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A. Repent – Believe – Receive

Act 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Mar 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

B. Become a Disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ

Repent:

Repentance is the first response to the gospel that God demands. Nothing else comes before it and nothing else can take its place. Without Biblical repentance there can never be Biblical faith unto salvation.

Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

Act 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

True repentance is an inward decision followed by the combined action of turning from dead works and turning to God. The foundational doctrine of repentance (turning) from dead works is the first facet of Biblical repentance, which continues in its directional momentum with (turning to) repentance toward God. This then prepares the heart to embrace the second foundation stone: faith toward God; thereby appropriating the grace of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, and being born-again by the power of the Spirit and Living Word. [see: His Foundation is in the Holy Mountains by brother cliff]

Believe:

Repentance from dead works: from sin, the flesh and the world, followed by repentance toward God, enables the heart to embrace the of good news of the gospel, and release faith toward God to receive the grace of the finished work of the cross.

True faith is a walk and way of life for the disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a walk in the Spirit that is the direct fruit of a life lived in relationship with the Word of God. The disciplined believer walks according to what has been formed within him by the Living Word of God: a substance of confidence, an image seen by the heart, flowing with living faith that the promise is surely secured and possessed. It begins our life as new-borne Christians and continues to be the “Way of Life” on into eternity.

Heb 10:38 “ Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.”

Eph 2:8 “ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”

Receive:

Ro.10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

This is living, active faith that moves one into the obtaining of the promise. This Biblical faith is not a noun. It is an action verb. The word translated here as “unto” is eis in the Greek. It is regularly translated elsewhere in the Bible “into” which is its literal meaning. Therefore, it is with the heart that one believes not only “unto” but “into righteousness”. Likewise, in Jn.14:1, it is “You believe in [literally into] God, believe also in [literally into] Me.”

Faith is released toward God through the words of our mouth. It is as the Apostle and High Priest of our profession (or confession), that Jesus takes our profession of faith before the Father, in intercession on our behalf. That is why it is absolutely vital that the words of our mouth agree with the Words of God; Jesus is the Living Word, as is the Father. The very meaning of the word, confession, translated from the Greek, is “saying the same as!”

Ro 10:8 “ But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 

:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Biblical faith, when released through properly aligned speech, is then to be followed by works: corresponding works (or actions) enabled by the grace received through such faith.

Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Become a Disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ

If…

 So much in the Christian life hinges on such a small word. Conditional terminology is inherent within Covenantal language. God is the Gracious Initiator, Keeper, and Enabler of the New Covenant. His Word is forever settled in Heaven. The only variable is whether or not a man or woman will respond according to the biblical conditions required to receive what is provided. If we choose to meet the condition,  and follow through with the obedience of faith, then we obtain the promise in due time.

 To become Christians we must repent, believe the gospel, and receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. As the resurrected Lord, He call us further into the covenantal relationship of being His disciple.

Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

 If… {Amp} you abide in my word [hold fast to my teachings and live in accordance to them], you are truly my disciples.

Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

There is a biblical progression of growth from spiritual infancy unto the freedom of maturity in Christ; or “perfection”, that every disciple of Jesus Christ is to strive to attain to in the earth. As we have seen {Heb 10:14}, every aspect of  complete maturity is already our inheritance in Heaven through the perfect work of the Cross of Jesus Christ.  All is to be received and developed in the processes of obedient faith to the Word of the New Covenant. The maturing Christian lives a disciplined life; one of laying hold of grace through faith, and living it out as they walk with the Lord, day by day, year unto year, and from  season to season.

Discipline is the foundation of a disciple; Love is the motivation.