Repent And Believe The Gospel -- By: Moises Zumaeta

Journal: Journal of Ministry and Theology
Volume: JMAT 22:2 (Fall 2018)
Article: Repent And Believe The Gospel
Author: Moises Zumaeta


Repent And Believe The Gospel

Moises Zumaeta

My remembrance of Dr. Bill Arp: My very first class with Dr. Arp was Greek Exegetical Methods, or as he would prefer to call it, “GEM.” GEM was a very suitable nickname for the class, because it described, not only the relevance of its content, but also the passion of the dispenser of the content. Like a precious and cherished jewel, so were the Holy Scriptures for Dr. William Arp. He had a passion for the text of Scripture, a passion for its thoughtful reading, precise interpretation, and bold proclamation. Such a passion for the living words of Scripture was the result of an even greater passion––the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am inclined to think that Dr. Arp nicknamed the class GEM as a result of the vivid, penetrating, and life-giving words of our Lord, who said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it” (Matt 13:45–46). Dr. Arp was that merchant who found the precious GEM of the kingdom of heaven––the gospel of salvation––in the pages of Scripture. Transformed by this GEM, he made it his life ambition to help others find, behold, and treasure the precious GEM. I am one of the fortunate ones whom Dr. Arp helped in this quest, and for that I will be eternally thankful. Dr. Arp is no longer with us. He is with his greatest treasure, his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His legacy will continue to be felt for many years through the lives of those he impacted.

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The debate between what is called “the free grace salvation view” and the “lordship salvation view” has been in the evangelical radar for quite a few years. This debate deals mainly with the doctrine of conversion, and it is the result of the different ways in which the terms “repentance”

and “faith” are understood and interpreted in relationship to a person’s response to the gospel. How should we understand these terms? “Must a person who seeks salvation repent or turn away from every known sin in his life?”2 or “Does insistence upon repentance involve the penitent in a form of works-righteousness?”3 How about faith? “Is faith primarily intellectual assent to revealed truths, trust in a person, or a certain mode of existence?”4

In this article these questions will be discussed in light of what the Scripture teaches about them.You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
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