Salvation and the Merits of Repentance and Faith

It is disturbing that men know little of the subject of repentance and faith. More disturbing yet is the lack of awareness (whether in ignorance or deliberately) of the instruments of repentance and faith that precede the sinner’s salvation and deliverance from the penalty of sin. . .But sin is not now viewed as sin: it’s an “alternate lifestyle!” Why, surely God would not withhold a heavenly seat from one who happens to see things a little differently! He loves everybody. Everybody knows that Hell is (hopefully) a fictitious place: nobody really goes there: and if they did, it wouldn’t be all that bad! We’d all be in good company!

But we as Christians know better than that! Unfortunately however, today’s Christian tends to be somewhat complacent: no pressing need for God to deliver; and if there was, we could just dial Heaven’s 911! And the younger generation is happy with the god that is before them: they’ve been beguiled by the serpent: he’s given them a “feel good” religion! A well known steakhouse has a slogan that might be adapted: “No rules - just right!” Has the Lord God of yesterday become lax in His Law? Are the 10 commandments due for an overhaul? Or are they so archaic they should be viewed only in a museum? Is God no longer to be taken seriously?

How, (as one has put it) the Gospel of Jesus Christ needs to be recovered! People are no longer lost; they’re merely “unchurched.” A little boy had been wandering aimlessly out in the woods for several hours. Finally one of the neighbors who had been searching, spotted him. “He’s safe! I found the lost boy!” “Oh, I’m not lost, he said. I know where I am.” How reassuring, the comments of the sinner: “Oh, I’m not lost; I don’t need saving!”

For those of us who have found ourselves lost and in need of saving. . .

Salvation and the merits of repentance and faith.

The human side of our salvation from the penalty of sin respects our repentance and faith. Though these possess no merits whatever, and though they in no sense purchase our pardon, yet according to the order that God has appointed, they are (instrumentally) essential, for salvation does not become ours experimentally until they are exercised. Repentance is the hand releasing those filthy objects it had clung to so tenaciously; faith is extending an empty hand to God to receive His gift of grace. . .Repentance is the sinner covering his mouth and crying, “Unclean, unclean”; faith is the leper coming to Christ and saying, “Lord , if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.”

So far from repentance and faith being meritorious graces, they are self-emptying ones. The one who truly repents takes his place as a lost sinner before God, confessing himself to be a guilty wretch deserving nought but unsparing judgment at the hands of Divine justice. Faith looks away from corrupt and ruined self, and views the amazing provision which God has made for such a Hell-deserving creature. Faith lays hold of the Son of God’s love, as a drowning man clutches at a passing spar. Faith surrenders to the Lordship of Christ, rests upon the merits and efficacy of His sacrifice, his sins are removed from God’s sight “as far as the east is from the west.” A. W. Pink, A Fourfold Salvation.

A common assumption is that one must first repent and only then does faith enter the picture. If this be true, then repentance must be accomplished in unbelief! If faith is not the instrument employed to bring repentance, then it must of necessity be classified as the work of the flesh! To say that one must first repent, to realize his enmity against God, to acknowledge his offense, to willingly throw down his weapons in surrender to God, in total abandonment of pride and self-will. . .and then will follow Faith?No, it is utterly impossible!

We are given in Hebrews chapter eleven not only a definition of Faith, but also a very practical picture of the manner in which it works: “These all died in faith. . .having seen and were persuaded. . .andembraced. . .and confessed. Faith then, allows us to see the Truth, it persuades us of its authenticity: its capabilities extend not only to revealing the Savior, but likewise in convincing the sinner of his awful plight and of his desperate need! Only then is he willing to repent and embrace Truth and confess Christ as Lord!

(For a further study of these thoughts, read “On Repentance and Faith” included in the contents of articles.)

Grace, we say, is unmerited favor: it is unconditionally, utterly unmerited and unmeritable on our part, but abundantly, absolutely and altogether merited on the part of Christ.

We often quote, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast” Eph. 2;8,9. It is “not of yourselves. . .not of works.” Salvation is the [unmerited] gift of God. The gift itself [Himself] is the only begotten Son; we do in no wise merit such a highly esteemed gift. In fact, what we do merit is condemnation, judgment, and Hell. Not only is salvation an unmerited gift, but unmerited is the grace from whence it is given. To those who would boast of the merit of their “good” works; they follow the ever descending path of the Pharisee. And yet there are those who would contend for a faith that is of their own contrivance, therefore due respect and merit. What have we just read? “our repentance and faith possess no merits whatever;” and “far from repentance and faith being meritorious graces, they are self-emptying ones.” What exactly does the repenting sinner merit? He merits absolutely nothing. Neither will his repentance nor his faith alone, add one nickel to his heavenly inheritance. His righteousness shall not increase because of it. Are there degrees of righteousness? Then there must be degrees of salvation. Are there degrees of righteousness? Then God might at any given time, be found to be only 98% righteous! God has imputed the righteousness of Christ to our account. What if righteousness imputed to an account were subject to a variable interest rate? Foolishness, you say? And it is; but no more foolish than one who would think to receive meritorious applause from a Holy God because of his “good works!”

But the question is not a matter of “degrees” of righteousness. The concern must needs be over the sort of righteousness it is; of what manner or nature is it? “For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisee, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven” Matt 5:20. “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God” Rom. 10:3.

Salvation and the merits of repentance and faith.

If salvation had been left to me, that’s what it would remain - left. Though we say that repentance and faith are due no merit, yet there is merit due. Repentance and faith are not products of the flesh; they are of Divine origin; they are of eternal value. Therefore, I must pray, Thanks be unto God, who through His Spirit has quickened me; who has wrought in me a new life; one that now willingly embraces and confesses Him as Lord, as Savior. If merit be due in light of the working of repentance and faith within my being - it’s all His: to Him be glory and honour and praise!

"Lord, save me!"

The prayer of repentance and faith. Just how is it to be worded? What is to be included? How long must it be? Do I have to be in church? Must I be at the altar? Am I to bow on my knees? Does somebody, another Christian, have to be there as a witness? Must I pray loudly so God will hear me? Will He forgive me of my sin? One may have many questions; but when true conviction is present and the sinner becomes as a drowning man overboard in rough water and fears he is about to die. . .well, all he may think to say is, “Lord, save me!” Such was the case of one Simon Peter. . .

“But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me” Matt.14:30. Peter beginning to sink: “I’m going to drown! Somebody save me!” No, Lord, save me! “Somebody throw me a life preserver!” No, the “Life Preserver” reached out to him! “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth” Psalm 121:1,2. How well this scripture fits Peter’s situation! Jesus had been up in the hills; now He who was Lord of all was come unto him. Peter saw the winds boisterous; he was afraid. Now his eyes turned from the storm unto Jesus [repentance]. “Lord, save me!” Christ became the object of his hope, of his Faith. “Lord, save me!” “And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him.” “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:” Isa. 59:1.

“Lord, save me!” In one motion, Peter turned from all else, unto the Lord, neither seeking nor depending on any other help. Herein is repentance and faith, acting, working together as one. Was there any merit in his cry? Was there power to save; was there deliverance to be secured from within the cry itself? No. Deliverance came when Jesus responded to the call: His was the power, to Him was due much merit; all merit. Did Peter have any works of which to boast? No. Had Simon known the words penned by Charles H. Gabriel, he might have sung them as he walked back to the ship with the Lord. . .

In loving kindness Jesus came,

My soul in mercy to reclaim,

And from the depths of sin and shame

Through grace He lifted me.

From sinking sand, He lifted me,

With tender hand, He lifted me,

From shades of night, to planes of light,

O praise His name, He lifted me!