By: Robert Serreyn
Question? I believe a person is saved by grace, but what is really wrong with using the word repent?
Answer:
What is wrong you ask, it gives the person that you are wittnessing to the WRONG GOSPEL MESSAGE as to what they must do in order to be saved.
To tell someone that they… MUST REPENT is to tell them that that they HAVE TO DO something to get saved and if they MUST DO something then salvation is NO LONGER by grace BUT by works and that my dear sir is a FALSE GOSPEL and that is… WHAT IS REALLY WRONG with using the word Repent when presenting the Gospel.
To give proof of what I am saying is true, Here is a list of things that people THINK and believe that is the gospel.
1- Keep the ten commandments.
2- Be sorry, confess, or turn from sin.
3- Sincerely do your best.
4- Stop Sinning.
5- Do good, or religious deeds.
6- Give money to church.
7- Be water baptized as a infant or adult.
8- Be confirmed in a church.
9- Take communion, or pray the rosary.
10- Trust Christ as Saviour & serve him.
11- Ask Jesus into your heart.
12- Make Christ, Lord of your life.
13- Make Jesus, Master of your soul.
14- Coming Forward in a Church.
15- Laying all on the alter.
These all sound good on the surface, BUT, all of these ARE WORKS which do not save.
Let me draw your attention to Matthew 7: 22 that will give foundation to this.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
TAKE NOTE of some of the words in V22 have we not AND in thy name done many wonderful works. You see they were basing their entrance into the Lord’s heavenly kingdom BY WHAT THEY HAD DONE and not on in trusting Christ and his payment alone for their sins, and therefore the Lord pronounces the MOST DEVASTATING WORDS that they will ever hear…
Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
In Conclusion:
The Gospel is simply this… Acts 16:31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. Its that simple, it really is, That is all a person has to do PERIOD.
The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.
The moment that you do YOU HAVE (at that second and forever) Everlasting Life which WILL NEVER be taken away no matter what.
-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8
-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24
-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9
“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23
IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH