If someone claims to be a Christian but refuses to repent of their sin, what does the Bible say about their claim of faith?

[David]

The Bible is clear that any claim of faith without repentance is a false claim. When Jesus started His ministry, what was the message He preached? “Repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15). Repentance (Greek, metanoeō) is the changing of one’s mind that leads to a change in direction. It is not an optional extra but is part of the response to the gospel. If a person claims Christ and yet refuses to turn away from sin, their “faith” is not biblical faith. James 2:17, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” Saving faith never fails to produce fruit. John the Baptist called for, “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance” (Matthew 3:8). The refusal to repent is evidence that there was no real conversion. 1st John 3:6 , “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” In other words, someone who remains in unrepentant sin evidences that they were never really in Christ. “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him” (Titus 1:16). The Bible does not allow for the possibility of a genuine Christian clinging to sin and refusing to repent.

 

[Papa Smurf]

Hello David, the two following quotes from theologian and pastor A. W. Pink came to mind when I read the OP, so I thought that I'd share them.

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The second quote (below), although principally concerned with evangelism, makes a second, important point too, I think (about some/many who claim to be Christians).

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[David]

Hello David, the two following quotes from theologian and pastor A. W. Pink came to mind when I read the OP, so I thought that I'd share them.

“It is not the absence of sin but the grieving over it which distinguishes the child of God from empty professors.”
— Arthur W. Pink —

The second quote (below), although principally concerned with evangelism, makes a second, important point too, I think (about some/many who claim to be Christians).

“The nature of Christ’s salvation is woefully misrepresented by the present-day evangelist. He announces a Saviour from Hell rather than a Saviour from sin. And that is why so many are fatally deceived, for there are multitudes who wish to escape the Lake of fire who have no desire to be delivered from their carnality and worldliness.”
— Arthur W. Pink —

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That is a needed reminder today. True faith does not cling to carnality while claiming Christ. It bows to Him as Lord and looks to be changed by His Word. Thank you for keeping the focus where Scripture keeps it.

 

[bobinfaith]

The Bible is clear that any claim of faith without repentance is a false claim. When Jesus started His ministry, what was the message He preached? “Repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15). Repentance (Greek, metanoeō) is the changing of one’s mind that leads to a change in direction. It is not an optional extra but is part of the response to the gospel. If a person claims Christ and yet refuses to turn away from sin, their “faith” is not biblical faith. James 2:17, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” Saving faith never fails to produce fruit. John the Baptist called for, “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance” (Matthew 3:8). The refusal to repent is evidence that there was no real conversion. 1st John 3:6 , “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” In other words, someone who remains in unrepentant sin evidences that they were never really in Christ. “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him” (Titus 1:16). The Bible does not allow for the possibility of a genuine Christian clinging to sin and refusing to repent.

Hello David, the two following quotes from theologian and pastor A. W. Pink came to mind when I read the OP, so I thought that I'd share them.

View attachment 255​

The second quote (below), although principally concerned with evangelism, makes a second, important point too, I think (about some/many who claim to be Christians).

View attachment 256​

Papa Smurf!

Happy New Year, brother! I read both David's thread and your post. Good stuff!

I personally ponder very carefully each day about some "bad habits" early in my Christian walk, when I was a young adult.

I'd praise the Lord but in my heart entertained sinful thoughts of a person that humiliated, or got the best of me at work, bruised my ego, etc...I thought it was ok because though I didn't act on it, I just kept it to myself and in my thoughts.

I wasn't paying attention to what Jesus taught in

Matthew 15:19, 16 “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. 17 “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.” - NIV

We touched a little on Minister Arthur Pink while at seminary. He was a gifted Pastor and writer though I don't know if he graduated from Seminary. He and other Christian ministers and professors were mentioned in the topic;

"no matter how much study, preaching or being a doer we show the world, we can't hide behind that! Because of our false claim of proclaiming our faith without repentance."

I was repentant of some things but still had baggage of other sins. Now, I didn't know if it was because I was young in my faith, or withheld repenting of my personal thoughts because I wasn't acting on it and other stuff.

I believe God knows each of us, our hearts and the fact that we're all a work in progress. But what David is alluding to is the Christian who intentionally withholds his / her sin in some things, while offering repentance in others. It's not for us to choose! God knows every sin man is capable of committing. He also gives us conviction (as a nudge) and will help us come to Him on our knees and repent.

Thanks for allowing me to share.

God bless you and your families.

Bob

 

[Papa Smurf]

I believe God knows each of us, our hearts and the fact that we're all a work in progress ... God knows every sin man is capable of committing.

And every sin that we will commit, and that from the get-go, and yet, He chose to save us anyway, PTL Go figure

Of course, this allows our confidence in Him (to see us through this life to be with Him and to guard all that we have entrusted to Him) to be very high, knowing that He already knew everything about us (from everlasting .. cf Jeremiah 31:3), including all the bad, BEFORE He chose to declare us just and save us!

Interesting thread topic (@David), and thank you (both) for your thoughts/insights thus far on this (a couple of which I am going to consider a bit further now, Dv).

Very nice to talk with you again Bob (with you both, actually) though the last time that we did so it was on different forums, of course.

Blessings to you both in Christ!!

--Papa Smurf
p.s. - and HAPPY NEW YEAR to you too (@bobinfaith)

 

[EddieM]

Just what do you all mean by repent? Do you have to name each sin you have committed in the past? Do you do it individually or do you repent collectively. Repents of all past sins. Just confused what meaning you are attaching to repent.

 

[David]

Just what do you all mean by repent? Do you have to name each sin you have committed in the past? Do you do it individually or do you repent collectively. Repents of all past sins. Just confused what meaning you are attaching to repent.

That is a fair question, and it needs to be answered clearly.

When the Bible says “repent,” it is not saying you must sit down and remember every sin you have ever committed, name them one by one, and hope you did not forget one. None of us could do that. Sin runs deeper than the actions we remember. Jesus said, “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” ~Matthew 15:19. The problem is not just what we did with our hands. The problem is what we are before a holy God.

Repentance means a change of mind toward God, toward sin, and toward Christ that turns a man from rebellion to surrender. Jesus came preaching, “Repent ye, and believe the gospel” ~Mark 1:15. Paul summed up his message as “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” ~Acts 20:21. So repentance is not a religious cleanup job before salvation. It is the sinner laying down his rebellion and coming to Christ honestly, no more excuses, no more pretending, no more calling sin harmless when God calls it sin.

Think of it like this. If a man is driving the wrong way down a dark country road and finally sees the bridge is out, repentance is not him describing every mile marker he passed. Repentance is him turning around. He may later remember more details about how far off course he was, but the turn has already begun.

That does not mean specific confession is wrong. When God puts His finger on a sin, we should call it what it is. Scripture says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins” ~1 John 1:9. But salvation is not based on whether you perfectly listed every sin from your past. The tax collector in Jesus’ parable did not give a long catalog. He simply cried, “God be merciful to me a sinner” ~Luke 18:13. Jesus said that man went down to his house justified.

So no, repentance does not mean you must individually name every sin you ever committed in order to be saved. It means you come to God as a guilty sinner, stop defending your sin, trust Christ, and bow to Him as Lord. Then, as He exposes sin in your life, you confess it, forsake it, and keep walking in the light.

The issue in this thread is not a struggling believer who is growing and learning. The issue is the person who claims Christ while refusing to turn from sin. That is where Scripture speaks plainly: “faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” ~James 2:17. Real faith does not make peace with sin. Real faith comes to Christ for mercy, and Christ does not leave a man walking the same old road.

 

[bobinfaith]

Just what do you all mean by repent? Do you have to name each sin you have committed in the past? Do you do it individually or do you repent collectively. Repents of all past sins. Just confused what meaning you are attaching to repent.

That is a fair question, and it needs to be answered clearly.

When the Bible says “repent,” it is not saying you must sit down and remember every sin you have ever committed, name them one by one, and hope you did not forget one. None of us could do that. Sin runs deeper than the actions we remember. Jesus said, “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” ~Matthew 15:19. The problem is not just what we did with our hands. The problem is what we are before a holy God.

Repentance means a change of mind toward God, toward sin, and toward Christ that turns a man from rebellion to surrender. Jesus came preaching, “Repent ye, and believe the gospel” ~Mark 1:15. Paul summed up his message as “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” ~Acts 20:21. So repentance is not a religious cleanup job before salvation. It is the sinner laying down his rebellion and coming to Christ honestly, no more excuses, no more pretending, no more calling sin harmless when God calls it sin.

Think of it like this. If a man is driving the wrong way down a dark country road and finally sees the bridge is out, repentance is not him describing every mile marker he passed. Repentance is him turning around. He may later remember more details about how far off course he was, but the turn has already begun.

That does not mean specific confession is wrong. When God puts His finger on a sin, we should call it what it is. Scripture says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins” ~1 John 1:9. But salvation is not based on whether you perfectly listed every sin from your past. The tax collector in Jesus’ parable did not give a long catalog. He simply cried, “God be merciful to me a sinner” ~Luke 18:13. Jesus said that man went down to his house justified.

So no, repentance does not mean you must individually name every sin you ever committed in order to be saved. It means you come to God as a guilty sinner, stop defending your sin, trust Christ, and bow to Him as Lord. Then, as He exposes sin in your life, you confess it, forsake it, and keep walking in the light.

The issue in this thread is not a struggling believer who is growing and learning. The issue is the person who claims Christ while refusing to turn from sin. That is where Scripture speaks plainly: “faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” ~James 2:17. Real faith does not make peace with sin. Real faith comes to Christ for mercy, and Christ does not leave a man walking the same old road.

Good morning, EddieM and David;

If an individual wants to list his/her sins before God, that's between them despite what the Bible doesn't say Scripturally regarding this process. The Bible does specify and teach on repentance, to turn around from our sin reference Matthew 4:17 and Acts 2:38.

Should an individual have a long list of sins tells me he/she doesn't confess their sins to God often, reference 1 John 1:9.

In 1982 until 1998 I battled with a destructive sin. I walked with Christ daily and prayed daily, but this sin, I didn't want to give it up. In 1998 I confessed this to a fellow believer, we prayed and I followed with repentance (to turn around from this sin) directly to the Lord. After that I had temptations to fall back but stayed far away and chose to trust in the Lord's strength.

As God grew me I realized through the years those past sins remain in the past and the Lord has set me free. Those sins from my 20s and 30s were more outward.

Today my sins are more inward, a bitter heart, letting down the guard of my tongue, hateful disdain toward a political leader or celebrity, etc... reference Ephesians 4:31-32.

The Lord empowers me to "catch myself" and seek His forgiveness daily. I am still a sinner, but my sins are minimal reference James 1:19-27.

This is my story. Others may have a different testimony and approach toward repentance despite their claim of faith.

God bless everyone.

Bob