The Most Misunderstood Word in Christianity Could Be Keeping You From Salvation
Have you ever wondered if you're truly saved? Have you been told you need to "clean up your life" before coming to Christ? Or maybe you've been confused by preachers who say you must "repent of all your sins" to be saved?
If so, you're not alone. The word "repentance" has become one of the most twisted, misunderstood concepts in modern Christianity. And this confusion is sending people to hell.
Let me show you what the Bible really says about repentance—and why understanding this could be the difference between heaven and hell.
God Wants to Lead You Somewhere Incredible
Romans 2:4 tells us something beautiful: "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?"
Notice that? God is actively leading. He's a good God who wants to lead you to this place called repentance. If you're saved, you've already been led there. If you're not saved, He wants to lead you there right now.
But here's where things get dangerous—most people have been taught a false version of repentance that's actually keeping them from salvation.
What Repentance Is NOT (This Might Shock You)
1. Repentance Is Not Penance
The Roman Catholic system teaches that you confess your sins to a priest, and that priest gives you works to do to earn forgiveness. They'll point to John 20:23 where Jesus tells the apostles: "Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained."
But hold on. The apostles weren't given authority to personally forgive sins. David said, "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned" (Psalm 51:4). Our sin is ultimately against God. The apostles' ministry was guided by the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel—and those who believed that gospel had their sins forgiven.
You don't go to a priest. You don't go to a preacher. You go directly to God through Jesus Christ.
2. Repentance Is Not Reformation of Life
This is the cart before the horse, and it's the deadly root of lordship salvation.
Listen carefully: You don't have to give up your sins to be saved.
"Wait, what?" you might say. Let me explain.
Ephesians 2:8-9 makes it crystal clear: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
If you had to clean up your life to get saved, that would be works. And as soon as you give up one sin, another one pops up. You'd never get saved because you'd be playing spiritual "whack-a-mole" with your sins forever.
The thief on the cross proves this. No baptism. No good works. No reformed life. Yet Jesus told him, "To day shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43).
3. Repentance Is Not Just Being Sorry You Got Caught
2 Corinthians 7:10 distinguishes between two types of sorrow: "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."
The sorrow of the world is shame from getting caught. Like kids sneaking cigarettes behind the school who are only sorry the teacher called their parents. That's not repentance—that's regret over consequences.
What True Biblical Repentance Really Is
1. Repentance Is Godly Sorrow
Not worldly sorrow over getting caught, but godly sorrow that recognizes you've sinned against a holy God.
2. Repentance Is a Change of Mind
It's not a change of life—that comes after salvation. It's changing your mind from unbelief to belief, from trusting yourself to trusting Christ alone.
3. Repentance Is Turning TO God
1 Thessalonians 1:9 says it beautifully: "ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God."
Notice the order? You turned TO God FROM idols. You're facing God now, with your back turned to the idols. You didn't bring those idols with you. You didn't merge them together. You turned completely to God.
4. Repentance Is Coming to Yourself
Remember the prodigal son in Luke 15:17? "And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!"
He realized his true condition—perishing, starving, desperate. He said, "I will arise and go to my father" (Luke 15:18).
That's repentance. Coming to yourself, realizing you're a sinner with nothing to offer God, and running to Him for mercy.
The Devastating Truth About Works-Based Salvation
Jesus warned about this in Matthew 7:22-23: "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
What were they trusting? Their works. Their prophecies. Their religious activities.
And Jesus will say, "I never knew you."
The devils believe there's one God and tremble (James 2:19). But they didn't repent. Why? Because repentance isn't just intellectual belief—it's godly sorrow coupled with turning to God, coupled with a change of mind from unbelief to belief.
Your Life After Salvation (This Changes Everything)
Now, don't misunderstand. After you're saved, God absolutely expects you to live differently.
Romans 12:1 says to "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."
But this comes AFTER salvation, not before. Christ surrendered His life for you to save you. Now, out of gratitude and love, you surrender your life to serve Him.
Think about it: If someone paid off your million-dollar debt, wouldn't you want to thank them? Wouldn't you want to show appreciation? That's what Christian service is—not earning salvation, but showing appreciation for salvation freely given.
The Bottom Line That Could Save Your Soul
Repentance is not:
Doing penance through a priest
Cleaning up your life to earn salvation
Just feeling bad you got caught
Repentance IS:
Godly sorrow over your sin
Changing your mind from unbelief to belief
Turning to God and toward God
Coming to yourself and realizing you need a Savior
It was Christ's surrender on Calvary for you, not your surrender on earth to Him, that saves you. After you're saved? Then you live for Him out of love and gratitude, not to earn what's already been freely given.
Stop trying to impress God with your self-righteousness. Stop bringing your idols with you. Turn to Him with empty hands and a repentant heart, trusting only in what Jesus did for you on the cross.
That's true biblical repentance. And that's how you get saved.
📖 Want to dive deeper into this life-changing truth? 🎧 Listen to the complete expository preaching of this message for powerful verse-by-verse Bible teaching that will transform your understanding of salvation. This sermon walks through Romans chapter by chapter with careful biblical exposition. Listen to the full message here
Experience the difference that thorough, verse-by-verse Bible teaching makes in understanding God's Word. This sermon is part of our ongoing expository preaching series through the book of Romans.