Don't Emphasize Repentance When Presenting The 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.”

We shouldn't be focusing on repentance when presenting the Gospel. Don't emphasize repentance because a lot of people are confused about it.

Furthermore, there is no need to bring the subject up because repentance is an automatic thing. If a husband says he is going to watch a ballgame, but his wife wants him to take out the trash first, she wouldn't say: “Would you please change your mind and take out the trash?” No, she would say: “Would you please take out the trash?” If her husband takes out the garbage it is because he changed his mind. Likewise, the man who believes on Christ has repented.

To lead people to Jesus Christ all we need to do is share THE GOSPEL. I found a helpful article and sermon by Pastor David O'Steen of the Hope Bible Church in Jackson, Georgia, titled: 'Is Repentance Necessary For Salvation?' I encourage you to examine these wonderful resources. It is rare to find a Bible preacher who gets repentance 100% correct, which Pastor O'Steen does thankfully. Amen and amen!

Everybody who gets saved repents, whether they are conscious of it or not. Repentance is essential for salvation, but it is not a work. The English verb “repent” (Greek: metanoeo) means “to think differently.” The noun “repent” (Greek: metanoia) means a change of mind.  Many preachers embellish the meaning of repentance to add more to it, but to do so is to sinfully wrest the Scripture (2nd Peter 3:16-17). If it wasn't the Lord's Holy Spirit working in your soul through the Gospel, you wouldn't change your mind to be saved. He works on your heart first through the Gospel. We repent (change our mind) from unbelief to belief to be saved. It's that simple to go to Heaven and nothing more is required or allowed.

I love this tremendous quote from Pastor Harry A. Ironside (1876-1951):

“Which comes first, repentance or faith? In Scripture we read, 'Repent ye, and believe the gospel.' Yet we find true believers exhorted to 'repent, and do the first works.' So intimately are the two related that you cannot have one without the other. The man who believes God repents; the repentant soul puts his trust in the Lord when the Gospel is revealed to him. Theologians may wrangle over this, but the fact is, no man repents until the Holy Spirit produces repentance in his soul through the truth. No man believes the Gospel and rests in it for his own salvation until he has judged himself as a needy sinner before God. And this is repentance.” ('Except Ye Repent,' p. 16)

In the following passage from the book of Acts, repentance and faith happen simultaneously at the same time. You don't repent first and then believe. Repentance is “a change of mind,” and you turn to God by putting your faith in His only begotten Son. Acts 26:20, “But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.”

Repentance doesn't save you, faith in Jesus Christ saves you; but repentance facilitates (makes possible) believing. To turn from one's sins is reformation, not Bible repentance. Certainly God wants every believer to repent of our sins, but this has nothing to do with the new birth, which is by faith alone in the Gospel. Today's clergy who combine and confuse service with salvation do great harm to the cause of Christ. Evangelist Billy Graham (1918-2018) was one of the worst offenders, perverting God's simple plan of salvation.

The Gospel message is not “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17b). The Gospel message is that you're a lost sinner, Christ died for your sins, and if you want to be saved trust the Lord and He will save you, and that is repentance. So, it's the goodness of God that leadeth to repentance. Whenever the Lord went forth to Israel commanding them to repent, most of them didn't. It was the grace, love and mercy of God that causes Saul to repent to be saved under the grace of God.

As we faithfully preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, some sinners will repent; not because we demanded it of them or even exhorted them to do it with fear, but because, as we preached Christ’s finished redemptive work the Holy Spirit opened their eyes to see the truth, and their hearts to receive it. 2nd Timothy 2:25b, “if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.”

When sharing the plan of salvation with lost sinners, just give them the plain facts of Jesus' death on the cross, burial and bodily resurrection from the dead the third day. Remember, it is the Gospel itself that is THE POWER OF GOD unto salvation to all who believe it. 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.” It's not our words of wisdom or eloquent oratory skills that will lead men to Jesus Christ; but rather, it's the saving knowledge of the Gospel (the Good News of Jesus crucified, buried and risen) itself that saves. You just need to believe that Jesus did it all for you.

The True Measure Of Our Success In Life

Daniel 12:2-3, “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”

I believe this passage of Scripture speaks of the imputed righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ. 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.”

Dear reader, the measure of our success as a Christian won't be how many people show up to say goodbye at our funeral; but rather, how many people are waiting to greet us when we get to Heaven. That is, how many people we lead to the Lord Jesus Christ in our lifetime.

The Apostle Paul made this remarkable statement, writing under the inspiration of the blessed Holy Spirit:

1st Corinthians 9:16, “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!”

Do you think that “woe” only applies to an apostle if he fails to preach the Gospel? Every child of God is commanded by God to share the Gospel, as set forth in The Great Commission:

Matthew 28:18-20, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

God intended for the Gospel to perpetuate from one generation to the next. For example: I lead you to Christ, and then teach you the things of Christ so that you can go soulwinning and lead lost sinners to Christ, and then those converts learn the ways of Christ and they go preach the Gospel to win more sinners to Jesus, and so forth. This is The Great Commission.

Are you soul-conscious dear reader? Are you a born again Christian? There is nothing in this life more important than knowing that your name is written in Heaven in the Lamb's Book of Life (Luke 10:20).

I keep this Gospel tract by Army chaplain David Rutkin with me everywhere I go. I have a rubber band around my phone that holds a dozen tracts. I wear my phone around my neck on a chain. I used this pad to prevent the chain from irritating my neck. The tract is titled, “Nothing But The Truth.” I pass them out to people. By doing so, I am planting a seed at a minimum. At best, they might even get saved by believing the Gospel. It is not our job to save anybody; but rather, to just give them a clear Gospel presentation. God saves sinners (1st Corinthians 3:6). Proverbs 11:30, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.”

Having Everything And Yet Nothing

Today, I was reading about Hollywood actors who were fired for being greedy. It sickens me with all the tens of millions of dollars that Hollywood actors already have, they want more, more, more! Albeit, I think in some instances it is more a matter of principle than the money.

For the 2014 movie sequel “Expendables 3,” The Hollywood Reporter said that Bruce Willis' exit from the franchise was due to a huge paycheck demand. According to The Hollywood Reporter's source, “Willis was offered $3 million for four days of consecutive work,” but he demanded a pay bump to $4 million. Can you imagine? Bruce Willis wasn't content with $750,000 per day of work! It takes the average hard working American 10 to 15 years to earn that amount of money!!! Unreal.

In fairness to Bruce Willis, that single movie grossed $209,500,000 in profits, so he probably loathed the greedy of the studio. Hollywood studios exploit the actors' fame to boost their film sales. Willis fully knew that, which is why I think he refused the role unless they paid him more. It wasn't about the money, it's the principle of the matter.

Just as a side note of trivia, Jason Statham earned a massive $25 million just for his role in the 2023 “Expendables 4” film. Wowza! For Statham's role in all four films in The Expendables franchise he was paid $52 million total. His net worth is $120 million.

While I was researching the outrageous salaries of Hollywood actors today, I noticed that Robert DeNiro has a staggering net worth of $500,000,000. Sadly, DeNiro is an atheist. Matthew 16:26, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Most rich people have everything they already need on earth, so they don't think they need God, provisions or Heaven. But the poor, imprisoned and broken people of this world are desperate for a better life. 

1st Corinthians 1:17-18, “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”

I also read about Hollywood actor Jack Black this week, who is an avowed atheist. His net worth is $50 million. I could mention the names of thousands of Hollywood actors and famous people who have a shocking net worth, and yet they are oh so poor without Jesus Christ. They are some of the most selfish people on planet earth. It breaks my heart whenever I read about a famous person who has everything they could want in this life, except Jesus.

Brian Johnson of the hard rock band AC/DC is an atheist. He denies that Jesus is God. To deny the deity of Jesus (the truth that He is almighty God) makes one effectively an atheist.

“Well I don't believe in religion, let's put it that way,” Johnson said. “I believe all religions are bad. I think they're a waste of time. Jesus was a clever man. He wasn't the son of God. We all know that he was a very clever, wonderful man and he said, 'Church is in here, meaning you are your own church.'” [emphasis added] SOURCE

What saith the Scripture? 1st John 2:22-23, “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.” Kindly said, woe unto Brian Johnson when he enters the afterlife.

At age 78 in 2026, Brian Johnson has a net worth of $90 million. What good is all that money, since they cannot take one penny with them into eternity. 1st Timothy 6:7, “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”

The Only Happy Life is Living For Souls

It was Pastor Dwight Lyman Moody in Chicago who rightly said:

“It is the only happy life to live for the salvation of souls.” —Pastor D. L. Moody (1837-1899)

When this life is over and we are in God's hands someday, all that will matter then is if we died in the Lord (Revelation 13:14), and what we did for Christ with our life (Ecclesiastes 12:13). The true measure of our success as a Christian won't be how many people show up to say goodbye at our funeral; but rather, how many people are waiting to greet us when we get to Heaven.

God calls the feet of the soulwinner “beautiful.” Notice that the Bible doesn't say that our mouth or lips are beautiful, but our feet. ...

Romans 10:15-16, “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?”

The reason why is obvious, because even the most eloquent words of wisdom are worthless if our feet are too lazy to carry those needful words to lost sinners. 2nd Corinthians 4:3, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost.” Winning lost sinners to Jesus is so important to the heavenly Father that I have dedicated an entire website just to soulwinning...

https://www.soulwinning.info

Al Pacino Is Not A Christian, Not Ready For Eternity

John 3:3, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

It was reported in the news that famous Hollywood icon Al Pacino (born 1940) almost died during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the virus caught him. And sadly, it was also reported that Al Pacino renewed his Roman Catholic faith that he was raised in, as an Italian:

Al Pacino’s Near-Fatal COVID Experience Revives His Catholic Faith 

by Media News Source | June 22, 2025

Al Pacino’s recent visit to the Vatican marks a significant moment in both his personal faith journey and his storied career. The acclaimed actor, now 85 years old, met with Pope Leo XIV this week, gifting the Pontiff a model car and engaging in discussions that blended the realms of film and spirituality. This encounter follows Pacino’s near-fatal experience with COVID-19, a health crisis that seemingly prompted a reevaluation of his faith and personal beliefs.

 . . . Sources suggest that their conversation transcended mere pleasantries and ventured into deeper discussions about the intersection of cinema and faith. Pacino’s transformational experience during the pandemic has led him back to his roots, exploring faith in a new light. Observers noted that Pope Leo XIV was notably enthusiastic about meeting Pacino, highlighting his admiration for the actor’s contributions to the film industry.

As the film industry continues to grapple with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pacino’s experience serves as a reminder of the power of personal reflection during times of crisis. His renewed faith, explored within the context of his artistic pursuits, may resonate not only with his audience but also with those who follow his work across the globe.

This encounter is a noteworthy illustration of how art and spirituality can intersect, enabling influential figures like Pacino to connect with global leaders in meaningful ways. While the details of their conversation may remain private, the implications of such a meeting extend far beyond the walls of the Vatican as they epitomize a merging of cultural heritage and spiritual exploration.

As Pacino continues his journey through film and faith, his connection with Pope Leo XIV adds a profound layer to his legacy, inspiring many to reflect on their own paths and beliefs. [emphasis added] SOURCE

This is so tragic! Satan has the unsaved world blinded from seeing the true Gospel the Bible says. 2nd Corinthians 4:3-4, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” Al Pacino, like over one billion other victims, has been woefully deceived by Roman Catholicism. People are so gullible, swayed and swooned by the whore of Rome. The Catholic Church, including its global holdings, is often considered to have a symbolic net worth in the trillions, primarily due to its extensive properties, investments, and historical assets.

Dear reader, there is no salvation in the Catholic religion! I say that with kindness and love, but I speak THE TRUTH of God's Word. For centuries billions of people have fallen victim to the lies of the Vatican, worshipping graven images and images which the Holy Bible forbids. It became so obvious that Catholics were dissing the Word of God, that the wicked Vatican had to do something drastic to hide their deception. So, they removed the second of the Ten Commandments, which forbids bowing to graven images. See for yourself. That alone should be more than enough proof that the Roman Catholic Church is of the Devil.

It saddens me that Al Pacino is nearing the end of his life's journey at age 85, and after almost dying in his sins when COVID-19 hit hard, the famous actor is still lost in his sins and bound for the Lake of Fire without Christ. Catholics teach Sacramental Salvation. That is, their religion teaches that to get to Heaven you MUST keep Seven Sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance (Reconciliation), Anointing of the Sick, Matrimony, and Holy Orders). Of course, none of this garbage in Biblical. Yes, I said “garbage”!

The Bible doesn't teach Christians to respect the false religious beliefs of others; it says to “Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.” The Bible says in Ephesians 5:11, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” The Bible says in 2nd Corinthians 6:17, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” The Bible doesn't say to stick around and try to convert false religions. No, it says to separate from them!

Perhaps you've heard the term ecumenism. What is that? It is a movement that promotes worldwide unity among religions, through greater cooperation and improved understanding. As you can see, ecumenism and the Holy Bible are in conflict. How can we come our from them and  cooperate at the same time? We cannot. Lets read the surrounding text, shall we...

2nd Corinthians 6:14-16, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

That is what we call, Ecclesiastical Separation. Romans 16:17, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” We are commanded by God to identify false prophets and false religions and to avoid them, not buy their books and support them. The Greek word for “mark” in verse 17 is skopeo, which means “to take aim, that is, regard.” It means to take notice that there is an unwanted pest in our midst who needs to be exposed and avoided.

God does not have an opinion like we humans do. God is truth! I cannot warn you enough to run away from Roman (and Russian Orthodox) Catholicism. I could spend hours showing you what is Biblically wrong with these damnable fake religions that send me to Hell.

Here are a few issues:

1. The Bible says we are saved by faith alone, but Catholics require faith + works (Ephesians 2:8-9).
2. The Bible says call no man your “Father” (reverence), but Catholics do it anyway (Matthew 23:9).
3. The Bible teaches we can eat meat, but Catholics are taught they should only eat fish on Fridays and during the Lent season (1st Timothy 4:1-3). I am not a big Whataburger fan, but I love their fish sandwiches. Unfortunately, they are only served during certain times of the year. Whataburger served fish sandwiches, specifically the Whatacatch Sandwich and Platter, from February 17 through April 6, 2026, during the Lenten season. The Bible warns that only false prophets forbid eating meat at any time.
4. The Bible teaches that only God can pardon sin (Micah 7:18), but arrogant wicked Catholic priests claim to be able to forgive men's sins.
5. The second of God's Ten Commandments for humanity forbids bowing down to statues and graven images (Exodus 20), but Catholics do it anyway, committing gross idolatry.

I could give you hundreds more serious issues with the Catholic false religion. John 3:3, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” The Seven Sacraments cannot produce the required new birth by the Holy Spirit of God (John 1:12-13).

Here is the gospel: God says that we are guilty sinners and that no amount of good works or behavioral changes on our part could ever make us holy enough to enter Heaven. God sent His only begotten Son to pay for all of our sins. Jesus paid for our crimes by dying on the cross for us all. His dead body was buried in a grave. On the third day, Jesus arose from the dead.

The instant you believe this, He knows it and He saves you. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on Me hath everlasting life”(John 6:47). The free gift is based solely upon your trust in what Jesus did for you and has nothing at all to do with what you do for Him. “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” (Ephesians 2:8-9). That's it friend. That is all you need to do to go to Heaven someday when you leave this earth.

I sincerely hope and I just prayed, that God will open Al Pacino's eyes before it is too late. The Devil has blinded him from the light of the truth of the Gospel. Jeremiah 17:5, “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” Those fleshly Catholic priests are a bunch of dirty sinners themselves, so they cannot absolve your sins. Only Jesus who has the nail-scared hands and feet can forgive your sins dear reader. ...

John 3:16-17, “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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

Religion cannot save anyone. My father was right, religion is the worst thing that ever happened to this world. Religion is man trying to fit you with glasses, so that you can see things from their perspective; but the good LORD wants to open your eyes with the truth, so that you will be born again (John 8:32, 36). Won't you trust Him now dear reader. You simply need to believe that Jesus did it all for you through Calvary's cross 2,000 years ago.

The Gift Of God Is Eternal Security

Romans 6:22-23, “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

I have noticed that false prophets who deny eternal security, and who preach misunderstood repentance and Lordship Salvation, tend to avoid the Biblical topic of eternal life being a completely free gift. The very idea offends their Pharisaical self-righteous beliefs.

For eternal life to remain a “free gift” (Romans 5:15-18, 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9), there can be no obligations, stipulations or subsequent requirements to secure it. This is eternal security! If what false teachers like Dr. Phil Kidd preaches is true, that there is no eternal security for Christian believers, then eternal life is not a gift at all.

Eternal security (also called “once saved, always saved”) is the Christian belief that believers have absolute assurance of their final salvation and destination in the afterlife. If eternal life is truly a free gift that cannot be earned, deserved or merited in any way, then there is no way possible for one's position in Christ to be jeopardized. The very concept of denying a believer's eternal security is rooted in works for salvation. The basic gist is that if you fail to maintain a certain standard of living you were never saved to begin with, which is not a free gift.

If backsliding into a life of worldliness and sin proves that someone isn’t really saved, then how can eternal life be a gift? The Bible says that eternal life is a gift, which means that you CAN live like the Devil and still know you are 100% saved. Getting saved, and knowing that you are saved, has nothing to do with YOU; it has everything to do with what CHRIST did to pay your debt of sin through Calvary's cross 2,000 years ago. Eternal life is eternal security because God gives it to guilty sinners as a free gift. That is what grace is.

God knew that you would fail Him; hence, grace. You cannot out-sin the grace of God! Sin cannot triumph over the cross and the blood. That is eternal security! Romans 6:1, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” A believer falls “in grace,” but never “from grace.”

“The only thing you contribute to salvation is the sin that made it necessary.” —Pastor Curtis Hutson

The very principle upon which salvation is based is Grace. Salvation simply cannot exist without Grace as it cannot exist without Truth. Repentance is that moment when you see yourself according to God’s Word—a filthy, Hell-deserving sinner without hope (Romans 3:19-20); and then look to Jesus in faith who freely justifies you by His grace (Romans 3:21-25).

“A grace plus works message messes up a person's mind.” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, sermon titled: “Clear Grace”

And this beautiful quote...

“Remember this—salvation is always between the issue of grace and works. It's either by grace, or it's by works; can't be both ways. It can't be free, and you have to earn it; can't be that way. It's either by grace or it's by works, but it can't be both ways.” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, a quote from the sermon, “Can I Live As I Please?”

Dear reader, every born again child of God is 100% guaranteed eternal life and a blessed future home in Heaven. Your behavior after you get saved has absolutely nothing to do with God's promise to give you eternal life, “to save them that believe” (1st Corinthians 1:21b).

Life Is A Veil Of Tears

Genesis 35:19-20, “And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.”

I often think about the pain of soul Jacob felt. His own uncle Laban tricked him into marrying both of his daughters, when he only wanted Rachel. Laban cheated him at least ten times, lowering his wages. Then while giving birth to his second child by Rachel, Benjamin, she died in labor. And as if that weren't bad enough, then he receives word that Jacob, his firstborn by Rachel, was brutally killed by a savage beast. Jacob cast dust upon himself.

I once heard Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001) say in a sermon that, “Life is a veil of tears.” I've been watching 'The Hulk' Marvel Comic series made for TV from 1977 to 1982. I became curious if Bill Bixby was still alive, so I went to check. For decades now, one of my hobbies is reading the biographies of famous people. I enjoy learning what they believe, and the events of their life, much like reading from the Old Testament, which according to Romans 15:4 was “written for our learning.”

Bill Bixby (1934-1993) was known as a kind and loving man, and a Christian, thankfully. In 1967 Brenda Benet (1945-1982) married her first husband. Just two years later in 1969 she divorced her husband and started dating Bill Bixby. They married in 1971. They had one child together in 1974, Christopher Sean. In September of 1979, after 8 years of marriage, Bixby and Benet divorced. Life is truly a veil of tears.

Benet became a lesbian and at age 33 had a sexual relationship with a 17 year old girl, Tammy Bruce, who is a well known LGBTQ+ celebrity and political figure today. One year later while on a skiing vacation, Christopher died at age 6 of a throat infection in March of 1981. Benet went into a deep depression and commit suicide in 1982, shooting herself in the head with a hand gun in Los Angeles. Life is truly a veil of tears.

In 1990, Bill Bixby married his second wife, Laura Michaels, but when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer shortly thereafter, she divorced him in 1991. Mr. Bixby married his third and final wife Judith Kiliban in October of 1993, but he died just one month later on November 21, 1993. Bill Bixby was only 59 years old, my age. Life is truly a veil of tears.

My heart goes out to Bill Bixby, Brenda Benet, Christopher and Judith Kiliban. I don't know why Laura abandoned her husband during his darkest hours of life. It is not my place to judge anyone. I am the biggest sinner that I know. Life is so short and full of pain, loss and tears.

Life is truly a veil of tears. The important thing is to make sure that you've been born again, so that you are prepared to meet God in the afterlife.

Does Living In Sin Prove That Someone Is Not A Christian

Matthew 7:15-16, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?”

1st John 4:1-2, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.”

I read a disturbing comment on YouTube this week in which a man accused Pastor Steven Anderson of not being saved, because of the recent problems with his four oldest children. I felt compelled to weigh in and correct the man for his foolish assumption (typos are his)...

Ronnie Nichols: Just to be clear .... This guy is "not" a Christian, much less, much less, a man of God! .... He will answer to God this this.

Me: One's behavior has nothing to do with whether or not they have faith in Christ to be saved.

Ronnie Nichols: you must read your bible. You need to start with Matthew 7:16 "You can identify them ( "them being, a believer or follower of Jesus Christ ) by their "fruit", that is, by the way they act. " ... Your ACTIONS, prove more than your words. that vdo is proof of his actions.

Me: Well then half the saints in the Bible weren't saved according to your flawed theology. Noah got drunk. Samson chased unholy skirts. Abraham was a liar. Sarah laughed at the promise of God. Solomon was a sex pervert. Jacob was a cheat. David was an adulterer and murderer. Jesus found Peter butt naked in public after He resurrected from the dead. Ananias and Sapphira were killed by the Holy Spirit for fraud. Demas loved this present world and forsook Paul's side on a missionary journey. Kindly, you are the ignorant one.

It is sad that your hypocrisy and hatred is so strong that you want Steven Anderson to burn in Hell. You're no better than he is. Romans 6:1 teaches a Christian falls "in grace" but never "from grace." By all appearances the false prophets in Matthew 7:21-23 were saved, but Jesus denied knowing them as His sheep. You foolishly assume that "fruit" means one's behavior, but the only way to determine if someone is really saved is by a direct testimony from their own mouth concerning Jesus Christ. Pastor Steven Anderson has his faults, as also you and I do too, but he is a born again Christian according to the inspired Word of God, if you believe 1st Corinthians 15:1-4. SOURCE

Salvation is not a reward for the righteous, it is a gift for the guilty.

Salvation is not doing your best, it is having Christ's best put to your account through receiving Him by faith.

Turning away from sinful ways would be a work. Faith puts all of the merit where it belongs, on the object of our faith, Jesus and His work.

If to “repent” means to forsake our sinful ways TO BE SAVED, but Jesus already paid for our sins by dying on the cross, then what are we repenting from?

The true Gospel always points you to CHRIST; a false gospel always points to YOU.

If salvation is truly by grace, then you don't need to start or stop anything to be saved. Eternal life is a free gift from God (Romans 6:23). 

One is saved by God's grace through faith in the finished Work of His Son on the Cross as payment in full as our pardon for sin.

If you have to look at your life to prove that you're saved, it just proves that you're not. The only thing that you and I contribute to our own salvation is the sin that made it necessary.

And once you get saved you are still a horrible sinner, and you will continue to be one until the good LORD calls you to go home to Heaven. That is the great deception behind the entire “repent of your sins” crowd today, because No one has ever repented to turn away from their sins; NO ONE! You may try hard to sin less, but you'll still be a dirty sinner.

There are only two categories:

1. You are either a saved dirty sinner whose sins have been washed away by the precious blood of Jesus in response to your faith in the Gospel.
2. Or else you are a lost dirty sinner who is still hellbound in your sins; living dangerously under the condemnation of God's Law.

Either way you and I are still dirty sinners! The only thing that makes you or I any more righteous than Jeffrey Dahmer, Judas Iscariot, Taylor Swift or Adolf Hitler is the blood of Jesus Christ that saves us (Romans 5:9; 1st Peter 1:18-19). I have no righteousness of my own to offer God, and neither do you (Isaiah 64:6). The only reason why I am going to Heaven one future day is because I am trusting in God's imputed righteousness, which is by faith alone in Jesus (Philippians 3:9).

Our POSITION in Christ is forever settled the moment we get saved. Our CONDITION in Christ depends upon our faithfulness day by day, which is discipleship not sonship. Lest we pervert the Gospel of free grace, it is imperative that we always keep salvation (Galatians 3:26) completely separate from service (Romans 12:1). Living in sin doesn't in any way prove that someone is not a born again believer.

It is a dangerous folly to attempt to judge who is saved or lost based upon one's manner of life. What saith the Scripture? 1st John 3:24, “And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” It is the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit that confirms our faith in Jesus Christ as taught in the Scripture, giving us the full joy of assurance (1st John 1:4). The test is not how someone behaves; but rather, do you have the Holy Spirit?

If your whole trust is in what Jesus Christ did through Calvary's cross 2,000 years ago to pay for your sins—believing that He died on a cross in your place, and was buried, but then bodily resurrected from the dead three days later, you are saved. Your behavior has absolutely nothing to do with your decision to rely upon the finished work of Jesus Christ. You simply need to believe that Jesus did it all for you.

Can Someone Deny Hell Fire And Still Be Saved?

Matthew 3:10-12, “And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

I agree with Evangelist John R. Rice (1895-1980) in his Bible commentary on the Book of Matthew that Jesus baptizing sinners “with fire” refers to eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire. Verse 12 confirms this truth, “but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

I am sometimes asked the question: Can a sinner not believe in Hell and still be saved? I do believe that it is possible for someone to deny the existence of a literal burning Hell and still be saved, but it is weird and difficult to grasp. Someone could argue that if a lost sinner denies a literal burning Hell they are denying the deserved consequences of their sins. However, there are too many variables to just make a blanket statement regarding who is saved or lost.

I would humbly say that a person who denies the existence of Hell could certainly be a truly regenerate person. Christians have all kinds of theological weaknesses, strange ideas and blatant errors. We all struggle with this to some degree. No one has all the answers, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” (1st Corinthians 13:12). I don't think we should automatically assume that someone is not saved who professes faith in Jesus Christ, like Renee Roland on YouTube, but denies an eternal burning Hell for unbelievers.

To deny the reality of a burning Hell certainly raises the $64,000 question of whether or not a person is in the faith, because it is such a core teaching of inspired Scripture. I have never even questioned if Hell exists because the inspired King James Bible says that it does!

God doesn't require that we become a theologian to be saved; but rather, just to believe that Jesus did it all for us through Calvary's cross 2,000 years ago. I have read some bizarre religious tracts a mile long by religious zealots who demand that to be saved a sinner must believe in Jesus' deity, His virgin birth, sinless life, blood sacrifice applied to the heavenly Mercy Seat, Jesus' Second Coming, et cetera.

In sharp contrast, the Apostle Paul in 1st Corinthians 15:1-6 simply defines “the gospel” as Jesus' death on the cross, burial and resurrection from the dead three days later. John 20:31 teaches that to be saved we must believe Jesus is the Christ, the only begotten Son of God. 

You also need to know that you are a guilty sinner, otherwise why would you need a Savior? You need to know what you are being saved from. I admit that I have struggled over the years with the question of whether someone must believe in Hell to be saved. If there is no Hell, then why would you need a Savior? Yet, there is no debate that you must be born again if you want to go to Heaven. So, I am not dogmatic in this matter. I certainly could be wrong. I just think that God intentionally made getting saved very easy, free and simple, because there are a lot of stupid people in the world. I say that kindly in love, but truthfully.

It is quite easy for us as humans to try to categorize, standardize and normalize everything to fit into our finite mold of thinking. But I don't think it is that easy. The Bible defines the Gospel for us in 1st Corinthians 5:1-6. When I got saved at age 13, I didn't know Jesus is God. I didn't learn that theological truth until I was 18 years old in Bible college. But when I heard that Jesus is God, the indwelling Holy Spirit confirmed in my soul that it was the truth, and I gladly embraced Jesus' deity. I think I had always known that Jesus is God, but I just needed to hear someone say it for me to nail down that fundamental Bible doctrine.

There is a fine line between faith and foolishness. We must be very careful about adding MORE requirements to God's simple plan of salvation. It is obvious that when Roman Catholics add their Seven Sacraments to faith, they are not true born again believers. Adding even the least bit of work to faith negates God's saving grace, so that a person cannot be saved. This is exactly what the Scripture means in Galatians 5:4, “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” No believer has ever fallen “from grace”; but rather, “in grace” (Romans 5:20, 6:1).