Gospel
There are many false teachers permeating the internet today because the Devil has been loosed to confuse and destroy the church against which he makes war.
There are many today who tell us all we need to be saved is faith and that repentance is a work that is adding to salvation but is this true? Scripture is replete with references to the command "Repent" and"Believe the gospel." So why all the confusion?
Just recently I viewed what I thought was a good video but after watching if for a while I saw the confusion in the person promoting this video. He thought the command to "Repent from your sins" was a works gospel but is it? No it is not if you consider that repentance is just as much a gift as faith. (Acts 11:18; Eph 2:8-9)
There is nothing you can do to earn the gift of faith or repentance because salvation is by grace not works that we do. To have God's favor is a good thing but it is the consequence of being born again or regenerated rather than the cause. In other words our faith and repentance do not cause God to regenerate us. These two gifts are imparted to God's chosen few as He has purposed in His eternal counsels when He effectually calls us by His Holy Spirit into His Kingdom.
This list of false teachers in the video included Paul Washer as one of the false teachers who was accused of teaching a works salvation. Paul Washer is a brother in my opinion and I make this judgment based on many of his videos I have watched. Paul should not be included in the list in my opinion because he believes in salvation by grace through the faith of Jesus Christ.
As Paul Washer rightly spoke: "If someone professes faith in Christ then what do I do? I don't go 'oh you're saved, you're saved.' If tonight you have truly repented and believed in Jesus Christ you have become a child of God but this is going to be the evidence. If you have truly repented unto salvation you will continue repenting unto salvation and growing in repentance and if you have truly believed you will continue believing." Amen to that brother Paul.
Repentance is necessary for salvation just as faith is necessary for salvation. They go hand in hand at the same time. Some theologians would say that repentance precedes faith and others would say that faith precedes repentance but I believe evidence suggests they occur simultaneouly. I could be wrong but that is the way I see it. In other words there is no example in scripture that I can find that shows a person having true faith apart from repentance and there's no example showing a person having repentance apart from having true faith.
One memorable example is Simon the socerer of whom scripture says was a believer. Was he saved? Not according to Peter. Simon was also baptized and believed but showed no evangelical repentance unto life because his heart was not right in the sight of God.
NOTE: To have a right heart means to have a pure heart and the heart is made pure by FAITH (Acts 15:9) but Simon had impure motives wanting the Holy Spirit for gainful mammon of unrighteousness. We can conclude from this that while the Bible records a statement that Simon believed it does not mean Simon had a saving faith and the reason is his heart was not pure.
Read carefully the text and ponder what the Spirit saith:
Acts 8:13 reads: "Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done."
At first glance you'd think that Simon was a true believer and Christian but by digging deeper and reading the text comparing scripture with scripture we come to a different conclusion.
Acts 8:21-23
"Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity."
As the commentator Matthew Henry so beautiflly and aptly describes the case of Simon the sorcerer:
Here is another thing yet more wonderful, that Simon Magus himself became a convert to the faith of Christ, in show and profession, for a time. Is Saul also among the prophets? Yes (v. 13), Simon himself believed also. He was convinced that Philip preached a true doctrine, because he saw it confirmed by real miracles, of which he was the better able to judge because he was conscious to himself of the trick of his own pretended ones. [1.] The present conviction went so far that he was baptized, was admitted, as other believers were, into the church by baptism; and we have no reason to think that Philip did amiss in baptizing him, no, nor in baptizing him quickly. Though he had been a very wicked man, a sorcerer, a pretender to divine honours, yet, upon his solemn profession of repentance for his sin and faith in Jesus Christ, he was baptized. For, as great wickedness before conversion keeps not true penitents from the benefits of God's grace, so neither should it keep professing ones from church-fellowship.
"Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter; thou hast nothing to do with the gifts of the Holy Ghost, thou dost not understand them, thou art excluded from them, hast put a bar in thine own door; thou canst not receive the Holy Ghost thyself, nor power to confer the Holy Ghost upon others, for thy heart is not right in the sight of God, if thou thinkest that Christianity is a trade to live by in this world, and therefore thou hast no part nor lot in the eternal life in the other world which the gospel offers.’’
Note, First, There are many who profess the Christian religion, and yet have no part nor lot in the matter, no part in Christ (Jn. 13:8 ), no lot in the heavenly Canaan.
Secondly, They are those whose hearts are not right in the sight of God, are not animated by a right spirit, nor guided by a right rule, nor directed to the right end.(4.) He gives him good counsel, notwithstanding, v. 22. Though he was angry with him, yet he did not abandon him; and, though he would have him see his case to be very bad, yet he would not have him think it desperate; yet now there is hope in Israel. Observe,[1.] What it is that he advises him to: He must do his first works.
First, He must repent, —must see his error and retract it—must change his mind and way—must be humbled and ashamed for what he has done. His repentance must be particular: "Repent of this, own thyself guilty in this, and be sorry for it.’’ He must lay a load upon himself for it, must not extenuate it, by calling it a mistake, or misguided zeal, but must aggravate it by calling it wickedness,his wickedness, the fruit of his own corruption. Those that have said and done amiss must, as far as they can, unsay it and undo it again by repentance.
Secondly, He must pray to God, must pray that God would give him repentance, and pardon upon repentance. Penitents must pray, which implies a desire towards God, and a confidence in Christ. Simon Magus, as great a man as he thinks himself, shall not be courted into the apostles’ communion (how much soever some would think it a reputation to them) upon any other terms than those upon which other sinners are admitted-repentance and prayer.[2.] What encouragement he gives him to do this: If perhaps the thought of thy heart, this wicked thought of thine, may be forgiven thee.
Note, First, There may be a great deal of wickedness in the thought of the heart, its false notions, and corrupt affections, and wicked projects, which must be repented of, or we are undone.
Secondly, The thought of the heart, though ever so wicked, shall be forgiven, upon our repentance, and not laid to our charge. When Peter here puts a perhaps upon it, the doubt is of the sincerity of his repentance, not of his pardon if his repentance be sincere. If indeed the thought of thy heart may be forgiven, so it may be read. Or it intimates that the greatness of his sin might justly make the pardon doubtful, though the promise of the gospel had put the matter out of doubt, in case he did truly repent: like that (Lam. 3:29 )
You as a natural born sinner can not produce the faith or repentance required for salvation but you are nevertheless commanded to have these two vital things if you ever desire to have a Biblical assurance of salvation. John the Baptist preached repentance as did all the apostles and without faith you can not please God. (Heb. 11:6)
You must have the Holy Spirit given to you or you are still carnal and fleshly loving your sins and this evil world. (Romans 8:9) Faith and repentance are both the result of regeneration or being born again by the Holy Spirit. Beseech the Lord in His mercy and loving kindness that He may grant you a godly sorrow and hatred for ALL your sins and a true saving faith that believes every word of God. King David affirmed this by saying in Psalm 119:6 "
"Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments."
Unless you have the fruit of repentance which is obedience to all God's commands you have no valid basis for thinking you are accepted by Jesus Christ. Salvation is more than just an intellectual belief that Jesus died for sinner and was buried and resurrected. The devils believe that much and they tremble but they have no faith or repentance to show. They are damned spirits awaiting the final hour of perdition and the Lake of Fire.
It is urgent that you seek the Lord while you have time and do not harbor ill thoughts of your Creator who is sovereign in His election of those He has prepared for His kingdom when all the secret things in your heart will be revealed whether they be good or evil.
Ponder Isaiah 55:6-7
"Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Carlton Pruitt ministers the gospel to the Los Angeles area. Formerly a Hollywood actor (SAG member) and junk removal expert he now spends most of his time studying the scriptures, writing articles, hymns and poems and doing street preaching. See all his videos on https://www.YouTube.com/user/LAStreetPreacher CONTACT at [email protected]
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