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​Excerpt from chapter two of Behold Me, Behold Me  Evangelism that Glorifies God by S.M. Platt

Chapter 2 Repentance Toward God and Faith Toward Christ

“But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law.” (Romans 9:31-32)

The Jews did not attain to the righteousness they sought, because they sought it not by faith, but by the works of the law. That statement puzzled me for a long time. I wondered why, if they were faithfully holding to the law, repenting of sin and seeking to be righteous before God through the sacrifices of the law, they could not see the bigger picture. Why were they blinded if they were performing the works of the law as they were commanded? The problem was that they were not seeking to be righteous before God, but merely righteous according to the law. Holding to the law became for them, a mere pretense of worship, making them righteous in their own eyes while they continued in their sin against God.

As his chosen people, God gave them everything they could ever desire and more, showing them his great love and mercy and even made provision for their sin. Through the law with its sacrifices, he made a way for their sins to be covered, picturing the coming of the Savior who would one day take away their sin forever. All he desired was their love and obedience, and to be glorified through them as their good and merciful Father; but they were not willing to glorify him as God. Instead of seeing these sacrifices as a picture of God’s love, and worshipping him because of it, they elevated the 32 laws in importance. They did not see in the law, the sinfulness of their sin and need for a Savior, but rather a license to sin. The performance of these sacrifices became the measure of righteousness for them instead of genuinely repenting of their sin and living by faith. They did not seek to become godlier or glorifying to God, but only to clear their consciences when they were not.

I remember as a teenager growing up in the Catholic church, my best friend and I, in our own self-righteousness, would attend Saturday evening mass together. We would go to confession and perform our penance in anticipation of the sins we were planning to commit that night, as a sort of indulgence, I suppose. Performing these works established (at least in our own minds) our righteousness, but obviously did not attain to the righteousness of God which is by faith. We did not seek to live by faith, attempting to obey his commands, but went as far against them as we thought we could get away with. Our religion was not worship. It was pretense. As a matter of fact, we went through these motions over and over, week after week, with no thought of genuine repentance toward God. We were so intent on fulfilling the laws of the Catholic Church, that we did not even consider trying to please God. We, like the Pharisees, even came up with additional rules with which to further establish our righteousness. We kissed the crucifix necklaces we wore and made the sign of the cross each time we passed a Catholic Church. We even reproved others for their lack of attendance to church. How proud we were of the sacrifices we offered to God. We were basically Catholic Pharisees.

No wonder Jesus called them hypocrites. “And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” (Mark 7:9) 33 I believe this is a picture of what the law had become for the Jews. They gave to God, not their love and worship and certainly not their obedience, but only what was required by the law. They were not truly worshipping God, but going through the motions of serving him, while in truth they were serving only themselves. “…this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:” (Isaiah 29:13)

Their hearts were far from God and their fear toward him was taught only by the precept of men, as were mine and my friend’s. This was not faith in God, and he was certainly not pleased. As a matter of fact, he was sickened, and rightfully so. Because of Israel’s refusal to turn to God with their whole heart, God blinded them to the truth of Christ. What was needed was a genuine turning to God. He did not desire their empty works or their words, but their hearts. “If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.” (Deuteronomy 30:10) It is still the same for us today. God does not desire our lip-service or our religion, but our hearts. Our religion sickens him without a heart that is genuinely seeking to please him. Thinking that we can be reconciled to God through a prayer while our hearts remain far from him in disobedience and sin is no less hypocrisy than going through the motions of the law.

“I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel. But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves.” (Amos 5:21-26)

Why did God hate their sacrifices? Because of their hypocrisy. God abhorred the Israelites’ attempts to satisfy him with their sacrifices and their feasts and festivals offered in his name while they continued in their disobedience and worshipping of other gods. They offered to him sacrifices only to appease him rather than giving him their hearts.

This false worship was not a sweet-smelling savor unto him, but a stench in his nostrils that he would not accept. He would not hear their songs or receive their sacrifices, while they cleaved to their sins. We see this over and over throughout the Bible. It is our hearts that God wants, not our professions or our religion that praises him with our lips while our hearts are far from him. God tells us that “…to obey is better than sacrifice… (1Samuel 15:22) Many unbelievers claim to seek the wisdom of God or petition him through prayers in a moment of desperation; but without a genuine turning to him they will not receive that which they seek after.

As we see in Ezekiel, those who approach God through pretense or hypocrisy (believers or unbelievers) are answered according to their hypocrisy. “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in 35 their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them? Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols. Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.” (Ezekiel 14:3-6) This is the same thing many do today, adding God as merely another god in their lives, and not as the God of their lives.

We cannot approach God with the stumbling block of our iniquity before our faces while we embrace idols such as sports, TV, money, family, pets, relationships, and careers that we have set up in our hearts. Whatever it is that we love the most, that’s first in our hearts, is our god and most often rules our lives. God will not be second. He demands to be the God of our lives alone. Unless we are willing to repent and believe in him as our only God, we cannot come to him. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6 emphasis mine)

We must turn from our sin toward him as God. This repentance toward God is essential if we are to receive the sacrifice he has provided. Let me assure you, this is not Lordship salvation, but biblical salvation. To believe in God means a great deal more than merely 36 acknowledging his existence, or even going through the motions of religion. Just knowing that he is God is not enough.

.Excerpt from Behold Me, Behold Me  Evangelism that Glorifies God- By S. M. Platt 


The word of God cannot produce saving faith in a heart that is hardened in sin and rebellion against God. This is illustrated in the parable of the soils, or the parable of the sower:   
 
“And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” (Matthew 13:3-9)
 
The parable of the sower illustrates different responses to the gospel message and how the condition of our heart effects the reception of the word.
Now, before we can understand the truths in this passage, it is essential that we define the terms used.
 
1.The sower is Jesus (or now, Jesus in us)
2.The seed is the word of God, the gospel (the incorruptible seed by which we are born again)
3.The field is the world (the unsaved)
4.The soil is the heart (of the unsaved)
5.The fruit produced by the incorruptible seed of the word is saving faith.
 
The last point is where many become confused. It is vitally important to remember that the seed of the word, sown into the good soil of a heart produces as its fruit, saving faith.
 
 “Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.” (Matthew 13:18-19).
 
The wayside is a description of a traveled road or path. In farming, it would be the path the farmer walked on to throw seed onto the field. As he walked, he would pack down the soil under his feet, hardening it with every step. This ground would not easily receive seed or allow it to take root and grow into faith. The seed would be trodden under foot or remain on top of the hard ground for the birds to come and steal away.   
 In the parallel passage in Luke, we read that they had not yet believed or been saved. 
 
“Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.” (Luke 8:12 emphasis mine)  
 
We can easily see that the fruit expected from the sowing of the word is saving faith because the taking away of the seed was to prevent them from believing and being saved. Those who received the seed by the way side had hearts that were still too hardened for the gospel to penetrate. The seed of the word did not take root and produce saving faith. What was it that hardened their hearts? Sin. Only repentance toward God can break through that hard soil.
Trying to lead someone through a sinner’s prayer before the Devil steals it away, as some suggest, would do them no good if the word, as we are told in verse nineteen, was also not understood. Faith has not yet grown in their heart, because they were hardened (blinded) to the truth. Leading them through a prayer would be merely a confession without faith. 
The second soil described is also unprepared to bring forth the fruit of saving faith.
 
“But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.” (Matthew 13:20-21 emphasis mine)
 
There is indeed a superficial belief, or head knowledge, that springs up and resembles saving faith, but the seed of the word is not able to take root and so does not bring forth faith unto salvation. Even though these appear at first to receive the seed, there is no depth to their belief, so what springs up remains above ground, not penetrating the soil of the heart. Having no roots to sustain it, when the sun comes up it is scorched and withered away.
 
“And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.” (Luke 8:6)  
 
It is common to see those who very excitedly come to Church for a time, even involving themselves in ministries, and then eventually lose interest and fade away. These at first appear to be born again Christians. Because of this, many wrongly interpret this seed that sprouted up as one who got saved but is now living carnally, and not producing any good works (fruit).
This interpretation has a couple of problems. To start with, it makes a subtle, but very significant change in the type of fruit we are expecting to see. According to this interpretation, the fruit they are now looking for are fruits of righteousness that are missing from a Christian’s life, rather than the fruit of the word, which we have already seen is saving faith.
When the seed of the word is sown into the heart of the unsaved, the only fruit that can grow there is faith. The unsaved cannot produce fruits of righteousness. Only the saved can. If the seed of the word sown into the heart of the unsaved produces no fruit, then they do not yet have saving faith.
Suggesting that these are carnal Christians affords another problem. When Paul addressed carnality (envy, strife, division) in the Corinthian Church, he was addressing those in the church, who were behaving carnally, not those who left the church never to be seen again. These that spring up in the stony soil are not carnal believers but those who left the faith. We are told that these only dureth for a while because they were offended and fell away.
 
“They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.” (Luke 8:13)  
 
“But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.” (Matthew 13:20-21 emphasis mine)
 
 Both terms, offended and fell away, used interchangeably in these parallel passages convey the idea of apostacy. This is not merely a loss of interest, and lack of good works; this is a departure from the faith.
 
Offended σκανδαλίζω skandalízō, skan-dal-id'-zo; from G4625; to entrap, i.e. trip up (figuratively, stumble (transitively) or entice to sin, apostasy or displeasure):—(make to) offend.
b. "to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey; to cause to fall away,"
 
ἀφίστημι aphístēmi, af-is'-tay-mee; from G575 and G2476; to remove, i.e. (actively) instigate to revolt; usually (reflexively) to desist, desert, etc.:—depart, draw (fall) away, refrain, withdraw self. c. to fall away, become faithless.
 
These were not carnal Christians, because they no longer claimed to be Christians at all. These, as we are told, fell away from the faith. When they faced tribulation and persecution because of the word, they were driven to renounce the faith, abandoning it entirely and even fatally.
What may have looked very much like saving faith, was only superficial belief that sprung up quickly then died. Remember that many claim to believe, and even the demons believe and tremble, but saving faith brings eternal life. We know that this could not be saving faith, because it sprouted up quickly but then withered away. Not only did it not produce fruit; it died. This cannot be eternal life (salvation); because as we are told in 2Peter 1:23, the fruit of the incorruptible seed of the word, lives and abides forever.
 
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” (1 Peter 1:23) 
 
A failure to continue in the faith according to scripture, is a clear indication that salvation was not genuine.
 
“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” (1 John 2:19)
 
We are told that the seed sown among thorns, also bringeth no fruit to perfection. It does not produce saving faith.
 
 “He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.” (Matthew 13:20-22 emphasis mine.)  
 
“And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.” (Luke 8:14 emphasis mine.)  
 
These also seem at first to be willing to hear the word receiving it with joy; but again, appearances can be deceiving. A heart that is filled with sin and the cares of this world also will not allow the seed of the word to grow into saving faith. The soil is still rocky and hard, where only thorns and briars grow and will not allow the word to take root. The pleasures of the world and desire for sin choke out what word has been heard, not allowing it to bring about eternal life. The only thing this soil allows to grow is thorns and briars. We read in Hebrews, the end of such things:
 
“But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.” (Hebrews 6:8 emphasis mine.)  
 
“Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. (Matthew 7:17-19)  
 
None of the soils we have looked at so far have produced any fruit at all. Matthew tells us that every good tree brings forth good fruit. The tree that brings forth no good fruit is cast into the fire. If there is no fruit, can it be a good tree? Certainly not. If there is no fruit, then these are not saved and destined for eternal life, but to be burned in Hell.
It’s easy to see how we might initially mistake someone who seems to receive the word gladly, as having genuine faith.  That is why it is so important that we do not give false assurances to everyone that professes faith. Only the Lord can discern the soil of their hearts. We can only watch and observe the fruits or lack thereof produced by these professors.
 
“But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” (Luke 8:15)  
 
The good soil of the heart that has been broken up in repentance toward God allows the seed of the word of God to take root and grow producing faith in good measure.
 
“But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” (Matthew 13:23 emphasis mine.)
 
So, we see that the way a man receives the seed of the word depends upon the condition of his heart toward God.
 
  “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” (Psalms 34:18)
 
Only the good soil produces the fruit of saving faith. Notice also that this is the only soil that we are told understands the word or has come to a knowledge of the truth.  When the word of God is sown in the heart of a repentant sinner, readily willing to hear and receive that word of life, the Holy Spirit, through the preaching of the word, enlightens the understanding, bringing him to a knowledge of the truth. At the moment that saving faith is produced, the Holy Spirit seals him and brings him to new life.  
 
“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” (Ephesians 1:13) 
 
 It is then that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34), confessing the faith that has saved us.
 
• The repentant sinner (the good soil) becomes willing to hear the words of life in order to be reconciled with God. “If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.” (Mark 7:16)
 •  The seed of the word is sown through preaching. “… it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” (1 Corinthians 1:21)
 • The Holy Spirit enlightens the understanding.  “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”  (1 Timothy 2:4)
•  Faith (belief) brings salvation. The incorruptible seed of the word produces the fruit of salvation. “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,” (Ephesians 1:13)
•  Confession is made of that salvation.  “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:10)   

Although I came to an understanding of eternal security early in my Christian walk; for many years, I believed that the matter losing your salvation was a secondary issue for others. I thought that those who taught that you could lose your salvation were preaching the same gospel message which produced the same salvation, but that their hearers simply lacked assurance of their eternal security.

I’ve come to believe that, that simply cannot be farther from the truth. The fact is, that those who teach that you can lose your salvation are in fact preaching another gospel.
 
While many attempt to confront this issue of losing salvation by clarifying or refuting misinterpretations of hard to understand passages and/or by attempting to prove the eternality of salvation once received; I believe that the issue of losing one’s salvation is much more appropriately addressed as an issue of law or grace, as the Apostle Paul did.
 
In the book of Galatians, we see Paul addressing error that had crept into the Galatian church. The Galatian church was abandoning the gospel of grace and turning to another gospel. Judaisers had crept in and begun teaching that one must, not only trust Christ, but also rely on works of the law for salvation. They taught that salvation was not complete or could not be maintained without the works of the law.

Although the Galatian church claimed to be saved by grace, they were no longer walking in grace, but in the flesh, according to the law.  Having begun through a foundation faith in Christ alone; they were returning to the weak and beggarly elements of the law. Because of this, they were also now preaching this altered gospel message to others.
 
Paul clearly did not view this as a secondary issue, or one to be overlooked. Paul viewed this as a departure from the true gospel and the embracing of another. He proclaimed that any who preach this perverted gospel are accursed.

Galatians 1:6-8  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto ANOTHER GOSPEL: 7  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would PERVERT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. 8  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be ACCURSED. 9  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be ACCURSED.(emphasis mine)
 
Those who claim to be saved according this gospel are not trusting in the finished work of Christ and the sealing and rebirth of the Holy Spirit to keep them saved. They are instead trusting in their works to keep them. This teaching of adding works to grace does not simply affect assurance. According to Paul, it perverts their entire gospel message.  
 
Sadly, the majority of denominations of professing Christianity today believe and teach this same thing. Although many claim to believe in salvation through faith in Christ; they also believe that salvation can be lost, making the keeping of salvation contingent upon their subsequent works or walk.

The Methodists, Amish, Mennonites, Catholics, Lutherans, Churches of God, Churches of Christ, all agree with cults, such as Jehovah Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists and Mormons, in their denial of eternal security. These all believe that the maintaining of salvation is dependent upon their works or their walk.

While I’m pretty sure that most born-again Christians today can easily see that these denominations all preach another Gospel, of works; there is a huge movement today preaching this same false gospel that is not often recognized as such.

The Pentecostal/Charismatic movement is one of the fastest growing religious movements in the world, and while their adherents are generally viewed as born-again believers, almost all of them adhere to this same teaching that salvation can be lost.
According to the Pentecostal Assemblies of God:

“The General Council of the Assemblies of God disapproves of the unconditional security position which holds that it is impossible for a person once saved to be lost.”
“The believer’s salvation may be forfeited or abandoned by willfully turning away from Christ.”
“…the security of the believer depends on a living relationship with Christ.”
-Assurance of Salvation (Adopted by the General Presbytery in Session August 5 & 7, 2017) official A/G Position paper

Did you notice that last statement? “the security of the believer depends on a living relationship with Christ.” The security of their salvation depends on their relationship with Christ. They are trusting in their own ability to keep themselves in a right relationship with Christ, which means keeping themselves from sinning or falling away.

They claim to have trusted Christ to save them from past sins but not from future sins. They believe that they are saved by Jesus, washed clean and justified, and sealed with the Holy Spirit; but that salvation is conditional upon their future actions. Sinning, or breaking God’s moral laws would bring his condemnation upon them once again. So, after salvation, it’s up to them to remain in a state that merits their entrance into heaven, the same as every other works-based religion.

This is not simply a misunderstanding of eternal security. This is the same perverted gospel that Paul called another gospel. This is not the gospel that Paul preached. Paul made it clear that any who preach this gospel are accursed.

Galatians 1:6-8  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto ANOTHER GOSPEL: 7  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would PERVERT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. 8  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be ACCURSED. 9  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be ACCURSED.(emphasis mine)
 
Paul asked the Galatians:

Galatians 3:1  O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2  This only would I learn of you, RECEIVED YE THE SPIRIT BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW, OR BY THE HEARING OF FAITH? 3  Are ye so foolish? HAVING BEGUN IN THE SPIRIT, ARE YE NOW MADE PERFECT BY THE FLESH? 4  Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.(emphasis mine)

Paul’s question opens the conversation with,  “You who were saved by faith, are you now made perfect by your flesh?”; and also invites a myriad of other possible questions:
 
Is the law (that could not save you) now able to keep you?
You who have suffered persecution for the faith, was it all in vain if salvation could be lost in the end?
You who were not able to keep the law before salvation, do you believe that you can keep it now?
 
Galatians 3:11 But that NO man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall LIVE BY FAITH. (emphasis mine)
 
Ephesians 2:8  For by GRACE ARE YE SAVED THROUGH FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.(emphasis mine)
 
Grace completely excludes works and boasting because all of salvation is of Christ. Trying to be good enough to continue meriting salvation, shows that salvation is NOT of grace by faith at all. It is of works and most certainly allows for boasting. This is easily proven by the following verse.
 
Romans 11:6  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.
 
If it is by grace, it is no longer works, otherwise grace is no more grace.  It cannot be both works and grace or grace is nullified. That is why Paul told them...
 
Galatians 5:4  Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
 
Those believing that justification is received OR maintained by works (keeping the law) have fallen from grace. They have simply missed grace, NOT lost it! They are rejecting it in order to put themselves under law again. Falling from grace is not losing salvation, but exactly the teaching that you must work to KEEP salvation.
 
Galatians 2:21  I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
 
If Christ’s work was not sufficient to save them eternally, but depended upon the works of men; his death surely was in vain.
 
Sadly, as far as I know, most are not exactly sure when they have crossed the line or what specific sins will cause them to lose their salvation. Most would agree that murder, drunkenness or fornication would cause their destruction if they were to die in those sins. In order to trust that they are truly currently saved, they must be sure they are obeying Gods laws, at least the biggies anyway. But, what about lying, stealing, or coveting? Would evil thoughts, communications, or simply knowing to do good and doing it not, bring again the condemnation of sin that sends them to hell? What about not loving the Lord with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself?
 
You that desire to be under the law, do you not know what the law says?
 
Galatians 3:10  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in ALL things which are written in the book of the law to do them. (emphasis mine)
 
Do you not remember what James said “10  For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet OFFEND IN ONE POINT, HE IS GUILTY OF ALL.”(emphasis mine)
 
With the law comes the condemnation of sin and death. If we cannot keep the WHOLE law, we are guilty of all. If salvation could be lost by sin, then we would all lose it the very day we were saved; because none of us are able to keep the whole law.
 
Praise God, that when we are saved, we are no longer under the condemnation of the law. We are freed from the law of sin and death.
 
Romans 8:1  There is therefore now NO CONDEMNATION to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus HATH MADE ME FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH. (emphasis mine)
 
Sadly, many Pentecostals spend years struggling under the condemnation of sin, trying to maintain their salvation, endlessly repenting in attempts to secure it once again. If it were possible to lose salvation, how could anyone even think that repentance could secure it for them again?
 
REPENTANCE HAS NEVER SAVED. It cannot RE-SAVE when salvation is lost. ONLY JESUS CAN SAVE. So, then do we sacrifice him afresh bringing him to an open shame?  Certainly not.
 
Hebrews 6:4  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
 
If salvation were able to be lost, the book of Hebrews makes it clear that it could not be regained as it was under the law. In the Old Covenant, they would believe in God, fall into sin, repent, offer sacrifices to him and their sins would be covered. This was done over, and, over again because their sins were never really taken away, just covered. Once Christ came, all that was done away with. There is no more sacrifice for sin. Christ died and paid the price for sin once for all. Then he sat down on the right hand of God.
 
Turning away from God and living in sin is evidence of a false salvation, not a lost salvation.
 
Matthew 7:17 “…EVERY good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but A CORRUPT TREE BRINGETH FORTH EVIL FRUIT. 18  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” (emphasis mine)
 
Hebrews 6:8  THAT WHICH BEARETH THORNS AND BRIERS IS REJECTED, and is nigh unto cursing; WHOSE END IS TO BE BURNED. 9  But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
 

What will you do with your sin?  (To download and print this message in tract form go to Free Bible Tracts page.)

It is rare to meet a person who claims to have never sinned. The Bible tells us that anyone who would make such a claim is a liar.

Even those who argue against God’s laws, or our own civil laws cannot escape the one law that condemns them of their sin- that is their own conscience.

“For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves” Romans 2:14  

The truth is, we know that we have all sinned. Often, we attribute those sins to the foolishness of youth; but if we’re honest we  have to admit that we were never merely victims of youthful lust. We have all at some point enjoyed our sin, even loving it at times.

Despite our most sincere desires to repent and turn from our sins, the power that sin has over us is so strong that we cannot entirely cease from sin. We continue to sin in our thoughts and in our lives everday.

Even if we could stop sinning, the debt we owe for our sin does not go away when we turn from it. Much like credit, ceasing to charge on our account does not erase the debt we already owe.

“But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;” Romans 2:5  

Our sin debt continues to accumulate until the day we die, unless we find a way to pay for it. If we die with that debt of sin still on our account, we will be separated from God for all eternity in a place called hell.

How can we be forgiven of our sins?

Can we do good things to pay for the sins? Many people believe that if our good outweighs our bad, that God will forgive our sins and allow us into heaven; but what does the Bible say?

Since we are sinful, even the good things we try to do are stained with our sin. To God, these works of righteousness that we offer are only filthy and sinful.

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;” Isaiah 64:6  

 Only a good person can do good works. Our works can never pay for our sins. The Bible tells us that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

 “…without shedding of blood is no remission.” Hebrews 9:22

God required the blood of a sinless sacrifice. Only the blood of someone who had never sinned (who is good) can cover our sins.

Jesus Christ, the lamb without spot or blemish. shed his own blood to pay the price that we could not pay. He suffered and died in our place and then rose again the third day conquering death to pay our debt of sin.

Can we add our works to help Jesus Pay for Our Sins? 

God’s word tells us that we are saved by God’s GRACE through FAITH in what Christ has done on our behalf.

 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Eph. 2:8 & 9

Grace means unmerited or unearned favor. If we earn it, then it is no longer grace.

“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.” Rom. 11:6

In other words, adding our works to God’s grace nullifies grace and makes salvation no longer possible.
 
We are saved- “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” Titus 3:5

Salvation is a free gift from God, received by faith in Jesus Christ, apart from our own efforts. Trying to earn salvation by our works, means it is no longer by God’s grace.

If righteousness could come through our works, or through our obedience to God’s law, then what need would there be for Christ to have died?

“… for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Gal. 2:21
When we receive Christ as our Savior, our penalty for sin has been paid. God then sees us as righteous because of what Christ has done on our behalf. We who are unrighteous are counted as righteous because of Christ. Forgiveness is then ours as well as eternal life in heaven.

How do we receive this forgiveness and eternal life through Jesus Christ?

The Bible says that we repent toward God and put our faith in Jesus Christ alone. That means that we must humble ourselves by acknowledging and turning from our sins against God, and renounce our efforts to save ourselves, putting our faith instead in the only one who can save us- Jesus Christ.

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

To call upon the name of the Lord means so much more than merely calling out his name or reciting a prayer. It means believing the message of Christ, embracing it, and then naturally, professing our faith in it.

To confess Christ means to turn to God and be reconciled to him according to his plan for our salvation through faith Jesus Christ, confessing publicly through our words and through our lives, which unashamedly associate ourselves with Christ.

It is essentially entering into a covenant relationship with Christ, taking on his name as a Christian.

Jesus has already paid the price for your sins. Will you trust him to be your Savior?

If you have believed the message of Christ today, find a Bible-believing Church, be baptized as a testimony of your faith, and read your Bible every day.

Acts 24:24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

Felix trembled at the preaching of Paul!

Trembled: STRONGS NT 1719- thrown into fear, terrified, affrighted:

It is pretty obvious that Paul did NOT merely preach a message of “accept Jesus” or “ask Jesus into your heart”. Instead, we read that Paul’s message was of righteousness, temperance and judgment to come,

When Paul (the apostle to the Gentiles) preached of faith in Christ, his message to Jews and Gentiles alike was a message of “…repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21).
Shouldn’t we preach the same message?
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Acts 13:26 Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

None of us know how many days we have left here on earth. We may live many more years, or just one more day.

One thing we do know is that we will all give account one day to God for our sins. Since God cannot look upon sin; His demand is perfect righteousness.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

We have all willingly chosen to sin against God. We have all come short of His perfect righteousness. Not one of us is righteous.
No matter how we try to live righteously or offer works of righteousness to God, we simply cannot erase the sin that is ever-present within us.

Even the works that we do are tainted by our sin and unacceptable to God.

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

God calls us to repent of our sin against Him. To repent means to see our sin as God does (filthy and wicked) and to have a genuine sorrow for our sin, as well as a desire to turn from it and to be reconciled to God.

Repentance does not save us but helps to prepare a broken and contrite heart which is then able to believe in the Savior He has provided.

Psalms 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

When we repent and recognize our inability to make ourselves righteous through our own works, it becomes clear that we need something else to cover our sins.

According to God’s word, without the sacrifice of blood, there is NO forgiveness of sin.

Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

There is only one person who ever willingly shed His own sinless blood for the forgiveness of our sins. That is God’s own Son, Jesus Christ, the lamb without spot or blemish.

John 1:29 Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Only by the shedding of His own righteous blood can our sins be covered.

When we place our faith in Jesus, His righteousness is credited to our account. Because of what He has done, God can then see us as righteous, even though we are not.

Not only that, but Jesus promises that when we pray according to God’s will, in His (Jesus’) name, God will hear and answer our prayers.

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

John 14:13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.   14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

John 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
John 16:26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Today is the day to repent and trust in the name of Christ alone to save you from your sins and reconcile you to God once for all.

Hebrews 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
 
 
1 Corinthians 10:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
Exodus 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.
 
 
All scripture taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible. Bolding in any quotation indicates emphasis by the compiler.

Download and print PDF version for free as  8 1/2 x 11 tri-fold tract repentance_toward_god.pdf
 

I have to say that it was never my dream to become a writer, but when the Lord puts a message on your heart and it burns inside of you, it just has to come out.

When I was saved, it was such a dramatic, life-changing event. God truly opened my eyes to not only his glorious gospel, but also to all the lost souls in need of the same conversion. So I sought out all the teaching I could find to help me share the gospel with others. As I eagerly began to lead people through the sinner’s prayer, (as I had been taught) it quickly became obvious that they were not experiencing the same life changing salvation that I had had.

Not only did most of our converts not come to Church or get baptized as a testimony of their faith in Christ; but they also did not become new creatures. Instead, they continued to live  in their sin and rebellion against God, still blind and in the dark.  Something was terribly wrong.

The answer, I found was not in a new method, but in the truth of God’s word if we’re willing to hear it. Matthew 11:15  He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Sadly, we as Bible-believing Christians have put our own traditions and teachings of men above the word of God when it comes to Evangelism. No longer do we look to the law of God as a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. No longer do we preach the fear of the Lord and genuine repentance of sin, but merely accept to Jesus. We invite the proud and rebellious, who have no desire to be reconciled to God or to turn from their sin, to simply ask Jesus into their hearts, and then we seal them with a prayer (rather than the Holy Spirit), assure them of salvation and leave them two-fold more children of hell than they were before.

We may be able to fool others with our false converts, but God knows the truth, and will judge our works. We should be ashamed of such gross negligence, especially when it comes to children- quite often someone else’s children. 

Matthew 18:7  Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

I’d like to share my testimony to help illustrate some of the stumbling blocks that I had in coming to salvation:

As a child, growing up in the Catholic Church, I believed in Jesus. I believed that he was the sinless son of God who died for our sins, was buried, rose again the third day and was seated at the right hand of the Father. I even believed that he would come again someday to judge the world.  I was not however, saved.

Why not? Because although I believed and trusted in Christ, I also trusted in my works to pay for the sins that I was unwilling to repent of.  I was so deceived by sin, false religion and my own self-righteousness that I did not even really believe that I was separated from God. The truth was, I didn't really need a Savior, because I didn't really think I was that bad. I thought I was doing alright on my own.

"When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Mark 2:17).

As a young adult, I learned that you must be born again. It was around that time that I was led through a sinner's prayer by a well-meaning Christian. I was told that as long as I really meant that prayer that I was saved. Well, I certainly did mean that prayer- just as much as I meant the Hail Mary's and Our Father's I prayed regularly. I was not however, saved.  

It wasn't until well into my adult life, that I finally became convicted by the Holy Spirit of God for my sins. I knew then that I was not alright on my own. I honestly feared that if Christ came back and found me where I was in my life, that I was in big trouble. 

At that point I knew I needed to do something to repair my standing with God, but what? My husband and I began visiting Churches, looking for the answer. We finally settled on a Fundamental, Independent Baptist Church, where we found that answer.  By then, I was well aware of my sin and inability to free myself from it. I knew that I deserved God's punishment and quickly learned that there was nothing I could do to pay for my sins on my own because they just kept piling up. It was then that I heard the truth of the gospel that Jesus Christ paid it all, that he did for me what I could not do for myself.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

That precious verse was the final piece of the puzzle for me. That was what I needed to understand  in order to truly believe in Christ alone as my Savior. For me, repentance included not only turning from sin, but also turning from dead works and false beliefs. Trusting in Christ without repentance toward God is not really trusting in Christ at all.

Salvation is indeed simple once we truly understand our lost condition as sinners condemned by  a holy and just God.  The essential difficulty in coming to salvation is not in merely accepting Jesus or even believing the facts of what he has done. It is in believing that we truly need a Savior.

I pray that Why Are We Losing the Kids? will be a blessing and a message of truth to those who are willing to hear it.

Thinking recently about the law as a schoolmaster and these verses from Hebrews came to mind:

Hebrews 10:1  For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

Hebrews 10:10 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.

Those sacrifices demanded by the law were in themselves, a continual reminder of sin. This was no accident or mistake on God’s part, but God’s way of showing us our need for a Savior. Through his law God gives us every building block we need to come to faith in Christ (like a good schoolmaster would).  

What is it that shows each and every one of us our need for a Savior? The knowledge that we have sinned and that even when we try our best, we cannot keep God’s law perfectly or atone for our own sin. This is exactly the lesson pictured by the continual sacrifices of the law.

The law pictures sin/separation, repentance, sacrifice/covering of sin, repeat: sin/separation, repentance, sacrifice/covering of sin…

It is a continual reminder of our sin and separation from God, as well as the cost of sin: a blood sacrifice-a life for a life.

-The law teaches us what sin is-
Romans 7:7  What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by  the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

-The law is a continual reminder of our separation from God and need for reconciliation

-The repetitive nature of the sacrifices was a lesson of not only the cost of sin, but also inability to atone for our own sin.

-Our repeated failure to keep the law teaches us our inability to conquer our own sin and thus our need for a Savior

-The insufficiency of the animal sacrifices offered (as a temporary covering of sins) shows us our need for a perfect sinless sacrifice.

What an amazing lesson to bring us to faith in Christ. God truly knows best how to teach us our need for a Savior. Sadly, many today have tossed aside the use of the law as unnecessary in Evangelism of adults and children. Often our lessons begin instead with the death burial and resurrection of Christ- the answer to sin’s problem, rather than teaching as God does, the problem of sin first.

Mark 2:17  When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Only they that know their sinful condition and their need for a Savior can truly embrace the glorious gospel of Christ, how that he suffered and died, shedding his own precious blood to pay, once for all the debt of sin we owed, was buried, and how he rose again.

1 Timothy 1:8  But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
9  Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10  For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
11  According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
 
Deuteronomy 6:7  And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
8  And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
9  And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
 

I remember being a new Christian and so hungrily devouring God’s word. I had so many questions, so many things I wanted to understand. My Step Mom was such a blessing to me then, guiding and discipling me. In all my questions, she patiently encouraged, pointed and helped to guide me to find the Biblical answer I was searching for. As I studied, she would offer additional questions, scriptures and contextual information relevant to my question, but did just toss out pat answers. I’m sure she knew how much more meaningful it would be for me to see the scriptures myself and allow the Lord to teach me by his Holy Spirit.

I was speaking with a young lady recently who has begun to study the book of Ephesians. It absolutely thrills my heart to see young people searching the word of God

Here are some questions that I knew would help her more. Maybe they will be a help to others studying this wonderful book.

Often those studying the book of Ephesians simply skim over the introduction in chapter one, assuming that since it is written to the “saints” (a term used interchangeably between both Jew and Gentile elsewhere in scripture), that everything there is about every born-again believer. This misunderstanding has led to multitudes of doctrinal errors throughout Christian history.

The questions we need to ask are:

-What two groups of people is this written to?

-Who is Paul referring to when it says “us” and “we” in the first twelve verses?

-Who is Paul referring to when the focus shifts to “ye” in verse thirteen? (Ch 2 v. 11)

-So then, according to these facts, what group of people was predestinated from the foundation of the world?

-What were they predestinated to? (Ch 1 V. 5 &12)

-What was God’s eternal “purpose” which they were predestinated according to? (the mystery revealed) (Ch 1 vs 9-11, ch 3 1-11)

      God’s eternal purpose is an amazing study in itself (Romans 8:28 ,9:11, 9:17,       2 Corinthians 1:17,  Ephesians 1:11, 3:11, 2 Timothy 1:9)  
​
-Who were the strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:? But now have become fellowcitizens “with” the saints?  (ch3 v 6)

I pray that someone else may be blessed by this study.
 

I heard a message recently about Goliath and how he defied the men of Israel, mocking them as cowards unwilling to stand and fight against this giant of the Philistines.

It reminded me of one of the biggest problems in the church today- pornography addiction. Although the Bible states, in Ephesians 5:3 “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you;” I hear regularly how porn use is at epidemic proportions within professing Christianity.

This problem is so big and so widespread that Christians now tremble at the feet of this Goliath as though there is no hope. Porn mocks our great God and our Christianity as it destroys homes and ministries. Men, as helpless victims enslaved to the lust of their flesh, just don’t seem to know how to get victory over this Goliath.

We make excuses for it, citing the accessibility of it on cable and the internet. We justify struggling against this sin for years and even decades, claiming that it is just such a great temptation for men.  

Well, here’s a thought- How about we view it and treat it as the sin it is?

In the Old Testament, those participating in acts of fornication (homosexuality, bestiality, incest, illicit sexual intercourse, adultery) were to be put to death. However, in New Testament Christianity where men claim to be indwelt with the Holy Spirit of God, they just can’t get enough of it.  

Watching these abominable acts is such a huge temptation that Christians willingly invite it into their homes and lives, supporting and increasing the demand for sex trafficking, prostitution, child abuse and every other sexual sin.  

How have we come to a place where we now stand and tremble as though we have no hope? Are we not children of God?

Instead of loving porn and making excuses for it, why not stand and fight? Why not put it out of the church as we are commanded?

1 Corinthians 5:11  But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
12  For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13  But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Can I suggest that if you have been losing the battle to this sin for that long, you’re not fighting, you’re willingly enslaved. Why should a Christian who has been freed from the power of sin be enslaved to such wickedness?

​You are enslaved to your sin because you love your sin. Not only do you love porn more than you love your wife, but more than you love Christ. You fall because you choose to.

Don’t be deceived, God does not accept this as your personal weakness. He is not ok with it. If you think your god understands and overlooks your sin, you are not worshipping the God of the Bible. You’ve created your own god. Could this be why immorality and idolatry always seem to go hand in hand?
​
1 Corinthians 6:9  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 

Instead of holding up David's example of sin to justify your own, why not stand and fight this giant in the power of the Lord instead?
 
1 Corinthians 6:18  Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's
 

Ephesians 2:1  “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;”

Can a dead man repent and believe? This is a question posed often by Calvinists. They reason that if a man is (spiritually) dead in sins and trespasses then he is completely unable to do that which God commands. He is unable to turn to God in repentance, to believe, or even to desire anything which God commands. According to the Calvinist, God must first quicken man, bringing him to new life before he can believe or desire to be right with God.

If we are going to apply this interpretation to this verse, we must also apply it to others (in the proper context). The same Apostle who penned Ephesians 2:1 also penned the following verses.  Speaking of born again believers, Paul writes:

Romans 8:10  “And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”  Applying this same interpretation, it would have to be suggested that if our bodies are now dead, that we could no longer walk or talk or breathe. Can a born again believer yet walk, talk and breathe?

Romans 6:11  “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Can and do we yet sin? The obvious and logical answer to all these questions is a resounding Yes.

We should never base our theology only on our human reasoning or philosophies, but on the word of God itself.  So, what does the word of God tell us? Can a spiritually dead man do as God commands -turn to him in repentance and believe? Can an unsaved man desire to worship God?

Acts 16:14  “And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.”

The example of Lydia is often used to prove that man cannot.  But notice here that Lydia is a described as a worshipper of God prior to God’s opening her heart. Of course, we cannot hang our beliefs on this one verse.

Acts 10:1  “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, 2  A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.”

Cornelius also worshipped God prior to regeneration. We are told that he feared God, gave alms and prayed to God. It sure sounds like he desired to be right to God and turned to him.

We are also told of many Old Testament saints who repented and believed God. It would be difficult, I believe, to find anyone who would suggest that they were regenerated. 

John 7:39 “ (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”

Old Testament saints had faith that was counted for righteousness and were saved, but they were not regenerated as we are. They were looking forward to the coming of the Savior who would in the future complete the way of Salvation. But we are told that these died, IN FAITH not having yet received the promise. The Holy Spirit was not an indwelling presence, tabernacling with men while the Old covenant was still in effect.  We are told that these things were a shadow of things to come, but not the very things themselves.

The Holy Spirit was known to come upon individuals for a time, empowering them for service as God’s purposes demanded, but also departed from them at times. We know that a regenerated person with the indwelling Holy Spirit can quench that a Spirit, but never lose it. The Old Testament saints were forgiven, but not born again. They were justified by faith (saved) but they were not regenerated; and yet we are told that :

Romans 4:3  “…Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”

Romans 4:6-9  “Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,  Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.  Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.”

As a solution to this obvious problem posed by scripture itself, some would suggest that regeneration and faith happen at the exact same time. (To me, this seems like faulty reasoning at best. Logic itself would demand that one must come before the other. Just as if we were entering a house, we might describe it as one singular act, but that act is made up of more than one element. Clearly we must open the door before we can go through it, and not the other way around.)

Again we have to look to scripture for the answer. Do we repent and believe to be saved? Or are we saved so that we CAN repent and believe? Are we saved through faith? or through regeneration? Does faith come by hearing or by regeneration?

John 20:31  “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”

Mark 16:16  “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

John 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

John 3:18  “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

John 3:36  “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

Notice the idea here: The believing are saved to everlasting life, while the unbelieving are condemned. Can a man be regenerated prior to belief? Not according to the scriptures, for then would a regenerate man yet be condemned, and still have the wrath of God abiding on him. He would still be damned.

Romans 8:1  “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

According to the bible, we are either in the flesh or in the spirit. We cannot be both. Romans 8:9  “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. 

Can we actually say that someone is regenerated who has not yet repented or believed? Are they washed, and renewed prior to repentance and belief? The bible tells us that God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. And that He “saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” Psalms 34:18. Will God go against His own word and regenerate an unrepentant, proud sinner?

Psalms 119:155  “Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.”
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If that is not clear enough, there is more:

Ephesians 1:13  “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,” {emphasis mine}

The bible is exceedingly clear here when it tells us that after they heard the word, they trusted (believed). After they believed, they were sealed with the Holy Spirit.


So then, if man is capable of repenting and believing before he is regenerated, who gets the glory? Of course God does. Man cannot anymore regenerate himself than he can sprout wings. It is only by the great and merciful grace of God, that salvation is possible. If God had not planned from the foundation of the world, to provide his son as a sacrifice for sin, no one could ever be saved. 

John 6:44  “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

How does God draw sinners to Christ? Christ said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” John 12:32  God draws us through the preaching of the word. Romans 10:17 “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”  Faith cometh by hearing, not by regeneration.

How many does God desire to draw? All.
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2 Peter 3:9  “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
Repent & Believe!
 
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Recently a reader suggested that the phrase turn from sin was confusing and implied that it is also found in the Catholic Good News Bible, we should not use it.
 
Since I have, many times heard others say basically the same thing, I thought it was important to address this and point out a couple of things.
 
1. Although I understand the aversion to using Catholic terminology, or confusing terminology, let me assure you, God used the phrase turn from sin long before the Catholic church included it in their Good News translation.
 
1 Kings 8:35  When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them:
 
2 Chronicles 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Ezekiel 3:20  Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
 
Ezekiel 33:14  Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
 
2. The phrase turn from sin is not difficult to understand. these simple one syllable words that most every English speaking person knows are not the  cause of confusion. I believe the issue is not in understanding the phrase, but in trying to reconcile it with our modern Easy Believeism teaching that neglects such admonitions in both evangelism and Christian living. Another word which is often referred to as being too confusing is the word repent. Again, the confusion does not lie in these  Bible words, but in our misunderstanding of Bible teaching.
 
3. Throughout the Bible, Old Testament and New, God calls us to repent and turn from sin.  Saved as well unsaved are to turn from sin. There is just no way around it. So, no matter how uncomfortable these terms may be for us to hear or to convey, they are biblical terms that must be used. We must warn sinners to turn from their sin.
 
Luke 5:32  I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
2 Chronicles 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
 
Psalms 32:5  I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
 
Acts 3:19  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Acts 8:22  Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
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2 Corinthians 12:20  For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
21  And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
 
2 Peter 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
 
​Matthew 3:8  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

Romans 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Many today insist that in order to be saved, one must “call” upon the Lord through prayer. For this reason, many equate this “call upon the Lord” with a sinner’s prayer, asking Christ to save them. Often those with little or no interest in God or genuine faith in Christ led through prayers as although the mere act of speaking such a prayer is the catalyst for salvation rather than the evidence of it.  This is usually based on an immature or superficial understanding of Romans chapter 10. 

While praying is not wrong and even confessing our faith through a sinner's prayer is not wrong; the tendency to view a sinner’s prayer as the catalyst or a guarantee of salvation certainly is wrong.

1.  God does not, and never has settled for mere lip service.

Matthew 15:8  This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." Psalm 51:17

That's why Paul preached repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord and Saviour. Jesus Christ

2. We do not enter into salvation by prayer. We are saved by grace, through faith, not prayer. Genuine faith in Christ will show forth in a profession of the mouth as well as a changed life.
 
Luke 6:45  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

As a matter of fact, the idea of calling upon the name of the Lord is so much more than merely speaking words of acknowledgement. It was a turning to God in faith. We are to confess the Lord Jesus Christ, which of course includes acknowledging his person as well as his work as Saviour; but to confess is so much more than just a prayer.

Romans 10:9  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.
10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Although there are no biblical accounts of praying to receive salvation, it is now commonly taught that in order to be saved, one must call upon the name of the Lord through prayer. Many equate this call with reciting a sinner’s prayer.
14  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
 
The word confess here- Strong’s #3670 is different from the word confess #1843used in other New Testament passages such as:

Romans 14:11  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess (1843) to God.
Philippians 2:11  And that every tongue should confess (1843) that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Both words contain the idea of acknowledging Christ publicly; but when we look at confess/confession in Romans 10:9& 10, it also conveys the sense of a covenant relationship with Christ not merely as lip service through a one- time prayer, but as the public profession of an ongoing relationship, and association with Christ- to assent, i.e. covenant.

3670   μολογέω homologéō, hom-ol-og-eh'-o; from a compound of the base of G3674 and G3056; to assent, i.e. covenant, acknowledge:—con- (pro-)fess, confession is made, give thanks, promise.

1843 ἐξομολογέω exomologéō, ex-om-ol-og-eh'-o; from G1537 and G3670; to acknowledge or (by implication, of assent) agree fully:—confess, profess, promise.

When Paul was speaking here in Romans 10 of his desire to see his Jewish brothers come to Christ, he spoke as a Jew in a language they would understand, contrasting the Old Covenant of the law with the New Covenant through faith in Christ. The Jews, (just as the Gentiles) were to now submit to the righteousness of faith which is by the New Covenant. The Old covenant evidence of faith was obedience to the law, while the New Covenant evidence of faith is public testimony of association with Christ, obeying Christ as they would have the law. Again, this was not as a one-time spoken prayer, but as a covenant relationship with Christ. It is turning form our sin and being reconciled to God according to his plan for our salvation which is now through faith Jesus Christ confessing publicly as a lifestyle which unashamedly associates itself with Christ.  So much more than the mere sinner’s prayer that offers lip service without a heart for God.

As a matter of fact, when the Jews confessed the name of the Lord in the Old Testament, it was always as believers, coupled with turning to or returning to God in repentance, from sin, idolatry or disobedience.

1 Kings 8:33  When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house:

1 Kings 8:35  When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them:

2 Chronicles 6:24  And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee; and shall return and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication before thee in this house;

2 Chronicles 6:26  When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them.