Is the Great Apostasy Here?
Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 2 Timothy 3:12-13
A lot of us have been dismayed with all the aberrant doctrines we are pummeled with daily. There is sorrow over a lack of understanding from professing Christians. And it is troubling to deal with those who compromise with faulty, and outright false gospels and doctrines promoted constantly. Everyone wants to teach, but none of them want to learn from His Word. This blog stems from out of a Facebook post I made, but I’ve expanded it with another conversation that ensued several days later, to show a couple of examples.
Spiritualizing Scripture
I had a conversation the other day with a very confused ‘preacher’ about the gospel of salvation. After a back and forth it was apparent that he denied a literal Millennial Kingdom and a rapture of any place or time. When Scripture was shared, he spiritualized Scripture to such a degree that I thought to myself that an atheist could have handled the Word better than he did. (He was not the only one I spoke to that was spiritualizing Scripture this week)
Now understanding end times prophecy is not how anyone gets saved. But, he didn’t understand any Scripture that was brought up, was not even close to its original intent, although he claimed to have a spiritual mind. Anything he chose to interpret, was interpreted spiritually.
Throughout the mostly one-sided conversation, I asked him what the gospel of salvation was. He deflected or outright ignored the question several times. I got clearer asking if he knew where he was going if he died.
It is somewhat typical (of these who claim to ‘be spiritual’), to see them point to themselves, or twist His Word of truth to fit whatever mixed-up doctrine they hold to. It’s expected yet also surprising to watch them turn and accuse, rather than simply share the gospel.
Again, understanding eschatology (end times prophecy) is not necessary for someone to be saved, but for interest, here are a few of his thoughts:
As for the Millennial Kingdom and Jesus sitting on the Throne?
He doesn’t believe in a literal physical Kingdom and said Jesus was sitting on the Throne of his heart.
As for the Second Coming?
He first said: a second coming wasn’t mentioned in Scripture, but then when we shared many passages, he then said it already happened in AD 60 (I assume he meant AD 70).
As for a literal New Jerusalem?
He said: it did not have streets of Gold, nor mansions (I thought he would just argue the translation of John 14:1-3 should say dwellings). But, no, he stated Jesus does not catch us up to Him in the clouds at all literally, that this was some sort of euphoric experience. He likened the New Jerusalem to the temple of our body (Rev 21:10-27). In that passage we see literal descriptions, exact measurements, and before He spoke these things, He said,
“Write: for these words are true and faithful.”
I believe when we see plain speech that is clearly not figurative (such as exact measurements or a description of streets of gold so fine it looked like glass), we can and should interpret it literally.
His answer to taking the Scriptures literally where literal?
He said: “The scriptures are spiritual to be understood by a spiritual mind. You`re taking the scriptures and making them mundane without any hope for those who read them.”
(Oh my poor deceived friend — His Word is so far from mundane, this is just how you errantly see it in your mind).
The Gospel of our Salvation
So, I thought I better ask about the gospel again as he had completely ignored my previous questions on whether he was sure where he might go when he died.
I went back and looked in our conversation and saw that I asked him point blank 3 times about the gospel of salvation. Nothing. So, I said to him once again, that I had asked him several times about what he thought the gospel of salvation was, and that he had not responded.
I also answered his accusation that I did not have the Spirit of truth. I know who those accusations came from, the accuser of the brethren — it was not the Voice of my Shepherd.
(Please remember this dear friends, do not take these accusations from others towards you as having any truth. Listen to the manner of voice, their words. They do not use His, or they twist a small portion. They often accuse of the very thing they are doing. Our God, who desires none should perish, has lovingly been drawing all men — asking us to pray for all (1 Tim 2:1-6). He would not accuse this way. It is Satan who is the accuser of the brethren.)
I finished with him saying:
But never mind that, I am concerned for your own soul.
You have not spoken of Jesus, our Savior — Who suffered and died, shedding His blood rising again from the dead, victorious over sin, death and the grave. And to all who believe upon Him to save them, He instantly seals them with His Spirit until the day of redemption. I have believed His Word (which is truth). You have twisted it since the beginning. Only one who does that (John 8:44). You better figure this out for your sake and any you love.
WHAT DID HE SAY HIS GOSPEL WAS?
His sad response where thinking he finally gave the gospel?
HE SAID: “No scripture to back up your claim “He instantly seals them with His Spirit “.
(My comment: I had already given him Eph 1:13-14; Rom 8:9; Eph 4:4-6; 1 Cor 12:13).
HE CONTINUED: This is an entirely different experience from the salvation experience when >>I repented of my sinful ways at age 15. >>Three days later He baptized me with the Holy Ghost and Fire. >>>Been there and done that.<<< Lady, I have preached the Good News of the Kingdom possibly longer than you have been living. In Texas prisons for 22 years and the foreign mission died on four different continents since 2003.
COMMENT TO THE AUDIENCE, NOT HIM: Does this remind you of ‘another gospel’ that we see out there daily assaulting our senses? They commend themselves (2 Cor 10:12). They think they are ‘on fire’ for the Lord, always testifying only of the Holy Spirit, not Jesus. These are not understanding that the Holy Spirit doesn’t even speak on His own, but what He hears, He will speak (John 16:13). The Spirit does not testify of Himself, but He testifies of JESUS (John 15:26).
- Where is Jesus in their ‘gospel’?
- Where is His shed blood on the cross for all our transgressions?
- Where is His death resurrection guaranteeing we too will rise again? A picture of us being born again.
- Where is the mention of the unspeakable free gift of eternal life?
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. 2 Cor 9:15
A helpful article from my friend Hillary on ‘How to have Peace with God.’
Another conversation with a Calvinist
Several days later, I tried to have a conversation with a Calvinist Lordship believer (how she identified). She said both doctrines were Biblical. When someone else asked her how she was saved, I said I too would like to know (since she claimed the five solas), one being salvation is only by grace, the other sola fide (solely by faith). But the words she spoke belied the substance of what she claimed. Remember, we are in a spiritual battle, not with these people, but with the enemy.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:10-13
She said the condition of receiving the free gift of salvation wasn’t ‘mere mental assent’ (a John MacArthurism), and then shared her ‘gospel’. She called it the three ‘R’s, RECOGNIZE you were a wretched sinner, and that you had to repent of your sins (when I explained repent did not mean turn from sins, later she changed it on a new post to read ‘repent of your sinful nature’. She then said you received Christ into your heart, by a heartfelt prayer. That everything had to be done with your whole heart and your whole mind. (separate thoughts)
Other loadship (lordship) catch phrases she used:
“Even the demons know Him & tremble.”
(We know demons aren’t offered salvation, this is not what James 2 is speaking of.)
“Unless a person has that head and heart connection, they don’t make it into Heaven. They miss Heaven by 18 inches. That is the distance from the brain to the heart.”
(Even though we usually terminology which includes the heart, often throughout His Word, heart and mind are interchangeable as we really believe obviously with our mind, not our beating heart organ of flesh).
“A saved life is a changed life. God hasn’t saved you if He hasn’t changed you.”
(We are all changed when we’re born again, but maybe not visibly, outwardly to others, which is what they mean. In addition, some believers either do not grow, or some regress, and others may give up. But these who push these doctrines can never define how much change, for how long, nor address the fact that oftentimes many religions have ‘change’, such as ‘burning bosoms’, ‘turning from sin’, and other ‘proofs of life’, but it has nothing to do with Biblical Salvation.)
I replied: (without bolding)
Sorry friend, what you told me is not found in the Scriptures.
In those ‘3 easy steps’ you left out the gospel.
Nowhere did you speak of who Jesus is (Lord, kyrios/kurios which means God, the Messiah).
Nowhere did you speak of His work on the cross, shedding His perfect blood for the remission of all of our sins (Col 2:13-15).
Nor did you speak of His burial and His resurrection from the dead, which proved He is God, who has the power to take His life back up again as He said He would (John 10:17-18). His resurrection guaranteed we would rise again to eternal life with Him as He has the victory over sin, death and the grave (1 Cor 15:54-57).
So if Jesus paid for all of my sins, which ones do I have left to turn from?
SHE SAID: //knowing Him is not mere mental assent.//
That is not even said in His Word, it is just a typical Calvinist phrase. I understand John MacArthur and others like him who like to take metanoia, which literally means a change of mind (which is mental) and redefine it. I’ve gone all the way back to the Septuagint, and way back then they defined it as a change of thinking. But the word is believe, not more than mere mental assent. People who twist it this way are making a mistake.
SHE SAID: //A person that truly, belongs to Jesus Christ, undergoes an unmistakable transformation in his/her life. A saved life is a changed life. God hasn’t saved you if He hasn’t changed you.//
Again, not in Scripture (and please don’t misuse half of a verse — 2 Corinthians 13:5, as most people like Washer and JMac do).
A saved life SHOULD be a changing life (sanctification). And if we love Jesus we should be feeding and tending His sheep, washing their feet (a picture of experiential sanctification) to help them grow (John 21:15-17; John 13:3-17). But we see CLEARLY in Scripture, that believers were doing terrible things, one only needs to read 1 Cor 5 (incestuous adulterer) and even those who died in 1 Cor 11, taken out, for their abuse of the Lord’s supper, yet they were saved.
SHE SAID: //It doesn’t necessarily require a sinner’s prayer, but a HEARTfelt prayer in ones own words.//
If you read through the start of the church throughout Acts, not once was the person asked to say a ‘heartfelt prayer’ although prayer is good. They were asked to BELIEVE most often, sometimes solely repent (meta-noia, change/after & mind/think/thought), twice I believe turn to God.
Again, ‘repent of sins’ is not in His Word when spoken in relation to receiving the free gift of eternal life (another thing you left out).
Good luck doing everything with your whole heart and mind when you are an ungodly sinner without strength (ref. Rom 5:6-8).
Don’t add conditions, remember, we are saved apart from any works or righteous acts of our own. Be sure you have only believed apart from works, otherwise it is no longer grace (Rom 4:4;11:6). EQ
Maybe the response above seemed a little strong to her, so she responded several times, which I’ll just share in one comment without removing anything she said, (other than to remove her name).
“You are very very deceived and under false delusion. I’m not going to read your bilge.”
“You hold yourself up as this great exegete that knows more than anyone.”
“You no longer get to spew your false bilge here acting like you have been. You do a Gush Gallop that no one can understand. Obviously done on purpose, to confuse.”
“You have an arrogant attitude of spiritual superiority.”
“Your comments are long, confusing, & filled w/Scriptorture. No doubt, done on purpose.”
LAST COMMENT FOR ALL OF YOU READING, I DID NOT SAY THIS TO HER, MIGHT HAVE SERVED TO INCITE HER:
Ironically, she did misspell Scripture to read Scriptorture. I thought that so terribly sad as it seemed apropos, like even hearing Scripture did torture and anger her.
And of course I shared all that Scripture on purpose… faith comes by hearing the Word, not by hearing me. I want people to look up the Word and see what it says.
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. John 6:40, 47
Jesus did it all. All to Him I owe.
Dear Friends, Jesus paid the price in full on His cross (Col 2:13-15). WORKS, even ‘wonderful works’ are nothing but filthy rags in His sight (Isaiah 64:6). Do not try to offer them up for the FREE GIFT of salvation (Romans 6:23), if so, you do not have the gift if you try to climb up into the sheep pen another way than the ONLY WAY He has offered (John 10:1). There is only ONE WAY to enter in (John 14:6) that sheep fold. JESUS is the door of the sheep (John 10:9). He is the only way to the Father.
He gave His life for all in great love — and all they can do is point to themselves, their sincerity, their works, their repenting from sin?
Pastors or teachers have a graver responsibility (James 3:1). So blinded these ‘pastors’ or ‘preachers’ (the first conversation) are with their pride and their twisting of His Word with absolutely no fear (Isaiah 66:2; Psalm 50:16-17). Yes, pray for them. Also realize they are leading others straight to hell with their so-called gospel. It is ANOTHER gospel. And even ANOTHER Jesus. Do not put up with them (2 Corinthians 11:3-15).
Jesus said we would know them (False prophets) by their fruits, and then He proceeds to show us in Matthew 7 how they justify themselves (by their “many wonderful works”). They often do not know the gospel, or they give you another gospel. Beware of the wolves out there and be sure you know what the good news really is, for your family’s sake, and for yours, and any you love.
Love in Christ
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This is such a good and heartfelt post. Thank you for so patiently planting and watering seeds. It isn’t easy. Lord, open more eyes!!!!
Thank you for that Hillary. Although neither were happy, I actually do care about them. She kept asking me what the gospel was, what I did to fill the Great Commission and I answered her several times. At first I thought she just had missed it, but then even in PM, same thing. She does not recognize the gospel is about Him, not about her repenting of her sin or sin nature… Very sad. Yes, please, Lord, let them have ears to hear.
By the way Hillary, I’m loving your GraceFolkMinistries website. I’ve read a couple so far, really like the way you write. I am not a writer, just someone that thinks my thoughts outloud. Just wanted to let you know.
That is really kind of you to say, Holly. I appreciate you so much! To God be all the glory.
Hillary (gracefolkministries.com) …I feel the same about you. So glad we have connected, and yes, all glory and honor is due Him. So thankful. Love in Christ.
Great post Holly. I’m seeing more and more false teachers promoting “mental assent/saving faith” garbage. It’s becoming more and more popular across many denominations. You’re right just saying “believe” because that’s the wording the Bible uses. It’s really isn’t any more complicated than that. The Bible uses simple language that we can all understand. Children can easily understand the gospel, but apparently Calvinist can’t.
Hi Wade, so glad to see you comment. I remember this verse often, Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech. (2 Cor 3:12). I think it’s so important to keep the gospel free and clear of encumbrances.
Daily I speak to people who are blinded from the glorious gospel, some truly hardened to the truth, convinced that what they have is the truth. The Scriptures troubling someone says a lot. Another (a third person) who was spiritualizing Scripture again thought to chasten me for not agreeing with him by saying, ‘pride goes before a fall’. I’m sure you know the Scripture which says:
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18).
That’s what happens when people change the Scripture to say what they think it means at any given moment, they do not know Scripture, and I believe they don’t love it either. I’m very thankful for His Word and for the simplicity that is in Christ.
Love in Christ to you both.
Hello again Holly, I have a question.
You said in your last comment “Daily I speak to people who are blinded from the glorious gospel, some truly hardened to the truth, convinced that what they have is the truth.”
Is it possible for God’s word to break through such a hardness, especially if the person recognises their hard heart and their need for Jesus?
Kind Regards
Liam
Hi Liam! Thank you for the question. I was quoting from 2 Cor 4:1-6, but absolutely it is possible for anyone to be set free from their hardness.
It’s why we are asked to pray for others (1 Tim 2:1-6), so I believe praying for them matters. It’s why we pray for opportunity and boldness as Paul asked the church at Ephesus to pray for him that he might speak boldly. It’s why Jesus said we pray for laborers in the harvest, I absolutely believe that matters. Sometimes they don’t want to hear from us, and I pray the Lord sends others. Also I think of how we are to be a light to men, how we are to maintain good works because it’s beneficial to all (Titus 3:8). There are so many ways God draws man in His love for them, one of them is the cross, so I talk about that too.
I wrote an article, how does God draw all men. Maybe that will help with some ideas.
https://redeemingmoments.com/2015/01/30/how-god-draws-all/#:~:text=Romans%20one%20says%20God%20has%20manifest%20Himself%20to,the%20cross.%20%28Jn%2012%3A32%3B%20Jn%203%3A14-16%3B%20John%208%3A28%29.
Also sometimes a heartfelt letter? Depends on the situation. You know how Paul said he made himself a servant to all even though he was free, so that he might gain more? To the Jew he was as under the law, even though he wasn’t under the law? Or those without law he was that way with them, or with the weak, he was also weak, and the whole reason was finished in 2 Cor 9 vs. 22, saying, I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
The Word has a way of softening us and all men, so I try to speak the Word when around non-believers keeping Isaiah 55:10-11 in my thoughts, knowing His Word won’t return void.
I pray whoever it is you were thinking of, will have a change of mind (repent) from their hardness, and be softened through circumstance or kindness of others.
Love in Christ.
Thank you Holly! This is very reassuring news. God is Good! I figured he can soften hearts because The Bible even says he can make Children of Abraham from stones if he wanted to. (And that his word is sharper than a two edged sword.)
I will read the article you have written about how God draws everyone when I have time.
Liam, you are welcome. Never give up, while there is breath there is hope.
Please read this passage of Scripture 1Corinthians 5
1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Immorality Must Be Judged
9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.
12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”
You have actually misinterpreted this passage in your article, because this man is not saved. Paul rebukes them for not mourning “that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.” He then says to hand the man over to Satan “that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” Notice the word may. If this man was already saved then this statement makes no sense. Paul is telling the Corinthians to kick him out of the church and hand him over to Satan because then there will still be a chance for him to be saved.
Then Paul says that the sexually immoral man is old leaven contaminating the church which is truly unleavened. The man is old leaven while the church is a new lump. The man is not born again. He is like the thorny soil in the parable of the four soils. He has heard the word of God but doesn’t receive it. Instead, the riches of the world (his sexual immorality) chokes the word.
Titus 2:11-15 says,
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.
Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts and living soberly, righteously, and godly is the essence of repenting of your sins. You change your mind so that instead of wanting and loving sin, you want and love God.
Ezekiel 33 10-11- “Therefore you, O son of man, say to the house of Israel: ‘Thus you say, “If our transgressions and our sins lie upon us, and we pine away in them, how can we then live?” ’ Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’
Once again, God commands people to turn from their sins in order to live. You are correct that to repent is to change your mind, and that means that you will also change your ways.
You also sad that “Jesus is (Lord, kyrios/kurios which means God, the Messiah). It is correct that the title kyrios is given to God the messiah, but that is not what the word means. According to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, Kyrios means “he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has the power of deciding; master, lord”. God the Messiah is the kyrios of the entire universe and specifically of every single person. So when Romans 10:9 says, “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved”, it means you have to confess that Jesus is your owner who has complete authority and say over you and that you submit to his rule. Notice that you both have to confess the lordship of Christ and believe God has raised him from the dead. You, however deny the necessity of confessing the lordship of Christ.
Finally, Jesus said in Matthew 7,
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Merely believing in Jesus is not enough to save you. Not calling him lord is enough to save you. Jesus has to know you. You need an actual relationship with Him, and that means you need to repent of your sins. Turn from doing your will and do the will of the Father. Turn from practicing lawlessness and start following Christ. Change your heart. You need to build your soteriology on all of God’s Word, not just parts of it. Some passages mention belief, some faith, some repentance, some relationship, some works. You need to include it all in your view of salvation.
God Bless You.
Aidan, I’ll allow you this one comment so I can answer the error. And I believe you have every single point wrong.
I believe you missed context of 1 Cor 5. I am not misinterpreting that this man was saved. The original word is simply sōzō. The additions to the word itself (may be), are on the part of the translators to make the sentence flow grammatically. The tense is aorist, most generally rendered past tense.
Besides that, how do I know this man is saved?
Not just because of that, but because Paul said they were to judge among them, but not judge those of the world. Paul is telling them to judge him, therefore he is not of the world. This man is being judged for the leaven of wickedness, sexual immorality.
In addition, verse one contrasts the believing adulterer saying his actions are worse than the heathen (non-believers). Many proofs that he was a believer.
As far as your interpretation of the Four soils? I believe it to be wanting as well.
Luke 8 is clear, any who believe are saved — “lest they believe and be saved.”. This one says they believed, but bring no fruit to maturity.
Titus 2 speaks to believers. And Romans 5 says that those who have believed, stand in this grace only by faith — not by the work of turning from sins. No one says, ‘do not turn from sins’. His grace does teach believrs how to live, and how to deny worldly lusts so that we might bear fruit. You might want to consider 2 Peter 1:5-11, believers can either be barren and unfruitful, or have an abundant entrance into heaven (when they add to their faith).
Context in Ezekiel 33 is speaking a national warning for Israel regarding their coming time of captivity (fall of Jerusalem to Babylon). Many would not live through the three sieges, because in spite of all the warnings, they continued to go to the high places, sacrifice their children to Molech. Not just sexual immorality but spiritual immorality. Look at all the preexilic prophets warning regarding the upcoming national punishment.
You do not seem to understand that over 70% of the time when the word sozo or soteria are used (saved/salvation) it does not speak to eternal life. Ezekiel 33 is not speaking to eternal life.
You brought up Thayer, you might want to know that he did not adhere to Biblical inerrancy. As far as his viewpoint? Jesus is Lord, even over the demons. He will soon put all under His feet. But we do not ‘make Him Lord’ to be saved.
Romans 10:9 actually addresses Israel in the future when they say, ‘blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord’. Romans chapter 9-11 is mainly about national Israel.
I do not deny He is Lord, but there were believers who did not confess Him publicly (John 12:42-43. This would hurt them and others as they cared more about the praise of men than God. As His children, He would chasten them.
Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
Everyone has to believe that Jesus is God the Messiah, it is not about ‘making Him Lord’, He is. And we believe that when we believe the gospel. Learning to yield to Him takes time in the Word and growth in Him.
And finally, Matthew 7. You say, “Merely believing in Jesus is not enough to save you. Not calling him lord is enough to save you. Jesus has to know you.”
I’d be very, very careful when you make a statement like that. Over 150 times believing in Jesus is the condition cited in Scripture. I’ll believe Scripture before you. Even in the ‘will of the Father’.
And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:40
These false prophets, also called ‘workers of iniquity’ (context), boasted in their many wonderful works done in His name. This is self justification. Do you know Psalm 94:4 says the workers of iniquity, boast in themselves?
You are doing the same whether you realize it or not. It is about ‘you’ and what ‘you need to do’. When the crowd asked Jesus what they ‘needed to do’, He replied:
“This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” John 6:29
You need to ask yourself, am I believing completely in Him, and nothing I can add? Or am I trusting in just a little of my own works?
Kind of a life and death matter.
Again, I do not say, “do not repent.” I insist on the true meaning of the original, (depending on the original word, it the NT, means either to be sorry regarding something or to change you mind regarding something – could be sin, could be something else). In receiving eternal life, the word used 100% of the time is a change of mind, or think differently
Repent (metanoia) does not mean turn from sin. Turning from sin is a good work (Jonah 3:9-10). God saw their works, that they turned from their evil ways. But we know we cannot be saved by works of righteousness that we have done (Eph 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7), but once we have believed we should be careful to maintain good works (Titus 3:8).
The first thing you need to do is be sure you understand what you must ‘do’ in order to be saved. One condition, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.