Where Evangelist Jack Chick Went Wrong On The Gospel

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.” ...Galatians 2:21, “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”

The following page appears on the back of all Chick Tracts:

The Heretical Back Page Of Every Chick Tract

In step #2 on how to go to Heaven, Jack Chick teaches damnable heresy: “Be willing to turn from sin (repent).” This is unbiblical. To require sinners to “be willing to turn from sin” to be saved is an act of self-righteousness. Carefully notice that this is not acknowledging one's sinnership (which is step #1). Jack Chick adds an entirely new requirement to be saved, not only admitting one's need as a sinner, but also being willing to make an effort to cease from those sins. In effect, Jack Chick is trying to do the Holy Spirit's job. 

Instead of allowing God to change a person who has come to Christ to be saved, Jack Chick requires sinners to change themselves as a prerequisite to placing their faith in Christ. This is a false gospel of qualification by works. 2nd Corinthians 11:3-4 warns us about “another gospel.” If this doctrinal issue seems trifle to you, then please consider that every pseudo-Christian cult in the world agree with Jack Chick's definition of repentance. I'm not kidding! That is why Mormons at Brigham Young University require Pastor John MacArthur's perverse book teaching the lie of Lordship Salvation for their students. Tragically, the once great citadel of Christian fundamentalism in the United States, Bob Jones University (BJU), is now preaching the doctrine of devils of Lordship Salvation. Look for yourself how Dr. Steve Pettit (president of BJU since 2014) agrees in his corrupt theology with Seventh-Day Adventist false prophetess Ellen G. White. Jesus warned everyone in Matthew 7:15a, “Beware of false prophets”!

Evangelist Jack Chick has perverted the Gospel. The word “repent” in the Bible simply means, “a change of mind,” not a change of behavior. Jack Chick cites Acts 17:30 as evidence of his perversion of the Gospel, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.” Although it is certainly true that repentance is necessary for salvation, the Bible does not teach that a sinner must “be willing to turn from sin” in order to be saved. Jack Chick wrongly assumes that repentance means to forsake one's sins. The only righteous thing I can do is faith!

Anyone who says that a sinner must commit to turn away from sins to be saved, does not understand God's grace. When someone attacks the grace of God, they are attacking the God of grace! The Bible is very clear that the nature of deception is sincerity! Proverbs 16:25, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” In Matthew 7:21-23 we find a sincere group of religious people. They boasted of preaching and doing “many wonderful works” in Jesus' name, but the Lord said that He did not know them! They called Jesus, “LORD, LORD,” but did not obey the Gospel, which is by faith alone. 

They were sincere, but they failed to do God's will concerning salvation. John 6:40, “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” Anyone who receives Christ's sacrifice on the cross as payment for their sins, believing that He was buried, and then after three days miraculously bodily resurrected from the dead, is saved (1st Corinthians 15:1-4). Eternal life is God's free gift (Romans 6:23). Jack Chick's teaching on repentance is that you cannot come to Christ for salvation unless you first intend not to walk in sin after you receive Him. This is “qualification by works” as a prerequisite for receiving Christ as Savior.

Also, please notice the prayer that Jack Chick leads sinners to pray in order to be saved. He includes the phrase: “I am willing to turn from sin.” This is another gospel. Salvation is a free gift, NOT conditioned upon our willingness to turn from sin. You can't show me one Scripture where the Word of God requires someone to be willing to forsake their sins to be saved. Again, it is “qualification by works” as a prerequisite for receiving Christ as Savior. Please notice that the words “believe” and “believeth” are found 85-times in the Gospel of John, but the word “repent” is NOT mentioned even once. Hence, the man who believes on Christ has automatically repented. I am sick and tired of corrupt pastors making light of repentance, using the excuse that theologians have wrangled over its meaning for centuries. Yeah, and the half that were wrong went to Hell forever! If you are wrong on repentance, you don't get grace!!! You absolutely cannot mix grace and works and be saved (Romans 11:6).

Romans 4:5, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is COUNTED for righteousness.” Did you read that? A man's faith is COUNTED for righteousness!!! This means that a person can be saved and continue living in sin. Isn't that what we all do? Who can live above committing sin? That's right, no one! 1st John 1:10, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” The Gospel is very simple if you believe you are saved. But the heresy of Lordship Salvation is very complicated, because you never know if you are doing good enough to obtain the award of Heaven. As unbelievable as it may seem dear reader, that is exactly what Dr. Steve Pettit (president of Bob Jones University) taught 2,700 students and faculty on January 26, 2020 in chapel:

“'The race' is a description of the whole of the Christian life of faith.” —Dr. Steve Pettit (“What Does It Mean To Run 'The Race'?” - 4:26)

“You can't just speak about getting saved, and you accepted Christ, and then that's it! There is a justification; There is a sanctification; There's ultimately a glorification, and though there are three parts, they are all part of the whole, and you cannot separate them. In order for you to qualify for the award, you have to get into the race, you have to stay in the race, and you have to finish the race. If you want to win, you have to run to the end; and winning in the Christian life is everything, because if you lose—if you don't finish—you lose everything—you lose your SOUL. And so, the Christian race is the life of faith that begins, is run, and is finished when we cross over into Heaven!” —Dr. Steve Pettit (“What Does It Mean To Run 'The Race'?” - 11:34) 

“We run the race, we cross the finish line, and so what’s the prize? What is the award? Well, there are different viewpoints. Some would have the viewpoint that the awards are crowns in Heaven. But as I read the book of Hebrews and see the whole gist of the book and the flow of the book, I don’t believe its referring to crowns in Heaven. I think it is referring to Heaven itself.” [emphasis added] —Dr. Steve Pettit (“What Does It Mean To Run 'The Race'?” - 22:57)

Heaven itself? Oh my! That is not Free Grace Theology dear reader, it is another gospel of partial faith in Christ plus works. I was saved at 13 years of age. The old account was settled long ago! I received God's free gift of eternal life, without no obligations to me whatsoever, making no promises of any kind to God. IT WAS A GIFT!!! 

The Bible is filled with carnal believers who lived in horrible sin. Noah was a drunkard. Samson was a whoremonger. David was an adulterer and murderer. Rahab was a prostitute. Isaiah had a dirty mouth. Jonah ran from God. Peter denied and cursed the name of Jesus. Ananias and Sapphira stole from the church. Demas forsook Paul in the ministry, having loved this present world. The church at Corinth had a serious problem with church members committing fornication, fighting against each other, suing one another, eating meats offered to idols, and even showing up drunk at the Lord's Supper. They were a house divided. The apostle Paul called them “carnal” in 1st Corinthians 3:1. In fact, Paul called himself “carnal” in Romans 7:14. All this evidences that turning from sin is not required to be saved.

In conclusion, there is an entirely different mindset between someone who thinks you have to forsake your sins, to be or prove you're really saved, versus the redeemed saint who believes CHRIST PAID IT ALL and I need only trust Him. What is going on in the world? It’s absolutely incredible how things have changed since I was a young man. The darkness is so thick you could cut it with a knife. Indifference and Lordship Salvation have absolutely flooded into our churches, along with acceptance of hundreds of English Bible revisions, the creepy homosexual agenda, immodest dress for women, and all manner of apostasy! Anyone who says you must be willing to turn from your sins to be saved has perverted grace.