Luke 3:1-6
Suggested further reading: Luke 13:1-5
Note the connection between repentance and forgiveness. John demands that those who have repented and received the forgiveness of their sins express their repentance in the ritual of water baptism. Baptism does not bring forgiveness, but repentance does.
It is unbiblical to think that either baptism or repentance atones for our sins. Only Christ’s sacrifice on the cross can do that. We are accounted righteous before God only for the sake of our Lord, by faith. Forgiveness can be received but never achieved by any human merit. It is crucial for us to understand this clearly. The Gospel is what God, through Christ, has done for us that we could not do for ourselves. Faith and repentance, even baptism, is not a part of the Gospel but is a necessary response to the Gospel.
But having said this, it is crucial to remember that without repentance no soul was saved. We must know our sins, mourn over them, forsake them, abhor them, or else we shall never turn in faith to the Savior and enter the kingdom of heaven. Neither faith nor repentance pays any portion of the price necessary for our redemption. But, while our salvation is all of grace, from first to last, saved souls are always penitent souls, and saving faith in Christ and true repentance towards God are never separated. This truth is at the cornerstone of our faith and must not be ignored or denied.
Coming to the application of this truth, we must ask ourselves, have we repented? Have we been convicted of sin by the Holy Spirit? Have we experienced a broken and contrite heart and a hatred of sin? Can we say, “I repent,” as well as “I believe”? It is written that “Except you repent, you shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3).
Lanny Tanton is the Pastor at The Bible Church of the Lakes in Horseshoe Bay, Texas – just outside of Marble Falls. Pastor Tanton welcomes you to our website and hopes that you’ll enjoy reading these insightful blog posts. Please contact us if you have further questions!!
