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Faith that saves
Wesley Center of Applied Theology | unknown | Catherine Booth

Posted on 03/22/2002 3:06:59 PM PST by fortheDeclaration

THE FAITH THAT SAVES --Catherine Booth

One of the most abused texts in the Bible, and one which perhaps has been made to do as much work for the devil as for God, is that which occurs in the story of the conversion of the Philippian jailer:

The he . . . brought them out, and said, 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.

Let us inquire first, Who are to believe? then, When are they to believe: and again, How are they to believe:

To whom does the Holy Spirit say, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thus shalt be saved"? I answer, not to all sinners indiscriminately. Here is a grand mistake in a great deal of the teaching of this age. These words are wrested from their explanatory connection and help up independently of all the conditions which must ever, in the mind and practice of the apostles, accompany them. Only within the last sixty or seventy years [written in 1881] has there spring into existence this new gospel preaching indiscriminately to unawakened, unconverted, unrepentant sinners, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ."

Great injury has been done to the cause of Christ by thus wrongly dividing the word of truth, to say nothing of the unphilosophical character of such a course; for how can an unawakened, unconvicted, unrepentant sinner believe? As soon might Satan believe. On the top of an omnibus a man who was the worse for liquor and using very improper language was being shown the danger of his evil course. "Oh!" said the man, "it is not by works, it is by faith, and I believe as much as you do. I believe in Jesus Christ, and of course I shall be saved."

That man is a sample of thousands. They believe there was such a man as Jesus, and that He died for sinners, and for them, but as to the exercise of saving faith they know no more about it than Agrippa or Felix, as is manifest when they come to die, for then these very people are wringing their hands and sending for Christians to come and pray with them. If they had believed, why all this alarm and concern at the approach of death? They were believers only of the head and not of the heart; that is, they were but theoretical believers in the facts recorded in the Bible, not believers in the scriptural sense, or their faith would have saved them.

We maintain that it is useless, and as unphilosophical as it is unscriptural to preach "only believe" to such persons. Christians have not done their duty, and have not discharged their responsibility when they have told them that Jesus died for them, and that they are to believe in Him!

They have a much harder work to do, and that is to "open their eyes" to a sense of their danger, and make them, by the power of the Spirit, realize the dreadful truth that they are sinners.

The eyes of the soul must be opened to such a realization of sin, and such an apprehension of the consequences of sin, as shall lead to an earnest desire to be saved from sin.

There is not one instance in the New Testament in which the apostles urged men to believe, or in which a person is narrated as believing, in which we have not good grounds to suppose that these preparatory steps of conviction and repentance had been taken. The only apparent exception was Simon the sorcerer. He, like numbers of people in great religious movements, was carried away by the influence of the meeting and the example of those around him, and professed to believe. Doubtless he did credit the fact that Jesus died on the Cross. He received the facts of Christianity into his mind, and in that sense he became a believer and was baptized. But when the testing point came as to whose interests were paramount with him, his own or God's, then he manifested his true state, and the Apostle said, "Thy heart is not right in the sight of God." Nobody is converted whose heart is not right with God. That is the test. If Simon had been converted he would not have supposed that the Holy Ghost could have been bought for money. And Peter added, "I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity." What further did he say to him? "Therefore at once believe"? No, he did not. He said, "Repent . . . and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee." Repent first, and then believe and get this wickedness forgiven. So we get a double lesson in the same passage. This Simon is the only person we have any record of as believing where there is not in the passage itself, taken with its context, reasonable and rational evidence that the preparatory steps of conviction and repentance were taken before the exercise and confession of faith. Simon had this faith of the head but not of the heart, and therefore it ended in defeat and despair.

Some have written me that you had believed. You had been persuaded into a profession of faith, but no fruits followed. It was not the faith of the heart: it was the faith of the head - like that of Simon's - and it left you worse than it found you, and you have been groping and groveling ever since. But do not think that was real faith, and that therefore real faith has failed, but be encouraged to begin again, and repent. Try the real thing, for Satan always get up a counterfeit. Do not go down in despair because the wrong kind of faith did not succeed. God forbid that that should make the real faith of God of none effect.

Look at the three thousand who were converted in a day at Pentecost. What was the first work that Peter did? He drove the knife of God's convincing truth into their hearts and made them cry out. He awoke them to the truth of their almost lost and damned condition, till they longed to know what they must do to be saved. They were so pricked in their hearts, their eyes were so opened to the terrible consequences of their sin, that they cried aloud before the vast multitude, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" He convinced them of sin, and thus followed the order of God.

The eunuch who was converted under Philip on the road to Gaza is often quoted as an illustration of faith; but what state of mind was he in? Was he a careless, unconvicted sinner? He was an Ethiopian, a heathen. But where had he been? To Jerusalem to worship the true and living God in the best way he knew and as far as he understood. And what was he doing when Philip found him? He was not content with the mere worship of the Temple; he was searching the Scriptures. He was honestly seeking after God.

The Holy Ghost always knows where such souls are, and He said unto Philip, "Go hear, and join thyself to this chariot." There was a man seeking God, whose heart was honestly set on finding Him. Philip was to preach Christ, and tell him to believe. That man would have sacrificed or done or lost anything for salvation, and as soon as Philip expounded the way of faith he received it as, of course, all such individuals will.

Saul of Tarsus on his way to Damascus is another instance. Jesus Christ was the preacher there, and surely He could not be mistaken. Where did He begin? He saw there an honest-hearted man. Saul was sincere, so far as he understood, and if, in any case there needed to be the immediate reception of Christ by faith, it was in his. But the Lord Jesus Christ did not say one word about faith. "Saul, Saul," He said, "why persecutest thou Me?" - tearing the bandages of deception off his eyes, and letting him see the wickedness of his conduct. When Saul said, "Who art Thou, Lord?" the Lord repeated the accusation and did not come in with the oil of comfort. He said, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest." He ran the knife in again and opened Saul's wounds wider, and sent him with a bleeding heart on to Damascus, where he was three days before he got any healing. God had to send for a poor human instrument, and Saul had to hear and obey before the pardon of his sins was pronounced, and the Holy Ghost came into his soul.

I wonder what Saul was doing those three days. He neither ate nor drank and he was in the dark. What was he doing? No doubt he was praying. No doubt he was seeking after this Christ who had spoken to him in the way. No doubt he was looking with horror upon his past life and abjuring for ever his accursed antagonism to Jesus Christ and his gospel. Of course, he was bringing forth fruits meet for repentance, according to the divine order. Then came Ananias and preached Christ unto him. He believed unto salvation, the scales fell from his eyes and his heart, and his mouth was filled with praise and thanksgiving.

Cornelius is another instance. But what was the state of his mind and heart? We know that he feared God and wrought righteousness, as far as he was able. He gave alms to the people, and prayed day and night. That is more than some ever did who have lived in gospel times. Yes, Cornelius was seeking God. He honestly wanted to know Him. He was willing at all costs to do His will. Consequently, the Lord sent him the glorious message of the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Look what state of mind the Philippian jailer was in. We see from the whole narrative how his eyes had been opened. The earthquake had done that. Some people need an earthquake before they get their eyes opened, and it has to be a loud one, too. The jailer's eyes were opened, and he made the best of his time. He was lashing the backs of the two apostles a little while before. Here was a change! "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" When a man comes to that state of mind he has nothing more to do but believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. The jailer came in trembling and went down on his knees and washed their stripes. When any man gets to that state of mind he will soon be saved, having nothing more to do but to believe.

When is a sinner to believe? When he repents. A gentleman writes to me and says, "I am afraid I do not realize my sin sufficiently. I have no particular agony on account of sin, but I do see my whole life to have been one huge error and sin." There is nothing more common than for people to delude themselves on the point of feeling. That gentleman confounds feeling with conviction. He thinks because he has not this extreme agony which some have, therefore he is not sufficiently convicted. Yet such a perception of his true character is given him that he sees his whole life to have been sin. Surely he is convinced, for none but the Holy Ghost could have shown that. Now, the truly repentant soul first sees sin; secondly, he hates sin, thirdly, he renounces sin.

An entirely unawakened soul does not see sin; that is, in its heinousness, in its consequences. He admits that all people are sinners, but he does not see the deadly, damning character of sin. The Holy Ghost alone can open a man's eyes to see this. Without Him, all preaching, even the preaching of angels, might go on to all eternity and it would never convince of sin. If you see sin it is the Holy Ghost who has opened your eyes. If God has thus opened your eyes, does it not augur well that He desires also to save you? He has opened your eyes in order that He may cause you to see light in His light.

As I have said, the true penitent hates sin, that is, his feelings toward sin are quite different from what they were in the past, he could commit sin almost without concern. People do not realize the great change that takes place in them in this matter. It occurs gradually. The very things that now cause them distress were practiced by them every day and gave no concern. There was no hatred of, no dread of sin. Still, hating sin is not being saved from it.

Sin, I say, must be renounced. Here is a man who is daily addicted to drink, and who becomes convinced of sin. The Spirit of God says, "Will you give up the cup?" Then commences the struggle. Are you to tell that man that he may go on drinking, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved? Or are you to tell him "You must put away your sin, and renounce that drink for ever in your heart, in your purpose, in your will, because until you do you cannot exercise faith in the Lord Jesus?

A servant, we will say, systematically robs his master. He goes to a religious meeting and is convinced. The Spirit of God says: "You cannot pretend to want to be saved while you go on robbing your master. You must give up that pilfering, and resolve that you will make restitution." to any who may be addicted to an evil habit I would say, Jesus Christ wants you to forswear that habit in your will, determination and purpose. You have not the power to deliver yourself from it, yet you know that if you had the power to extinguish the force of that evil habit you would do it. You say, "Would to God I had the power!" That is genuine repentance.

Having become truly penitent, having shown that you hate sin and are willing to renounce it, trust and obey, and expect that it is going to be unto you according to His word. The faith of many people is like that of a person afflicted with some grievous malady. A friend tells him of a wonderful physician who has cured hundreds of such cases, and gives him abundant evidence that this doctor is able and willing to cure him, if only he will commit himself to his treatment. The sick man may thoroughly believe in the testimony of his friend about this physician, and yet for some secret reason he may refuse to put himself into his hands.

There are numbers like that with Jesus Christ. They believe He could cure the malady of sin on certain conditions. They believe He "is no respecter of persons." They believe He has done it for hundreds as bad as they, and yet there is some reason why they do not trust Him. They hold back.

Now, what you want is to give your case into His hands and say: "Lord Jesus, I come as Thou has bid me, confessing and forsaking sin. If I could, I would jump out of it now and for ever. Thou knowest I come renouncing it, but have not power to save myself from it. I put my sins upon the glorious sacrifice of Thy Son, and trust Thee." That is faith, and I have never know a soul who came to this and did not become saved.

[excerpted from The Highway of Our God; Selections from the Army Mother's Writings (London: Salvationist Publishing and Supplies, 1954)]


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: faith; salvation; sin
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To: Risky Schemer
Oh yeah? Well I knew you were going to say that. Nyah. :oÞ

I didn't say I was as good a prophet as you, only a minor one.

Hank

21 posted on 03/23/2002 4:04:59 AM PST by Hank Kerchief
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To: fortheDeclaration
MUCH APPRECIATED.

Rog is a kind hearted guy who persistently tries to do right. He told me that he's been praying for some time now for God to help him sleep and that he always goes right to sleep. His mother is a real oppressive negaholic whom Rog could never please. And his graphics, computer design profession also has tons of perfectionistic pressures. He's amazingly sane all things considered. But it's neat watching him learn to relate directly to Almighty God.

22 posted on 03/23/2002 8:53:53 AM PST by Quix
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To: Hank Kerchief
Here is some more "ignorant" writing for you to criticize:

Comment on, maybe. Criticize? Never! "Ignorant" writing? Of course not!

John 5:28&29 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Obviously Jesus is speaking of either (1.) a resurrection of people who died in an economy of works and not salvation by grace through faith, or (2.) the definition of "have done evil" in the context is NOT BELIEVING on the Son of God. See John chapter 3.

Rev. 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

The context is the Great White Throne Judgment, which is the judgment of UNBELIEVERS. That has nothing to do with sinners saved through faith in Jesus Christ, upon whom "the second death hath no power" (Revelation 20:6).

No believer saved in this age is a "LIAR" even when he lies! It is not imputed to him (Romans 4: 7-8). If it was, everybody saved in this age -- everybody -- will end up in that lake.

But we won't end up there, thank God. For we have the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and by the "circumcision made without hands" (Colossians 2:11) we are separated from the old body of sins, the flesh, and the sins it (the old nature) commits are not imputed to us. Though indulging the old nature can cost "INHERITANCE", it cannot cost us our salvation.

Gal. 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Read the context. Paul is admonishing saved believers to not act like those who are going to hell for such things. (Which brings up an obvious point -- why admonish the believers to not do them if, as a condition or prerequisite of salvation, they had already stopped doing them?) The epistles to the Corinthians contain the same sort of thing -- Paul encouraging them not to do the things that unbelievers -- who are yet in their sins -- have the wrath of God still on their heads for!

Eph. 5:1-6 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

The children of light, in contrast, covered by the blood, are passed from wrath unto light, into the love and acceptance of God through Jesus Christ. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from ALL sin (1 John 1:7).

And notice what Paul is talking about -- INHERITANCE. Not whether or not one is saved, or loved, or in the family of God. He's not talking about a condition or prerequisite of salvation. He's talking about reward when you get to heaven, not whether or not a saved believer will get there.

1 Cor. 6:9&10 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Remember that Paul is writing to the SAVED. He is stating that, by contrast, the UNBELIEVERS (unrighteous because they have not the righteousness of CHRIST imputed to them) will not inherit the kingdom of God. We KNOW that "all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6) and so cannot save us -- even if we observed and kept ALL THE LAW PERFECTLY.

Paul goes on to say in verse 12 that, yes, indeed, he agrees that "all things are lawful" to the believer -- you (the born again believer) won't lose your salvation of get damned for anything, but, he says, that "all things are not expedient"! He is encouraging them to behave and live in the manner of the person whom God through Christ has made them in Him -- a member of Christ, the temple of the Holy Ghost, washed, sanctified and justified by and through him!

And he wouldn't be exhorting them in the first place if these saved believers were doing it! They weren't. They were still sinning! Obviously "NOT sinning" was not a condition of their salvation.

Matthew 12:34-37 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

You do know there are at least two judgments? Three, if you count the Judgment of the Nations. The first will be the Judgment Seat of Christ, the judgment of believers saved in this age. It will be a judgment to determine INHERITANCE - reward - not whether a person will go into heaven or not. Because that's already settled and sure for the believer in Christ who is saved by grace through faith in Him.

In the passage you cite Jesus is speaking of a judgment where men will be judged on their WORKS. And at this judgment men will be CONDEMNED -- by their very words.

This is the judgment that every unbeliever believes in and is working toward. It is the Great White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20.

Eze 13:22 Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life.

What a remarkable verse to choose to close with! Here is a picture of people strengthened to not return from their wicked way -- UNBELIEF -- because they've been promised LIFE. They believe (have been "promised") they can do enough "good works" (or just "care" enough or have enough "good intentions") to "cover" all the bad, and that they'll make it through the Great White Throne Judgment.

But what does Jesus say? Jesus says, "Ye must be born again."

And it's so simple. "For God so loved the world" that He made it simple. All it takes is to ask!

John 1:12 "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:"

Luke 11:10 "For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

It is that simple. And that wonderful.

23 posted on 03/23/2002 12:01:10 PM PST by Risky Schemer
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To: Risky Schemer
Amen to your post! Very well put. You have had a strong theological background and are well rooted in truth.
24 posted on 03/23/2002 1:29:40 PM PST by fortheDeclaration
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To: Risky Schemer
The children of light, in contrast, covered by the blood, are passed from wrath unto light, into the love and acceptance of God through Jesus Christ. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from ALL sin (1 John 1:7).

But, I am guessing from what you said, that you do not believe sinners are cleansed from sin, but only the consequences of sin. I mean, you do not believe the blood of Jesus Christ is able to make men new creatures, who have ceased from sin, (I Pet. 4:1) but keep on sinning and are only relieved from the consequences of sin, (i.e. eternal damnation). Please comment.

Hank

25 posted on 03/23/2002 4:14:43 PM PST by Hank Kerchief
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To: Hank Kerchief
I am guessing from what you said, that you do not believe sinners are cleansed from sin, but only the consequences of sin. I mean, you do not believe the blood of Jesus Christ is able to make men new creatures, who have ceased from sin, (I Pet. 4:1) but keep on sinning and are only relieved from the consequences of sin, (i.e. eternal damnation). Please comment.

Of course I believe Jesus Christ makes men into new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 6:15). New creatures who, while on this earth, have two natures.

In God's eyes believers are cleansed from sin and pronounced righteous.

The believer in Christ receives a new nature which cannot and does not sin. But he still has an old nature which can and does sin. Notice that John says "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God" in 1st John 3:9, yet this is the same man who wrote just two chapters earlier "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."

Paul wrestles with the two nature issue in Romans chapter 7.

Real victory over the dominion of sin in anyone's life is by Jesus Christ. (I'm not talking about achieving perfection -- we rely on Christ's righteousness, not our own. I'm talking about victory over the dominance of sin -- Romans 6:14.)

So making "turning from sin" -- which is, by the way, just another way of saying KEEPING THE LAW -- a condition or prerequisite of salvation is (1.) not only putting the cart before the horse, (2.) it is a complete impossibility to achieve perfectly in this body while still subject to the influences and weaknesses of the flesh. The Bible calls it "madness" to try attaining that, and I'll show you where it says that in a moment. I'll give two examples to illustrate these two points.

The first one we'll talk about drunks, because the woman who wrote the article brought it up. A drunk has a lot better chance, more strength to give up drinking AFTER he's received Jesus Christ as Saviour, as he's begun to take hold of assurance that his sins, all of them, whatever they may be, ARE forgiven; that, in confidence in the finished work of the blood atonement of Jesus Christ, God is for him and he is accepted and loved; that he is NOT under the pressures of perfectionism and constant demands of performance with attendent unrelenting criticism and disapproval, for the law has been taken away (Colossians 2: 13-14) through Christ; and that God, who IS love, due to the all-sufficent atonement of Jesus Christ, is not "out to get him" if he messes up, for acceptance isn't by being "perfect", but simply by FAITH.

I'd say a drunk has a lot less chance when, as a prerequisite or condition of salvation, he must give up drinking -- and that's even before has any strength and power from Christ and the truth of God's love in him to do so. There are many drunks who have tried repeatedly to quit on their own, and have failed. To tell them that turning from it is a prerequisite or condition of salvation is like simply telling them outright, "You can't be saved." And that, of course, is a lie.

The second example is the Bible account of Balaam.

While we are yet in these corrupt bodies with our fallen natures, we are still subject to sin. So as believers we rely entirely on the imputed righteousness of Christ. If we pursue perfection, we very well find ourselves on Balaam's road (Numbers 22), driving and beating and whipping ourselves into straiter and straiter stricture, until the very beast on which we ride (ourselves) finally breaks down in resistance to our "madness" in seeking impossible angelic perfection. Of course the intent of any who travel that road is to reach a place of personal perfection where they don't need to rely on Jesus Christ's imputed righteousness any longer, thinking they have attained their own righteousness, their own perfection. It's at this point one would think to tell Jesus to "jump in the lake," for His righteousness isn't needed any longer. And it's pretty clear what "lake" that old saying refers to. And that is, in a picture, what Balaam intended to do -- he was on his way to cursing Israel, the nation through whom the Saviour would be given.

And this -- this drive to personal perfection, self righteousness -- is what is referred to in 2 Peter 2:16 as "madness" -- "the madness of the prophet". The sought-after wages or "reward" of Balaam were praise and glory and honor for self (Numbers 22:17).

I will close this by saying that the believer who receives Jesus Christ as his Saviour does repent of his SIN and turn from it IN THE VERY ACT of inviting Jesus Christ into his heart to save him. I'm talking about the very FIRST sin, Adamic sin, the bottom line, original sin -- that of disbelieving God's WORD, denying life to himself and separating himself from God. These were the original sins in the garden of Eden.

When any man, woman, boy or girl invites Jesus Christ into his or her heart to save them, they first of all have believed God (reversing the decision to disbelieve God and accept the serpent's lie -- Genesis 3), they have restored LIFE to themselves (which they, in Adam, robbed from themselves in sinning and going under the knowledge of good and evil), and have restored fellowship with God which was lost when they sinned and hid themselves from God among the trees (they have returned God's beloved creature to God, so to speak).

Not only that they have admitted that they themselves are the sinner and in need of salvation (or else they wouldn't have asked for it), which means they have repented of pretending that they didnt do it (that only the "bad them" did it and they are commanding "good works" to make up -- "cover" themselves -- for it). And they are repenting of commanding endless works from themselves and of working for life, for salvation -- the old "religion" -- and are instead simply asking for it, receiving it. They are putting away -- abandoning -- the old belief that salvation is by and can be gained by works, simply by, instead, asking for it.

If you can receive it, they are repenting of SIN in this sense -- In the sense of WHAT SIN DID IN THE GARDEN, the VERY FIRST SIN, the sin from which all sin descended:

Rom 7:11 "For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me."

Jesus Christ takes away the commandment, and the sin that took occasion by the commandment is directly dealt with. The power of sin is spoiled -- in the taking away of the commandment, and the washing away of sins.

There is cataclysmic import in the simple, little, easy prayer that anyone can pray. It is the difference between reversing the Adamic choice, or remaining unrepentant. That simple little prayer that goes:

Lord Jesus, be merciful to me a sinner. I believe you are the Christ, the Son of God, that you died for my sins, and that you rose again the third day. I ask you to save me. I invite you into my heart. I receive you as my Saviour and Lord. In the name of Jesus I ask, Amen!

And that is all there is to it! God takes it from there. Anyone who prays that prayer and means it is born again and in the family of God! And they didn't have to repent of a single sin in advance to do it. For anyone who prays that prayer and means it is repenting of "SIN" when they do it!

26 posted on 03/24/2002 1:34:15 PM PST by Risky Schemer
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