Psalm 7:12

“If a man does not repent, He will sharpen His sword; He has bent His bow and made it ready” (Psalm 7:12).

Federal Visionists love this verse because they think that David is talking about unbelievers. God will sharpen his sword for unbelievers. God has bent his bow and made it ready for unbelievers. However, this is the classic Roman mistake of blurring the distinction between justification and sanctification.

The Reformed faith has always insisted that justification is by faith alone. All subsequent works are part of sanctification. This means that repentance is not part of justification, but of sanctification.

Therefore, when David wrote, “If a man does not repent,” he was not speaking about justification, but sanctification. David was writing to believers.

Thus, God will sharpen his sword for those who are not sanctified. God has bent his bow and made it ready for those who are not sanctified.

Matthew 4:17

“From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).

Federal Visionists love this verse because they think that Jesus was preaching the gospel. However, nothing could be further from the truth.

The Reformed faith has always insisted that justification is by faith alone, which means that repentance is part of sanctification, not justification. Thus, Jesus was not preaching the gospel. He was preaching for sanctification. Read the rest of this entry.

Acts 5:31

“He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:31).

Federal Visionists love this verse because they think that repentance leads to the forgiveness of sins. Peter allegedly mentions repentance first because it precedes the forgiveness of sins. Thus, forgiveness is dependent upon repentance. However, these kind of geriatric objections are tiresome.

The Reformed faith has always insisted that we receive the forgiveness of sins via justification, which is by faith alone. Faith alone means that repentance is not included. Thus, repentance cannot precede forgiveness, nor can there be a link between repentance and forgiveness of sins. This is elementary logic.

We’re not really sure why Peter mentions repentance before forgiveness. Perhaps he didn’t know better, being a blue collar worker and all. Or, perhaps he intentionally confused the ordu salutis, testing the Jewish Council, to see if they really understood sola fide. Whatever, as long as we don’t let the text affect our theology.

2 Peter 3:9

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

Federal Visionists love this verse because they think that God is wishing for all to come to salvation. Besides sounding universalist and a-reformed, this fails to maintain the elementary distinction between justification and sanctification.

The Reformed fatwa has always insisted that justification is by faith alone. All that happens afterwards is sanctification, which would include repentance.

Thus, the Lord is patient, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to sanctification.

Luke 5:32

“I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32).

Federal Visionists love this verse because they think that Jesus is calling sinners to salvation. However, this is confusing justification and sanctification.

The Reformed faith has always insisted that justification is by faith alone. Repentance is not faith alone; therefore, repentance has no role in justification. Repentance is part of sanctification.

Thus, Jesus did not come to call the righteous but sinners to sanctification.

2 Corinthians 7:10

For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death” (2 Corinthians 7:10).

Federal Visionists love this verse because they think that repentance without regret leads to salvation. However, this reverses the ordo salutis.

The Reformed faith has always insisted that justification is by faith alone, apart from works such as repentance. Repentance is part of sanctification. In no way does sanctification lead to justification. Thus, repentance can never “lead” to salvation. This is backwards. Rather, salvation leads to repentance.

Luke 16:30

“But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!” (Luke 16:30).

This is a well-known parable in which a rich man is suffering torment in Hades. He asks Abraham to send Lazarus to his five brothers, stating “If someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!”

Federal Visionists love this verse because they think that the rich man is concerned about the salvation of his five brothers. Notice how they make repentance a metonym or even synonym for conversion. However, this does violence to the gospel of our modern Reformation.

The Reformed faith has always insisted that justification is the heart of the gospel. This justification is received by faith alone, which means that works such as repentance have no part in justification. Rather, repentance is part of sanctification.

Obviously, the rich man is not concerned about the salvation of his five brothers because he does not mention justification or faith alone. Thus, they must already be believers; otherwise, the rich man would have said, “If someone goes to them from the dead, they will have faith alone.”

Instead, the rich man says, “They will repent.” Thus, he is concerned about their sanctification, but not their justification. The rich man wants Abraham to send Lazarus to his five brothers so that they will be sanctified.

Mark 6:12

“So they went out and preached that people should repent” (Mark 6:12).

Federal Visionists love this verse because they think that Jesus sent his twelve disciples out to preach the gospel. While a common misconception, this is an utter departure from the Reformers.

The Reformed faith has always insisted that the heart of the gospel is justification, which is received by faith alone. Repentance is a post-justification work of sanctification. It has nothing to do with justification, and therefore, nothing to do with the gospel.

Thus, when Jesus commissioned his disciples to preach that people should repent, he was sending them out to preach the message of sanctification, not the gospel.

Mark 1:15

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).

Federal Visionists love this verse because they think that preaching the gospel includes both a call to repent and a call to believe. They even claim that the call to repentance can precede the call to faith. Obviously, this denies sola fide.

The Reformed faith has always insisted that justification is by faith alone, which means that repentance is not part of justification. Thus, the call to repentance is not part of the gospel. The call to repentance is the call to sanctification.

For this reason, the call to faith must always precede the call to repentance. If you switch these, then you have fallen from Modernist Reformation. Thus, only a Pelagian would say, “repent and believe in the gospel.”

Romans 2:4

“Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4).

Federal Visionists love this verse because they think that the kindness of God leads us to repentance, which they take to mean conversion. Obviously, Federal Visionists are leaning more towards Trent than Geneva.

The Reformed faith has always insisted that justification does not include repentance. Justification is by faith alone. This means that repentance is part of sanctification, not justification.

Thus, when Paul wrote, “the kindness of God leads you to repentance,” he was not writing about justification or even conversion. He was writing about sanctification. The kindness of God leads you to sanctification.

Luke 15:7

“I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7).

Federal Visionists love this verse because they think that Jesus is talking about the joy in heaven over each conversion. Notice how Federal Visionists equate repentance with conversion. They even argue that repentance can be a synonym for conversion. However, this is inconsistent with Reformed categories of Systematic Theology.

The Reformed faith has always insisted that justification is by faith alone. This means that repentance is not part of justification. Repentance is a work, and thus, repentance is part of sanctification.

While heaven might rejoice over conversions, we cannot say this with confidence because Jesus is not speaking about conversions. He is speaking about repentance, or sanctification. Thus, heaven rejoices over sanctification.

Mark 1:4

“John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mark 1:4).

Federal Visionists love this verse because they think that forgiveness of sins is contingent upon repentance and/or baptism. Obviously, this is Pelagian and/or Catholic.

The Reformed faith has always insisted that forgiveness of sins is granted in justification, which is received by faith alone. Thus, forgiveness comes through faith alone. Neither baptism nor repentance has anything to do with forgiveness. In no way are they connected to forgiveness.

Repentance is highly recommended but also highly optional. Remember that repentance is a work. Hence, those who say that repentance is “for” the forgiveness of sins are teaching that you must do a work in order to merit forgiveness. Obviously, this is the essence of Pelagianism.

Baptism is a beautiful picture of the forgiveness of sins and a wonderful experience. However, in order for salvation to be absolutely free, baptism must be absolutely optional. In no way is forgiveness of sins dependent on baptism. Those who say that baptism is “for” the forgiveness of sins are teaching that baptism triggers forgiveness. This inevitably leads to the old heresy of baptismal regeneration, which is the calling card of Roman Catholicism.

Federal Visionists make the elementary mistake of forgetting that John the Baptist was an Old Covenant prophet. As the Old Covenant was simply a re-publication of the Covenant of Works, the Baptist’s message was blatantly Pelagian and proto-Tridentine. That’s what the Covenant of Works was!

Thus, John could make outlandish Pelagian statements because he was in a different dispensation. Thankfully, Jesus ushered in an entirely different dispensation, with an entirely different covenant (NC/CoG), and an entirely different message (JBFA). Praise God for discontinuity!

Acts 17:30

“Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent” (Acts 17:30).

Federal Visionists love this verse because they think that Paul is speaking of the spread of the gospel. Notice how they equate the call to repentance with the gospel. However, this is the deadly error of mixing justification and sanctification.

The Reformed faith has always insisted upon maintaining a strict distinction between justification and sanctification. Failing to keep these doctrines separate is the leading cause of apostasy from our modern Reformation.

Justification is by faith alone. This means that repentance is excluded. Repentance has no part in justification, which means that repentance is not part of the gospel.

So, where does repentance belong? Repentance is part of sanctification.

In this verse, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent. That is, God is now declaring the message of sanctification. Thus, Paul was delivering the message of sanctification to the Athenians.

Luke 24:46-47

“Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem” (Luke 24:46-47).

Federal Visionists love this passage because they think that Jesus wants the church to proclaim repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as if there is some link between repentance and forgiveness. Of course, this is nothing but works righteousness, attempting to out-pelagian Pelagius.

The Reformed faith has always held that forgiveness of sins is obtained by justification, which is received by faith alone. Obviously, this excludes works such as repentance.

Notwithstanding, some still insist on taking Jesus’ words literally. So, what did Jesus mean by “repentance for forgiveness of sins?”

Here’s where knowing Greek helps us stay Reformed. “Repentance” comes from two Greek words: meta (change) and noiea (mind). So, repentance is simply changing your mind. Repentance has nothing to do with the so-called “turning from sin.” This kind of repentance is entirely optional. You can find more Reformed thoughts on repentance here.

Acts 2:38

“Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:38).

Federal Visionists love this verse because they think that repentance and/or baptism is somehow linked with the forgiveness of sins. However, there is no reason to take this verse with such wooden literalism.

As we have described earlier, the Reformed faith has always insisted that, in justification, we receive the forgiveness of sins through Christ’s passive obedience, and we receive the righteousness of Christ through Christ’s active obedience. This justification is received by faith alone.

Thus, neither repentance nor baptism have anything to do with justification or the forgiveness of sins. In no way is Peter establishing a cause and effect between repentance and forgiveness of sins (which is legalism) or between baptism and forgiveness of sins (which is baptismal regeneration).

Unfortunately, this verse has made its way into the Nicene Creed in the line, “we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins.” This poses a problem because no who is truly Reformed can confess this as it stands. Several options have been suggested:

1) Some churches do not use the Nicene Creed at all. This is certainly a viable option. After all, the Nicene Creed lacks any mention of justification by faith alone, which is the doctrine by which the church stands or falls. Thus, the Nicene Creed is rather unimportant historically.

2) Other churches drop this line, which is another option. Certainly, no non-Reformed Confession is inerrant.

3) Many churches insert an asterisk (*) with a disclaimer saying, “we don’t really believe this.”

4) One new trend is to slightly alter the wording to make the creed orthodox. Here are some examples:

· “We don’t acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins.”
· “We acknowledge one baptism, but for the remission of sins, faith alone is required.”
· “Heretics acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins.”

Acts 11:18

“When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, ‘Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life’” (Acts 11:18).

Federal Visionists love passages like this because it sounds as if repentance leads to eternal life. Beware! Such slippery eisegesis makes grace conditional, denying sola gratia and sola fide.

As David Gadbois has helpfully pointed out here, the Reformers universally rejected repentance as a condition of justification. Justification has nothing to do with repentance. Once you have been justified, you can repent if you want. Remember, justification is by faith alone, which means that repentance is optional.

So, what about the so-called “repentance that leads to life?” Notice how the Federal Visionists eisegetically stretch “life” to mean “eternal life.” Unfortunately, this shoddy handling of the word of God is typical in FV circles.

In this passage, “eternal life” is not in view. “Life” simply refers to the quality of our fellowship with God. You can think of this as “HD” fellowship. “Repentance that leads to life” means that repentance leads to a more fulfilling relationship with God.

So, while repentance is somewhat necessary for fellowshipping with God, let us be clear that “eternal life” in no way depends upon repentance.

As you know, the Reformed faith is under constant attack by the Federal Vision and other heretics, but we can be thankful for our friends over at Greenbaggins and especially the Grace Evangelical Society (love their web address – faithalone.org!). Together, these stalwart defenders of the Reformed faith are fighting to make sure that faith is always alone.