Repenting of Sin, is it Necessary for Salvation?

When repentance is preached from the misunderstood understanding of the judgmental condemning condemners, repentance is used in context of repenting from sin or you will spend eternity in the region of the dammed. The following quotes along with the scriptures cited does not support such a meaning to the word.

"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."

Galatians 1:8, 9.

 "The word Metanoia is in every instance translated repentance. The word means a change of mind.  The common practice of reading into this word the thought of sorrow or heart anguish is responsible for much confusion in the field of Soteriology ... This definition of this word as it is used in the New Testament is fundamental.  Little or no progress can be made in a right induction of the Word of God on this theme, unless the true and accurate meaning of the word is discovered and defended throughout."  Chafer, Lewis Sperry. Systematic Theology, Vol. III.  (p. 372).

"Often the idea of believing is expressed by the word, repent (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 8:22; 11:18; 17:30; 20:21; 26:20) ... The word means to change one's mind, and by its usage in the Book of Acts it means to change one's mind about Jesus of Nazareth being the Messiah.  This involves no longer thinking of Him as merely the carpenter's son of Nazareth, an imposter, but now receiving Him as both Lord (Jehovah) and Messiah. Thus, repentance as preached by the apostles was not a prerequisite to nor a consequence of salvation, but was actually the act of faith in Jesus which brought salvation to the one who repented."  Ryrie, Charles.  Biblical Theology of the New Testament.  (p. 116, 117).

 "What place has repentance in salvation? Should we tell people to repent of their sins to be saved?  The Gospel of John....is, written that men might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing they might have life through His name (20:31).  And it does not mention the word 'repentance'.  But that is only because repentance is a necessary part of saving faith.  Strictly speaking, the repentance means a 'change of mind'.  It is by no means the same thing as sorrow (II Corinthians 7:10).  Since it is not possible to an unbeliever to become a believer without changing his mind, it is therefore unnecessary to say anything about it.  The only thing for a man to do in order to be saved is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ: and to believe on Him is the same thing as receiving Him (John 1:11-13)."  Pettingill, William.  Bible Questions Answered.  (p. 215-216).

"But in order to clarify the subject, it may be well to observe carefully what repentance is not, and then to notice briefly what it is.  First, then repentance is not to be confounded with penitence... penitence is simply sorrow for sin... Nowhere is man exhorted to feel a certain amount of sorrow for his sins in order to come to Christ.  Second, penance is not repentance.  Penance is the effort in some way to atone for the wrong done...  In the third place, let us remember that reformation is not repentance...  Need I add that repentance then is not to be considered synonymous with joining a church or taking up one's religious duties, as people say.  It is not doing anything.  ...the Greek word, metanoia, which is translated 'repentance' in our English Bibles, literally means a change of mind."  Ironside, Harry.  Except Ye Repent.  (p. 12-15).

     "When thinking of the word repent or repentance, there are at least two general ideas that are not repentance.  Repentance does not mean to be sorry for some wrong I have done...  Some may think repentance is promising to do good.  I do not want to seem to be too harsh, but how much good is it going to do for anyone to promise to do good?  ...Repentance is primarily a judgment about myself.  The expression is often used which has an awkward translation into English is 'repenting of our sins'.  Actually this is not a sound idea.  The reason it is so awkward to say is that man does not 'repent his sins' nor does he 'repent of his sins', he repents himself.  Repentance is judgment upon myself whereby I admit that I am not good...  Repentance is a very important matter.  Because it is not until I am willing to acknowledge before God that I am nothing in myself that I will believe the Gospel."  Gutzke, Manford.  Plain Talk About Christian Words.  (p. 122, 123).

"It is our purpose to discuss the Scriptural doctrine of repentance.  It is important because so many minds have been confused concerning the simplicity of salvation by the perversion of the Scriptural teaching of this important doctrine... The doctrine has suffered tremendously from an erroneous concept held by most men, for when the word 'repent' is used, it brings to mind of the average individual the thought of sorrow for sin... And this sorrow for sin is usually called 'repentance'.  But there could be nothing further from the concept of the Word of God than the idea that repentance means sorrow for sins.  From the Word of God we discover that the word translated 'repent' means 'a change of mind'...  Now, such as change of mind as the Scripture enjoins when it speaks of repentance may produce a sorrow for sin, but it will be the result after one has seen his sin in the light of holiness of God and has changed his attitude toward it."  Pentecost, J. Dwight.  Things Which Become Sound Doctrine.  (p. 61, 62).

"Repent of Sin."  This often-quoted phrase does not even occur in the Bible.  Most people are quite shocked to find that it does not appear in the Scriptures.  Nowhere does the Scripture use the phrase, "repent of sin" to be saved.  Scripture does say in Acts 20:21, "repentance toward God" ("change of mind", and "faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ").

This misuse of the word repentance has caused untold confusion among believers and unbelievers alike.  Satan, the author of confusion (I Corinthians 14:33), has delighted in this misuse of the word repentance.  One of the counterfeits Satan is using today is the misuse of the word repentance.  To insist upon repentance that in any sense includes a demand for a change of conduct either toward God or man is to add an element of works or human effort to faith.

Repentance in salvation means a change of mind from any idea of religion that man might have and accepting God's way of salvation.  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16)."

"A person can 'repent' without 'believing', but a person can't 'believe' without 'repenting'."  A person can "repent" (change their mind) without "believing" (trusting Christ), but a person can't "believe" (trust in Christ) without "repenting" (having changed their mind).

"Repentance is necessary for salvation, but keep it in mind that it means "a change of mind" about Christ, not a repentance of sin." If we change our mind about Christ and believe Him for salvation by Grace is what gives us the ability to shun sin and not the repentance of sin.

One misunderstanding is to say that the word repentance must be used in order to be teaching repentance.  If that were true, we would have thrown out the gospel of John from the New Testament.  Think of this in the light of why John's gospel was written, "But these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through His name (John 20:31)." 

Why is it necessary to repent....to change your mind about Christ for the reason that you might BELIEVE...it is the believing that you have life through His name, it is not the repenting of sin that gives you His life.