Thank God for the brilliant and wise Robert A.J. Gagnon who just provided the lesson below on the nature of the relationship between repentance and forgiveness as presented clearly in Scripture. There are pastors today preaching the heretical (and harmful) view that Christians must forgive even if there is no evidence of repentance, whereas Scripture teaches, “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.” We are instructed by Scripture to forgive as God forgives.

From Dr. Gagnon:

“Repentance is part of the conversion process, as is absolutely clear in the teaching of John the Baptizer, Jesus, and the apostles. John the Baptizer proclaimed ‘a baptism (serving as a sign) of repentance for the forgiveness of sins’ (Mark 1:4). He demanded that those coming to him ‘produce fruit worthy of repentance’ (Matt 3:8; Luke 3:8). Mark summarizes Jesus' message as: ‘The time has been fulfilled and the Kingdom of God has come near: Repent and believe in the gospel’ (1:15). Jesus described his mission as one of calling ‘sinners to repentance’ (Luke 5:32). Jesus sent the Twelve out into villages two by two; and ‘they went out and proclaimed that people should repent’ (Mark 6:12). Jesus upbraided the cities of Bethsaida, Chorazin, and Capernaum for not ‘repenting’ in response to his deeds of power, so that now they will face destruction greater than that of Sodom and Tyre & Sidon (Matt 11:20-21; 12:41; Luke 10:13; 11:32). Jesus declared, ‘Unless you repent, you will all perish’ (Luke 13:3, 5). The angels rejoice in heaven, Jesus stated, ‘over one sinner who repents’ (Luke 15:7, 10). Forgiveness comes only upon repentance (Luke 17:3, 5).

“The Risen Christ instructed the Eleven and their companions that ‘in [the Messiah's] name repentance for the forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed to all the nations’ (Luke 24:47). Peter in his Pentecost sermon proclaimed, after giving the gospel to the thousands assembled: ‘Repent, and each of you should be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 2:38). Speaking to fellow Jews in Solomon’s Portico in the Temple, Peter called on those gathered to ‘repent and turn so that your sins may be wiped out’ (Acts 3:19). Before the Jerusalem Sanhedrin, Peter declared that God had exalted Jesus at his right hand as Savior ‘to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins’ (Acts 5:31). At the Jerusalem church, after Peter had described the conversion of the Gentile Cornelius, the believers concluded that ‘God gave to the Gentiles the repentance leading to life’ (Acts 11:18). To the Athenians Paul announced that ‘while God had previously overlooked the times of ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent’ (Acts 17:30). To the Ephesian elders, Paul summed up his faithful ministry as testifying ‘to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus’ (Acts 20:21). When Paul defends himself before King Agrippa, he asserts that from the beginning of his call/conversion to Christ he declared to Jews and Gentiles alike ‘to repent and turn to God, doing deeds worthy of (i.e., befitting) repentance’ (Acts 26:20). Without repentance, there is no salvation.”