Which Comes First: Repentance or Faith?

In this brief clip from his teaching series The Whole Christ, Sinclair Ferguson addresses the relationship between repentance and faith.

[lloydolayvar]

I finally understand the relationship of these two ideas

[harveynailbanger]

By grace through faith...
The measure of faith imparted to all men...

[joeiiiful]

The best theologian and preacher of at least the last 50 years.

[largoranch]

Excellent teaching and very enlightening from the perspective of the Greek language.

[jamienegus]

Excellent explanation, Sinclair is fantastic.

[stephengreater]

I'm so inspired by Sinclair Ferguson, such a phenomenal Bible teacher.

[georgeakoto]

Excellent teaching, Rev Dr Sinclair! Those screaming at him, repentance is not only a change of mind but also a turning away from sin. The context of the word "repentance" gives its meaning.

[apostasiaelegcho]

That is the best explanation I've ever heard. Fantastic! How do you spell the word he's using to describe two descriptions of one thing? His accent is just difficult enough for me to not fully grasp the word he mentions.

[ForensicPI]

Thank you, shared on my web site with the following preface: Sadly there are many professing Christians that actually complain against repentance. Two years ago an 18 year old kid from a church that I formally attended, that still lived at home with mommy and daddy, wrongfully stated in a video that I was a “false teacher, ” because I preached repentance, and that I allegedly preached a “Lordship salvation.” Part of the problem is most of these people are intellectually challenged.
Our spiritually neutered men will say that my words are too harsh. But the Apostle Paul warned the church throughout the Scriptures, to not be “ignorant” (agnoeō). In the Greek this ignorance can actually become a ‘sin through mistake.’ Part of this kid’s problem, is he believed that the Bible was originally written in the King James English.

As I’ve stated before, repentance is not the cause of salvation, repentance is because of our salvation. It is granted vertically from the Lord, as it manifests itself horizontally. For there is no salvation without repentance.

But glory to God, the Lord has given men like Dr. Sinclair a brilliant mind. Enjoy this video.

[ecokanjukuoh]

"Exactly the same thing"
Faith/repentance or Believes/accept.

[metalcomposition]

Faith precedes repentance. It is the goodness of God which leads men to repentance.

[gregb]

You can not turn away from your sins (repent) without at the same time turning to Christ (faith). To sat that one comes before the other is as nonsensical as saying that a customer in a store buying something gives the checkout clerk the front of a dollar bill, then gives her the back of the bill.

[Mike-qtjp]

We can argue back and forth about who is right, YES Ephesians 2:8 says, "We are saved by grace through faith, not works..." BUT Jesus Himself in Luke 13:3 says, "I tell you...unless you repent, you too will all perish." Jesus also said in Matthew 4:17, "...Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” AND in Acts 2:38 it says, "Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins..." AND in Acts 1730 it says, "The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent..."

[dand]

This reminds me of Eph 2:8-9. Was God gracious to give us the faith to be saved, or the faith to believe in God to receive the faith to be saved, which was first. First problem is separating the two, and why listening to Mr. Ferguson used that Greek word (i really would need grace to spell it;). But why consider the two are separate or for that matter completely unrelated and disjoint. Not that i'm disagreeing at all which his comments, actually can easily agree and accept them. Just pointing out it is more about God and what He has done for us. So when we read 1 Cor 4:7 just that it really drives home the point it is all God working in our lives to bring us unto Him, (Thank-You LORD!) So if we do get everything from God, might be hard to assert that faith and grace are the only two things we receive, since all comes from God and He as blelssed us with *every* spiritual blessing/gift He has given, why simply think it is only two temporally transitory gifts, what about "Faith, Hope and Love, the greatest is Love... Love is eternal as God is Love, and we Love because He first Loved us... Wonder what he Greek word would be through the one infinity instead of just two ;)

[robertnieten]

Faith occurs as we, with an open mind and heart recieve the " seed" of the Word into the receptive ground of our heart. The source of our faith is the Word " Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God".
Now we must make a decision, do we remain in our sinful, disobedient state or do we turn to God willing to obey Him.
This is why faith alone saves no one.Repentance is an act of obedience we must choose to do in order to be saved after we believe.
It is our faith in action through obedience that results in our salvation.
Because being saved is also being born again just as physical birth is the end result of a process, so is spiritual rebirth. Repentance is the first step in that process.
Repentance is incomplete until it is followed by water baptism because water baptism is the "fruit" that accompanies true Repentance. As John the baptist said to those standing on the banks of the Jordan River repenting, " Bring forth fruit meet for repentance"( or that accompanies repentance).(Matt.3:8).
Spirit baptism is what completes the born again process and is always confirmed by speaking in " tongues".

[alexmusser]

Repentance doesnt mean "turn from sin". Its a change of mind probably towards God. To narrow down repentance as turning from sin doesnt seem biblical. Believing and Repenting are very similiar (Acts 17:30-34)

[djoseph]

Repentance comes first in order to have faith you have to have a change in mind or thinking so to repent is to change your thinking once you change your thinking of your unbelief than you can have faith in Christ

[sadcel]

Matthew 21:32

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.

[LuizHenrique-odko]

What is the name of the figure of speech? I'm really having problems in understanding it😅

[tims.]

2Tim 2
[7] Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
[8] Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
[9] Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
[10] Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
[11] It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
[12] If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
[13] If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
[14] Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
[15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
[16] But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
[17] And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
[18] Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
[19] Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
[20] But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
[21] If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
[22] Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
[23] But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
[24] And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
[25] In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
[26] And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Most ppl oppose themselves as verse 25 says and need to repent of resisting the truth of Paul's epistles.