Don't Make A Big Deal Out Of Repentance For Salvation

John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

I have been receiving increasing emails from people who are worrying over repentance. Dear reader, the Bible does not make even a small issue of repentance, and neither should we. In the Gospel of John we find the word "believe" mentioned 88 times, but the word "repent" is never mentioned. That speaks volumes! It simply means that repentance is automatic and is included with believing. The person who believes has repented and the person who repents has believed. 

All these repentance preachers today who focus on turning away from your sinful behavior to be saved wrestle obscure passage of Scripture to support their heresy. For example: Read this shocking article I wrote exposing Evangelist Ray Comfort's heretical preaching. According to Ray you must live a lifestyle of repentance to get to Heaven. Folks, that is the Devil talking through Ray Comfort, not the Holy Spirit of God. Biblical repentance is simply a change of mind toward God that causes you to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am continually surprised how many people needlessly worry over this stuff. The reason is because of all the big issue being made today over repentance. Friend, if you know you are a guilty sinner and put your faith in Christ alone to forgive your sins, you are saved! You have repented. How do I know you have repented? I know because you have believed. It is impossible for anyone to believe without repenting.

Repentance and belief happen at the same time. It will cause you sleepless nights if you view repentance as being something different that you must do from believing to be saved. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” All the Bible tells us to do is BELIEVE. I am tired of preachers using obscure passages of Scriptures like Mark 1:15, Luke 13:5 and Acts 20:21 to make repentance a separate act from faith.

Dear friend, the purpose of repentance is so that you will come to the light to be saved. Repentance is a change of mind toward the truth (2nd Timothy 2:25), the admission before a holy God that you are a guilty sinner (Romans 3:19-20). The law of God shows us our sinnership and then brings us to Christ to be saved by God's grace alone (Galatians 3:24-26).

Bible Repentance Is Solely A Matter Of Acknowledging The Truth

Romans 3:19-20, “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. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” 

This is so important to understand. The only purpose of God's law in salvation is to give all humanity “THE KNOWLEDGE OF SIN.” Very few Bible preachers correctly understand what it means to “repent” to be saved.

A man needs to know what he is being saved from. God's law shows us our iniquities and then brings us to Christ to be saved by grace. Galatians 3:24-26, “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.” Do you see that friend? When you place your faith in Christ, the law is no longer necessary in receiving eternal life. The ONLY purpose of the law is to give people THE KNOWLEDGE OF SIN.

So when bad preachers tell you that you must repent “OF YOUR SINS” to be saved, they are lying to you and using the law differently than it was intended by God, to give the KNOWLEDGE OF SIN. They are requiring you to OBEY THE LAW to be saved, or to BE WILLING TO KEEP THE LAW to be saved. They say you must be willing to forsake a lifestyle of sinning. But that is not the Gospel of free grace as taught in the inspired King James Bible. Dear friend, Jesus paid your debt of sin, because you couldn't do it, and neither could I. Eternal life is a free gift from God. You don't have to give up anything, nor be willing to give up anything. Consider again this beautiful quote from Pastor Harry Ironside...

“The Gospel is not a call to repentance, or to amendment of our ways, to make restitution for past sins, or to promise to do better in the future. These things are proper in their place, but they do not constitute the Gospel; for the Gospel is not good advice to be obeyed, it is good news to be believed. Do not make the mistake then of thinking that the Gospel is a call to duty or a call to reformation, a call to better your condition, to behave yourself in a more perfect way than you have been doing in the past …

Nor is the Gospel a demand that you give up the world, that you give up your sins, that you break off bad habits, and try to cultivate good ones. You may do all these things, and yet never believe the Gospel and consequently never be saved at all.”

SOURCE: Harry A. Ironside, from the sermon: What Is The Gospel?

Repentance is simply a matter of acknowledging THE TRUTH of your sinnership. 2nd Timothy 2:25, “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.” Repentance is entirely a matter of the heart, where a person acknowledges THE TRUTH that you are a guilty sinner in the sight of a holy God; thus believing the Gospel you are saved by faith alone.

Today's Wimpy Pastors Are Not Standing

Revelation 3:2, “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.”

America is guilty of 10,000 sins! Maybe 1,000,000 sins! Only God knows. I know we are a nation of 370,000,000 guilty sinners! Yes, we sure do need a revival of brokenness and repentance, beginning with our arrogant pastors who refuse to heed rebuke. I am so disgusted with the Bob Jones University (BJU) camp. If I had my way, BJU would be shut down permanently. They are the biggest promoter of the Devil's Calvinism and "Lordship" salvation today. The saddest thing of all that I see is that professed Christians don't care anymore.

I have been attending Campus Church at Pensacola Christian College (PCC). The place is dead spiritually. They don't preach against sin. The don't preach against anything. The PCC camp are idle! They won't expose the BJU camp. Instead their PCC students play sports with BJU. It is sickening. They will hypocritically tout the importance of truth, while bidding Godspeed to the Bob Jones crowd who corrupt the truth. I plan to keep monitoring and exposing Campus Church. Someday needs to care.

Their pastor Jeff Redlin doesn't care. He's some snobby yuppie from Colorado, now senior pastor of Campus Church. He saw my ministry websites and had nothing good to say about my work. He wrongly accused me of finding "weaknesses" in pastors. Those aren't "weaknesses"; but rather, hardcore corruption and damnable heresy! John MacArthur is a damnable false teacher! These are arrogant corrupt men, not weak men! Steve Pettit is a child of the Devil. Pastor Redlin is just another sellout, wimp, puppet on strings, part of the problem, coward, sucking a 6-digit salary, parasiting off the churches!

These shameful Caspar Milquetoast pastors make God sick! They are lukewarm (Revelation 3:15-16). They think they are rich and prospering, but they are naked, wretched and blind. Jeff Redlin needs to get right with God and stop hiding behind lame excuses! Redlin doesn't get a free pass just because he has a job at Campus Church, he has a duty to PREACH THE WORD (2nd Timothy 4:1-3) and REBUKE THEM SHARPLY who subvert entire households (Titus 1:10-13). 

Pastor Marty Herron ruined the Harvest Baptist Church on Guam. Harvest is full of corrupt BJU alumni who preach another gospel. If you don't believe me, take a look at this garbage! There is not a more accursed and dangerous group today than Bob Jones University and the Harvest Baptist Church on Guam. This includes the Colonial Hills Baptist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana and Faith Baptist Bible College And Theological Seminary in Ankeny, Iowa. These are unsaved reprobates in the same camp as Church of Christ and Lutherans who ADD to the free grace Gospel. The BJU camp reject salvation by faith alone, insisting that a separate act of repentance (turning away from a sinful lifestyle) is also necessary.

Shame on Campus Church for supporting the Bob Jones crowd today! Shame on Pastor Jeff Redlin for treating me like garbage and bidding Godspeed to the BJU camp! Shame on PCC for bidding Godspeed and remaining eerily silent about Lordship salvation in the Bob Jones camp. Right doctrine matters! Truth matters! These wicked people don't care, but I do. Jeff Redlin is too busy with a large church (that's his lame excuse), to contend for the faith, but I am not too busy. Jeff Redlin and the PCC camp have blood on their hands. 2nd John 1:11, “For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”

Deadly Seventh-day Adventism Teaches Another Gospel

2nd Corinthians 11:3-4, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”

 As an American, I am often ashamed of my nation in the eyes of the world. Many of our top politicians lie their way into office, lie their way through office, and lie when they leave office. American businesses are some of the most dishonest and shady in the world—using vibrant colors, pleasant music, big smiles and captivating advertisements to lure customers; but then negate it all with thuggish black and white fine print buried in a tiny barely noticeable disclaimer. Read the fine print of the average insurance policy and you'll be shocked what the insurer won't pay for. U.S. lawyers, prosecutors and judges are notoriously corrupt. Our entire U.S. government is a massive Masonic hoax, perpetrating the illusion of freedom as they enslave us!

Likewise, one of the biggest deceptions today is the religious sect of Seventh-day Adventism (SDA). Just as politicians often lie right to our faces, breaking their promises and dealing deceitfully; so also do SDA's employ double-talk in their literature. Satan is a beautiful liar. The best place to hide a LIE is between two TRUTHS!

Recently I ran across an issue of “Signs Of The Times,” a popular Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) magazine. On the front cover, and also on all 15 pages of the magazine, are printed the words, “TRUTH MATTERS,” which is very disturbing (because SDA's don't speak the truth, as I will show you). I do not question the sincerity of SDA's. No doubt most of SDA's members are sincere, being blinded by Satan (2nd Corinthians 4:3-4). I am not trying to be unkind by exposing SDA's; but rather, I am contending for the Biblical Christian faith, which SDA's deviate from significantly. What makes Seventh-day Adventism so dangerous is that they align themselves so closely with Christianity on the surface, but a learned believer who “rightly divides the word of truth” will be able to discern SDA's doctrines of devils.

First, here is a quote from page 6 of “Signs Of The Times” (I don't see an issue number, but the magazine title reads, “Who are the Adventist?”). The following quote sounds great and gives the unlearned person the false impression that SDA's are Christians:

Salvation By Grace

The most important doctrine that Seventh-day Adventists share with other denominations is salvation by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ. This means that our obedience to God's laws contributes nothing to our salvation; we do not merit salvation because of anything we do. We are saved exclusively on the basis of our faith in Christ's death on the cross for our sins. This doctrine of the Christian church is clearly taught in the New Testament. For example, Paul said, "We maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law" (Romans 8:28). And in another place, he said, "It is by grace you have been saved, through faith, . . . not by works" (Ephesians 2:8 ,9).

SOURCE: Who are the Adventists?, “Truth Matters: Signs Of The Times” magazine, page 6.

The preceding quote sounds good, but it's not in agreement with the writings of Ellen G. White, whom SDA's all but worship. SDA's DON'T teach salvation by grace!!! In sharp contrast to the preceding quote, in the following quote from Miss White's book, “Steps To Christ,” she teaches Lordship Salvation (which is a works-based false plan of salvation):

“That so-called faith in Christ which professes to release men from the obligation of obedience to God, is not faith, but presumption. 'By grace are ye saved through faith.' But 'faith, if it hath not works, is dead.'”

SOURCE: Ellen G. White, Steps To Christ, p. 61.

So “faith” according to Ellen White is not simply trusting upon the Gospel to be saved. In addition, Miss White teaches that faith encompasses all of the obligations of living the Christian life. Starting to get the picture? Satan's greatest weapon is to con people into living the Christian life without ever being born-again!!!

Ellen White is employing the typical double-talk we often see from false teachers. In one place in her book she teaches that salvation is by God's grace through faith alone, without works; but then she teaches in another place (as I just quoted to you) that faith without works is not genuine faith. That is a corrupt plan of salvation, which superficially professes the simplicity that is in Christ by faith alone, but then perverts the Gospel by requiring discipleship in order to be saved.

Prolific author and 33rd degree Freemason, Manly P. Hall (1901-1990), makes the brilliant truthful statement:

“The half-truth is the most dangerous form of lie, because it can be defended in part by incontestable logic.”

SOURCE: “The Secret Destiny Of America,” page 195, by Manly P. Hall, a 33rd degree Freemason; 1944; ISBN: 0-89314-388-X; publisher: The Philosophical Research Society, Inc, Los Angeles, California.

Don't miss that! This concept is so important to understand when exposing the religious cults! This is exactly what Ellen White and SDA's are guilty of, that is, fabricating and propagating half-truths! By sheltering lies behind truth, it makes it very difficult to spiritually discern their doctrinal errors. When a naïve person reads the first quote I gave you earlier, they are duped into concluding that SDA's must be Christians. I'm frustrated that some born-again Christians have been deceived to believe that Seventh-day Adventists are saved, because THEY ARE NOT!!! When you delve deeper into the SDA religion, understanding the dangers of the half-truth, it becomes obvious that something is very wrong with their dogmas (teachings)!!!


Beware Of Religious Nuts Like Ellen White Who Claim To See Visions From God

You need to understand that SDA's attribute “VISIONS” to Ellen G. White, which they believe qualify her as some sort of spiritual tour guide from God. Here's a quote from the same issue of “Signs Of The Times,” page 11:

“While studying and praying with friends in Portland, Ellen went into a vision. God showed her that the Advent believers were on a difficult and sometimes discouraging path, but one that, if followed faithfully, would take them to the kingdom of Heaven. That was followed shortly by another vision, in which she was asked to tell others what God was telling her.”

SOURCE: Who are the Adventists?, “Truth Matters: Signs Of The Times” magazine, page 11.

Here's another quote from the same issue of “Signs Of The Times,” page 15:

“Seventh-day Adventists believe that God worked through her [Ellen White] in a singular way to clarify and emphasize the Bible's message about Jesus' return.”

SOURCE: Who are the Adventists?, “Truth Matters: Signs Of The Times” magazine, page 15.

SDA's violate the Holy Scriptures by recognizing their alleged prophetess, Ellen G. White, as a “VOICE” from God. The Bible plainly tells us that God only speaks to us through JESUS CHRIST. Hebrews 1:1-2, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.” Jesus is the Living Word, and the Bible is the Written Word (John 1:1-3,14; Revelation 19:13). Jesus is not here physically today; but rather, He ascended into Heaven and is seated on the right-hand of the Father (Colossians 3:1-2; Romans 8:34), and Christ's Holy Spirit indwells every believer (Romans 8:9). Hence, God speaks to us solely through the inspired Words of God in the Holy Bible, which in English is the trustworthy King James Bible!!! God does NOT speak today through visions or dreams!!!

2nd Peter 1:20, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” Ellen White's claim of private visions from God is of the Devil!!! SDA is creepy! Beware of any religious person who claims to see visions, or follows a religion whose leaders and founders have claimed to see visions. In my book, only nuts see visions! Ellen White was a nutcase! SDA's put forth a false sense of humility, claiming that even Ellen didn't want her writings to be compared with God's Word; and yet, SDA's entire whacko prophetic heresy concerning the meaningless year 1844 is solely based upon the satanic writings of Ellen White. To learn more about SDA's and 1844, please read my article: Things You Need To Know About The Cult Of Seventh-day Adventism.

Kindly, Ellen White was an unsaved fruitcake who claimed to have experienced private visions. This clever hoax is still deceiving 16,000,000 Seventh-day Adventists worldwide in 2015. SDA is a satanic cult, which needs to be exposed for what it is, straight from the pits of Hell.

John 8:45 “And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.” —Jesus Christ

Seventh-day Adventists deny the reality and existence of a literal burning Hell. Instead, like Jehovah's Witnesses teach, SDA's believe in annihilation for the wicked. This is totally unbiblical. You need to know about the SDA heresy on Hell. Clearly, SDA is very different than Biblical Christianity. Never follow any religious leader who isn't following the plain Word of God. When anyone starts talking about “visions,” it's time to leave. Ask them what they've been smoking?

You need to understand that when SDA's speak about salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone, they have a different meaning of the word “FAITH” than the Bible does. As I showed you early in a quote from Ellen White, she considers “FAITH” as being all-inclusive of a life of obedience to Christ, which would definitely include consecration, surrendering one's will and discipleship. Come to think of it, that's exactly what Dr. John MacArthur, John Calvin, Paul Washer, Ray Comfort and other heretics are teaching today.

The truth, Biblically, is that eternal life is a free gift, free to be received without obligation or strings attached. But then, when a person gets saved (born-again), there is a second decision that God wants us to make, but it is not required nor will it have any effect on God's gift of salvation to us. That second decision is DISCIPLESHIP! The first decision was SALVATION. Don't confuse or mix these two or you will have a false plan of salvation, which is merely religion without the new birth by the Holy Spirit of God.

Just like Roman Catholics who professes to believe the Gospel, while adding the Seven Sacraments to be saved; so also do Seventh-day Adventists add obedience to the things of Christ to be saved. These are BOTH false plans of salvation.

Please keep in mind that occultist Alice Bailey (considered by many to be the mother of the modern New Age Movement), in her book titled “The Externalisation Of The Hierarchy,” mentions the word “Christ” 666 times. This is because Miss Bailey's “Christ” is the soon coming Antichrist!!! So when SDA's speak of Christ, without mentioning His death on the cross for our sins, His burial, and His bodily resurrection three days later, you might want to ask which “Christ” they are talking about.

Despite some attempt to downplay the occult involvement of SDA founders, the truth is plainly evident. Ellen and James White have Masonic tombs upon their graves. Research and you will find, that Freemasonry did have a big influence of SDA.


SDA's Teach Lordship Salvation, Which Is Another Gospel

If you'll search online amongst SDA websites for “How To Be Saved,” you'll get Lordship Salvation basically. Here's an SDA official website, where they invite the reader to receive the free gift of eternal life, but then add a stipulation that works are necessary to be saved. Notice carefully that the SDA author of the following article speaks of God saving a person in future terms. This is because SDA's believe Christ entered into the heavenly Holy Place in 1844 to begin his work of “Investigative Judgment” ( a bizarre heresy exclusive to SDA). No other religious group teaches this bizarre doctrine, which is a big warning flag also.

Here's what SDA's teach concerning salvation:

Nor do we have the right to say for sure whom God will save. Given the kinds of people Jesus brushed shoulders with (thieves, the demon-possessed and prostitutes), it's a safe bet that there will be people in heaven that you and I wouldn't have selected to go there. ... God does want us to be good. Determinedly wicked people aren't trusting in Jesus, or they wouldn't do the things they do.

SOURCE: Seventh-day Adventist Church: How To Know You're Saved

The preceding statement is a lie. To say that people who intentionally commit wickedness are not saved is unbiblical. Noah deliberately got drunk. Samson deliberately went with harlots. David deliberately commit adultery with Bath-Sheba and murdered her husband. Jonah deliberately ran from God's will. Ananias and Sapphira deliberately lied and stole from God. Demas forsook Paul in the ministry, loving this present world. Peter deliberately took his clothes off, denied knowing Christ and quit the ministry, et cetera. The Bible is filled with shameful believers who did horrible things as Christians. All Christians sin.

The problem is that when you require a change of life as validation, confirmation or legitimization of one's faith in Christ, you've changed the plan of salvation. How can eternal life truly be a “free gift” (Romans 5:15; 6:23) if your behavior must change as part of being saved? It cannot! On the same website as the previous quote, SDA's teach that salvation can be lost, and that to remain saved, a person must continually choose to “STAY CLOSE TO GOD”:

People can “fall away” from God through choice, pressure, carelessness or inattention. Though God draws us to Himself and will do everything He can to keep us close to Him, He won't force us to stay. But those who do stay close to God live happier, more confident lives than those who don't.

SOURCE: Seventh-day Adventist Church: How To Know You're Saved

Notice the heresy in the preceding quote. SDA's teach that those who stay closer to God can live more confident lives than those who don't. Clearly, SDA's do not view salvation as a new birth that cannot be reversed. Rather, their heresy on Investigative Judgment teaches that since 1844, Christ is in the heavenly Holy Place deciding who is “worthy” or not to enter into Heaven. So if you stay close to God throughout your life, you have much better odds of being found worthy than if you don't stay close to God. Ladies and gentleman, this is an entirely satanic false plan of salvation that cannot produce the new birth by the Holy Spirit of God. John 1:12-13, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Galatians 4:16, “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” —Apostle Paul

Biblically, you must be born-again to be saved. Notice that the SDA website titled, “How To Be Saved,” never mentions the Gospel. What is the Gospel? The Bible tells us:

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.”

There you have it... Christ DIED on the cross for our sins, He was BURIED and He RESURRECTED the third day. If you see yourself as a guilty sinner in God's holy eyes (Romans 3:19), and believe the Gospel (Mark 1:15), you will be immediately and forever saved (Romans 10:13).

Clearly, the Bible teaches something very different than what SDA's teach. You don't get to Heaven by receiving God's free gift and then staying close to God in holy living, increasing your odds that God will save you. That's the same theological garbage that Billy Graham, John MacArthur, Paul Washer and other heretics are teaching, infiltrating and defiling evangelical churches. The Bible teaches that we are saved by God's righteousness, not our own (Romans 10:3-4).

Philippians 3:9, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” In theological language, and mentioned in Romans 4:5-6 of the precious King James Bible, it is called IMPUTATION. We are saved by the imputed righteousness of God by faith in Jesus Christ (2nd Corinthians 5:21), because we have no righteousness of our own to offer God (Isaiah 64:6).

Hence, once you are saved, you can NEVER lose your salvation. When you hear someone saying that they “used to be a Christian,” what they are really saying is that they once ascribed to the philosophy of Christianity or joined a Christian organization, but they were never truly BORN-AGAIN!!! Christianity began as a new birth by faith in Christ Jesus. When it went to Greece, Christianity became a philosophy. When it went to Rome, it became an organization. When it spread throughout Europe, it became a culture. And when it came to America, Christianity became a business!


Seventh-day Adventism Is NOT Compatible With New Testament Biblical Christianity

My friend, Seventh-day Adventism may look, smell and taste like Christianity, but it is a worm-filled apple, rotten to the core. The exclusive doctrine of Investigative Judgment, which teaches that Christ entered into the heavenly Holy Place in the year 1844 is bizarre, completely foreign to Biblical Christianity. Of course, as you can imagine, SDA's reject all other religions, claiming that only they are the full remaining faithful. SDA's worship on Saturday, their self-made Sabbath. They're businesses are often open on Sundays, totally disregarding the Lord's Day on Sunday as being part of the world's antichrist system. Baptist pastors are viewed as being antichrists by SDA's. They won't tell you any of this upfront.

As I have briefly shared with you, SDA's have a completely different, far out, bizarre, strange, belief system. The Bible calls this “strange doctrines.” Hebrews 13:9, “Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.” Doctrinally, we ought to stick to the fundamentals of the Christian faith. The SDA doctrine of Investigative Judgment is certainly a STRANGE DOCTRINE.

There is absolutely no way to reconcile Seventh-day Adventism with Biblical Christianity. They are diametrically opposed to each other. Also, there are strong occult connections between Ellen G. White and Freemasonry, as is true of most mainstream religious cults. SDA is a part of the Devil's New World Order deception. Satan's purpose is to BLIND people, so that they will rest at ease in a false security, and go straight to Hell when they die, when they thought they were going to Heaven. This is why Jesus said in Luke 13:23-34, “Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.”

Please understand that Seventh-day Adventism is a business, an organized religion, not Biblical Christianity. Satan is a master con-artist, a deceiver, whom the Bible warns appears as an angel of light (2nd Corinthians 11:13-15). Literally, the Devil and his sinister ministers are actors, pretending to be of God, but they are satanic. We are all in a spiritual war. SDA does its best to appear as a Christian organization, but it is a woeful deception of the Devil.

Eternal life is a free gift (Romans 5:15; 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-10). A gift need only be received. To genuinely be a free gift—salvation cannot require anybody to clean up their act, turn over a new leaf, commit their life to God, surrender their will to follow Christ, confess Christ publicly, join a church, forsake the world, cease from sinful bad habits, get water baptized, keep the Sabbath, nor do good works—for all these are HUMAN EFFORT!!! It is tragic how Satan has blurred the lines of theological doctrine between the churches and the satanic cults. Consequently, many of our once evangelical churches have succumbed to satanic error are are no longer New Testament churches, because they are teaching a false plan of salvation. Lordship Salvation is NOT salvation!!!

Heresy is creeping into the churches by the hour. The “simplicity that is in Christ” is that a person who realizes that they are a sinner can be saved by simply BELIEVING the Gospel.

“The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?” —Psalms 118:6

Psalms 56:9, “...this I know; for God is for me.”

Believing In A Savior Whom We Cannot See

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.”

That is so awesome! The Bible acknowledges that we are trusting in a Savior we have never met. Did you know that we get a special blessing for that? John 20:29, “Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” Wow! I am glad that I can prove my love for the Father and His only begotten Son by believing (having faith) even when I cannot see Him. 

Hebrews 11:24-27, “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.”

That is so precious! Repeatedly in the Holy Bible we are encouraged for our faith, trusting in a God that we cannot see, Who is invisible. 

Romans 1:20-23, “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

What an amazing passage of Scripture! The Bible says that THE INVISIBLE THINGS of God from the creation of the world are CLEARLY SEEN by the things which are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that all men are WITHOUT EXCUSE.

When we behold the moon, sun, stars, planets and universe we see God's handiwork. Psalms 19:1-3, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.” Nature itself speaks a universal language to all mankind, testifying of the goodness and power of the true and living God. This is what makes preaching the Gospel so powerful and effective, because our Gospel presentation is supplemented by the voice of nature and the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-11).

I love that about God, He has given us witnesses to verify THE TRUTH. The Lord doesn't expect us to believe something without providing some evidence to prove it is true. Although we cannot see Jesus physically, we can see all of creation, and that is a voice (a witness) the Bible says. This is what the Bible means:

1st John 5:4-8, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.”

There are THREE witnesses in the earth that Jesus is the Son of God:

1. The Holy Spirit (John 16:7-11)
2. Jesus' flesh (Christ's lineage traces back to Eve, proving His humanity in Luke)
3. Jesus' blood (Christ was born of a virgin, proving God is His Father, Matthew 1:23)

The blessed doctrine of the Godhead (God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit) proves in Heaven that Jesus is God, deity. His incarnation in the flesh and virgin birth on earth prove that he is the biological Son of God. The Holy Spirit bears witness that these things are true! The great battle has always been over whether Jesus is Whom He claimed to be. Is He a fake? Is He a deceiver? The wicked chief priests and Pharisees called Jesus a “deceiver.” Matthew 27:63-64, “Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.” Did Jesus deceive them? No, He did indeed rise up from the dead after three days!!!

It is because of the negative nature of mankind that God gave us witnesses. Remember, the Bible calls Satan “the accuser of the brethren” in Revelation 12:10b. The Bible gives us a description of our enemy, the Devil. John 8:44, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” Satan does not abide in THE TRUTH, he lies all the time. Sound familiar? The newsmedia don't care about THE TRUTH, they delve into lies, even fabricating FAKE NEWS to further their own agendas and greed to sell a story:

The news media and the government are entwined in a vicious circle of mutual manipulation, mythmaking, and self-interest. Journalists need crises to dramatize news, and government officials need to appear to be responding to crises. Too often, the crises are not really crises but joint fabrications. The two institutions have become so ensnared in a symbiotic web of lies that the news media are unable to tell the public what is true and the government is unable to govern effectively. That is the thesis advanced by Paul H. Weaver, a former political scientist (at Harvard University), journalist (at Fortune magazine), and corporate communications executive (at Ford Motor Company), in his provocative analysis entitled News and the Culture of Lying: How Journalism Really Works.

SOURCE: Why The News Is Not The News (Harvard Business Review)

That is tragic and another reason why our American society is deteriorating quickly. Matthew 24:12, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” People don't know what to believe anymore. Because of the blatant fraud of 911, many people no longer believe anything the government or newsmedia say. 911 was a blatant INSIDE JOB. It wasn't two planes, but thermite charges (bombs) carefully planted in the World Trade Center buildings (which take months to prepare) for controlled demolition. Firefighters who were present at Ground Zero testified in court that they heard explosive charges systematically going off. A New York judge put a gag order on the firefighters to silence them!!! No wonder Americans today have little confidence in what the U.S. government tells us. I sure don't! This whole COVID-19 pandemic stinks with dishonesty. As far as I'm concerned it is just 911 part two, intended to further the New World Order. Time will tell the true story.

Praise God that He has given to us many evidences to support THE TRUTH of His dear only begotten Son. John 20:31, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”

Security Verses Assurance

1st John 1:4, “And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.”

I heard a wonderful MP3 sermon today by Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold titled, “Security Verses Assurance,” in which he makes the following helpful statement:

“Assurance of your salvation is how you see it, and your perception can be based upon what somebody told you to look at it. Like for example: Some say if you're really saved, it will manifest itself in your life. Well, if everybody looked at their life as the evidence of their salvation, [the] majority of people (I would say most people) would have to come to the conclusion, that they're not saved. If I had to look at my life, as the evidence to prove that I'm saved, I'd come up to the conclusion, I'm not. Because, how many sins would I tolerate? How many sins can I commit? How many questions and doubts? What about my thought life? Every person has enough in their life, that could be used as evidence, that they're not really saved. But you see, that's because you would lose assurance of your salvation; but, if you forget about looking at yourself, because your salvation doesn't depend on you, and it depends upon what Christ said, well [if] what Christ said is still true, and it doesn't lie, then you have eternal security based upon what God said. So God knows those whom He has saved, given eternal life, and are born into His family, and so you are safe and secure. But you may get to the place, where you no longer are full of assurance. When you study the book of 1st John, it talks about (as a child of God) having full joy—'that your joy may be full.' And your joy cannot be full if your assurance is missing.” —Pastor Ralph “Yankee” Arnold, from the MP3 sermon, “Security Verses Assurance.”

Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold further makes this tremendous helpful statement:

The doctrine of eternal security is not a separate doctrine from eternal life. If you have eternal life, you are safe and secure in the arms of the everlasting Father. Deuteronomy 33:27, “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.” Our salvation in Jesus Christ is as secure and guaranteed as God's existence Himself. The only kind of life that God offers is “eternal” (or “everlasting”) life! John 6:47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” Oh my friend, if you are saved, you have everlasting life!!! Nothing can jeopardize our security in Christ! Whether I go to Heaven has nothing to do with whether I'm good or bad, but whether God is good or bad. We have a good God, Who has made a way of escape through the sacrifice of His dear only begotten Son on the cross for our sins. What an awesome God and Savior!!! —Pastor Ralph “Yankee” Arnold, from the MP3 sermon, “Security Verses Assurance.”

Pastor Hank Lindstrom (1940-2008) made these helpful statements:

“Nothing in my future can ever affect the salvation that I have... Once you trust the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, you are eternally secure!” —Pastor Hank Lindstrom (1940-2008), a quote from the classic MP3 sermon titled, “How Permanent Is Your Salvation?” 

“The Christian life doesn't save you! You're saved by Jesus Christ' death on the cross, and that alone, and it's important to understand the difference. And, it's true that we should not live a life that's opposed to the will of God after we're saved (We'll talk about what God will do, if we do live that kind of way). But, salvation is based upon purely what Jesus Christ has done. And if you've trusted Jesus Christ here, you're saved forever! Nothing in your life, nothing in your death, angels, principalities, nothing—nothing in your future—could ever undo that relationship that has been made when you trusted Jesus Christ as Savior. And there are many people who are confused over this whole thing.” —Pastor Hank Lindstrom (1940-2008), a quote from the classic MP3 sermon titled, “How Permanent Is Your Salvation?” 

“There are many people who name the name of Jesus Christ, who are not saved, because they're trusting in living the Christian life, or in their works, or in some efforts that they're doing, in order to obtain their salvation.” —Pastor Hank Lindstrom (1940-2008), a quote from the classic MP3 sermon titled, “How Permanent Is Your Salvation?”

You'd be surprised how many people faithfully attend church much of their life, but have never been born-again. Most people join a church because someone befriended and invited them, and then they gradually became a part of the church family, but if you were to ask them why they're going to Heaven, you'd find out quickly that they have never been saved at all. That's why I frequently pass out the awesome book by Michael P. Bowen called, “I NEVER KNEW YOU: THE HORROR OF THE COMING GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT AND HOW YOU CAN AVOID IT!” Here is the complete free online .PDF version.

How could somebody attend a local New Testament church for decades and still go to Hell? IT HAPPENS!!! It happens even in independent fundamental Baptist churches. The reason why is because living the Christian life is NOT the way to be saved. You get saved by placing your trust in the Good News of Jesus Christ, Who DIED on the cross for our sins, was BURIED, and bodily RESURRECTED three days later.

Satan's greatest weapon is to con people into living the Christian life without ever being born-again. Nearly everyone who professes the name of Christ is guilty of this sin, relying upon the religious life they are living to get them into Heaven on day. Luke 13:23-24, “Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.”

The Purpose Of Repentance Explains What It Means

Romans 3:19-20, “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. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” 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.”

There is not a more hotly debated subject today than repentance for salvation. This past week a man (one of my web visitors) shared a copy of a disciplinary letter he received from his church's pastors. The man had spoken out about the heresy of Calvinism (ala, Lordship Salvation) being taught from the pulpit by his pastor. Consequently, they excommunicated him. I comforted my hurting brother in Christ by reminding him that Jesus was also “despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3).

“Lordship” salvation is the false teaching that faith in the GOOD NEWS (Gospel) of Jesus Christ is not enough to be saved; but in addition, a person must turn away from their sinful behavior, surrender all to Christ as absolute “Lord” and follow Jesus no matter what the cost. So if a person professes faith in Christ, but their life hasn't outwardly changed, they are said to be unsaved because they have never repented. Proponents of Lordship Salvation teach that a person cannot claim immediate salvation; but rather, we must watch their life to see if their behavior changes over time to prove the reality of their faith. This is the Devil's lie of Calvinism! This is what many religious cults teach (e.g., Seventh-Day Adventists, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, et cetera).

The reason why so many people get God's simple plan of salvation wrong is because they don't understand the purpose of repentance. It is vital that you understand that the only purpose of repentance is the “acknowledging of the truth” (2nd Timothy 2:25b). God's law was intended to show humanity our SINNERSHIP. Galatians 3:24-26, “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 Old testament law (God's Commandments) show mankind our utter inability to merit eternal life. A person must know what they are being saved from to be saved, and that is the purpose of repentance. Sin is the reason why we need to be saved. So repentance is the admission that we are a guilty sinner in God's sight.

The Law shows us that we cannot earn our way to Heaven, because we have ALL fallen short of perfectly obeying God's Commandments (Romans 3:23). We've all broken the Ten Commandments!!! Therefore, none of us are righteous. Our best goodness is filth to God according to Isiah 64:6, “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.” That is why we need a Savior! Jesus lived a perfect life. He perfectly kept all of God's Commandments, never breaking even one of them. Jesus was sinless on earth! That is why John the Baptist could say with absolute certainty in John 1:29b, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

People who are living in denial of the sin in their life won't come to the light of the truth of the Gospel, lest their evil deeds should be reproved (spoken negative against by God). Unsaved sinners run away from God, because they know what they are doing is wrong, but are in denial. This is exactly what the Bible teaches in 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.” Do you see? Lost sinners oppose themselves, refusing to acknowledge their SINNERSHIP.  Ah, but the repentant person acknowledges (admits) THE TRUTH that he or she is a guilty sinner.

This is why we often hear homosexuals attempting to justify their sins. They are in denial. They have not repented toward God yet. The Bible teaches that anyone who denies their sins is calling God a liar and is not saved. 1st John 1:10, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” Repentance is when a person accepts the TRUTH that they are a guilty sinner! It is that simple. Repentance is solely a matter of the heart, and has nothing to do with works. Repentance is realizing that you have sinned against a holy God, so that you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved (Acts 16:30-31).

So if you understand that the purpose of repentance is simply to facilitate (make possible) believing, then you won't go astray thinking that repentance means turning away from a lifestyle of sinning. Many preachers fail to understand that we are saved by faith alone. If a separate act of repentance were required to be saved, then faith could not be sufficient. Galatians 3:26, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” So obviously faith includes repentance. It is impossible for a man to have faith in Christ, but not have repentance. Such a case has never happened in history, not one time!

Many people misunderstand what repentance is not. Let's define some terms shall we:

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

When a preacher tells you that to be saved you must grieve over your sins, be sorry, commit to do better in the future, or turn away from a lifestyle of sinning, he is preaching another gospel. None of those things constitute repentance! You may do all those things and never be saved at all! Proof of this is found in Matthew 27:3-4, “Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.”

Judas felt remorse. The word “repented” here is a different Greek word than is used for repentance unto salvation in the Bible. As used here, the word means that Judas felt bad afterwards. Judas was sorry that he got caught, he didn't experience true repentance toward God. Judas felt sorrow (penitence). He tried to return the thirty pieces of silver (penance). He had turned away from his sins (reformation). Yet Judas went out in shame and hung himself, and is now burning in Hell for all eternity without hope, because he didn't have faith in Christ. So we see a perfect example here in the Bible of a man who went through all the emotional feelings of guilty, shame and a desire to do better, turning away from his sins, yet still was not saved. I love this helpful quote from Pastor Charles Spurgeon:

“Repentance will not make you see Christ; but to see Christ will give you repentance. You may not make a Christ out of your repentance, but you must look for repentance to Christ. The Holy Ghost, by turning us to Christ, turns us from sin. Look away, then, from the effect to the cause, from your own repenting to the Lord Jesus, who is exalted on high to give repentance.” —Pastor Charles Spurgeon; “All Of Grace,” Chapter 11 - “Alas! I Can Do Nothing”

Spurgeon is right! We don't see Christ because we repent of our sins. We don't believe on Christ because we first turned away from our sinning. This is the junk theology that we hear so much today from the heretical Lordship Salvation crowd (e.g., Bob Jones University, John MacArthur, Marty Herron, Harvest Baptist Church on Guam, Ray Comfort, Sam Horn, et cetera). They all teach that you must turn away from your sins in order to be saved. That is not God's simple plan of salvation. It is very difficult for people to turn away from lifelong sinful bad habits. God does not require that to receive His free gift of eternal life.

The truth is that we repent (change our mind toward God - Acts 20:21) because we see Christ in His holiness and believe (completely rest) in Him for salvation. Repentance means acknowledging THE TRUTH that we are a guilty sinner, believing the Gospel to be saved. We have changed our mind. We are now trusting Jesus to save us instead of attempting to work our own way into Heaven. That is all repentance is, nothing more. Beware of preachers who make repentance some big scary thing! In fact, God doesn't even mention repentance in the Gospel of John, which proves that it is not something separate from believing to be saved. The man who believes has repented, and the man who repents has believed.

Anytime that you hear a preacher speaking of repentance as something different, or more, that you must do than simply BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, he is preaching another gospel. Acts 16:30-31, “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” The Apostle Paul didn't tell the Roman jailer to repent, did he? But isn't repentance necessary to be saved? Yes, of course, but it is automatic. When a man changes his mind toward God, believing the Gospel to be saved, he has repented. It is that simple friend.