1st Corinthians 6:9-10, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”Deceitfully, Dan Corner and other enemies of Eternal Security fail to quote the next verse...
1st Corinthians 6:11, “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”When you repent of your unbelief and believe on Jesus Christ alone, the righteousness of God is IMPUTED to you. To be saved, You Need HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Once saved, you are no longer viewed as an adulterer, murderer, et cetera. You are now and forever viewed as being perfect in Christ. Every believer's sins have been washed away by the blood of Jesus; therefore, no one who is born again could ever lose God's free gift of salvation. The spiritual birth is as irreversible as the physical birth. When God beholds the believer, He sees the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
1st Corinthians 5:21, “For he [God the Father] hath made him [God the Son] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”We don't go to Heaven because we live a life of obedience and faith; but rather, because we have trusted in the righteousness of Jesus Christ to forgive our sins...
Acts 10:43, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”Dan Corner teaches that salvation can be lost if believers willfully commit sin. If that's the case, then every Christian is unsaved because we all sin every day!!! Corner has even written a book teaching that one's salvation is CONDITIONAL upon living an obedient life to Christ. Yet, Mr. Corner deceitfully claims that salvation is still by God's grace. It can't be both ways! Dan Corner speaks out of both sides of his mouth. Salvation cannot be by grace and works... Romans 11:6, “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”
True grace teaches us to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives (Titus 2:12). In contrast, there exists a false and dangerous "grace" message which gives a license for immorality (Jude 4) and breeds arrogance through a false security (Rom. 11:19-23).The biblical doctrine of Eternal Security does not give a believer God's permission to sin. Romans 6:15 plainly teaches that the born-again believer is NO LONGER UNDER THE LAW; yet is still expected to fulfill the Law... "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid." But fulfilling the Law is a result of the fruit of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and NOT a prerequisite or requirement for salvation. A changed life is NOT the result of repentance, which would be Lordship Salvation. A changed life is strictly a matter of service and discipleship, and not of salvation and sonship. One thing has nothing to do with the other. I love what Pilgrim's Progress book author John Bunyan said:
SOURCE: http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/doctrine.htm
“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 (1628-1688)Amen and amen!
"For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?"I dare say many believers today are as faithful to the Lord as the Apostle Paul, yet he struggled horribly with sin on a daily basis. Interestingly, Paul never once mentioned losing his salvation. This is clear evidence that Eternal Security is biblical and no believer ever needs to fear losing the salvation which God promised before the world began to them that believe (Titus 1:2; 1st Corinthians 1:21). John 3:17 tells us that Jesus didn't come into the world to condemn humanity, but to save sinners. JESUS SAVES SINNERS!
A true Christian (or righteous person) can die spiritually because of sin (Ezek. 33:18; Rom. 8:13; James 1:14-16; Lk. 15:24; etc.) fall away (Lk. 8:13; Heb. 6:4-6; etc.) and never again return to Jesus, just as the Apostle Judas Iscariot and Solomon didn't return after they turned from the faith.There is NO biblical evidence that Judas was ever saved. The Bible says Judas was a known thief (John 12:6). Solomon was a Christian, clearly evidenced by his writings in the book of Ecclesiastes. There is no reason to doubt that Solomon went to Heaven, although it is abundantly clear that Solomon, as wise as he was in a worldly sense, foolishly abandoned the Lord for most of his life. Judas, on the other hand, never showed any evidence of being saved. Many religious people follow Jesus today, but they are as lost as the Devil. Being a follower of Christ is not biblical salvation (Matthew 7:21-23).
SOURCE: http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/doctrine.htm
A true Christian (or righteous person) doesn't have to "practice" sin, such as adultery or murder, before they lose their salvation, since it only takes one act of adultery to make a person a Bible-defined adulterer (Lev. 20:10) and one act of murder to make him a Bible defined murderer (Number 35:16). Rev. 21:8 is clear in stating such people are headed for hell because of their sins. David is a clear example of a righteous man who lost his salvation for a time, due to adultery and murder.Nowhere in the Bible are we warned that committing sin can result in lost salvation. Yet, Dan Corner perverts the Scripture and foolishly teaches that committing even one sin can rob us of our salvation. King David DIDN'T lose his salvation and there's NO Scriptural evidence to support Corner's heresy. In Psalm 51 David asked God to restore "the joy of thy salvation"; David didn't ask to get his salvation back.
SOURCE: http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/doctrine.htm
We are not saved by works (Eph. 2:8,9) but to reap eternal life and not destruction you must sow to please the Spirit and not the sinful nature (Gal. 6:8,9). God is faithful to us (1 Jn. 1:9; 1 Cor. 10:13) but we must be faithful to him to the very end of our lives to escape the lake of fire or second death (Rev. 2:10,11). God surely loves us (Jn. 3:16; Mk. 10:21; Rom. 8:35-39) but those who inherit the kingdom of God love God (Jam 2:5; 1 Cor. 2:9) and to love God means to obey his commands (Jn. 14:15; 1 Jn. 5:3).Clearly, Dan Corner teaches a works-based salvation, requiring obedience to Christ and holy living as absolute essentials to obtain eternal life. Such false teaching negates the gift of God. Dan Corner is a deceiver. Despite his claim that salvation is not by works, he clearly requires works when he mandates righteous living, obedience and remaining faithful as being essential to salvation. In sharp contrast, consider the words of Romans 4:5, "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Either salvation is by GRACE or it's by WORKS. It cannot be both... "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work" (Romans 11:6). What part of Romans 4:5 and 11:6 doesn't Dan Corner understand?
SOURCE: http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/doctrine.htm
“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” —Romans 8:13However, Galatians 5:25 plainly evidences that a person can LIVE IN THE SPIRIT (i.e., be saved); while failing to WALK IN THE SPIRIT (i.e., live for the Lord)...
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” —Galatians 5:25Sadly, Dan Corner falls short of 2nd Timothy 2:15. He simply does not study! Corner teaches that a believer can lose salvation and must repent in order to get saved AGAIN. There are NO Scriptures to support his false doctrine. Again, I am not exposing Dan Corner; but his false teachings, because they are a road to Hell.
'Verse 14: "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."Hebrews 12:14 is speaking about our influence upon other people. If we don't pursue peace with others, and live holy lives, then lost sinners WON'T see the Lord in us. You are the only Jesus someone knows. That person may go to Hell if they don't see the Lord in you. As believers, we are supposed to be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). Jesus said in Matthew 5:13... "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?..." Do you know what salt does to people? It makes them THIRSTY! Christians are supposed to be the salt of this sinful world, that cause lost sinners to thirst for God. Have you lost your saltiness, i.e., savor? This is what Hebrews 12:14 means.
This injunction has been so often misunderstood and misapplied that many believers who have endeavored to live holy lives have been tormented and discouraged, thus becoming useless as good stewards, good soldiers in God's great army.
The Greek word here translated "follow" means "to pursue, to follow after." Many believers have been taught from the pulpit that if they do not live above sin - (meaning "sinless perfection") - they cannot hope to see God...
It is not through perfect peace and perfect holiness that we see the Lord: it is by grace through faith! When we have been saved by God's grace, we are to pursue peace and holiness; but we see Jesus because we are covered by the blood and saved by His marvelous grace...
"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." We note here our attitude concerning our fellowman, and also our disposition toward God the Father who loved us, and Jesus the Son who saved us.'
SOURCE: The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews; pg. 547-548; 1965; by Dr. Oliver B. Greene
“People try to put guards around that truth and say, 'Yes, you are justified by faith if you have enough good works to add to it.' That is not true. It is by faith alone, and good works spring from that. When you know you have eternal life, you will find your heart so filled with love for Christ that you will try to live for His glory.”Amen! The false teaching that salvation can be lost makes salvation an uncertainty. How much sin can a person commit before losing salvation? What a horrible way to live, being in constant fear of losing salvation if we cross certain sinful lines in our life. This is 100% Works Salvation, which is of the Devil. Whereas the Bible teaches that the believer is secure in the gift of eternal life which is rooted in God's unconditional love (Romans 5:8) and the righteousness of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:3,4), opponents of Eternal Security place salvation in the hands of men, where it is sinfully rooted in self-righteousness. We are saved by HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS; and not our own.
SOURCE: Dr. Harry Ironside — The Eternal Security of the Believer
CHAPTER VI - Repentance
THE IMPORTANCE OF REPENTANCE
What place should repentance have in your presentation of the gospel? Is repentance the same thing as belief? Or is it something distinct from it? Is it important to emphasize repentance, or should we never mention it in this age of grace? What does repentance really mean, anyway? These are some of the questions the soulwinner must face (and answer) regarding the subject of repentance.
There can be little doubt that all men, from Adam on, have had to repent in order to have a right relationship with God. The importance of this is brought home when we realize men of every Biblical age preached it. John the Baptist preached it (Mark 1:15); the Apostle John proclaimed its necessity (Rev. 2:5); Paul preached repentance wherever he went (Acts 17:30; 20:21); and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself strongly emphasized that men who refused to repent would perish (Luke 13:3, 5). So, you see, repentance is necessary for salvation.
THE MISUSE OF THE WORD
The question is, “What does the Bible MEAN by 'repent,' and how should it be presented to the lost?” The important thing is NOT what repentance has COME to mean down through the centuries since Christ's time, but rather-and this is of utmost importance-what the word did mean WHEN IT WAS SPOKEN by Christ, Paul, Peter, and others in Biblical times.
If you look up “repent” or “repentance” in a modern dictionary you will read definitions like the following: “regret; to feel sorry for sin and seek forgiveness; to turn from sin.” Based on these definitions, preachers have been going about earnestly trying to get men to quit their sinning, or at least to work up a genuine sorrow for sin. But is this the divinely appointed task of Christians to get men to change their ways?
No! This kind of preaching often leads to a form of self-righteousness and self-reformation-not to salvation. Does a sinner have to turn from or give up his sins to be saved? COULD he do this? Did you? Have you yet given up all sinning? “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (I John 1:8).
It is sadly apparent that our modern-day misuse of the word “repent” has done a great deal of harm and has confused multitudes. Because of the wrong use of the word “repent” men have gotten the idea that a Christian is one who doesn't smoke, drink, curse, go to dances or movies, or do anything that is wrong or immoral.
This negativism has blinded people to the fact that a Christian is “one of Christ's”-one who, through faith, has received Christ as his Saviour. Once a person has Christ and His power in his life, THEN his behavior often changes. But this change is the RESULT of being a child of God; it is not the CAUSE.
Being good is not the way to become a child of God. Remember Ephesians 2: 8, 9, “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.”
Because preachers have allowed themselves to propagate this error in the teaching of repentance, our churches are full of “good,” self-righteous, moral people who are certain they are “Christians,” yet when they are asked if they are going to heaven, the best answer they can give is, “I hope so.”
They do not have the assurance that comes from knowing Christ as their Saviour. Instead, they are plagued by the uncertainty that comes from trying to be good enough by their own efforts to gain heaven.
All too often this idea that “I must be good to gain God's favor” comes from Bible-believing men who preach that one must either “turn from sin or burn in hell.” How sad and tragic it is that so much damage can be caused by the misuse of one word.
THE CORRECT MEANING OF “REPENT”
The word in the New Testament usually translated “repent” is the Greek word “metanoeo,” and the word translated “repentance” is “metanoia.” Both of these Greek words have the same basic meaning: “to change your mind; reconsider; or, to think differently.”
Granted, if a person changes his mind (repents) toward certain sins in his life, he may become very sorrowful and may even stop those particular outward sins, but the sorrow and the ceasing from certain sins would be the RESULT of repenting, not repentance itself.
When God tells an unsaved man to repent, He means for that man to change his mind about how to reach God and accept GOD'S way of salvation. The person must CHANGE HIS MIND from any idea of religion he may have to save him, and trust Christ's payment for everything he has done wrong.
PASSAGES ON REPENTANCE EXPLAINED
Luke 13:1-5, “There were present at that season some that told Him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent (change your mind) ye shall all likewise perish (i.e., like these Galileans did). Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent (change your mind), ye shall all likewise perish.”
Try to get the picture. Christ in this passage was talking to good people who believed the old tradition that people suffered only because of their sins. So they logically concluded that those in Galilee and at the Tower of Siloam who died such horrible deaths must have been great sinners.Christ contradicts what they “suppose” (v. 2) and “think” (v. 4) and tells these self-righteous people that they need to change their minds and see themselves as sinners, too. Christ is not saying “Turn from your sin,” but that they should recognize that they are sinners, or they will perish in their own self-righteousness.Even if one doesn't know Greek, it is obvious from the passage itself that the meaning of “repent” here cannot be “sorrow for,” or “turning from, sin.” These people obviously needed, above all else, to think differently-in this case, to think differently about themselves, about others, and about God.
Acts 17:30, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at (or, overlooked); but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent.”
To understand what God means here by “repent” only requires one to read the last part of verse 29 of the same chapter, “we ought not TO THINK that the Godhead is like unto . . . silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.” Instead, what ought these philosophers of Mars' Hill to think? They needed to CHANGE THEIR MINDS and see that God is quite different from stone!. He is judge (v. 31), and He is alive (w. 31, 32). Again, from the context, the true meaning of “repent” is clear.Acts 20:20, 21, “And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”Notice that the Bible states here that we are to proclaim repentance TOWARD GOD. There is nothing here about turning from sin. Paul is giving his last words to these be loved Ephesian elders whom he had led to Christ. They had formerly been heathen idol worshipers (Acts 19) and very immoral. However, Paul's preaching to them was that they needed to change their thinking about God.Think what an impact on these sinful heathen the truth of Romans 5:8 would have had: “But God commendeth (displayed) His love toward us, in that, WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, Christ died for us.”Remember, the word “gospel” means “good news.” Do you think it would have been good news to them if Paul had said, “While we were trying to give up our sins, God tried to love us a little bit,” or, “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for our past sins, and now if we stop all our present sins and never commit any sins in the future, God will love us”?No! These sinners needed to know that the God of the universe loved them even as they were. They needed the assurance that God was not requiring of them the impossible -that they stop sinning-but simply that they would trust Christ and His payment for their sins and thus receive salvation.Later Scripture makes it clear that God certainly did work in their lives to bring about changes, but this took place only AFTER they were already saved (Eph. 2:10).Acts 2:38, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the GIFT of the Holy Ghost.”
Chapter Nine covers the part of this verse dealing with baptism. Here we will concentrate on the part of the verse having to do with repentance. One of the first rules to follow in understanding any Bible verse is to consider the context. In the second chapter of Acts we discover that these Jewish unbelievers thought the disciples were drunk (vv. 13, 15) and that Jesus was only a man whom they crucified (vv. 23, 36). Peter lets them know that the disciples were not drunk but in God's will (vv. 15-17), that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah) sent by God, and that even though men crucified Him, God raised Him from the dead (vv. 24, 32, 36).
These Jewish men, having been set straight on these matters, were “pricked in their heart (Greek, 'thoughts') and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (v. 37)
Peter's immediate answer was, “Repent . . . every one of you ... for the remission of sins....” In the frenzy of the day that Jesus stood before Pilate the mob had cried, “Crucify Him, crucify Him.” Then they saw Him only as a man and a troublemaker. Now Peter tells them they must repent (think differently) toward this One and realize that He is “both Lord and Christ” (v. 36), and that salvation comes only through Him (vv. 21, 38, 41 ) . This, again, is Biblical repentance.
USING “REPENTANCE” IN WITNESSING
If you are going to use the word “repent” or “repentance” in your witnessing, you should always explain what it really means. You can perhaps teach the meaning of repentance through your personal testimony, explaining that you used to think God hated sin so much that He hated you as well, and not until you heard the gospel did you understand that God loves you and wants you to go to heaven. (If this IS part of your testimony.) Then, after understanding the gospel, you began to think differently about God. This way you could have the person understand the plan of salvation . . . he could repent . . . and you would never have to worry about whether or not you confused him by the word “repent.”
The important thing in witnessing is to lead the lost person from wherever he is spiritually to having faith in Christ as his Saviour. You should try to do this as smoothly and naturally as possible. Using first or third person illustrations in your conversation is an excellent way of achieving the desired results, and particularly in giving a proper, Scriptural explanation of repentance.
That great giant of the faith Dr. William L. Pettingill put it well in his book, Bible Questions Answered. Under Repentance and Salvation, page 215, he answers the following question: “What place has repentance in salvation? Should we tell people to repent of their sins to be saved?”
“The Gospel of John is the Holy Spirit's Gospel tract, written that men might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing they might have life through His Name ( 20: 31 ) . And it does not mention the word 'repentance.' But that is only because repentance is a necessary part of saving faith. Strictly speaking, the word repentance means a 'change of mind.' It is by no means the same thing as sorrow (II Cor. 7:10). Since it is not possible for an unbeliever to become a believer without changing his mind, it is therefore unnecessary to say anything about it. The only thing for a man to do in order to be saved is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ: and to believe on Him is the same thing as receiving Him (John 1:11-13).”
Any teaching that demands a change of conduct toward either God or man for salvation is to add works or human effort to faith, and this contradicts all Scripture and is an accursed message (Gal. 1:8, 9; Deut. 27:18). Study the book of Galatians.
Remember, the closer a counterfeit comes to the truth, the more people it will fool. Don't be fooled. Yes, a Christian should make every effort to discipline his life, to lay aside every weight and the sins which so easily beset him, but this has to do with SERVICE, which can come only AFTER salvation. Salvation is always a gift; it is nothing we do ourselves.
Let's make salvation as clear as we possibly can. If something might possibly confuse someone, let's find some other way of expressing the truth so that it will be crystal clear instead of confusing.
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Col. 2:8).
“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the SIMPLICITY that is in Christ” (II Cor. 11:3).
NIRV - "In the past, God spoke to our people through the prophets. He spoke at many times. He spoke in different ways. But in these last days, he has spoken to us through his Son. He is the one whom God appointed to receive all things. God also made everything through him. The Son is the shining brightness of God’s glory. He is the exact likeness of God’s being. He uses his powerful word to hold all things together. He provided the way for people to be made pure from sin. Then he sat down at the right hand of the King, the Majesty in heaven. So he became higher than the angels. The name he received is more excellent than theirs."KJB - "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; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they."
