Dr. Curtis Hutson is 100% Correct on Repentance!

There is a raging battle today over the matter of Biblical "repentance" in regards to salvation. Pastor Curtis Hutson (1934-1995), former editor of the Sword Of The Lord, has it 100% correct...

Pastor Curtis Hutson (1934-1995)

Pastor Hutson shares this precious true story, defending a free grace Gospel: 

Several years ago, after I finished preaching a Sunday morning service, several people trusted Christ as Saviour, including a lady and her five children. I noticed a man sitting on the same pew who did not respond. After the service, I spoke to him, while many of the members of the church were shaking hands with the lady, her children, and others who had trusted Christ that morning.

"Sir," I said, "is this your wife and children?"

"Yes," he replied.

I said, "Isn't it wonderful that they have trusted Christ as Saviour!"

"Yes," he replied.

Then I asked, "Have you trusted Christ as your Saviour?"

He dropped his head and said, "I'm afraid I haven't."

"May I ask why you haven't trusted Christ as Saviour?"

"Well," he said, "to be honest with you, I'm afraid I can't live it."

I suspected that this man had an idea that in order to be saved, he must promise God that he would never sin again, or he thought that repenting was turning from sin. So I pressed the issue. "What do you mean, you can't live it?"

"Well," he said, "I know that I will probably sin again."

I said, "Sir if getting saved is promising Jesus you will never sin again, then I would never get saved, because I know I cannot live a sinless life." I explained that to be saved one simply had to trust Jesus as Saviour. I opened the Bible to John 3:36 and read, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." Then pointing to the verse, I asked, "Does the verse say 'He that believeth on the Son and lives it has everlasting life'?"

"Oh, no," he replied.

"Then what does the verse say?"

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life."

"Then must one believe on the Son and live it in order to be saved? Or must one simply believe on the Son, as the Bible says, to have everlasting life?"

"Well," he said, "I suppose that one must do what the Bible says - believe on the Son."

"Then will you trust Jesus Christ right now as your Saviour?"

With a smile on his face, he answered, "I certainly will." In a moment he joined his wife and children as the church members came by and shook hands, rejoicing with them in their decision to trust Christ as Saviour. 

SOURCE: Repentance: What Does the Bible Teach?

Dr. Curtis Hutson is 100% correct on repentance!

Evangelist David Cloud's Unnecessary Attacks Against Soulwinners

Many critics have attacked Brother Hutson's preaching, accusing him of preaching "Easy Believism," but salvation is easy, and only requires childlike faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved. The Bible says in Acts 2:41 that 3,000 people were saved, water baptized and added to the Church in one day. A couple chapters later in Acts 4:4 we read that another 5,000 men got saved. All together there must have been about 15,000-20,000 men, women and children who were saved and baptized. Somebody was taking count! Numbers were important to God, which He even mentions in the Holy Bible! Certainly, the disciples didn't have time to make sure that each person thoroughly understood what they were doing.

Many churches today make getting saved and water baptized so difficult, that you'd think a person was applying to work for the Secret Service. I know Independent Fundamental Baptist Churches which require people to wait months before they will water baptize them, and you have to share your testimony via a personal video (which is shown to the church congregation) before they will baptize you. That is NOT the Biblical way! That is not how it was done in New Testament churches. People were saved simply by believing the Gospel (1st Corinthians 15:1-4), and then they were water baptized immediately. We see this in Acts 2:41 on the Day of Pentecost. There was no indoctrination, waiting period or requirement to be voted into a local church body, before a saved person could get water baptized and join the church. Today's neo-evangelical churches sure make it hard for people to do right.

Malicious critics, such as David Cloud, have wrongfully accused Brother Curtis Hutson of preaching “Easy Prayerism.” Easy Prayerism is a dangerous term. Satan's greatest weapon is to con people into living the Christian life without ever being born-again. It is extremely dangerous to criticize soulwinners who are following the Bible's commandment to preach the simple Gospel. I agree that a sinner cannot be saved by praying a prayer. We are saved by faith alone. If a person prays a sinner's prayer at the time of salvation, that is fine, just so long as they clearly understand that it is faith in the Good News of Jesus Christ that saves, and not praying. Galatians 3:26, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”

All a person needs to know to be saved is the facts that one is a guilty sinner in God's sight (Romans 3:19-20), and that Jesus is the risen Savior who died in our place on the cross. Jesus paid our debt of sin! If they call upon the Lord Jesus in faith, placing their trust solely in the Savior, they are saved! David Cloud is sowing discord amongst brethren (Proverb 6:19), and unnecessarily making God's simple plan of salvation difficult. Please read, The Simplicity of Salvation by Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001). Lordship Salvation has its origin in Roman Catholicism.

David Cloud's criticisms against some of America's mightiest soulwinners, such as Dr. Jack Hyles and Dr. Curtis Hutson, have caused much unnecessary confusion concerning "repentance." This is unfortunate. It is very important to understand at this point that repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are NOT two separate events in time. David Cloud is correct to teach that repentance and faith are two separate "aspects" of salvation; BUT, he is WRONG to attack Dr. Curtis Hutson's teaching that repentance and faith are NOT a process.

Brother Hutson taught the same correct doctrine as Dr. John R. Rice, i.e., that one who trusts Christ has also repented. Repentance and faith may be two separate aspects of salvation; BUT, they are not two separate events. The Biblical definition of "faith" is different from the Biblical definition of "repentance." This cannot be denied. They are two separate aspects of salvation. David Cloud falsely alleges that Brother Hutson and Dr. Jack Hyles are eliminating the aspect of repentance, by leading lost sinners in a quick sinner's prayer, but this is not the case at all.

David Cloud even stoops as low as labeling Pastor Jack Hyles as: "The King of Shallow Soulwinning," but David Cloud is shallow to attack America's mightiest men of God and soulwinners. We ought to be working together, instead of against each other. I thank God for Pastor Jack Hyles!!! Shame on David Cloud! I was a longtime member of First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana, where Dr. Hyles pastored for over 42 years since 1959.

I attended Hyles-Anderson College in Crownpoint, Indiana for 8 years (1985-1993). I graduated in 1993. During that time I faithfully sat under Brother Hyles' preaching at First Baptist Church of Hammond. What a blessing! Month after month during that time, I witnessed thousands of lost sinners coming to Christ for salvation, week after week, because of Dr. Hyles' ministry. Who is David Cloud to judge their sincerity? As a soulwinner in Dr. Hyles' ministry, I always explained to prospect converts that they were sinners, deserving of punishment in Hellfire. I showed them several Scriptures. I always explained to people that there were no magic words in a prayer that could save them; but rather, it was one's belief on the Lord Jesus Christ that saved them.

In fact, you can hear Pastor Hyles for himself teaching the First Baptist Church of Hammond to be careful about false conversions. Pastor Jack Hyles Addresses Critical Issue Of False Conversions In The Churches (MP3 sermon). Dr. Hyles always stressed the Biblical importance of making sure a person understands that they are a sinner as part of being saved. There's the SIN QUESTION and the SON QUESTION. Admitting that you are a sinner and turning over a new leaf is reformation, not salvation. Believing on Jesus but not realizing one's sinnership is mere religion. In order to be born-again, you must come as a guilty sinner in God's holy eyes (Romans 3:19) and believe the Gospel (1st Corinthians 15:1-4). No one ever got saved who didn't know that he is a sinner. You've got to answer the sin question. Do you know that you are an ungodly sinner in the eyes of holy God?

Pastor Jack Hyles so eloquently and beautifully explains the four steps to sanctification in every Christian believer's life. Of all the thousands of precious sermons that I am aware of by Dr. Jack Hyles, the following MP3 sermon is the one that I would recommend for you to hear. It's that important, and I pray that the Holy Spirit will use it to forever change the way you look at the Christian life.

Here is a classic MP3 sermon by Dr. Jack Hyles, which he preached in churches across the country. I love this sermon! ...

Steps In Sanctification (Or; The Root Of All Heresy)

I also like to call the sermon: The Saved, Crucified, Resurrected And Ascended Life.

The intent of my article is not to critique David Cloud; but rather, to defend the Biblical truth of the simplicity of salvation which Dr. Hyles and Dr. Hutson upheld faithfully. God deliver us from the Alexandrian Greek intelligencia who make salvation impossible, and corrupt “the simplicity that is in Christ” (2nd Corinthians 11:3). Heresy is creeping into our fundamental Baptist churches by the hour. Here are some more classic MP3 sermons by Pastor Hyles that I highly recommend listening to, which are 100% Biblical:

Fundamentalist Heresy | Our Mixed Up Fundamental Christianity

David Cloud Maliciously Attempts to Pitch Dr. John R. Rice Against His Successor, Dr. Curtis Hutson

On David Cloud's website, he uses Dr. John R. Rice's excellent Gospel presentation titled, What Must I DO To Be Saved. Unfortunately, David Cloud takes Brother Rice's writings out-of-context, in a malicious attempt to discredit Dr. Curtis Hutson and Pastor Jack Hyles. Mr. Cloud states...

THE ERROR OF DEFINING REPENTANCE MERELY AS A CHANGE OF MIND (Cloud)

"Another man who has widely influenced the doctrine of repentance held by independent Baptists is the late Curtis Hutson, former editor of the Sword of the Lord. His 1986 booklet “Repentance: What Does the Bible Teach?” has been distributed widely. Hutson boldly denied that repentance means to turn from sin (p. 4). He denied that repentance is sorrow for sin (p. 8). He even denied that repentance means “a change of mind that leads to a change of action” (p. 16). He claimed that repentance simply is “to change one’s mind” and that it did not necessarily result in a change of life. In an attempt to build his doctrine of repentance, Curtis Hutson quoted Scripture that appears to support his position but he ignored the Scriptures that plainly denounce his position. He misquoted the writings of men like his predecessor John R. Rice. He also mixed in a heavy dose of human reasoning."

SOURCE: http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/repentancelordship.htm

Mr. Cloud specifically focuses on Dr. Rice's words:

"To repent literally means to have a change of mind or spirit towards God and toward sin. It means to turn from your sins, earnestly, with all your heart, and trust in Jesus Christ to save you."

SOURCE: What Must I DO To Be Saved, by Dr. John R. Rice

Considering this quote by itself, one could be misled to believe that Brother Rice was teaching Lordship Salvation; BUT, he certainly is not. David Cloud fails to take the entirety of Dr. Rice's article into consideration. Dr. Rice goes on to state:

"The change in your heart, sinner, is God's part and you may be sure He will attend to that. Your part is to simply believe in Him. Whatever else is necessary in your eternal salvation, the Lord attends to when you trust in Him, or believe in Him."

SOURCE: What Must I DO To Be Saved, by Dr. John R. Rice

This is exactly what Brother Hutson and Pastor Hyles taught. Salvation is of God, not man. Our part is simply to believe, but it is God who changes our heart. David Cloud places this burden of change upon the lost sinner as a sort of prerequisite for salvation. Interestingly, David Cloud doesn't present his own article on how to be saved, but rather twists the words of Dr. John R. Rice in an attempt to attack America's mightiest soulwinners. Dr. Rice further states:

“One who believes in Christ has repented.”

SOURCE: What Must I DO To Be Saved, by Dr. John R. Rice

This statement alone by Dr. John R. Rice clearly blows David Cloud right out of the water! Mr. Cloud accuses Dr. Curtis Hutson of MISQUOTING Dr. Rice, but it is certainly the other way around. It is David Cloud who is misquoting Dr. Rice. Here is a quote from Dr. Curtis Hutson, with a quote which he provides from Dr. John R. Rice:

In an article in THE SWORD OF THE LORD, Dr. John R. Rice said:

"Sometimes the preacher does not himself fully understand the plan of salvation. He thinks of salvation as a process. First, there is a period of conviction, then a period of repentance, then an act of faith."

He [Dr. John R. Rice] went on to explain that when one trusts Christ as Saviour he also repents.

Dr. Rice is absolutely right. Faith and repentance are the same; they are not two separate decisions. One cannot trust Christ as Saviour without repenting or changing his mind. The very fact that he trusts Christ for salvation shows that he has changed his mind regarding sin, salvation, and God.

If one book of the Bible had to be considered "the salvation book," it would have to be the Gospel of John. The Gospel of John is printed and distributed more than any other book of the Bible. The purpose of this book is given in 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."

According to this verse, the whole purpose of the Gospel of John is that men might believe that Jesus is the Christ and believing they might have life through His name. In other words, it is written that men might be saved. Yet "repent" or "repentance" is not used one single time in the Gospel of John. On the other hand, "believe" is used more than ninety times in the twenty-one chapters.

SOURCE: Repentance: What Does the Bible Teach?

Curtis Hutson and John R. Rice are 100% in AGREEMENT on repentance! Dr. Rice further states:

"Repentance is inseparable from faith. The Greek word for repentance in the Bible simply means a change of mind; that is, a wholesome change of attitude toward sin and toward God. One who turns his heart to trust in Christ has, naturally, turned his heart away from the love of sin."

SOURCE: Dr. Rice, Here is My Question...; pg. 248, by Dr. John R. Rice, Sword Of The Lord Publishers; ISBN: 0-87398-158-8

Let us ponder the words of Jesus, who said in John 6:37, “...him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” Any sinner who sincerely wants to be saved, may be saved, if he'll simply come by way of the precious blood of Jesus.

Does a person have to stop sinning to be saved? No, that would be impossible. Acts 26:20 says, “that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.” The word “meet” in the Greek is axios and means “deserving, comparable or suitable-worthy.” The Bible is saying that we ought to do works worthy of the salvation that we've been freely given in Christ Jesus. Scriptural evidence for this teaching is found in 1st Corinthians 6:20, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” Carefully notice that the Bible does not say to do works to make one worthy of being saved; but rather, to do works meet (worthy) for repentance. No one is worthy of salvation. No one!

Evangelist Lester Roloff beautifully put it this way: “Real repentance is putting your trust in Jesus Christ so you will not live like that anymore.” Departing from a sinful lifestyle is a matter of appreciation for what the Lord has done for us, of obeying God as His child, and not as a condition of saving-faith.

David Cloud is barking up an empty tree for sure. Now, is that to say that there aren't some people who claim to trust Jesus, who have never genuinely repented? Of course not. They are plenty of imposters today, who masquerade as Christians, but are not. David Cloud wrote a book years ago titled, Repentance is More Than a Sinner's Prayer. Did not the thief on the cross turn to Christ in a sinner's prayer? Yes, he did. Did not the publican cry out to God for mercy in a sinner's prayer? Yes, he certainly did. David Cloud's error is that he views repentance and faith in Christ as two separate events, which they are not.

Here are Mr. Cloud's own foolish words:

If repentance and faith are the same, why does the Bible make such a plain distinction between them? “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). In reality, repentance and faith are two different actions..."

SOURCE: http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/repentancelordship.htm

David Cloud attempts to use Acts 20:21 to support his heresy. Now, I'm about to PROVE that David Cloud doesn't know what he's talking about, in defense of my friends Dr. Curtis Hutson and Dr. Jack Hyles: Granville Sharp's Rule of Greek Exegesis

Sadly, Mr. Cloud falls short of 2nd Timothy 2:15. He simply does not study! Acts 20:21 does not teach two separate actions at all! Repentance and faith are shown as the same thing in this verse. Here is why;

“Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Any time two singular Greek nouns appear in a sentence and are connected by the conjunction "and" (kai Greek) and the definite article "ho" precedes the first noun, but not the second, they both mean the same person! This means that the appositive, our Lord Jesus Christ, is referring to "God" in the first clause! Rendering this into the sentence it is then to be read as follows:

Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, ("EVEN") or ("that is") faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”

This is what Paul was preaching! Repentance toward God, using the Granville Sharp's rule of Greek exegesis, is synonymous (means the same) as faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Faith and repentance are the same event according to Greek grammatical rendering of this verse. However, David Cloud does not follow good biblical interpretation, and ends up with a false interpretation to support his false claims. If we need to be right about anything in the Bible, it is SALVATION. If we are wrong here we will be wrong everywhere else, not to mention our destination if we believe a false Gospel.

The ONLY thing that you need to repent of to be saved is whatever it is that's been keeping you from coming to Christ to be saved. Please see, The Great Meaning Of 'METANOIA'!

The bottom line to Cloud'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. David Cloud is teaching utter heresy. Thank God for men like Dr. Curtis Hutson that don't try to make salvation difficult.

"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." —2nd Corinthians 11:3

Pastor's Jack Hyles, Bob Gray Sr. and Harry Ironside Are 100% Correct On Repentance

Pastor Hyles accurately states:

“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!”

Listen to what Pastor Harry Ironside (1876-1951) correctly states about repentance in chapter 16 of his book, EXCEPT YE REPENT:

“In all that I have written I have failed completely to express what was surging up in my soul if I have given anyone the impression that I think of repentance as something meritorious which must be produced in man by self-effort ere he is fit to come to God for salvation.”

SOURCE: Dr. Harry Ironside, a quote from chapter 16, THE PREACHING THAT PRODUCES REPENTANCE, from his timeless classic book, EXCEPT YE REPENT

I agree 100%! The entire concept of Lordship Salvation is based in human effort. Most of our evangelical churches today have bought into the lie that it's not enough to believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be saved. The Gospel is that Jesus Christ DIED, was BURIED and RESURRECTED from the dead three days later (1st Corinthians 15:1-4).

If you receive Christ's sacrifice on the cross as full payment for your sins, trusting Him, believing that He is risen from the dead, then you are saved. But don't I have to repent? Yes, of course! Biblical repentance is “a change of mind” that causes a person to believe the Gospel. Repentance is NOT a desire to stop sinning. Repentance is realizing that you are a SINNER and need the Savior, so you will believe the Gospel and be instantaneously saved. Repentance is changing your mind about whatever was previously hindering you from resting in Christ for your salvation. It's that simple to get to Heaven dear friend.

Pastor Bob Gray Sr. at the Longview Baptist Temple church in Texas correctly preached:

“Repentance means to change your mind—change your mind—change your mind about how you want to get to Heaven to what God says you've got to do to get to Heaven. If you've got to repent of all your sins, you're still headed for Hell tonight.” —Pastor Bob Gray Sr., a quote from the awesome MP3 sermon, “Why You Should Be A Part Of A Growing Church.”

The Great Meaning Of The Word “METANOIA”!

Some Excellent Quotes Differentiating Salvation from Discipleship:

"There is a vast difference between coming to Jesus for salvation and coming after Jesus for service. Coming to Christ makes one a believer, while coming after Christ makes one a disciple. All believers are not disciples. To become a believer one accepts the invitation of the Gospel, to be a disciple one obeys the challenge to a life of dedicated service and separation. Salvation comes through the sacrifice of Christ; discipleship comes only by sacrifice of self and surrender to His call for devoted service. Salvation is free, but discipleship involves paying the price of a separated walk. Salvation can't be lost because it depends upon God's faithfulness, but discipleship can be lost because it depends upon our faithfulness." ~Pastor M.R. DeHaan, Hebrews; Zondervan Publishing House, 1959 (p. 117)

"People are sometimes led to believe that there is saving value in some public confession of Christ, or profession of a decision. "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness." This is salvation. "With the mouth confession is made unto salvation." This is the voice of the newborn child speaking to and of its father. The only condition on which one may be saved is to believe." ~Lewis Sperry Chafer; Salvation; Dunham Publishing Company, 1917 (p. 46)

"It is an inexcusable error to confront sinners with problems that concern the Christian life and call upon them to make promises regarding them. An unsaved person is never called upon to surrender himself to God. The saving act is in no instance represented as our 'giving ourselves to God'; it is, on the contrary, taking His Son as our Savior." ~Charles Ryrie, Balancing the Christian Life; Moody Press, Inc., 1969 (p. 170)

“Repentance, as it relates to Christ, means to change our minds about Him, who He is and what He's done to provide forgiveness, and deliverance from our sins. When we place faith in Jesus as having taken our place personally on the cross and borne the penalty due our sins, then we're automatically repenting, because we couldn't accept Him in this way without having to change or minds in some way concerning Him.” (From the Liberation of the Planet Earth, by Dr. Hal Lindsey. (p. 133)

"This kind of faith is not 'easy believism'. It is not easy to say, 'I can't save myself, I must recognize that there is something wrong with me, and I must seek help from someone else.'" ~Phillip H. Hook, A Biblical Definition of Saving Faith; Bibliotheca Sacra, April-June, 1964 (pp. 133, 138)

"The second approach finds faith in the gospel alone an 'easy Believism' and seeks to add something to faith in order to accomplish salvation. To repent is to 'change one's mind,' and to believe is to remove one's trust from that in which it has rested and place it in Christ." ~William Howard, Is Faith Enough to Save?; Bibliotheca Sacra, January-March, 1942 (p. 99)

"Certainly discipleship is a most important aspect of our relation to Christ, but it belongs to the sphere of Christian life rather than entrance upon that life... One does not become a disciple in order to become a Christian, but because he has become a Christian by faith in the Savior, it is fitting that he embark upon a life of discipleship." ~Everett F. Harrison, Must Christ Be Lord To Be Savior?-No; Eternity, September 1959 (p. 14)

"For the unregenerate man, repentance is the change of mind whereby he turns from unbelief to faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ." ~Roger Post, The Meanings of the Words Translated 'Repent' and 'Repentance' in the New Testament; Master's Thesis, Wheaton College, June 1972 (p. 80)

"There are those who, in their zeal to get people to turn from their sinful ways and receive the Lord, almost put repentance on a par with believing... Repentance, as it relates to Christ, means to change our minds about Him, who He is and what He's done to provide forgiveness and deliverance from our sins. When we place faith in Jesus as having taken our place personally on the cross and borne the penalty due our sins, then we're automatically repenting, because we couldn't accept Him in this way without having had to change our minds in some way concerning Him." Pastor Hal Lindsey, The Liberation Of Planet Earth, Zondervan Publishing House, 1974 (pp. 136, 137)

"Eternal life is free. Discipleship is immeasurably hard. The former is attained by faith alone, the latter by a faith that works... the former brings with it the righteousness of God so that a man is 'justified freely by his grace' (Romans 3:24). The latter develops a personal righteousness, based on good deeds, so that a man was also 'justified by works' (James 2:24). The former constituted the believer God's workmanship, the latter fulfilled the wonderful purpose for which he had been created. The former cost man nothing, the latter could cost him everything, including life itself." ~Dr. Zane C. Hodges, The Hungry Inherit; Moody Press, Inc., 1972 (pp. 114, 115)

"Discipleship is frequently equated with salvation and often erroneously made a condition for becoming a Christian." ~Pentecost, J. Dwight, Design for Discipleship; Zondervan Publishing House, 1971 (p. 11)

"There is no more piously subtle abrogation of the Gospel than to tell a Sinner that he must not only believe in the Savior, but dedicate himself to do God's will, crown the Savior Lord of his life, etc., etc. Obviously, dedication and service are highly desirable, but they are the privilege and the duty of the saved, never a condition of salvation for the unsaved (cf. Romans 12:1, 2)." ~Dr. Merrill F. Unger, God is Waiting to Meet You; Moody Press, 1975 (pp. 117, 118)

 Will Jesus Christ Say to You in Eternity, “I Never Knew You!”?

In his excellent book, I NEVER KNEW YOU, Michael Patrick Bowen states:

You can live for Christ, you can love Christ, you can serve Him with all your might, time, talent and wealth. You can pray to Him, read your Bible, get water-baptized, join a church, witness to people, and do every wonderful work contained within the realm of Christianity, but if you fail to trust Jesus Christ alone for your salvation, He will “dump” you.

SOURCE: I NEVER KNEW YOU (.pdf), by Michael P. Bowen; by Barbour Books, © 2009; page 77

Beware of the false teaching in most churches today, even many Baptist churches, which says that you have to forsake sinful living to get saved, commit your life to Christ and surrender fully to Christ's Lordship. Satan loves to corrupt the gospel by either requiring good works to be saved, or by subtracting bad works to be saved. Whether good or bad, both are DEAD WORKS! (Hebrews 6:1).

“One who believes in Christ has repented.”

SOURCE: “What Must I DO To Be Saved,” by Dr. John R. Rice (1895-1980)

Michael Patrick Bowen correctly explains Biblical repentance:

“Repent, as Christ meant it to be in terms of salvation, means to change your mind from trusting in what you can do for God to trusting only in what He can do for you.”

SOURCE: Michael Patrick Bowen, a quote from the awesome book, “I NEVER NEW YOU” (Page 114)

Dr. Mark G. Cambron Has It 100% Correct On Repentance

Here is an excellent and needful writing by Dr. Mark G. Cambron (1911-2000) on the subject of REPENTANCE. Please read the following quote carefully, because Dr. Cambron is one of few theologian who gets it, that is, he understands the simplicity of the Gospel and that repentance does not mean turning from sin as proponents of Lordship Salvation foolishly teach:

Repentance is necessary for salvation.

The Greek word for repent is metanoeo, which, translated into English is: to change ones mind. It does not mean to turn from sin. That would add works to salvation.

Repentance for salvation means a change of mind from men's ideas of salvation and religion, to an acceptance of Gods only way of salvation.

This results in a completely new creation, not a reformation of the old. The old nature remains as evil as ever after salvation and has not been reformed . . . The old nature can now be controlled by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.

God guarantees salvation. This is His gift to us.

God guarantees reward and fruit to the obedient son.

God guarantees chastening and loss of rewards to the disobedient son.

God does not cast out disobedient children, but in some cases, does take them home. He does not permit His children to live as they please without His discipline and guidance.

Many teach repentance for salvation incorrectly, by including some form of human effort or righteousness, such as willingness to turn from sin, or turning from sin. This is heresy and has confused many people. It adds works to salvation and causes many to not understand Gods great gift. It is probation, not salvation. It is completely unscriptural. It is Galatianism and a counterfeit of the gospel.

It is a tragedy that many Christians live shallow Christian lives. The Cambron Institute is dedicated to the task of training Christian men and women in the importance of total dedication and making Jesus the Lord of their lives not to be saved but because they are saved.

Shallow Christianity cannot be cured by adding works to salvation.

Salvation is not the result of what we do, but is by receiving what God has done for us. Acts 13:38, 39; Acts 20:20: Gal. 1:8,9; Gal. 2:4; Gal. 2:21; Gal. 3:1.3; Gal. 5:1-4; Eph. 2:8-10; II Cor. 5:21;John 3:16-18; Phil. 3:9; Titus 3:5-8:11 Cor. 11:13-1 5.SOURCE: The Cambron Institute