Catholics Teach “Born Again” Same As Lordship Salvation

Galatians 1:7 and 9, “...there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ ... As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

The following quote is taken from a 100% devout Catholic website, authored by David MacDonald, which clearly reveals that all of the apostate Contemporary Christian Music [CCM] singers, sinister ecumenical ministers, and Lordship Salvationists; totally AGREE with Catholic theology (which is unbiblical heresy and lies of Satan). I say that because they all teach the same junk which you are about to read. None of this is free grace theology as taught in the inspired King James Bible! 

The following is damnable heresy and a FALSE GOSPEL from David MacDonald's website...

“Note: If you have never made a personal commitment to Christ. If you have never asked him into your heart and to be Lord of your life, I encourage you to do that now.

Are Catholics Born Again?

I think Evangelicals and Catholics totally agree about the awesomeness of a personal encounter with Jesus. In Pope Benedict XVI's new encyclical, 'Spe Salvi' we read:

'Life in its true sense is not something we have exclusively in or from ourselves, it is a relationship. And life in its totality is a relationship with him who is the source of life. If we are in relation with him who does not die, who is life itself and love itself, then we are in life. Then we 'live... Our relationship with God is established through communion with Jesus -- we cannot achieve it alone or from our own resources alone.'

Much debate has set Catholic 'Baptism' against the Evangelical 'Born again' concept. I think that greater common ground can be found if we compare the Evangelical 'Born Again' experience to the Catholic 'Second Conversion' experience which is when a Catholic surrenders to Jesus with an attitude of 'Jesus, take my will and my life, I give everything to you.' This is a spontaneous thing that happens during the journey of faithful Catholics who 'get it.' Yup, the Catholic Church teaches a personal relationship with Christ:”

SOURCE: http://www.davidmacd.com/catholic/born_again_catholics.htm

That is EXACTLY what John MacArthur, Ray Comfort, Kirk Cameron, CCM singers, Max Lucado, Rick Warren, Moody Bible Institute, and all the other Lordship Salvationists are teaching today. In case you haven't realized it yet, Lordship Salvation is CATHOLIC DOCTRINE!!! David MacDonald claims that evangelical Christians and Catholics agree that salvation is an “experience” in which a person “surrenders to Jesus with an attitude of 'Jesus, take my will and my life, I give everything to you.'”

May I say, that is a doctrine of devils. Being born again is NOT an “experience” as David MacDonald refers to, nor is it surrendering one's life to Christ; it is a lost sinner being saved by the power of God (John 1:12-13). It is a miracle of God in response to a man's faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I tell you that the Catholic religion is Satanic through and through. 

Being born-again is a new birth—a second birth, a spiritual birth into the kingdom of God. It is having He (Jesus) Who is the Beginning (Revelation 1:8) born in us. Just as the physical birth (first birth) brought us into this earthly life, so also does the spiritual birth (second birth) bring us into God's family.

The Salvation Army follows the heresy of their founders, William and Catherine Booth, who considered salvation a “state” that could be lost if one failed to continue in obedient faith. May I say, salvation is NOT a “state,” it is a new birth. It is a second birth, a spiritual birth. The spiritual birth is as irreversible as the physical birth. The teaching that salvation is a “state” that is conditional upon “continued obedient faith” is demonic works-salvation. The believer's salvation is secure in Christ's finished work of redemption. Jesus died, was buried and arose. He ascended into Heaven. The blood has been applied to the heavenly mercy seat (Hebrews 9:12, 24). The price has been paid.

I KNOW I am saved because eternal life is rooted in the PROMISES of God (Titus 1:2); and not upon how good I'm doing in life as a believer. My salvation is secure in Jesus Christ and has nothing to do with my efforts. Eternal life is a gift (Ephesians 2:8-9). A gift has no strings attached. Our part is simply to trust upon the name of Jesus. God does the saving (John 1:12-13). Salvation is not a state, nor an experience, nor a feeling; but rather, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1st Peter 1:23). We are born anew of the Spirit of God (John 3:5) by the seed of God's Word. Amen!

Catholics, CCM singers, ecumenical ministers, Lordship Salvationists, and other apostates, all talk about being born-again as a feeling or an experience; but they deny the power thereof (2nd Timothy 3:5), which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16; 1st Corinthians 15:1-4). Notice in the preceding quote that David MacDonald, admittedly a devout Catholic, continually refers to being born-again as an “EXPERIENCE” (just as the apostate Newsboys CCM group do)!

David MacDonald defines being “born-again” the exact same way as apostate CCM singers and sinister ecumenical ministers, teaching, “Jesus, take my will and my life, I give everything to you.” That is a false Gospel. Judas was one of Christ's very Apostles, a follower of Jesus, but still went to Hell. Jesus called Judas a devil (John 6:70).

Notice that the mention of “sin” is not made. Being born-again is a matter of having one's sins taken away by the precious blood of Jesus Christ (1st Peter 1:18-19; John 1:7; Revelation 1:5). Colossians 1:14, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” The Pope doesn't mention “sin” when he speaks of being born-again. David MacDonald talks about having an experience, just as the evil Newsboys sing and teach; but they leave off any mention of coming to God as a guilty, hell-deserving “sinner” (Romans 3:19).

Modern apostates jumble a bunch of Biblical terms into their fruit cocktail of religious music and sermonettes; but fail to present the Biblical Gospel of a man coming to God as a guilty sinner and trusting upon the Lord, apart from all self-righteous works, to be forgiven (Romans 4:5-6; Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus died, was buried, and rose again for our sins (1st Corinthians 15:1-4). Salvation is not a feeling, nor an experience; it is a miracle of God in response to a sinner's faith in the Son of God, Jesus Christ (John 20:31; Romans 10:3-4; Galatians 3:26).

Asking Jesus to “take your will and life,” and “giving everything to Him”; are not the ways to be saved. This is made clear in Matthew 7:21-23. In verse 21, Jesus said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Jesus said You must do “the will of the Father.” What is the will of God how to be saved? John 6:40 tells us exactly what the will of God concerning salvation is... “And THIS IS THE WILL of Him [God the Father] that sent Me [God the Son], 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.” Amen and amen! So there you have it, the will of God how to be saved, i.e., to believe on Jesus Christ. The will of God is to BELIEVE... to BELIEVE... to BELIEVE on Jesus Christ, as the Son of God (Acts 16:30-31).

1st Corinthians 15:1-4, “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.”

John Lennon's Philosophies Define The New World Order

John 15:18-19, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”

John Lennon (1940-1980) of The Beatles is famous for his 1971 song “Imagine,” which contain the following lyrics:

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today... Aha-ah...

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace... You...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

That is the very essence of what the New World Order (NWO) is becoming. The NWO is setting the stage for the coming Man of Sin, the Antichrist. Kindly said, John Lennon was young and foolish in his ideas. The truth of the matter is Mr. Lennon couldn't even get along with the other three members of The Beatles, let along with the whole world.

Lennon's liberal, hippie, revolutionary ideas sound good in theory, but in reality John totally ignores man's sin nature. Even if it were as Lennon envisioned, ridding the world of religious denominations and country borders, you'd still have a planet of wicked sinners:

Romans 3:10-18, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

The fact that The Beatles in their youth lived sinful lives of substance abuse, prostitutes, rebellion and fighting amongst themselves, testifies to the Bible's description of the inherent sinfulness of mankind. Sadly, John Lennon was shot twice in the back by a nutcase in 1980, which killed the beloved singer and musician. I admire John Lennon and his gift of music. 

In this article I am simply addressing Lennon's personal philosophies, which embody the New World Order. John Lennon is idolized today by the world as a visionary of world peace. His philosophies are touted and promoted as the answer to the world's problems. It sounds great in theory, but it could never work. John Lennon's fantasy ignores the reality of the never-ending battle between evil and good. 

I have been frustrated since President Joe Biden came to power in the White House. President Trump kept his promise to erect a 2,000 milelong Mexican border wall to keep out illegal immigrants. It's about time! But now President Biden is effectively undoing the good Mr. Trump accomplished, allowing 25,000 immigrants into the country this week alone. Joe Biden wants to make all the illegals legal. I am neither Republican or Democrat. If anything I'm a Libertarian, but for the most part I am a political atheist. I dread politics, because it is all so corrupt. When people ask what my political party is, I tell them “none.” Jesus never voted.

Sadly, the churches today are succumbing to John Lennon's fantasy of eliminating all absolutes from our world. That is why we literally have hundreds of English Bible versions today. I love something that Dr. Shelton Smith said recently:

“Experimenting with 'a variety of versions' (no authoritative text) in your church will sow seeds of doubt & pave the way for compromises from which you’ll likely never recover.” —Dr. Shelton Smith, editor of Sword Of The Lord

There are multiple different plans of salvation being taught today in Baptist churches all across America. Some say you must turn away from sinful bad habits to be saved. Others say you simply need to trust Christ (that's what I believe). Still others preach that you must exchange all that you are for all that Christ is, surrendering all to Jesus as “Lord” to be saved. All of these may be wrong, but they cannot all be right! Common sense dictates that fact.

By allowing poor and unskilled immigrants to continue flooding into the country, parasiting off American taxpayers who have to pay the bills, President Biden is fulfilling John Lennon's dream of a country without borders, because without borders a nation ceases to be a country! By promoting multiple Bible versions, churches and Bible colleges are helping to build the New World Order, denying that we have one absolute infallible Holy Bible today in English. By preaching various plans of salvation, people everywhere are confused in the churches. We have multiple Bible versions, multiple plans of salvation, open borders, ecumenical apostasy in thousands of Neo-evangelical churches, et cetera. 

This is where John Lennon's foolish ideas actually lead, to a breakdown of law and order. The 2020 riots were a reality check, showing the moral condition of our country today. Democrats and wacky liberals pulled down historical statues across the country, even destroying a statue of Christopher Columbus. You may not like our nation's often ugly history, but it is still our history. We cannot change the past. By tearing down historical monuments in an attempt to erase our past, it only dooms us to repeat the past instead of learning from it. There is much wisdom in what I just said. We need our pain as a nation! Pain makes us think and change.

John Lennon's thinking was from a good heart. John was sincere, wanting the senseless killing to cease. Lennon was born in 1940, which means he grew up in the aftermath of World War II. He lived through the Cold War between the USA and Russia, when everyone was on nerve about impending nuclear war. John lived through the Vietnam War, seeing 58,000 U.S. soldiers come back in body bags from Asia. So you can't blame John Lennon for expressing his antiwar views through music. But what John didn't understand as a youth is that evil and good always coexist. That is why we need police. That is why we need armies. That is why we need fines, courts, prisons and probation to compel sinners to do right.

In his philosophical rants, John Lennon said he envisioned a world where there were no religious denominations, where everyone worshipped Jesus, Buddha, Zoroaster, Hare Krishna and Muhammad EQUALLY. That is the word Lennon uses, “equally.” John is saying that truth is not absolute, that it doesn't matter what you believe. But what saith the Scripture? John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” The Bible says salvation is found only through faith in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:10-12). 

I hope you see how John Lennon's foolish ideas are the very foundation of the Devil's New World Order. To evidence what I am telling you, please read this disturbing quote from Gregory Brock Chisholm, first head of the World Health Organization (WHO):

“To achieve world government, it is necessary to remove from the minds of men their individualism, loyalty to family tradition, national patriotism, and religious dogmas.” —George Brock Chisholm, in a Speech given at the, Conference on Education, Asilomar, California, September 11, 1954

Gregory Chisholm made that statement in 1954. The Devil's NWO has been in the plans for a very long time. In fact, the conspiracy to achieve world government continues from one generation to the next, spanning millenniums, going back to Babel (Genesis 11:1-11). The Devil and those who worship and serve him (Luciferians) want illegal immigration. They want riots breaking out across the country, so they can rise up a police state. Luciferians want school shootings, workplace killings and drive-by gang shootings, so they can ban guns and render citizens helpless against government tyranny. They want chaos in society! They want abortions, immorality, perversion, homosexuality and a woeful lack of morals, because they know that the best revolutionary is a youth devoid of morals. This is the New World Order, setting the stage for the coming Antichrist (2nd Thessalonians 2:1-10).

I am so thankful that as a born-again Christian I do not think like John Lennon. As believers “we have the mind of Christ” (1st Corinthians 2:16b). I do not like war and killing, just like John Lennon didn't. It would be great if the world could all live in harmony, like the Coca-Cola commercial that I grew up hearing al the time in the 1970's. I love that commercial. But mankind is depraved by nature. Galatians 5:19-21 lists the works of the flesh, which are the carnal man's typical behavior. Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruit of the Holy Spirit, which only the born-again believer can have, if we walk in the indwelling Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:25). This is why the Gospel is so important, because of its transforming power to convert the lost sinner into a redeemed saint, indwelt with God's Holy Spirit (Romans 1:16; 1st Corinthians 3:16-17). 

The answer to the world's woes is not to eliminate national borders. The answer is not to get rid of religious denominations. Many people blame religion for history's wars and atrocities. For example, during the Catholic Spanish Inquisition, an estimated 150,000 people were persecuted between 1478 and 1834 and several thousand were cruelly tortured to death. But these crimes against humanity were not done by God's children. Much killing has been done in the name of God. During the Iraqi War, the mercenary militia group 'Black Water' brutally murdered masses of Iraqis, shooting people in the buttocks with exploding ammunition. Black Water were reported as to have quoted Old Testament Bible passages during their crimes. This was President George W. Bush's private army in Iraq, doing his dirty work to assault the Iraqis. What our nation did to the Iraqi people constitutes a volume of war crime atrocities.

 

Much stealing, exploitation and abuse is done today in the name of Christianity. Look at all the thieving televangelists, like Evangelist Pat Robertson and his 700 Club. They take in approximately $650,000,000 per year. That is sickening!!! The show appeals to the kind nature of viewers, and to crippled, elderly and dying people, conning them out of their money. But that is not God's fault. Men are sinful. Pat Robertson is a greedy man, who takes advantage of people to make filthy lucre. The staff of the 700 Club claim to have psychic powers of clairvoyants, seeing into TV land who is being miraculously healed. I wish the FCC was like the FDA, protecting good people from bad people!

The only hope for this world is a transformation of individual men with the Good News (Gospel) of the Lord Jesus Christ. The hope of America is in our churches, not in the White House. Politics won't rescue the country! Anarchy is certainly not the answer. Rebels overthrowing rebels will just lead to more rebels. Mankind has never been able to govern himself. ...

“It is impossible to mentally or socially enslave a Bible-reading people.” —Horace Greeley (1811-1872)

“It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.” —George Washington (1732-1799)

The reason why America is in such a mess today is because people are no longer following the Word of God. When men disregard the Holy Bible, there is no longer an absolute moral standard; consequently, man becomes his own God. The U.S. Supreme Court flaunted itself above God in 1973, when they legalized abortion. The Supreme Court has a nasty history of overruling God! We saw this in June of 2015 when same-sex civil unions were legalized in America. Where will this evil departure from moral law and God's divine order take our nation?

Divorce Is An Inexplicably Ugly And Painful Experience

Matthew 19:3-6, “The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

My parents were married for 36 years before my Mom went to Heaven in 2001. She suffered a stroke in 1989 and spent the remaining years of her life in a wheelchair, crippled on the left side of her body. My Dad was born in 1933 and my Mom in 1935. They didn't have previous marriages. Like a lot of couples, they had many marriage problems over the years. But they stayed together. I love what Pastor Bob Gray Sr. said: “A marriage is two people never giving up on each other.” My favorite marital quote is: “A marriage is two people making a life for each other.”

I got married in 1987 at age 20. She was 25. Early on in my marriage I determined in my heart that me and my wife were going to beat my parent's admirable 36 years! It would have been 36 years in 2023. Unfortunately, my wife divorced me in 2006. I didn't see that coming. It was like those poor victims of the recent 135 car pile up in Fort Worth, Texas this week, that killed 6 drivers. One of the most severe storms in several decades afflicted the United States. Texas is now enduring record snowfalls and temperatures. There are widespread power and water shortages throughout Texas and Oklahoma. If you have had the misfortune of being the victim of a divorce as I have, it feels like an F5 tornado ripping your life apart. It was like getting hit out of nowhere by a Mack truck!

I had often heard of other people going through a divorce, but I had no idea of the horror that divorce inflicts upon a person. The person filing for divorce doesn't suffer anywhere near what the victim does. My former wife had abandoned me in March of 2006. She had left oftentimes before, but usually returned home after a few hours, days, weeks and once even a month. While she was gone I searched the Scriptures for comfort. I read in Romans 12:21, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” So in May of 2006 I started a new website called “Soulwinning.info” to overcome evil with good. I prayed and trusted the Lord that everything was going to be okay and somehow work out. 

To my horror, on June 5th, 2006, U.S. Marshals came to my job workplace to summons me to divorce court. I worked by myself in maintenance at the U.S. Postal Service. I was so devastated that I went into the parts department, turned out the lights, and wept for hours. I was on call as a mechanic. So if any equipment needed repair, like a fireman they would call me. It was a quiet night, and I was able to weep and cry out to God in despair. I went home as soon as I could. Those hours at work seemed like days, grieving and shocked in my soul. I went home and couldn't even tell my teenage children what their mother had done. I just dropped the summons on the floor and wept uncontrollably, as my son read the paperwork. They were as surprised as I was. 

Proverbs 31:12-14, “Who can find a virtuous woman?  for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.” I chose unwisely when I got married. I didn't even like her. But she gave me attention and grew on me, and I found myself becoming familiar with someone I didn't really like. I thought she was a weirdo. I read last year that both Billy Sunday (1862-1935) and his wife were engaged to other people when they met. They broke off those engagements and married each other instead. I regret that I didn't do that. There was a gal in Bible college that I wish I had married, but I was already engaged, and I wish to God I had done as Billy Sunday did.

I don't hate anyone, certainly not my former spouse. But she has no idea of the emotional trauma, inexplicable pain of soul and financial loss that she caused. The divorce didn't cost her one penny. She found some trashy pro bono attorney. It cost me $64,000 when all was said and done. It got very ugly. I didn't even know who she was anymore. The woman who promised to never leave me was leaving me permanently. Throughout our marriage she was emotionally unavailable. I used to play my pedal steel guitar just for her, yearning for some praise from her. So often I hoped she would simply say, “I love what you just played,” and show some admiration toward me, but she never didn't. She didn't like country music. God made every woman to be a help meet to her man (Genesis 2:18), not a housekeeper, mother or secretary. 

More times than I can remember she would say, “I'm going to go see what the kids are doing” or “I'm going to go make sure the house is clean.” Those were just excuses to go somewhere else. My music was just for me. I felt so lonely for the 18 years I was married. I am a passionate man, with depth of feelings and a desire to kiss and connect emotionally. Literally, while making love she refused to open her mouth, saying verbatim: “I don't like germs.” That frustrated me. I have never had a good wife. I am not complaining. I think of the millions of young men, still teenagers, who died on some lonely foreign battlefield, never having been married or privileged to become a father. But I feel cheated having chosen someone who eventually didn't even want to kiss me anymore.

I have four biological adult children. My son is now 31. I have three daughters (Lynda, Crystal and Darla) ages 30, 29 and 27. I have 5 grandchildren. I love my children very much and thank God for them, but they have all gone their separate ways. That is fine, I pray for them and am here if they ever need me as their father and a friend. I saw my son for the first time since 2009 in 2018, when he visited Guam. He gave me 19 hugs during his week long stay! Yes, I counted them, because every one of those hugs meant the world to me. He lives and works in Boise, Idaho. I am so proud of him, but he is like his old man, private and keeps to himself. Here is a photo from 2009 of my son in the Air Force (Robert is on the left holding the machine gun)....

Pastor Jack Hyles taught many helpful philosophies that I appreciate so much. One was the need for the church as a surrogate family. When our children grow up and move away, and our spouse divorces us, and we are all alone in the big world, we need a church family. Sadly, Harvest Baptist Church of Guam has rejected me since 2014, leaving me without a family. They have no idea what they have done by ostracizing me, but I still love them with Christ's love even in their cruelty. It is truly sad and pathetic how bad churches are today!

Anyway, I was watching some YouTube videos today. I grew up listening to lots of music. I am a musician. If it has strings I can play it, some instruments better than others. The pedal steel guitar is the instrument I am most proficient at, and can play by ear along with a band. I watched a video about Paul Stanley (born 1952) from the band KISS. In the video some memoirs are read from his audiobook, about his divorce from Pamela Bowen and how it adversely impacted him. She abandoned him after 9 years of marriage and ruthlessly went after his money with a team of bandits. I admire Paul as a musician, but sadly he is Jewish in faith and not a Christian (the same as Chaim Witz, aka, Gene Simmons). I realize that rock music is of the Devil, but a lot can be learned from the people themselves. As Pastor Hyles used to say: “Every man is my teacher.” As a hobby I have an interest in biographies of famous people, especially the musicians of the era in which I grew up in the 1970's and 1980's. I thank God that I chose to become a born-again Christian at age 13 in 1980.

I digress. Divorce is an excruciatingly painful ordeal to go through. I have been single now for 15 years, often depressed and lonely beyond words. I regret moving to Guam, which has put me into an awkward situation where I cannot find a girlified on Guam. I desire to remarry as soon as I can meet a decent woman. As each year passes I more and more feel like I'll never find that special someone to marry. God willing I plan to move very soon, but I am having a very difficult time deciding where to relocate. I've been looking at Fort Wayne, Indiana, but I cannot find peace about any place I have considered. I think that is simply because I haven't actually been to any of these places, and so my mind draws a blank.

I have considered moving to a larger size church, which hopefully will increase my chances of meeting a good woman to marry. That is one reason why I am a bit hesitant about moving to Fort Wayne. I couldn't find any large churches there. Then again, perhaps in a smaller church it might be easier to find a woman who is seeking a man. I am naïve in the matter, I admit. I simply don't know the best course of action to take. I feel lost at sea, like I don't belong anywhere on this earth. That is a horrible feeling, which divorce causes sometimes if you don't have friends to support you emotionally. When my wife divorced me in 2006 I had my children to comfort me, but then they eventually went their own way as adults, and I have been alone in life since. I haven't been received well at the few churches I have visited on Guam since 2009. No one wants to be where they don't feel wanted. You just know when a church doesn't care or want you. I needed Harvest Baptist Church of Guam so much since 2013, but I mean nothing to them, all they care about is their paychecks, sadly. They crushed my heart!

If you are the victim of an unwanted divorce as I am, look to Jesus. Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Jesus was despised and rejected of men. Isaiah 53:3, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” I am encouraged when I read about divorced men who remarry and find happiness. John Wesley's wife divorced him. When someone asked him about it Wesley replied: “I did not dismiss her. I did not abandon her. I will not recall her.” That is exactly how I feel.

God hates divorce and so do I. Once there has been a legal divorce all trust is gone. There will be unresolved anger issues lingering. Divorce is a sin that perpetrates for a lifetime. I certainly would never want to remarry someone who doesn't like my germs and refuses to kiss me. I have been treated cruelly by some self-righteous, hateful and judgmental religious people, Baptists, who berate me for even talking about getting remarried. Folks, one thing that we all learn early on in life is how crazy, unreasonable and hypocritical some people can be. Don't let religious people get you down! Religion destroys a working mind!

The ungodly Harvest Baptist Church of Guam almost caused me to commit suicide, because of former Pastor Marty Herron's hypocrisy, lack of compassion, selfishness, cowardice and indifference toward THE TRUTH. That wicked man has much blood on his hands, including mine! I haven't attended church since 2014 because of Marty Herron, but he couldn't care less. His mind is filled with convenient excuses for justifying his lack of compassion, indifference, being a respecter of persons and selfishness. Tragically, Herron is now ruining young people's lives at the Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary in Ankeny, Iowa, milking the cash cow as executive vice president of the apostate Neo-evangelical institution. Spiritual crime pays well! I wouldn't give you a dime for his phony testimony. Sadly, Herron preaches the Wrong Repentance heresy, requiring people to forsake a lifestyle of sinning to be saved. 

The new pastor of Harvest Baptist Church of Guam since 2018, Gary Walton, is no better. Walton is just another salaried employee at Harvest, milking the cash cow as long as he can before moving on, like the other pastors have done. This is so tragic! Pastors come and go, not being held accountable for the incalculable damage they do by promoting Devil's Bible versions, preaching a false gospel of Lordship Salvation, and having a woeful lack of compassion for divorced and hurting people like me. These pastors know that I am divorced, hurting, lonely and have a broken heart, yet they have continued to shun, despise and ostracize me in their sinful pride and arrogance since 2014. God will judge between me and them (Romans 14:10-12; 1st Thessalonians 4:6; Proverbs 24:12; James 2:1). Sadly, they couldn't care less at Harvest, and that's the truth. They just want their next paycheck!!!

It's bad enough being rejected by my wife in 2006, but then the local independent Baptist church also rejects me (since 2014). I pray to God that He will fully avenge me of Harvest's cruelty against me personally, for their hatred of my Christlike stand for THE TRUTH, for ignoring my humble pleas for their spiritual help over the years, for their deafening cruel silence, and for their gross theological incompetence. These are wicked men who simply don't care at all, but they are full of lame excuses. Galatians 6:7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” I have sown truth at Harvest, for which they drove me out of the church; but they have sown heresy, for which God will hold them accountable! 

I have sown love toward them by speaking truth (Ephesians 4:15), but they sown hatred in return (Galatians 4:16). Psalms 109:4-5, “For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer. And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.” Hear, Oh Lord my humble prayer against these wicked pastors at Harvest Baptist Church on Guam, and the ungodly cesspool of iniquity today at Bob Jones University in South Carolina. I pray Lord that you'll hold them accountable and punish them for their willful theological incompetence, dozens of confusing Bibles, for their lack of moral standards, and for their abuse and neglect of hurting students and people in the church. I was part of the family at Harvest, but they axed me like a turkey on Thanksgiving Day!

I could say so much on this topic of divorce. I am still in the Poseidon ship that is capsized upside down. (That was the 1972 version. Here is a scene from the 2006 remake of the movie.) My life is still in disarray. I cannot see my hand in front of my face. My life is a shipwreck. That is how my life has felt since 2006 friends. That is what a divorce does to a person! Please don't ever file for divorce!!! Please don't betray your spouse's trust. You are just as sinful as your spouse. You may sin in different ways than they do, but you are just as much a big sinner in God's sight. It breaks my heart that Harvest won't allow me to attend church services, and that they refuse to touch my broken life with a 10 foot pole. Where dwelleth the love of God? 

I have been stuck in life since 2006, lonely without a companion by my side. I underwent two major neck surgeries in 2009 and 2010, with no one there for me. No one cares. Psalm 142:4, “I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.” All across America we hear in the news about bad situations which were allowed to go on for years and even decades, where the city council members did nothing to remedy a known problem. We hear in the news about neglect of elderly veterans, with maggot infested wounds, because of gross neglect by medical staff. This is the Harvest Baptist Church of Guam spiritually! They see a man hurting but leave him to rot. Their pastors hide and avoid dealing with the infected wound, letting things get worse and worse, until the patient is dying. Bad pastors who don't care are a curse in churches today!

If nothing else, in my suffering, loneliness and pain from the aforementioned woes, I want to be an encouragement to others who are in the same boat. Hang in there, God loves you! I don't claim to have all the answers, because I don't. But God does have all the answers and I trust Him. When you can't see tomorrow, trust Him Who holds tomorrow. God already lives in tomorrow! God knows exactly when you and I will die. He knows how we will die. God is omniscient. God cares (1st Peter 5:7). Angels were waiting for Lazarus when he died (Luke 16:19-31). We can expect that same loving welcome home when our time comes as believers. Our great God is still on His throne! Lamentations 5:19, “Thou, O LORD, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation.” Everything's alright in my heavenly Father's house.

Everyone Was Saved By Faith In The Old Testament

Romans 4:13, “For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”

Dear reader, it doesn't get any simpler than this. Please read again Romans 4:13, “For the promise, that he [Abraham] should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.” There you have it. The PROMISE of eternal life (which was given before the world began - Titus 1:2), was NOT to Abraham or his seed through THE LAW, but through THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF FAITH. People have always been saved by grace through faith in Christ. Acts 10:43, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”

Beware of wacky dispensationalists with their salvation by faith plus works heresy in the Old Testament. They also teach that salvation will be by faith plus works during the future Tribulation and Millennial periods. Nothing could be further from the truth of the Gospel. I say that humbly and kindly. Please carefully read Romans 4:14-15, “For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.” The Bible couldn't be any plainer. They who are of the law are not saved! 

Trying to obeying the law to merit salvation voids faith and grace! I keep hearing false teachers insisting that salvation was still by grace in the Old Testament, but they had to work for it. Huh? Dear reader, they are in denial. If salvation is truly by grace, then it must be by faith alone. The same is true of the Lordship Salvation crowd today, who are in utter denial. You cannot get to Heaven by your own human efforts, nor does God require anything from you more than simple faith to receive His promise of eternal life.

The very idea of keeping the law to obtain salvation is offensive. Our best is filth to God! Isaiah 64:6-8, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” The law worketh God's wrath. That simply means that God is holy, and all humanity is unholy, and we are all guilty sinners in the hands of an angry God (2nd Thessalonians 1:8-9; Romans 5:9; John 3:36; Psalms 7:11). Hebrews 10:31, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Romans 4:16a, “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace;” Again and again we are taught that salvation is by faith alone. In order to be by grace, getting saved absolutely must be by faith alone. Not the least amount of human effort can be included. The ceremonial laws were duties for Old Testament Jews living in the Holy Land. Only the Jews, living in the time of the Old Testament, who lived in the region of Israel, were required to perform their ceremonies year after year, but these were NOT required to receive eternal life. The law served a purpose—“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God” (Romans 3:19-20).

Jesus' Precious Blood Has Always Washed Away People's Sins

We further read in Galatians 3:19, 24-26, “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. ... Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” The same law that shows us our sinfulness (Romans 7:13), is the same that showed people in the Old Testament their sinfulness, and pointed them to the blood sprinkled on the mercy seat in the holy place for forgiveness. ...

Hebrews 9:22, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”

One of the most dangerous false teachers of our generation is Pastor John MacArthur. If you read his Bible commentary for Hebrews 9:12-24, you will find that MacArthur denies the blood. He errantly teaches that “blood” in Hebrews chapter 9 actually means “death,” and he says that Jesus' physical liquid blood is NOT on the Mercy Seat in Heaven. The Bible calls Mr. MacArthur a liar! Hebrews 9:12, “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” How were they saved in the Old Testament? My friend, they were saved by the blood! They were saved the same as you and I—by placing childlike faith in the blood of THE LAMB. 

The annual Jewish Passover feast was a continual reminder of this awesome truth. Exodus 12:13, “And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.” John 1:29, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” It was the lamb's blood each year that the high priest sprinkled upon the mercy seat, in the presence of God between the two cherubims, that atoned (covered) for the sins of the people for another year; but only those who personally believed were saved! Just as today, salvation was strictly an individual matter in the Old Testament.

Old Testament Jews Not Saved Because of Unbelief, Not Lack of Works

Please listen dear reader. I have a lot of web visitors who are confused because of Robert Breaker, Chett Hensley, Peter S. Ruckman, Bryan Denlinger, William P. Grady and Gene Kim on salvation. My web visitors have been desensitized to the dangers of a false gospel, by thinking that it doesn't matter if a preacher is wrong on salvation past and future, just so long as he is right today (in the so-called “Church Age”). I assure you that it does matter, because one think does affect another, and another doctrinally. I want you to carefully read the following passage of Scripture, which calls all of these aforementioned preachers theological liars! Are you ready? Here goes:

Hebrews 4:1-3, “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.” 

The preceding Scripture passage is talking about the Jews who wandered in the Wilderness of Zin for 40 years, because they refused to obey God to enter into the Promised Land. They had a tabernacle, a holy place, a mercy seat, and the Ark of the Covenant, and the high priest who entered once a year into the holy of holies with the blood of a killed spotless lamb. Yet, as we just read, the reason why most of the Jews didn't get saved wasn't because they failed to do works, but because they did NOT BELIEVE the Gospel which Moses preached unto them!

The Gospel Is A Promise!

Do you see friend that the word “PROMISE” keeps appearing (Galatians 3:14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 29; Romans 13, 14, 16, 20, 21). I could cite umpteen more passages about God's “PROMISE” of eternal life. Titus 1:2, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;” Hebrews 4:1a, “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise...” I love that precious word—PROMISE! Eternal life is a promised gift to anyone who receives it by childlike faith in the Messiah. Eternal life was promised by God before the world began. That is so wonderful.

Hebrews 4:10-11, “For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” The Bible is very plain that to be saved, a person must cease from their own works. This was true of Old Testament saints as well. No one has ever been saved by keeping the law, nor partially trying to keep the law, not for a day, not for a minute, not for a second. We are saved BY FAITH alone! The Sabbath Day symbolized Jesus Christ, in Whom we rest completely for salvation. Acts 10:43, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” Colossians 2:14-16 teaches that there is no Sabbath Day today, it was nailed to the cross with all of the ceremonial laws and traditions. Jesus Christ is our Sabbath today!

Again, please don't miss this important truth—Hebrews 4:2 clearly teaches that the Jews who didn't get saved in the Wilderness, refused to believe the GOOD NEWS (Gospel) which Moses preached to them. That Gospel was the same PROMISE that God made to Abraham (Galatians 3:16). It was the same promise which God made before the world began (Titus 1:2). The Bible calls it a promise in Hebrews 4:1. The Gospel is a promise! God promises to save them that believe on the name of Christ. 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.” The Gospel is a promise!

Exodus 12:13, “And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.”

The Folly Of The Wrong Repentance Crowd

Acts 8:17-22, “Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.”

A man emailed me yesterday trying to defend Wrong Repentance. He quoted Acts 8:22 from our text passage above, attempting to use this verse to prove that “repent” means turning from sins. I kindly replied by quoting to him Acts 8:13, where Simon was saved, “Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.” The Bible very plainly teaches in verse 13 that Simon was saved simply by BELEIVING... “Then Simon believed also.”

Then in verses 17-22 we read that as a new believer, Simon thought he could purchase the power of God with money. The Apostle Peter sharply rebuked him, telling him to perish with his money, and warning Simon that he had better repent (think differently) and ask God to forgive him. The Greek verb for “repent” in verse 22 is metanoeo, which simply means “to think differently.” It does not mean “to turn away from sin.” It means to think differently. The noun form of the word is metanoia, meaning “a change of mind.” People change their mind about all kinds of things every day. God even changed His mind numerous times in the Bible. 

John 3:9-10, “Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.” Was God turning from His sins? No, of course not. God simply changed His mind concerning the judgment He had intended to bring upon Nineveh. Repentance concerning salvation is simply a change of mind toward THE TRUTH, that compels a person to trust Jesus as their Savior. 2nd Timothy 2:25-26, “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” Salvation is simply acknowledging THE TRUTH that you are a guilty sinner (Romans 3:19), and believing THE TRUTH of the Gospel to be saved (1st Corinthians 15:1-4).

Sadly, when I explained these Bible truths to the man who emailed me, he arrogantly wrote back and said I was a heretic. The Bible says he is subverted of himself. Titus 3:10-11, “A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.” The Bible says such a man “sinneth,” because he rejects sound doctrine. Likewise, Bob Jones University “sinneth,” because they reject sound doctrine. The Harvest Baptist Church of Guam “sinneth,” because they reject sound doctrine. These corrupt money-making religious institutions all teach that you must “repent of your sin” to be saved, which is nowhere taught in the infallible and inspired King James Bible.

It is abundantly clear from Acts 8:13-22, that Simon (a former sorcerer) was saved in verse 13, not in verse 22. So the application of the word “repent” in verse 22 has absolutely nothing to do with Simon getting saved in verse 13. We learn from Acts 5:1-11 that Ananias and Sapphira were killed because they lied to God about money they had promised to give the church. And now Simon is trying to buy God's power with money. The Lord takes serious offense to money issues, if you haven't noticed. Luke 19:45-46, “And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.” 

Sadly, all across America today, wicked men (whom Jesus called “thieves”) have turned Christianity into a stinking business. From Evangelist Ken Ham's lucrative multi-billion dollar Ark Encounter disgrace in Kentucky, to Bob Jones University's shameful lack of morals and doctrinal soundness in South Carolina, to corrupt churches like Harvest Baptist Church on Guam who prey upon the simple and naïve—they have turned Christianity in America into a DEN OF THIEVES!!! Don't get mad at me, I'm telling THE TRUTH! Right doctrine matters. Which Bible we use matters. Which Gospel we preach matters.

The fact of the matter is that you cannot show me one verse in the entire Bible that says to “turn away from your sin” or “repent of your sin” to receive God's free gift of eternal life. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, the man I mentioned earlier, who emailed me in an attempt to justify Wrong Repentance, he got mean the second time he wrote. That is why I didn't reply a second time. He said that I am teaching a man can attack children and still be saved. I am using delicate terms, he wasn't as pleasant in his wording. Do you see what he is doing? He is using an extreme, like abortionists do with their coat-hanger in the alley scenario (which has never once been medically reported) as a desperate attempt to justify the norm. 

You simply cannot justify over 99% of abortions (murder according to Exodus 20:13) which are the result of personal irresponsibility, on the basis of less than 1% of women who were forced against their will to have carnal knowledge. Likewise, the man who wrote to me is trying to use an extreme example to justify his corrupt theology. Okay, let's say that a backslidden Christian man does commit horrible wickedness (Proverbs 14:14). Does that make him any more self-righteous than the good man who gossips, lusts, hates and lies to his boss at work? No! I am saying that little sinners are just as guilty in God's sight as big sinners!

We Are Saved UNTO Good Works, Not BY Good Works

Ephesians 2:8-10, “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. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Turning away from sin is a good work (Jonah 3:10. Keeping the law is a good work (Romans 3:20).

So the issue is not about turning away from sin TO BE SAVED (Ephesians 2:8-10); but rather, a man ought to depart from evil because HE IS SAVED (Romans 3:31). That is the big difference theological, and it is the difference between going to Heaven or Hell. The wrong repentance crowd pervert the Gospel by adding reformation (cleaning up your life of sin) to it. In true salvation, God saves you and indwells you with His Holy Spirit (1st John 3:24), and then the Lord begins to work on cleaning up your life if sin (Hebrews 12:6-8). But depending on many factors, a believer may or may not live a holy life (Galatians 5:25; Romans 7:14-25; 1st Corinthians 3:15; 5:1-5).

The ignorant man who emailed me is thinking way wrong. In his mind, a believer must turn away from willful sinning to be saved. That is reformation (turning from sin), not repentance (thinking different). Judas was a reformed man. Judas returned the 30 pieces of silver, but the Pharisees didn't want it. The Pharisees called it blood money (Matthew 27:1-8). So in this foolish man's thinking who wrote to me, a Christian man cannot continue abiding in deep sin (i.e., evil). He thinks you can still have small sins in your life (lust, lying, gossip and envy), but you cannot be a hard core blatant sinner. That is 100% self-righteousness folks!!!

You listen to me dear friend, the ONLY thing that makes me or you as a born-again believer any more righteous than Adolf Hitler, the Golden State Killer, or the worst sinner on the planet, is the precious blood of Jesus Christ that He shed on Calvary's cross to pay for our sins!!! The changed life in me is the presence of the Spirit of Christ in me. Galatians 2:20-21, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” I love this Bible passage. It is JESUS Who lives the Christian life through me. I make it from day to day in Christ's strength, not my own. 

We grow in the grace of Jesus, not in strength. Jesus is our strength!!! 2nd Peter 3:18, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” That is how salvation works friends. Salvation is of the Lord (Jonah 2:9). You don't have to give up one sin to be saved. Eternal life is a free gift (Romans 5:15-18; 6:23). You mean I can accept Christ as my Savior, and then go out and live like the Devil and still go to Heaven? Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. I didn't say it is okay, it's not okay. I didn't say God approves of it, He doesn't (Romans 3:31). 

Living in sin always has consequences (Hebrews 4:13; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Romans 14:10-12). The Lord will chastise and scourge disobedient children, because He is not an absent parent (Hebrews 12:6-8). But we must never confuse or conflate (to mix together) service to the Lord as His child, versus the gift of salvation which God freely offers through faith alone in Christ (Philippians 3:9; Romans 4:5-6). Wrong repentance will send you to Hell.

What Repentance Is Not

There is so much confusion in the churches today on this issue. Let's define a few terms:

• penitence - sorrow for sins
• penance - making a mend for sins
• reformation - turning from sins
• repentance - a change of mind

Some or none of these elements may accompany repentance, but God does not require (nor permit) them in addition to faith in Christ. We are saved by BELIEVING, not by repenting. Repentance facilitates (makes possible) believing. Repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin of salvation. They are inseparable. Repentance and faith are not two separate acts, they are just one. The man who repents has believed, and the man who believes has repented. That is why in Acts 2:38 we read, “Then 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.” Please notice that there is no command to “believe.” I have heard countless preachers use this passage as Go-to Scripture to prove that we must “turn away from sin” to be saved, but that is bad theology. The reason why the Apostle Peter didn't mention believing is because repentance and believing are one and the same act. Proof of what I say is found in Acts 2:44, “And all that believed were together, and had all things common;”

So we see in the King James Bible how the words “repent” and “believe” are sometimes used interchangeably when referring to salvation. I am not saying that repentance and faith are the same thing, not at all. Mark 1:15 says, “And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” Here we see that repentance is separate from believing. Since they happen at the same time, they are viewed as one act. You don't repent first and then believe. The man who believes has repented, and the man who repents has believed. The Bible is simply saying to think differently and believe the Good News of Jesus Christ crucified on the cross for our sins, buried and risen the third day.

Acts 2:38 Is Often Misunderstood

Sadly, Acts 2:38 is often misunderstood by Bible students and preachers. Notice that Peter didn't tell the people to be baptized (immersed) in water; but rather, “in the name of Jesus Christ.” Church of Christ, Lutherans, Seventh-Day Adventists and other religious cults use Acts 2:38 as a Go-to passage to support the heresy of Baptismal Regeneration (i.e., the false teaching that you must be water baptized to go to Heaven). Getting dunked in a baptistery is NOT required (nor permitted) to be saved. This would be a work, and pervert God's free grace (1st Corinthians 1:17). I love something that Pastor Curtis Hutson (1934-1995) taught me, “A good rule to follow when interpreting the Bible is to never use an obscure passage to contradict a clear one.” 

Acts 2:38 is definitely an obscure passage. We must consider that in the entire Gospel of John, the word “repent” is not mentioned even once. Yet, according to John 20:31 the book of John was written to show us the way of salvation through faith alone in Jesus Christ, “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.” Ah, there is that big beautiful word “BELIEVE.” Dear friend, I'll go to seed before I die over this issue of wrong repentance in the churches today. Wrong Repentance is usually combined with Lordship Salvation, but not always. I have actually seen the heresy of Wrong Repentance taught by preachers who refute Lordship Salvation, which makes the matter even more confusing to people. 

What am I saying? I have no idea...lol. Seriously, I am simply saying what God says in His Word, that salvation is by faith alone without works. Romans 4:4-5, “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” The Bible can be tortured (wrestled) to say anything by unlearned and foolish people. 

Only The Gospel Is The Power Of God Unto Salvation

Sadly, there are many false teachers today, but the Word of God foretold that they would come. 2nd Peter 2:1, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”

Please don't misunderstand the preceding Scripture from 1st Peter 2:1. Roman Catholics don't deny the name of Jesus, do they? They sure do! When Catholics add keeping the Seven Sacraments to faith to get to Heaven, they are not wholly leaning on Jesus' name. That is what the Bible means in 2nd Timothy 3:5, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” That “power” is the Gospel. Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” 

Listen you can believe in the Catholic church all you want to, but that won't get you to Heaven. I visited St. Anthony's Catholic church on Guam once with a friend from work years ago. The priest literally told the congregation not to read the Bible! The priest said that they (the priests) were specially trained to interpret the Bible, and that you could do great harm to yourself and loved ones by studying the Bible on your own. I kid you not! There wasn't a Bible in the place! There were no song books! These Catholics had memorized every song, creed and ritual since childhood, brainwashed by Catholicism (the biggest cult in the world). How sad! 

Guam sadly is a cesspool of false religion! I have seen families pass around a 3 foot statue of Our Lady Of Fatima, going from home to home for weeks at a time. Each Catholic family decks out their home with decorations, in preparation to honor the patron saint Fatima and Mary. I had to leave a home once, as a group of ladies bowed in worship to their idol of Fatima. They took pride in seeing me watch them bow to their idol. I left quickly.

The Bible speaks for itself if we'll just listen. Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” The following passage from Titus 2:7-8 condemns the Bob Jones University crowd with their “repent and turn away from your sin” junk theology, which is another gospel (Galatians 1:6-9). Titus 2:7-8, “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.” There is a woeful lack of sincerity today in churches, which you can easily see by looking at the following picture...

Bible Verses Changed Merely To Obtain A Legal Copyright

According to U.S. copyright law a publisher cannot obtain a copyright without producing a work that is significantly different in context. The changes must be substantial and creative! Dear reader, why do the Bible colleges and churches bid Godspeed to this confusion and woeful evil? It just shows how utterly insincere most churchgoers are today! Titus 2:7-8, “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.” Shame on Moody Bible Institute in Chicago! Shame on Bob Jones University in South Carolina! Shame on Harvest Baptist Church of Guam! 

These aforementioned organizations (I could name thousands more) are as insincere as can be, evidenced by their use, sale and promotion of Devil's Bibles. Dr. Steve Pettit at BJU still insists that there is little difference between the modern revisions, yet by law the U.S. government requires “substantial and creative” changes just to get a copyright. Wake up Mr. Pettit! Stop lying to the students and faculty at BJU!