If you are currently attending a church similar to the ones discussed here, one that has being “relevant” as its’ highest priority, I cannot stress enough the spiritual danger you might be embracing.  Not because they are trying to reach people with the Gospel, but because there is a very high possibility they are reaching people (and you) with a changed gospel.  Another gospel.  Please take the time to pray and study the Scriptures so that you might know for certain as to whether or not you and your children are being fed God’s truth as opposed to a psychology based morality movement.

The one thing missing from this video is a plain proclamation of the true, biblical Gospel as proclaimed by Jesus, Paul, John and all of Scripture.  But before I tell you of the rescue (which is the good news of the Gospel) you must know the bad news, and why all men are in need of rescue.  All men have sinned and broken God’s laws (these are laid out in summary form in the Ten Commandments).  We have all lied, hated, and lusted.  Every one of us has indulged in gossip, wicked fantasies and idolatry.  Because of our guilt, obeying the laws of God now will in no way absolve us of our existing guilt.  Why?  Because God is a just judge, and so a punishment must be handed down.  If no punishment is given, justice would not be upheld.  Because of this situation, we are all guilty and hopelessly headed for eternal torment.  But here is the good news!  God stepped in and sent His only Son to be tortured and killed on the Cross, paying our punishment.  Repenting of our sins (repenting is a change of mind regarding sin, a turning from our own passions) and clinging to Christ alone, trusting that His work alone is what makes us right with God, we are then made in right-standing with in the courts of the almighty.  Upon Him is our sin laid and we inherit the righteousness of Christ.  We are saved through faith in Christ alone (not our own efforts… that is why it is called “good news”!!)  Christ proved to all His true identity and that His sacrifice was acceptable by rising from the dead.  That is the gospel!  It is the good news that helpless and wicked men have a savior who has done the unimaginable in order to save His people!

Obviously, I am trying to use a bit of sarcasm to make a point.  In Scripture we see many teachings regarding sin.  We learn that sin is actually a crime – a crime against God’s law.  Each sin is a crime for which we will be judged (by a just judge who in no way pardons the guilty).  We learn that every sin is an act of rebellion, and every rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft.  We are taught that every act of sin is a refusal to accept the Lord as our Lord, and is considered to be idolatry.  Each sin makes self and desire our god instead of Him.  You see, every sin is not only a crime against God’s law, but also an insult and challenge to our God on a personal level.

In short, the act of sin, its’ consequences in the heavenly court, along with the immediate effects of sin here are all BIG deals in the eyes of God.  Such a big deal that God sent His Son (the Living Word, God incarnate) to die in our place so that the just judge can remain just and offer forgiveness to His people.  And not just forgiveness!  With forgiveness comes a new birth, the “beginning of the end” in regards to sin in the life of a believer.  For every believer is given a new heart that follows God and His laws willingly.   They have a life trademarked by repentance and an ever-widening gap between the believer and sin.

Wait a minute…that’s another word missing in modern preaching these days, isn’t it?  “Repentance.”  But I guess that’s logical, now that I think about it.  How can the word or concept of repentance (the changing of ones mind in regards to sin) be preached when the very concept of sin has been softened, avoided, re-worded (or re-defined) and all but removed?  “Repentance” was included in the messages delivered by John the Baptist, Paul, John and Jesus Christ Himself, but it is completely missing from the modern preacher’s vocabulary (dear reader, do your teachers regularly discuss sin and repentance?)

Folks, the absence of sin and repentance from today’s preaching does much more than simply contextualize the gospel message for the modern man.  It changes the call of the gospel (by eliminating repentance), softens the hard truths about sin, and it robs God of His glory.  Does that last statement surprise you?  It shouldn’t!  Think of this:

-   Without the dark of night, we can’t see the beauty of the stars.  Likewise, without the backdrop of sin & evil, we can in no way appreciate the purity and righteousness of our God!

-   Without knowing the wickedness of sinful man, how can we appreciate the grace involved in Jesus dying for His people who are so incredibly undeserving of such a sacrifice?

-   Without knowing the sentence of death already handed down to a guilty race, how can we truly express gratitude for the rescue carried out?  A rescue we could never even begin, let alone finish, on our own?

Our Lord accrues much glory in how He deals patiently and kindly with sinful man.  And from our perspective, how can we ever truly know, appreciate and glorify our God if we are so active in avoiding all negative & troubling aspects of ourselves?  It is as if we find the notion of sin so appalling, we are willing to let others live in it, and tolerate it ourselves, rather than call attention to it while calling men to repentance.  Except – the ugly truth of the matter is that modern preachers don’t find sin appalling because it is appalling to God, rather, they find the subject of sin appalling because it is an insult to their pride.  It is a pride of methodology.  They directly rebel against the command to preach it, because they know a “better way” to reach modern seekers.  They have stripped the Lord of the message His right to be Lord over the message.  Their sin is rebellion, and they have lost sight of their sin in the dark shadow of pride.

Beware of the preacher who never discusses sin, repentance, and atonement!  They are everywhere!  And since these are essential parts of the message they are clearly commanded to preach (see Luke 24) it can only mean your preacher is walking in rebellion if he is avoiding them.  If they are not in sight, the gospel being preached is “another gospel”.  None of us can, or should, lose sight of sin.  If you are sitting under a teacher (or author) that has…you are in a dangerous place!

But I am getting ahead of myself.  Let me first explain what I mean by the expression “a grey God.”  This is the view that God isn’t entrenched and immovable in His views and tolerances.  It is the idea that the Lord doesn’t always see things in black and white, but is tolerant, and embraces the in-between.  The suggested notion that He is in-between black and white on most issues, thus He is “grey”.  In these modern times, tolerance has become elevated not only to being a virtue, but to being the chief virtue above all others.  In fact, our “enlightened” culture is now convinced that the only thing that shouldn’t be tolerated is intolerance!  It’s ironic, but true.

For many, it is easy to fall into this trap when discussing Christianity and religion.  For example, when a topic such as homosexuality, creation, or the exclusivity of salvation through Christ is brought up, many want to “round out the corners” a little.  Instead of boldly proclaiming the true God of the Bible, they introduce a “softer” God.  Why?  Because they want to make the truths presented in God’s Word a little less offensive, a little less pointed.  They feel as the archaic “black and white” God and His “this is right & that is wrong” teachings found in Scripture are just a little too offensive for an “enlightened” society such as the one we now find ourselves.

Folks, let’s be clear.  The God of the bible is patient, but He is not tolerant.  I know of no teachings in Scripture that show the Lord deciding certain sins are semi-okay, or that false teaching is no longer false.  He may exercise patience, He may give extended calls to repentance, but never does He change His mind on what is sin and what is righteousness.  He does not waver on how men must be saved, or what the judgment toward the unrighteous will be on that final day. Simply put, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is not a tolerant God!  To present Him as such is to preach a false message about a fictitious god.  The final result is that the unbeliever (often a professing believer who in truth is lost) goes away with an even stronger belief in this god they have imagined for themselves, this god who is tolerant of their favorite sins and a casual attitude toward all things holy.  

When discussing God the Father, Jesus Christ, salvation, or religion, the true believer must have a backbone.  The faithful follower must have a sound and biblical understanding as to what sin truly is, and who the holy and perfect God he serves truly is.   The evangelist (for that is what all believers are) must be black and white, with no sign of grey except in those few areas our Lord intentionally left without full explanation.  Was Elijah grey?  How about John the Baptist or Moses?  The more someone is sanctified, set apart from sin as holy unto the Lord, the more they will become black and white, just like their Master.  Great care must be taken to be sure that we are entrenched in the same positions as our black and white God, but once we are, let us never become “grey” to accommodate the comfort of the lost, or to avoid discomfort in a conversation.  Should we be friendly?  Yes.  Generous?  Yes.  Patient?  Yes.  Grey?  Never!

According to the Quran, is Allah a just judge?  Please read the following excerpt (in green) from the Religion of Islam website before I offer my thoughts on this subject:

The Importance of Justice

The Quran, the sacred scripture of Islam, considers justice to be a supreme virtue.  It is a basic objective of Islam to the degree that it stands next in order of priority to belief in God’s exclusive right to worship (Tawheed) and the truth of Muhammad’s prophethood.  God declares in the Quran:

“God commands justice and fair dealing…” (Quran 16:90)

And in another passage:

“O you who believe, be upright for God, and (be) bearers of witness with justice!…” (Quran 5:8)

Therefore, one may conclude that justice is an obligation of Islam and injustice is forbidden.  The centrality of justice to the Quranic value system is displayed by the following verse:

“We sent Our Messengers with clear signs and sent down with them the Book and the Measure in order to establish justice among the people…” (Quran 57:25)

The phrase ‘Our Messengers’ shows that justice has been the goal of all revelation and scriptures sent to humanity.  The verse also shows that justice must be measured and implemented by the standards and guidelines set by revelation.  Islam’s approach to justice is comprehensive and all-embracing.  Any path that leads to justice is deemed to be in harmony with Islamic Law.  God has demanded justice and, although He has not prescribed a specific route, has provided general guidelines, on how to achieve it.  He has neither prescribed  a fixed means by which it can be obtained, nor has He declared invalid any particular means or methods that can lead to justice.  Therefore, all means, procedures, and methods that facilitate, refine, and advance the cause of justice, and do not violate the Islamic Law are valid.    (You can read this excerpt in its’ full context by visiting Religion of Islam – click HERE)

Here on Earth, what would happen if a judge simply let criminals go free because, after their crimes,  they had started doing good deeds and had asked for forgiveness?  I will tell you what would happen…the judge would be dismissed because he was not handing out justice!  Payment must be made for crimes here on Earth, and yet the Quran presents Allah as being a judge who simply forgives without payment.  The absence of ongoing evil deeds is not payment for past evil deeds, and good deeds do not undue guilt either.  I suspect a Muslim reading this will be offended, and claim Allah can do whatever he pleases as he is all-powerful.  While this claim may make the Muslim believer feel somewhat better, it in no way answers the charge of injustice.  For the judge to be just, punishment must be handed down, plain and simple.

Folks, this is one of the foundational differences between Christianity and Islam.  In fact, justice is the attribute that sets the God of the Bible apart from all other religions (including the cultural Christianity preached in so many modern evangelical churches).  Rest assured, the Lord of All is indeed a just and holy judge.  This is bad news for the Muslim!  Past crimes are not pardoned by good deeds, time nor prayers.  That is what Jesus Christ was doing on the Cross.  He humbled Himself to human form so as to take the punishment for the sins of His people.  Justice is maintained because the payment for crimes has been paid, and forgiveness is then possible.

What answer does the Muslim have for this dilemma?  I have never heard an adequate answer.  The conversation almost always gets diverted to other issues, or anger, or confused arguments in order to justify Muslim “justice”.  If you are a Muslim, before dismissing this article or responding in anger, take a few minutes to think about it.  Is the god of the Quran just?  Myself, I don’t see how he possibly can be…

Is “Asking Jesus into our Hearts” Biblical?

We have all heard it taught.  It is taught to children in Sunday schools, private Christian schools, and in Christian homes across the land.  It is taught as being the Gospel message, the plan of salvation, and in modern times it is even presented to adults as such.  What I am talking about is the message “You need to ask Jesus into your heart”.  With so many preaching this message as the gospel, would it not be wise to verify that it’s truly biblical?  I have found that very, very few in our modern Christian culture have ever dug into the Scriptures to verify this message.  That is what this article will attempt to do, but many who read this will take offense that an article like this has even been written.  “Why is someone questioning the gospel message?” they will ask, “My Church has taught this message for years.  Surely this author is trying to spread doubt and false doctrine!!  It isn’t even worth reading such negative and questionable articles!”   But please read what Paul warned us Galatians:

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed   (Galatians 1:8)

This is a HUGE warning not only to beware of false Gospels, but also to be very diligent in biblically verifying the message we present to others.  So won’t you please stay and read this article?  This is not a topic to be dismissed casually or taken lightly!

There are two groups of people that hold to the “Ask Jesus into your heart” message (which from here forward I will refer to as the “Heart” message for the sake of brevity) as being the Gospel message.  The first group of people consists of those that believe it truly is the Biblical message.  The second group of people are those that acknowledge that the message isn’t taught anywhere in the Bible, but feel it is a good, modern way of delivering the more wordy and theological message that is found in Scripture.  By now, many of you will have concluded that I the author hold the view that the “heart” message is not found in Scripture, and you’re right!  The reason I am of that opinion is because… well… it isn’t found in Scripture!  But I understand that there are those who argue this point, so the first thing we need to do is take a good look at the three proof-texts that are usually used when defending this message.  The first passage we usually hear in support of the “heart” message is found in Revelation 3:14-22…

“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. ¹⁵ “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷  For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. ¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. ¹⁹  Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. ²⁰ Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. ²¹  The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. ²²  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

The underlined portion is this passage is often quoted when delivering the “heart” message.  But please note the context of this passage.  This is a letter from the Lord Jesus to one of His churches.  He is writing to His people… to Christians!!  He is disgusted with their lukewarm state and, because He loves them, is warning them that discipline is coming if they do not repent.  He is telling them, “Wake up!  I am knocking on the door right now… don’t bring discipline down on your own heads!”  The phrase, “I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” is a promise of fellowship, friendship and intimacy if they as a local church obey the call to repentance.  Do you notice anything missing here?  There is absolutely no mention whatsoever of the heart, nor of salvation!  In fact, this was written to church, a group of believers, so the subject of salvation isn’t even being addressed!  When verse 20 is quoted as part of an altar call or as part of a “gospel” message, please understand that it is being pulled out of context and twisted to be used where it has no business being used.  I know this is a harsh criticism, but please look at the text for yourself.  It is simply the truth.

The other two texts often used when one defends the “heart” message are both found in Ephesians.  The first being 2:22 and the other being 3:17.  Since these are so close together, I will address them together.  Please look carefully below at verse 2:22 in context…

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, ²⁰  built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, ²¹  in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. ²² In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”

In context, it is obvious this verse is a teaching regarding the church as a whole, not the individual.  The church is the collective group made up of those who are truly redeemed.  It is made up of all true believers throughout the Earth.  This verse clearly states that we (the corporate group of believers) are being built into a dwelling place for the Spirit of God.  This passage in no way teaches us as individuals to ask for the indwelling of His Spirit as a means of salvation.  In fact, this passage doesn’t pertain to salvation at all.  So am I saying that the Spirit of Christ doesn’t live in the individual?  Not at all!  As we will see in the third and final commonly used proof-text, the Spirit of God does indeed live in the individual believer.  Let’s examine this incredible & beautiful promise in context.  It is found in Ephesians 3:14-19…

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, ¹⁶ that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

 The Spirit of Christ does indeed indwell the believer!  But what is the context here?  This passage is describing the prayers that Paul makes for the believers in Ephesus.  The Spirit of God indwelling the believer is one of the many blessings that come with salvation and, according to Paul, to an even greater degree for those who are “strengthened with power through his Spirit.”

But this incredible truth can in no way can be defined as the gospel message!  Please pause for a moment and consider the logic behind this common misuse.  The indwelling of Christ a promise given to the believer, right?  Another promises is everlasting life.  Would it then be appropriate to tell an inquisitive friend, ‘Just close your eyes and say these words, “Jesus, please make me live forever.  Amen’”?  Of course this promise could not be preached as the gospel!  Yet another blessed promise is that when a believer leaves this earthly life, he will be present with the Lord in Heaven.  So, should we then tell schoolchildren to bow their head, close their eyes and repeat this prayer, “God, I want to go to heaven.  Amen”??  Again, no!  When we take other promises regarding salvation and briefly envision them as the gospel message, they seem ridiculous.  I submit to you that presenting the promise of Christ’s spirit abiding in our hearts as the gospel message is just as ridiculous (maybe even more so).  Telling someone to “ask Jesus into your heart” is preaching an effect as a cause.  It is putting the cart before the horse.  Like all effective false teachings, it has an element of truth to it, but nowhere in Scripture is the “heart” message taught as the gospel or preached as the gospel.

It is my opinion that no further examination of biblical texts should be needed to convince you the reader that presenting the “heart” message as the gospel is unbiblical at best, and is a violent twisting of Scripture at worst.  But for the sake of those who are profoundly set in their tradition, we will look just a little further.  We will look at the most damaging evidence imaginable; we’ll compare the “heart” message with the true biblical gospel.  When the light of Scripture shines upon this teaching it will then be obvious to all what the “heart” message is…and what it isn’t.

To look at this subject in a brief but thorough manner, we will first look at a brief summary of the gospel as taught by Jesus and Paul.  Let’s start by examining Jesus’ statement regarding this crucial teaching:

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”  Mark 1:14-15

We see here that when Jesus preached the gospel, He commanded a response from those that heard it.  He told them to, “Repent and believe.”  And exactly what is the gospel message that He preached?  We will let Paul give us his answer…

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, ² and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you— unless you believed in vain. ³ For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁵ and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. ⁶ Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.   1 Corinthians 15:1-6

At this time I would ask you to read one more passage of Scripture in order to have perfect clarity of the Gospel message, that being Romans 3:9-25

“For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, ¹⁰ as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; ¹¹ no one understands; no one seeks for God. ¹² All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” ¹³  “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” ¹⁴  “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” ¹⁵  “Their feet are swift to shed blood; ¹⁶ in their paths are ruin and misery, ¹⁷ and the way of peace they have not known.” ¹⁸  “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. ²⁰ For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.  ²¹ But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— ²² the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴  and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵ whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.”

So we see that according to the teachings of the Apostle Paul, and those of our Lord Himself, the gospel message is essentially this:  All men have sinned and broken God’s laws.  We have all lied, hated, and lusted.  Every one of us has indulged in gossip, wicked fantasies and idolatry.  Because of our guilt, obeying the laws of God now will in no way absolve us of our existing guilt.  Because God is a just judge, a punishment must be handed down.  Because of this situation, we are all guilty and hopelessly headed for eternal torment, but God stepped in and sent His only Son to be tortured and killed on the Cross, paying our punishment.  Repenting of our sins (repenting is a change of mind regarding sin, a turning from our own passions) and clinging to Christ alone, trusting His work alone makes us right with God, we are then made in right-standing with in the courts of the almighty.  Upon Him is our sin laid and we inherit the righteousness of Christ.  We are saved through faith in Christ alone (not our own efforts… that is why it is called “good news”!!)  Christ proved to all His true identity and that His sacrifice was acceptable by rising from the dead.  That is the gospel!  It is the good news that helpless and wicked men have a savior who has done the unimaginable in order to save His people!

Do you see now what the “heart” message is missing?  It preaches no law of God, so sin & guilt are not exposed.  Nor does it preach the consequences of sin.  Without the knowledge of the law and guilt, how can a person even know what they need to be saved from?  But that is not the only shortcoming of the “heart” message.  It doesn’t issue the call to repent, to change one’s mind concerning sin.  It does not teach the truth that without a turning from sin and embracing Christ as master and Lord there can be no salvation.  And, ironically, the “heart” message fails to proclaim the heart of the biblical gospel, that being Christ died on the Cross bearing our sin while giving the believer His righteousness.  It could be argued that these things can all be preached beforehand, and the “heart” message is simply used as the closing call, or call to act and respond on what has been shared.  While this is true, it is an obvious and blatant deviation from what our Lord used as a closing call when he commanded men to, “Repent and believe in the gospel.”  And, sadly, the simple fact is that the vast majority of the time when the “heart” message is presented, it is not accompanied by sound and biblical teaching.  When the content of the “heart” message compared to the content of the biblical gospel, it is plain to see they are completely different messages.  Many will claim that a child is incapable of grasping the more complicated biblical message, so use of the “heart” message is excusable in the case of children.  But where are we the messengers taught that the intended audience dictates the message content?  This isn’t a biblical concept, to be sure!  Explaining the true gospel using simple terms so that a child can understand is no sin, but changing the message content to fit an audience is strictly prohibited.  Children throughout the ages have been able to understand the biblical gospel, and I submit to you that the apparent inability of modern children has more to do with lack of effort on the part of parents and teachers than on the child’s ability to understand.

If you take the time to read through Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-39), or through Paul’s sermon in Athens (Acts 17:22-31) you will see a few common themes.  While the messages are presented in different terms and styles, the content remains the same.  In one way or another they heighten the listener’s awareness to their guilt before God, and call on them to repent and believe in Christ’s atoning work on the Cross to be put in right-standing with God.  With it being evident that the “heart” message contains none of these elements, can it truly be said to be representative of the biblical gospel message?  I think not.

Now that we have taken a look at the legitimacy of the “ask Jesus into your heart message”, let me now take a few moments to address two possible reactions to this article.  One common reaction to an article like this is anger, and I understand that.  It is often very difficult (and unpleasant) to be confronted with the fact that a precious belief or hope is wrong.  Often this anger will influence the one being confronted into adopting a compromised viewpoint.  “Okay,” many folks reason, “it isn’t a biblical message, but it works!  It is a good summary of the Gospel and it is how I got saved!”  Not too long ago, I had the opportunity to have a conversation with a local youth pastor who held this compromised position.  He defended teaching children the “heart” message” and his defense was along these lines:  “I know it isn’t biblical, but that’s how I got saved.  God straightened me out in seminary.”  The problem with this position of compromise is that God left us no room to hold it without being charged with the crime of rebellion.  Let us look again at the Apostle Paul’s warning regarding messages other than the biblical gospel:

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed   (Galatians 1:8)

As you can see, the Apostle left no room for a semi-submissive, compromising stance.  The youth pastor I was talking with had somehow reached the conclusion that his pilgrimage out of false doctrine somehow gave him license to preach it himself.  But Paul couldn’t be clearer, the gospel is the “power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16) and cannot be amended, changed or be subjected to tampering.  Carefully take note of the consequences in this warning … “let him be accursed”! There are very few warnings this severe in the New Testament, and it would be wise to take a great pause and carefully and prayerfully reconsider before casually ignoring it simply because you feel tradition and culture demands it.

In addition to anger, another common reaction to this message is doubt, fear or panic.  “Oh no!” some may ask, “Am I not saved?!??”  Let me very clear here (so please read carefully before sending me angry emails):  There are many soundly-saved Christians who said this prayer when they were put in right-standing with our Lord.  As discussed above, the true gospel is that forgiveness is available for those who come in belief and repentance while clinging to Christ to save them.  Many, many times people have been convicted and broken over their sin, realized what Christ did on the Cross and clung to Him alone while repeating the “heart” prayer after some well-meaning but misguided preacher.  God knows the intents and thoughts of a man, and just as there is no magic-formula prayer to obtain genuine salvation, there is also no magic-formula prayer that will repel genuine salvation.  Many folks have come to our Lord through the fog of false teachings, only to see truth more clearly at a later date (is He clearing your vision today, dear reader?)  However, if you are in doubt of your salvation, you should take it seriously.  Many will tell you to never question or examine your salvation, but I am not one of them.  The Apostle Paul made it clear we are to examine ourselves:

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!   2 Corinthians 13:5

Even here we see Christ resides in the believer, and because He does, there are tell-tale signs in the life of those His Spirit inhabits.  John, the “disciple of love” wrote the entire book of 1^st John about examining these signs so that we might “know if we know Him”.  I would strongly encourage you to read 1^st John (it’s very short) and prayerfully examine your faith.  Do you have a life trademarked by sin, or marked with signs of following hard after God?  Do you seek the company of other Christians, or avoid them?  These are just a few of the questions John will bring up as you read.  Just remember as you consider these things that your trust and faith concerning salvation must be in what Christ has done, not what you have done (or are doing).  The inward state determines the outward actions, not the other way around.

Folks, the content of the gospel message we believe and preach is an important topic.  Very important.  It is more important than politics, health care, taxes and even more important than our finances.  This is the gospel we are talking about…the power of God unto salvation.  This is the message that brings spiritually dead men back to life and the message for which our Lord Jesus was tortured and killed so that He might bring it to His people.  I hope that you the reader now have a full understanding as to what the true gospel message is (repentance and the forgiveness of sins in Jesus name) as well as the warnings and dangers of tampering with the message.  Please take some time to read through all pertinent biblical passages regarding the gospel message as well as prayerfully considering what your stance will be going forward.  It is incredibly important that you do.

Hope in a politician is hope in a sinful man, but the hope that is in Jesus Christ is quite different.  The modern preachers often tell us Jesus came so that we might live a fulfilled life, an exciting life, or even a prosperous life.  But the Bible tells us that Jesus came to die on the Cross, and the reason He had to die was so that God would remain just, and punishment for sin would be paid.  Do you see now how horrible sin really is?  It is so wicked that nothing would satisfy justice except the blood and death of a sinless sacrifice.  Jesus, the second person of the trinity, God-in-flesh, humbled Himself to be small and fragile like His creatures so that He might be tortured and killed…all to rescue His people by paying for their sin!!  Sin is that bad, and God is that loving!

After considering these things, do you recognize how serious it is to break God’s commandments?  Those are laws, and we have a court date coming where our crimes will be addressed.  Are you willing to give up any hope of saving yourself by being a good person or trying to start living a cleaner life?  Are you ready to humble yourself on your knees and ask God to forgive you, putting all hope and trust in Him that He will rescue you and count Jesus’ payment as your own?  Are you ready to live the rest of your life in humble submission as a servant & slave of your new Master Jesus Christ who has paid the price for you and is now your Lord?  Are you prepared to abandon all sin (even your favorite ones) because each one is a wicked and traitorous rebellion?

Read Romans 3 slowly and prayerfully.  If you already call yourself Christian, read 1st John and ask yourself, “would John say that I am really a Christian, or would he say I am deceiving myself?”  I encourage you today to fall to your knees, humble yourself, and seek out the only ruler who has any real hope to offer!

I have come to the conclusion that the word “repent” is almost always completely misunderstood.  The definition of this word has been so blurred (if not completely butchered) by the legalistic, screamin’ style preaching of the past that the meaning has been lost.  I will endeavor to carefully explain what the word means. The CARM online dictionary defines it this way:

Repent = To repent means to turn, to have a change of mind. 

and the Westminster Theological dictionary has this to say:

The linguistic roots point to the theological meaning of “a change of mind”.

Folks, when Christ (or even a modern preacher) tells people to repent, he is telling them to change their mind.  To recognize what sin really and truly is (that being wicked and self-centered rebellion against their creator who is patiently allowing them time to recognize the severity of their actions).  True repentance is always followed by a change in actions, because what we do is dictated by what we want and what we believe.  If one truly recognizes the depravity of a certain sin, they will always strive to avoid it once they have come to that recognition.  They may fall from time to time, but that sin will not be in the pattern of their life because it isn’t in the pattern of their beliefs and desires.  Repentance isn’t “turning from bad deeds to start doing good deeds”.  It really isn’t.  Find a dictionary and see for yourself.  Repentance is an awakening, a change of mind, not the performance of deeds.  The charge of works-righteousness is ridiculous against those preaching repentance, because repentance is simply adopting God’s opinion of sin.

Our Lord instructed us as to the content of the message we are to proclaim.  See for yourself:

Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.  And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day.  It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’  You are witnesses of all these things.

Luke 24:45-48 (NLT)

Instead of blasting every preacher who dares use this word with the serious and weighty charge of heresy, maybe we should all take a moment to reflect on what the word “repent” actually means.  And then maybe we should examine the sin in our own lives and practice a little repentance right then and there.  So I guess in reality, this little blog post isn’t only about repentance, but it is also a call to repentance!  I am asking you to change your mind, to repent of your false definition and see the word “repent” in its true light. Ironic, eh?

“When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lamp-stands.  And standing in the middle of the lamp-stands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest.  His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire.  His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves.  He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance.  When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last.  I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.”   Rev 1:12-18

I have come to recognize that I am guilty of horrible sin, and sin is what is in my nature.  To think of the God who humbled himself, allowed Himself to be tortured and killed to rescue me when I deserve Hell (not grace), and then run out and buy a “funny” t-shirt that portrays Him in some minimized or regular fashion is something beyond my comprehension.  I’m sure some will read this and think of John 15:15 where Jesus calls His disciples His friends.  And in a sense they (and we) are indeed friends of Christ.  But let me remind you that it was one of these disciple-friends that fell to the ground as though dead at the mere sight of our savior.  The concept of friends doesn’t equate to equality or informality.  If you have one of these type shirts, may I encourage you to throw it out?  Think about it!

Question #1). You’re sitting in a coffee shop when a woman at another table gets up–leaving her coffee unattended–to get a napkin. As she does, a man walks by her table, pours a powdered substance into the woman’s coffee and quickly exits the shop. You immediately warn this woman of what just happened. Your reaction is… Continue to DefendingContending to read all six quiz questions.  Click HERE