you repent, you too will all perish". "Repent" is Present Active Subjunctive meaning that we must continue in repentance otherwise we will perish.
Many say that ongoing repentance is works but the fact is, it is not works but a command from Jesus as these verses show.
I believe I have answered this. But I will provide one of my favorite passages from Paul here.
Galatians 2:
Justified by Faith
15We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16yet we know that a person is not justifiedb by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
17But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
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