Why is Repentance Mentioned

A question remains as to why many Bible believing Christians say repentance of sin is a requirement for receiving everlasting life when Jesus Christ didn’t say it was.  One reason I’ve been given by several individuals was because that is what their pastor teaches.  I imagine another reason is because that is what their Church’s statement of faith says.  That suggests to me they haven’t thought it through, just accepted the word of an authority figure. 

F. F. Bruce and J. V. McGee suggest another more likely reason.  It may boil down to the most basic human attribute of self-interest; Just plain old pride.  People want to believe they have done something worthy of God’s favorable notice.  Yes, it is by grace through faith, but I had some part in the process.  And that drives the need to redefine faith as being something other than mere belief.  It cannot just be mental assent.  There must be some sense of commitment or trust. 

I suspect that for many the best indication of a committed faith is repentance of sin.  It only makes sense to them that God would require that.  Except He doesn’t.  It doesn’t make sense to God and He is the one who sets the rules.  Reading through the N.T. Gospels you will not find Jesus Christ ever tying repentance of sin to the gift of everlasting life. 

Nor is there any mention of a special class of faith required.  The verb Pisteuo (Believe) is never modified by an adverb.  And that is important, because if you accept as true that the Bible is God’s word then you must acknowledge God says what He means.   The Lord says precisely what He means so every word used or not used is important. 

The gift of everlasting life is given by grace through the simplicity of faith.