The Dangerous Lie That You Don’t Need to Repent
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You quoted John 3:17–18, and you are right that Jesus came to save, not to condemn. But in that same chapter, Jesus also said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Being born again involves more than just switching from unbelief to belief. It is a supernatural change that results in a new heart and a changed life. You claimed repentance is only turning from unbelief to belief, but that is not what the Bible teaches.
Peter said in Acts 2:38, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” He was speaking to unbelievers who were convicted by the truth and asked what they needed to do (Acts 2:37). He didn’t say, “Just believe,” he said repent. The Greek word metanoeō means a change of mind, but in Scripture, that change always results in turning away from sin. Look at Jonah 3:10—God saw the works of the Ninevites, “that they turned from their evil way,” and Jesus called that “repentance” in Matthew 12:41. That’s how the Bible defines it.
You also claimed that a nonbeliever cannot turn from sin. But God commands “all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30). That is not optional. That is a universal command, and it applies before salvation. In Luke 24:47, Jesus said “repentance and remission of sins” must be preached in His name. That’s the order: repentance leads to forgiveness. Jesus didn’t say, “Wait until they’re saved, then they’ll repent.” He said, “Repent, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15).
No one is earning salvation by repenting. Salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9). But saving faith is never alone. Faith without repentance is not biblical faith. James 2:17 says faith without works is dead. Hebrews 5:9 says Jesus is the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. That is not lordship salvation, that is Scripture.
The idea that someone can remain in rebellion, cling to their sin, and be saved simply because they mentally believe the facts of the gospel is not true. Jesus said, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). That was not said to believers, it was said to sinners. Real repentance is a broken heart before God, a willingness to turn from sin, and a readiness to follow Christ. That is not a work we do to earn salvation, it is the heart response that shows we are ready to receive it.
Your claim that “a nonbeliever can’t turn from sin” contradicts the entire message of the Gospel. Paul said in Acts 26:20 that he preached to both Jews and Gentiles “that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.” That means a changed life that proves the repentance is real. If someone says they believe but refuses to repent, they are not saved. Jesus never offered salvation without repentance, and neither should we.
A gospel that leaves out repentance is not the gospel of Jesus Christ.
An interesting thing is that you don’t seem to like backing up your statements with what the Bible actually says, but instead rely on your own opinion. The Bible does not teach that everyone is already reconciled to God. That is simply not true. Reconciliation is something that only happens when someone puts their faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” That means you don’t have peace with God, meaning reconciliation, until you believe. John 3:18 is even more direct: “He that believeth on him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already.” If someone is still condemned, they are not reconciled to God.
In 2 Corinthians 5:19, 20, Paul says God was reconciling the world to Himself through Christ, and because of that, he pleads, “Be ye reconciled to God.” That wouldn’t make any sense if everyone was already reconciled. He is begging people to respond to the gospel because they are not reconciled yet. Colossians 1:21 also shows the timeline, “You were alienated and enemies... yet now hath he reconciled.” It happened after they believed. Jesus died so that reconciliation could be offered to everyone, but it only becomes real when someone turns to Him in faith. Until then, the Bible says they are still God’s enemies (Romans 5:10). So no, reconciliation is not automatic, and saying it is goes directly against what God’s Word actually says.
I rely on a certain basic level of Bible literacy among the participants in a discussion like this.
2 Corinthians 5:18-20 KJV
18) And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19) To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20) Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
God in Christ reconciled the world to Himself.
Romans 5:10 KJV
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
This happened while we were still His enemies.
Romans 5:10-11 LITV
10) For if while being enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life;
11) and not only so, but also glorying in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we now received the reconciliation.
There is the matter of being reconciled to God in Christ, which was accomplished on the cross, the death of His Son. And there is the matter of receiving the reconciliation, which remains for us to do.
This is the glory and beauty of the Gospel, what makes it such truly good news, we are reconciled to God already, we only need receive Jesus, to receive this reconciliation. Nothing stands in our way, only to believe in Jesus, which is the repentance that God specifies, metanoia, that change of the mind we've been talking about. From unbelief to belief.
Rebirth is what changes us, and changes our behavior (including thoughts/emotions). I agree with you completely, that if we've truly believed, and are regenerated by God, we will be different. No two ways about it.
These passages are all plainly stated, and I stand by what they say.
Much love!
Eternally Grateful
Well-Known Member
Actually. it is just as jesus said, Just as moses lifted the serpent so must the son of man be lifted up. that whoever believes..
It is repenting form a state of unbelief to a state of belief
Repent means to change
Yes. he said repent. do what Jesus said we need to do. Believe in him
its all over the NT..
I do not see sin in that sentence
yes. repent to receive remission of sin. not repent from sin
I never said they were now did I
lol. God changes us once we are saved. First he justified us, then he makes us his child. he changes us from the inside out..
we do not change ourselves..
Your starting to be a broken record.
I can not stop sin as an unbeliever. I can stop individual sins,, but I can not stop sin
sin is a state of mind, a non believer lives in sin. John said a child of God can not.
You’re using arrogance and sarcasm to avoid being corrected and held accountable. Instead of addressing the point, admitting you might be wrong, you pretend I lack “Bible literacy,” but the real issue is that you’re misapplying Scripture and refusing to deal with what it actually says in context. Spiritual pride doesn’t equal truth. If you really respected the Bible, you’d stop twisting it to fit your theology and start letting God’s Word speak plainly. You don’t get to redefine reconciliation or repentance just because it fits your narrative. God’s truth doesn’t bend to your opinion, no matter how literate you think you are.
You’re misusing Scripture to push your unbiblical idea. You claim that the world is already reconciled to God, but that is not what 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 teaches. Read it carefully. Yes, God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, but that is describing what Christ accomplished at the cross, a provision for reconciliation, not its automatic application to every person. That’s why Paul immediately says, “we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.” That is not a declaration that they are already reconciled, it’s a plea, because until someone responds in repentance and faith, they are still enemies of God.
Romans 5:10 says, “when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son,” but that’s written to believers. Paul says we were reconciled, not that the whole world was. Verse 11 makes it crystal clear, “through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” You don’t receive what you already have. If reconciliation was a done deal for everyone, then there would be no need to receive anything, and Paul wouldn’t be begging people to respond.
You also reduce repentance to just changing from unbelief to belief, but that’s not how the Bible defines it. Jesus said, “Repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15). That’s two commands, not one. Biblical repentance (Greek: metanoeo) is a change of mind that results in a change of direction, turning from sin to God (Acts 26:20). You cannot rip repentance away from sin and still claim to be preaching the Gospel.
You are presenting a false comfort. Reconciliation is offered, not automatic. Until someone repents and believes, they are still under God’s wrath (John 3:36). You’re not rightly dividing the Word, you’re twisting it to fit your view. That’s not Bible literacy, it’s deception.
The Truth About Reconciliation
The claim “you’re already reconciled, just receive it” misrepresents the gospel. Here’s what Scripture actually teaches:- Reconciliation Requires a Response
- Christ’s death made reconciliation possible (2 Cor. 5:19), but you must “be reconciled to God” through faith (2 Cor. 5:20).
- Without belief, God’s wrath remains (John 3:36).
- Faith and Repentance Are Essential
- “Justified by faith, we have peace with God” (Rom. 5:1).
- “Except ye repent, ye shall all perish” (Luke 13:3).
- Not Everyone Is Reconciled
- Some enter life, others destruction (Matt. 7:13-14).
- Judgment awaits those not in the book of life (Rev. 20:15).
- The True Gospel
- Christ’s sacrifice offers reconciliation to all, but it’s applied only to those who repent and believe (Acts 20:21).
You're missing the clear teaching of Scripture by continuing to separate repentance from sin. Let’s deal with the claims you made that haven’t already been answered.
You said, “Repent to receive remission of sin, not repent from sin.” But according to Scripture, that’s a false division. Luke 24:47 says, “Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations.” Acts 2:38 says, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” The remission of sins is directly tied to repentance, and repentance is not just flipping from unbelief to belief, it includes turning away from sin. Paul said he preached “that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance” (Acts 26:20). That involves a change of life, not just an internal shift in belief.
You also said, “Sin is a state of mind, a non-believer lives in sin. John said a child of God cannot.” But John didn’t say a child of God is incapable of committing sin. He said, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him” (1 John 3:9). That means a true believer doesn’t live in unbroken, willful sin. It’s not about never sinning, it’s about no longer living in rebellion as a lifestyle. First John 1:8–9 already told us that if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. But a changed heart doesn’t make peace with sin, it resists it.
You claim, “I can not stop sin as an unbeliever. I can stop individual sins, but I can not stop sin.” That’s the point, you must come to Christ in repentance, acknowledging that you are a sinner who needs saving. No one is saved while making excuses for continuing in sin. Jesus didn’t say, “Keep sinning until I clean you up later.” He said, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). That’s a clear warning.
And as for the sarcasm and calling the truth “a broken record,” that just proves you're resisting correction. God’s Word doesn’t change just because you’re tired of hearing it. Repentance isn’t optional. It’s the first response to the Gospel. Until you see sin for what it is and turn from it in genuine repentance, you’re not following the Jesus of Scripture, you're following a version of Him that lets you stay in rebellion while claiming grace. That is not salvation.
You’ve been shown verse after verse, and still refuse to accept what the Bible plainly says. At this point, it’s not a lack of understanding, it’s a refusal to submit to the truth. You keep redefining repentance to avoid the reality of sin. You separate repentance from sin, even though Jesus tied them together over and over. You act like people are reconciled before faith, when the Bible says the wrath of God still abides on those who don’t believe (John 3:36). You say God changes us after we’re saved, but reject the very first step He commands, “Repent, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15).
Let’s be real. You’re not defending Scripture, you’re twisting it to protect a theology that allows people to claim salvation while still living in sin. That’s not grace, that’s a lie. Titus 2:11-12 says the grace of God teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, not excuse them. Real salvation changes a person. You keep arguing that sin doesn’t matter up front, and that’s the same lie Satan told in the garden, that you can disobey God and still live.
If you can’t accept that repentance means turning from sin to God, you’re not rejecting me, you’re rejecting what God Himself said. And if you keep pushing this half-gospel that leaves people in their sin, you're not helping them, you’re deceiving them. If the Holy Spirit is convicting you, don’t harden your heart. But if you’re going to keep repeating error, I’m not going to keep arguing. I’ve given you the Word. Whether you receive it or not is between you and God.
I see it's not just me that you treat that way.
Remember: This is not opinion, this is Bible:
2 Corinthians 5:18-20 KJV
18) And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19) To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20) Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
Romans 5:10 KJV
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Romans 5:10-11 LITV
10) For if while being enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life;
11) and not only so, but also glorying in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we now received the reconciliation.
Much love!
Eternally Grateful
Well-Known Member
it is obvious we are done
Good luck trying to get non believers to repent from sin.
they are not able to do this.. they must repent and come to salvation first.
My father taught your lordship salvation and I was afraid for years to go spread the gospel because of how many times my Dad got a hand in the fact.
You judge a person for personal sin and say they must stop or repent of that sin first. You have most likely lost that person.
Jesus did not come to judge, he came to save.
Could that be the reason for laying it on so thick? All the personal judgment stuff? Drive us off the thread because we disagree?
Sometimes I wonder!
Much love!
Dan Clarkston
Well-Known Member
Dan Clarkston
Well-Known Member
And yet, when He returns He will JUDGE!
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9
When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
There are many claiming to be Christians that got born again, but have fallen away no longer obeying the Gospel
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 LITV
9) For they themselves announce concerning us what kind of entrance we have to you, and how you had turned to God from the idols, to serve the true and living God,
10) and to await His Son from Heaven, whom He raised from the dead, Jesus, the One delivering us from the coming wrath.
9) For they themselves announce concerning us what kind of entrance we have to you, and how you had turned to God from the idols, to serve the true and living God,
10) and to await His Son from Heaven, whom He raised from the dead, Jesus, the One delivering us from the coming wrath.
Triumph1300
Well-Known Member
1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 LITV
12) And may the Lord make you to increase and to abound in love toward one another and toward all, even as we do also toward you,
13) in order to establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and our Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
12) And may the Lord make you to increase and to abound in love toward one another and toward all, even as we do also toward you,
13) in order to establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and our Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
Dan Clarkston
Well-Known Member
You have just as much right to be here as anybody else.
Where did I see you should go away???
I don't recall telling anybody they "should" go away.
None the less.... the Lord shall judge His people and those who reject Him as well.
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