What is the relationship between faith and repentance?

Dennis Gunderson explains in this video that the relationship between faith and repentance is straightforward. Faith is our complete forsaking the trusting in our own works and turning entirely to Christ for our righteousness. Repentance is the turning from sin and the understanding that the mere turning away from sin does not save or justify us. 

We turn from sin because God is worthy to be served. Repentance does not enhance our standing with God. Rather, Christ alone is the one who makes us righteous in the sight of God. Thus, repentance is a fruit of our faith. 

Luke 5:31-32 (NKJV) – “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.’



The relationship between faith and repentance is really a fairly simple one. The faith is our completely forsaking any trust in our own works as justifying us before God and turning entirely to Christ for my righteousness before God. Repentance is turning from sin, but accompanied with faith it's an understanding that it's not my turning from sin that ultimately pleases God in a way that saves me or justifies me. I turn from sin because God is worthy of being served. And it doesn't increase my standing with Him or enhance it in any way or another.

Only faith in Christ because the object is Christ because He is the one that makes us righteous in the sight of God. Really that is the only thing that can justify us, but repentance accompanies that really as a fruit.