Pastor Harry Ironside Refutes Misunderstood Repentance

Mark 1:15, “And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”

In chapter 16 of his insightful book, “The Preaching That Produces Repentance,” Pastor Harry Ironside (1876-1951) writes:

“In many quarters, men have attached to the words 'repent' and 'repentance' meanings that do not properly belong to them. So that there is the possibility that our hearers may altogether misunderstand us if we urge them, in so many words, to repent. They may imagine they must by some effort of their own, produce that which entitles them to consider that they have attained a state where they are acceptable to God. This is not the truth as set forth in His Word, as every Bible-taught preacher well knows.” —Pastor Harry A. Ironside, “The Preaching That Produces Repentance,” chapter 16

Mark 1:15, “And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” The last portion of our text passage of Scripture literally could be read translated, “Change your mind and believe the GOOD NEWS that Jesus died on a cross to pay your debt of sin, was buried and three days later bodily resurrected from the dead.” Christ died, that's history; Christ died, was buried and resurrected FOR ME, that's salvation. Anybody can be saved! Whosoever will may come! Every one of you may be saved.