Below is a comment made in response to an article about "How can you be saved".
Comment:
There is one thing you HAVE to do. You need to REPENT of your SINS and ask God’s forgiveness. Then you can accept the free gift of God, SALVATION.
Is this true?
It is my conviction that it is not! Salvation is not dependent on a person having to repent and ask for forgiveness. Let me clarify below,
Repentance is a sticky topic and one that is very skewed due to the influence of confessionals in a certain sect of Christianity. To repent is not to verbally state, “I am sorry”, which many believe is the case. Rather, to repent is defined as “a change of heart”. This is brought about by hearing the gospel, and through it the power of the Holy Spirit will bring conviction of sin, righteousness, and judgement.
Acts 16:14 And a certain woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.
1 Corinthians 1:30 ... but of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord."
Ephesians 1:18 ...the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
So, repentance is the work of God on the heart of the person who hears the grace gospel. A change of heart will naturally lead to a change in confession and lifestyle, especially if that life is reinforced with growth in the Word of God and proper instruction. Repentance is a life-long journey as one’s heart is sanctified through the work of the Spirit within.
In addition, although it is a natural thing to “ask for forgiveness” when you do something wrong, salvation is not dependent on asking for forgiveness. Those who respond to the grace gospel are completely and utterly forgiven the moment they respond in faith to the gospel. Their sins (past, present, and future), in that instant, are nailed to the cross of Christ. So, forgiveness is not in a confession, but is innately in the reception of the gospel.
The power of the gospel (the cross of Christ, the shed blood, and the resurrection) should not be underestimated. This was the work of God to provide salvation to humanity. It is 100% His work.
Rom.1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;
The gospel innately contains ALL that is sufficient to save a human being who chooses to believe it. There is absolutely 0% of effort or actions that a human must do to be saved. It is all down to hearing the gospel, that is, clearly understanding who Jesus Christ is and what he has done for you. Once you know this, it will bring a conviction upon your heart by the work of the Holy Spirit. Receiving the gospel and getting saved is up to you responding to this conviction on the heart. There is no need to confess anything, no need to ask forgiveness (as it already comes in the gospel), no works are needed to earn it, no actions are needed to claim it. Simply believe the gospel and respond in faith to that conviction of truth.
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