Is Repentance Necessary for Salvation?

by Ray Comfort

It is true that there are numerous Bible verses that speak of the promise of salvation, with no mention of repentance. These merely say to “believe” on Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9). However, the Bible makes it clear that God is holy and man is sinful, and that sin makes a separation between the two (Isaiah 59:1,2). Without repentance from sin, wicked men cannot have fellowship with a holy God. We are dead in our trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1) and until we forsake them through repentance, we cannot be made alive in Christ. The Scriptures speak of “repentance unto life” (Acts 11:18). We turn from sin to the Savior. This is why Paul preached “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21).

The first public word Jesus preached was “repent” (Matthew 4:17). John the Baptist began his ministry the same way (Matthew 3:2). Jesus told His hearers that without repentance, they would perish (Luke 13:3). If belief is all that is necessary for salvation, then the logical conclusion is that one need never repent. However, the Bible tells us that a false convert “believes” and yet is not saved (Luke 8:13); he remains a “worker of iniquity.” Look at the warning of Scripture: “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth” (1 John 1:6). The Scriptures also say, “He that covers his sins shall not prosper, but whoso confesses and forsakes them [repentance] shall have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). Jesus said that there was joy in heaven over one sinner who “repents” (Luke 15:10). If there is no repentance, there is no joy because there is no salvation.

When Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, he commanded his hearers to repent “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). Without repentance, there is no remission of sins; we are still under His wrath. Peter further said, “Repent…and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19). We cannot be “converted” unless we repent. God Himself “commands all men everywhere [leaving no exceptions] to repent” (Acts 17:30). Peter said a similar thing at Pentecost: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you” (Acts 2:38).

If repentance wasn’t necessary for salvation, why then did Jesus command that repentance be preached to all nations (Luke 24:47)? With so many Scriptures speaking of the necessity of repentance for salvation, one can only suspect that those who preach salvation without repentance are strangers to repentance themselves, and thus strangers to true conversion.¹
With so many Scriptures speaking of the necessity of repentance for salvation, one can only wonder why anyone would not preach repentance, as we have been commanded to.²
With so many Scriptures speaking of the necessity of repentance for salvation, we dare not omit it from our gospel presentation... for the sake of the lost.³

Final sentence sources:
1. EvidenceBible.com
2. “The Evidence Bible”, 2011 edition, p. 1495
3. “The Way of the Master New Testament”, 2009, p. 466

EDITORIAL | Friendship Evangelism

by Brian Sayles, Blog and Facebook Page Administrator

Ray Comfort open-air preaching in Huntington Beach, CA (via Christian Post)

Ten years ago, I took "The Way of the Master" course at Spring Baptist Church. "The Way of the Master" is a series of television episodes where actor Kirk Cameron and evangelist Ray Comfort teach Christians how to share their faith "simply, effectively, biblically - the way Jesus did!" I have read many of Ray's books and watched videos of him teaching on evangelism, open-air preaching, and one-to-one evangelism.

FREE book!!!

One of Ray's gifts from God is that he can go up to any person and start talking to them about Jesus. He can help people see that they are a sinner in need of a savior, and the conversation usually ends with the person thanking Ray for talking to them. His ministry Living Waters, and "The Way of the Master" teach people how they can be like Ray and share their faith with strangers. Even if you are like me, severely introverted and do not like to talk to any people, they have unique gospel tracts that you can give to people so they can read about salvation.

The Million Dollar Bill gospel tract!

One thing that Ray Comfort and other people associated with him warn about is "Friendship Evangelism".


"Friendship Evangelism Is Neither Friendship Nor Evangelism" says evangelist Tony Miano (Cross Encounters Ministries). "Dear reader: if you feed, clothe, and house people for the glory of God (Matthew 5:16) but you do not share the gospel with them, all you have ultimately accomplished is making those same needy people warmed and filled on their way to Hell. You have merely made their bodies more comfortable. You've done nothing for their souls," he says.

In another article, Tony says:

• Feeding the poor is not evangelism.
  
• Clothing and sheltering the homeless is not evangelism.
  
• Building homes for the needy and those devastated by natural disasters is not evangelism.
  

Supplementing your vacation to Europe with the occasional smile while offering up a "Jesus loves you" greeting to indigenous people who do not understand what you're saying is not evangelism. Taking the youth group to a mall or local tourist location for a scavenger hunt and having the kids wear different brightly colored t-shirts sporting the church's web address is not evangelism. Spending your evenings at the local cafe listening to bad poetry while taking hits on an ornate hookah and engaging unbelievers in culturally-relevant conversation is not evangelism. Now, can each of the above-mentioned activities serve as a springboard for a Biblical presentation of the law and the gospel to the unsaved? Yes (even hookah night at the local caffeine distribution center). But none of the activities--in and of themselves--fall within a Biblical definition of evangelism.

Carl Kerby (Reasons for Hope) debunks the statement "As a Christian I Don't Need to Talk About Jesus (I just need to live a good life)".
All four years I was in high school (2004-2008) I wore Christian T-shirts almost every day. I read Christian books nearly every day. I carried my Bible in my backpack. I assume most people knew I was a Christian. Nobody then or since has read my Christian and came up to me and said, "Oh, you're a Christian. Please tell me about Jesus". The only times I talk to people about Jesus is if I bring up the subject. "Friendship/Lifestyle Evangelism" sounds goods on the surface, but it doesn't work - and more importantly, is unbiblical. Further resources: Articles on Tony Miano's blog Sermon: "Friendship Evangelism: A Tragedy in One Act" by Tony Miano Article: "The Error of Friendship Evangelism" by Ray Comfort

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