Good News Series # 6:

The Personal Response

You must repent and believe in Christ to be eternally saved

Salvation is purely by God's love. God's love towards sinners has two sides: mercy and grace. Mercy means God not giving us what we deserve and grace means God giving us what we do not deserve.

What we deserve most is eternal separation from God in Hell. On the other hand, what we do not deserve most is an eternal love-relationship with God. Yet out of God’s mercy, He withheld His wrath from sinful man and out of His grace, He sent His only Son into this world to provide eternal life (John 3:16). Eternal life means escaping Hell and going to Heaven. But more than these, according to Christ Himself, eternal life is primarily about having an intimate relationship with God (John 17:3).

The response in order to receive the gift of eternal life has two sides: repentance from sin and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Although the Bible puts repentance and faith together, they are different aspects of spiritual conversion. “When we turn to Christ for salvation from our sins, we are simultaneously turning away from the sins that we are asking Christ to save us from” (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 713-14). Thus, Christ said, “Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15; cf. Matthew 4:17; Luke 24:47). Christ’s apostles also proclaimed the good news with this message, “repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21; cf. Mark 6:12).

May the Holy Spirit use the truths from this lesson to enlighten you more on the importance of repentance and faith as personal response for receiv- ing the gift of eternal salvation.

I. You Must Repent From Your Sins

A. The Meaning of Repentance From Sin

True repentance is a change of mind and heart regarding sin and God. It “is a heartfelt sorrow for sin, a renouncement of it, and a sincere commitment to forsake it and walk in obedience to Christ” (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 713).

Repentance for eternal salvation involves a realization that sin dishonors God, does not give lasting satisfaction and its end is eternal destruction in Hell. It also involves a glad decision to forsake any sinful practice and any wrong belief on how to obtain eternal salvation.

B. The Importance of Repentance in Relation to Eternal Salvation

1. Why did Christ come here on earth according to Matthew 9:13?

Matthew 9:13 - 'Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” '

✔ To call sinners to repentance

2. What happens the moment a person genuinely repents from his sin according to Acts 3:19?

Acts 3:19 - 'Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, '

✔ Sins blotted out (forgiven or erased)

3. How many sins are forgiven according to Colossians 2:13?

Colossians 2:13 - 'And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, '

✔ all

II. You Must Believe In Jesus Christ Alone

A. The Meaning of Faith in Jesus Christ

Saving faith involves relying (trusting) in Christ alone and receiving Christ for who He is.

1. Saving Faith is Relying on Christ Alone

a. What did Christ claim that you should rely (trust) on Him alone for your salvation (John 14:6)?

John 14:6 - 'Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. '

✔ I am the way, the truth, and the life

Christ’s claim that He is the only way for salvation is clearly taught by many other Bible passages like the ones in Acts 4:12 which says “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” and in 1Timothy 2:5, saying, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.”

b. What did Christ say at the cross that you should rely on Him alone for your salvation (John 19:30)?

John 19:30 - 'When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. '

✔ It is finished

When Christ said “It is finished,” he was claiming that the requirements necessary for man’s salvation are completely done by Him.

c. Do you agree that if man adds anything to Christ’s finished work, like good works and religion, it is lack of trust on the sufficiency of Christ’s provision of salvation and therefore an insult to Christ? Explain your answer.

✔ Yes. Because adding anything to Christ is not full Christ on Christ.

d. According to Isaiah 64:6, why man’s righteous works cannot be added to Christ’s finished work in order to obtain eternal salvation?

Isaiah 64:6 - ' We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. '

✔ Filthy rags

e. Fill in the blanks: But to him who _________ but _____ on Him who justifies the ungodly, his _____ is accounted for______(Romans 4:5).

Romans 4:5 - 'And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, '

✔ does not work, believes, faith, righteousness

2. Saving Faith is Receiving Christ for Who He is

To receive Christ is to gladly accept Him for who He is. It is not biblical faith if man accepts His humanity but rejects His deity. It is not saving faith if man accepts Him as Savior but not as Lord. The person of Christ should be received wholly, not selectively.

a. Jesus is God, thus, He should be received as God not merely as a man (1 John 5:20; John 1:1-4).

1 John 5:20 - 'And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. '

John 1:14 - 'And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. '

b. Jesus is the Bread of Life and the Living Water, thus, He should be received as the only Satisfier of soul (John 6:35; 7:37).

John 6:35 -'Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. '

John - 7:37' On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. '

c. Jesus is the only Savior, thus, He should be received as the Only Savior and not with anyone or something else (Acts 4:12).

Acts 4:12 - 'And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” '

d. Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords, thus, He should be accepted not only as a Savior but as Master as well (Rev 19:16).

Revelation 19:16 - 'On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. '

e. Jesus is the greatest treasure, thus, He should be received not only as a means for salvation but as well as the end goal of salvation (Matt 13:44). This means escaping hell and going to heaven are only secondary while having Christ Himself is the primary goal.

Matthew 13:44 - ' “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. '

B. The Importance of Faith in Christ in Relation to Eternal Salvation

1. What happens the moment a person trusts on Christ for His salvation and receives Christ for who He is (John 1:12)?

John 1:12 - 'But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, '

✔ He becomes a child of God

2. What is true right now with a person who does not believe in Christ (John 3:36)?

John 3:36 - 'Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.'

✔ The wrath of God abides (present tense) on Him

3. What is true right now with a person who does believe in Christ (John 3:36)?

John 3:36 - 'Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.'

✔ He has (present tense) everlasting life

4. What is the result of genuine faith in Christ according to Ephesians 2:8-10?

Ephesians 2:8-10 -'For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. '

✔ Good works

Good works is never part of the means to obtain the gift of eternal salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, true genuine faith inevitably produces good works (Ephesians 2:10; James 2:20).

James 2:20 - 'Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? '

What is the right equation below?

a. Faith + good works = salvation

b. Faith = salvation + good works

✔ b. Faith = salvation + good works

Gospel Reflection

1. Do you believe that at the moment a person genuinely repents and believes in Christ he/she is eternally saved? Why?

2. If a person thinks some of his sins will be punished in purgatory, is it total dependence on the finished sacrifice of Christ at the cross? Why?

3. Do you know people close to you who, if they die today, will go to hell because they think they are Christians but in reality they are not?

Personal Response

Do a silent prayer right now in response to what you have learned from this lesson. Also pray for others especially for those whom you think have not yet experienced the privilege of eternal salvation.

Suggested Readings: 2 John and 3 John, at least 1 chapter a day

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