What Is Bible Repentance For Salvation?

Let's keep the meaning of repentance to what the Bible says, “a change of mind.” It's not a change of mind that leads to a change of mind!!! There are no expectations, obligations nor requirements necessary to seal one's salvation once a person receives the Gospel by faith. Discipleship has nothing to do with salvation. Salvation doesn't always lead to discipleship!!! So, Biblically, a person repents from unbelief to believe the Gospel to be saved, which brings the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, who convicts believer of sins in their life. How a believer responds to that conviction is a matter of discipleship, not salvation.

Pastor Bob Gray Sr. is 100% Correct On Repentance

I love Dr. Bob Gray Sr.! You gotta love a guy who's responsible for hundreds of thousands of souls coming to Christ. As longtime pastor of the Longview Temple Baptist Church in Longview, Texas, millions of people's lives were changed through their bus ministry.

Dr. Bob Gray Sr. has repentance correct. Repentance is simply deciding to believe the Gospel rather than continue in unbelief. This is clear from the following quote by Dr. Gray taken from the article below: “You undo to be saved what you did to be lost. You are lost because you do not come to Christ and you are saved because you do come to Christ for payment of the penalty of sin. What you are repenting of is not coming to Christ and not believing on the Son of God.” Thus, the person who believes has also repented. Thank God for Pastor Gray and the tremendous impact the Lord has made through his soulwinning ministry over the decades...

DR. BOB GRAY SR. 

SUNDAY, AUGUST 3, 2014

REPENTANCE FROM UNBELIEF TO BELIEF IN JESUS CHRIST SAVESREPENTANCE FROM UNBELIEF LEADS THE SAVED TO REPENTANCE OF SINS 

Acts 2:38, “The Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” 

The word “repent" can be defined as changing ones mind, reasoning, or opinion. In essence the word “repentance” means, “to change ones mind.” II Timothy 2:25, “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;” 

All we have to do is find out what makes a person lost spiritually. Then if we can change what makes that person lost then he or she can be saved from an eternal hell. Thus, one must repent from whatever it is that makes that one lost without salvation. John 3:18, “But he that believeth not is condemned already.” Why is a person condemned? Simple, because “he believeth not.” 

If he is lost because he believes not then what must he do in order to be saved from going to hell? He must repent! Repent from what? Repent from believing not! If it is believing not that makes you lost then it is changing to believing that makes you saved. 

John 3:18, look at the last part of that verse, “because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten son of God.” What is it that makes a person lost and on their way to hell? Not believing in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 

Which means if you do not believe on Jesus to pay for your sins and to take you to Heaven you are lost! John 3:18, “He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed.” Thus, a man is lost because he does not believe on the Son of God for payment of his sins. 

Man then must repent of that which makes him lost in order to be saved from a devil’s hell. John 3:36, “He that believeth not the son shall not see life.” What is it you do not do to see life? Believe not the Son of God. The verse goes on to say, “But the wrath of God abideth on you.” What do you have to do in order to have the wrath of God abiding on you? Believe not the Son of God. 

Believing not is what makes one lost and on their way to hell. You must repent or change your mind about something you are doing to trust in to keep out of hell to what God says is THE way to heaven, which is to believe on the Son of God for payment of your sin penalty of hell. 

You believe in your mind and your will. So, you must change your mind. You must change from “I will not receive Christ” to “I will receive Christ.” Consequently you must undo to be saved what you do that makes you lost. What do you have to do to go to hell? Believe not on the Son of God! What do you have to do to go to heaven? Believe on the Son of God for payment of the price of your sin! 

John 5:40, “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” What kept these people from having life? Not coming to Jesus! If you do not come to Jesus for payment of your sins you will die and go to hell! What you have to do in order to go to heaven is to change your mind and come to Jesus for payment of sin.
You undo to be saved what you did to be lost. You are lost because you do not come to Christ and you are saved because you do come to Christ for payment of the penalty of sin. What you are repenting of is not coming to Christ and not believing on the Son of God. 

IN THE BIBLE YOU CAN REPENT FROM SOMETHING OTHER THAN SINRepent means to change one’s mind. If a person decides to go to town and then decided not to go to town he has repented. If a person decides to be married and then decides not to be married he has repented. 

Matthew 27:3, “Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.” Was Judas saved? No! Judas was not repenting of his sin! Judas realized he had made a bad deal. He changed his mind about what he should have done, but he never repented of being a sinner. You can repent of something other than sin. 

By the way, Judas went to hell and yet repented. Everybody who lives in sin sooner or later repents of it. There is a difference between that and repenting of not believing on the Son of God. You can repent of a sin or sins without repenting of the sin of unbelief. It is the sin of unbelief that sends one to hell. Thus, it is the repenting of the sin of not believing that sends one to hell. Judas repented but was not saved. 

Genesis 6:5-6, “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” Does that mean that God sinned? No! You can repent of something other than sin. 

God who cannot sin, lie, or do wrong repented in Genesis 6:6. God repents, but does not commit sin. Repentance does not always have to do with sin, but it does always have to do with the changing of one’s mind. 

I Samuel 15:35, “And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.” God chose Saul to be the king of Israel, but he changed His mind! God repented that he had made Saul king. You can repent of something other than sin. 

Exodus 32:14, “And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.” God and Moses are having a disagreement and the Lord repented. Hold it, God is not speaking of sin here. He is talking about punishment here! God repented! Did God get saved here? No! God simply changed his mind here! 

The same is true in Jonah 3:9-10 and Amos 7:3, 6! Repentance does not always have to do with sin. It is not always sin you are repenting of and it is not always salvation as the issue in repentance! The wife says, “I think we’ll have roast beef Sunday. No, no I think we’ll have fried chicken.” Hold it, she repented, but it was not sin she repented of.

REPENTANCE FROM SINS IS ALWAYS DIRECTED TOWARDS GOD’S PEOPLE - EXCEPT FOR THE SIN OF NOT BELIEVING WHICH IS DIRECTED TOWARDS THE UNSAVED
You do not clean up and then get saved! You get saved and then clean up! Not believing is what condemns a person to hell. Believing is what uncondemns a person! Revelation 2:5, 16, 21, 22; 3:19 repentance from sins is directed toward God’s children in Ephesus, Pergamos, Thyatira, etc. 

Not one person in the Bible was saved by repenting of his or her sins! Acts 16:30-31, “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” They did not say repent! They did say, “Believe.” This is the only verse in the Bible that goes directly to the issue of being saved and it does not say, “Repent.” 

Jesus does not forgive sin! Jesus paid for the price of sin with his death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus does not forgive sin for he paid for sin himself. He forgives sinners by paying for their sins.  

SOURCE: Solve Church Problems - Repentance From Unbelief

Except Ye Repent (an awesome book by Pastor Harry Ironside, 1876-1951)

Satan is the author of confusion (Acts 19:32). I think Dr. Bob Gray Sr. hit the nail on the head in the preceding article, and I agree with 100% of his article. Thank you Brother Gray!

“Repentance is not some little silly, 'I'm sorry.' Repentance is not simply a fear of God. Repentance is not a monk fasting and afflicting his body in a monastery. Repentance is not remorse because of sin's consequences. Repentance is not penance performed before the pope as you kiss his toe... Repentance is not being sorry for what I've done wrong. It is not confessing one's sins to a priest. It is not just conviction of sin. It is not the signing of a pledge of abstinence. Repentance is that thing when you come before God and see yourself as you are, and see Him as he is, and say with Isaiah 'Woe is me, for I am unclean!'” —Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001), a quote from the timeless MP3 sermon, “THE GOODNESS OF GOD LEADETH TO REPENTANCE!”

Pastor Chip Ingram's False Gospel

Galatians 1:6-7, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.”

Heresy has crept into most churches today. This tragically includes our Independent Fundamental Baptist Churches. One of the deadliest false teachings today is the idea that a person cannot be saved unless they turn away from their sinful ways. The Bible teaches that all men are guilty sinners (Romans 3:10-23). There is a penalty for sin, which is death (Romans 6:23). This includes the second death (Revelation 21:8). God sent His only begotten Son to die on the cross to pay our debt of sin (John 3:16), so that all sinners could freely have eternal life if we want it. Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

In the following sermon titled, “Jesus Explains His Message - Part 2,” Chip Ingram falsely teaches that a person must forsake their sins to be saved. Like all false teachers, Mr. Ingram is deceptive. He claims that salvation is by grace through faith alone, but then he conditions salvation upon changing your life. That is works! Chip Ingram and Jehovah's Witnesses agree! In the preceding audio sermon, Pastor Ingram predicates salvation upon receiving Christ not only as one's Savior, but also your Lord. Chip says you must surrender your life to Christ as your [what he calls “CEO” (Chief Executive Officer)]. In Chip's false plan of salvation, he says you must turn from your sins and ask Jesus to come into your life. You must be willing to follow Him as your Lord and Master. Chip leads people to pray a prayer to be saved. Chip Ingram makes this heretical statement in his sermon:

Four, eternal life begins the moment you receive Christ as your Savior and Lord. See, today is the day of salvation. Moments from now, moments from now. It’s not something that is going to happen after you die. You can have the encounter that Jesus wanted for Nicodemus. You can be washed in the water, admit, Oh, God, I am not perfect and I am actually messed up in some areas and I need You. And I receive the life of Christ and His death on the cross as sole payment for my sin. And I am asking You to come into my life and be my Savior and the Lord and the CEO, He’ll do it. —Pastor Chip Ingram, 'Jesus Explains His Message, Part 2' [emphasis added]

False prophets like Chip Ingram mishandle the Gospel. Like all false prophets, they get it half right, mixing truth with lies. Chip Ingram is right that the Gospel means Christ died, was buried and resurrected the third day (1st Corinthians 15:1-4). Unfortunately, he requires MORE for salvation, which makes him a false prophet. Not one verse in the Bible teaches that a person must turn away from sins to be saved. No where are we commanded to pray a prayer to be saved. No where are we directed to ask Christ to come into our life to be saved. No where are we required to surrender to Christ as Lord and CEO to be saved. To a naive religious person these additional requirements may seem harmless, but to a learned Bible student, you know that adding even the slightest human effort to God's free grace cancels it. Salvation is not partial faith in Christ plus something else! Chip Ingram perverts the Gospel of free grace

Pastor Ingram Gets Repentance And John Chapter 3 Wrong

I am surprised how many Bible teachers get John chapter 3 wrong concerning the meaning of “water.” Jesus plainly tells us that the water refers to “the flesh.”John 3:6, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Verse 6 explains Verse 5, “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Church of Christ falsely claim that the water refers to baptism. Likewise, Chip Ingram falsely claims that the water refers to repentance. As I just showed you, Jesus said the water refers to being born of the flesh. To be saved, you simply need to be born of the Holy Spirit!

Here are some heretical teachings by Mr. Ingram:

“And the water meant what? Repent. People were going to him [John the Baptist] to say, “My life is messed up. I’m not the kind of dad, I’m not the kind of mom, I do have greed, I covet in my heart, I do sleep around, I do cheat. The stuff that comes out of my mouth, I have unresolved anger issues,” all the stuff that we have! Multitudes were coming out and John said, “You have to repent,” and the word is: metanoeō. “Have a change of mind.” And they were coming to be baptized to say, “I want that old life and that old junk – I want it washed away and I want to walk with God now.” And that was preparation. So, you prepared and realized, Now what you need is the Spirit of God with the power to do that.” —Pastor Chip Ingram, 'Jesus Explains His Message, Part 2' [emphasis added]

This is all very subtle. Chip has a totally wrong mindset concerning salvation. He is claiming that the people John baptized were all hungry to get rid of the sins in their life, and they desired for Jesus to save them so they could stop living that way. Folks, that is a counterfeit plan of salvation. In reality, John was preaching repentance to the people, so they would recognize their sins and see their desperate need FOR THEIR SAVIOR—not to clean up their lives, but so that they could be delivered from the curse of sin and Hell. John was simply preaching the law to prepare the people, pointing them to Christ who would save them (Galatians 3:24-26). The difference is this folks—In Chip's theology, the emphasis is upon a changed life; but in Bible theology, the emphasis is upon salvation itself.

Chip Ingram is a subtle teacher of the lie of Lordship Salvation (i.e., Calvinism repackaged). To the naive person it sounds good, but Chip is wrong in his understanding of the Gospel. Eternal life is a gift from God, which is not conditional upon a willingness to change your life, nor a willingness to let God change your life. John the Baptist did baptize the people for repentance, but it was only to PREPARE them to receive the coming Savior...

Matthew 3:4-6, “And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.”

Carefully notice that the people only CONFESSED THEIR SINS, they didn't forsake them. No one is capable of forsaking their sins! If you listen to Mr. Ingram's sermon (or read it), he says that getting saved WILL change a person's life. That is the lie of Calvinism! Just because you receive the 'Good News' (Gospel) of Christ crucified, buried and risen, doesn't automatically mean that your life will change in the least externally. Chip says when you get saved, all of a sudden you'll be sweet, kind and nice to everyone. Folks, that is not true! 

Chip Ingram Is teaching Junk Theology

Here is the junk theology I am warning you about from Chip Ingram:

“And the eternal God of the universe says, “If you will open the door of your heart and turn from your sin and invite Christ and believe on Him, the Spirit of the living God will come permanently to live in you, seal you with His Spirit, give you spiritual gifts, direct your life, make you a part of a family, and transform you little, by little, by little, by little – that two, three, and four years from now, people will be astounded.” Why are you so kind? Why are you so others centered now? What happened to that addiction you had? You used to be a workaholic, crazy person. What happened to you? Because Christ’s will live His life out through you.” —Pastor Chip Ingram, 'Jesus Explains His Message, Part 2' [emphasis added]

That is junk theology! Chip is a theological liar when he says God demands that you “turn from your sin”! You cannot show me that from the inspired King James Bible!!! Furthermore, you don't have to “invite Christ” because He is already inviting you! Jesus has already paid for everyone's sins on the cross with His precious blood, freely offering eternal life to anyone who that BELIEVES. 1st Corinthians 1:21, “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” John 6:47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” It is that simple friend, just believe and you are saved! Contrary to the lies being sold to you by Chip Ingram; God is NOT demanding that you turn from your sins, nor that you invite Christ, nor that you ask Him into your life, nor that you make Him your Lord and C.E.O., nor that you pray a prayer, nor anything else! God simple commands us to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31b). 

Everybody responds differently when they get saved. Some people change immediately, but others never change. Chip Ingram and Ray Comfort would accuse them of never being saved, claiming they failed to repent. That is not what “repentance” means. Chip is correct that repentance (the Greek noun metanoia) means “a change of mind,” but then he adds meaning to the word by implying that it will result in a change of mind which leads to a changed life (which is a false meaning). Repentance is a change of mind unto the Gospel itself, and doesn't have anything to do with a believer's behavior after they get saved. We are taught in Romans 12:2b that we are “transformed by the renewing of your mind.” As a new believer desires the sincere milk of the Word, they will grow (1st Peter 2:2). To require a person to commit to change their life at the time of salvation is to pervert the Gospel. 

I have nothing person against Pastor Ingram in California. He seems like a nice person. I simply have a duty as a Christian to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3b). The quickest way for Satan to hinder a person from getting saved is to obscure and confuse the clarity of the Gospel message. 

I Want To Think Right, Live Right And Do Right

Proverbs 4:23, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

This is my favorite Bible verse, and one that I try to live by. Everything that we do is a result of our thoughts; therefore, it is imperative that we maintain a healthy thought life. This is why we are directed in Philippians 4:6-8 to always do TWO things: 

1. Pray about everything (Philippians 4:6-7)
2. Think on good things (Philippians 4:8)

There is no need to worry, just pray. When we pray, we are putting a matter into God's hands to deal with, trusting Him that God cares and hears the prayer of the righteous. Sometimes I pray what I call “blanket prayers” or “umbrella prayers,” where I pretty much just tell God I don't know what to pray, so I am praying about everything at once. I don't think that is the best way to pray. I think we should get into specifics with God, and mention the names of people we are praying for, and tell God exactly what we are requesting. Albeit, a blanket prayer is still valid! All-inclusive prayers are still evidence of faith in God. So it would be better for a believer to pray all-inclusive blanket (or umbrella) prayers, than to not pray at all. Sometimes I am just simply tired, so I'll say: “Lord, I pray about everything!” You say, “You do that?” Yes, all the time! Sometimes I'll simply cry out in my weary soul, “Lord, I need your help, I cannot make it without You!” I know God is listening to my prayers! 1st Peter 3:12, “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”

Every Believer Should Be Committed To Living Christlike

Dr. Bob Jones Sr. (1883-1968) said: “Do right, though the stars fall—DO RIGHT!” The unsaved world thinks very different than the Christian does. The world views everything from a final mindset, believing that this life is all there is; but as Christians we have the blessed hope of eternal life (Titus 1:2). Our God is faithful! The older I get, the closer to Heaven I am. I am resolved to think right, do right and live right to stay close to the Lord. It feels good being right with God. I hate the feeling that there is something between me and God that is not right. You cannot live in willful sin as a believer and have a perfect walk with God. It is important that we be honest with God at all times, and stay confessed up in our sins (1st John 1:9). God doesn't expect us to be perfect, but He does expect us to try with His help (Matthew 5:48; Galatians 2:20). The first step in living right is to want to live right!

Granted, we all have things which we accept in our life, that others may not approve of (Romans 14:22). For example: Some Christians refuse to have any fun on Halloween. Personally, I like carved pumpkins, hay rides, haunted houses and think it is a lot of fun. To each his own. I do not celebrate the meaning of Halloween, and I would never let my child dress up like witch or a demon, but I do not judge those who do. I am a fundamentalist Christian, not a nut. You become a “nut” when you go ballistic over someone else passing out pumpkins at church to kids on Sunday. I had a Christian boss once who blew up in anger when he found out I wasn't a registered voter. That is nutty! Galatians 5:15, “But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”

I was reading a book today of Bob Jones College chapel talks by Dr. Bob Jones Sr. (1998-1968). I really love this man of God! It is so tragic that BJU today has forsaken the convictions of its founder (1927), embracing hundreds of tainted Bible revisions, going along with apostasy in the churches instead of taking a stand for what is right, as Dr. Bob Jones Sr. always taught. Brother Jones makes good sense and had a godly way of thinking, that is so lacking across America today. I read these great words today from him:

“Listen to me young people, you never get out of a hole by lying. A lie will dig the hole deeper. Truth will not always get you out of a hole, but lying will never do it. When you get in a hole, put up a ladder of truth and try to climb out. Don't lie; don't be a humbug; don't be a fourflusher! Listen, it is not only wrong to lie, but also it doesn't pay to lie. There is something about telling the truth that disarms even your enemies. You can't lie yourself to success. You can travel the road of truth. So travel it!” —Dr. Bob Jones Sr., “Things I Have Learned: Chapel Talks,” page 51; Bob Jones University Press, ©1945

Amen! That is godly advice. I love what author Mark Twain (1835-1910) said: “If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.” I couldn't have said it any better. The TRUTH can be dealt with, but a LIE cannot. The Devil is a beautiful liar!

Don't Let The Devil Sift You As Wheat!

I don't know about you, but I don't want the Devil to beat me with a stick. Many people give the Devil a stick to beat them with! Jesus warned the apostle Peter that Satan desired to beat him as wheat. You had better believe friend that the Devil wants to do that to every saint of God. Luke 22:31, “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:” They say a picture is worth a thousand words. ...

Some people hand the Devil a big stick to beat them with! As long as we choose to live right, we are within God's protective circle. The Bible says that God had placed a protective HEDGE around him, so that Satan could not afflict him in any way...

Job 1:8-11, “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.”

When a believer chooses to go into sin, we invite the Devil into our life. Oftentimes, it is the Christian himself that causes suffering, loss and affliction in his own life. God is not to blame. Blessed be the name of the Lord!!! The man after God's own heart, David, learned the hard way the consequences of going astray from God's commandments. Psalms 119:67 and 71, “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. ...It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.” A godly Christian allows God to take the failures in their life, and turn them into stepping stones. God can take the lemons in our broken life and make lemonade. One of my favorite MP3 sermons is by Pastor Jack Hyles called: 'SOME ON BROKEN PIECES' (a sermon about being salvaged for God's use and service). Job 5:17, “Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:” DO GOOD and it will BE GOOD! 

James 1:13-16, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.”

Modern Corrupt Bibles Are Transforming The Churches

Genesis 3:1, “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.  And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”

I am used to criticism from the unsaved world for my preaching (Jesus said that would happen - John 7:7 and 15:19), but what hurts my heart is when fellow professed Christians (Baptists) shun me away and treat me like a bad person for telling the truth. That is terrible! We're all supposed to be honest and tell the truth to each other, especially when it comes to the inspired Word of God and doctrine. The Devil is so subtle, that he has even tricked churches into accepting dozens of different Bible versions, to confused everyone, and diminish the effectiveness of the Holy Bible. Proof of that ineffectiveness is the lack of Bible revivals in churches today, the high divorce rate, the LGBTQ agenda being accepted by liberal churches, the lack of Bible memorization today, the lack of theology being taught in churches, the lack of authority in preaching, et cetera. I've never heard Joel Osteen teach theology, it's always how to improve yourself or relationships, but nothing about the doctrine of Christ. It's these new Devil's Bibles, which are transforming the churches. 

The following shocking quote from Alice Bailey (1880-1949) ought to alarm every born-again Christian in the world. I'll explain the Satanic meaning and dark agenda set forth by Mrs. Bailey after you read this disturbing quote:

The Christian church in its many branches can serve as a St. John the Baptist, as a voice crying in the wilderness, and as a nucleus through which world illumination may be accomplished. I indicate the hope. I do not assert a fact. Its work is intended to be the holding of a broad platform. The church must show a wide tolerance, and teach no revolutionary doctrines or cling to any reactionary ideas. The church as a teaching factor should take the great basic doctrines and (shattering the old forms in which they are expressed and held) show their true and inner spiritual significance. The prime work of the church is to teach, and teach ceaselessly, preserving the outer appearance in order to reach the many who are accustomed to church usages. Teachers must be trained; Bible knowledge must be spread; the sacraments must be mystically interpreted, and the power of the church to heal must be demonstrated. 

...There is no question therefore that the work to be done in familiarising the general public with the nature of the Mysteries is of paramount importance at this time. These Mysteries will be restored to outer expression through the medium of the Church and the Masonic Fraternity, if those groups leave off being organisations with material purpose, and become organisms with living objectives. [emphasis added] 

SOURCE: Alice Bailey, 'The Externalisation Of The Hierarchy,' pp. 510, 514

That is mind-blowing stuff! Miss Bailey wrote this book in the early 20th century. Dear friend, do you know what Miss Bailey meant by “revolutionary doctrine?” She is talking about Christian fundamentalism. The best example I can give you today of a “revolutionary doctrine” is Pastor Steven Anderson—whom God is using to build churches across America through his upright testimony, hard work and Bible preaching! Alice Bailey is saying that Luciferians need to infiltrate and destroy fundamental churches! She said this will be accomplished by leading the churches to show wide tolerance (e.g. the sinful LGBTQ agenda, and sinful women preachers). She says these corrupted churches will pervert the great doctrines of Christianity to teach new age doctrine instead (a classic example is Pastor Rick Warren's “The Purpose Driven Life” garbage. By the way, Rick Warren is a member of Globalist-run 'Council On Foreign Relations.' What a phony minister!). 

Miss Bailey goes on to say that the churches will be corrupted by maintaining an outer superficial shell of a traditional church, while eviscerating the church of any organized theology, transforming the churches into pawns of the New World Order. I cannot think of a more effective way to accomplish this, than through the modern corrupt Bible versions. I cannot urge churches enough to stay away from following ecumenical preachers on the internet, and get back to the Holy Bible! Humans are impressionable creatures and we are lazy by nature. Those two traits together are deadly. Americans are too lazy to go research the truth for themselves by reading books and watching documentaries, so instead they just sit in front of the TV and believe what Fox News and CNN tell them to believe. The media shape our reality! Likewise, churchgoers don't study the Bible for themselves, they just soak up whatever they are presented, becoming inoculated from the truth!

“Be on guard against any tampering with the Word, whether disguised as a search for truth, or a scholarly attempt at apparently hidden meanings; and beware of the confusion created by the senseless rash of new versions, translations, editions, and improvements upon the tried and tested Bible of our fathers and grandfathers.” —Pastor M.R. DeHaan, “The Tabernacle,” page 101

Look at the churches today that are using dozens of Bible versions, and how messed up they are spiritually. Then look at the soulwinning churches across the world, who use ONLY the inspired King James Bible. Two have two different Bibles is just as insane as having two Jesuses. In the King James Bible Jesus did not think it robbery to be equal with God in Philippians 2:6. But in all the corrupt modern Bible revisions, that same passage says Jesus did not think equality with God was something to be grasped! The modern revisions says the exact opposite of what the King James Bible teaches! Any Christian who is okay with that discrepancy is not right with God! Any church that goes along with that confusion, using and promoting multiple Bible versions, is pulling on the same rope as the Devil. There is only one Savior, and one Holy Spirit, and we only have and need one Holy Bible! 

Everyone has a right to their own opinion, but no one has a right to their own facts. Do you know who made that statement? It was Andrew Cuomo the governor from New York City. The governor is right! You don't have a right to your own facts! And may I say, you have a right to your own opinion, but you don't have a right to your own truth. Truth is truth! Facts are facts! But truth and facts can be manipulated and changed into a lie! These new Bible revisions are a lie of Satan! The new Bible versions are being used to infiltrate the churches with the New World Order.

Look At People As Broken Instead Of Bad

Matthew 9:9-12, “And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.”

One of the most hated professions in Rome was that of a tax collector. The people hated them! Just like today, nobody likes to have their hard-earned money taken away. Tax collectors were notoriously crooked, and took advantage of the people. ...

“Tax collectors, also known as publicans, are mentioned many times in the Bible (mainly in the New Testament). They were reviled by the Jews of Jesus' day because of their perceived greed and collaboration with the Roman occupiers. Tax collectors amassed personal wealth by demanding tax payments in excess of what Rome levied and keeping the difference. They worked for tax farmers. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus sympathizes with the tax collector Zacchaeus, causing outrage from the crowds that Jesus would rather be the guest of a sinner than of a more respectable or 'righteous' person. Matthew the Apostle in the New Testament was a tax collector.” —Tax Collectors, Wikipedia

So when Jesus sat down to eat with Matthew—a scumbag tax collector—we can now understand why the Pharisees said to Jesus' disciples—“Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?” (Matthew 9:11b). In fact, when the people saw it—that Jesus was seated in Matthew's house—they started piling in! One sinner after other came to sit with Jesus! This naturally raised eyebrows and curiosity, and a question—why would Jesus sit with these known horrible people, whom were all sinners? Why would Jesus befriend such contemptible people? I believe it is simply because our Lord chose to look at people as being BROKEN rather than BAD! Jesus was trying to help them, because He loved them. In the Lord's eyes, Matthew was a broken man, not a bad man! Jesus saw the harlots as BROKEN women, not BAD women. Jesus sat down with these broken men and women, preaching the Gospel to them, in an effort to save them!!! 

The Pharisees Refused To Repent

The religious, self-righteous, hypocritical, Pharisees asked Jesus why He ate with sinners—“Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?” (Matthew 9:11b). Here was Jesus' amazing answer in Matthew 9:12b-13, “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” These are beautiful truths. Here is a related quote from the Old Testament prophet Hosea. Hosea 6:6, “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” Here we see the great heart of God. 

The religious Pharisees were going around pointing fingers at everyone, judging anyone whom they perceived as being a bigger sinner than themselves. That is why God said in Romans 2:1, “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.” Since we are ALL GUILTY SINNERS, no one has a Biblical right to condemn another human being for their sins! God is the only Judge!!! 

I choose to look at people as BROKEN rather than BAD. I am a big sinner just like anybody else. I don't judge anyone. When an expensive finely-crafted Swiss watch stops working, do you throw it away? Of course not, you pay to have it repaired by a skilled watchmaker. Personally I hate expensive watches, but it's just an illustration. A human being is of much more value than a watch. Tragically, most people today don't agree with what I just said. The U.S. Supreme Court doesn't place any value on a child in the womb, permitting its termination. They must answer to God for those immoral laws that allow for murder. 

The Pharisees didn't think they were spiritually sick. Therefore, they wouldn't repent! Only sick people need to go to a doctor. The self-righteous Pharisees had a self-inflated view of themselves; therefore, they failed to see their desperate need for the redeeming Savior. They didn't think they were guilty sinners! They actually thought by doing their best to keep the LAW (even though they broke it all the time), that they could merit Eternal Life through the Law (Romans chapter 2; 10:3-4; Galatians 3:1-3). No one can be justified by keeping the LAW (Romans 3:20). 

Repentance Means To Come To Jesus As A Sick Sinner

I don't know if you saw it, but here we see the simple meaning of repentance. To “repent” effectively means to see yourself as a sick needy sinner. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for not repenting, that they should BELIEVE and be saved. The publicans and harlots saw that they were sick, and needed The Great Physician. Do you see yourself as a sick sinner friend? We all need The Great Physician. 

This is a clear picture of a lack of repentance. Matthew 21:32, “For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.” I very much love that Bible passage. We are told that when John the Baptist preached the way of righteousness, pointing the people toward Christ, the tax collectors and harlots BELIEVED; but when the Pharisees saw it, they still refused to repent to believe.

Said the robin to the sparrow, “I really do not know, why these human beings rush around and worry so”; Said the sparrow to the robin, “I think it must be, that they have no heavenly Father, such as cares for you and me!”

How To Have A Happy Godly Home

Acts 13:49-52, “And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.”

I wish I could live my life over. I have made so many foolish decisions in my life as a Christian. I am now 53 years old. One thing I have learned in my life is the importance of centering one's family around a local Bible-believing, soulwinning, sin-hating, Christ-honoring, New Testament church. Dear reader, I want what is best for you and your family in the Lord! I know what I am talking about! I receive many e-mails from hurting people with broken marriages, ruined homes and all sorts of personal struggles with sin. The common denominator in all of them is that none of them faithfully attend a local Bible-believing church. They have been going it alone over the years, and their ship has wrecked on the rocks of life. Oh friend, you need church, and so do I!

It is God's will for every believer to assemble together with other local believers. That is what a church is. I strongly recommend that you read Pastor Jack Hyles' excellent book titled, what else, “THE CHURCH.” Are there any perfect churches? Of course not, but I'll guarantee you that the church is better on its worst day, than the world is on its best day! Dr. Jack Hyles (1926-2001) had this to say during a sermon invitation:

“If you want a church like this, we invite you to join our church, but I want to warn you—We can't stand close inspection, just like you can't—but if you as a sinner will come and join the rest of us sinners, we'll all try to be better people together!” —Pastor Jack Hyles, a quote from the great sermon, “I Find No Fault In This Man!”

It is unfortunate that the churches are turning apostate, turning away from the inspired King James Bible, embracing the Devil's counterfeit Bible revisions that attack Jesus' deity. Jesus' name is called “the Word of God” (Revelation 19:13). To have another Bible is to have “another Jesus” (2nd Corinthians 11:3-4). Please stick with the King James Bible! Brother Lester Roloff warns everyone to avoid the modern Bible versions in this sermon excerpt I called: “The King James Bible is all we need!” If you'd like to hear the complete sermon, it is titled: The Book That Makes The Difference!

“I promised God years ago I would be honest with Him.” —I Shall Know Him

Dr. Hyles mentions in the sermon that he heard Dr. John R. Rice (1895-1980) say something that helped him. Brother Rice said he decided to keep no secrets from God, to tell God exactly how he felt. I love that! That is exactly what I do. I often tell God that I don't think my life is fair, but I know He is fair, and I am not complaining, and I trust His wisdom even though I am frustrated. I will not get bitter at God! I promise you dear friend that if you could see the whole picture, you'd understand why God does things the ways that He does. I don't understand why things are the way they are, but I trust my sweet Lord Jesus!

“We've gonna have to get back to THE BOOK!” —'The Wisdom Of The Word'

I encourage you reader to join a local church if you're not already. Get your children in a Sunday School class. Every married couple needs a pastor. You need a church to grow with, and suffer together, and go soulwinning together. I'm not talking about getting close on a personal level to people in a church, that is not a good idea. Tall fences make good neighbours! I am talking about Bible-preaching! You need spiritual direction in your life. Staying home and listening to sermons cannot substitute for fellowship with a the local Body of Christ in a local church. 

Now I'm not talking about the Devil's Catholic or Lutheran church. I'm not talking about the Devil's Church of Christ, Jehovah's Witnesses or Seventh-Day Adventist cults! I'm talking about a good old-fashioned Bible-believing, Bible-preaching, soulwinning church. I'd recommend an Independent Fundamental Baptist church with a bus ministry! We all need to go to church! I realize that many churches are teaching heresy today, and I don't think you should attend a corrupt church that perverts the Gospel of free grace. A church that teaches Calvinism (aka, Lordship Salvation) is a cult, not a church! 

A happy marriage equals happy children, which equals a happy home! That is my message to you! You won't have a happy marriage outside of God's will for your life. Every family needs to get involved in a local soulwinning church that preaches the Word of Truth! Families that attend church together stay together! When fathers don't go to church, only 5% of the time do their adult children go to church. That is so sad and tragic! America was great when she was good, and she was good when she had GREAT CHURCHES! Brother Lester Roloff (1914-1982) said that in his classic sermon called: 'THE TITANIC.'

Every Church Ought To Have A Bus Ministry!

"A church doesn't necessarily need space to grow; it just needs the power of God." —Pastor Jack Hyles

The Righteous Are As Bold As A Lion

Proverbs 28:1, “The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.”

I love that Bible verse! The wicked person flees when no man pursueth. That means evildoers have to look over their shoulder all the time, paranoid that they'll either get caught. The person who does right can walk in complete boldness, fearing nothing. I would infinitely rather die as a righteous man for doing right, than to suffer as an evildoer! What saith the Scripture? 1st Peter 4:15-16, “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” I would ten billion times rather die for my Christian faith, than suffer for hurting another human being. I hate evildoers! I don't hate people, I hate the sin. We must never accept the sin with the sinner, nor reject the sinner with the sin. 

Psalms 97:10-12, “Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.”

Crime does pay short-term, otherwise people wouldn't commit it; but it never pays in the long-term! Ecclesiastes 8:12, “Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.” Our walk with God should be strong enough as believers, that we do right when no one else is looking, because WE FEAR GOD. I love something that Dr. Jack Hyles said: 

“If you want to never do anything that is terribly wicked, then you never do anything that is slightly wicked.” —Pastor Jack Hyles, “Unjust In The Least.”

By God's grace, I want to think right, live right and do right. If we DO GOOD it will BE GOOD! Pastor Curtis Hutson (1934-1995) said that truth! Sometimes doing the right thing is frustrating, and may not be convenient, but it pleases our righteous God. Psalms 97:12, “Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.” What a beautiful Bible verse! We are supposed to be thankful at the remembrance of God's holiness! I am so thankful that we have a just, faithful and good God! Aren't you? What if the Devil were more powerful than God? I am so thankful that when all is said in done in this life and world, that our holy and righteous God will make everything right. I love something that the brilliant author Mark Twain (1835-1910) said: 

“If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.” —Mark Twain

What a simple but profound statement! If we always tell the truth, we never have to cover our lies. I want to always live in such an honest and upright way, that if asked questions I never have to lie. I learned something that I thought was fascinating from a police detective. He said the way to find out if someone is lying is to simply keep asking questions. If someone is lying, then at some point their story will change, because they have to lie to cover-up for the lies. But if a person is telling the truth, you can ask them questions for three months and their story will never change. The way to avoid ending up in a difficult situation like that is to always DO RIGHT! Do right dear reader, though the stars fall, DO RIGHT!!! 

The Righteous Lord Loveth Righteousness

The primary evidence of being saved is the indwelling Holy Spirit (1st John 3:24), who creates a desire in us for righteousness. 1st John 3:7-8, “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” That doesn't mean someone is not saved who lives in unrepentant sin. There is much confusion and debate over this subject in churches today. Christians don't always do the right thing. In fact, sometimes believers commit horrible crimes, just like unbelievers do at times; but there should be a desire inside the breast of every born-again child of God, that hates evil. I hate the wrong things I have done in my life. I am not proud of them. I wish I could go back and undo them, and always do the right thing! That is the Holy Spirit in me!!!

Psalms 11:7, “For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.” I want God to be proud of me! I want my heavenly Father's face to shine toward me, bragging on me like He did Job. I want to work as hard as I can, in the Lord's strength, to influence as many people with the Gospel of free grace as I can, so there will be a bunch of saved souls waiting to greet me in Heaven someday (Daniel 12:3). God loves when His children do right! No one ever gets away with anything. I heard recently that the conviction rate for murderers is about 50%. Most people who commit horrible crimes are never brought to justice. The culprits behind the 911 attack on the World Trade Center in New York City have never been brought to justice. The corrupt U.S. Justice Department has turned a blind eye to the crimes, but Ecclesiastes 5:8 and 12:14 says they won't get away with it. I thank God for those passages of Holy Scripture!!!

The Upright Christian Can Stand As Bold As A Lion

The righteous are as bold as a lion. What a beautiful truth! When I attended Hyles-Anderson College (1985-1993), I gladly served the Lord voluntarily in the 'B bus ministry' for seven years in Chicago. I drove a church bus for four of those years, which is how I sustained my permanent neck injury when rear-ended by another bus n 1992. We had a slum apartment building on our 76-3 bus route. This particular building was known for drugs and roughnecks. One afternoon there was a police raid and dozens of cops swarmed in on the building. One of our faithful teenage girls stood firm in front of the building, while everyone else who lived there was fleeing. The police asked her the question, “Why aren't you running?” She confidently replied, “I'm not doing anything wrong, so why would I run?” That is a perfect example of our text Bible verse from Proverbs 28:1, “The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.” 

I don't know about you, but I am determined to always do the right thing. I know I won't always do the right thing, because I am a sinner by nature, but at any given moment I CAN choose to do what is right (1st Corinthians 10:13). It feels good to live right. When I surf the internet, I always assume that thousands of people are monitoring my activity, because some of them are. Everything we do online is recorded, shared, stored, monitored, analyzed and archived. There is no such thing as internet privacy! I never say anything in private that I wouldn't want everyone to know, because people talk. It is in our nature. James 3:8, “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” Every Christian believer ought to purpose in our heart to think right, live right and do right! That way we can confidently walk upright everywhere we go, at all times without guilt or worry, being AS BOLD AS A LION in the fear of God!

“No man can pray inside the will of God, while he lives outside the Word of God!” —Brother Lester Roloff, “Wisdom Of The Word”