Repent Doesn't Mean Turning From Sinful Ways

Matthew 21:32, “For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.” 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.”

I am so sick and tired of hearing corrupt preachers tell people to “TURN FROM SINFUL WAYS” to get born-again. Dear reader, giving up your sinful ways is NOT necessary to be saved. God is freely offering forgiveness of sins and eternal life to you as a GIFT. Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The only way to obtain God's gift is through the Son JESUS CHRIST!!!

You cannot show me anywhere in the inspired King James Bible where it says that repentance means to “turn away from sinful ways” to be saved. Wicked religious men invented this lie! To the carnal nature it makes sense that a man should first be willing to forsake his sins before God will pardon those sins. But that is not how God's plan of salvation works. Eternal life is a free gift! You don't have to qualify to receive it. You simply need to know why you need it. You must know that you're a guilty sinner, otherwise why would you need to be saved?

That is the only requirement to be saved, that you come to God as a guilty sinner (Romans 3:19-23). That is why the publicans (tax cheats) and harlots came to Jesus to be saved in Matthew 21:32. They knew they were guilty sinners. They changed their thinking (repented) to BELIEVE on Jesus Christ to be saved. The self-righteous Pharisees refused to think differently, because they were full of themselves and refused to come as sinners. 2nd Timothy 2:25 teaches that repentance is toward THE TRUTH. This has nothing to do with turning away from sinful behavior. False religion has crept unawares into most churches today. Sadly, even into our fundamentalist Baptist churches!!! Calvinism is NOT the Gospel, not even close!

Repentance is simply acknowledging THE TRUTH that you are as guilty a sinner as God hath declared you to be in His Word (Romans 3:10-23). We are all guilty sinners! Therefore, we all need a Savior! We all need to get born-again (John 3:3), or else we'll go to burn in Hell forever (Revelation 20:11-15). God is freely offering forgiveness of sins and eternal life to all humanity, to anyone who will simply admit to being a guilty sinner and put your faith in Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God, Who was crucified, buried and risen for our justification. That is the Gospel (1st Corinthians 15:1-4). That is the Good News! Believe it oh sinner and you are saved!!!

I triple-dog dare you to show me even one place in the inspired King James Bible where it says that you must “TURN FROM SINFUL WAYS” to be saved. You cannot!!! What saith the Scripture? ...

• 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.”
• John 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
• John 6:40, “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
• John 6:47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”
• Acts 2:41, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”
• Acts 10:43-44, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.”
• Galatians 3:2-3, “This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”
• Ephesians 1:13-14, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

I don't see anything in these precious Scriptures about turning away from your sinful ways, do you? I don't see anything about surrendering all to Christ as “Lord,” do you? I don't see anything about faithfully running and finishing the race to get the award of Heaven (as Steve Pettit foolishly preaches), do you? The Bible simply says to BELIEVE on the name of Jesus Christ as your Savior!!! Christ died on the cross to pay for our sins. He was buried. Three days later Jesus physically resurrected from the dead (1st Corinthians 15:1-4). If you BELIEVE that 'GOOD NEWS' (GOSPEL) you are saved!!!