Role of Human Agency in Repentance and Salvation
Repentance is presented in Scripture as a key to receiving salvation [10]. It is understood as a turning away from sin and a turning toward God, often accompanied by prayer, especially in times of judgment [11]. While human agency is involved in the act of repentance, Christian theology emphasizes that salvation itself is not earned by human actions but is a gift of God's grace.
The New Testament consistently highlights God's initiative in salvation. Ephesians 2:5 states that believers are "made alive together with Christ" by God's grace, not by their own merit [2]. This idea is reinforced in Ephesians 2:8-9, which clarifies that salvation is "by grace... through faith" and "not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." Similarly, Titus 3:5 asserts that salvation comes "not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy" [3]. This contrasts human actions that might be perceived as meriting salvation with God's grace, emphasizing that salvation is through faith in God's mercy alone [3].
The concept of redemption, central to salvation, involves the "purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom" [1]. The Greek word apolutrosis, used nine times in Scripture, consistently carries the idea of a ransom or price paid (lutron), as seen in Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45 [1]. This underscores that salvation is an act of divine intervention and cost, not something humans can achieve on their own.
While salvation is a divine gift, human agency is involved in the response to this gift. Believers are called to "strip off their old life and put on Christ’s new life, allowing him to be Lord and to guide the way they live" [6]. This transformation is described as being "created anew in Christ Jesus," enabling believers to perform "good things he planned for us" [4]. These "good works" are not the cause of salvation but rather its result, flowing from a heart transformed by God's Spirit [4]. The Holy Spirit works within the believer, expressing God's life and producing a new nature characterized by righteousness and holiness [8]. This new nature is a departure from a life of sin and death, leading to a "transfer into the realm of life and purity" [3].
The union with Christ is a foundational aspect of this transformation. Believers are "united with Christ Jesus," sharing in his resurrection both now and in the future [7]. This union means that Gentiles who believe are no longer "strangers and foreigners" but are fully accepted into God's family, becoming children of God alongside believing Jews [5].
Even the capacity for repentance and faith is often understood as a divine enablement. Adam Clarke, commenting on Romans 11:29, notes that God's "gifts and calling" are irrevocable, suggesting a divine steadfastness in bringing about salvation [9]. While Clarke's comment primarily concerns God's faithfulness to Israel, it touches on the broader idea of God's unchanging purpose in salvation. The transforming work of God's Spirit is presented as part of the gift of salvation itself [8]. Therefore, while individuals actively repent and believe, the underlying power and initiative for this change are attributed to God's grace.
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Redemption — The purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom. The Greek word so rendered is apolutrosis, a word occurring nine times in Scripture, and always with the idea of a ransom or price paid, i.e., redemption by a lutron (see Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45). There are instances in the LXX. Version of the Old Testament of the use of lutron in man's relation to man (Lev. 19:20; 25:51; Ex. 21:30; Num. 35:31, 32; Isa. 45:13; Prov. 6:35), and in the same sense of man's relation to God (Num. 3:49; 18:15). There are many passages in the New Tes”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:5: 2:5 gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead (literally made us alive together with Christ): Joined with Christ, believers share in his resurrection, now and in the future (see 2:6; Rom 6:4-14; Col 3:1-4). • It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved: See Eph 1:2; 2:8-9.”
- Titus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Titus 3:5: 3:5 not because . . . but because: The contrast is between human actions that might be thought to merit salvation and God’s grace (see Gal 2:16). Salvation is through faith in God’s mercy alone (Eph 2:8). • He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth: See Ezek 16:9; John 3:1-15; Eph 5:26; Heb 10:22; 2 Pet 1:9. • and new life through the Holy Spirit: This signifies a complete departure from the life of sin and death and a transfer into the realm of life and purity (see also Rom 12:2; 2 Cor 5:17; Col 3:10).”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:10: 2:10 He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us: Good works are the result, not the cause, of salvation. God’s Spirit, working through a transformed heart, produces a good life (Gal 5:22-23).”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:19: 2:19 Gentiles who believe are no longer strangers and foreigners (2:11-12, 17). Through Christ, they are fully accepted into God’s family. They become children of God, just like believing Jews (see Rom 8:14-17).”
- Colossians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Colossians 3:9: 3:9-10 your old sinful nature . . . your new nature: Paul contrasts old and new identities (see also Rom 5:12-21; 6:6; Eph 4:22-24). Believers strip off their old life and put on Christ’s new life, allowing him to be Lord and to guide the way they live.”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:6: 2:6 united with Christ Jesus: Because of this union, believers share God’s glory and blessings, and experience resurrection both now and in the future (see Rom 6:4-14; Col 2:12-13; 3:1-4).”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:24: 4:24 A believer has a new nature: God’s Spirit expresses his life within the believer (see Col 3:10; cp. Gen 1:26; Rom 12:1-2; Gal 5:22-23). The transforming work of God’s Spirit is part of the gift of salvation (Eph 2:8-10).”
- Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 11:29: For the gifts and calling of God, etc. - The gifts which God has bestowed upon them, and the calling - the invitation, with which he has favored them he will never revoke. In reference to this point there is no change of mind in him; and therefore the possibility and certainty of their restoration to their original privileges, of being the people of God, of enjoying every spiritual blessing with the fullness of the Gentiles, may be both reasonably and safely inferred. Repentance, when applied to God, signifies simply change of purpose relative to some declarations ”
- Lamentations (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Lamentations 3:40: 3:40-42 Repentance is the key to receiving salvation (Isa 1:27; Jer 3:22; Ezek 3:21).”
- Lamentations (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Lamentations 2:18: 2:18-19 Repentance and prayer are the proper responses when facing the devastation of God’s judgment.”