Grace in Focus Episode Summary

Podcast: Grace in Focus
Date: November 19, 2025
Episode Title: Is the Concept of Repentance Present in John’s Gospel?
Hosts: Bob Wilkin (C) & Sam Marr (B)
Main Theme:
Exploring whether the concept of repentance appears in the Gospel of John, its relation to salvation, and clarification of what constitutes faith for eternal life in Free Grace Theology.

Episode Overview

In this concise but in-depth episode, hosts Bob Wilkin and Sam Marr respond to a listener question regarding Free Grace Theology’s position on repentance in relation to the Gospel of John. The discussion centers on textual analysis, theological concepts, and practical implications for evangelism and assurance of salvation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Listener Question & Theological Framing

• [01:07] Sam (B) introduces Alberto’s question:
  • “Doesn't the Gospel of John teach the concept of repentance, not just believe in Jesus?”
• Bob (C) responds by referencing his writings and the core Free Grace stance that repentance is not required for eternal life according to John’s Gospel.

2. Is Repentance in John’s Gospel?

• [01:28] Bob uses an analogy to stress the importance of explicit mention and conceptual clarity:

  • “If you didn't mention [Patton’s] name and you didn't allude to his actions, then you're clearly not talking about him.”

• He explains:

  • Repentance (Greek: metanoia for noun, metanoeo for verb) is neither mentioned nor conceptually present.
  • The closest passage, John 3:19-21, isn’t a call to turn from sin but to publicly confess Christ.

• [02:30]

  • Nicodemus as an example: Bob notes John recounts Nicodemus’ progression as a secret believer without mentioning repentance.

3. 'Believe' as the Sole Condition for Eternal Life

• [03:50]
  • "A hundred times in John's Gospel, the word believe occurs... specifically tied with 'will never hunger, will never thirst, will never die, will never be cast out, will never perish, has everlasting life, shall not come into condemnation.' None of those have repentance in there."
  • Other cited texts: Acts 16:31, Galatians, Ephesians 2:8-9, Revelation 22:17, emphasizing explicit faith as the condition for salvation.

4. Repentance in Other Biblical Contexts

• [05:24]
  • Repentance appears in Revelation, but not as a condition for eternal life.
    • In Revelation 2-3, believers must repent to be overcomers.
    • In Revelation 9 and 16, the unrepentant world faces judgment.

5. Repentance: For Believers and Unbelievers

• [07:23]
  • Bob recommends his book Turn and Live and references Ezekiel 18 and 31.
  • Repentance for Believers: Needed only if a believer strays (cf. Luke 15’s lost sheep, coin, and son).
  • Repentance for Unbelievers: May lead to improvements in this life (e.g., escaping harmful habits) but is not the means of receiving eternal life.

6. Follow-up: Can 'Bad People' Believe in Jesus?

• [08:41]
  • Alberto asks about the credibility of professions of faith from “serial killers or sexually immoral people.”
  • Bob clarifies:
    • The real question should focus not on lifestyle, but on the content of belief:
      • “I would be suspect of just about anybody that tells me they believe in Jesus until I find out what they mean by that.” [09:11]
    • Most professing Christians actually believe in works-based salvation, not John 3:16-style faith.

7. Eternal Life and Assurance

• [10:21]

  • Lifestyle is not proof or disproof of genuine faith.
    • “It doesn't matter whether they're a serial killer or Mother Teresa. They don't get eternal life unless they believe in Jesus in the biblical sense.”
    • The key question for assurance: “Are you certain that you have everlasting life and you can never lose it? Even if you fall away, even if you become an alcoholic, even if you become a serial killer, would you still have eternal life?”

• [11:50] Bob encourages:

  • “Repentance is not a condition of everlasting life. And we don't base whether someone's born again on the quality of their life. We base whether someone is born again on the root, not the fruit.”
  • The “Kennedy question” (Evangelism Explosion) is referenced as a classic assurance check.

8. Final Assurance and Christ’s Promise

• [12:19]
  • Sam: “If that promise isn't true 40 years from now, then why would it be true now?”
• [12:32]
  • Bob closes with:
    • “Whoever believes in him will not perish, but has everlasting life. It has nothing to do with repentance. It has nothing to do with the quality of our life. It has everything to do with his faithfulness, not our faithfulness.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the absence of repentance in John:

  • “If you didn't mention his name and you didn't allude to his actions, then you're clearly not talking about him.” (Bob, [01:42])

• On faith vs. repentance:

  • “A hundred times in John's Gospel, the word believe occurs... None of those have repentance in there.” (Bob, [03:50])
  • “Repentance is not a condition of everlasting life. And we don't base whether someone's born again on the quality of their life. We base whether someone is born again on the root, not the fruit.” (Bob, [11:50])

• On the assurance of faith:

  • “If that promise isn't true 40 years from now, then why would it be true now?” (Sam, [12:19])
  • “It has nothing to do with repentance. It has nothing to do with the quality of our life. It has everything to do with his faithfulness, not our faithfulness.” (Bob, [12:32])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:07] — Listener question on repentance in John
• [01:28] — Analogy and setup for biblical analysis
• [02:30] — John 3:19-21 and concept of public confession
• [03:50] — Emphasis on belief, multiple scriptural cross-references
• [07:23] — Repentance for believers vs. unbelievers, Turn and Live
• [08:41] — Investigating the meaning of “believe in Jesus”
• [10:21] — Assurance, fruit vs. root, Kennedy question
• [12:19] — Final affirmation of Christ’s promise and its implications

Final Takeaway

The hosts make a strong, text-oriented case that the Gospel of John neither mentions repentance as a word nor presents it as a concept tied to receiving eternal life. Instead, John unequivocally associates eternal life with believing in Jesus. The episode underscores the importance of correctly understanding and articulating faith—as a reliance on Christ’s promise of eternal life, apart from repentance or works—calling for clear, careful evangelism and deep assurance rooted in Christ’s faithfulness.