Biblical Facts About Salvation (part 4-a)

May everybody have a blessed Sunday. Here is the 4th part of this series that I called, "Biblical Facts About Salvation". Ponder and be blessed!

MAN'S WORK IN SALVATION (part 1)

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The Greek word translated "conversion"has reference to a twofold turning on the part of an individual. One has to do with repentance (a turning from) and the other with faith ( a turning to).

1. Repentance

.....A. What repentance is not:

..........(1.) It is not reformation, that act of turning over a new leaf by one's own strength.

..........(2.) It is not remorse, that act of regretting the fruit of one's crime but not the root (one's sinfulness). One biblical example is the case of Judas (the disciple who betrayed Jesus). He was regretting what he did, that leads to remorse, that leads to doing something "not good", to the point of hanging himself.

.....B. What repentance is:

..........The Greek word for "repentance" is metanoia, from "meta" (after) and "noeo" (understand). Literally, it means "afterthought" or "change of mind", but biblically its meaning does not stop there. As metanoia is used in the New Testament, it always speaks of a change of purpose, and specifically a turning from sin. In the sense Jesus used it, repentance calls for a repudiation of the old life and a turning to God for salvation. Repentance is also not simply a mental activity; genuine repentance involves the intellect, emotions, and will. Far from being only a change of mind, it constitutes a willingness - more accurately. a determination- to abandon stubborn disobedience and surrender the will to Christ.

This series is from my hand-out notes during our six months Church Membership Class in LWCM , Banilad, Cebu, Philippines. The class was conducted by our Senior Pastor Mel Caparros.