Too many Christians are seduced by the depiction of what I like to call Vegas Jesus. It is the idea that our Lord was born into the world, taking on the form of a servant, to offer himself up as an inside tip on how to be saved. Christ is the propitiation for ALL sin, yet there are false witnesses that will teach that Messiah was crucified, buried, and rose from the dead to give us great odds. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you are 87 percent on your way to salvation. The other 13 percent is up to you! Good luck!
Is that what the bible teaches?
Titus 3:5 NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT WE HAVE DONE, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
So why do preachers of a certain ilk tell you that you must repent of your sins to be saved? Did you know that phrase does not even appear in the bible (KJV)? Repentance is the process of changing your mind from unbelief to belief.
Matthew 21:32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, AND YE BELIEVED HIM NOT: but the publicans and the harlots BELIEVED HIM: and ye, when ye had seen it, REPENTED NOT AFTERWARD, THAT YE MIGHT BELIEVE HIM.
Now I am not telling you that scripture does not advocate for a change in lifestyle and mindset. It does, however that is not linked to the salvation of your soul. We are called to put on the Lord Jesus Christ for our growth and development. If we must repent of our sins to qualify for God’s grace, how many sins must we repent of before Jesus extends his love and expiation of sin? How long must we repent of sins to secure these spiritual benefits of eternal life and membership in the body of Christ? Can I give up a sin/sins for two months? Maybe a year? Can we loose our salvation through intentionally bad choices? Must we constantly reset our adoption in the Holy Spirit by our obedience? When you put these questions to Pentecostals, Holiness Preachers, and all manner of Lordship Salvation instructors, they will pontificate on their life experience and feelings. Don’t let them off the hook. ASK FOR CHAPTER AND VERSE! They don’t have it. Salvation is achieved by the Messiah, NOT YOU! Your part is to belief.
John 6:28-29 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, THIS IS THE WORK OF GOD, THAT YE BELIEVE ON HIM WHOM HE HATH SENT.
It is so clear that salvation is performed by Jesus. Your on again off again righteousness is not good enough. Your selective obedience is not strong enough. Your cherry picked exercise of virtue is not sincere enough. You’re righteousness is not good enough. You need the righteousness of Jesus Christ that comes to you as a FREE GIFT by grace through faith.
John 3:36 He that BELIEVETH ON THE SON hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John 3:18 He that BELIEVETH ON HIM is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Jesus is telling you that salvation is granted upon belief without qualification. The thief on the left hand of God did not repent of his sins. He was no different than the thief on right hand of God that did not repent of his sins. Both thieves were not in a position to repent of their sins. How could either change their ways; they were dying. Here is the difference maker. The thief on the left persisted in unbelief, whereas the thief on the right repented of his UNBELEIF!
Luke 23:40-43
And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou FEAR GOD, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, LORD, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
It is tempting to think that your personal righteousness which amounts to filthy rags is good enough. It is not. Only the IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD can cleanse you of all sin. You get that by grace though faith. The idea that you have to maintain some moral fitness to enter into heaven is prideful. You are called upon to obey God’ s voice. Very true. You are called upon to walk circumspectly in the power of the Holy Ghost. Also true. However, to think you will do this flawlessly after having believed until your death is the greatest fairy tale that finds it’s way into the body of Christ.
1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, WE DECEIVE OURSELVES, and the truth is not in us.
1 John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, WE MAKE HIM A LIAR, and his word is not in us.
Salvation and walking in the spirit are TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. We ought to walk in the spirit. Sometimes we will find success (hopefully more often than not), yet other times we will back slide. Yet through the ups and downs remember these verses.
Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby YE ARE SEALED unto the day of redemption.
Jude 1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and PRESERVED IN JESUS CHRIST, and called:
If you truly believe that Jesus is the Son of God, the atonement for sin, and the only way to heaven, YOU ARE LOCKED IN!