At EPC of Marshall we recently had a local author come in to discuss his book Apocalypse 2012: The Ticking of the End Time Clock. The author of this book, John Claeys, is an associate pastor at a local church that believes repentance is not necessary for salvation. In fact, in his book, Mr. Claeys says this:
But, notice in this connection that there is nothing mentioned about eternity, hell, or eternal life. Neither is there any statement about believing in Christ. For repentance, in itself, does not deal with any of those issues. It is a movement from wickedness toward fellowship with God….
Repentance is not necessary for receiving eternal life, but in cases like Israel, which is portrayed as a stubborn son of God, repentance seems necessary in order to awaken Jews to believe in Jesus Christ for eternal life. Though John the Baptist called the nation of Israel to repent, he also sought individual Jews to believe in Jesus Christ. (Claeys, 171. Emphasis added)
But our Puritan friend, Thomas Watson, begs to differ. In fact, in this next chapter Watson gives “A Serious Exhortation to Repentance.”
Rowing to Heaven: Repentance is Necessary
The Free Grace movement, in its dispensational framework, chops the Bible up as well as people groups up into non-biblical categories. For example, in dispensational teaching there are people who will enjoy intimate fellowship in heaven with Christ and people in heaven who will not enjoy it. This is because the only entrance requirement is faith in Christ. Those who repent and become disciples end up with the close relationship. Those who do not will still be in heaven but will not enjoy that intimacy. 
But the Puritan position, even our friend Thomas Watson’s position, is that repentance is an ingredient that is indispensable for entrance into heaven. Watson writes in this chapter that “there is no rowing to paradise except upon the stream of repenting tears. Repentance is required as a qualification” (63).
Is Watson being biblical when he says this. Yes, he is and he cites Luke 13:5 to prove it. In Luke 13 Jesus informs those who marveled at the destruction of the Galileans at Pilate’s hands and the victims of the falling tower that unless they repent they will perish too! Those Galileans and those victims of a falling tower were not more sinful than anyone else. It is not as if sin was the determining factor behind God allowing those things to happen. Rather those things serve as a warning: Repent now for you do not know when your life will be taken and you perish.
We should, then, not presume upon the goodness of God. When Jesus calls us to repent we should repent. For if we truly believe in Christ then we understand our sin and if we understand our sin then we should desire to move away from it. Those who don’t understand their sin have no need for a Savior.
All People Commanded: Repentance is for Everyone
Everyone needs to repent. Watson does not distinguish between believer and unbeliever. So long as sin is present, repentance will be necessary. Therefore, the president of the United States needs to repent. The beggar on the street corner needs to repent. The pastor in the pulpit needs to repent. The layman in the pew needs to repent. Repent!
Watson hammers the Church on this. He lists ten reasons believers must repent:
1. Instead of praying for others, we are ready to pass a verdict.
2. We have vain thoughts.
3. We have vain fashions, i.e. trying to look like the world.
4. We have moved from grace.
5. We do not improve our talents.
6. We have forsaken our sacred vows.
7. We do not thank God for his many blessings.
8. We are worldly!
9. We are divisive.
10. We have profaned the holy.
My suggestion is to read thoroughly pages 70-72 to catch a glimpse of just what Thomas Watson is talking about.
Each and Every – Repentance is for ALL Sins
The fountain of all our sin is that original sin we had imputed to us by Adam. Because of this our entire being is tainted with this disease of sin. “As bad lungs cause an asthma or shortness of break,” writes our Puritan friend, “so original sin having infected our heart, our graces breathe now very faintly. Thus we see what in original sin may draw forth our tears” (74). Original sin must be repented of as well as our actual transgressions. 
This is important. Adam may have blamed Eve and Eve the serpent but we cannot blame Adam. We actually sin in this life and we must therefore repent of those things.
Next Time
Our next installment will cover Watson’s discussion of motives for repentance. In this chapter we see his heart that all would come to repent of their sins to be saved. See you next time!
Ben, I love it!