Articles
Is Repentance a Gift from God?
Calvinists teach that salvation is wholly a matter of God’s doing; man is totally passive in the process. That conclusion rests on two premises. (1) The foundation of their system is that we are totally depraved by nature, neither desirous nor capable of doing anything good. (2) They reason that if man is required to do anything, salvation is no longer a matter of grace; it becomes works-based.
What are we to do with all the passages which unquestionably require something of us—repentance, for example? (Repentance is a change of heart accompanied by a change of conduct.) The Calvinist answers that these things are not our responses to the gospel but gifts from God. The Holy Spirit operates on our hearts in some direct, supernatural way, enabling us to repent.
Let’s assume for argument’s sake that repentance is a gift from God. That raises some tough questions.
Why do not all repent? God is on record that He wants everyone to repent. “For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,’ declares the Lord God. ‘Therefore, repent and live’” (Ezekiel 18:32). “The Lord . . . is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). If repentance is a gift from God, and God wants all to repent, why does He not give the gift to everyone?
Why does God command men to repent? He does. Peter commanded the Jews on Pentecost to repent (Acts 2:38). It was his inspired answer to their question, “What shall we do?” Paul taught, “God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent” (Acts 17:30). It is absurd to command one to do something you know he cannot do. Why command us to repent if repentance is something God does?
Why does God hold men responsible for not repenting? He does. See Jeremiah 15:6-7 for an Old Testament illustration, and Matthew 11:20, Luke 13:1-5, and Revelation 2:20-23 for some New Testament examples. If repentance is a gift from God and God withholds the gift, how can He find fault with man for not repenting?
What would you say about a man who claimed he wanted all his children to succeed, none to fail; he then commanded them all to do something he knew full well they could not do; they could succeed only with his help, yet he refused to help most of them; and when they failed, he punished them? Friend, that is exactly what Calvinism says about God!
God promised through Ezekiel that He would give a new heart and spirit to His ancient people (Ezekiel 11:19). Shortly after that, He commanded them to “make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit” (Ezekiel 18:31). Which is it? Does God give us a new heart or do we make for ourselves a new heart? Both. God gives the command, the “how-to” instruction, the incentive, and the opportunity to repent. But He does not force us. We must use these things God provides and make the change.
