The Reformers declared, “Saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, for the glory of God alone.” This statement gives full credit and authority to God regarding salvation. We are saved by faith alone in Christ alone because Jesus accomplished the work Himself. He did not receive assistance, nor did He ask for help. He bore the weight of the world’s sins and endured the punishment it deserved.
Since salvation is by faith alone, where does repentance fit in? The Bible frequently calls people to repentance:
- Psalm 7:12 – “If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow.”
- Ezekiel 14:6 – “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: Repent and turn away from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations.’”
- Luke 5:32 – “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
- Luke 13:3-5 – Jesus warns, “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
Many define repentance as simply turning away from sin. In other words, they believe that if someone continues in sin, they have not truly repented. This mindset leads to an insecure relationship with God, introducing the false idea that salvation is dependent on human effort. It suggests that while one may be saved by Christ, they must remain in salvation through their own merit, with repentance as the measuring rod. This is a dangerous misunderstanding that distorts the gospel of grace.
To have a proper understanding of repentance, we must turn to Scripture and see how it works in relation to faith.
Jesus’ Warning: Repent or Perish
“There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, ‘Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.'” (Luke 13:1-5, ESV)
Jesus makes it clear that repentance is a necessary part of salvation. But if salvation is by faith alone, why does the Bible emphasize repentance? The key to understanding this is defining both faith and repentance correctly.
What is True Repentance?
Repentance is more than just stopping sinful behaviors; it is a turning toward Christ. Many mistakenly think repentance is measured by whether a person stops sinning altogether. If this were true, salvation would always be questioned, and assurance would be impossible.
Consider an alcoholic trying to get sober. The moment he relapses, he may feel as though he has never repented from the start. If repentance is solely about stopping sin, then every time a believer sins, their previous repentance would be invalidated. This creates a legalistic mindset where salvation depends on behavior rather than Christ’s finished work. This is not the gospel.
Jesus’ final words on the cross declare that the work of salvation is complete (John 19:30). We do not maintain our salvation by our own strength, but by the grace of God ALONE.
Repentance is a Process, Not a One-Time Event
Repentance, like faith, is ongoing. It is not a single act but a continual turning toward Christ. The single act of salvation is dependant on Christ alone, and we are guaranteed that salvation if we have faith alone, but repentance is necessary to continually train and change our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths. Sin has corrupted the very inner being of who we are, and that is why repentance is so difficult. If you had a dirty stain on your favorite sweater, you would take time and energy to scrub and scrub that dirt out till it is clean. Repentance is scrubbing your sins out. It doesn’t come off at once, but you need to continually do it in order to be clean.
We must remember:
- Sin includes both commission and omission – doing what we shouldn’t and failing to do what we should.
- Sin exists in our thoughts – even if we do not act on them, sinful desires and attitudes still exist.
- Sin is part of our fallen nature – we will continue to struggle with it throughout our lives.
Because of this, we never stop repenting. But repentance is not about achieving perfection; it is about a change of heart and direction. 
Look at it this way, repentance is not the goal, but part of the journey. Repentance does not mean you have achieved perfection, but are constantly, actively, turning the steering wheel of your life direction back to Christ. When we sin or fall into temptation, our eyes turn away from our true goal, who is Jesus. Without repentance, our path will be misguided and distracted from our destiny. However, one important point to highlight here, your travel on the straight and narrow road to Christ may wander and wobble at times, and you may intentionally turn the steering wheel of life away from Christ, but our reaching the destination is not based on our works but on His. That means no matter how far or long you may travel off the straight road, Jesus is the one who is truly driving and will never let you go too far. Our repentance is our act of worship to God in striving to pursue holiness and righteousness. This honors God.
When we come to Christ, our desires begin to change. Sin becomes bitter rather than pleasurable. Some struggles fade quickly, while others persist for years. True repentance is about this change of desire, not just a change in behavior. We are saved by grace alone, and because of this grace, we naturally turn toward Christ.
“We love because he first loved us.”
(1 John 4:19)
Repentance does not save us—Jesus does. But repentance is a necessary part of sanctification, the ongoing process of becoming more like Christ.
What is True Faith?
The Bible defines faith as:
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
(Hebrews 11:1)
Faith consists of two key components: assurance and conviction.
Assurance: Confidence in Christ
Assurance is a deep confidence in God’s promises. It does not come from our own reasoning, experience, or effort, but from the Holy Spirit.
Jesus’ disciples struggled with belief, even after witnessing His miracles. They only received full assurance after Christ breathed the Holy Spirit upon them:
“And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.'”
(John 20:22)
Just as God breathed life into Adam (Genesis 2:7), Christ restored spiritual life to His followers. Without the Holy Spirit, true faith is impossible.
Conviction: Faith in Action
Conviction moves beyond belief into action. It is the force that compels us to obey God and turn from sin.
- Assurance brings confidence in Christ.
- Conviction drives us to follow Him.
This is why faith and repentance are inseparable. Conviction leads to repentance, and repentance is evidence of true faith.
“Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
(James 2:17)
Repentance is not a requirement to earn salvation, but it is a natural result of genuine faith. Just as a tree naturally produces fruit, true faith produces repentance.
Faith and Repentance: Inseparable Yet Distinct
Faith and repentance work together:
- Faith is believing in Christ and trusting in His finished work.
- Repentance is turning from this world and following Christ.
One cannot exist without the other. A faith that does not lead to repentance is false faith. A repentance that does not rest on faith in Christ is legalism.
True believers will repent—not perfectly, but continually. Repentance is not about achieving a sinless life before we come to Christ; it is about walking in a new direction after coming to Him.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
(1 John 1:9)
Final Thoughts: Are You Growing in Faith and Practicing Repentance?
Faith and repentance are not burdens but blessings. They are signs of God’s work in us, drawing us closer to Him.
Ask yourself:
- Do you trust in Christ alone for your salvation?
- Does your faith include assurance and conviction?
- Is your heart turning away from sin and toward Jesus Christ?
If you have placed your faith in Jesus, you have repented—and you will continue to repent daily. Growth in repentance is growth in faith.
Turn to Christ daily. Trust in His grace. Walk in the assurance of salvation, knowing that God is faithful to complete the work He began in you (Philippians 1:6).
