1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.
Malachi 3:18; 4:1-3
There is so much good in the worst of us;
and so much bad in the best of us;
that it ill-behooves any of us
to find fault in the rest of us!
Author Unknown
I know none of us is beyond reproach, yet, we can and do work for the Lord Jesus Christ!
Therefore, short of being totally contrary to the word of God in our foundational beliefs, I suspect we may reproach those we believe to be "crossing the boundary," yet not completely forsake their input in the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. Sifting the wheat from the chaff...
Recently it was brought to my attention that David Cloud, whom I promote here through the Way of Life Publications, does fall short of the understanding of "repentance" as revealed to us in the Bible! But, so far, that is all I hear about him, and I deem his input to be very worthwhile in so many other ways.
The same happens with Jack Chick regarding his view on repentance, whose work is of incredible value! I know someone myself who was saved through his marvelous "cartoon" publications, which I also promote a lot!
Aiden Tozer's sermons are of invaluable significance, he to belong to the generation of hard-preaching we shall no longer hear today!
The rest of those mentioned in this article by David J. Stewart I have no doubt are heretics with whom I would never care to fellowship!
May God bless us with proper discernment!
and the meek will he teach his way.
Psalm 25:9
Repentance is NOT
Ceasing from One's Sins!
By David J. Stewart
"Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." —Acts 20:21
Repentance is not turning from (i.e., forsaking) one's sins, nor even being willing to turn from one's sins; Repentance is turning to the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved from one's sins (Romans 4:5). Salvation is receiving; NOT giving. Eternal life is the free gift of God (Romans 5:15;6:23), paid for by Jesus' precious literal blood (1st Peter 1:18,19). To be saved we simply need to come as a guilty sinner to Jesus Christ to have our sins washed away by His redeeming blood (1st John 1:7). Salvation is turning to Jesus to be forgiven of one's sins; NOT turning from one's sins in order to be forgiven by Jesus. It's that simple.
Yes, a sinner DOES need to repent to be saved; but Biblical repentance is always mentioned as being TOWARD GOD (Acts 20:21); and never from sins. You cannot show me even one place in the Bible where we are commanded to forsake our sins, nor repent from our sins to be saved. Salvation is the free gift of God (Romans 5:15; 6:23). And a good thing, because there's nothing we could have done to save our sorry selves from the Lake of Fire (Ephesians 2:8-9). Jonah 2:9 testifies that Salvation is of the Lord.
To repent means to TURN. It's a CHANGE OF MIND. When you come to the place in your life where you acknowledge that you're a sinner in God's eyes, and you TURN TOWARD GOD to be saved through the blood sacrifice of His only begotten Son (1st Peter 1:18-19; Hebrews 9:12,22-24; Revelation 1:5; 7:14); then YOU HAVE also turned your back against those sins in your life. To turn your face toward Jesus is to turn your back against sin, whether you're willing to stop committing sins at that particular moment in your life or not. Regardless, eternal life is a free gift and has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with one's willingness to clean up their life of sin. Romans 4:5-6 makes this extremely clear. Salvation is a gift. Our part is simply to believe on the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Whatever changes God wants to be made comes later, as we grow in the milk of the Word (1st Peter 2:2).
Most Christians require YEARS before they are willing to seriously commit their lives to God in holy living, and of course, many never even get to that point, as evidenced by the children of Israel who wandered in the Wilderness of Zin for 40-years (yes it is spelled “Zin” with a “z”). They had complained 10-times, one time too many for God, and He had had enough when they refused to enter The Promised Land. God is loving, longsuffering, and patient; but there is a line that you can cross with God where He changes His plans for your life. Malachi 3:6 is correct... God never changes. However, God does sometimes change His plans because MAN DOES CHANGE. The Lord repented (changed His mind) in the Old Testament on numerous occasions because MEN CHANGED. It wasn't God who changed; but sinful men who changed. So, yes, God's mind can be changed.
We are saved eternally by turning in our heart TOWARD Jesus to be forgiven of our sins. That is faith. That's not to say that you're willing to cease from committing any of those sins at the time of salvation; but you have turned, i.e., REPENTED, toward God to be forgiven of those sins, which you recognize now as sin.
God's Workings in the Life of a Born-Again Believer
Once you're a born-again Christian, then the Holy Spirit moves into your body that very moment (Romans 8:9). A changed life is the FRUIT of genuine repentance, and NOT a part of the ROOT of saving-faith. We live right because WE ARE saved; not to GET SAVED. There's a Heaven and Hell difference there. One is a works-based false religion, and the other is Biblical Christianity. God's Holy Spirit will work on you day-by-day, walk-by-walk, burden-by-burden, sin-by-sin, and the Lord will change you if you'll allow Him to do so. 2nd Corinthians 5:17 teaches that a man is a NEW CREATURE only if he is already IN CHRIST. The “new creature” is our precious Lord. YOU CANNOT CHANGE YOURSELF. You need God's Holy Spirit to renew your mind and heart (Ephesians 4:23). We don't need God's help to live the Christian life. That's a wrong way to look at it. Rather, we allow the Lord Jesus to live the Christian life through us as we yield to the Holy Spirit of God Who indwells us. Jesus taught this in John 14:18, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”
That's another wonderful thing about getting saved, i.e., God didn't leave us as an orphan to fend for ourselves. No Sir! Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” God never does a half-job. God finishes what He starts! If you're a genuine born-again Christian, then God is working in your life. Most often God works behind-the-scenes where we cannot see what He's doing, which tests our faith. If God made His workings visible, then everyone would become a Christian for the wrong reasons, i.e., for selfish gain. Instead, the Christians of this world are often the poorest, most despised, most hated, most ridiculed, and most afflicted people, because God has to test and strengthen their faith.
Remember that Hebrews 11:6 proclaims that faith pleases God. It takes a much greater faith to keep praying when it doesn't seem like God is answering. We must learn to trust the Scriptures and NOT our feelings. 1st Peter 5:7 instructs us to cast our cares upon Him because God cares about us. That is a powerful, meaningful, and a precious invitation from our God to bring our burdens to Him in prayer. It is easy to develop the sinful attitude of “why waste my time praying if it doesn't work for me?” I have a question for you my friend: Do you believe that the Bible is God's inspired Words? If so, then it doesn't matter if you feel like God is not hearing or answering your prayers, because you KNOW that 1st Peter 5:7 proclaims that GOD CARES! We live in an uncaring world. Hardly anyone cares about anyone, except a few Christians who are yielding to the Spirit of Christ.
We must keep in mind Scriptures like John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” God never promised us that we wouldn't be fed to the hungry lions. In fact, 2nd Timothy 3:12 foretold that all Christ-honoring believers who live Godly in this world SHALL SUFFER PERSECUTION. Guaranteed!!! Noah preached for 120-years while building the ark and not even ONE PERSON cared about the Gospel message and got saved. The whole world went to Hell. You cannot escape the agendas of the New World Order that are destroying families everywhere. In these Last Days, our only hope is to cling in desperation to the Word of God.
The most powerful force in this universe and beyond are the PROMISES of God. Titus 1:2 tells us that eternal life is a PROMISE from God. Amen! I KNOW I am going to Heaven. I KNOW because my salvation rests in Jesus' righteousness (2nd Corinthians 5:21), and not my own inadequate self-righteousness (Isaiah 64:6). Jesus told us to BE OF GOOD CHEER in John 16:33 because He has overcome the world. Every believer needs to ponder over this precious Scripture and grasp its meaning. Do you know why Jesus said we can rejoice and be of good cheer? It's because we HAVE A HOPE in Jesus Christ that all the demonic hordes of Hell, all the greedy evil people in this world, all the hateful enemies that want to destroy us... cannot take away from us! We are on the winning side in Christ Jesus! Jesus has PROMISED to share all His kingdom with us when we get to Heaven, preparing for us an inheritance in Heaven. 1st Peter 1:4, “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in Heaven for you.”
Anyway, I just wanted to share a few thoughts on the believer's walk with God. Jesus is the truth and our life (John 6:63).
Faithfully Exposing False Teachers Who Corrupt the Gospel
I have written quite a few articles lately exposing numerous contemporary false prophets, who teach that a person MUST forsake their sins to be saved. There is NO such teaching found in the Bible. I triple-dog dare you to show me anywhere in the Word of God were a sinner is required to turn from their sins to be saved. You cannot. The desire to turn from one's sins is the FRUIT of genuine repentance; and is not a part of saving faith.
John MacArthur plainly states: “Submission to the will of God, to Christ’s lordship, and to the guiding of the Spirit is an essential, not an optional, part of saving faith” (EPHESIANS, p. 249). MacArthur is a false prophet. He further states: “There's no room for passive spectators: words without actions are empty and futile ... The life we live, not the words we speak, determines our eternal destiny” [emphasis added] (Hard to Believe, p. 93). What blasphemy! MacArthur sinfully teaches that the life we live determines our eternal destiny. This is works salvation!
Some false prophets, such as David Cloud, teach that a person who is not willing to forsake their sins cannot get saved. Mr. Cloud deceitfully states that he does not believe in Lordship Salvation; while simultaneously teaching that a person who is “not ready” for the drastic changes which salvation brings cannot be saved. Cloud's teaching on repentance is that you cannot come to Christ for salvation unless you first intend not to walk in sin after you receive Him. This is "qualification by works" as a prerequisite for receiving Christ as Savior.
Other false prophets, such as Jack Chick, teach that a person must “be willing to turn from sin” in order to be saved. This is Lordship Salvation! Jack Chick makes the deadly mistake of misinterpreting the Biblical meaning of the word “repent.” Repentance is not a willingness to turn from sin. Biblical repentance means turning to Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. Repentance and faith are not two separate steps to salvation; but rather two parts of one step. Being born-again is not a process. The person who has turned to the Lord in faith to be forgiven of sins has repented. The person who has genuinely repented of their sins has turned to the Lord to be forgiven.
Aiden W. Tozer was a false prophet! Mr. Tozer unquestionably taught Lordship Salvation: “In the Bible the offer of pardon on the part of God is conditioned upon intention to reform on the part of man. There can be no spiritual regeneration till there has been a moral reformation” (The Best of A.W. Tozer, Book 2, pg. 115-117; Compiled by Warren W. Wiersbe). Wrong! Salvation is receiving; NOT giving. Mr. Tozer requires sinners to “reform” themselves before they can be saved. How ridiculous! This goes contrary to the plainest teachings in the Bible. Again, Romans 4:5 states: “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Mr. Tozer is teaching works salvation!!! Neither education, nor reformation, nor rehabilitation can get a man to heaven, nor permanently change Him for God; he must first be regenerated by the Holy Spirit of God through the Seed of God's Word.
The Salvation Army teaches damnable heresy. I was greatly saddened recently as I read the official doctrinal statement of the Salvation Army. If you look at the Salvation Army's list of doctrines, you'll come down to doctrine # 9, which reads as follows: “We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ” [emphasis added]. Doctrine # 9 is a lie of the Devil, which is certainly NOT based upon the Word of God. Lordship Salvation necessitates the doctrine of losing one's salvation. The Salvation Army is teaching the damnable heresy of works salvation. They clearly believe that one's salvation is conditional upon works. The Salvation Army exists today solely based upon the doctrinal beliefs and creed of William Booth and his avowed rebel feminist wife. IF saved, ALWAYS saved!
Ray Comfort is another false prophet who states: “We are dead in our trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1) and until we forsake them through repentance, we cannot be made alive in Christ” [emphasis added] (THE EVIDENCE BIBLE; Is Repentance Necessary for Salvation?). Mr. Comfort clearly denies that believing on Jesus Christ is sufficient for salvation... he states: “If belief is all that is necessary for salvation, then the logical conclusion is that one need never repent.” Clearly, Ray Comfort believes that repentance means to forsake one's sins as a prerequisite to placing one's faith in Jesus. In sharp contrast, Romans 4:5 says... “But to him that WORKETH NOT, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is COUNTED for righteousness.” The only type of person that Jesus justifies is the UNGODLY, i.e., those ungodly sinners who believe on Jesus Christ to be forgiven of their sins. Shame on those ministers who corrupt the simplicity of the Gospel, by placing the heavy burden of departing from one's sins as a prerequisite to be saved.
Joyce Meyer's website makes the following statement, saying that their mission is to teach non-Christians how to enjoy life without being born-again...
“We provide global humanitarian aid to hurting people and teach Christians and non-Christians alike how to enjoy everyday life by applying biblical principles in all they do.”
SOURCE: http://www.joycemeyer.org/AboutUs/VisionMission/
What a heretic! That is blatant heresy! There is no way for anyone to enjoy everyday life by applying Biblical principles as a Christ-rejecter!!! Meyer's mission is to teach Biblical principles to non-Christians, so they can enjoy everyday life?
Conclusion of This Important matter
It is false doctrine to make repenting of one's sins an event in itself to be saved. Again, repentance is not turning from one's sins; Repentance is turning to the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved from one's sins (Romans 4:5). Jack Chick, David Cloud, Ray Comfort, Aiden Tozer, John MacArthur and the Salvation Army all make repentance an isolated act by itself. The Bible stands against them for perverting the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The word “believe” is mentioned 85 times in the Gospel of John; YET the word “repent” is not mentioned even ONCE!!! Clearly, the sinner who believes on Jesus as the Christ to forgive his sins has repented.
False prophets today define repentance as merely turning from one's sins. This misunderstanding of repentance has spawned multiple false gospels. Repentance is turning TO THE LORD from the condemnation of sin, as guilty sinners, to have those sins washed away by the precious literal blood of Jesus Christ (1st Peter 1:18,19; 1st John 1:7, Revelation 1:5). To believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness of one's sins is repentance. To merely turn from sin is nothing more than “turning over a new leaf,” which is the false gospel of Perry Stone.
Judas repented (Matthew 27:3), but it is a different Greek word than the word used for repentance elsewhere in the New Testament. Judas was only sorry that He got caught; but He had no faith toward God. When Judas saw Jesus was condemned, Judas brought back the 30 pieces of silver. The false accusing, hypocritical Pharisees refused to take the money back. So Judas threw the money on the floor. You see, Judas wanted to clean up his act now and undo the wrong he had done. He was sorry; but Judas went straight to Hell in His sins. Judas had Lordship Salvation and went to Hell, just as the religious hypocrites in Matthew 7:21-23.
Eternal life is a free gift from God, and you had better stop trusting in your self-righteous ways or else you'll go to Hell with Judas. Turning over a new leaf is not repentance. Ceasing from sins is not repentance. Giving up the sinful world is not repentance. Making a commitment or surrendering one's life to Christ (Catholic doctrine) is not repentance. Genuine Biblical repentance is turning TOWARD GOD by faith in His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to have all your sins forgiven. The very moment you are saved, you become a born-again child of God, spiritually, and there is absolutely no way you can ever, ever, ever lose God's salvation. It is THY SALVATION as king David said repeatedly; meaning, it is God's salvation, in God's hands alone, it is the precious gift of God, and we have no part in God's salvation except to BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST (Acts 16:30-31).
Philippians 2:12, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Notice that the Apostle Paul said to work out YOUR own salvation. Paul didn't say to work out GOD'S salvation. After God saves us, then there is a lifelong growing in grace process of acknowledging the Lord in all our ways, and He shall direct our paths (Proverb 3:5-7). I hear so many people talking about seeking God's will; but we already have God's will written in the Bible. I couldn't find even one Scripture that commands believers to seek God's will; but rather, to understand God's will and do it. Ephesians 5:17, “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”I found the phrase “will of God” mentioned 23-times in the Bible, and not one reference instructed believers to go search and find God's will. Instead, the Bible tells us to DO God's will. We already have God's will, in the Scriptures, which is exactly why Jesus commanded us to SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES in John 5:39. The Bible tells us how to think, talk and behave as Christians. By yielding to the Holy Spirit and obeying the Scriptures we can think, talk and live RIGHT for God; but only through the precious physical blood of Jesus Christ could we ever have been made RIGHT WITH GOD. Ephesians 2:13, “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are MADE NIGH BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.” Amen! I love the Bible and Jesus so much!!! We are not worthy of such wondrous love and generosity. Thank you God for being patient and understanding (Psalm 103:10-14), for sending your Son to make a way of escape from the curse of the Law. Seeing how awesome God is, and how much opportunity He gives us to freely obtain the gift of eternal life; only a total fool and ingrate would reject so great a gift from God. What a precious offer! And it's all FREE to us, paid for by the Lord! Wow!!!
True Biblical repentance means turning to Jesus Christ by faith to be forgiven of one's sins. The “turning” is not from the act of sin itself; but rather, TURNING TO THE LORD to be forgiven from the condemnation which sin has brought upon all mankind (Romans 3:19-23; 5:12). Lordship Salvationists have perverted the Gospel. They teach that repentance and faith are two separate steps to salvation, and that faith alone in Christ is insufficient to save anyone unless they've turned from their sinful lifestyle. That is exactly what Ray Comfort teaches, i.e., that faith alone in Jesus Christ is insufficient to save a sinner. Ray Comfort recognizes repentance (which he defines as ceasing from one's sins) as an entirely additional requirement to placing one's belief in Christ.
Sadly, Mr. Comfort and his sidekick, Kirk Cameron, are doctrinally corrupted and confused; likely because they are followers of heretic John MacArthur (evidenced by Kirk Cameron promoting the John MacArthur Study Bible on his website). They are WRONG to teach that repentance unto salvation means ceasing from sin. They are also wrong to teach that repentance is a completely separate act from believing upon the Lord to be saved. These are 2 deadly heresies concerning salvation. THE TRUTH is that you simply turn to the Lord by faith to be forgiven of your sins and you are saved immediately, completely and eternally. It's that simple. We are the SINNER and Jesus is the SAVIOR!
Genesis 15:6 tells us that Abram was justified by faith in the Lord. The Gospel of John mentions the word “believe” 85-times without ever mentioning the word “repent” even once. This is because the person who has believed on the Lord to be forgiven of their sins has repented of their sins. Salvation is turning to Jesus to be forgiven of one's sins; NOT turning from one's sins in order to be forgiven by Jesus.
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