Faith Alone Saves: Confusion About Repentance

Sunday, February 8, 2026

Confusion About Repentance

2nd Timothy 2:23-26, “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”

In our text passage of Scripture, we are taught that repentance is “a change of mind” toward THE TRUTH. In the New testament, the word “repent” (Greek noun: metanoia) comes from two Greek root words: meta (after or beyond) + noia (mind - e.g., paranoid, i.e., alongside your mind). Hence, to “repent” simply means to think afterwards, that is, to change your mind from UNBELIEF to BELIEF in the “GOOD NEWS” (Gospel) of Jesus Christ crucified, buried and resurrected the third day (1st Corinthians 15:1-6). Repenting unto life (the new birth) has absolutely nothing to do with forsaking your sinful bad habits, which would be reformation.

Confusion About Repentance
(by Dylan McNutt)

Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001) said it well...

“Repentance is not some little silly, 'I'm sorry.' Repentance is not simply a fear of God. Repentance is not a monk fasting and afflicting his body in a monastery. Repentance is not remorse because of sin's consequences. Repentance is not penance performed before the pope as you kiss his toe... Repentance is not being sorry for what I've done wrong. It is not confessing one's sins to a priest. It is not just conviction of sin. It is not the signing of a pledge of abstinence. Repentance is that thing when you come before God and see yourself as you are, and see Him as he is, and say with Isaiah 'Woe is me, for I am unclean!'” —Pastor Jack Hyles, from the sermon: "THE GOODNESS OF GOD LEADETH TO REPENTANCE!"

Pastor Harry Ironside (1876-1951) also said it very well...

“The Gospel is not a call to repentance, or to amendment of our ways, to make restitution for past sins, or to promise to do better in the future. These things are proper in their place, but they do not constitute the Gospel; for the Gospel is not good advice to be obeyed, it is good news to be believed. Do not make the mistake then of thinking that the Gospel is a call to duty or a call to reformation, a call to better your condition, to behave yourself in a more perfect way than you have been doing in the past …Nor is the Gospel a demand that you give up the world, that you give up your sins, that you break off bad habits, and try to cultivate good ones. You may do all these things, and yet never believe the Gospel and consequently never be saved at all.” —Pastor Harry A. Ironside, from the ministry tract: "What Is The Gospel?"

Also, my ministry friend Michael P. Bowen wrote those doctrinally sound words...

"I am at eternal odds with the false, counterfeit messages of salvation-by-works that are taught from virtually every pulpit today, on every television channel, and on every Christian radio station; however, I am not at eternal odds with the individuals who preach these counterfeit messages. My heart literally goes out to all of them because they simply do not understand Christ’s plan of salvation. They have been lied to by a crafty enemy named Satan, whose sole aim is to take as many people with him to the lake of fire as he can possibly manage to steal away from God using a counterfeit plan of salvation that appears so real, so genuine, and so holy that few ever realize they have been deceived by it. Oh reader, so many of today’s professing Christians who think they are going to heaven when they die are not going to make it to heaven as they had assumed because they’ve been lied to by today’s error-filled gospel messages." —Michael Patrick Bowen, from his book: "I NEVER KNEW YOU," p. 17

These three godly Bible preachers have faithfully interpreted the correct biblical meaning of repentance to be saved. THANK YOU Brother Dylan for this helpful ministry video. To God alone be all the praise and glory. Jesus is precious!

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Memorable Quotes

“We don't grow in strength as believers, we grow in grace.”

“Salvation is not a reward for the righteous; it is a gift for the guilty!”

“The trouble with many men is that they have got just enough religion to make them miserable.” —Pastor Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899)

“Like the thief on the cross who never had an opportunity to 'turn from his sin,' we, like him, can only 'acknowledge our sinfulness' in order to be saved (Lk 23:40-41). ...True repentance has nothing to do with 'turning from sin' and everything to do with 'acknowledging one's sinfulness' (Jonah 3:5). Like the thief on the cross who simply acknowledged his sinfulness (Lk 23:39-43), the only part a person has in salvation is the beggar's part.” —Pastor Brad Strand, "The Strand Study Bible"; 2nd Corinthians 7:8-9, p. 1939

“The wickedness of a life has not one thing in this world to do with where you go when you die; not one thing.” —Pastor Jack Hyles, "Religion Or Christ?"

“Religion and Christ are in opposition to each other.” —Pastor Jack Hyles, "Religion Or Christ?"

“The fella who knows what repentance is knows it's included in believing.” —Pastor Curtis Hutson (1934-1995)

“There is power in this Gospel message. Most people just don't know how to present it... The clarity of the Gospel is what makes it easy for them to believe.” —Pastor Yankee Arnold, “WHY GRACE CAN SAVE THE WORST MAN!” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, "Why Grace Can Save The Worst Man"

"There is a vast difference between coming to Jesus for salvation and coming after Jesus for service. Coming to Christ makes one a believer, while coming after Christ makes one a disciple. All believers are not disciples. To become a believer one accepts the invitation of the Gospel, to be a disciple one obeys the challenge to a life of dedicated service and separation. Salvation comes through the sacrifice of Christ; discipleship comes only by sacrifice of self and surrender to His call for devoted service. Salvation is free, but discipleship involves paying the price of a separated walk. Salvation can't be lost because it depends upon God's faithfulness, but discipleship can be lost because it depends upon our faithfulness." —Pastor M.R. DeHaan, “Hebrews”; Zondervan Publishing House; 1959 (p. 117)

“The law tells me how crooked I am. Grace comes along and straightens me out.” —Evangelist Billy Sunday (1862-1935)

“Works cannot be the evidence of salvation. If works are required as evidence, then they will prove that you are not saved. Your good works cannot prove you're saved; they can only prove that you're not, if you go by works. Why? Because you have to be perfect. So your works can only prove you're not saved. You have to live a perfect life. 'Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.' You have to fulfill everything that is commanded, that you have to do them. You know that good works did not save you!” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, "Once Saved Always Saved: The Final Word"

“The ‘whosoever wills’ are the elect and the ‘whosoever won’ts,’ the non-elect.” —Pastor Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899)

“Salvation is one thing and service is another, and never the two goes together. No man is saved because he serves, and no man has to serve because he is saved. Gotta keep them separate. And if you don't do it, the Scriptures will be confusing to you. You'll not rightly divide what God has to say.” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, "Why Lordship Salvation Is Wrong"

“It is 'Good News' if no one must have good works before salvation, or after salvation. For salvation to truly be by grace, it must not have any stipulations of any kind at any time. Works before, during or after; works cannot be evidence of my salvation.” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, "Does Calvinism Change The Gospel?"

"The LAW and the GOSPEL are two keys—the law is the key that shuteth up all men under condemnation, and the Gospel is the key which opens the door and lets them out. Remember this, if you're depending upon your own good works to get you to Heaven, you're lost! Your salvation had to be purchased with something that was incorruptible, with the precious blood of Jesus Christ!” —Pastor Ralph 'Yankee' Arnold, Bibleline Radio Show, "The Precious Blood Of Christ"

“Dear sinner, do not make this a difficult matter. There is one simple step between you and Jesus. When you trust Him, everything else is settled, and you have repented, you have come to Christ, you have received Him, you have done everything necessary to be saved.” —Dr. John R. Rice, “What Must I Do To Be Saved?”

“We suppose there are many faulty ideas about repentance, but we will deal here with the more popular ones. Perhaps the most popular false idea is that repentance is turning from sin. We have heard some well-known preachers say, If you want to be saved, repent of your sins, turn from your sins.' If turning from your sins means to stop sinning, then people can only be saved if they stop sinning. And it is unlikely that anyone has ever been saved, since we don't know anyone who has ever stopped sinning.” —Dr. Curtis Hutson (1934-1995), booklet titled: “Repentance,” p. 4; © 1986, Sword of the Lord Foundation

“Several years ago I read a book by a professor at a fundamental university. Under the chapter on salvation, he said, 'Quit your sinning, and God will give you a new heart.' He presented repentance as turning from sin. I wrote this dear brother and expressed my concern, knowing that such teaching frustrates the unbeliever and makes him think that salvation is unattainable since he cannot live a sinless life.” —Dr. Curtis Hutson (1934-1995), booklet titled: “Repentance,” p. 5; © 1986, Sword of the Lord Foundation

“You don't get better to get saved; you get saved to get better. You can't get better until you do get saved.” —Dr. Curtis Hutson (1934-1995), booklet titled: “Repentance,” p. 5; ©1986, Sword of the Lord Foundation

This is one of my very favorite books. Michael P. Bowen grew up in private religious schools, seeing much spiritual abuse in his youth. Consequently, he became an atheist as a young man, but then gradually out of a hungry soul to find meaning in his empty life took an interest in Christianity. Unfortunately, Michael was being misled by dozens of famous big name preachers (e.g., Billy Graham, Charles Stanley, Joel Osteen, Rick Warren, Ray Comfort, John Hagee, Beth Moore and others. Michael had churchianity without Christianity! Finally, he was blessed by God to hear a humble man of God named Hank Lindstrom (1940-2008), who preached a simple Gospel sermon called: "How Permanent Is Your Salvation," which opened Michael's eyes to the true Gospel and he got saved. Led by the encouragement of his godly mother, Michael wrote a wonderful helpful book titled: "I NEVER KNEW YOU," in defense of the only true free grace Gospel. I love this book and so will you dear friend. If you know someone struggling with the assurance of God's gift of eternal life, please share this book with them.

Faith Alone Saves

Sunday, February 8, 2026

Confusion About Repentance

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