In several dozen Bible passages we are simply taught that salvation is by
faith alone in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our inspired text verse
from 1st Thessalonians 4:14 makes this abundantly clear, “For
if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which
sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”
Also, please consider Galatians 3:26, “For ye are all the children of God
by faith in Christ Jesus.” Please consider Acts 10:43, “To him
give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth
in him shall receive remission of sins.” Please consider John
6:47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath
everlasting life.” That is so simple.
Yet, we hear in umpteen corrupt churches today that BELIEVING on Jesus as our Savior is not enough to be saved. In addition, many preachers foolishly teach that you must have an additional act of repentance, which they say is more than a mere change of mind; but rather, they say that a change of mind must lead to a change of behavior. This is a counterfeit plan of salvation which cannot produce the new birth by the Holy Spirit of God. I love how Pilgrim's Progress author, John Bunyan (1628-1688), explains it:
“If you do not put a difference between justification wrought by the man Christ without and sanctification wrought by the Spirit of Christ within, you are not able to divide the Word aright; but contrariwise, you corrupt the Word of God, and cast stumbling blocks before the people.” [emphasis added] —Evangelist John Bunyan
Amen! That was well written. Anybody who adds repentance as a separate act from BELIEVING on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved is preaching another gospel (Galatians 1:6-9). What saith the Scripture? Acts 16:30b-31, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Again, the inspired King James Bible simply teaches to BELIEVE! How in the world then, do so many preachers in churches today come up with the additional requirement to turn away from sinful behavior as a necessary step to salvation? They have been woefully deceived by Satan!
A changed life is the “fruit” of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25), which every born-again believer possesses (1st Corinthians 3:16-17; Romans 8:9; 1st John 3:24). The Holy Spirit sanctifies every believer with the Word of God, which is THE TRUTH (John 17:17; 1st Peter 2:2). To change one's own behavior is reformation, not repentance. Sorrow over sins is penitence, not repentance. Making a mend for sin is penance, not repentance. Yet, so many corrupt pastors today confuse and add these things to repentance, demanding that people be sorry and commit to behavior modification in order to go to Heaven. That is not the Gospel of free grace, not even close! The true Gospel always points you to Christ; a false gospel always points to you. Anybody who teaches that believing on Jesus is not enough to get to Heaven, claiming that you must also repent (that will lead to turning away from your sinful bad habits) is a theological liar! In effect, such a horrible preacher is requiring that you first make a toll payment in order to enter into God's Kingdom.
In the true Gospel, you do need to repent, but repentance is simply a change of mind toward God (Acts 20:21) that causes you to BELIEVE the Gospel. Repentance and faith are not the same thing, but they both happen at the same time, and are one act, not two separate acts. False prophet Ray Comfort teaches that repentance is a separate act from believing...
“So if the plane goes down, you'd end up in Hell! There are two things you have to do to be saved. Do you remember what they are? I told you what they are—You've got to repent and trust the Savior! ... God's offering you everlasting life upon your repentance and faith in Christ. Who in his right mind wouldn't say, 'Whoa! That's a good offer!' (The curious woman asks what it means to “repent”?)... Have you ever said you're sorry to someone you did something wrong to? That's all repentance is—You've sinned against God; it's a matter of saying, 'God, I'm sorry,' and then LIVING A LIFESTYLE that proves the reality of your repentance. That's what repentance is, it's a continual thing! God, 'I'm sorry, but I'm not going going to lie or steal or blaspheme Your name ever again. It has that attitude! And the second thing—trust in Jesus!” [emphasis added]
SOURCE: Evangelist Ray Comfort, “I've never killed anyone” (MP3 clip from video).
Dear friend, believing on Jesus is NOT the “second thing” that you must do to be saved, it is the only thing!!! What saith the Scripture? Acts 16:30b-31, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Does the Bible say that you must first prove your sincerity by giving up your sinning, and then SECONDLY believe on Christ? No, it certainly does not. The Bible simply teaches to BELIEVE on Jesus! So why does Ray Comfort teach this madness? You tell me.
To be saved, you do need to know that you are a guilty sinner (Romans 3:19-23), so that you will see your need for the blessed Savior Galatians 3:24-26). But this is all that repentance is. Let me give you a helpful illustration of repentance and faith. I recently moved from Guam to Florida in July of 2021. Now, when I got on the airplane to leave Guam, I didn't have to make a second decision to head toward Florida. I was moving toward Florida at the same time I was moving away from Guam. That is how repentance and faith work. You don't repent first, and then believe second.
I am tired of hearing unlearned and injurious preachers corrupt the simplicity of the Gospel, by teaching that someone who is trusting in Christ isn't really saved if they haven't forsaken their sinful behavior, alleging that they have never repented. That is another gospel. Anything required more than faith is a counterfeit plan of salvation. Faith is the only righteous thing I can do. Our part in salvation is simply to get out of the way, by ceasing from our own dead works (good and bad works alike) and RESTING wholly on the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:9-11).
