Why Is Mary Crying?
By Jack T. Chick
*Webservant's note: I love Jack Chick's artwork, but deplore his false plan of salvation on the last page, which I've removed here. Salvation is without works (Romans 4:5). A sinner doesn't need to “be willing to turn from sin” to get saved. Mr. Click clearly means that a person must be willing to stop committing sins to be saved. Admitting one's sinnership is not enough according to Jack Chick, you must also be willing to cease from committing sins. This is NOT the Gospel message.
The carnal Christians at Corinth were saturated with sins, whom Paul called “babes in Christ” (1st Corinthians 3:1). A desire to depart from sin is the FRUIT of genuine repentance and growth in grace; not a part of the ROOT of saving faith. Salvation is by grace through faith PLUS NOTHING!
The Gospel is that Jesus Christ DIED, was BURIED and RESURRECTED (1st Corinthians 15:1-4). If you receive the Gospel as payment for your sins, then you are saved. But don't I have to repent? Yes, of course! Biblical repentance is “a change of mind” that causes a person to believe the Gospel. Repentance is NOT a desire to stop sinning. Repentance is realizing that you are a SINNER and need the Savior, and so you believe the Gospel and are saved.
