Rebirth and repentance are often considered the components of conversion to Christianity. Where it may be true that they are components, only rebirth is part of the process of salvation. Repentance is actually a fruit of salvation.
REBIRTH
Rebirth is exactly what it sounds like. It is being born again. Jesus spent quite some time talking to Nicodemus about rebirth. He made it clear that rebirth is a spiritual rebirth (John 3). Spiritual rebirth is this: “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God” (1 Peter 1.23). As men we are born spiritually dead. When we die, we will not go to heaven because we do not have the Spirit of God within us. Spiritual birth takes place when the spirit of man become alive through the Spirit of God. It is this rebirth which marks the moment of salvation.
REPENTANCE
Repentance is completely different. Repentance means to change directions or to turn your back on sin. It is the product of rebirth. When you are born again spiritually and receive the Spirit of God, you become convicted of sins and in this way, God brings about repentance in you. We see this in 2 Peter, “The Lord is not slow about His promise…not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3.9). God is looking for life change which comes as a result of rebirth. Repentance results in righteousness and that is what God desires from us.
CONCLUSION
John Calvin said, “when they hear the gospel they are not able to repent and put their faith in Christ. In order to repent and believe, people must be born again” (mainstreambaptists.org). Simply hearing the gospel will not bring about repentance. Before man can repent, he must be reborn by accepting Jesus Christ as savior. It is only at this point when God will begin to bring about repentance in an individual. Even though repentance is not salvic, it is none the less important. “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves” (2 Corinthians 13.5). If we examine ourselves and are lacking in repentance, than there may be no rebirth and therefore no salvation.
Image Credits: vikush, sxc.hu
Rebirth and Repentance
