The following comments are from a minister who teaches Free Grace theology.

The Lord Jesus Christ gives everlasting life to all who believe in him. It’s not a matter of commitment, turning from sins, surrender, following Christ, or perseverance in faith and good works.

Faith is not turning from sins. Faith is not surrender. Faith is not commitment. Faith is not following.

Another minister teaching this theology claims that repenting of your sins is trusting in your own works to get to Heaven. This same minister claimed repenting is the act or deeds of the Pharisees, and that you can repent of your sins and go to hell.

Now both of these ministers teach these things under the guise of the finished work of Christ, but never does the Bible teach such things in view of the finished work of Christ.

In this article, I would like to address the issue of repentance. The disdain for repentance seems to continue to grow in some places, and it isn’t just isolated to hard core Free Grace theology advocates. Some teach that once you are saved you never need to repent again because all your past, present, and future sins are already forgiven. Yet, Jesus confronted the churches in the book of the Revelation, calling them to repentance, and Paul confronted the Corinthians regarding their need to repent, and James does as well.

With regards to repentance and conversion, Peter tell us, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. ~ 2 Peter 3:9 

Repentance is not a work that is to be categorized as all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Rather genuine repentance is a work of the Spirit in our heart.

Jesus said, when the Spirit of truth is come he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. ~ John 16:8-11

The word reprove in the reference above means convict. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, and when a lost person turns to Christ there is a conviction to turn from sin, and that is repentance. Once a person is saved, there is a conviction unto righteousness. If you are a true believer there is an abiding conviction in you to live godly and holy before the Lord.

Repentance comes from the convicting power of the Holy Spirit as a result of hearing the gospel. With all the preaching going on in the world today, hearing the gospel is missing in a lot of places, because the gospel calls a person to repent and follow Jesus. The gospel that you initially hear that brings about the salvation of your soul, is the message that continues to guide you the rest of your life.

In 1 John, the apostle John writes, Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. ~ 1 John 2:24-25

The promise of eternal life is for those in whom the gospel message abides and who continue in the Son and in the Father. Walking in the truth, sanctification, godliness, and living by faith are not optional post salvation truths. Instead, they are the continuation of what began in the heart at the moment a person is enlightened and tastes of the heavenly gift of Christ.  

In his letter to Titus, Paul tells us that saving grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and that we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. ~ Titus 2:11-14

Paul then says, These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee ~ v. 15.

John the Baptist preached to the Pharisees that they should repent and do works in keeping with repentance (Matthew 3:1-8). This is contrary to the minister (cited above) who claims that repenting is the act or deeds of the Pharisees. In fact both Jesus and John the baptist preached repentance as the gospel message. ~ Matthew 3:1-2; 4:7

Jesus said that he came to call sinners to repentance (Matthew 9:13, Mark 2:17, Luke 5:32). And after his resurrection, Jesus commissioned his disciples (the apostles) to preach repentance and the remission of sins in his name among all nations beginning at Jerusalem. ~ Luke 24:44-47

If Jesus commissioned his disciples to preach repentance and the remission of sins to all nations, we ought to be preaching repentance as a vital part of the gospel message as well.

Repentance is the gift of grace at work in the heart, for it is God who grants repentance (2 Timothy 2:25), and it’s the goodness of God that leads to repentance.

Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds… ~ Romans 2:1-6

According to Isaiah, Jesus is the redeemer who comes to those who turn from transgression: And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD. ~ Isaiah 59:20 

Notice that Isaiah declares that the Redeemer comes to them that turn from transgression. That’s repentance from sins. Paul quotes Isaiah in his letter to the Romans saying, And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob… ~ Romans 11:26 

During his time on earth, Jesus sent his disciples out to preach repentance (Mark 6:12), and Jesus pronounced judgment on the cities that did not repent after he had ministered there (Matthew 11:20-24; Luke 10:13). Furthermore, Jesus pronounced judgment on his generation for not repenting ~ Matthew 12:39-41; Luke 11:32. 

Jesus also taught us what repentance looks like from God’s perspective, referring to repentance as a shepherd finding his lost sheep (Luke 15:1-7), and as finding that which was lost (Luke 15:8-10). In both instances, Jesus says, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. Jesus then illustrated these truths in his teaching regarding the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32).

On the day of Pentecost, Peter preached to the Jews to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). In Acts 3, Peter preached to the Jews, Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. ~ Acts 3:19

A few verses later Peter says to them, Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. ~ Acts 3:26

As we continue through Acts we read that the apostles declared that God exalted Jesus with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. ~ Acts 5:31 

After hearing Peter’s testimony about how God sent him to preach the gospel to Cornlieus and his house, the Jews at Jerusalem glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. ~ Acts 11:18 

While preaching at Mars Hill, Paul declared, And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men everywhere to repent:  Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. ~ Acts 17:30-31

Now pause for a moment, and notice that Paul says, God commands all men everywhere to repent. Now remember what I said above, Walking in the truth, sanctification, godliness, and living by faith are not optional post salvation truths. Instead, they are the continuation of what began in the heart at the moment a person is enlightened and tastes of the heavenly gift of Christ. 

Salvation begins by obeying the command to repent, and this obedience coincides with faith in Jesus (believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God). Repentance may be expressed differently from person to person, but repentance is active in the heart of a person who truly believes in Christ as their Lord and Savior. 

Again, Paul says, God commands all men everywhere to repent, and the apostle Peter refers to those who forsake the Lord as turning from the holy commandment delivered unto them. ~ 1 Peter 2:21

When Paul testified of the commission he received from Jesus as he stood before king Agrippa, Paul said he was sent to preach to the people that they should repent and turn to God, and do works in keeping with repentance.~ Acts 26:15-20

Writing to the Thessalonians, Paul commended them because they turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God… ~ 1 Thessalonians 1:9

Paul’s word to the Thessalonians echo the words of Ezekiel.

Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations. ~ Ezekiel 14:6

Ezekiel also preached repentance when he said, Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. ~ Ezekiel 18:30

Repentance is an act of faith in response to the work of grace convicting the heart and turning it to Jesus and the Father. Repentance brings about a cleansing from sin, and that is the work of the true grace of God in the heart in response to hearing the gospel, and repentance is weaved into the very fiber of the message of God to all people throughout the scriptures.  

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. ~ Isaiah 55:7