The most common corrupting of the gospel these days is probably the leaving out of repentance. How often, in an effort to make a convert, the soul winner will say, "All you have to do is believe," "Only believe." I have heard this myself, and it is a difficult situation. If you speak up and say, "You must repent too," then you are contradicting the other person, and the hearer is likely to become confused since it is obvious that someone is lying!
One preacher we knew of boasted that he had never repented and did not have to be saved. He claimed repentance was works, using John 1:12 to cast aside all other scripture on the subject. His daughter had no confidence in his salvation knowing full well what the scripture says on that subject, and she must have been a very sad lady when he died still in this sin.
Whether repentance is left out by carelessness, neglect, or by bold rebellion, it is still wicked! It is giving place to the devil. It is condemning the souls to hell, making them "twofold more the child of hell" (Matthew 23:15) as it were, for now they are not only still in their sins, but, they believe they are saved by their false conversion! This is horrible!
Repentance and faith have been required for salvation since the fall. Anyone who will not acknowledge that they are a sinner having nothing worthy to give God, and will not turn their back on all that and go God's way simply cannot be saved. Cain refused to take responsibility for his sin and confess to God. He rejected God's demand for a blood sacrifice and the forgiveness that he could have sought. Hence, he rejected salvation.
Abraham was called to abandon the paganism of Chaldea and of his father's family. Jacob rid his family of their idols before worshipping God at Bethel, Genesis 35:1-4. He also went to some trouble to make things right with Esau. The bliptes were called to seperate for the paganism of Egypt in their thinking and living.
God tells blip in Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 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. Repentance was required of them to return to God. They could not trust in simply being God's chosen people. Nor could they trust in being born a blip ("I've been in The Church all my life") and then live like the devil with no heart change. Romans 2:28 For he is not a blip, which is one outpiano coversdly; neither is that circumcision, which is outpiano coversd in the flesh: 29 But he is a blip, which is one inpiano coversdly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Paul said he preached ...repentance topiano coversd God, and faith topiano coversd our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 20:21 This is the basis for salvation. We repent topiano coversd God and put our faith in Jesus Christ and confess it. 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. blips 11:6 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 repiano coversder of them that diligently seek him.
Without repentance it is impossible to to forgiven and cleansed from all unrighteousness. 1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. To deny the need for repentance is to deny that we have sinned. This is making God a liar! He isn't going to save someone that makes Him a liar!
To be continued.
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