Question of the Week: Does God accept us as we are or do we need to repent before we ask Him for forgiveness?
According to the most direct example we have in scripture of salvation taking place outside of the nation of Israel, we look at the way it took place with Cornelius the Centurion in Acts 10:1-48. First, it is encouraging that regardless of the attitude of the messenger, God is honored most by the heart of the individual responding to it. So if someone gets saved under less than savory circumstances, we have it on scriptural authority that it isn’t invalidated by a corrupt pastor or a church that went on to compromise in major ways. Peter was reluctant to walk into Cornelius’ home and dragged his feet the entire way in spite of being given 3 visions explaining what he was there to do. God can minister in spite of the messenger. Second, verse 44 clarifies that the Holy Spirit fell on those who heard the word. It doesn’t say anything about prior repentance or that being something Peter clarified before salvation was possible for them. And finally, the purpose of salvation needs to be clarified in order to avoid misunderstandings about what we are being saved from. The reason Peter was sent to Cornelius in the first place wasn’t to leave them in sin, but to lead them to the Savior. The reason people emphasize repentance before salvation is possible is an attempt to respond to those who abuse God’s mercy as a means of getting away with the consequences of their lifestyle. While we acknowledge that verbally voicing a prayer doesn’t save anybody, claiming that repentance needs to come before salvation is possible is making the equal and opposite mistake under the same authority. Biblically, Salvation takes place when the Holy Spirit enters our hearts. This will naturally result in a change of heart and thus a change of life. It doesn’t precede this because it simply isn’t possible. Ephesians 2:1-3: is very clear that our state before God’s intervention in our hearts is dead and utterly unable to save ourselves. The mercy God has shown us is the conviction the Holy Spirit works in our hearts before salvation takes place. John 16:7-15: Salvation is when we acknowledge the sin He is revealing to us as a problem in need of solving. And it is through Jesus that we are born again and now capable of living our lives repenting from sin and pursuing a personal relationship with Him. Ephesians 2:4-12: Salvation is a gift that produces repentance, not a reward for the work of repentance.
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