Ah, but repentance is a response to grace that is already given. It is the open hand that receives the gift given, not a work that merits the gift. Repentance is nothing more or less than trusting God's mercy, and even that is a gift from God's Spirit, and not something we bring into the equation ourselves.
But here is your problem: you view the Commandments as a means to secure this life. That is your mistake. The Law offers life only to those who can keep it perfectly, not to poor, weak, miserable sinners that the entire human race has become. Or do you not know what the Scriptures say about the Law? Law brings condemnation and death, not mercy and life.
When confronted about the Law, Jesus says, "I came not to abolish the Law, but rather to fulfill it." How? By paying the price for our failure to uphold it, by doing for us - on our behalf - what we were powerless to do ourselves.
So is the Law useless to the Christian? By no means! The Law does indeed serve a function for Christians; it just so happens that its function is not to merit eternal life.
I do not remember if I wrote on this before, but if I did, I will reiterate. There are 3 things that the Law does for people:
1. Mirror - it shows us our sins and, therefore, our need for God's mercy and forgiveness. And by tearing down our illusion of self-reliance, it drives us to the Cross.
2. Curb - it places limits on the power of evil in the world. Through men's internal conscience and the just laws of nations, the Law prohibits gross wickedness and prevents it from doing maximum harm to citizens and society.
3. Guide - here, the Law answers the question, "How then shall we live?" If you'll observe, in the Torah, God has ALREADY chosen the Hebrew people and redeemed them from slavery BEFORE giving them the Ten Commandments. The Law, then, for God's people, shows how to live our lives under God's caring provision. It is not as if God himself needs our good works, but our neighbors do, and just as God grants us all his benefits - material and spiritual - so he wishes that we share those benefits with others.
But notice: under NONE of these three functions is there given any promise of eternal life. Even the original Ten Commandments connected obedience to them with earthly temporal blessing, not eternal life. If anything, the only function that could even remotely connect with Salvation is the First, and that only when it drives the person to the Cross.
And, as I said before, the Christian's power to do good works comes from God anyway. We are like tools in his hands; without him to empower us and direct our ways, we would be entirely powerless. That being the case, how can anyone doing a good deed expect that the Father owes him, since it is only by God's provision that he is even able? It would be like if I gave you $1,000,000, but you claimed I owed you $10 only because you gave that small part back to me.
So, no, I do not concede that the Commandments in any fashion work for our salvation at all. Obedience to them is good and right, but not salutary. Obedience is for our fellow man, and is done in grateful thanksgiving, but cannot save us one bit.
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So repentance isn't earning salvation, it's a process that God gives us the power to accomplish that makes us worthy for salvation.
Ah, but that's your mistake. It is only Christ himself that can make us worthy of salvation, never we ourselves. When a Christian speaks of Grace, we must always remember that it takes the form of the Cross. If we are covered with Christ, then we are worthy. And if Christ makes us worthy, then that worthiness is perfect, and nothing we contribute can make it more or less.
Something else, too. Grace itself is not power. Grace itself is the forgiveness and the free gift of God. I do not deny that power for holy living flows from this Grace, but do not confuse the power with the means. Grace happens when God says, "Your sins are forgiven," and "You are my beloved child." And these happen only through the Son.
But I will add this: if someone claims to be in Christ but their life does not manifest that Third Use, then one must question whether or not they are really in Christ.