Dr. Mark G. Cambron Has Repentance 100% Correct

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.”

Here is an excellent and needful writing by Dr. Mark G. Cambron (1911-2000) on the subject of REPENTANCE. Please read the following quote carefully because Dr. Cambron is one of few theologian who gets it, that is, he understands the simplicity of the Gospel and that repentance does not mean turning from sin as proponents of Lordship Salvation foolishly teach.

Here is what the Bible teaches, as explained by Dr. Cambron...

Repentance is necessary for salvation.

The Greek word for repent is metanoeo, which, translated into English is: to change ones mind. It does not mean to turn from sin. That would add works to salvation.

Repentance for salvation means a change of mind from men's ideas of salvation and religion, to an acceptance of Gods only way of salvation.

This results in a completely new creation, not a reformation of the old. The old nature remains as evil as ever after salvation and has not been reformed . . . The old nature can now be controlled by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.

God guarantees salvation. This is His gift to us.
God guarantees reward and fruit to the obedient son.
God guarantees chastening and loss of rewards to the disobedient son.

God does not cast out disobedient children, but in some cases, does take them home. He does not permit His children to live as they please without His discipline and guidance.

Many teach repentance for salvation incorrectly, by including some form of human effort or righteousness, such as willingness to turn from sin, or turning from sin. This is heresy and has confused many people. It adds works to salvation and causes many to not understand Gods great gift. It is probation, not salvation. It is completely unscriptural. It is Galatianism and a counterfeit of the gospel.

It is a tragedy that many Christians live shallow Christian lives. The Cambron Institute is dedicated to the task of training Christian men and women in the importance of total dedication and making Jesus the Lord of their lives not to be saved but because they are saved.

Shallow Christianity cannot be cured by adding works to salvation.

Salvation is not the result of what we do, but is by receiving what God has done for us. Acts 13:38, 39; Acts 20:20: Gal. 1:8,9; Gal. 2:4; Gal. 2:21; Gal. 3:1.3; Gal. 5:1-4; Eph. 2:8-10; II Cor. 5:21;John 3:16-18; Phil. 3:9; Titus 3:5-8:11 Cor. 11:13-1 5.

SOURCE: The Cambron Institute

Bravo! Dr. Cambron had several (at least eight that I counted) earned degrees from various theological seminaries. It is refreshing to see a man with so much education actually be correct about God's simple plan of salvation. Most highly educated men are fools! I am thankful to God for Brother Cambron and his helpful books and sermons that he left behind for others to be edified from.

Repentance To Acknowledge The Truth

I would like to briefly point out something from our text passage 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.” Carefully notice that the Bible does not teach repentance “of your sins” in 2nd Timothy 2:25; but rather, “repentance to the acknowledgment of the truth.”

Bible repentance is about the truth, not your sins. As Dr. Cambron rightly teaches, repentance for salvation means a change of mind from men's ideas of salvation and religion, to an acceptance of Gods only way of salvation. That is, the truth. Bible repentance is simply a change of mind to agree with the truth of God's Word concerning the Gospel.

Pastor Harry Ironside Also Has Repentance 100% Correct

Pastor Harry Ironside (1876-1951) thankfully preached a free grace Gospel. I love this man for upholding a biblical free grace Gospel. Read the edifying words of Pastor 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?'

In his helpful Gospel tract titled, 'ANOTHER GOSPEL?', Pastor Ironside writes:

"When anyone comes promising salvation to those ‘who make full surrender' of all that they have to God, and who 'pay the price of full salvation' he is preaching another gospel, for the price was paid on Calvary's cross and the work that saves is finished. It was Christ Jesus who made the full surrender when He yielded His life on Calvary that saves us, not our surrender in any way to Him."

SOURCE: Harry A. Ironside, from the Gospel tract, 'Another Gospel'

Beware Of Satan's False Prophet John MacArthur

Dr. Harry Ironside just contradicts everything that Pastor John MacArthur teaches concerning salvation. In sharp contrast to Pastor Ironside, here are some of MacArthur's foolish unbiblical teachings from his book, 'The Gospel According To Jesus' (Zondervan 1988):

Saving faith is "unconditional surrender, a complete resignation of self and absolute submission." (p. 153)

"Salvation is for those who are willing to forsake everything." (p. 78)

"Saving faith is a commitment to leave sin and follow Jesus Christ at all costs. Jesus takes no one unwilling to come on those terms." (p. 87)

"Eternal life brings immediate death to self." (p. 140)

Kindly said, John MacArthur was inspired by demons when he penned those heretical words! There is no way possible to reconcile the beliefs of Harry Ironside with those of John MacArthur, and only a wicked person would try. Dr. MacArthur errantly teaches that no one can be saved unless they are willing to UNCONDITIONALLY SURRENDER and FORSAKE EVERYTHING. This is not what the inspired Word of God teaches.

Please read my humbly article titled: Dr. John R. Rice Refutes Lordship Salvation

Now let me quote to you again the soulwinning man of God, Pastor Harry Ironside:

"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?'

Salvation is a gift, paid for by Jesus' literal, physical, precious blood (1st Peter 1:18,19; 1st John 1:7; Hebrews 9:12; Revelation 1:5). We are saved by HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS (Matthew 6:33; Romans 10:3,4; 1st Corinthians 5:21), and not our own willingness to do better or turn from our sinful ways (Isaiah 64:6; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; Romans 4:5,6,22).

It is tragic that I dare say 85% of Baptist churches today have succumbed to the Devil's lie that to get to Heaven you must first “be willing to turn from your sins.” Dear friend, the very suggestion would scare any lost sinner away! I am thankful that I wasn't presented with such an unbiblical plan of damnation when I was a teenager, because I never would have trusted Christ under such demanding and unreasonable conditions.

If someone would have told me back then at age 13, that I must first commit to be willing to forsake my sinful bad habits to be saved, I would have kindly declined. Who can give up their sinning? To even expect someone to “be willing” to give up their sinning is NOT the Gospel, it is WORKS. Sadly, we've got a bunch of stupid preachers running around today, who are trying to rewrite the Bible to fit their flawed human understanding instead of preaching the Gospel as it is written in the Bible (1st Corinthian 15:1-4).

Beware Of Satan's False Prophet Ray Comfort

Case in point is this shocking encounter between Ray Comfort and a lost woman on an airplane. Ray horribly tells her that repentance means “LIVING A LIFESTYLE THAT PROVES THE REALITY OF YOUR REPENTANCE!” And then he adds, “IT'S A CONTINUAL THING!” Read for yourself what Mr. Comfort horribly told a woman in this disturbing transcript from Living Waters ministry...

“So if the plane goes down, you'd end up in Hell! There are two things you have to do to be saved. Do you remember what they are? I told you what they are—You've got to repent and trust the Savior! ... God's offering you everlasting life upon your repentance and faith in Christ. Who in his right mind wouldn't say, 'Whoa! That's a good offer!' (The curious woman asks what it means to “repent”?)... Have you ever said you're sorry to someone you did something wrong to? That's all repentance is—You've sinned against God; it's a matter of saying, 'God, I'm sorry,' and then LIVING A LIFESTYLE that proves the reality of your repentance. That's what repentance is, it's a continual thing! God, 'I'm sorry, but I'm not going going to lie or steal or blaspheme Your name ever again. It has that attitude! And the second thing—trust in Jesus!” [emphasis added]

SOURCE: Evangelist Ray Comfort, “I've never killed anyone” (MP3 clip from video)

Dear reader, I triple-dog dare you to show me even one verse from the inspired King James Bible that teaches “LIVING A LIFESTYLE” is required as part of being saved. You cannot! Now my friend, “a double-dog dare” is serious business, but a triple-dog dare is something you don't want to mess around with! I triple-dog dare you to show me even one Bible verse that agrees with these false statements by Ray Comfort. You cannot.