About Pastor Don Carpenter Expertise I believe that every word of the Bible is God-Breathed. This blessed book is the foundation of truth for faith and practice. If you ask this volunteer a question you will receive an answer from the Bible that is based upon a litteral, normal interpretation, taking into account the grammar and culture of the time.
Experience I have been in the ministry almost 20 years. During this time, the Lord has used me as Senior Pastor, counsellor, youth pastor and generally in the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry.
Publications The Revival Chronicles
Education/Credentials BS in Bible Baptist Bible College of Clarks Summit, PA
I'm really confused about how “repentance” fits into a person getting saved. I hear pastors say people need to repent first before they can accept Jesus and become saved. However, if people are slaves to sin, then where do they find the strength to repent in order to get saved? In other words, say some one is an alcoholic. They don't have the strength in themselves to turn from alcohol in order to get saved! So how do they find the strength to repent of their alcoholism? How do they even have the strength to want to repent of alcoholism? For this reason I'm wondering perhaps instead I should not mention repentance at all and instead just ask unsaved people to accept Jesus as their personal savior. Inotherwords, don't mention the alcoholism and instead ask them if they would like Jesus to be their savior. Then once the Holy Spirit comes into their heart, then the Holy Spirit will give the alcoholic the strength to over come the alcohol. What do you think?
Answer Hi Brison,
You have asked a wonderful question. I will warn you...you have stumbled into a hotly debated point in theology today. The first thing that we must understand is the definition of repentance. Repentance is a change of mind that results in a change of action. It does not always mean repenting from sin. We know that God does not sin...yet the Bible says that He repented.
Genesis 6:6
6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.
Exodus 32:14
14 And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.
Psalm 106:45
45 And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.
This is a change of mind. You are right...one cannot repent of sins until he receives Jesus as his Savior, then the Holy Spirit is there to give him the ability to repent of sins... But clearly the Bible teaches that repentance is a part of salvation...so how does that work. Repentance that leads to salvation is a change of mind about what you are trusting in in order to get to heaven. Notice the foundation of our doctrine:
Hebrews 6:1
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.
The repentance is a change of mind FROM trusting in works TO trusting in Christ alone.... this is repentance that leads to salvation. Now make no mistake...true salvation produces instant repentance from sin to some degree or another.
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.
Repentance from sin is a sign of salvation, not a prerequisite, therefore I do not need to tell a person to repent from sin in order to merit salvation any more than I need to tell a new born baby to breath and to cry.... if they are truely alive...then they will do those things naturally.
The problem with requiring someone to repent before salvation is that then they are trusting in their sincere repentance (works) not the blood of Jesus (faith). This is a subtile tactic of the devil...but it is very effective to get folks to miss the true story of salvation.
To sum it up ... One does have to repent in order to be saved...he needs to change his mind about his dead works and trust in Jesus to save him because he recognizes the fact that his sin is condeming him to hell.
