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A History of Christian Doctrine #3 - Online Christian Library

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A <strong>History</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Christian</strong> <strong>Doctrine</strong><br />

decision to forsake sin, but under grace, repentance is<br />

stripped <strong>of</strong> this “works” requirement.<br />

Charles Ryrie, a former pr<strong>of</strong>essor at Dallas<br />

Theological Seminary, explained: 246<br />

Is repentance a condition for receiving eternal life?<br />

Yes, if it is . . . changing one’s mind about Jesus Christ.<br />

No, if it means to be sorry for sin or even to resolve to<br />

turn from sin, for these things will not save. . . .<br />

Repentance may prepare the way for faith, but it is<br />

faith that saves, not repentance (unless repentance is<br />

understood as a synonym for faith or changing one’s<br />

mind about Christ). . . . [A person is saved if he<br />

accepts Jesus as Savior] in spite <strong>of</strong> [an] area <strong>of</strong> initial<br />

unwillingness when he came to Christ and continued<br />

disobedience while he lived the <strong>Christian</strong> life.<br />

Similarly, Zane Hodges, a pr<strong>of</strong>essor at Dallas<br />

Theological Seminary, wrote: 247<br />

220<br />

Faith alone (not repentance and faith) is the sole<br />

condition for justification and eternal life. . . . It is an<br />

extremely serious matter when the biblical distinction<br />

between faith and repentance is collapsed and when<br />

repentance is thus made a condition for eternal life.<br />

For under this perception <strong>of</strong> things the New Testament<br />

doctrine <strong>of</strong> faith is radically rewritten and held hostage<br />

to the demand for repentance. . . . Though genuine<br />

repentance may precede salvation . . . it need not do<br />

so. . . . There is no such thing as believing the saving<br />

message without possessing eternal life at the same<br />

time.

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