Book Review: Repentance – The First Word of the Gospel

A necessary component of the gospel that is sadly missing in many definitions, descriptions, and presentations of the gospel is repentance. Simply put, if repentance is not a part of the gospel proclamation, there is no gospel proclamation. At the same time, if repentance is not a part of the response to the gospel, there is no salvation. This vital point has been by many for a number of years now and the tragic result has been that church after church has added to its membership men, women, and children who are yet unregenerate. The spiritual weakness of so many churches shows this to be true. There are many who are members of churches and faithful members at that, who have never been converted because they have never come to the place of true, genuine Biblical repentance.

The book, Repentance: The First Word of the Gospel by Richard Owen Roberts is a very timely and necessary book that was written to address the problem spoken of above. This book is a challenge to the modern notion that a person can be saved without genuine repentance. Roberts puts forth the Biblical case that such a thing is impossible. If a person is to be saved, he or she must repent. There is other way.

Drawing on the revealed will of God as recorded in His Word, Roberts proves beyond question that repentance is necessary for salvation. Readers are challenged time and time again to examine themselves to see if they have genuinely repented. Churches are challenged to make sure that they are faithful to proclaim the necessity of repentance. The author also makes it clear that repentance is not a one-time event, but the ongoing pattern of the life of the believer. Christians continue to sin and they need to continue to repent.

[EDIT]: In my haste to post this review, I neglected to mention one of the strongest of its many strong points and that is the way in the author goes to great lengths to give his readers a Biblical definition of repentance. This book is not about how a particular man or theological persuasion defines repentance. Rather, it is about what God says in His Word about the matter. In order words, when it comes to the matter of repentance, what the author is very careful to do is to continually confront his readers with what God says. Any argument then, must be with God and not the author. The book is thoroughly Biblical, every page is bathed in God’s Word. This is what makes the book so powerful.

This is the best book on repentance I have ever come across. It should be a must read for everyone who professes to belong to Christ. The Biblical message that the book highlights needs to be sounded loudly and clearly for all to hear.

I urge you to get this book and be prepared to be challenged.

Rating: [Rating:5/5] [an absolute must read].

Repentance: The First Word of the Gospel may be purchased here.