The Burning Bush - Far Eastern Bible College

The Burning Bush 16/1 (January 2010)completely new direction in life. It is on account of this that forgivenessof sin is promised.Another clear example can be taken from Acts 8, the example ofSimon Magus. Here, Philip was the evangelist preaching to the people inSamaria, where there was also a sorcerer named Simon. In response to hispreaching, it was said that “when they believed Philip preaching thethings concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ,they were baptised, both men and women. Then Simon himself believedalso: and when he was baptised, he continued with Philip, and wondered,beholding the miracles and signs which were done” (Act 8:12-13). Thusit seems as though they had all received salvation because of their belief.However, when Peter came, it was clear that Simon was not truly abeliever, for Peter rebuked him, declaring that his heart was “not right inthe sight of God”, and that he was still “in the gall of bitterness, and inthe bond of iniquity” (Acts 8:21, 23). This is clearly not the descriptionof a regenerate man. Peter had to tell Simon, “Repent therefore of this thywickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may beforgiven thee” (Acts 8:22). The only prayer that God will hear from anunbeliever is the prayer of repentance and the plea for the forgiveness ofsin through the Lord Jesus Christ.Repentance Is Linked to FaithWhat then is the role of belief, or faith in salvation? How then doesone explain the verses that do not mention repentance, but only faith?Concerning this, Richard Roberts says,Some have reasoned that, because a call for faith sometimes appears in theNew Testament without any mention of repentance, it is faith alone that isnecessary for salvation. But it can also be said that there are occasionalScriptures in which repentance is demanded with no mention of faith. Arewe about to insist, then, that it is repentance alone that is necessary forsalvation? Certainly not. 14Instead, one would then clearly understand that faith and repentancecome together as essential graces in receiving the gospel. To this, HomerKent gives a good explanation:Repentance is very closely tied, therefore, to faith and conversion.Numerous times these terms are used together. When this happens,repentance is always put first. They are not, however, three separate acts ofthe soul, or three steps to salvation. They are three aspects of one act of the16