And when they had come to him, he said to them: "You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 20:18-21 (emphasis added)
What is the required response to the gospel? Here are four opinions.
Some say the required response to the gospel is what we must do, by changing our lives. These calls for what we must do usually include turning from sin, joining a particular church, and engaging in prescribed religious activities. This response to the gospel is what we call “works.” It is refuted by Paul in Ephesians 2:8-9.
Others say the required response to the gospel is that we must trust in Christ Jesus AND do the kinds of things mentioned in the previous paragraph. This response is what we call faith PLUS. Romans 3:28 specifies the importance of faith in Christ APART from works. This was a major theme of the 16th century Protestant Reformation, and it is called Faith ALONE. The Roman Catholic Church officially requires faith in Christ for salvation, but ADDS works. It does not matter what follows the word AND, after faith. Adding anything to faith in Christ is a declaration that Christ’s sacrifice for our sins is not sufficient, which is a major mistake.
A third group, well-intentioned insists that faith ALONE negates the need for repentance, as though repentance is adding works for salvation. Some in this camp go so far as to say that Jesus can be received through faith as Savior, while no acknowledgement of His Lordship is required. Early on in my Christian development, I was influenced by this thinking because I was so committed to the doctrine of faith ALONE. Thanks be to God, I was taught well and rescued from this third error which is sometimes called antinomianism.
The fourth position, which I own as the correct biblical position, says the required response to the gospel is faith alone, but that true saving faith is always accompanied by repentance. I like the saying: “Faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is not alone.” Isn’t that what Paul taught in Acts 20:21?
I want to write a bit more about this than will comfortably fit in today’s blog, so a wrap up including James 2 will follow tomorrow.