Repent and Believe

Jesus Christ rose from the dead.  Period.  This now brings us to the point where the Christian claim "Jesus is the only way" begins to make some sense.  Jesus Christ is the only way that we can be reconciled to God because he is the only one who could possibly pay the price for us; he was, and is, God. 

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.  Acts 4:12 

Jesus made his position very clear:

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me."  John 14:6

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies."  John 11:25

"Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."  Matthew 7:13-14

The Bible clearly teaches that salvation is found in Jesus Christ and in him alone.  Salvation comes by faith in Christ, by believing and trusting fully in him.  He gives the gift of eternal life, paid for with his own blood, to all who will put their trust in him.

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  Romans 10:9-10

Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.  Acts 16:31

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him.  John 3:36

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.  John 1:12-13

(Jesus said) "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."  John 5:24

We must be careful here to properly define what believing in Jesus Christ means.  Belief is not just an intellectual assent to the facts, with no evidence of belief in the person's life and with no desire to live for God.  Faith in Christ is not simply saying "Yes, I believe that Jesus is the Son of God and he died on the cross to pay for my sins" if all it amounts to is lip service.  God searches the heart:

These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  Isaiah 29:13

They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him.  Titus 1:16

For the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.  1 Chronicles 28:9 T

he Bible teaches that sorrow over our sins, a deep sorrow that comes from realizing that we have greatly offended a holy and loving God, brings forth repentance that leads to salvation.  To repent means to change one's mind, to turn from sin and turn to the living and true God.  It involves a complete change of heart, attitude, interest, and direction.

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret.  2 Corinthians 7:10

Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts.  Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.  Isaiah 55:7

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.  Acts 3:19

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?  Romans 2:4

Faith in Jesus Christ is a living, growing faith, manifesting itself in the daily life of the believer.  This is the rightful place of "good deeds" or proper living in the life of the Christian.  It is important to note that God does not ask a person to "clean up his life" before he puts his trust in Christ.  Changed lives result after salvation and are produced by God's power working in the person.  A person's "goodness" before he is saved has absolutely nothing to do with his salvation - salvation is solely by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ and his finished work on the cross.  But the believer's character and lifestyle after salvation are a living testimony to his belief in, trust in, and love of, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Godly living flows naturally out of true faith.  James addresses this in the following way:

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?  Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.  You believe that there is one God.  Good!  Even the demons believe that - and shudder.  As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.  Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.  James 2:14,17,19,26; 1:22

Jesus, himself the only true foundation, said this:

Why do you call me, "Lord, Lord," and do not do what I say?  I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice.  He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock.  When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.  But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation.  The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.  Luke 6:46-49