READING TIME: 1 MINUTE
March 3, 2020
What does God giving repentance mean in Acts 5:31 and 11:18?
Acts 5:31: “He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins” (NASB).
Acts 11:18: When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life” (NASB).
Many teachers misuse these verses to teach that God gives repentance as a gift to some elect individuals. Other teachers even say that only obedient Christians receive the Holy Spirit after their conversion. Rather the expression about giving repentance means that God allows a class of people to repent and be forgiven. These verses don’t mean God gives faith directly on an individual basis. Acts 5:31 can’t refer to an irresistible gift of repentance to individuals since only a small number within Israel believed. In Acts 11:18, the gospel was being offered to the Gentiles based upon the conversion of Cornelius and his household, not to God giving repentance to individuals directly.
Sources Used
Cocoris, G. Michael. Repentance: The Most Misunderstood Word in the Bible. Grace Gospel Press, chapter 5.
Olson, C. Gordon. Beyond Calvinism & Arminianism: An Inductive Mediate Theology of Salvation. 3rd Edition Expanded, Revised, & Updated. Global Gospel Publishers, 260.
Getting the Gospel Right: A Balanced View of Salvation Truth. Global Gospel Publishers,77, 223-224.