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My Struggle Through Repentance

This is a guest post from our friend and ministry partner Brandon, so all the credit for this goes to him.


 

Daddy, when I wake up tomorrow, I’m going to ask Jesus into my heart!



    While I realize this may sound like the best news ever to a Christian parent, hearing those words caused one of the biggest moments of contemplation in my life. How do I respond to my little girl? Should I be happy for her that she is outwardly expressing a desire to be identified with Jesus by the age-old practice of asking Jesus into one’s heart, or should I be terrified that she will fall into the same concept of “salvation” that I was taught when I was her age? What!? How could you dare not be thrilled by such a statement!?


    Well, I guess it all started when I was a young child going to a church, sitting in my Sunday school classes, singing Bible songs, and attending a private Christian school. Oh boy, did I have it all. I was getting the Bible pumped into my mind from every angle and yet I came to believe that Jesus, the God/man who died on the cross for the sins of the world, needed to be presented with a prayer, declared from my heart to his heart, which stated my desire for him to be my Savior, for him to come into my heart—for him to forgive me of my sins after I opened the door to his knocking. Basically, the Christians around me were giving us kids the standard “altar call,” and unless we responded appropriately, our destination was sure to be hell.


    Ok, now that’s motivation! Why would I want to burn forever in the lake of fire? Only a fool would not accept Jesus' free gift of salvation. Yes, I’m a sinner and I need to be saved by what Jesus did on the cross. That’s a no brainer. “Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God and Savior of the world. I believe that you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I believe that through your sacrifice, I can be forgiven. Forgive me for my sin and fill me with your Spirit” or something like that and presto, BOOM, now I am saved; yet it came with a caveat from the Pastor that I must have prayed with sincerity. Hurray! I repented. I am now a new person in Christ, right? In retrospect, I do believe my request to Jesus was sincere. I was fully convinced of the gospel, that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again for the sins of the world (stated concisely in I Corinthians 15:1-5). Then what ended up being my problem?


    Well, it was the prayer! That lousy prayer connected my mind’s concept of salvation to an EVENT where I had asked Jesus to save me. When sin entered again into my life, the Holy Spirit’s conviction was present and I felt horrible, but being a new babe in Christ, I looked back to the event that I was focusing on as the foundation of my salvation and was left wondering about the Pastor’s caveat. Oh no! Was I not sincere enough when I prayed? Did I not have enough repentance? Was I not sorry enough about my sins? No, Jesus surely wouldn’t un-save me because he will not lose one of his sheep. How can eternal life be a temporary gift? Hmm… Nevertheless, I better pray that sinner’s prayer again, just to be sure that God understood my sincerity and maybe I can be more sincere this time, so that he knows I truly believe that he died and rose again for my sins. Ok good, I feel much better now. I said that with a lot more conviction this time. I even cried while praying. I now feel that all of my sins are forgiven. Praise God! Oh look, there I am again on my knees a few weeks later, praying ashamed behind locked doors while everyone else is asleep; but this time I’ve got a really strong amount of godly grief and am really sure that I can convince God that I believe. 


    Ok everyone, I hope you get the picture now. I grew up for decades doubting my salvation, but I want to share with you and your family the good news of how to avoid falling into the cycle of what some call “repentance” that I once struggled through. While it’s true that godly sorrow does lead to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10), by default, sorrow leading to repentance means that repentance is something else. I didn’t understand that repentance wasn’t the altar call prayer that I had delivered through my “sinner’s prayer.” My mind had strongly connected my own “repentance” to the event of me asking Jesus to save me, to the event of the prayer I made confessing my belief in His substitutionary atonement, to the event of me declaring myself a sinner and himself my Savior. Basically, I was trying to connect one of those moments in time—when I had with conviction and sincerity prayed to God, declared my faith and asked Jesus into my heart—to being my repentance. I had the WRONG EVENT. One small change of thought would have saved me so much grief and doubt.


    THE EVENT that is the foundation of everyone’s salvation is never our prayers, but rather is and always will be the substitutionary propitiation that took place by the shedding of Jesus' blood at THE CROSS (Romans 3:25, Ephesians 1:7). Put your faith in his blood, in his finished work, in his death, burial and resurrection and stand on that foundation alone. You will find peace, assurance, and eternal security in Christ. Don’t let anyone tell you that believing the gospel isn’t enough, unless you’ve “accepted” God’s salvation by asking for it. Do you really think that after having believed the gospel God waited around for you to get on your knees and to “repent” before he saved you? That’s not true!!! God seals a new believer with the Holy Spirit of Promise at the very moment they first believe the good news of the gospel. There is no delay (Ephesians 1:13). Any subsequent prayer that a Saint may come to make, based on the prompting of a pastor or another person telling them that doing so is needed, is nothing more than trying to put a cherry on top of their belief in the gospel that is made of dung. (see Philippians 3:8).


    Repentance happens when one’s mind changes from unbelief to belief. One can ask Jesus into their heart all day long, but yet have never believed the gospel. One can say a “sinner’s prayer” every day of their life and yet never have believed the gospel. One can with sorrow admit their sinfulness and with conviction ask Jesus to save them, but yet still never have believed the gospel. Will God use that sorrow to lead people to repentance? Yes, but please stop begging God for salvation and instead stand firm, having faith in His finished work on the cross.



In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; (2 Tm. 2:25) 



    I explained to my daughter that Jesus’ righteousness is a gift given at the very same moment that one believes that Jesus paid the penalty of their own sins, by shedding His blood on the cross, when he died, was buried, and rose again. After having heard this good news, which she already believed, she dropped the topic of asking Jesus into her heart and was instead thrilled to learn that the Holy Spirit was already in her. She believes that God made her righteous and has taken away her sins.


    Well, is God waiting on people with such childlike faith to accept him into their hearts by praying a sinner’s prayer or has he already saved them?  


    We know that God is not a liar. He will send the Comforter at the very moment that one first believes. If you’re wrestling with this topic as I once did, I would encourage you to read this article discussing “What is Repentance?”. Also, here is a reading of the article provided to us by Chooch. It made a tremendously positive impact on my life. 


    It just sounds so "Christian" to accept Jesus as Lord, so that through a life dedicated to building a "relationship" with God one can come to faith in Christ. Have you ever been told you're a lost sinner going to hell, who needed to repent of your sins and accept Jesus as Lord?


STOP, STOP!!! WARNING, WARNING!!! 



But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (2 Cor. 11:3)



And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2 Cor. 11:14–15)


 

    Don't fall victim to the subtle serpent transformed into a messenger of light, who seeks to devour by the preaching of another Jesus, another spirit, another gospel. Satan’s best tactic is the forgery of "truth"! 


    A person who believes they have a relationship with God because of their yielding, their obeying, or their service, is a person with a beguiled mind; thinking themselves wise because of their "yielded life" to the Lord. They follow the broad path leading straight to destruction.


    The gospel is not a lifestyle to be followed, but rather is good news to be BELIEVED; Christ's life to be received.



Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures . . . (1 Cor. 15:1–4)



    Many don't like this message unless it's been mixed with another. Basically, the preaching of grace alone by faith alone is now peddled by many self-righteous "preachers" as a dirty concept, rooted in the "wickedness" of "hyper-grace." A vile spreading of lies by sinful people seeking to justify their own immorality by their "easy believism."



Hogwash! 



    The gospel is the good news of Jesus' sacrifice alone being the propitiation for the sins of the world for all who believe. If you don't trust Paul, who received this message from God, then how about the resurrected Christ's words?



And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Lk. 24:46–47, KJV)



and He said to them, “Thus it has been written, and thus it was necessary [for] the Christ to suffer, and to rise out of the dead [on] the third day, and conversion and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in His Name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem . . . (Lk. 24:46–47, LSV)



    Notice how "repentance" and "conversion" are used to translate the same Greek word, which is Strong's Greek 3341 metanoian (μετάνοια): a change of mind. That's because when a mind has changed to believing the good news of the gospel, one has been converted from unbelief to belief. Such a person has been baptized into Christ and sealed with the Holy Spirit.  


    Also worth noting is that the (dismissal/forgiveness/release/pardon) for sins then occurs—not because of someone asking to be forgiven, but rather because one converted/repented through a changing of their mind from unbelief to belief. It's not that we "accept Jesus" into our life, but rather that God accepted Jesus' sacrifice. In turn, we believe that God accepted Jesus on our behalf.


    Jesus laid down his life willingly as payment for our sins, so that through the preaching of his death, burial, and resurrection salvation and the blessed hope of our own resurrection would be given as a free gift to all who believe.



To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Eph. 1:6–7, KJV)



    Can you see it? We don't accept Jesus. God accepts Jesus' shed blood on our behalf, which he graciously and freely provides to all those who believe the gospel. If you feel more is needed to be saved, then beware, for you have believed "another gospel" which is therefore not the gospel at all.



And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise, grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise, work is no more work. (Rm. 11:6) 



    This world is very much filled with perversions of the gospel. Therefore, let us share the good news in simplicity, that it may be believed for the salvation of one's soul.



    


    Forever is a very long time, but that's how long Jesus has reconciled those that believe unto himself. How did he accomplish this reconciliation? Well, I hope to paint a big picture showing the all-sufficiency of what Jesus has accomplished for you and me, so please read on.


    In this dispensation of the grace of God, the Holy Spirit indwells each believer, his purchased possession, making our redemption guaranteed. 



In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Eph. 1:13–14)



For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. (Heb. 10:14)



Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. (Acts 20:28)



    This once and forever eternal payment for our sins is all made possible because of the sufficiency of his blood shed for our sins and his own willingness to take the penalty of our sins upon himself.



For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Cor. 5:21)



In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Col. 1:14



Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Rm. 3:25)



    The new covenant is an everlasting covenant because it's fully dependent on Jesus' faithfulness, on his ability to do what he has said he will do, to complete the good work he has started, for all those that believe the gospel.



Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:2)



For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Rm. 1:16)



He takes those who believe the gospel out from being under the law and gives them "salvation."



But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law . . . (Gal. 4:4)



To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Gal. 4:5)



But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. (Gal. 5:18)



    Being not under the law, since a believer's sin debt has been once and forever paid, there are no sins left unpaid to be credited to our account. If there were, then Jesus didn't do what he has said he has done!



For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. (Rm. 5:13)



    Fortunately, he is faithful. His grace is sufficient. His blood is power. His gift is eternal life, God's very own life; by baptizing the church into himself, a new identity is given. It's Jesus' identity a Christian possesses! By his shed blood, through the riches of his grace, those that believe have received a full pardon and have been removed from being under the law and are never able to be condemned by the law, for all their sins are forgiven. When God sees a believer, he positionally sees them in Christ, for that is where they are.



For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Gal. 3:27)



For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Cor. 12:13)



Should those sanctified in Christ use this liberty to sin?



What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Rm. 6:1–2)



    We're not waving grace around like a ‘do whatever feels right to you’ flag. No, we're showing people that salvation is through grace alone by faith alone, so that they can believe the good news and be saved. Jesus has changed what a believer wants because He has removed his or her heart of stone and replaced it with a new heart that is constrained by love.



For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. (Gal. 5:13)



If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Gal. 5:25)



This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (Gal. 5:16)



Focusing back on the bottom line:



And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (2 Cor. 5:18–19)



    Basically, the good news of the gospel reveals the means by which Jesus has made available through his blood, the gift of eternal life that positions one into the body of Christ, having nailed all of their sins to the cross, and thereby forever removed them from having those sins be able to be imputed to their account, which thereby removes such believers from being under the law and guarantees their redemption.



5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness

6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. (Rm. 4:5–8)



    He accomplished a believer's reconciliation when he took our sin debt on himself, dying as our sacrifice, in our place, being himself accursed on a tree because he loved us, so that through his blood, shed for our mercy, we could receive his gift of eternal life. His resurrection is our blessed hope!



Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Rm. 3:25)



In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Eph. 1:7)



Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree . . . (Gal. 3:13)



Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (Mt. 5:17)



Thank you, Jesus, for offering yourself on the mercy seat for our sins. May we be swift to share the good news of the gospel, for the ministry of reconciliation that you have so graciously called us to receive and share. May all praise and glory and honor be yours alone forevermore.




Further reading: download this PDF, it explains Salvation In Romans 10:9-13.

Post A Comment

32 comments:

  1. I tried a new church after moving to a new state and was dismayed to find the pastor there didn't believe in faith alone. He flat out declared that a person who trusted the gospel, but then immediately afterwards has a heart attack would go to Hell because that person hadn't done any good works to prove their faith.

    I left that church in disgust.

    So, yes, good article. It's the decision to believe that bring salvation, not all the stuff that comes later, including any prayers of repentance or anything else.

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  2. The simplicity of the Gospel through faith and faith alone indeed. In regards to the sinner's prayer, one can simply think of it like this - the prayer prayed is the outward manifestation of the inward belief upon Christ that has already saved the person. If I didn’t believe in the Gospel message of Christ but still whispered the sinners prayer as though it were some hocus pocus ritual, it doesn’t make me saved no more than a wig on a pig converts him into a poodle. It’s not the prayer itself that is saving anyone. It is the already saving belief and attitude of the heart that caused said person to pray the sinner's prayer to begin with that actually saved the person.

    This concept is seen in the story of the dishonest and despised tax collector who simply prayed, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.” When he prayed that prayer, you will notice in Jesus' own words that he left that day justified and in right standing with God. It wasn't the prayer itself that saved him, but it was the inner repentance away from unbelief toward faith and belief in Christ for the propitiation for sin that caused him to call upon the Lord for salvation that saved him. This concept is also demonstrated in the story of the thief on the cross who was crucified next to Jesus, who also called on the Lord verbally to "remember him in his kingdom" in a sort of "sinner's prayer." These two accounts demonstrate God's acceptance of anyone who prays the sinner's prayer, but it was the faith/ belief/trust in Christ alone within the person that actually saved them - not some required outward verbalization of words to make it so.

    You could probably sum it up by saying that the sinner's prayer is a natural human reaction to an already possessed requirement of inward soulish trust and belief upon Christ for the sought after result of salvation.

    So, at the same time, we probably shouldn't be throwing the baby out with the bathwater either. If someone is unable to speak because of a speech impediment, that does not mean that because he cannot speak, he/she cannot be saved. This is why it is a most excellent thing to know that salvation is not based upon one's ability to utter a verbal sinner's prayer, but by simply believing and trusting upon Christ for salvation. 👍🎸🎸

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear brother, you explained it so much better than me! Thank you!

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    2. You're welcome. 👍 Good thing God made it that simple, otherwise, we all may as well hang it up and forget about it. None of us (most definitely me) would make it.

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    3. So simple, yet so true and powerful. thanks

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  3. Thanks, this is a great article! I too have prayed the sinner's prayer to be saved. I believed in Jesus' perfect sacrifice for me, but I had been taught this kind of prayer. Yes, the debt to God is fully paid, nothing to add because it is a gift, and when we receive a gift, we accept it as it is, we add nothing to the gift. Otherwise, it like an insult to the Lord for his gift. Glory to God and to our wonderful beloved Savior for having completed his sacrifice!

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  4. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is under the Old Covenant, it is law. It changed in the New to we forgive because he First forgave us.

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    2. Luc 11.4
      And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us.
      Jesus-Christ Himself has said that.
      But may be it's not a condition for the Saving, only a demand to God.

      Delete
  5. I am glad to have prayed the “sinner’s prayer” and called on the Lord to save me when I was a child because growing up that act of prayer was memorable and gave me an assurance that I have already settled with the Lord my standing. Subsequently, when properly followed up and discipled and taught, I quickly learnt to transfer my reliance onto God’s Word for the assurance of my salvation. I had never once doubted that I was saved or not because somehow His Word in my heart confirmed for me that Jesus knew me and I am His. I would say that that is the witness of the Holy Spirit writing God’s words of assurance and His truth, and sealing them forever in me. I have been so very blessed spiritually all these years by the grace of God. I know many people don’t agree with me, but the King James Bible is the Truth for me.

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  6. Unless I missed it, I did not see you mention Romans 10:9-10 where the Scriptures indicate that SALVATION occurs in TWO PARTS:

    That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. - Romans 10:9 KJV
    For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. - Romans 10:10 KJV

    The TWO PARTS are--BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART and
    CONFESS FROM YOUR HEART

    Whether that confession is out loud or silently within yourself, it must come from your HEART--your innermost being--to transfer the lordship of your life from yourself to THEE LORD.

    Lucifer believed Jesus was the Lord and Messiah, but he of course never confessed in his heart that Jesus was his Lord because Satan wanted to be the Lord of his own life.

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    Replies
    1. Part 1

      My thoughts regarding these topics are to 1st step back and look at how the gospel has been progressively revealed over time through different dispensations. The call to repentance through faith in the gospel is definitely a requirement for us today, but yet was in "Time Past", in some manner or another, less so was required.

      Acts 17:30 "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:"

      Prior to Jesus Crucifixion, God revealed the coming Messiah as the one who would crush the serpent's head (Genesis 3:15). God later revealed throughout various other Old Testament scriptures with more and more clarity, how that prophecy would be fulfilled.

      • Isaiah 53, the Saviors coming suffering & death
      • Numbers 21:9, the bronze serpent lifted up for healing
      • Genesis 22:2, Abraham to sacrifice Isaac
      • Exodus 12:7, the Passover lamb's blood on the door
      • Ect...

      Faith in the Messiah has been and always will be, the only means God accepts to declare someone righteous (Hebrews 11:8-31). God's plan of salvation is all about his righteousness being provided for mankind on the Mercy Seat.

      God knowing he would send himself to fulfill the law in our stead & die in our place was more than justified in declaring people righteousness just based on their faith in him; prior to his substitutionary propitiation ever taking place.

      Did redeeming faith prior to Jesus' ministry look something like this?

      • To have faith in: the Future coming of the Promised Seed (The Messiah/The Christ)

      Obviously, there's verses just calling on people to "believe" in Jesus. Prior to the cross and even later before the revealing of the gospel, I think that any who died believing Jesus to be the Messiah, were found righteousness through their faith in Jesus being the Christ.

      Did redeeming faith during Jesus Ministry look something like this?

      • To have faith in: Jesus being the Son of God, who would take away the sins of the world.

      Alternatively, in some scriptural references to believe written after the revealing of the gospel, a call to "believe" may generically be used to call on people to believe in Jesus, who died, was buried, and rose from the dead. Consider today's language of when someone asks, "Are you a believer?" If one states 'yes' the person asking would by default think the person believed on Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection.

      I believe the scriptures' teach that redeeming faith after the good news was revealed is as follows.

      • To have faith in: Jesus is the Christ, who died for our sins, was buried, and rose again

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    2. Part 2

      Here's some thoughts on "believing (those gospel)" verses "believing & also calling" on the Lord for salvation of the soul.

      2 Tim 2:22 is very nice New Testament verse to see the heart does a "calling" on the Lord.

      Psalm 116:17 clearly connects Old Testament sacrifices with "calling."

      Marry these two thoughts together with an understanding of how "through his blood" reconciliation is made available to those who believe/trust in the gospel, and then I think one might come to understand that the Body of Christ (aka Saints) actually are "calling" on the Lord in this dispensation; simply be trusting in the Jesus blood shed on the cross, when believing the gospel.

      In regards to Romans 10:9, Christians can be generalized as people who talk about Jesus, who speak of Jesus to others, who speak to Jesus through prayer, who were specifically commissioned to tell others about Jesus, who witness to others testifying that Jesus is the Lord. Therefore, I understand why this verse gets commonly interpreted as a "salvation verse" for the Body of Christ, but there's red flags that seems to teach otherwise.

      For example, one cannot "call" UNTIL they believe (Romans 10:14). Since the sealing of the Holy Spirit occures after one believes (Ephesians 1:13), then either God's jumping the gun in saving people to early, or else is "calling on the Lord with one's mouth" not a requirement to be saved and sealed, until the redemption of the purchased possession?

      Another red flag indicating that confessing with one's mouth is not a requirement to be saved, is Acts 10:44. Right after Peter shares the gospel with them and without any of them calling out to the Lord with their mouths, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Once again, did God jump the gun in saving people to early, or else is "calling on the Lord with one's mouth" not a requirement to be saved and sealed, until the redemption of the purchased possession?

      I think the remnant's salvation, who will see Jesus at the 2nd Coming at the end of the Tribulation is the context of Romans 10:9-13. I cannot do justice to this postion on here, but would encourage you to download the following .pdf file, which is specifically about that conclusion.

      SALVATION IN ROMANS 10:9-13 - Grace Gospel Press
      https://www.gracegospelpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Salvation-In-Romans-10_9-13.pdf

      Good luck in your studies on this topic and please let me know what you think of that document, if you chose to read it.

      Delete
  7. Christianity is not a religion, it's a way of life. Those who practice it as a religion make a mockery of it. So people of today run away from it as fast as they can. As sherrill777 found out.

    Most religions try to make you a better person by coming down on you for what we all do best - sinning! And I have often wondered why. I praise the Lord for sin! If God wanted us perfect, he would have created us that way. But he didn't. Ever wonder why? Why is leaving us sinners part of God's plan?

    You see, it's not sin that is important to God, but the recognition of it. God is not looking for perfection in man, he is looking for trust. He sent his son to pay for all inequity, past, present, and future. His sacrifice is what was required. We can't save ourselves even if we never sinned again, what's the purpose of it all?

    God left us sinners so that we would have a connection back to him. Without sin, we would not need or know God. Sin is the plug. We can't stop sinning, and no sin is greater than another. The word sin is from the Greek, homortia, which means to fall short. Anything short of the glory of God is falling short. Our whole life is a filthy rag before the Lord.

    But, the sacrifice of Jesus tore down the wall of separation to the Father that was built by Adam. That means that because of what Jesus did, we now have direct access to the father. The Father views us as joint inheritors of Jesus. So, our praise goes to the Father via Jesus.

    What I am saying is that we now have a door - It's a personal door. The door is a relationship with the Father, as a father, and it's personal. Nothing stands between you and the Father at all. Nothing, includes sin. The sins were paid for, and the relationship thrives on them.

    Because you believe, you have invited Jesus into your heart, and confessed with your mouth that he is Lord. That made you a "new creature in Christ". That allowed you to open the relationship with the father. Without that, there is no salvation under that covenant. Salvation is a gift of God offered in a faith covenant. Accept the gift, and you become a new creature. No longer Jew or Gentile.

    Now, the devil, who is the prince of the power of the air, lives in us. We toss him out when we put Jesus in. They can't live in the same heart at the same time. But, because we are sinners, left that way by God, we let the devil back into our hearts constantly. In fact, we can't do other than that. It's not in our nature to. That's what we have to learn to overcome. When we do, we become "overcomers".

    It’s the new man in conflict with the old man, learning to overcome our very nature with the available tools. But we are sinners, so we can’t stop sinning. But we can use our authority over the devil to stay plugged into our relationship with God.

    Once you put Jesus in your heart, then fall short, or let the devil back in, your recognition is the key. So, you go back to the Father and talk it over with him. Now Jesus is in your heart again, and the devil is out. That good feeling that you get when you are free of the devil, yearns to grow longer and longer as the relationship with the Father grows freer and stronger.

    In other words, your awareness of when God is in you and when he is not grows keener as time goes on. That's because a promise of God is being fulfilled within you.

    ReplyDelete
  8. continued from above

    He begins in your heart, where you must believe in him. It progresses to your mouth, where you must confess him to be Lord, and from there he begins to grow outward from within your heart. And each visit to the "well" for a drink, starts lasting longer and longer. However, you never stop sinning. But, you are changing and it is a visible change and it comes from within. Soon, your awareness of God in your heart becomes the dominant desire of your heart to keep him there.

    But, dog gone it, we just can't seem to do that. So, we go running back to God each time we encounter the devil on a conscious level. The sins were forgiven and paid for long ago by Jesus. The benefit of that is the relationship with God. The benefit of that is abundant life, which means the freedom to live as a human, on the earth, overcoming, not sin, but the devil inspired resistance of using the God given gift of dominion over the devil.

    We have the authority to kick the devil out of our hearts at anytime we feel him there! We don't believe it, so we don't use it! We believe we have to stop sinning, and fear God, instead of running to him and telling him the problem. Didn't he say to cast your cares on him, for they are his constant concern?

    His concern is not making you perfect. He has a plan for that clearly laid out in Scripture. His concern is for the relationship that allows him to grow from within your heart to manifest itself in you as a changed person with power over the devil and your eyes on heaven. His concern is that you trust his word to be true. He demonstrates that from within His personal relationship with each individual.

    The national covenant that he made with the chosen people brought his word back to him void of fulfillment. The covenant he made with the "new creatures in Christ" is fulfilled in each individual, as they believe in their hearts, and confess it with their mouth, that Jesus is Lord. That is the single requirement that changes you into a new creature in Christ with all the promises and rewards that entails.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gregg, I'm at a loss for words over your statements that those whose past, present, and future sins have been paid in full, are able to 'kick Jesus out and let the devil in', by sinning, after having believed the gospel.

      It sure sounds like you are implying the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is only temporary, but yet the Bible states we are sealed, until the redemption of the purchased possession (Ephesians1:13).

      How can you claim to be standing in faith of Jesus finished work and also understanding that even your best attempts are filthy rags, while simultaneously thinking your relationship with God doesn’t also stand firmly on that same foundation? (grace given through Christ's imputed righteousness)

      Delete
    2. Brandon

      It kinda sounds like that, sorry for the confusion simply put we walk by Faith not by sight and Faith= Action based upon Belief sustained by confidence in that you have enough confidence in you can sustain the Action.

      Yes we are covered with the righteousness of Christ and sealed, until the redemption of the purchased possession. Paul also walks a narrow line between self righteousness which is the filthy rags. Romans chapters 6-8 , Ephesians also, Paul goes into great detail on the subject.
      You know the lines, " That I wish to I don't, but that I don't want to do I do" Who is going to save me from this body of death. He elaborates on our dual nature.

      We have an open door to the Father through Christ and its a personal door relationship.
      Sin isn't the issue any longer even though it's still there, Faith, Trust in HIs words of Promise that keeps us plugged into that relationship.

      Churches can guide and teach encourage but you, we, us have to do the works of Faith not works of the Law what Paul was distinguishing between.

      Hope that helped.

      Delete
    3. Thankfully, Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. =D

      Delete
  9. What you have written here in this publication is the most important of all time. Absolutely Excellent teaching of the truth.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks Greg! That was simple and powerful...as it is meant to be!

    ReplyDelete
  11. 1 John 1:9
    If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us
    our sins”

    Revelation 14:12
    12 Here is the perseverance of the saints, who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

    John 14
    21He who has my commandments and keeps them is he who loves me; and whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, I will love him, and I will make myself known to him.

    1 John 3:24
    24He who obeys his commandments abides in God, and God abides in him. And how do we recognize that he dwells in us? To the Spirit he has given us.

    Mark 16:16
    He who believes and is baptized will be saved: but he who does not believe is already condemned.



    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Almost sounds contradictory at times until you ask which ones (commandments).
      And really comes down to one "Love your neighbor as yourself".

      Delete
  12. I'm not all that smart I'll freely admit..... but it seems to me we are over complicting what I've always believed a five year old can comprehend. Jesus wants us to come to him with child like faith.

    John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to judge the world, but that the wolrd might be saved through him."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes agreed, we adults have away of over complicating the simple.

      Delete
  13. At https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-offers-italy-gas-wants-it-recognise-jerusalem-capital-2023-03-09/ "Italy minister backs Israeli call to recognise Jerusalem as capital".

    Very prophetic, isn't it? I think that it is very possible that the antichrist will indeed come from Italy, could Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini be the one?

    ReplyDelete
  14. I appreciate the work You and Brandon have done.

    I would like to share the Old Testament view of forgiveness and repentance.

    The Temple in the Wilderness

    I think to start at the beginning we should look at the tabernacle, or Temple in the Wilderness, as a road map of the simplest, total expression of Christianity, to be found in the Old Testament.

    The Tabernacle was the shadow cast by the word of God to be fulfilled in the time of the promised Messiah. Beginning in the time of Moses, it’s rites and rituals have pointed the people of the tribes of Israel directly at the Messiah. After the rejection of Jesus, the Jews continue as they were, under the law, awaiting their Messiah right into the present day.

    From the Old Testament type of Christ, the meeting point was in he Tabernacle
    The Temple in the Wilderness. Hidden behind, at the outset, on the outer fringe, a white linen fence, seven and a half feet high. And, God was there, and that’s the only place you could meet him.

    Inside that court yard, was a tent. And the tent consisted of a holy place and a holy of holy’s. Three pieces of furniture in the holy place, one in the holy of holy’s, two in the outer court, and one door.

    The first thing you were confronted with is this white linen fence, the symbol of God’s holiness, without which, scripture says, no man will see God. You can’t get to him, without holiness.

    The fence was supported by oblong blocks of brass. And, there was a brass chain from each post running to a brass peg in the ground outside. From youth on, every child of Israel was taught that brass symbolizes judgment. It was on the horns of the altar, where death for sins occurred. The picture was graphic. Everybody starts outside, and the brass pegs and the brass blocks taught a simple truth: remain outside, and judgment was your lot. Look up, the top of each post was crowned with silver, and from post top to post top, all the way around this fence, no matter which direction you went, ran a silver chain symbolizing redemption.

    Follow that silver chain, either direction, it led to one door, only one, through which you could walk. The curtains of that door had four colors in it. Blue, scarlet, purple and white. Blue, for the eternal nature of Christ, as revealed and founded in the gospel of John, who began at the beginning. Purple, the kingly role of Christ. The purple, as unveiled by Matthew, who wrote to the Jews, that indeed, Jesus was the King of the Jews. White, the purity of his perfect manhood, as revealed by Luke, who as the historian, put together the perfection of our Lord. Scarlet, or red, for the suffering servant Messiah, portrayed in Isaiah, but expounded by Mark in his gospel.

    ReplyDelete
  15. continued

    Those scriptures, written centuries before Christ came, contain all the clues. One silver chain, led to one door. Walk through that door, which is Christ, and you’re on the inside of the fence. Immediately you are confronted by an alter, which is the alter of burnt offering. At this alter, two kinds of sacrifices were offered: the sin, and the trespass.

    The sin offering was for that condition. The trespass offering was for the deed. And the sin offering even embraced the sin of ignorance. Even in the Old Testament, they had a sacrifice for the sins they didn’t know about. But, the message was the same in both cases. You were to bring a sacrifice, and stand it in front of that alter. It had to be a pure animal from out of the flock. Then you would lay your hands on it, because God decreed that when you did that, all of your sins and trespasses would transfer to the animal, and in so doing, you were recognizing, as close to what the New Testament calls, that recognition and request for forgiveness of sins. You recognized that it was your sins that was going to go onto the animal, and it will be treated as we deserved to be treated. For sin comes death. Blood contained the life, so immediately after the transfer of sins, by the laying on of the hands, the knife was drawn, the animal was slain, and in the sin and trespass offering, the blood, containing the life poured on the ground, and the carcass of the animal was taken outside of the camp.

    At that instant, even in the old testament, the believer stood justified. God looked at him as though he was just like the dead animal with the life blood poured on the ground. Payment by proxy or vicarious substitute had been made for his sins. It’s as simple as that.

    You walk out now, redeemed, paid for, with your sins laid on the animal. He dies, and all you have to do, to effect the transaction, is to do what God said, if you did, the transaction was complete. In the New Testament, it’s not the blood of animals, it the blood of one Christ, Jesus is the propitiation, the one who paid the price. In the New Testament, we don’t lay hands on the head of the sacrifice, we don’t, Romans 9 says, ascend up and get him, and bring him down, we don’t have to descend down and get him and bring him up. The words already nigh you, it’s in your mouth, speak it forth, for with the heart man believeth and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

    Now, you’re inside! Inside the fence, covered with the righteousness of Christ. The penalty is paid, and the carcass of the dead animal is taken clear outside the camp. The one that remains is now covered. The substitute paid the price!

    ReplyDelete
  16. continued

    There is a Laver of cleansing there, which is the next piece of furniture. It’s a golden fount of flowing water in that outer court. You’re already covered, but as you serve God, and dust gets on the hands, and feet, you are to bring yourself to this Laver, and look at yourself in the mirror, and check out your spots.

    And, what is the Laver? Christ, the revelation of God’s will. The gold. Gold is the symbol of spirituality, always, as brass is the symbol of judgment and silver symbolizes redemption. You go to the Laver, and there is only one measure, God. He has revealed his word, and the culmination of that word is Christ. You bring yourself to that Laver, and standing along side Christ, you let it measure you, not a fellow Christian or priest. It, and it alone is the measurement. And when you go before the Laver, you’ll see some spots, you can’t live without them, you can’t move around without picking them up. But, there is water in the Laver. A fount of flowing water. Well, who does the cleansing? You do, by dipping your hands in the water. What’s the water? Peter, Paul, and even James says the water is the Holy Spirit.

    How do you get the Holy Spirit in you to do the washing? Faith! Simple as that!

    Well, I don’t know how to put my hands in the water. God gave you the formula. Faith and he puts his spirit in you, and puts you in Christ!

    Only one way you get the water to wash in regeneration. Having seen the spots in the word of truth! If you want the water to wash you, you no longer go to a place. You Faith. Paul said it to the Galatians. Receive you the spirit, by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Effort won’t get it. As in the Old Testament, it was simple, plunge your hands into the water. In the New Testament, start Faithing! - Receive you the spirit, by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?, it was a rhetorical question, it was the hearing of Faith. Water does the cleansing. You deal with the Laver about your spots, alone.

    Next comes the curtain. We are in the Tent area, where God’s presence is going to dwell. It consisted of four layers of fabric and skins. On the outside, was badger skin, that ugly earthly animal. The best illustration of how Jesus clothed himself in the tent of earthly human flesh. And working through the skins, all of which teach the proof of his redeeming work, and on the inside, looking out, again you see the pure linen. The point being, once we go through this door, and the sacrifice is offered, and the body carrying your sins is outside the camp, we are encircled by the linen cloth quality of the fence, and here we are totally encased with the nature of Christ. God looks at you now in Christ and sees past the badger skin to the linen, as we are now totally encased in Christ. We’re now inside that area where the service of God is being performed. The dead animal carrying the sins is outside the camp where it’s never seen again, symbolizing that those forgiven sins are never see again by God.

    ReplyDelete
  17. continued

    Enter the tent, and over on the left is the golden candlestick. It consisted of a stem and three curving branches on each side, making seven arms, and on each a cup and a knop. And they were designed as flowering branches with a cup at the top of each one of them, and a wick in each cup.

    Early in the morning, everyday, the priest would go and trim the lamps and fill them with fresh oil to overflowing which made the lamp burn brightly. And, we’re not left in doubt as to what that golden candlestick symbolizes, it’s the Church, you and me, in Christ. And, what it teaches, is that we have a light to shine. As He was the light of the world, He left the task to us. But something very interesting, and too often forgotten by those who would be a witness by standing in your face and lassoing you. It was as a natural function of the branch in the vines. It flowered a cup and knop at the top these cups were flowering with a wick.

    Once the fresh oil was in, the trimmed lamp, burned brightly, bringing light automatically. Simple truth; you don’t witness by knocking people down, you witness by the out growth of Christ’s nature in you. This implantation, to use a Biblical phrase, the gift of the Holy Spirit, which God gives us by Faith, burns the dross. But, you’re not as aware of it, you’re busy faithing. But as you begin to see desires change, the Holy Spirit, is burning, as the scripture says, the dross. In addition, that life in us maintained, which is maintained as long as we have faith, causes growth.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Many Feel that once saved always saved.
      There is a danger in thinking this way though, even if you were taught it by those you respect.
      Is it the truth?
      John 15:1-10 tells a different Truth and there are others this is just one example.

      We gain access to the Father by way of Jesus who covers us with His Righteousness
      By Grace............through..............Faith.

      I grew up in Catholicism, but as a kid I new the Gospel having read the KJV bible many times. So to me I knew more that the Priests did, they new Catholicism I knew the Bible.
      I would correct them in my mind when they were not being accurate.

      Yea, you can say the formula and believe in your heart that God did raise Him from the dead and you shall be saved. Right?

      Remember Grace...........through.............Faith. Is a life long process.

      Delete
  18. Well, I would like to revisit this topic because many feel once saved always saved.

    Is that the case or no?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jesus is both the author and finisher of my faith. He has sealed me until the redemption of the purchases possession. While the redemption of my body is still yet furture, I know based on scripture that my resurrection is 100% guaranteed.

      Delete


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