Pastoral Principles
Repentance and Faith

Proclaim to all people, repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. If you read the account of Paul’s ministry in Ephesus in Acts 19, you see him preaching in synagogues, the lecture hall of Tyrannus and in homes. His ministry was an outreach everywhere to all people…public and private. When he speaks of his testimony or proclamation, it occurs not just in one place. So, also, you must take your proclamation outside the walls of this church.

And notice he makes it clear what he proclaimed: Repentance and faith. Aren’t you sick of what passes for repentance in our culture? “I’m sorry.” Or more correctly, “I’m sorry I was caught.” Repentance that Paul proclaimed was not bad feelings, an emotional catharsis and shame. That may very well be the reaction of a sinner. But, that is not repentance. Repentance is “turning away”, walking in a new direction away from the conduct that lead to your situation. Godly sorrow that seeks to live in accordance with the commands of Christ the Lord leads to repentance, real repentance. Always teach Biblical repentance.

Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. There is an object of our faith and it is not you, the church, ourselves, or some cosmic, ethereal force that will be with you. I suppose you have noticed the loosey, goosey way in which we speak of faith today in the church as if your personal definition of faith saves you. Do not succumb to such foolishness. Faith is always tethered to Christ or it is not Biblical faith. It is not faith that saves. It is faith in Christ because the saving power resides exclusively not in the act of faith, the attitude of faith or in the nature of faith, but in the object of the faith…Jesus the Christ! [Benjamin Warfield] Always proclaim faith in Christ.