Repentance and Faith by Dr. A. P. Williams

S. D. A. Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 7, 1882

FromThe Signs of the Times, Vol. 8, No. 34; Special Edition, No. 1

Repentance and Faith

By Dr. A. P. Williams

I MAINTAIN there is no such thing as an impenitent believer. In proof of this, I state the fact that in every passage in the New Testament where repentance and faith are spoken of, repentance is put first. The following are the only examples (Mark 1:14, 15): “Now, after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent ye and believe the gospel.” Here Jesus puts repentance first (Acts 20:21): “Testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Here Paul observes the same order (Matt. 21:32): “For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not; but the publicans and the harlots believed him, and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward that ye might believe him.” Here the Saviour represents repentance as necessary to faith. Not only do the Scriptures represent repentance as preceding faith, but the nature of the case suggests the same order. Faith recognizes Jesus Christ as our Redeemer and Saviour, and expects the forgiveness of sins through him. It must, therefore, be the act of one who feels his need of salvation and forgiveness; but impenitent sinners do not feel this need, therefore they cannot exercise faith. But one may be ready to ask, Can an unbeliever become penitent? Does not Paul say that he who comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him? Yes; Paul says that in Hebrews 11:6. The truth in the case is this, an atheist cannot repent, nor can an infidel or deist. Men must acknowledge the being of God before they can be conscious of having offended him; and they must recognize the existence and authority of his laws before they can feel they have transgressed; and hence, so far as faith has respect to these, it must precede repentance. But the faith of which we are now speaking has respect to Jesus Christ as lifted up (John 3:14) for our deliverance from the guilt and thralldom of sin. Now we will never believe in, or trust him as such, until we feel our guilt and our thralldom; but one never feels these while impenitent, therefore we never thus believe or trust in Christ while impenitent. Now, as the faith that issues in the forgiveness of sins is faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ, or an actual trust in him for salvation, it is not, and cannot be exercised only by penitent sinners.—Dr. A. P. Williams.