What Is the Biblical Response To What Jesus Christ Has Done?
What is the necessary response to the gospel?
In two words, “repentant faith.”
REPENTANCE
Luke 13:3,5
Jesus said, “except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
(perish In the lake of fire)
So we see that repentance is necessary.
FAITH
Ephesians 2:8
“For by grace are ye saved through faith are saved”
We see that faith is necessary.
Repentance and faith are like two sides of a coin. You must have both to have the coin. So if repentant faith is necessary for salvation, how do you know that you have attained it? Let’s look to God’s word to see what it teaches.
FOUR POINTS REGARDING BIBLICAL REPENTANCE
Point 1
Repentance involves godly or Godward sorrow over the guilt and shame of your sins against God and a willingness to humble yourself in the sight of God in response.
We read in Psalm 51:4 of the king of Israel, David, who wrote these words of repentance, “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight” Here we see David admitting his guilt to God and humbling himself before Him.
In Psalm 51:9, David goes on to say, “Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.”
These words are evidence of David’s shame.
“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10)
Have you sorrowed in such a way?
Point 2
You will turn from all your sin to faith or trust in Jesus Christ.
Consider 1 Thessalonians 1:9, which says of the Thessalonians, “how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God”
Have you turned away from your sin to serve God?
Think carefully.
Point 3
You will hate your sinful life.
Jesus taught in John 12:25, “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.”
Is it true that you still love your sinful life? Or have you abandoned your sinful life?
Point 4
You will have a great desire for God’s mercy.
Consider David’s appeal for God’s mercy in Psalm 51:1. He cried out, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.”
In Psalm 130:4 David says to God, “But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.”
Do you believe God is able and willing to be merciful to you?
SUMMARY OF REPENTANCE
Godly or Godward Sorrow
Turning Away from all your sin to God
A Holy Hatred for your sinful life
A Great Desire for God’s mercy
Now let’s consider three points of biblical faith…
THREE POINTS REGARDING BIBLICAL SAVING FAITH
Point 1
If you have exercised saving faith, you will trust in, and rely upon the person and finished work of Jesus Christ alone (only) for salvation.
Galatians 2:16 teaches. “a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ”
Your own works cannot save you. This means that no amount of personal reformation, improvement, or change will save you. For example…
walking down the aisle at church
shaking hands with the pastor
asking Jesus into your heart
praying a special prayer
getting baptized
joining a church
working in the church
Salvation is by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone.
Point 2
A person of genuine faith will love Christ supremely and commit himself to follow Him.
Jesus Himself taught in Luke Chapter 14...
“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” Verse 26
Faith in Christ produces the fruit of a supreme love for Christ above all other relationships and above love for yourself.
“And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” Verse 27
Faith produces a willingness to give up your life for Jesus Christ.
“For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?” Verse 28
Faith involves committing yourself to Christ until the very end of life.
“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Verse 33
”Everyone who exercises saving faith becomes Christ’s disciple; a follower and learner of Jesus Christ.
Point 3
People of genuine faith, as a lifestyle, love God and keep His commandments.
1 John 5:3 states, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”
Genuine faith is characterized by delight in obeying God’s law. A Christian loves the law of God. No longer does he despise it. However, we are not saved by keeping God’s law, but those who are saved keep God’s law because they are saved. The Spirit of God produces this love for God’s law and produces obedience to the law in all those who are saved through repentant faith.
SUMMARY OF BIBLICAL FAITH
Trust in and Reliance upon only the person and finished work of Jesus Christ for salvation
Supreme Love for Jesus Christ - produced by the Spirit of God
Commitment to Jesus Christ until the very end of life
Genuine Love for God’s law and obedience to it - produced y the Spirit of God
Have you responded to the good news (the gospel) of God’s mercy and grace in Jesus Christ?
If not, God commands you, Repent and Believe the Gospel (Mark 1:15).
Repent (turn from your sin) put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ to save you from sin and from the wrath of God.
”Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” Romans 5:1
Next time…
Do Your Husband No Harm