Without A Doubt - The Essentials Of Saving FaithНамуна

Jesus beginning His public ministry proclaimed that the kingdom of God was at hand. The response was not only to believe this in faith, but also to repent. The essential beliefs one holds to are evidenced by how one responds to the faith they claim to possess by the practice of repentance.

While believing in Jesus and His gospel are essential, He also included the call to repent, to turn from one’s sin and follow Jesus and His teachings. At conversion, the Holy Spirit enters a sinner’s heart, causing one to be born again and made new, this results in one believing and professing Jesus as Lord over oneself. Believing in Jesus means understanding that He is Lord and we are not. The acting out of this new reality is found in repentance, where the believer turns from allegiance to self and the world, to allegiance and worship of Jesus Christ.

Theologian and pastor Sam Storms defines repentance as involving “a heartfelt conviction of sin, a contrition over the offense to God, a turning away from the sinful way of life, and a turning towards a God-honoring way of life.” There is a new way of living, under the authority of Christ, that is a response to one’s biblical convictions and faith. The act of repentance happens at one’s conversion, but then continues as a daily practice for those who are followers of Jesus Christ. This is the evidence that one is saved. The Bible calls these good works of repentance “fruit.” Jesus said that when it comes to Christians, you recognize them by their fruit. 

There are some well-known state nicknames that are known throughout America. My home state of Florida is known as the Sunshine State. Just to the north of us is Georgia, the Peach State. Texas is the Lone Star State. If James was writing his letter from America, he would be sitting behind a computer in Missouri, the “Show Me” State. You’re a Christian? Okay, great, show me. James isn’t bragging or claiming varsity-level spirituality, he is declaring that faith without works is dead, it is useless, it can’t even be considered faith. Sinclair Ferguson says that “high degrees of Christian assurance are simply not compatible with low levels of obedience.”[1] If one fails to bear the fruit of obedience, the only conclusion that can be drawn is that he does not understand the gospel or have actual biblical faith. Comprehending the love of God is the means by which faithful Christian living takes place and is the grounds of repentance. It is God’s kindness that is intended to lead to repentance (Rom. 2:4). To not repent of sin and bear fruit, is tragically a failure to understand the kindness of God.

The essential business of the Christian are faith and repentance. They are linked together arm and arm in the message that Jesus preached. To have faith in Jesus is to know Him in His death and resurrection, and to understand that “He died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised (2 Cor. 5:15). If these are what Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit declared to be the essential beliefs of the faith, it means that God is the one who declared them essential business. Without these beliefs of first importance, there is no salvation. Without repentance, there are no genuine beliefs.

We hope you have enjoyed this 7-Day devotional from Dean Inserra. To read the full book Without a Doubt, visit moodypublishers.com