Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick of his place, except thou repent. Revelation 2:5
"Many think that repentance is a work which wholly devolves upon man as a preparation to come to Christ, his mediator; but this is an error and deception.
Repentance must precede forgiveness, but the sinner does not repent until he has faith in Christ as his mediator.
The Bible does not teach that man must repent before he comes to
Christ. Our Savior has been lifted up upon the cross of Calvary, and the love of Christ shining from the cross speaks constantly to the sinner of the sufferings of Jesus for fallen man. His love for the fallen race constantly draws sinners to him. The transgressor may resist this love, may refuse to be drawn to Christ; but if he does not resist, he will be drawn to Jesus, and a knowledge of the plan of salvation will lead him to the foot of the cross in repentance for his sins, which have caused the sufferings of God's dear Son.
Could sinful man repent of his sins in his own strength, there would be no more virtue in that repentance than in the offering made by Cain. Christ is the author and finisher of our faith.
---Repentance comes from Christ just as much as does pardon for transgression.
---That repentance is a work which man must do without any special help from Christ, is a false theory.
---The grace that works contrition and repentance, as well as the forgiveness of sins, is the grace of Christ.
---If one step could be taken without Christ, every step in the way of salvation might be taken without him.
---The heart must be brought in subjection to Christ, and a repentance that works such a result can never be brought about by man; it can only proceed from Christ, who has ascended on high, and has imparted gifts unto men."
E.G.W.
"Many think that repentance is a work which wholly devolves upon man as a preparation to come to Christ, his mediator; but this is an error and deception.
Repentance must precede forgiveness, but the sinner does not repent until he has faith in Christ as his mediator.
The Bible does not teach that man must repent before he comes to
Could sinful man repent of his sins in his own strength, there would be no more virtue in that repentance than in the offering made by Cain. Christ is the author and finisher of our faith.
---Repentance comes from Christ just as much as does pardon for transgression.
---That repentance is a work which man must do without any special help from Christ, is a false theory.
---The grace that works contrition and repentance, as well as the forgiveness of sins, is the grace of Christ.
---If one step could be taken without Christ, every step in the way of salvation might be taken without him.
---The heart must be brought in subjection to Christ, and a repentance that works such a result can never be brought about by man; it can only proceed from Christ, who has ascended on high, and has imparted gifts unto men."
E.G.W.