I serve a risen saviour, he's in the world today.
I know he sleeps, he stands to see, his voice of cheney, his soul sleeps too with me.
He knows he sleeps, he stands to see, his voice of cheney, his soul sleeps too with me.
So continuing the battle of Gideon, winning when outnumbered, and chapter 7 talks about the battle.
Now chapter 8, this coming Wednesday, we'll be talking about the pursuit and the aftermath of the battle.
So please join us if you are able to.We have so many time, Saturday morning at 10.30 and Sunday afternoon at 1.30 p.m.
Tonight, no, this afternoon we'll be going to an indoor heated apartment, okay?
So hopefully that's indoor as well as heated.So we'll see.Maybe someone will just invite us over.
We'll get you follow up and just go from Genesis so we can stay inside as long as we can.But we'll see.So many never stop.
So praise report is for you to see.Upcoming events, Christmas service will take place on December 21st.
There will be a pilot after the morning service.I'll probably have the sign up sheet next week.So please invite family and friends to join us for the Christmas service.
Christmas Eve service will be on that Wednesday, December 24th.So when the marathon coming up, December 6th is the Evansville scouting trip reaching the Marshall East.
Please meet at the address below and please let me know if you have planning on coming.And then please join us for the winter wonderland on December 27th.
And then we'll meet here at 1pm and then we'll go zoning straight for three and a half, four hours.And then we'll meet for dinner together and the church will be planning for the dinner.
And please help us with the cleaning of the church building right after the afternoon service.We'll also have a men's preaching night this afternoon since I'm missing some preachers.
You know, I believe the two guys here have up to 30 minutes.Don't feel like you have to use all 30 minutes but you have the option.
So December,Sunday,Afternoon preaching schedule is for you to see.If you only know how to be saved or needs to be baptized,please see an usher or myself after the service.
On the backside,you can see the birthdays for the month of December.Today is Cooper's birthday so unfortunately the Edge family couldn't make it just due to the road condition.
So please wish Brother Cooper a happy birthday.So that's all the announcement.Let's sing one more song and then we'll take out the offerings.
Turn to song number 329.Song 329.Take time to be holy.
Let's sing.Usters please come forward for the Mac.Would you pray for the offering please?
Heavenly Father, thank you.
Crying in the wilderness prepare ye the way of the Lord maketh pass straight.And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair and a leavened girdle about his loins,and his meat was locust and wild honey.Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and all the regions round about Jordan,and were baptized of him and Jordan confessing their sins.But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism,he said unto them,
He said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath that come, bring forth therefore fruits, meat for repentance; and thank not to say within yourselves, we have Abraham to our father; for I say unto you that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham; and now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees; therefore every tree that 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;who 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 taff with unquenchable fire.
Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John,to be baptized of him;but John forbad him,saying,I have need to be baptized of thee,and comest thou to me.
And Jesus answering said unto him,Suffer it to be so now,for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.Then he suffered him.
And Jesus,when he was baptized,went up straightway out of the water;and lo,the heavens were opened unto him;and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove,and lighting upon him;and lo,a voice from heaven,saying,This is my beloved son,and whom I am well pleased.
In those days came John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Judea,and saying,Repent ye,for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Now first let me just say this,that nothing angers me more than a shallow and an unclear gospel presentation,because a shallow and an unclear gospel presentation sends confusion to people,right?
It will cause people harder to get saved,and when something,you know,and when it comes to something as important as the gospel,don't you think that we need to use clear biblical terminologies?
I mean,the gospel is the quintessential doctrine where we build all of our,you know,all of the other doctrines from,right?
You know,it's the most important doctrine,so we need to use clear terminologies.We must not complicate the gospel.
Now,this morning,I want to preach a sermon about "Repent of Your Sins",okay?
And the title of the sermon is called "Repent of Your Sins Exposed".
Now,let me just tell you the very,the very,the very inspiration of the sermon.
Now,personally,I made a Facebook post back in June,okay?
So here's,here's my post.Stacey Shiflett is an unsaved devil.
He believes one has to turn from their sins to be saved.
He's a false prophet going straight to hell.
As Christians,we must always stand with our true brothers and sisters in Christ,not with wolves in sheep's clothing.
I also find it interesting that many Christians show their support and stand with Pastor Kenny Baldwin.
By the way,if you don't know who he is,don't worry about it.
So I said that I also find it interesting that many Christians show their support and stand with Pastor Kenny Baldwin,
but not with other saved pastors whom they dislike due to minor doctrinal differences talking about hypocrisy.
Now you may wonder how did this post back in June make me want to write a sermon?
Now someone commented on that post a couple of weeks ago,and it brought this post back to my attention.
And I was rethinking about this topic of people saying that people need to turn from their sins to be saved.
So I made a post on X about someone doesn't have to turn from their sins to be saved.
And I got a ton of backlashes and comments.
I'm talking about 18,000 views on that one post alone plus all the other posts I made here after.
And this is what inspires me to preach a sermon.
Also over the years I've heard quite a few Baptists using such phrase, "Repent of your sins."
So I decided to just preach a sermon on it.
And let me just be clear that some people may use this phrase, "Repent of your sins to be saved,"
without meaning that you have to turn from your sins to be saved.
They could be meaning that they could define this phrase as that we need to realize that our sins sent us to hell.
Some people may sincerely redefine the phrase like that,
there's nothing wrong with the redefinition,
but this is not what the phrase means.
Because people can define it all they want,
but this phrase sends confusion.
Because the phrase literally means that you have to turn from your sins to be saved.
This phrase is not biblical.
This phrase is never found once in the Bible.
Most people who actually use this phrase do think that you have to turn from your sins to be saved.
That's a false gospel condemning people to hell.
I think it's a damn heresy because this phrase teaches a workspace salvation that's often coupled with lordship salvation.
The sad part is this phrase is used by a lot of Baptist churches which are supposed to be right on salvation.
Shame on those Baptist churches and pastors who have convoluted the simplicity of the gospel.
Let me just also say this, I don't mean to sound prideful but I can take any soul winner from this church
and they can give a better and more thorough and clearer gospel presentation than most of the Baptist pastors.
And that is a fact.
Because repent of your sins for salvation is a concept from Calvinism as well as lordship salvation.
If you don't believe me, let me just read to you an article from GodQuestions.
So the website GodQuestions is a prominent Calvinist website.
And you will find that many Baptists believe the exact same false doctrines as the Calvinists.
Here's the name of the article.
What is repentance and is it necessary for salvation?
Many people understand the term repentance to mean a turning from sin.
Regretting sin and turning from it are related to repentance, but are not the precise meaning of the word.
In the Bible, the word "repent" means to change one's mind.
Nothing wrong with that.
But then it says that the Bible also tells us that true repentance will result a change of actions.
To repent concerning salvation is to change your mind regarding sin and Jesus Christ.
In Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost, he concludes with a call for the people to repent.
To repent from what? Peter calls people who turned away Jesus to change their minds about that sin
and to change their minds about Christ himself, recognizing that he is indeed Lord and Christ.
Peter calls the people to change their minds to abhor their past rejection of Christ
and to embrace faith in him as their Messiah and Savior.
And the verse they try to pull is Acts 2.36 that the Bible says that
therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God had made the same Jesus
whom he had crucified both Lord and Christ.
And people who are preaching a Lordship salvation, they will use this verse saying that Jesus Christ, he is Lord.
But the Lord here simply is saying that Jesus Christ, he is God.
We are simply believing in the deity of Christ, not to make Christ the Lord of our life.
The article further says this, repentance involves recognizing that you have thought wrongly in the past
and determining to think rightly in the future.
While repentance is not a work that earns salvation, repentance unto salvation does result in works.
Again, I'll put a separate sermon on the evidence of salvation at a later day.
And then it further goes that it's impossible to truly change your mind without changing your action in some way.
In the Bible, repentance results in a change in behavior.
Repentance, properly defined, is necessary for salvation.
Biblical repentance is changing your mind about your sin.
Nothing wrong with that concept because we need to realize that our sin condemns us to hell, right?
But then it says this means that we are no longer in sin, no longer is sin something to toy with.
It is something to be forsaken as you flee from the coming wrath.
So basically now it's defining repentance as people need to make up their mind to not toy with sin, that we need to forsake sin, also known as repent from your sins.
It is also changing your mind about Jesus Christ, no longer that he is to be mocked, discounted, or ignored.
He is a savior to be clowned to, he is the Lord to be worshiped and also adored.
So now they are saying that we have to worship Christ and also to adore Christ in order to be saved.
Tell me if these are not the exact same beliefs that many Baptist pastors believe as well.
They have to forsake sin, that true repentance will make you to follow God's commandment.
True salvation will make you to worship Christ, to make him the Lord of your life.
These are the exact same beliefs as this Calvinist, right?
That we need to forsake sin, that we have to decide that sin is not something to be toyed with, that we need to forsake sin.
Even though it's impossible, but you have to at least be committed to make up your mind to leave sin if you want to be saved.
By the way, that's the same doctrine, unfortunately, that's the same doctrine that Pensacola Christian College holds as well.
And many Baptist churches, they will send their children to this college.
Let me just read to you an excerpt from one of their booklets.
By the way, this booklist has Pensacola Christian College's stamp on it.
That's an official booklet of the college.
Here's a section concerning salvation.
I repent of my sins.
I realize that sin is something that God hates,
and I no longer want to hold on to sinful, bad habits in my life.
Obviously, we should be doing that after salvation,
but they write this phrase in their plan of salvation to be saved.
It says I no longer want to hold on to sinful, bad habits in my life.
That is Calvinism.
That is lordship salvation.
And I know we have a good church here,
but it grieves me that it's so hard to even find a Baptist church
who is not influenced with Calvinism and also lordship salvation.
I'm not saying that they are not out there,
but it's hard to find.
A good church is very hard to find.
That's why we need to cherish this church and help build this church.
Whenever I hear someone use this phrase concerning salvation,
it literally makes my blood boil because it makes me mad.
Because it convolutes the simplicity of the gospel,
that's why this morning I want to reinforce what this phrase,
what repentance actually means
and why the phrase "Repent of your sins" is such a dental heresy concerning salvation.
I will also address some of the comments that I've got online.
So point number one this morning is the origin of the phrase.
The origin of the phrase.
Where did the phrase "Repent of your sins" come from?
Because this phrase does not appear in the King James Bible even once.
That's why we are King James only.
We believe that the King James Bible is the only Bible for the English speaking people.
And whenever you challenge people to show you a Bible verse that says "Repent of your sins"
they will pull out verses with the word "repent"
because they confuse repentance with repentance from sins.
These are two different concepts.
Imagine chapter three, look at verse number one.
The Bible says in those days came John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Judea
and saying "Repentance for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
So repentance is important for salvation
but notice the Bible does not say "Repent of your sins for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Let me read to you the New Living Translation, the NLT.
Verse two says this, "Repent of your sins and turn to God for the kingdom of heaven is near."
If you see the New Living Translation, they will just add this phrase, "of your sins."
Matthew chapter four, Matthew chapter four, verse number 17, Matthew four, verse number 17.
The Bible says this, "From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, 'Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'"
So we need to repent to be saved, but the Bible does not say "Repent of your sins."
Let me read to you the Amplified Bible on this verse. It's pretty loud.
"From that time Jesus began to preach and say, 'Repent, change your inner self, your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance, seek God's purpose for your life, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'"
Go to Matthew chapter 9. I mean, it's not getting better, okay? Matthew chapter 9.
We have verse number 13. Matthew 9, verse number 13. It's a loud heresy, right? Matthew 9, verse number 13.
The Bible says this, "But go ye, and learn what that meaneth. I will have mercy and not sacrifice, for I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."
Let me read you the message Bible. The message, okay?
"Jesus, overhearing, shot back. Who needs a doctor, the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what the scripture means. I'm after mercy and not religion. I'm here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders."
Obviously, the message Bible does not say turn from your sins, but I think it's pretty interesting, you know?
"I'm here to invite outsiders, not to coddle insiders."
Look at Luke 13. The Bible says, "I tell you, nay, but except you repent, you shall likewise perish." Nothing wrong with that. We need to repent, otherwise we'll die and go to hell.
Let me read to you the New Life translation. "No, I tell you, but unless you are sorry for your sins and turn from them, you will, too, all die."
So now, based on the New Life version, that we have to be sorry for our sins and turn from our sins, tell me if that's not the exact same thing that most Baptists believe as well.
So I wonder where all the Baptists who are supposed to be King James only get their doctrines from.
Look at Acts chapter 3, because these phrases are not found in the King James Bible. Acts chapter 3, look at verse number 19. Acts 3, verse number 19, the Bible says, "Repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." We need to be repent and be converted, that's how our sins can be blotted out, that's how our sins can be forgiven.
Let me read to you the New Living Translation again.
"Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away."
Again, it's from the newer modern Bible translation, go to Acts 17.
Acts chapter number 17, look at verse number 30.
Acts 17 verse 30, a very famous verse concerning repentance, Acts 17 verse 30.
"And the times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent."
Now let me read to you the voice Bible, the voice.
No, God has patiently tolerated this kind of ignorance in the past.
But now God says it's time to rethink our lives and to reject these unenlightened assumptions.
To rethink our life and to reject our past life.
You know, again, it's very weird.
Go to Acts chapter 20.
Acts 20, look at verse 21.
The Bible says testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Very simple.
We need to turn to God, turn to trust in Christ alone and not to trust in ourselves and not to trust in our works, okay?
Let me read to you the common English Bible.
You know I have testified to both Jews and Greeks that they must change your hearts and lives as they turn to God and have faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Don't tell me every Bible is the same.
Don't tell me every single English Bible is the same because you have the King James Bible and then you have a bunch of heresies, right?
By the way, here's a basic principle of Bible interpretation.
Your doctrine should not be based on what the so-called church fathers said, not based on the so-called commentators, pastors or preachers or like church history says.
Your doctrine should be based on clear scriptures comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
I don't care about that every church father disagrees with me.
I'm going to side with the King James Bible.
I'm going to talk about what the Bible defines the word repent as.
But let's first talk about some extra biblical stuff.
Because in the New Testament, the Greek term that often translated to the word repent is metanoial.
That's a verb form. Noun form will be metanoia.
Which literally means to change one's mind or to turn.
So the transition from a general to repent to repent of your sins,
that's primarily a matter of English translation as well as preaching traditions.
Not a direct quote from Hebrew or Greek.
That's why you can never find this phrase in the King James Version.
English Bible translations and popular Christian discourses gradually added this preposition of
and the object of your sins just to explicitly link repentance with turning away from sin.
And that comes from Jerome's Latin Vulgate.
Because in Jerome's Latin Vulgate, he rendered the Greek word metanoia to the phrase "dupenance."
That's what he did.
This was not repent, but it worked.
Penance is an action that you do. Penance is an action that you perform.
This became the sacrament of penance.
This is where salvation becomes faith plus works.
That's why the Catholic Church teaches that people must do penance to get forgiveness.
This all comes from Jerome's false Latin Vulgate translation.
Because, again, the Greek word "metanoia" simply means to change one's mind or to turn.
But then Jerome's Latin translated that to do penance.
So based on the Catholics, do penance contains three parts.
Number one, contrition. Feel sorry for your sins.
By the way, many Baptists believe this too, right?
Step number two, confession.
Tell your sins to a priest.
Number three, satisfaction.
You must perform assigned good works to pay for your sins,
such as fasting, praying, a certain number of prayers,
giving money, pilgrimage to a shrine, acts of charity,
self-denial, and so on.
Only after doing these three steps would a priest grant absolution.
So that's the Catholics, okay?
Even after the Reformation, many Protestant preachers kept this Catholic-style language in their sermons,
such as "Turn from your sins to be saved," and also "Repent of all your sins to be forgiven."
Why?
Why? Because Bible translation, other than the King James, started inserting this phrase.
And many modern English versions say, "Feel sorry for your sins, turn from your sins, and repent of your sins."
And many evangelical tracts in the 1800s and also the 1900s used this phrase constantly.
And many of these tracts are still used in some Baptist churches today.
And then we have, after the Reformation, we have the revivalist movement.
This movement continued this heresy.
Rather than using the phrase "Dupendence" like the Catholics do,
they used the phrase "Repent of your sins."
Again, that was first a Catholic doctrine, "Dupendence."
Let me just list several well-known preachers during the revivalist movement.
D.L. Moody. Moody used "Turn from your sins" and "Repent of your sins" in many evangelical appeals.
His sermons often connected repentance with moral reform.
R.A. Tory. He's a major promoter of the phrase "Repent of your sins."
Tory's book "What the Bible Teaches" frequently frames salvation as "Repenting of sins."
Billy Sunday. He constantly preached "Quit your sins" and also "Repent of your sins" as part of getting saved.
Billy Graham. You know, we all know Billy Graham.
He's by far the biggest promoter of this phrase.
John MacArthur. He's a modern Lordship salvation preacher who like absolutely teaches turning from your sins.
Even some known Baptist preachers use the phrase.
Although some of them define it as realizing that your sins send you to hell, you know.
Pastor Jack Kyle in his early ministries, obviously he didn't mean to turn from your sins, but in his early ministries, he did use that phrase.
Later he clarified what he meant, later he changed his mind and stopped using this phrase.
Jack Kyle, John Rize, Leslie Roloff, Sword of the Lord, many Bible scholars, so many manuals all have this phrase.
Here's the thing, the Bible never says it.
The King John's Bible never says it, Christ never said it, the Apostles never preach it, because it leads to workspace salvation.
And those Baptists who use this phrase need to repent from being Protestant and Calvinist, because this is a Catholic doctrine.
This is a workspace Protestant, Calvinist, Lordship doctrine.
So, turn the Bible to Genesis chapter 6. Genesis chapter number 6.
The phrase became popular because it sounds spiritual, because it makes preaching feel powerful, right?
Because it emphasizes moral seriousness. There's nothing wrong with telling people to have a book, telling people to have a better moral.
But we have to separate salvation from sanctification.
You know, most preachers never checked if the Bible actually uses this phrase.
They inherited it, not from scripture, but from man's traditions.
Ordered from the Catholic Church, and then the Protestant, and then the major evangelical movement.
So point number one, the origin of the phrase. Point number two, the doctrine of repentance for salvation.
Because the Bible is clear that salvation is only by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.
I mean the most famous passage, "For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast."
So salvation is only by faith, salvation is not of works, and salvation is a gift of God.
Now we'll talk about biblical repentance in a bit, but if you have to turn from your sins to be saved, then salvation is not a gift.
If you have to turn from your sins to be saved, then salvation is a work, then you would boast about it, right?
And if you have to be willing to turn from your sins to be saved, then salvation is a work.
If you have to make a decision to make Christ the Lord of your life, then salvation is no longer a gift.
And if you have to be sorry for your sins to be saved, then salvation is not free, okay?
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."
By the way, if you think turning from your sins is not a work, then there's something wrong with you.
Because there are people who are trying to say baptism is not a work, turning from your sins is not a work.
I mean, turning from your sins is a work of the Holy Spirit.
But that's still something that you have to do, okay?
Again, that's a workspace salvation.
So let me just show you the biblical definition of the word "repent."
Let's look at the first time this word is mentioned in the Bible.
Genesis chapter number six, look at verse number five.
Genesis six, verse five.
The Bible says this, "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth,
and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
And that he repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
And the Lord said, 'I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, and a creeping thing and a foul of the air, for he repented me that I have made them.'"
So just riddle me this. This is the first time that a word is mentioned in the entire Bible.
So if you think that the word "repent" means to turn from your sins, then are you saying that God has sinned?
I think it's pretty interesting that the very first mention of the word "repent" is God repenting.
This proves that this word has nothing to do with sins at all.
Because the word "repent" means to change one's mind.
God has changed his mind about making men because people are doing wicked things.
"For it repented me that I have made them."
God has changed his mind. God has turned a direction.
Again, nothing to do with sin because God has never sinned.
Let's turn the Bible to Exodus chapter 13.
Exodus chapter 13.
Look at verse number 17.
Exodus 13 verse number 17.
The Bible says this, "And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had led the people go,
that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines,
although that was near.
For God said, 'Lest perventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt.'"
Here the Bible used the word "repent" and the word "return" interchangeably.
So God is basically saying that God was leading them now through the land of the Philistines
just in case that the people see war and they'll go back to Egypt.
So again, very, very simple.
The word "repent" used to turn is to change their mind.
God does not want them to return back to Egypt.
This verse is not talking about when Israel saw war,
then they will turn from their sin and went back to Egypt.
I mean, it makes zero sense.
This is clearly talking about going back to Egypt.
Nothing talking about turning from their sin and going back to Egypt.
Go to Exodus chapter 32.
Exodus chapter 32, look at verse number 11.
Exodus 32, verse number 11.
The Bible says this, "And Moses bestowed the Lord his God and said,
Why did thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?
Wherefore should the Egyptians speak and say, For mischief did he bring them out to slay them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth?
Domestish, turn from thy fierce wrath and repent of this evil against thy people."
So Moses was asking God to repent.
Did you see that?
Moses was asking God to turn from his anger because the word "repent" means to turn.
Because God was bringing judgment, God was bringing evil or harm, not all evil is sin.
Because God is punishing Israel, Moses was begging God to turn from pouring out wrath and to give him mercy.
Nothing to do with sin, it's a change of direction from pouring out wrath to showing mercy.
Because the word "repent" means to turn or to mean return.
By the way, Moses is asking God to turn from the evil that he is going to do.
Look at verse number 14.
And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.
By the way, God repented more than anyone else in the Bible because the word has nothing to do with sins.
Not even close.
Go to 1 Kings chapter number 8.
Now I'm not going to show you every single mention of the word, otherwise we'll be here for a while.
But let me just give you some of the highlights.
1 Kings chapter number 8, verse number 46.
Because I think the Bible is sufficient to give you the definition, right?
Because the Bible coupled the word "repent" with "turn," "return," right?
Pretty simple.
1 Kings chapter 8, verse number 46.
1 Kings 8, verse 46.
The Bible says, "If they sin against me, for there's no man that sinneth not."
So can you turn from all of your sins? No.
"For there's no man that sinneth not, and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy,
so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near.
Yet if they shall," don't miss this, "be-think."
The word "be-think" means to consider something.
"Yet if they shall be-think themselves in the land, whether they will carry captives and repent."
So here we have a definition of the word "repent." It's to think, right?
It's a mind thing.
"And repent and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carry them captives, saying,
"We have sinned, and we have done perversely, we have committed wickedness.
And so return," again, it's a turn, "unto thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies,
which led them away captive, and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou givest unto their fathers,
the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name."
Notice, the children of Israel, they did confess their sins in the latter half of verse 47,
but realize the order here. They bestowed themselves and repented first,
then they confessed to God about their sins,
because repentance and confession are two different things.
Furthermore, confession of sins is different from turning from your sins.
I can be confessing my sins without turning from them. Does that make sense?
Plus, this passage is not about salvation anyway.
This passage is about the people of the Lord turning back to God,
turning back to following God again.
Confession of your sins is not directly meaning to turn from your sins.
They change their mind first, and then they ask God for the forgiveness.
Turn the Bible to Ezekiel chapter 14. Look at verse number 6.
The Bible says this, Ezekiel 14 verse number 6, "Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God, Repent,"
don't miss this, "and turn yourselves from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations."
So the word repent means to turn, in the context it's talking about turn from the idols, but the word itself simply means to turn.
Some people will say that sometimes repentance does mean turn from their sins, just not in the context of salvation.
I disagree with that phrase, because repentance never means turning from your sins.
Because repentance simply means a turning and a change of mind.
People may add word after the word repentance, but the word repentance never has anything to do with sins at all.
Unless you are saying repenting from your evil ways, then that means turning from your sins.
But the word itself never means turning from your sins in any context, unless you are adding different words on top of it.
Go to Ezekiel chapter 18, Ezekiel 18 verse number 30.
The Bible says this, "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, everyone according to his ways, saith the Lord, repent and turn yourselves from all your transgressions, so iniquity shall not be your ruin."
So here again, repent and turn are used interchangeably.
So let's go to Mark chapter 1, Mark chapter 1.
So what does the word "repent" mean? To turn, to return, to rethink, okay?
Again, it's a change of mind.
Now I do believe that a person has to repent to be saved, but what I don't believe is that a person has to repent of their sins to be saved.
Mark chapter 1, look at verse number 14, Mark 1 verse 14.
The Bible says this, now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.
So here we see the gospel in verse number 15, and saying the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe the gospel.
People would use those verses to like prove that, you know, see that we have to repent of our sins to be saved.
The Bible never says that phrase. The Bible says we need to repent and believe the gospel.
And people act like I'm denying repentance. No, these people don't understand biblical repentance.
What's Mark 1.15 talking about? Stop believing on something else other than the gospel.
Stop trusting in something else to trust in the gospel in Christ alone. It's a change of mind.
Go to Acts 17. Acts 17 gives you a better definition here. Acts 17, we have verse 29.
Acts 17, verse 29. The Bible says in Acts 17, verse 29.
For as much then as we are the offspring of God, we are not to think that God's head is like unto gold or silver or stone, graven by art and man's device.
And the times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent.
So what's Paul talking about here?
Turning from trusting in gold, silver, stone or graven images to trusting Christ alone.
People used to trusting something else other than Christ alone.
They were trusting in those idols.
Now they have to trust in Christ alone.
His death is alone. His death is sufficient.
We could do Acts 20.
Look at verse number 20.
Acts 20, verse number 20.
The Lord says this.
So what's Paul talking about here?
Turning from trusting in yourselves to trusting only in Christ.
To have faith only in Christ.
A very clear direction change, right?
Again, not changing in your sin.
But stop trusting in your words and your self to have faith in Christ Jesus.
I mean it's pretty simple.It's a turning, right?
Go to Hebrews chapter 6.
Hebrews chapter 6.
Now Hebrews' definition is also really really good.
Hebrews chapter 6, look at verse number 1.
Hebrews 6, verse number 1.
I mean, I mean, if people just use biblical terminologies, I mean it's so clear.
Hebrews chapter number 6, verse number 1.
Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection.
Not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and a faith toward God.
So what's Paul talking about here?
Turning from trusting in your good works, because those are dead works, and only trust in the finished work of Christ, right?
Stop, you know, stop thinking that your dead works will save you, but only, you know, faith in Christ can save you.
Repenting from trusting in your dead works to trust in Christ.
I mean, the Bible is just so clear, right?
That's why saying that you have to repent of your sins to be saved makes zero sense, because nobody trusts in their sins to be saved.
So why do you need to repent from your sins to be saved?
Because to repent from something means you stop trusting in one thing to trust in Christ alone.
So if you say that we have to repent of our sins, you are saying that you used to trust in your sins to be saved, that makes zero sense anyway.
I mean if you have to turn from your sins to be saved, then you have to be sinless, right?
The opposite of turning from your sins is to be sinless, and the opposite of trusting in yourself is to trust in Christ alone, right?
It's a change of direction, right?
The Bible says that if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
That's why people who believe that we have to turn from our sins to be saved, those people are not saved because the truth is not in them, because everyone still sin.
Go to John 20, John chapter 20.
Now some people will say that the only sin that we need to repent is a sin of unbelief.
I don't like this phrase either because nobody trusts in their unbelief to be saved, so why do we need to return from that?
Again, repentance is a turning, a change of direction, it's a turning that you use to trust in this to trust in Christ alone.
Nobody trusts in their unbelief to be saved, nobody trusts in their sins to be saved, people trust in their idols and works to be saved.
That's why don't use this phrase "repent of your unbelief" again, it doesn't make logical sense if you fully grasp what the word actually means.
Biblical repentance for salvation is turning from trusting in idols and your works to trust in Christ alone in his death, burial and the resurrection.
Also, riddle me this, the Gospel of John was written so people can be saved, yet the Gospel of John never mentioned the word "repent" one time.
John 20 and many other signs truly that Jesus is in the presence of his disciples which are not written in this book.
But these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing he might have life through his name.
So the Gospel of John was written so that people can believe, but the word "repent" is not mentioned once, now it's John against repentance.
Of course not, because if you have believed on Christ, you have repented already.
There are three phrases in the Bible that are used to describe how to be saved.
Believe on Christ, repent, and call on the name of the Lord.
All these three phrases are talking about the same thing from different angles.
If you believe on Christ, you have changed your mind in your heart already.
If you believe on him, you will call on his name already,
because that's how you believe on Christ.
Make sense? Repenting, believing on Christ, calling on his name.
These are three sides of the same coin, just from different angles.
That's why John never mentioned the word one time,
because all John was preaching is believe on Christ,
because if you believe, you have changed your mind.
So, go to Jonah chapter 3. Jonah 3.
You know the verse, let's look at it together. Jonah chapter 3.
So, point number one, the origin of the phrase.
It's a Catholic phrase, it's a Calvinist phrase,
it's a Protestant phrase.
It's a new, you know, new Bible version phrase.
Point number two, the doctrine of repentance for salvation.
Point number three, we should stay far away from a false gospel.
We should stay far away from a false gospel,
because salvation is not of works.
Jonah chapter 3, look at verse number 9.
Jonah 3, 9 says this, "Who can tell if God will turn and repent?"
Again, turning and repenting are the same thing, right?
"Who can tell if God will turn and repent and turn away from his fierce anger that we practice not?
And God saw their works."
What is the work?
That they turn from their evil way.
So turning from their sins is a work, right?
"And God repented of the evil that he has said that he will do unto them, and he did it not."
Verse 9 and 10 is perfect to prove our case,
because not only did the Bible say turning from your sins is a work,
but the Bible also says that God repented.
That means repentance again has nothing to do with sins,
and to turn from your sins is to preaching a workspace salvation.
Now here are the problems of teaching that you have to repent of your sins to be saved.
Number one, it's a workspace salvation.
That makes it a damn heresy, okay?
And since nobody could possibly turn from all of their sins,
the question is, which one?
And who gets to decide which sin that you need to turn from to be saved?
Does that mean that if you keep sinning that you are not saved?
I mean, Apostle Paul said, "For we know that the law is spiritual,
but are incarnals sold under sin?"
Are you saying Apostle Paul was not saved?
Does that mean that if you sin willfully you are not saved?
I mean, I'm pretty sure that King David knew murder is wrong.
I'm pretty sure King David knew that committing adultery is wrong,
but he didn't anyway.
I will preach a standalone sermon on the evidence of salvation one day,
but are you just condemning a man after God's own heart?
David, I'm pretty sure he has sinned willfully when he slept with Bathsheba.
And then people will say that you must be willing to say no to sin.
Where is that in the Bible?
First Opinion Chapter 3.
And then people will say that you have to feel sorry for your sins.
Well, can you admit that your sins condemn you to hell without feeling sorry for them?
Absolutely.
People can realize that their sins send them to hell,
yet not feel sorry for them, they can still be saved.
Because many saved Christians, they still sin.
They don't feel sorry about their sins if they are walking after the flesh.
Go to 2 Corinthians chapter 11.
Galatians 1a says, "But though we, O an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you,
that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."
So God is pretty mad and that God is upset against people who are preaching a false gospel, another gospel.
Second Corinthians chapter 11, Luke verse number 1, second Corinthians 11, verse 1.
The Bible says this, "Would you God, you could bear with me a little in my folly, and indeed bear with me,
for I am jealous over you with godly jealousy.
For I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
But I fear lest by any means, as a serpent begot Eve, through his subtlety,
so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
Salvation is simple.
Look at verse number four.
For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus whom we have not preached,
or if he received another spirit which he have not received,
or another gospel which he have not accepted, he might well bear with him.
Notice in verse number four, Paul was not approving of them receiving false teachers,
because the context shows that he is actually rebuking them using sarcasm.
So in verse four, Paul was basically saying that
if someone comes preaching a totally different Jesus Christ,
you put up with him just fine.
That's what verse four is saying.
That people have come to you and preach another gospel,
you might well bear with him because you are so watered down.
Again, Paul was being sarcastic.
That sounds like a lot of Baptist preachers and Christians these days.
They will put up with people preaching turn from your sins.
They will allow them to preach behind your pulpit.
They will invite them to preach at your camp meetings.
And we should not bear with people who confuse the simplicity that is in Christ.
Salvation is simple. Salvation is easy. Jesus Christ has done the hard part.
Living a perfect life is hard. Suffering the agony on the cross is hard.
Burning hell is hard. Turning from your sins is hard.
Committing to live a holy life is hard. Deciding to not sin anymore is impossible.
All we have to do to be saved is to believe in Christ because Jesus paid it all.
Let's embrace the terms such as easy believism and free grace.
Galatians 2.21 says this, "I do not frustrate the grace of God, for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."
Why did Jesus come and die for you if you can turn from your sins to be saved?
Are you just ignoring the sacrifice of Jesus?
Are you saying that he burned in hell for nothing?
See, if you can turn from your sins to be saved, why did Jesus Christ need to shed his blood at all?
Are you saying that God needed your effort because Christ's sacrifice wasn't being enough?
Did Christ die to help you save yourself or to save you completely?
Again, that doctrine, now you know why I'm so mad about that false doctrine, they are splitting, they are spitting on the cross.
If you can clean yourselves up, why do we need a savior at all?
If being holy saves you, why did Jesus Christ save the thief on the cross instantly?
If repentance means forsaking sin, then why can't anyone in the Bible do it perfectly?
Are you willing to stand before God and claim, "I earned it, I turned from all of my sins"?
Why did Jesus Christ suffer God's wrath if you can save yourself by changing your life?
If salvation is earned by repenting from sins, how is that not spitting on the cross?
How dare anyone call it grace if man must supply the works?
Just think about that, just logically thinking about that.
Now you know why I'm so mad about this stupid phrase.
Sadly, many people who believe that you have to feel sorry for your sins, repent from your sins and to make a commitment to live a holy life, to be saved, they are not saved.
Unfortunately, salvation is so easy that most people complicate that.
The Bible says that straight is the gate and narrow is the way.
Salvation is not difficult, but salvation is narrow because it's too easy for some people.
When it goes on wanting, there are people who will literally stumble at how easy it is.
So point number one, I talk about the origin of the phrase.
Point number two, the doctrine of repentance for salvation.
Point number three, we should stay far away from a false gospel.
Lastly, I want to address some of the online comments that I got.
Now obviously I'm not going to bring up every single comment because there are a lot.
But I just want to show you that most people who use this phrase believe in a wrong gospel.
So I really don't care how you define it, it is wrong.
It's unbiblical, it's unclear, I'm in a sense a bunch of confusion.
And you, by using this phrase, you are lumping up with the Calvinists and the Catholics and Billy Graham and all kinds of false prophets.
So let me just read to you some of the comments.
What sin is it that you are in love with so much that you try to twist the scriptures to affirm your lifestyle?
Jesus said many times to repent and say no more, and God never repented, for he has and had nothing to repent of.
So clearly he hasn't read the Bible, right?
Jesus' first word in his ministry was literally to repent.
Seems like a kind of big deal, brother. Again, that person doesn't know what that word means.
You clearly haven't read the Bible. I mean, I read the Bible quite a few times.
Calls for people to repent or constant, and if they do repent, God will save them.
You know, I can't even follow the logic.
Jesus himself forgave, but then he repeatedly told people to go and say no more.
That is repentance, asking forgiveness, but also turning away from sin.
If you are saying not to repent, you are preaching lies.
See, people confuse salvation versus sanctification.
What about the whole faith without works is their part?
Well, their faith is still faith, right?
Baptists are truly the lowest IQ denomination, so you shouldn't be sorry for your sins.
The biblical repentance is to sigh deeply or to have a change of heart.
If you love Jesus, you will hate sin.
It doesn't mean that you will stop sinning, but you will want to stop sinning.
Yeah, I mean, if you're living in the spirit, of course.
Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins."
Not only do you have to repent at the beginning of your spiritual life,
but you actually need to repent every time you fall into damnable guilt.
Again, it's a constant, you know, asking for the forgiveness.
Where did you come up with the idea that repentance is a work?
Also, where that God repented?
I mean, just like read the Bible, right?
God repented more than anyone else in the Bible.
Ah, learn Hebrew.
So all that preaching by Jesus Christ about what to do was what exactly?
Suggestions.
Every time Jesus was asked about how to find the kingdom of heaven,
he replied with works, not faith.
Love God, love your neighbor, forgive, repent, turn the other cheek.
Again, those are how to be a good child of God.
You are an idiot.
Repent means to have a change of mind, going from unbelief to belief.
It's not enough to just believe, you have to live it out.
Which means repenting of your sins.
Obviously you did not read the entire New Testament, stop preaching heresy.
This is heresy.
Sorry you are wrong, you cannot live in sin and be saved.
This tweet is sadly mistaken, salvation needs repentance, turning away from wickedness.
Is this a parody account?
It's not very funny, this is what happens when you think salvation is a single act of faith.
St. Paul even says salvation is a process.
I mean clearly haven't read Paul's epistle.
Hey, hey prostitute, go and sin no more, so grace can abound.
So I don't know where that comes from.
Read Romans chapter 2, read all the time Jesus told people to go and sin no more.
I mean we should, right?
So you need to turn from your sins to be saved.
You don't need to fully repent of them.
You need to choose Christ.
That means that you turn away from sins.
As the Bible declares, you won't be condemned for unrepentant sins.
But you will if you do not turn from sins.
Other confusion. This is what Satanism teaches.
Congratulations, you are taking your idea full circle.
Saying is a movement of the will away from God.
It separates you from him.
You cannot continue to willingly move away from God and still expect to be saved.
This is a perfect example of why the Bible warns us against false teachers.
Salvation is a gift from God which we cannot merit and part of that is God enabling us to repent of our sins.
We can only repent of our sins because of God's grace.
I mean that's sort of true.
However, anyone who just persevere in sins and don't want to repent would seem not to be receiving that gift.
Again, confusion upon sanctification.
Sola scriptura retardation on full display.
Well, knowing the Bible? Really? It does.
The Bible is clear. Repent and believe the gospel.
Repentance isn't trusting works. It's turning from sin.
Salvation is by grace through faith, but faith without repentance is dead.
So the Bible is not saying faith without works is dead.
It's saying that faith without repentance is dead.
Repentance doesn't save you, but if you are not repenting constantly,
you are not really saved.
There is proof of salvation, not a means, but a proof.
Only if you are living in the spirit, of course.
Ever hear of a contrite heart?
God said there will be those who will try to throw off
and to deceive the elect.
Sorry, didn't work.
Get right with the Bible first and repent.
So Satan lives in sin, absolutely knows,
not even just a faith issue,
actually knows that God is the Savior,
becomes our neighbor in heaven.
Again, that person can refuse to believe on a fact
versus believe on Christ, right?
So if you don't have a desire to stop sinning,
I'm wondering if you actually love God.
I mean, that's a true statement.
I mean, if you love God,
you will want to stop sinning,
but obviously not to be saved.
Someone, quote,
"Someone can absolutely live in sins
and refuse to turn from them and still be saved
because salvation is a gift of God, not a works."
That's why hypergrace is poison.
People are calling me a hypergracer, you know?
So it's almost as if you've never heard of an anthropomorphic expression.
Let me expound what he meant by that,
because I said that God has repented, right?
But then they'll say that's an anthropomorphic expression.
This is when the Bible speaks of God using human terms,
human actions, or human body parts,
so that we can understand him,
even though God did not literally have those human qualities.
Because that person is saying that
the reason the Bible says God repented is to relate to us.
Because humans can repent, God could not repent,
even though the Bible does say God has repented,
because that's just a figure of speech.
But here's the problem, God is a man though.
So God does have those human qualities, right?
So Baptist or Satan's front line in the battalion of the retards.
Not true, you have to repent from your sins,
especially from your mortal sins,
if you want to go to heaven.
Not a single person in your common have ever repented,
have ever turned from their sins,
because they're still sinned.
Sin is a nature state of fallen man.
No one can turn from their nature.
That's like saying I repent on my skin color.
We repent of believing our works to believe in Christ's work.
Nice comment.
Finally, you are going to burn hell, your heritage, good luck, bless me.
And then someone commented, you worship a cookie.
Sit this one out.
Again, the guy who commented was a Catholic, right?
You worship a cookie.
You don't read much Bible, do you?
Jesus and John the Baptist and all disciples and Paul preach repentance,
which means to walk away from your sins.
The word "repent" means to have a change of mind.
This is what it means that God repented of the judgment he was going to give.
Again, that person is very confused.
So you follow Paul, not Jesus. Got it.
I mean, I'm pretty sure Paul and Jesus taught the same thing.
But anyone can just say whatever dumb thing they want and pass as a teacher.
It's incredible.
Well, what does the Bible say about causing people to stumble?
You are going easy on sin, heresy.
I mean, just come back on Wednesday night, right?
You will find out that I don't go easy on sin.
Sure Foundation Baptist Church should be called "San", the Baptist Church.
This is nuts.
Is this channel run as a parody bot or a troll account?
I get a feeling that whoever runs this account goes to a church with rainbow flags.
I mean, you clearly haven't watched the news.
The word "Repent" comes from the Greek word "Mannanoia", meaning to change your mind from unbelief to belief.
Yeah, I mean, yeah, it's okay.
This Chinese guy is better at comprehending English than most Americans.
It's good.
Finally a positive one, right?
Yes, it does, Justin. You'd better repent or you'll be cast into fiery torment forever.
Repentance also means changing behavior to alignment, trusting God.
If repent does not mean turn from your sin, then what does it mean?
What are you repenting of if you're not turning from your sins?
So you never read the book of Jonah on how many of us turn from their evil deeds.
They never read Jonah, right?
Repenting means different things in different contexts.
In salvation, it's turning from sins.
So a sinner who turns to God can continue sinning?
Yes.
Dude, you decide to remove repentance from the gospel, which means you are proclaiming a false gospel.
So does Apostle John, right?
One save always save is Satanism.
Women don't believe the lies.
You need a theology class or several.
Let's see.
Yeah, I mean, obviously there are way more comments.
But again, the reason I'm showing you that is most people that use that phrase do mean that you have returned from their sins.
So point number one, the origin of the phrase.
Point number two, the doctrine of repentance for salvation.
Point number three, we should stay far away from the false gospel and then address the comments.
Let me close the sermon by reading to you some of the quotes that preachers of the past have said about the gospel that I think is pretty good.
Salvation is not a reward for the righteous. It's a gift for the guilty. Pretty good.
Salvation is not doing your best. It's having Christ's best put to your account through salvation by faith.
Turning away from sinful ways will be your 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 Christ already paid for our sins by dying on the cross, then what are we repenting from?
We must stay true to the simplicity of the gospel. Repentance regarding salvation is a change of mind. From unbelief to belief, we must earnestly contend for the faith.
If you do not put a difference between justification brought by the man Christ without and sanctification brought by the Spirit of Christ within, you are not able to divide a word right.
But, contrary-wise, you corrupt the word of God and cast stumbling blocks before the people.
Pretty good. Now, you know, let me just read you a good quote by Pastor Jack Hile in his later years, okay?
Obviously, in his early years, he did use this phrase, possibly just, you know, parroting from, like, other people.
But then later, if he, you know, went on attack on this phrase, here's what Pastor Jack Hile said.
Repentance is not some silly "I'm sorry." Repentance is not simply a fear of God.
Repentance is not a monk fasting and beating his body in a monastery.
Repentance is not remorse because of sin's consequences. Pretty good, huh?
Repentance is not penance performed before the Pope as you kiss his toe.
Repentance is not being sorry for what I've done wrong.
It's not confessing one's sins to a priest.
It's not just conviction of sin.
It's not a signing of a pledge of abstinence.
Repentance is that thing when you come before God and see yourself as you are and see him as he is and say with Isaiah, "Woe is me, for I am unclean."
Pretty good quote.It's not about sorry for your sin.It's not forsaking sin.It's not feeling a remorse, but simply acknowledging that I cannot save myself.
So I hope this sermon is helpful to you, but obviously many of you already know why we don't use this phrase, but it's good to be reminded again.
And I feel like the history is pretty interesting because that's a Catholic phrase, that's a Calvinist phrase, so don't use it.
And when you share the gospel with someone else, make sure to preach Biblical repentance.
What I do at the end of a presentation is I will ask the person, when I first came here, you told me that salvation is by works, but now I've showed you from the Bible that it's only a gift.
We do say that you've changed your mind.That's Biblical repentance.So in short, stay away from this confusing and also un-Biblical terminology and keep the Gospel simple.
Keep it clear, because that's the most important doctrine ever.Don't complicate it.Defend it and preach it wherever you go.Amen?
That's close.Thank you Lord for this day.Thank you for your word.Lord, I pray that you'll help us defend the simplicity that is found in the Gospel.
I pray that we'll get as many people saved as we can as a church.I pray this in Jesus' name.Amen?
Let's sing one more song.We actually have a baptism after the last song.So turn to song number three, "Jesus Paid It All."It's a quite fitting song.
Breck, would you pray for us?