Matthew 24: 14 “And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

The gospel or “good news” that Jesus proclaimed never changed and never should. His message was consistent: “the Kingdom of Heaven is here, repent and believe the good news”, Mark 1: 14-15. Some of today’s bible teachers and scholars challenge the inclusion of repentance in the gospel. They insist that salvation is by faith alone. They regard repentance as a “good work” which contaminates the exclusive ingredient of faith.

The big question is…why would Jesus be confused about the necessity of repentance? Why would he command it if it wasn’t essential to human access of salvation and His Kingdom? And why would he predict that repentance would be essential to the gospel until he returned?

Furthermore, why after a lifetime of preaching the gospel would the apostle Paul write that he “had declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.”? And again in Acts 26:20, why would he say, “First to those in Damascus then to those in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.”

I believe that the new testament is clear and consistent on the subject of repentance being part of saving faith. We need to stop trying to find a way of avoiding surrender in our salvation message. Repentance is best defined as changing your mind about who Jesus is (the King of the universe) and pledging allegiance to His leadership. It all starts at the moment of new birth and becomes a life-long process of yielding to God’s reign.

This, my friends, is the only way to get back on the good side of the way living in a God controlled universe works. Repentance and faith will take you through the cross work of Jesus Christ which is the only doorway into the love of God and the Kingdom of God!