"Repent and Believe"

“Now, after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:14-15 ESV)

How often have you visited a church and heard a pastor you are unfamiliar with call for those who want to accept Christ to pray a specific prayer and then tell them they were saved? You see this on television and online all the time from charismatic pastors, and false teachers who push the prosperity gospel. Let me tell you, as hard as it is to accept, the so-called “sinners” prayer saves no one and will lead many to hell because they once prayed a prayer and were told they were saved.

Nowhere in scripture does this “prayer appear.” Jesus did not come saying pray this prayer, and I will save you. No, to the contrary, in today’s scripture, Mark tells us that Jesus said, “repent and believe.” In Acts 2:28, Peter says, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” [emphasis mine.] Peter also said, “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.”(3:19)[emphasis mine.]

Unfortunately, the word "repent" is a necessary word that makes people uncomfortable. This word draws an image of the crazy guy with the end near the board over his shoulder (it turns out he might not be so crazy after all). It can make people uncomfortable; no one wants to believe they are a sinner. Some even see it as pushy and threatening. It is none of these things. Repentance is a necessary part of the process of salvation.

Granted, we can pray to Christ for His intervention in our lives and for Him to become our Savior, but unlike the incorrect implications made by many, this prayer does not save, just as pedo-baptism does not save. Salvation comes through God’s grace, which produces our faith in Christ as our Savior. Our repentance, our turning from our sin, then occurs. Our baptism is our outward expression or proclamation of our inner faith. Without repentance, which Christ calls explicitly for, there is no changing of the heart. There is no supernatural change resulting from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Paul wrote, “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” (Romans 6:1) We are to repent our sins. Two words most charismatic and false teachers fail to use are “sin” and “repent.” We must hear and be reminded of our sinful nature lest we become arrogant and self-righteous. We need to repent our sins all the time because we will sin.

Do not let those who think they know the Lord through this “sinners prayer” go blindly through the world without truly knowing the Lord. Help them understand that faith and repentance in Christ lead to salvation—not some obscure prayer said once in passing. True salvation is life-changing. It changes our hearts and minds, our actions and in actions, and our view of so many things that those of the world fail to see.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who are not saved is folly, a joke, or considered a fairy tale or myth. Show them through the love of Christ that salvation through the finished work of Christ is real, life-changing, and experiential. You know you are saved by Christ, do you not? I do.

If you are unsure about your salvation or do not know Jesus Christ, reach out to In Messiah. We at the ministry would love to help you understand who Jesus is, what He can do for you, and how to understand your salvation.

Grace and Peace!