Repenting of Sins = Works Salvation

The Bible says in Jonah 3:10: "And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way."

In Jonah chapter 3, the prophet Jonah is preaching to the Ninevites. The Ninevites hear the word of God, the king hears the message, and they end up turning from their sin and getting rid of their wickedness. And notice what the Bible calls that — God saw their works. What were their works? Turning from their evil way. Basically turning from their sins, turning from their wickedness, getting rid of their wickedness. The Bible defines that as works.

Of course, we know that we are not saved by our works. The Bible says: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." It is not our works that save us.

And so here in Jonah chapter 3 we see that the Ninevites turned from their sins, and the Bible defines that as works. That means when you tell a person that they have to quit drinking or quit smoking or give their life to God or start going to church in order to be saved — when you tell them they need to turn from their sins or repent of their sins as a condition of salvation — what you are actually teaching them is works salvation. And that just makes sense, because it takes work to change your lifestyle. Turning from your sins requires effort. It requires action. It is a work.

But praise God that he does not require us to change our life to be saved. All he requires us to do is believe on the Son. "Whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Jonah 3:10 is therefore a great proof that turning from your sins is works salvation.

Pastor Matthew Stucky