“Fundamentalists don't change, people quit being fundamentalists!” —Pastor Jack Hyles
Saturday, December 30, 2023
'THRU THE BIBLE' Radio By Pastor J. Vernon McGee
Friday, December 29, 2023
We Often Use The Wrong Weapons As Saints
- Loins gird about with the truth
- Breastplate of righteousness
- Feet shod with preparation of the Gospel
- Shield of faith
- Helmet of salvation
- Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God
- Prayer
Jesus Was Not Always Human
Today I heard a strange sermon titled, "Human Nature Is Not really Human Nature." The gist of the sermon is that animals have a body and soul, but no spirit. Dr. Hyles teaches that born-again humans have a spirit, soul and body, but unsaved people are as animals, not humans, since their spirit is dead. I humbly disagree. Dr. Hyles says at about 31 minutes into the sermon:
"You either walk in the Spirit or you're not human."
"Man in his unregenerate state is not human."
That is why we all must be born-again to become alive (quickened) spiritually by the Holy Spirit of God. Whether a human being is spiritually dead or alive, we still have a spirit. Your spirit may be dead as an unbeliever, but you still have a spirit. Ecclesiastes 12:7 says that when a human dies our spirit return to God that gave it. ๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐น๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ญ๐ฎ:๐ณ, "๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐๐๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฟ๐ป ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ต ๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐: ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฟ๐ป ๐๐ป๐๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ผ ๐ด๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ถ๐."
"Jesus was always human."
I find no pride in contradicting a great man of God. Dr. Hyles is and always will be my hero of the Christian faith. My ministry website wouldn't exist without Pastor Hyles' godly influence in my life, but Dr. Hyles taught us preacher boys to be loyal to truth and principles and not to men and institutions; that is what I am doing! I was saved at age 13 under the preaching of a Hyles-Anderson College graduate pastoring in Chicago. I owe Pastor Hyles a debt of gratitude which cannot be expressed in words.
Having said that, I read a strange doctrine recently in The Strand Study Bible, with which I humbly disagree. Brother Strand teaches that Jesus only existed in Spirit form before He became incarnate (i.e., He became flesh). Pastor Strand teaches the opposite of what Dr. Hyles teaches. Pastor Hyles says Jesus was always human; Brother Strand says Jesus existed only as a Spirit prior to His fleshly birth.
Pastor Strand errantly teaches that Jesus couldn't possibly pay for our deserved eternal punishment of Hell in just 6 hours on the cross, so His eternal punishment was to be confined in a human body forever. That is his exact word used, "confined." I humbly disagree. Brother Strand teaches that Jesus forfeited His eternal Spirit form and is now confined in a human body, which is His eternal punishment by which He paid for our sins. Kindly, using Pastor Strand's rationale, how could one man die for billions of humans? Jesus' punishment was not being confined in a physical body forever. It makes no sense to me and is strange doctrine nowhere taught in the Bible. I wrote a blog about it. Jesus paid for our sins with His precious blood (Romans 5:9; 1st John 1:7; 1st Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 1:5).
I love these dear men of God. My purpose in this post is not to tear down or diminish the greatness of these men; but rather, to preach the Scriptural truth which I believe to be true, for the sake of maintaining correct doctrine. RIGHT DOCTRINE MATTERS.
The Bible speaks in Revelation 13:8b of "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Some theologians think this verse refers to the innocent animal which God killed to provide skins of clothing for Adam and Eve, when God rejected Adam's fig-leaf religion (clothing). Other Bible students think this verse refers to the innocent animal which Abel killed and offered as a blood sacrifice to God, which demonstrated his faith in the coming Messiah. I humbly think this verse refers to Jesus, who in God's mind had already been crucified before the world was even created. Does this mean that Jesus always existed in human form, crucified before the world began? I simply do not know.
We also see in Daniel that when King Nebuchadnezzar peered into the fiery furnace, he saw four men (but only 3 had been cast in). The heathen king said that the fourth man looked like the Son of God (Daniel 3:25). Clearly, Jesus appeared in a preincarnate form in the Old Testament in a physical body. I believe it was Jesus who appeared unto Abraham, while on their way to visit Sodom to see the conditions of that woeful city.
I also believe Jesus is none other than Melchisedec in Hebrews chapter 5, since He has neither mother or father. But I won't dare say that Jesus appeared in His earthly human body throughout the Old Testament in the same body conceived by Mary. That would be strange doctrine in my humble opinion. I agree with Dr. John R. Rice that where the Bible is silent we should also be silent.
I humbly think it is okay to speculate, just so long as we tell our audience that we are doing so. The Apostle Paul at times mentioned that he was merely giving his personal opinion, and that God had not told him to say those things; and yet we see that God chose to include Paul's personal comments as inspired Scripture.
I do not claim to have all the answers. But I certainly don't believe Jesus is being punished for our sins by being "stuck" in a human body forever. Nor do I believe that we are animals when we refuse to walk in the Spirit. The vilest human being still has a spirit, dead as it may be. When the Apostle James says faith without works is "dead" in James 2:17, it is still faith. Dead faith is still existing faith. Many believers are woefully lacking works to shew their faith in the sight of men, but their faith is nevertheless 100% real and still saving faith.
I thought I'd share these intriguing Bible truths with everyone. I'm not saying that I am right on everything, but I do not feel comfortable with the sermon I heard today by Brother Hyles, because he couldn't back up his teachings with Scripture, and neither could Pastor Strand in his commentary. I absolutely love his commentary, but I don't cut anybody any slack if I sincerely think they are in doctrinal error. The doctrine of Christ is important.
I used to tell people to "invite Jesus into your heart" to be saved, but I learned about 15 years ago from Pastor Max D. Younce that it is unbiblical, so I never used that phrase again. A "heart" is a muscle about twice the size of one's fist. A child cannot understand how to invite Jesus into a muscle. We get saved by BELIEVING Jesus did it all for us through Calvary's cross, not by inviting Him into our heart or life. Judas was a part of Jesus' life but went to Hell.
I have always thought a "human" begins at conception in the womb. We know that Christ appeared in the Old Testament in many places as the Angel of the Lord, but not as a human. Angels appeared in the Bible as humans. In fact, the Bible says that some saints have met angels but didn't even recognize them as angels. Hebrews 13:2, "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." Angels look just like humans. Lot prepared a feast for the two angels who came to him (Genesis 19:3). So we know that angels can eat food and drink with enjoyment. That is interesting. Yet, angels are not humans.
The idea that Jesus was always human doesn't set right with me, since He hadn't been conceived yet in Mary's womb by the Holy Spirit. Jesus is God. He was never created. John 1:3 says Jesus created all things. Genesis 1:26 says that the Godhead ("us") created man in "our image" (i.e., in God's image). Here we see the Trinity. The King James Bible mentions that "godhead" in Romans 1:20, Acts 17:29 and Colossians 2:9. All of the Devil's modern Bible revisions remove these words, changing it to "divine nature" (which sounds like new age).
The details of Christ's person are unsearchable by humanity. All we know is what the Bible tells us. Revelation 19:13 says Jesus' name is "THE WORD OF GOD." John 1:1-3 and 14 teach that the Word became flesh. I am not sure what that means. How does "the Word" become flesh? To me "the Word" refers to the printed Bible. But the Bible also says that Jesus is "the Word." That is difficult to grasp. Perhaps it means that since the Word was authored by God, it is effectively Him. The adage is true that: A man is only as good as his Word. A man's word is his bond.
Psalms 138:2, "I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name." I understand why God elevates His Word above His name, because as with men, God's name is only as reliable and trustworthy as His Word. If the Bible is not 100% true, then God is a liar and we cannot trust Him. So, as best that I can tell, when the Bible says that "the Word became flesh" (John 1:14), it means God is inseparably connected with His written Word, that is, God's integrity is dependent upon the trustworthiness of the Holy Bible. The Word became flesh and His name is Jesus.
Thursday, December 28, 2023
I Regret Stopping By McDonald's Today
But I feel like I sinned on the way home because I stopped at McDonalds. I hadn't been to McDonalds since once last month when I saw they had McRib's for sale. I am trying to avoid junk food, but I wanted to treat myself a little. The fish fillet wasn't hot. The fries were lukewarm. The Diet Coke with extra ice was great! I was shocked what they charged me! The fish fillet cost $5.49 by itself, plus $.050 for extra cheese, $.0.55 for extra tartar sauce. The Big Mac Meal cost $9.49 which came with regular size fries and a medium soda. Plus $1.20 Florida tax. All toll, I paid $17.23 for an inferior meal. I seriously doubt if I will go to McDonald's once in the next year (unless the McRib's come back...lol). I remember when you could buy 2 Big Mac's for $2.
This past week I ate a bunch of Chinese food loaded with lots of fresh vegetables. I blew it today by succumbing to my cravings for McDonalds (that cursed place...lol). Fast food isn't worth it anymore, being way overpriced for garbage food in the first place. After my weakness today I am resolved to stay away from fast food this coming year in 2024 as much as possible. Eating at home is so much cheaper. I do plan, God willing, to eat plenty of fresh vegetables from the local Chinese restaurants. It's 100% better for one's health than Burger King, KFC or McDonalds.
I didn't even eat the Big Mac and half the fries, because I wasn't hungry after eating the Fish Fillet sandwich. The Mounjaro curbs my appetite. I feel full much quicker than I did before taking the medication. The Bible teaches us to revenge all disobedience. ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ญ๐ฌ:๐ฒ, "๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฎ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ผ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ, ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ ๐ณ๐๐น๐ณ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ฑ." I apply that verse to my eating habits as well. I regret stopping at McDonald's today, but it was good that I finally realized how ridiculous prices have become. At least 50% of the time when I have gone to McDonald's, their food is cold, dry and dissatisfying; it's garbage food. McDonald's is pricing themselves out of business.
Tuesday, December 26, 2023
I Hate The New Thinner Pop-Tarts
Monday, December 25, 2023
Modern Bible Revisions Errantly Say God Preserves The Helpless, Not The Very Pure Words Of God
They following is a comparison between the King James Bible (KJB) and the Satanic Easy-To-Read Version (ERV). All modern versions change this promise from God to nonsense. Notice carefully that the KJB promises that God would preserve His Words unto every generation, whereas the ERV changes it completely, saying that God protects the helpless . . .
KING JAMES BIBLE (KJB) — Psalms 12:6-7, “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” [emphasis added]WICKED! THAT IS EVIL WICKEDNESS!!! This single passage alone that I just shared with you ought to be enough reason to convince you that the Easy-To-Read Version (ERV) is a Satanic imposter. It should be tossed into your garbage pail.
EASY-TO-READ VERSION (ERV) — Psalms 12:6-7, “The Lord’s words are true and pure, like silver purified by fire, like silver melted seven times to make it perfectly pure. Lord, take care of the helpless. Protect them forever from the wicked people in this world.” [emphasis added]
If you have a King James Bible, then you possess God's preserved, pure, holy words in your hands. But if you have dozens of different Bibles in your church and Bible college, then you cannot believe in a pure Holy Bible, and that's why the Devil's crowd changed Psalms 12:6-7 to say that God protects the helpless, instead of telling THE TRUTH from the King James Bible that God has kept His promise to PRESERVE HIS PURE WORDS. Notice that God's Words are not just pure, but “VERY PURE.” Psalms 119:140, “Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.”
ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION (ESV) - Psalms 12:6-7, “The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. You, O Lord, will keep them; you will guard us from this generation forever.” [emphasis added]
Saturday, December 23, 2023
The Hearing Of Faith
We read in Hebrews 4:2 that Moses preached the Gospel to the Hebrews in the Wilderness for 40 years, “but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” They heard the Good News but had no faith in what Moses heard preached.
I love these Scripture passages, because they show the simplicity that is in Christ. You simply believe the Gospel when you hear it, and that's it. No one was required to forsake a lifestyle of sinning. No one was required to "be willing" to clean up their life and forsake past sinful behavior. No one was required to get water baptized, make public confession, become a Christ follower, live a lifestyle of perpetually turning from sinning, invite Jesus into your life, surrender to Jesus as "Lord" of your life, nor anything else.
You simply HEAR the Gospel (whether read or spoken) and BELIEVE IT, and you are on your way to Heaven. Men complicate God's simple plan of salvation.
If you read Acts chapter 10 about the Italian centurion Cornelius, you will learn that he was a good man (as far as sinners go). Cornelius feared God, prayed, fasted and gave alms to the poor, but he was still lost in his sins. So God arranged for Cornelius and the Apostle Peter to meet up, and they did later in the chapter. Peter simply preached the truth of the Gospel. Peter never told Cornelius and his friends to do anything to be saved. Peter simply preached the Gospel message and they believed what they heard and were saved (Acts 10:43-44). That is how anybody gets saved, by believing the Gospel when we hear it.
All of these bad preachers today (infidels) who are telling people to "turn from your sins" to be saved are preaching another gospel. I am astonished how most preachers today are preaching an embellishment of the Gospel, lying to their audience, saying things that cannot be supported with the inspired Scripture. This is the dire consequence of repeating things which they have heard peers in the ministry errantly teach and preach. Jesus told us to SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES!!! (John 5:39).
Thursday, December 21, 2023
Beware Of Drinking Alcohol: Liquid Devil
Wednesday, December 20, 2023
Be Careful What Advice You Take From Others
Esther 5:14, “Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and tomorrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.”
- What goes around comes around. Haman conspired to murder an innocent man, but it backfired on him. This is poetic justice at its finest! The Bible warns in Galatians 6:7 that what men reap they will sow. With whatever measure we judge men, we shall be judged by that same measure (Matthew 7:1-2).
- Be very careful what advice you take from family and friends, because it could cost you everything! Haman's foolish wife Zeresh didn't hesitate to give hateful ungodly advice to her husband, to have an innocent Jewish man killed. Little did she know that not only would her husband be hung by the king on that 75 foot high gallows, but also HER 10 SONS (Esther 9:25). Mrs. Haman spent the rest of her life in regret, wishing she had never opened her mouth to give such ungodly advice to her husband. One wrong bit of advice could cost you everything!!!
- Idiots are quick to give bad advice when it won't adversely affect them. Those wicked friends of Zeresh and Haman had nothing to lose by giving such wicked advice to them. Ultimately, Zeresh's and Haman's 10 sons were all killed, and then Haman himself. It burns me up when fools advise friends and family to file for divorce. Woe unto the person who encourages, nurtures or helps someone get a divorce. God hates divorce (Jeremiah 3:20). Marriage is sacred ground in God's sight. Divorce and remarriage is adultery (Matthew 19:9; Hebrews 13:4). Human sinful nature is to selfishly take sides with friends when marital troubles arise, and not care about the unknown spouse; that is sinful and meddlers will be judged by God (Matthew 19:6). It is very easy to help destroy someone else's marriage, when it won't affect you adversely in the least.
- Be very careful who you choose to keep as friends. I would rather have no friends than bad friends. Loneliness will be the worst of your problems if you make losers for friends. People can and will become your worst enemy if you foolishly choose to closely associate with worldly sinners. In 2nd Samuel 13:3 the Bible tells us that David's son, Amnon “had a friend.” That ungodly friend ruined Ammon's life, which ultimately led to Amnon's murder by Absalom. Bad friends will ruin you!
- Be very careful who you get into a vehicle with. I am reminded of a tragic incident in 2021 that happened in Georgia. A 25 year old black man named Ahmaud Arbery had been shot to death, when he was confronted by a father and son, along with a neighbour. I feel so bad for the neighbor, William Bryan, because his only fault was getting into the truth with his neighbours. Mr. Bryan was just in the wrong place at the right time, walking in front of his house. The father and son had invited for him to join them, so Bryan hopped into the truck; but by being with his two neighbors he became an accomplice. Be very careful who you get into a vehicle with, because if they commit a crime you will be prosecuted as an accomplice just for being present! Although William Bryan made no racist comments or killed anybody, he was sentenced to 40 years in prison just for being present. That is injustice in my humble opinion. Public pressure from Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, the black community and liberal newsmedia ensured that the 3 defendants didn't receive a fair trial (and they simply didn't, “Principles Of Justice” sermon by Pastor Steven Anderson).
- Married women belong at home, not in the workplace. This point has nothing to do with this blog, per se. However, it is related to the topic at hand of being careful about making bad friends. I heard the true story of a married woman who met a man at work. They began an adulterous affair. The woman's jealous husband murdered his wife and was then sentenced to life in prison. The wicked adulterous man at work walked away scot-free! If I had the legal power to do so, that adulterous co-worker would be serving life behind bars with the husband! Thankfully, God will make that ungodly co-worker wish he had never been born in eternity. No one can escape the judgment of God (Hebrews 4:13, 13:4; Romans 1:32; Ecclesiastes 12:14). Call me old-fashioned (and I am), but I firmly believe that all married women belong at home working as homemakers.
Esther 9:23-26a “And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them; Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them; But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. ...”
Tuesday, December 19, 2023
Beware Of Billy Graham's Counterfeit New Birth
So how can we be born again?
First, we must admit our sin—that we can’t live up to God’s perfect standard on our own. Then we must ask forgiveness for that sin and repent, which means to make every effort in turning away from that sin. Finally, we ask Jesus to be part of our lives.
That’s when God’s Spirit penetrates our hearts to guide us and help us be more like Him. That’s when we’re born again. [emphasis added]
SOURCE: What Does It Mean To Be Born Again?
- Jesus DIED on a cross to pay our debt of sin.
- Jesus was BURIED.
- Jesus bodily RESURRECTED three days later from the dead.
That’s when God’s Spirit penetrates our hearts to guide us and help us be more like Him. That’s when we’re born again.
SOURCE: What Does It Mean To Be Born Again?That is NOT what it means to be born again. The Bible says when Adam sinned he opened the floodgate of sin into the world, and by sin came death upon all men (Romans 5:12). Consequently, every human being born since Adam has been born with a sin nature. We are all sinners by nature and by choice. The greatest sin, next to rejecting Christ as one's Savior, is to condemn another sinner (Matthew 7:1-5). There but for the grace of God go I.
- Ask forgiveness for sins
- Make every effort in turning away from sin
- Ask Jesus to be part of our lives
Billy says that we must repent of our sins and attempts to provide examples from the bible that suggest we are supposed to repent of our sins in order to be born again; however, his examples are weak and hold no truth at all because the bible “never” tells us to quit sinning in order to be saved; in fact, the phrase “repent of sin” does not even occur in the bible. Billy often refers to the Greek word for repent which is metanoia, which he erroneously defines as turning away from our sins, to feel sorry for our sins, that we should change our minds about sin and walk away from it altogether as a “requirement” for our being born again. Very often, as a way of telling us that we have to quit willfully and deliberately sinning in order to be born again, he will refer to where Jesus said in Luke 13:3 that we must repent or perish, yet in the original Greek manuscript, the word for repent means to change your mind and has nothing at all to do with turning from sins. —Michael P. Bowen, “I Never Knew You,” p. 137
Saturday, December 16, 2023
Pastor Brad Strand Gets Repentance 100% Correct
Repentance may include “remorse” (made you sorry), but remorse is not repentance. If so, then Judas repented because he was remorseful over what he had done to Christ (Mt 27:3). You can weep over sin and even express great remorse, but until you “change your mind” as to who you are and who Christ is and agree with God (Mt 3:2), you have not repented biblically.
Repentance may include “sorrow” (you were made sorry), but sorrow for sin is not repentance. Hell is full or sorrow, but only for the consequences of sin. The rich man who died and went to Hell uttered not a word of sorrow for his sin, only sorrow for his pain (Lk 16:19-31). You can weep over sin and even express great regret, but until you “change your mind” as to who you are and who Christ is and agree with God, you have not repented biblically.
Repentance may include “conviction” (after a godly manner), but conviction is not repentance. If so, then Felix repented when he trembled before Paul (Acts 24:24-25). You may be convicted that you are a sinner and even admit that you are lost, but repentance is a two-sided coin. You not only have to “change your mind” as to who you are, you have to also “change your mind” as to who Christ is and call upon Him to be your Savior (Rom 10:9-13). Otherwise, you have not repented biblically.
SOURCE: Brad Strand, “The Strand Study Bible,” p 1938
This word (repentance) comes from a combination of two Greek words: (meta - meaning, “after”) and (noeo - meaning, “mind”). The word literally means, “to change ones mind; to perceive afterwards; to change what you believe and agree with God” (Mt 3:2).
Metanoeo is used 58 times in the New Testament. It is used three different ways:
- It is used 37 times concerning the lost.
- It is used 17 times concerning the saved.
- It is used 4 times concerning the lost during the Tribulation Period.
NOTE: True repentance has nothing to do with “turning from sin” and everything to do with “acknowledging one's sinfulness” (Jonah 3:5). Like the thief on the cross who simply acknowledged his sinfulness (Lk 23:39-43), the only part a person has in salvation is the beggar's part. If repentance means to “turn from sin and change one's life,” then did God sin when He repented (Jonah 3:10)? I think not. Telling a sinner that he must “turn from sin” before receiving salvation gives a false view of salvation, and is but another form of “works.” Ephesians 2:8-9 is clear:
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Repentance for salvation does not require a person to “clean himself up first” (i.e., “turn from his sin”).
THE ADAGE IS TRUE: You come to God as a sinner; you don't come to God as a “sinless” sinner.
SOURCE: Pastor Brad Strand, “The Strand Study Bible,” p 1938-1939
I was shocked on page 60 when I read PCC's counterfeit plan of salvation. What I am about to show you is straight from Satan dear reader:
“REPENTANCE — Now is the time to turn from your sin and embrace God. The act of turning away from sin is called 'repentance.' This word implies an inward decision to follow and obey God's will instead of your self-serving sins. It means changing your mind about sin and seeing it as something that grieves God. The Bible says that God patiently waits for all people to make this decision.” [emphasis added]
SOURCE: “John & Romans,” Campus Church at Pensacola Christian College, p. 60
Matthew 23:13-14, “But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.” Matthew 23:17, “Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?”
Matthew 23:27-28, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”
“I repent of my sins. I realize that sin is something that God hates and I no longer want to hold onto sinful bad habits.” [emphasis added]
SOURCE: “John & Romans,” Campus Church at Pensacola Christian College, p. 62
1st Corinthians15:1-4, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.”
The only requirement to believe the Gospel is to know why you need to be saved? You need to know what you're being saved from. You are a guilty sinner, and so am I. Pastor Strand nailed it...
True repentance has nothing to do with “turning from sin” and everything to do with “acknowledging one's sinfulness” (Jonah 3:5). Like the thief on the cross who simply acknowledged his sinfulness (Lk 23:39-43), the only part a person has in salvation is the beggar's part.SOURCE: Brad Strand, “The Strand Study Bible,” p 1938-1939
"Repentance is the recognition of my sinnership—the owning before God that I am as vile as He has declared me to be in His holy Word."Amen and amen! What Brother Ironside just said is vastly different than turning from one's sinful bad habits to be saved, which is a false gospel rooted in works. Pastor Ironside is correct—repentance is simply acknowledging that one is a guilty sinner in God's eyes. This is why we need a Savior. Thankfully, Jesus paid the price with His own precious blood (1st Peter 1:18,19; Hebrews 9:12). Jesus paid a debt He did not owe, because we owed a debt we could not pay. JESUS PAID IT ALL!!!
SOURCE: 'Except Ye Repent,' by Dr. Harry Ironside, chapter 3
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 God's 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
Amen and amen. That is great stuff! It is refreshing to see a man with eight earned theological degrees who is correct on Bible repentance.
I was so happy today when I learned that Pastor Strand is correct on repentance. It is becoming rare these days to find a Baptist preacher who is correct on repentance and the Gospel. Pastor Strand added these words to explain Bible repentance...
True repentance concerning salvation occurs whenever a person “changes his mind” (i.e., repents) concerning who he is. He is a sinner in need of salvation. According to Matthew 27:3, Judas did not repent (i.e., have regret) as to who he was (i.e., he was a sinner in need of salvation); he only regretted (i.e., repented) what he had done to an innocent man. Unfortunately, that is never enough to save a person from sin and sin's penalty (Hell). Until a person sees himself as being “sinfully” sick (Lk 5:31-32), he will never see his need for a “spiritual doctor” (i.e., the Savior). Our problem is not in what we do before God, but in what we are before God. The mistake Judas made was in “turning from his sin” (i.e., what he had done to an innocent man) instead of “changing his mind” about his sinfulness (i.e., the fact that he was a sinner in need of a Savior). Like the thief on the cross who never had the opportunity to “turn from his sin,” we, like him, can only “acknowledge our sinfulness” in order to be saved (Lk 23:40-41). True repentance for salvation occurs when we “change our mind” concerning two areas:
- Who we are (Lk 23:39-40) — We are sinners in need of salvation (Rom 5:6-8)
- Who Christ is (Lk 23:42) — Christ is God (Jn 5:17-18 & 8:24, 58-59 & 10:30-33) and our only Savior from sin (I Tim 3:16 & 4:10).
SOURCE: Pastor Brad Strand, “The Strand Study Bible,” p 1938-1939
Boy, that is great stuff! That is life-changing truth! I am not kidding friend. When you learn the truth about repentance and the Gospel—knowing how simple God's plan of salvation really is and that it can all be yours completely for free; and you have received that free gift of eternal life by faith alone in Jesus Christ—it will produce unspeakable joy in your soul.
1st Peter 1:7-9, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”
No believer will ever find the sweet peace and joy of being God's redeemed child, until you know beyond any shadow of a doubt that your name is written in Heaven, in the Lamb's Book of Life (Luke 10:20). As an acknowledged guilty sinner, by faith I received Christ's sacrifice on the cross as full payment for my sins at age 13. I called out in my soul to the risen Savior, casting my trust upon Him alone as my Savior. I thank God for the gift of His only begotten (biological) Son, Jesus, who with His precious blood paid my debt of sin (1st Peter 1:18-19).
God bless Brother Strand for rightly dividing the Word of Truth.
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