Does Mark 2:17 Teach Turning From Sins To Be Saved?

Mark 2:15-17, “And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

I am humbly proud to be one of the biggest voices on the internet in defense of a Free Grace Gospel. I give God all the credit, praise and glory. I am just A VOICE! I am just a humble broken sinner, very happy and grateful to be used of God in some capacity. I must decrease, but Jesus must increase! That is my heart's attitude in all that Christ does through me as His humble servant. I pray for God's Holy Spirit to work in your heart, as my words speak to your mind. I am just clay, and so are you dear friend, God is the Potter.

Having said that, I get trolls writing to me frequently, trying to straighten me out doctrinally. I received an email today from a man, who defended Evangelist James R. White. Kindly said, James White is a misled Calvinist theological fool. In the preceding video titled: “James R. White On Lordship Salvation,” White critiques “Easy Believism,” calling it “The False Gospel.” No, James White is preaching an accursed false Gospel of Lordship Salvation. Please read the helpful article exposing Mr. White called: “James White's Embarrassing Ignorance Of Free Grace.”

White ignorantly accuses Free Grace proponents of teaching that a person can be saved without being changed by the Holy Spirit, and without repentance, and without growth in grace. Well, a person who is saved is indwelt by the blessed Holy Spirit (1st John 3:24). But whether or not that person grows is a matter of inward sanctification, and not outward justification. John Bunyan (1628-1688) said it very well: 

“If you do not put a difference between justification wrought by the man Christ without and sanctification wrought by the Spirit of Christ within, you are not able to divide the Word aright; but contrariwise, you corrupt the Word of God, and cast stumbling blocks before the people.” [emphasis added] —Evangelist John Bunyan”

James White is woefully ignorant of theology. He blindly tries to defend John MacArthur and the Lordship Salvation crowd, but he cannot do so by using the inspired King James Bible.

Growth in grace has nothing to do with receiving the free gift of eternal life. What James White is teaching is deadly Calvinism (i.e., the heretical teachings of a man named John Calvin, 1509-1564). Calvinism falsely teaches that if you are truly saved, you will persevere in holiness and Christian service all your life. Calvinism combines and confuses discipleship (service) with salvation (sonship). The Free Grace Gospel makes a clear and definite distinction between these two things, and for good reason, because salvation if it is truly by grace through faith alone, cannot require faithfully living the Christian life (which is works).

Getting back to the man I mentioned earlier, who wrote to me today. He quoted Mark 2:17 in an effort to defend James White and condemn me for believing a Free Grace Theology, “They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” It would be ridiculous to interpret this passage as meaning that “sinners to repentance” refers to turning away from one's sins, because if that were true, then “the righteous” would refer to people who have already turned away from their sins. Would Jesus say that He didn't come to save those who had already turned away from their sins? Does that make any sense? I mean, at all?

Clearly the Lord is speaking here about self-righteousness, that is, works. Jesus said that He didn't come to save the self-righteousness, who think they have no need of the blessed Savior. Jesus came to save sinners, who know that they are guilty, and have desperate need of a Savior! So when the Bible says that Jesus came to call “sinners to repentance,” it simply means that He came to save whoever would let Him be their Savior. John 5:40, “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” John 6:37, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” Jesus eagerly wants to save everyone who wants to be saved (2nd Peter 3:9). That is what “the elect” means in Mark 13:22 and other passages. The elect are the saints of God. God has chosen to save everyone who chooses to be saved! We are “the elect” as believers!!!

Rebuke Them Sharply

I never rebuke someone sharply for being ignorant. I only rebuke ignorant people sharply when they call me ignorant. I mean, if you're unlearned that is one thing, but if your stubborn in your ignorance, unwilling to learn, then someone needs to put you in your place. There is no controversy if you believe the Bible! There is no ongoing debate over repentance unless you are ignorant of the Scriptures. The Bible is very clear on this matter of repentance and the Gospel. We don't have to theorize, guess nor make deductions about how to be saved. God gave us an entire book, the Gospel of John, to teach us how to have eternal life. The word “believe” appears in John 85 times! The Bible says to simply “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31b).

Despite my attempt to help teach the man who wrote to me today, he didn't want to learn. Here is the page of resources that I sent him. Literally, I just copied and pasted this information from my email to share with everyone. I wanted to share these helpful resources with others, because they are invaluable to anyone who wants to understand Bible repentance (and you should). Please don't believe whatever some pastor tells you, SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES for yourself (John 5:39).

So after I sent this information to him, the man replied by saying: “you are closer to understanding.” I wrote back and told him that I am not “close to understanding” James White's corrupt theology. I told him that I don't debate with people who have agendas. That is, they have already made up their minds what they believe, and merely want to debate and argue. Titus 3:9, “But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.” Debating Lordship Salvation is indeed debating the law. “The law” equals works, period! 

I am tired of well-meaning arrogant religious people trying to convert me over the their heretical beliefs. I tend to deal harshly with false teachers, which is 100% Biblical. Titus 1:13-14, “This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.” I kindly wrote the man back and called him my enemy, because he is accusing me of being ignorant of the Gospel, when in fact I am telling THE TRUTH. We'll, let me show you exactly what I wrote to him, and I quote:

*******,

Titus 3:10-11, "A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself."

You are deceived my friend. I just prayed for you, for God to open your eyes. There is no agreement between truth and heresy. Anyone who adds "turn from your sins" to the Gospel is going to Hell. There is no "misunderstanding" as you erroneously call it. James White is just as strong in his critique of free grace proponents, as I am of them. You are foolish to attempt to bring doctrinal harmony where there can be no harmony. You didn't even bother to read the dozens of resources that I sent you. I seriously doubt if you examined 20 hours of material in 3 minutes! That tells me you have an agenda and don't really care about the truth, for if you viewed the material you would have seen that James White is a heretic.

Your sinful spirit of ecumenism is destroying the churches. We need to stand firm against heresy, not try to coddle them and win them over, which simply won't happen. They aren't going to change their Lordship Salvation views, because like you they are indoctrinated, but accuse others of the very same thing. You are wrong that I am "closer to understanding." I understand just fine, it is you my enemy who are deceived and need to get saved. If you are saying that I am closer to understanding James White's idiotic theology, then you are a bigger fool than you realize...

James White's Embarrassing Ignorance Of Free Grace...

http://freeindeed123188.blogspot.com/2015/11/james-whites-embarrassing-ignorance-of.html

In Jesus' precious name,

Titus 1:13-14, “This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.” I pull no punches, suffer no fools, make no apologies, and don't hold back when arrogant false teachers get in my face. If you come at me with your “turn away from your sin” garbage, prepare for a spiritual battle. If you come at me with the Devil's Lordship Salvation (which is nothing less than Calvinism repackaged), prepare for a spiritual battle! The war has already been won at Calvary! We are more than conquerors through Christ Who loved us (Romans 8:37).

I once heard Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001) say something profound (of the thousands of profound things he said...lol). Dr. Hyles said—Do you know what Hyles-Anderson College needs? It needs a mean old man walking around the perimeter like a junk yard dog, on-guard against the enemy creeping in!—to that I say Amen! Folks, that is what I am doing as a Christian, as a custodian of one! In this sermon clip, Pastor Hyles talks about the future of First Baptist Church of Hammond, in which he exhorts every church member to become A CUSTODIAN OF ONE!!! I love that. In other words, if no one else does the right thing, then you as an INDIVIDUAL take a stand, walk out the door, and stand against the apostasy!!!

I am walking around on the internet like a mean Pitbull dog, exposing heresy wherever I find it. If that makes me unpopular, so be it! If rebuking the heretics at the Harvest Baptist Church on Guam (who preach Satan's lie of Lordship Salvation) compels them to count me as their enemy, then so be it! I am obeying Titus 1:13-14. God is pleased with me for telling THE TRUTH (Romans 3:4). Harvest's incompetent pastors have blood on their hands. The truth does not matter to them, keeping the money coming in matters to them. So they dip their sails in sinful compromise, going along with the heresy at Bob Jones University.

I'm talking a stand against their apostasy at FBCH from Guam, 9,000 miles away! Since 2008 the church and Hyles-Anderson College no longer believe that the King James Bible is inspired. Ladies and gentlemen, if the Bible is not inspired by God, then it can only be inspired by men! It cannot be without inspiration. Every book written by a man is inspired by that author. Likewise, how can we have a Bible that is not inspired by its Author. Pastor Jack Hyles recognized “THE REAL BATTLE.” Sadly, 99% of professed Christians today don't, which is why each succeeding generation is being sucked further into the vortex of the Devil's NEW WORLD ORDER. Please watch the classic 1:46 hour movie: “New World Order Bible Versions.”