Page 6 - Microsoft Word - New Believer Devotional (3)

regenerated by the Holy Spirit in order to release us from the power of sin and Satan so that we can place
our faith in Christ and repent of our rebellion against God.

What is true repentance? What is true saving faith? We will discuss the nature of each as we look at these
doctrines of grace as laid out in Scripture. Some people are sorry for sin, but not truly repentant (2
Corinthians 7:10). In the same way, some people may have faith in “something”, even faith in Jesus, but
not be true saving faith. For example, John 6:66 says that many of Jesus’ disciples turned away from
following Him after He taught more spiritual doctrines.

Just because someone says they believe in Jesus doesn’t mean they have the faith that saves. Mormons do
this. They have the wrong concept of Jesus; therefore, their faith is not saving. An atheist can say they
have faith in Jesus; that is, they believe He was a historical person who died on a cross for sins; but this,
too, is not the inward working, soul-saving Faith needed to trust Christ as the risen Son of God, who is
your personal Savior and Lord, who you know and communicate with through prayer.
Why is Jesus the Only way to God?

Jesus is the only way of salvation because He is the only One who can or did pay our sin penalty (Romans
6:23). No other religion teaches the depth or seriousness of sin and its consequences – only lists of rules.
No other religion offers the infinite payment of sin by a sinless entity, a payment paid by God Himself for
the people He loved, which only Jesus Christ could provide. No other religion’s “God-man” came for the
express purpose of setting people free from sin and the power of death – only Jesus. There is only Him.

Salvation is available only through faith in Jesus Christ! “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no
other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Repentance and faith must both be present to get saved, because you have faith in Christ to save you from
your sins, and therefore you are repentant of your sins. Sin is a transgression against God and His Law. If
you don’t see the need to repent of that, you won’t see your need to trust Christ as your Savior.
Conversion is our willing response to the gospel call, in which we sincerely repent of sins, rebellious
nature and place our trust in Christ for salvation.

True repentance is the turning away from sin. The Greek word for repentance is μετανοέω (metanaweo).
This word means ‘to feel remorse’ and ‘to change one’s mind.’ When we experience repentance, we feel
remorse because we know that we have violated God’s holy nature; and we change our mind (and
therefore our ways) to agree with His ways. After this, aren’t you so thankful because we know that we
are guilty and rightly deserve His judgment, but instead have been given His grace and mercy. Mercy
triumphs over judgment! (James 2:13).

What do we need to know in order to repent? We need to know God as the holy lawgiver (Isaiah 33:22;
see Exodus 20:1-17; 31:18; Leviticus 24:46; Psalms 78:5; Mark 12:29; Luke 10:27; Gal. 3:10). God is
holy. I often explain “holy” as meaning very pure, full of power, and so pure that it can become
dangerous if misused. God’s holiness is very, very pure – no one can look on Him and live! That’s
purity that commands respect, not by demanding it, but by simply being who He is. God is holy. Since
we are being conformed into the image of His Son every day by the Holy Spirit, He is making us holy,
too. He is so holy, and so worthy. No one is like Him!

We need to know God is holy so that the revelation of our sins may be brought to light. Without knowing
that God is holy, we would not know sin: “Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known