The Sabbath command was given to Israel as part of their covenant with God, but there is no command in the New Testament for Gentile believers to observe the Sabbath as given to Israel under Moses.

In Acts 15 when the Jerusalem council concluded that the Gentiles were under no obligation to come under the requirements of the law of Moses, they gave them the following directives: abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication. ~ Acts 15:20

They made no recommendation to the Gentiles that they should keep the Sabbath, and never did anywhere in the book of Acts.

In Colossians 2 Paul says to the Gentiles, Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. ~ v. 16-17

Notice that Paul makes a distinction between the feast days (holy days as the KJV renders it above) and the weekly Sabbath in this text. The Greek word for Sabbath in this verse is the same Greek word that refers to the weekly Sabbath elsewhere in the New Testament and the Greek word used for the feast days is the same that is used throughout the New Testament for the Jewish feasts such as Passover and unleavened bread.

Notice also that Paul refers to the Sabbath as a shadow of things to come, and follows that statement sayings, but the body is of Christ. The NIV’s rendering is actually much clearer than the KJV.

These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. ~ Colossians 2:17 NIV

Let that resonate, the fulfillment of what was foreshadowed in the Sabbath is found in Christ.

Like Paul in his letter to the Colossians, the author of Hebrews also refers to such observances as shadows of things to come. Not a shadow of things to come from our vantage point, but from the vantage point of those who were under the law.

Thus the truths foreshadowed in the keeping of the weekly Sabbath by the Jews is fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ, for Jesus Christ is our Sabbath rest. In Hebrews 4, the author of Hebrews speaking of the meaning of Sabbath rest says, For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God;  for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. ~ Hebrews 4:8-10  NIV

Israel’s entrance into the promised land, their yearly feasts (which were also Sabbaths) and their weekly Sabbath were all foreshadowings of the rest that God intends for his people in Christ Jesus.

When the instructions of the covenants transitioned from the old to the new, the Jews continued in their traditions which were part of their culture and daily lives, and meanwhile the Gentiles also came into the covenant of grace.

There were some among the Jews who attempted to persuade the Gentiles to follow Jewish customs as part of their new found faith. Paul opposed such demands, knowing that true relationship with God through Christ has to do with circumcision of the heart and not the flesh, for what Israel was given as a type and a shadow under the law was now a reality in the person of Jesus Christ.

When Jesus spoke of the future Sabbaths (example., pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day ~ Matthew 24) he was referring to the time of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple when the Jews would be scattered. This would happen within the generation of 40 years after his crucifixion and resurrection.

The New Testament goes to great lengths to teach us that those who come to faith in Christ are under no commandment to keep a weekly Sabbath, though there are valuable truths we can learn from it not only as it pertains to our rest in Christ, but the practice of taking a day to rest is a divine pattern that anyone can benefit from, and I’d encourage you to do exactly that.

We were not designed to work without rest. Our bodies and our minds need to rest from labor. So there is a lot we can learn and apply from the weekly Sabbath that the children of Israel were commanded to keep, but we must make the distinction that we (who are Gentiles in the flesh) have been given no such commandment.

The primary reason God gave the children of Israel the weekly Sabbath was for rest, as a gift to them. They were to remember that they had been slaves to the Egyptians, but the One True God who created all things, had delivered them. They were now God’s servants, and were no longer slaves to taskmasters. They were to be the servants of the Living God who rested from all his works on the seventh day. God wanted them to follow his example and learn how to treat those who were their servants by allowing them to rest as well.

Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day. ~ Deuteronomy 5:12-15 NIV

The Sabbath’s ultimate intent was to remind the people that they were serving the Living God who is the creator of Heaven and earth (thus they were to worship him and be consecrated to him alone). God rested on the Sabbath day because he had finished his work, not because he was tired. Israel on the other hand was to rest from their labors because of the toll work takes on the body and mind. Yet God had loftier things in mind as he was foreshadowing the rest for weary and burdened souls in the person of his Son, Jesus Christ, in whom the work of God is complete for our souls. 

The Sabbath command in the Ten Commandments is the only outward religious or ceremonial observance that is part of the Ten Commandments. All other commands have to do with the heart and how one lives. Under the law, an Israelite could actually keep the weekly Sabbath command while breaking the other Commandments. Thus Jesus addressed the hypocrisy of observing religious rites from wrong hearts when he exposed the religious bondage of the Pharisees regarding the Sabbath.

All the conduct from the heart commands (worship God only, don’t lie, don’t steal, don’t commit adultery, etc.,) are still applicable and built into the very fiber of New Testament teachings and doctrine, but the outward ceremonial observance of the weekly Sabbath isn’t. However, that which was foreshadowed in the Sabbath, rest or abiding in Christ is the most essential, as it gives life to our service to God. 

In Matthew 11 Jesus said, Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. ~ Matthew 11:27-30

Right after this Jesus walked through some fields with his disciples on the Sabbath day and technically they broke the Sabbath by eating some of the grain from the fields. This aroused condemnation from the Pharisees. In response Jesus cited two accounts from the scriptures where the breaking of the Sabbath occurred, and he did so to defend his and his disciples’ innocence.

He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” ~ Matthew 12:3-8 NIV

Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath, and his disciples were with him, so they were innocent of any charges brought against them by the religious hypocrites who used the law to tie heavy and cumbersome loads on others. The Sabbath was not given to make us slaves to the bondage of religion, but to free us from the slavery of sin, and to bring us into the joyous rest of the Lord, who Himself is our Sabbath rest.

The work is finished, and we are complete in him in whom all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you… ~ Ezekiel 36:26

I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD. They will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with all their heart. ~ Jeremiah 24:7

And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. ~ Deuteronomy 30:6

Salvation is about a change that occurs within the heart.

When a person is saved, their heart changes and a new spirit is born within them. The work of salvation begins first in the heart of man, and when the heart turns to the Lord, a change in how one thinks and behaves, commences.

The purpose of this article is to address the true meaning of the Greek word for repentance (metanoeo) which is being exploited by many as simply a change of mind. This is causing an erosion regarding what it truly means to repent in regards to our faith in Jesus.

Metanoeo in its Biblical use is not simply changing the mind, such as deciding to eat a hamburger instead of pizza for lunch. The actual meaning  of the Greek word translated as metanoeo consists of two parts. Metá, “changed after being with” noiéō, “think” – properly, “think differently after,” “after a change of mind“; to repent (literally, “think differently afterwards”).

Notice that the meaning is not simply to change your mind, but to think differently after the mind has been changed. This change of mind is the result of something else, that is why metanoeo has to do with a change of thinking and purpose “afterwards.” 

After what? After the heart turns to the Lord! 

When the heart turns to the Lord (for with the heart man believes unto righteousness), then the mind changes. True repentance that accompanies salvation is a continuous thing and not a one time mental decision. That is why Paul speaks of being transformed by the renewing of our minds in his letter to the Romans.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. ~ Romans 12:1-2

In Ephesians Paul speaks of being renewed in the spirit of our minds. When our hearts turn to the Lord there is an ongoing state of repentance (a change through renewal of our minds) which stays with us for the rest of our lives because we are consecrated to the Lord for his purposes.

To reduce repentance down to a one time decision of changing your mind from unbelief to belief as if salvation is the result of a mental decision is to miss the teachings of scripture entirely. Yet this is exactly what some are doing and the result is many are becoming scoffers at any thought of repentance of sin which they claim is a work and somehow is in opposition to the work of Christ.

Allow me to say it another way to make it plain. Those who hold such views do not believe that salvation has anything to do with turning from sin to Christ so as to live for the glory of God and Christ. On the contrary, that which is being advanced by this free grace theology is that belief (which is a mental decision) saves you from the penalty of your sins, even if you choose to go on living in ungodliness and wickedness. For all intents and purposes, salvation through belief in Jesus is (according to this theology) a get out of hell for free, card. The purpose

True salvation is not a get out of hell free card, it is deliverance from the powers of darkness and reconciliation to God. And it begins in this life. True salvation is freedom from sin through Jesus Christ with the promise of life in the world to come.

The belief that repentance is nothing more than a decisional change of the mind fails to acknowledge that salvation is a matter of belief from the heart, for it is with the heart that man believes unto righteousness.

But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead. But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. ~ Romans 10:6-11

True belief in Jesus comes from the heart, and when the heart turns to Christ, there is cleansing from sin and thus a change in the way one thinks about sin. For this reason, Paul says to the Romans, Shall we go on sinning that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we who are dead to sin live any longer therein? ~ Romans 6:1-2

Notice the expectation of Paul regarding how a believer ought to think with regards to sin.

A saved person has become dead to sin through their union with Christ (when their heart turned to the Lord), thus a change in their thinking follows, especially regarding sin. We are to consider ourselves as being dead to sin and alive to God through Jesus Christ. This is what repentance of sin actually looks like. We believe in Jesus to deliver us from the power of darkness and to save us from our sins. Thus we change how we live because we begin to think differently after our heart turns to the Lord. How can we not think differently about sin if our heart has truly turned to the Lord? 

True repentance is the change that occurs after something else happens – namely, the turning of the heart to the Lord. It is not a casual change of  your mind. It involves purpose and is actually the change of mind that happens afterwards (after the heart has turned to the Lord).

Faith in Jesus (turning our hearts to the Lord) causes our thinking (our minds) to change. That is what repentance is. The mind is changed because of the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart. Salvation is not the result of a mental change of the mind, but the result of a changed heart by the power of God, which causes us to think differently. When this happens we turn from our sins to no longer live therein, but live instead, in union with Christ through faith. 

Again, true repentance is not simply a mental change of our mind, but a change in our thinking that is caused by something else, namely the work of the Spirit of God in our hearts.

While repentance does involve a changed mind, the outworking of repentance has the expression of turning from a life of disobedience to obedience because of our faith towards God.

The biblical teaching of repentance as a change in our thinking is a far cry from the change of mind which is preached by those who advocate free grace theology. Whereas free grace theology claims that repentance is decisional (to change from unbelief to belief), while at the same time disparaging repentance from sin as a work, the repentance of scripture is a new way of thinking that leads us out of living in sin to living in righteousness.  

True Biblical repentance has to do with the purpose and motives of the hearts. It is not simply a mental exercise, in which one casually changes their mind as we often do in everyday activities. True repentance is a change in our thinking that results from the inward work of the Holy Spirit within the heart.

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart. Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. ~ Ephesians 4:17-24

In the text above, the gentiles who do not know God walk after the vanity of their minds, and their understanding of God is darkened because of the blindness of their hearts.

One cannot come to repentance (having a changed mind afterwards), without the heart first enlightened by the power of Christ. It is with the heart that man believes the gospel, affecting a change in the way one thinks afterwards. This is faith and repentance. True faith is accompanied with repentance (a changed mind afterwards – after the heart has turned to the Lord).

Paul says of the unrepentant Gentiles in the world that they are “past feeling and have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.” The NIV translation of the Bible says, Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

Paul then reminds them that this is not what they had learned concerning Christ, and that they were to put off the old man with his deeds and put on the new man in Christ, and Paul refers to this as being renewed in the spirit of their minds (i.e., repentance).

But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. ~ v. 20-24

When anyone comes to the Lord, there is a desire to serve God and to live a life that is pleasing to him, but as we all know, we still have to manage the carnal desires of our fleshly nature, and this is where the walk of sanctification comes in. When we are born again, our minds change regarding sin and disobedience, but as we live out our faith, there is a war within our members (our flesh) which is at war against our minds, thus the life of faith coincides with a continual renewal of our minds.

Paul refers to the putting off of the old man (denying our fleshly desires), and putting on the new man (yielding to God to live according to the Spirit), as being renewed in the spirit of our minds.

Peter says something similar when he tells us, Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. ~ 1 Peter 1:13-16

This is the work of ongoing repentance (the change of our minds) in the life of a believer and its unfortunate that there are Pastors who teach that no repentance of sin is necessary for eternal life, but simply a changed mind (a one time mental decision). Yet according to Peter, we are to hope for the grace we are to receive at the coming of Christ by girding the loins of our minds by not living according to our former lusts in the times of our ignorance.

Our former lusts is a reference to our old lives before Christ and the times of our ignorance is a reference to our being in unbelief and sin. Anyone willing to submit to the truth of God can easily come to the understanding that true repentance which accompanies faith is turning from sin (our old life) and following Christ in obedience. This is what salvation looks like when it take hold of one’s heart. 

True repentance is not a casual change of the mind like one would change their mind about eating a hamburger instead of pizza for lunch. The changed mind is not caused by the will of the flesh.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ~ John 1:12-13

The changed mind that is repentance, is the result of a heart encounter with Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the result of the will of God being received in the heart, and those who yield to the will of God have a changed mind afterwards that causes them to pursue the things that please God.

When Paul tells the Ephesians to put off the old man and be renewed in the spirit of their minds, the result is the new man in Christ.

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. ~ v 22-25

Notice the change that Paul speaks of. This is the changed mind which is repentance in action. Paul says to put away lying and speak the truth. Yet there are many Western Christians who are being taught that one does not have to stop lying to be saved, because that would mean they are saved by works. 

Many of these same people are the ones who will scoff at the notion of repentance of sin, claiming that repentance only means to change their mind, and turning from sin is a work. Yet, the repentance of scripture has works that follow because true repentance changes a person’s behavior and lifestyle. One cannot claim to have repented if there is no change in how they live and behave.

Turning from sin is embedded in the foundation of our faith. One cannot know the life of God if they do not turn from sin. This is why  Paul speaks of the Gentiles who do not know God and who walk after the vanity of their minds with their foolish hearts darkened and being alienated from the life of God.

Westernized Christianity is in a lot of trouble with its war against repentance of sin. It is a war they will not win because it is waged against the truth of the Living God.

Paul continues by telling the Ephesians the following:

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. ~ Ephesians 4:22-32

The Westernized teaching of free grace theology would consider these words in the text above as optional and having nothing to do with salvation, even though Paul will go on to warn in the verses to come not to be deceived by such words. No one who has truly repented (changed their mind as a result of their heart turning to the Lord) can read the words above and consider them optional. If Christ has changed your heart, your life belongs to him and you are compelled by His Holy Spirit to live according to the life of Christ. 

Belief without true repentance which leads to obedience, will not save you. The gospel requires a turning from disobedience to obedience. This does not mean that one has to live a perfect life to be saved, but it does mean that one cannot continue to rebel in their hearts against God and think that they have eternal life. Not being under bondage does not mean that you are free to beat your wife and sleep with your neighbor’s. Such ignorance will purchase you a one way ticket to eternal destruction.

As believers we never have to live in fear of not measuring up, because Christ is our salvation. However, we ought to have the fear of the Lord that restrains us from wilful sin and wickedness. And therein is the difference. Saved people have the fear of the Lord in them. If you can live in sin with no fear of God, you are very dangerous grounds. 

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. ~ Peter 1:2

According to the apostle Paul, the Israelites who rejected Christ, did not “obey the gospel” ~ Romans 10:16, and we who believe were set free from sin when we obeyed from the heart. ~ Romans 6:17

If a person has not turned from ungodliness, and changed their mind to live in obedience to God rather than living in disobedience, they are not saved. They are deceived. Saved people have an abiding conviction in their hearts to do what is right in the sight of God. Again, this does not mean they live in perfect obedience every minute of every day, but it means there is an abiding desire to please God that rules their hearts. 

John the Baptist preached to the people to “bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance…” ~ Matthew 3:8. The New Living Translation says, Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.

True repentance turns us from a life of disobedience to obedience, and our mind is renewed so that we no longer have an excuse to justify sin. When Paul confronted the Corinthians about the sin of fornication in their midst, Paul chided them because they had not “mourned.” Unfortunately there are some Pastors and Christians that would refer to mourning or having sorrow regarding sin as works.

Yet according to the apostle Paul, the sin of fornication which was going on in the midst of the Corinthians should have grieved them, but it hadn’t. After Paul’s correction they did repent and in 2 Corinthians 7:8-11 Paul speaks about their repentance referring to it as godly sorrow which brought about a carefulness within them and clearing of themselves, and an indignation, a reverence, and zeal for what is right. These are the effects that true repentance has on the soul, and you can’t get this from just a causal changing of the mind. The change of mind that true repentance brings produces these qualities mentioned above.

If a person doesn’t have an abiding conviction for doing right and obeying the Lord, there truly has not been the change of mind that true repentance brings.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. ~ James 4:7-10

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father. ~ Colossians 1:1-2 NIV

Notice that Paul’s letter is to God’s holy people. The KJV says saints. Saved people are called to be saints, (i.e., holy). Paul says in his introduction to the Corinthians, Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their’s and our’s…

Those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus are called to be saints (to be holy). The NIV says, called to be his holy people. In 1 Peter we read, But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy. ~ 1 Peter 1:15-16

Christians are called to holiness. To be holy means to be set apart, and the epistles in the New Testament repeatedly speak on this theme. You find it in almost every introduction of Paul’s letters. In Colossians, Paul not only refers to them as God’s holy people, but also as the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ.

Not only are we called to be holy, but we are also called to be faithful. Paul says the same thing to the Ephesians when he writes, Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus… ~ Ephesians 1:1

The words found in the book of Ephesians belong to the faithful in Christ Jesus, as do the words in Colossians. Yet it is becoming all too common that faithfulness to God is being dismissed by some as “works” and not necessary for salvation, but salvation calls us to be faithful to God and to Christ. A salvation message that doesn’t call you to faithfulness isn’t salvation from God or Christ. Being faithful to God doesn’t mean that you are perfect, just as being faithful to your spouse doesn’t mean you are perfect either. Being faithful means you are committed for the long haul and you will be found trustworthy.

Trustworthiness is the key to understanding faithfulness. God is completely trustworthy, and salvation calls us into a walk in which we become trustworthy to the Lord. This is evident in what Paul says to the Colossians next.

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit. ~ Colossians 1:3-8 NIV

The faithfulness of the Colossians moved Paul to pray for them. Consider how trustworthy the Colossians had been in their faith towards God. Paul even tells them that they truly understood God’s grace. If our faithfulness to God doesn’t in some way resemble the attributes that Paul describes regarding the faith of the Colossians, it may be that we do not yet understand God’s grace as we should.

Are we known by our faith? Not as some religious person, but do others see our faithfulness to God? Are we trustworthy people? Is there integrity in our claim to be God’s people? Are others inspired to pray for us, or give thanks for us when they hear of our faith? Is our faith (our holy lifestyle, our faithfulness to God) a shining light that others can see? It was for the Colossians, and the rich truths contained in this short epistle belong to all who are God’s holy and faithful people.

Pray with me.

Holy Father, you are faithful. Grant to me, that I too might be faithful, that my faith in you might be seen by others in a manner that glorifies you and draws others to seek after you. Open to me the rich treasure of what it truly means to be holy and to be faithful, and grant me the grace I need to grow in holiness and faithfulness that you may be glorified in your Son, Jesus.

In Christ Name, Thank you Holy Father.

Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it. ~ Jonah 3:10

Some among the Free grace advocates like to point to Jonah 3:10 and argue that turning from sin is a work, and since we are not saved by works, repentance has no part in our saving faith. This logic is very flawed because we find that the New Testament speaks of faith as a work as well.

Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. ~ John 6:29

Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father … ~ 1 Thessalonians 1:3

Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power… ~ 2 Thessalonians 1:11

Furthermore, in the gospels, Jesus references the repentance of Nineveh to whom Jonah preached as a warning against those who refused to repent and believe the gospel during his generation.

The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. ~ Matthew 12:41 (See also Luke 11:32)

Ironically, Matthew 12:41 & Luke 11:32 would be one of the verses the FG adherents would claim means a change of mind only because those texts do not explicitly mention sin, although sin is the context of the repentance. 

But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation. ~ Matthew 12:24-45

From the context above we can see that the repentance of Nineveh, to which Jesus holds his generation accountable, parallels their sinful and wicked ways. Jesus wasn’t just speaking about making a quick decision to believe he was the Messiah, he was comforting the manner of people they were. Thus he calls them an evil and adulterous generation, and says that the men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. 

UNREPENTANT BELIEF

And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. ~ Acts 8:8-24

Recently, as I skimmed through a “documentary” in opposition to repentance in relation to believing in Christ, a Free Grace Pastor claimed that when Simon asked Peter to pray for him he was actually saying “pray to the Lord that I don’t become bitter because of this, that I don’t get enwrapped in the bond of iniquity.”

That’s actually not what the scripture says. Simon did not ask Peter to pray for him not become bitter and enwrapped in the bond of iniquity. Peter told him that he was already in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity.

In another article on this topic I shared the following regarding the gall of bitterness.

The bitterest grief; extreme affliction. The ancients taught that grief and joy were subject to the gall, affection to the heart, knowledge to the kidneys, anger to the bile (one of the four humours of the body), and courage or timidity to the liver. The gall of bitterness, like the heart of hearts, means the bitter centre of bitterness, as the heart of hearts means the innermost recesses of the heart or affections. In the Acts it is used to signify “the sinfulness of sin,” which leads to the bitterest grief. ~ Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894

This was no small matter. Simon had lost his influence over the people, and could no longer bewitch them. Even though he believed and had been baptized, he was a false convert who rather than having a new heart, cleansed by the blood of Christ, was in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity.

Now, I know that is unpopular to say, especially with those who believe that no repentance is necessary to be saved. Understand this: if you are saved, your attitude towards sin changes because you become a new creature in Christ.

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ~ Romans 6:1-4

Those who are saved are not trying to make excuses for sin, those who are saved want to live above sin, in godliness and truth, just as the Psalmist says in relation to repentance, “ thou desirest truth in the inward parts.”

With regards to Simon the Sorcerer, another FG minister made the following statement, “And you know what Simon says? He says, man I want you to pray for me, that none of these things happen to me.” He says he’s sorry. I mean right away he completely repents of it.

This minister then extrapolates how Simon realizes he was just acting foolishly and admits he (Simon) was wrong. The minister then inserted into the text that Simon said, “I was wrong.” Then the FG minister says, “so we see that he has a good heart.”

Did Simon have a good heart? Not according to the apostle Peter who said to him, Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

Even though Simon did believe the things preached by Philip and was baptized, he never turned from his sorcery. He had for a long time bewitched the people, and if he were to truly follow Jesus as a disciple, he would have to turn from his sorcery. Thus Peter rebukes him regarding this.

Simon offered the apostles money for the gift of God because his heart was not right with God, not because he just said something stupid, being a baby Christian. Simon was still steeped in the sin of sorcery, and because he wanted to use the gift of God in the same manner he had bewitched the people with sorcery, Peter rebuked him.

According to Peter, the following were true regarding Simon.

1. He had no part or lot in this matter. In other words he wasn’t qualified to receive or minister to others the gift of the Holy Spirit.

2. His heart was not right in the sight of God. He had not had a true conversion. Belief without turning from your old ways is not true faith. 

3. He had not repented of his sorcery (repent of this, thy wickedness).

4. He needed forgiveness from God.

5. He was in the gall of bitterness and the bond of Iniquity.

It’s important for us to grasp what Peter is saying when he tells Simon, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

Notice that Peter says to Simon, Thy money perish with thee. Simon was not saved. He was going to perish without repentance of his sorcery and the reason for that was that he thought the gift of God could be purchased with money.

Simon’s belief in the things that Philip preached was in the unrepentant mindset of sorcery. His pursuit was all wrong. When Peter tells him Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter, it was an indictment against him that he wasn’t saved and in God’s kingdom.

Now, in contrast to what Peter says to Simon, consider his words to those who were repented on the day of Pentecost.

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. ~ Acts 2:37-39

In Acts 2, Peter had preached to his Jewish kinsmen that they were culprits in condemning Jesus to death and rejecting him as the Messiah. Consequently, they were pricked in their hearts. A more accurate description is pierced. Its usage in the Greek is, I am pierced, stung, smitten. In other words, they were smitten with conviction and as a result they asked Peter, what shall we do?

In response, Peter tells them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. This is in stark contrast to what Peter told Simon the Sorcerer, Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

Unlike those in Acts 2, Simon the Sorcerer had not yet repented and turned to Christ in his heart. Understand this, it is entirely possible to believe and yet be unchanged because you refuse to turn your heart to the Lord. Such belief will not profit you in the day of Christ.

Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. ~ John 12:42-43

Were these chief rulers who believed on Jesus saved? Absolutely not, because they were ashamed to publicly confess their belief in him, and they desired the praise of men more than the praise of God.

In John 8, some of the very same Jews who momentarily believed in Jesus were the very ones who in the same setting turned on him and took up stones to stone him.

Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.  ~ John 8:28-32

The Jews in this reference who believed, were not some bystanders listening to his dialogue with other Jews. They were some of the very ones who began to question Jesus when he said, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. It was these same Jews (who momentarily believed in him,) who became angry when Jesus began to address their sin.

The confrontation became so sharp that John tells us, Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. ~ John 8:59

Belief in Jesus which leads to salvation is belief that he is truly the Son of God and that kind of belief turns the heart to the Lord.

But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it (the heart) shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. ~ 2 Corinthians 3:15-18

Repentance is turning our heart to the Lord and when we do, we are changed into his image from glory to glory by the Spirit of Lord. From glory to glory means we grow more and more into his glorious likeness by the Spirit of the Lord, whose work in our hearts is to conform us into the image and likeness of Jesus. Freedom in Christ is not found in not repenting of sin, it’s found in true repentance of sin, because true repentance is a work of grace in the heart by the Holy Spirit. Neither Simon the Sorcerer in Acts 8, the chief rulers in John 12, or the Jews in John 8 had repentant hearts. Yet they all had unrepentant belief with unchanged hearts.

In recent weeks I have been writing on themes that pertain to our great salvation, and countering some of the egregious errors that are being taught regarding salvation. In particular, the teachings of Free Grace ( FG) theology.

Within this theology salvation does not require repentance of sin or any commitment to follow Christ. Repentance of sin is actually thought by some who advocate FG theology to be a heresy and a false gospel, because repentance of sin is deemed to be a work which adds to the finished work of Christ. Their logic is that since Jesus paid the price for sin, all that is required is belief in Jesus and Heaven is guaranteed regardless if the person repents of sin or not. 

This is problematic when you follow this teaching to its logical conclusion.  A person living in adultery, or as a rapist, or as a child abducting human trafficker, or a serial killer can believe that Jesus paid the price for their sin  and be granted eternal life, even if they never turn from their sins.

This however, is a mockery of the true gospel and undermines the truth of the character of a Holy God who gave his Son to save us from our sins. Teaching people that they will go to Heaven by believing, even if they refuse to turn from their sins and follow Jesus, is not free grace. It is the equivalent to free loading.

Heaven is not a hand out for wicked people to get a free pass while they continue to live in unrepentant sin. Paul says to the Ephesians, For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. ~ Ephesians 5:5-6

To the Corinthians, Paul says following:

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. ~ 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Paul then follows these words by saying, And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. ~ v.11

Notice that being saved is being washed, sanctified, and justified from our sins, both in the name of the Lord and by the Spirit of our God. A person who is on the prowl to abduct children to traffic is not washed, sanctified, or justified. Neither is the man who is actively cheating on his wife with another woman, nor is the one who is getting wealthy cheating the elderly out of their life’s savings. I could go on, but hopefully you get the point.

Saved people are changed people, and saved people have a conviction to live godly because they have turned from their sins through their faith in Jesus Christ. But this is not the salvation taught within FG theology.

Consider the following response that a FG advocate gave to the scripture that says, let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. In response the FG advocate commented, “Not to be saved, but to be disciples. Rightly divide the word of truth, do you know what that means? “

The rationale behind this statement, and others similar to it is that if a person believes that they must stop living in sin to be saved, they are adding to the finished work of Christ. According to the FG theology that I have observed, being saved has absolutely nothing to do with deliverance or redemption from the actual sins in a person’s life. The emphasis is on the penalty for those sins after death. In other words, salvation from sin (in FG theology) doesn’t mean I stop living in sin to live for Christ, it means I will not be judged for my sins, even if I refuse to live for Christ and remain a drunkard, fornicator, or murderer, etc.

When the commenter mentioned above says, “Not to be saved, but to be disciples,” he is claiming that you do not have to depart from iniquity to be saved, only if you choose to be a disciple. Yet Paul tells us that Jesus gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify us unto himself as purchased people zealous of good works.

This mindset that separates some as saved only and others as disciples, is what motivated me to write the article I recently titled,  The Call to Discipleship. In no way did I cover all that the New Testament teaches about discipleship, but let me be clear, if you refuse to be a disciple of Jesus, and you think you can live in unrepentant sin and go to Heaven, you are deceived.

Being a disciple of Jesus is not optional for believers. Those who were saved in the book of Acts became disciples, and Paul’s letters to the churches were addressed to the saints (God’s set apart people, i.e., disciples). Becoming a disciple may be optional within FG theology, but it isn’t in gospel according to the scriptures. You will not find a subset of saved people who refuse to repent of sin, and refuse to be disciples of Jesus who have eternal life abiding in them, anywhere in the New Testament!

The commission of the gospel, which we often refer to as the great commission, is to make disciples of all nations, because saved people become disciples. If that bothers you, take it up with Jesus, because I am going to tell you the truth. I refuse to stand by and not condemn this FG theology, which is actually teaching people they can free load at the expense of the grace of God. And that is not the gospel!

The complaint that many FG advocates have with people like me who preach and teach repentance of sin, is their claim that the word repent means to change your mind, and they love to point out that God repented multiple times in the Old Testament by making claims such as one the one below.

I searched repent and didn’t find anywhere in the bible where it says “repent of sin(s)” or “of your sin”. And God repents the most. Man added “of sin” to the word.

Now, I plan to cover the topic of God repenting (changing his course of action) in a future article, but for now I want to stay focused on repentance of sin. As a Bible teacher who’s been offering apologetics for a long time, allow me to explain what’s wrong with the argument, “I searched repent and didn’t find anywhere in the bible where it says “repent of sin(s)” or “of your sin”.

I am sure you will not find the phrase “stop committing adultery” anywhere in the Bible, but that doesn’t mean that adulterers should not stop, or that the Bible doesn’t oppose adultery. Repenting of sin is affirmed often throughout the Bible, and to deny that fact because a phrase (cherry picked) isn’t found in your search, is just being lazy.

My apologies if I sound a little annoyed, but people need to do better when making such claims.

In 2 Corinthians 12:21 Paul expresses his grief concerning those who have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

Is uncleanness sin? Sure it is. What about fornication? Absolutely! How about lasciviousness? You know it is. These are all sins that Paul was concerned that the Corinthians had not repented of.

In Acts 8, Peter confronted Simon the Sorcerer, telling him to, Repent therefore of this thy wickedness (v. 22). Simon’s wickedness of which Peter is telling him to repent is sorcery. Is the wickedness of sorcery sin? Sure it is.

Now consider the following from Revelation 9

And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts. ~ v. 20-21

Is worshiping devils sin? What about murder, sorcery, fornication, and theft?

This is exactly why those who make claims like the one highlighted above, which says, “I searched repent and didn’t find anywhere in the bible where it says “repent of sin(s)” or “of your sin”, are being disingenuous. If you truly run a search on all the texts in the Bible that speak of repent, repentance, etc., you would come across the verses which speak of repentance of sin. 

Furthermore, if a person were to do a search on verses which refer to repentance, which doesn’t necessarily use the word repent, they would find even more texts that speak of repenting of sin. For example, consider Isaiah 55:6-7 and Proverbs 28:13.

Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 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 55:6-7

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. ~ Proverbs 28:13

It doesn’t take a theologian to see that both of these texts above speak of repentance. Forsaking your sin, and returning to the Lord is repentance. Confessing your sins, and forsaking them is repentance.

Even though these verses do not use the phrase, repent of your sins, or the words, repent and repentance, they clearly teach repentance of sins. Repentance of sin is a major theme in the Bible. In fact much of the entire chapter of Psalm 51 has to do with repentance of sin. Consider for example, the first 4 verses.

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. ~ Psalm 51:1-4

If we’d continue to read all 19 verses of Psalm 51 we would learn a lot about repentance. Allow me to highlight a few things we would learn. In his repentance, the Psalmist says, thou desirest truth in the inward parts (v.6).

True repentance leads to a heart of integrity in the sight of God, and true repentance seeks to have such a heart of integrity.

In verses 10 -12 the Psalmist says Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Repentance leads to a clean heart and a right spirit, and causes the joy of salvation to be experienced. Now, notice what the Psalmist says next, once his heart has been made clean and a right spirit has been renewed in him.

Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. ~ v.13

In his repentant state, asking to be made clean and right in his heart, the Psalmist says, “then” will I teach transgressors thy ways. God’s ways are for transgressors to repent and sinners to be converted. Teaching people that they can be saved without repentance is not teaching them God’s ways.