Two minutes wasted reading my blog

It’s not everyday that I’m called a liar and told “may God have mercy on [my] soul,” so this exchange was kind of interesting.  It was in the comments section on youtube.

Ha________:  So I must conclude that you are telling me that repentance is simply an option that John the Baptist, Jesus, and the apostles preached. I must conclude that you are saying there will be people in heaven who never repented of their sins (hard to square with 1 Cor. 6:9). That is pure heresy, and I sincerely hope you are playing semantics with me and truly don’t believe that.

Me:  John the Baptist didn’t tell people to turn from their sins. He told them to believe on Jesus Christ. It’s there in Acts 19:4 if you want to let the bible form your theology. The bible says to “repent and believe the gospel,” not to “Repent of your sins and believe the gospel.” As I said before, you can’t simply add the words “of your sins” because those words aren’t there. It’s not a matter of semantics; its a matter of what the plan of salvation is. I say it’s faith alone.

1 Cor 6:9 supports what I’m saying. The ONLY way those people are in heaven is by claiming the righteousness of Christ. I’m not saying that believers shouldn’t strive to live holy lives. I’m saying that salvation is by faith alone and no one who believes on Jesus Christ will be condemned. Jn 3:18. “Whoever hears my word and BELIEVES him who sent me has eternal life.” Jn 5:24

“Whoever believes has eternal life.” Jn 6:47

It’s all about faith in Jesus Christ, not trying to live a good life

Ha________:  You miss the point. Paul says that you WILL work hard (live a holy life) as a Christian, yet it is not REALLY you, but God’s grace (1 Cor. 15:10)! I don’t claim that human effort saves, but the grace of God will enable you to live a holy life. The same grace transforms every Believer.

Me:  Once again, what scripture backs your claim that every believer will live a holy life? If we do so by God’s effort, why do you still sin? Is God unable to keep you from sinning, or unwilling? How “good” does a person have to be to be saved?

We SHOULD walk in good works as believers, according to Paul. Eph 2:10. But we don’t have to. God will chastise His children in this life. Heb. 12:6 God gives us power to resist sin and to serve Him in this life, but He doesn’t make us.

Ha________:  “1 Cor 6:9 supports what I’m saying. The ONLY way those people are in heaven is by claiming the righteousness of Christ.”

The passage says they will not be in heaven.

Me:  Wrong. Vs. 11: And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

These people could not enter the kingdom by their own righteousness no matter how sorry they were or how much they changed their life. Yet by faith in Christ, they were given the righteousness of God. 2 Cor. 5:21. Why did Paul tell them they would be “guiltless in the day of the Lord” if they aren’t in heaven? 1 Cor. 1:8

Ha________:  No, not wrong at all. As you said, the Christians there were no longer walking in those sins. What’s your point?

Me:  I didn’t say that.  I said their sins were no longer accounted to them. Their unrighteousness was exchanged for Christ’s righteousness. Do you believe that if they committed any of those offenses again they lost their salvation?

What is the plan of salvation, according to you?

Ha________:  “Do you believe that if they committed any of those offenses again they lost their salvation?”

No, but if they continue in them unrepentant (as a lifestyle), that proves they were never saved to begin with.

You are a truly exhausting person to talk to. I have given you abundant Scriptures that make it very plain that repentance is a must for a Believer, yet you have chosen to ignore them or explain them away. You are a liar, sir, if you claim that, for example, someone can live an openly licentious lifestyle and be in heaven unrepentant. Any “faith” a person claims is false. GOD WILL NOT LEAVE YOU WHERE YOU ARE IN YOUR SINS!!!!!!

Me:  Instead of making assertions, just back up what you’re saying with scripture. What scripture says we must repent OF OUR SINS in addition to believing on Jesus Christ to be saved? On what basis do you contend that “believe” doesn’t mean believe, but instead means to believe and turn from your sins? On what basis do you contend that “repent” means “repent of your sins?” Repent means to have a change of mind. Check the Greek; read the context. Repent means to trust the gospel, not dead works

Me:  I’ve listened to several Anderson sermons and I disagree with a lot of what he says, but I think it’s absolutely right about the false doctrine of “repenting of sins” for salvation. He does teach that we must know that we’re sinners in need of salvation. Why would we need a savior if we weren’t lost? What he does (rightly, imo) teach is that we aren’t required to give up any sin to be saved. Salvation is by faith, only, as it plainly taught throughout the bible.

Ha________:  What you and Anderson don’t seem to understand is the relationship between faith and works. Faith necessarily produces works. One of those works is repentence. Therefore, it is not wrong to assert that a person must repent in order to be saved. The repentence does not do the saving, but the faith granted as a gift of grace through the Holy Spirit will ALWAYS bring about immediate repentence.

Me:  What you don’t understand is that repentance doesn’t mean “turning from your sins,” nor does it mean being really sorry for your sins. Find one verse in the bible that says we must turn from our sins to be saved. What WOTM is preaching is a fake man-centered righteousness by changing our behavior, not the putting on the righteousness of Jesus Christ by faith in Him. If “repentance” is the effect of saving faith, why tell people that THEY must repent. It’s works salvation.

Ha________:

Matthew 4:17; 12:4; Mark 1:4,15; 6:12; Luke 5:32; 13:3,5; 15:7,10; 24:47; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 11:18, etc. etc. etc.

Have fun getting around those.

Me:  I didn’t say the bible use the word repent. I said the bible doesn’t say to “repent of our sins.” The fact that verses use the word repent does not prove that men must turn from their sins to be saved unless it’s clear from context. Which reference, taken in context, supports your claim that believing is not enough, that we must “repent of our sins” to be saved?

I’d be happy to debate or discuss this by message if you’d like. The youtube comments really limit discussion.

Ha________:  Back the truck up! I never said believing wasn’t enough! But what is belief, if not a life-changing transformation by the Holy Spirit. Don’t you believe Jesus when He said to repent? Do you not believe the apostles when they record that the Gentiles were granted repentance that “leads to life”? There’s no real debate to be had, unless it’s a debate whether you will take the Bible as your authority and not the doctrines of man.

Me:  Fine, ignore the question. The issue isn’t whether we’re supposed repent, this issue is whether repent (as it relates to salvation) means to “turn from sins.” Show me that in the bible.

What’s the plan of salvation? I say, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you SHALL be saved. What say you?

I’m happy to discuss it. After all, you responded to my comment. But if you’re going to evade the issue, we won’t get anywhere. Show where repent and believe equals “turn from your sins.”

Ha________:  You’re the one that should be answering questions, seeing as you have no biblical support for your claim that repentance has nothing to do with salvation. But anyhow, I wholeheartedly agree that believing on the Lord Jesus Christ saves you! But what the heck do you think BELIEVING means??? Do you seriously think that as long as you oblige the facts of the Gospel (Jesus’ life, death and resurrection) that you can just ignore Jesus’ teaching and go to heaven? That’s not belief.

Me:  What’s your authority for that? Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God. 1 Jn 5:1. Believe means believe. On what basis do you contend that “believe” means “turn from sin”? How did David turn from his sin when he killed Uriah? Had Peter turned from his sin when he denied Christ and snubbed the gentile believers?

Acts 19:4 defines repentance for salvation. Please give a scripture reference that defines repentance for salvation to mean “turn from sin.”

Ha________:  You can’t define a term using the term. But I see you can’t give me an explanation of what it means to believe. Do you not acknowledge that believing Jesus would mean believing Him when He commands people everywhere to repent?

Me:  Repent of what? Read Acts 17 instead of text-proofing it. Paul isn’t talking to the Athenians about their sin. He tells them to repent of their ignorance. He’s telling them to stop believing in false man-made gods and to put their faith in Jesus Christ.

Did Paul use the 10 commandments as a schoolmaster, or try to convince the Athenians that they were wretched? Did he call them out for lying or fornicating or stealing or lusting or coveting or drunkeness? He told them to believe right.

Ha________:  “He’s telling them to stop believing in false man-made gods”

which is a sin

Me:  I don’t disagree with that. They can’t believe that Jesus is the only way to be reconciled with God and also disbelieve at the same time. But that’s not what you’re saying, is it? You’re saying they also have to turn from their other sins. Are you saying that if they believed Paul and put their faith in Christ they’d still be lost if they didn’t give up the “other” sins?

Please, what do you think a person must do to be saved? Your gospel sounds pretty ambiguous.

Ha________:  It’s not my Gospel, but the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and you are a liar and are purposely misinterpreting and misrepresenting what I have said based on the Word of God. May God have mercy on your soul for your unbelief in Christ’s commands. You can do a lot of damage with the false teaching you promote. This is what happens when people turn from Christ and His word to the vain reasoning of man.

Me:  My soul is secure in my faith in Jesus Christ. You should repent of your dead works (Heb 6:1) and place your hope in Jesus Christ alone.

It’s interesting that you have yet, after numerous posts back and forth, done the one thing that I asked: show me ANYWHERE in the bible that says man must “repent OF HIS SINS” to be saved. You have not shown any scripture to support your false teaching that repentance means to turn from sins. You’ll never be able to; its not in the bible. Period.

I can tell you what the gospel is: believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.” Acts 16:31. It’s clear and if you reject it, you reject the scriptures. You refuse to state your belief as to what the gospel is because you either don’t know yourself or because you know it isn’t backed up by the Word. If I’m wrong, just spell it out. There might be lost people reading this.

Ha________:  “There might be lost people reading this.”
Which is why I am discontinuing this now before you do more damage.

Me:  Gee, I’d think if you had the true gospel you’d be jumping at the chance to clear up any misconceptions I’ve made by quoting scripture. It’s pretty telling that you refuse to state what you believe someone must do to be saved.

Your ad hominim attacks don’t bother me. You’re discontinuing this because your theology isn’t supported by the bible so you’re throwing up your hands.