Repent of your sins
Part 2 by Preston Greene
This is from chapter 10 of my friend Preston’s book, ‘Religion vs. JESUS, Do vs. Done”. It can be found here for sale at Amazon, OR Preston has allowed for me to freely distribute to those who ask.
Repent of your sins?
Now let us look into the book of Acts to see what was written about the law and salvation. I will set this up a bit. We will clearly see that the Law of Moses is not needed for salvation. In fact, the disciples gave “no such commandment” to keep the law to be saved.
We’ll start with the first verses of Acts 15.
And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. (Acts 15:1,2)
We read that certain people believed that one must be circumcised to be saved. They made this a “requirement” for salvation. We see in verse 2 that this was “no small dissension”. In other words, it was a big dispute/debate. Let’s resume in verse 5.
“…but there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, AND to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter” (Acts 15:5,6).
From these verses, we see that circumcision was not the only thing
that needed to be done. The message was that one needed to keep the Law of Moses. I believe there are 613 Old Testament laws, but most are familiar with ten that Moses delivered from the mount. Peter was compelled to speak.
And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, “Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the GOSPEL, and BELIEVE. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts BY FAITH. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.” (Acts 15:7-11)
Much was said in these five verses. We have learned that one needs to hear the word of the gospel (1 Cor 15:1-4) and believe. We also learned that there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles (us and them). We CLEARLY see that adding the law to the gospel “tempts God” by putting a yoke around people’s necks. We also are told that “the fathers” could not bear that yoke. In other words, they couldn’t keep the law, either (does this remind you of the Galatians 6:13 passage?). Verse 11 tells us that we are saved by GRACE, after talking about how the Gentiles were being accepted by God. He concludes in verse 23 and 24.
And they wrote letters by them after this manner; “The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, AND keep the law: to whom we gave NO SUCH COMMANDMENT.” (Acts 15:23,24)
The apostles gave “no such commandment” to keep the law to “be saved”. If the apostles gave no such commandment, why are so many Protestants telling people you must “turn from your sins” (keep the law) to go to heaven?
“But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they” (Acts 15:11).
Now let’s take a look at a few verses from Romans. I won’t go into detail explaining these verses. They are pretty clear. It does, however, give even more support to “no law” TO be saved.
Being justified FREELY by his GRACE through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we CONCLUDE that a man is justified by faith WITHOUT the deeds of THE LAW. (Romans 3:24-28)
Romans 3:24-28 is pretty clear. In fact I am not sure you get much clearer than that. There is another CLEAR passage in Romans about the law. Before we get to the second Romans passage, let’s check out Philippians 3:9, which will define the term “our own righteousness”.
“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness, which is of God by faith.”
Now back to Romans.
“For , being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have NOT submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law FOR righteousness to everyone that believeth” (Romans 10:3,4).
Why do so many Protestant professing believers add “repent of sins” to the gospel and create what Galatians calls “another gospel”? Why do so many continue to add the law to salvation? Why do so many add their own righteousness, which is of the law (Phil 3:9)? How many times does the Bible need to tell us, “no law for salvation”? Remember Romans 4:13,14:
“For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was NOT to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect.”
God bless you everyone. To be continued…
See this article here for early writings on the meaning of repentance
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Holly, thanks for featuring this. Preston did a great job of defining from scripture what “our own righteousness” means.
It is clear that neither turning from sin, nor the willingness to turn from sin, are conditions to receiving the free gift of eternal life.
Amen. So easy to fall back into that trap of the law. So thankful for the claritty of the gospel, and for the brethren who fight for the truth of God’s Word, to neither add to it, nor take anything away. Eternal life is offered freely to those who will believe upon Jesus Christ. Who He is and what He has done for us at Calvary.
A-men!
Amen and amen.
Hello all,
I just read a comment that we are not required to keep the ceremonial law but we are to keep the moral law. The law is the law, correct? Does God make the distinction? I am not as biblically literate as many of you but I can’t recall once where the belief is stressed that there is a difference between the different types of law, ceremonial, dietary, and moral laws. If I am being required to keep the ten commandments then would I have to keep the remainder of the “mitvahs”? All 613?
How does one respond when someone says that we only have to keep the ten commandments?
Thanks,
Kate
Hi Kate, God bless our understanding. We are not under any of the law. Most of the moral law was reiterated in the New Testament, not the Sabbath of course, but we know if we love Him, we certainly don’t want to worship other gods. The point they miss is we are not under any of the law and never have been. The law is one unit, it is not separable although they may try, the Word still tells us, break one law, break them all.
There was a purpose for the law, and it is to point people to their need for Christ. We have to keep nothing in order to be saved. To be good disciples, we look to the New Covenant and we look into the perfect law of liberty in order to be blessed.
I think the unfortunate thing is people do not realize that the law was given to Israel, and also many do not realize that Gentiles were never given the law, although we had it written on our hearts (they can look to Acts 15 for the conclusion of things we should do). We now have His righteousness because of believing on Christ and Him crucified on our behalf (Rom 5:19, 10:4). The law is not made for the righteous person (see 1 Tim 1:9). We are not under the law.
Please see this article I wrote awhile back, see if it might help some. In Christ, Holly <3
https://redeemingmoments.com/2013/06/24/tell-me-you-who-desire-to-be-under-the-law-do-you-not-hear-the-law/
or you might like the formatting better here, Jack and John over at expreacherman graciously re-posted over there.
https://expreacherman.com/2014/07/06/tell-me-those-of-you-who-desire-to-be-under-the-law-do-you-not-hear-the-law/
Hi Kate, God bless our understanding. We are not under any of the law. Most of the moral law was reiterated in the New Testament, not the Sabbath of course, but we know if we love Him, we certainly don’t want to worship other gods. The point they miss is we are not under any of the law and never have been. The law is one unit, it is not separable although they may try, the Word still tells us, break one law, break them all.
There was a purpose for the law, and it is to point people to their need for Christ. We have to keep nothing in order to be saved. To be good disciples, we look to the New Covenant and we look into the perfect law of liberty in order to be blessed.
I think the unfortunate thing is people do not realize that the law was given to Israel, and also many do not realize that Gentiles were never given the law, although we had it written on our hearts (they can look to Acts 15 for the conclusion of things we should do). We now have His righteousness because of believing on Christ and Him crucified on our behalf (Rom 5:19, 10:4). The law is not made for the righteous person (see 1 Tim 1:9). We are not under the law.
Please see this article I wrote awhile back, see if it might help some. In Christ, Holly <3
https://redeemingmoments.com/2013/06/24/tell-me-you-who-desire-to-be-under-the-law-do-you-not-hear-the-law/
or you might like the formatting better here, Jack and John over at expreacherman graciously re-posted over there.
https://expreacherman.com/2014/07/06/tell-me-those-of-you-who-desire-to-be-under-the-law-do-you-not-hear-the-law/
Hi Kate
as believers in Christ Jesus we have a higher Law that Trumps the Law ” The law of the Spirit”
the law is always to the flesh Never Ever Ever to the spirit.
the woods are full of them that say no no we are free from the moral, ceremonial, “pharasarical Fence law’s” but then resist the Spirit of Truth and chain themselves back under the law in the energy of the flesh.
now as believer soul’s we our privileged as kings to allow Grace to reign through rightousness. How? by responding to Grace with Faith. Appropriating the Gift of rightousness in our thinking. The faith rest life
the Holy Spirit does all the work when we respond Yeild
grace reign through righteousness
19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound
21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom 8 :2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Gal :19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Hello,
Thanks for the reply, Curtis.
Between this blog, expreacherman, and the discussions that ensue I have been blessed. I have been so confused and afraid. I don’t want to get into it with much detail but there have been testimonies that I have read from people in serious spiritual need that essentially describe me.
Living in uncertainty of my Salvation, the fear of never being good enough and trying to gain my salvation by reforming myself, which has never helped me and only made my doubts and fears worse, and being unable to read the Word because of the condemnation it brought me.
I read Holly’s article. I plan on taking it, writing it all down, using it to study about the law and Grace (the best news I have ever heard in my life is the undeserved grace of God so much it brings me to tears with great relief that God loves me), and then using that to teach my children.
Thank you all, each one of you.
Kate
Kate. I think many of us can describe ourselves this way. Confused and afraid, but then if we think on that, these are two things that I can both be attributed to the enemy. The Holy Spirit is not the author of confusion, keep praying, keep studying His Word, applying your heart to His knowledge, He will teach you excellent things of counsels and knowledge so you might know the certainty of His Word of Truth. You have been afraid, but He does not give you a spirit of fear, this is the accuser of the brethren.
It is God who has told us that if we believed that His Son came in the flesh to give Himself for us on the cross, to die for our sins, to rise again from the dead proving we too will come to life one day, these are the things He is and that He has done. I believed it. I am not good enough. That is not to be feared, it’s worse, way worse to think you are good enough…
Trying to gain our salvation by reforming once we have believed can be a mixture of bad teaching which causes bewitchment. We suddenly think we can finish in the flesh. Jesus gave us the answers to the things we need to endure in. And when we fail, get back up and start again. What are those two things (imho)?
1. Continue in His Word.
2. Abide in Him.
And if we do these things, what will the result be?
1. Can’t even begin to put these in a list, but here are some of the things following number 1 ill accomplish. The truth will set us free as we are students of His (John 8:31-32). He never promised it would be easy. Just choose the needful thing (Lk 10:38-42), the good part which will never be taken from you. I offer references for one reason. Make sure no matter who gives you references, check context and always look them up (Acts 17:11; 1 Thess 5:21) because you don’t want verses that are picked out of context. Trust the Holy Spirit to teach you as you study with the motivation of His approval (1 Jn 2:27; 2 Tim 2:15). Definitely trust His goodness, and His tender mercies, and His lovingkindness, they are of old.
Just spend time with Him, learn to love and treasure His Word. Spend time preparing your children with things that do and do not belong in the gospel. Especially as there will come a day when they’ll get older and if they know well (in the Bible), something does belong, or does not belong in the gospel), then you don’t have to fear as much or them being misled.
It’s hard for us to fathom someone loving us without it being deserved, even though we have a natural love for our children, even when they’re outright rebellious and self centered, and God is so much more loving as a parent than we could begin to compare our own parenting to. Just hard for us to understand, but His Word tells us He loves us.
Love in Christ to you 🙂
Thanks, Holly.
Hi Holly! Just getting Romans chapters 6 – 8 down. Seems like they clarify about not being under the law any longer. Or am I on the wrong track here?
Hi Brian, so sorry for the delayed reply. I started and never finished. Seemed I was to have a granddaughter born yesterday <3
Yes, we have been set free, we are not under the law, it has no dominion over us. But because of that of course, we don't want to sin because of God's grace. However we are shown we will, because of the weakness of the flesh. But, the way God sees us as 'in Christ'. We are not 'in the flesh', we are 'in the Spirit' because His Spirit indwelt us the moment we believed. I think Rom 3-8 pretty much covers grace 🙂
Holly, no worries! With all you have going on, it’s understandable.
With all I have read and heard about the grace of our God, the one and only true God, grace is still hard to understand. Especially in all it’s implications. But it is only by grace are any of us truly saved.
Brian
Brian, It is hard to fathom. But I am thankful for His grace and mercy. His lovingkindness endures all day long 🙂 In Christ, Holly
Holly,
Me too. Especially since I had always believed only the Elect as defined by Calvinism would be given Eternal life. A life of total defeat, as no one can live up to the ten commandments. Eternal salvation is precious, by God’s grace. By faith in Christ alone, not works. I am currently trying to learn to yield and abide in Christ. It is also precious to know that we don’t just crank out the fruit of the Spirit, but by yielding, bear the fruit.
In Christ,
Brian
Brian, those who preach the elect as somehow pre-chosen for heaven, have missed (I believe) God’s good character to the whole world. They also seem to miss that Israel was His elect. Why isn’t Israel all saved then? They don’t rightly want to understand the meaning. 2 Pet 1:5-9 is pretty clear, we can be both barren and unfruitful if we don’t heed His word. Love in Him, Holly