Lesson 4 of 4 · 8 min

Grace, Faith and Repentance

How a person actually becomes a Christian.

Grace first

Grace is unearned favour. The consistent New Testament claim is that salvation is a gift received, not a wage earned — otherwise it would be a transaction, and no one could be sure they had paid enough.

Faith and repentance

Faith is not blind optimism; it is trust in a person on the basis of evidence and promise. Repentance is the turn that accompanies trust: a change of mind that leads to a change of direction.

Historically the church has described the beginning of Christian life as justification (declared right with God), followed by sanctification (being gradually made like Christ) and finally glorification.

Key passages

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works.
Ephesians 2:8-9
The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.
Mark 1:15
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9

Reflect

Is there anywhere you are still trying to earn what Scripture says is given?

Where this came from

We're not experts — these are the sources we used while researching this page. Read them yourself, keep digging, and hold us to them.

[1]The Holy Bible — Blue Letter Bible interlinear and lexicons
Primary source for every lesson; Strong's and BDB/Thayer entries for word studies.
[2]The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed (381) — full text and history, Britannica
The doctrinal frame for the lessons on God, Christ and the Spirit.
[3]N. T. Wright, lectures and articles archive (NTWrightPage)
New Testament scholarship drawn on for the gospel, kingdom and resurrection lessons.
[4]Catechism of the Catholic Church (Vatican) and the Westminster Confession of Faith
Consulted side by side wherever a lesson describes how different traditions teach a doctrine.