Repentance: The Ultimate Message of Love

by Chris Rosebrough

Relavant Christian, a blog dedicated to ‘staying current with today’s culture, has a post entitled ‘Why Christian’s Suck’ written by Timmy Gibson that rails against pharisaical Christians who violate John 8.

According to Timmy, John chapter 8, the story of the woman caught in adultery is a passage of scripture that teaches us that we are not to judge non-believers to a ‘fiery hell’ because Jesus didn’t judge the woman caught in adultery to a ‘fiery hell’. According to Timmy ‘faith works by love’ and ‘love leads people to faith’. But in Timmy’s way a thinking preaching a message of repentance of sins to non-believers violates the message of ‘love’ and those who do so are ‘sucky Christians’.

After reading his post I thought that Timmy’s reasoning contradicted scripture, especially as it relates to Paul’s preaching of the gospel. So I decided to ask him to clarify his position. I asked Timmy:

Do you think that the Apostle Paul is someone who you would label as a sucky Christian?

He told people they were sinners, preached Christ Crucified everywhere he went and every opportunity that he had. He openly rebuked other ‘christians’ who disagreed with the gospel that he taught, (See the entire book of Galatians and Acts 15).

He preached in the streets, in the synagogues, on Mars Hill. Got people so upset and riled up that they stoned him, rioted or both. They thought that he was such a dangerous nut job that they followed him from town to town trying to stir up trouble against him.

So if Paul were alive today, doing what he normally does what would you say about him?

Timmy’s response was astonishingly uniformed when it comes to the scriptures and this post is a response to Timmy and those who think like him. Here was Timmy’s response:

I think the time we are living in now is a bit different then in the times of Paul. I am thinking that those things were important in establishing the church - then. I think with each generation and in each culture you use different tools to effectively (this is a key word) reach people for Christ! I am for anything that works! I am not too convinced that street preaching is effective these days! Though I will tell you that we’ve done some creative “street” preaching of sorts even recently and it proved to be a positive experience… though we did not use a megaphone and soap box!

Oh believe me I am all for stirring people up… especially if it causes growth, change and reflection… and ultimately a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ.

One thing to always keep in mind Chris, we (as Christians) are to be LIKE JESUS, not Paul! (emphasis mine)

Two things struck me about Timmy’s reasoning. The first is his assumption that preaching a message of repentance and the consequences of non-repentance is an unloving message. The second is the false belief that Paul’s message and the means he employed for spreading the gospel are different than Jesus’.

This post will address both of these issues by looking at what scripture says on the matter.

I will demonstrate four primary concepts from scripture. They are:

1. The New Testament gospels clearly show us that the core of Jesus’ message was a call to ‘Repentance’.

2. Jesus instructed his disciples to preach and teach this exact same message of Repentance.

3. The disciples obeyed Jesus in regard to preaching this message, including the Apostle Paul.

4. Jesus has instructed the Church to Preach the Message of Repentance to all nations, including 21st century America.

First. It is a false and Biblicically incorrect notion to say that telling unbelievers that they are sinners that need to repent is angry, hateful, judgmental or contrary to a message of love.

Instead, faithfully proclaiming the message of repentance is the very epitome of what it means to “love your neighbor”.

How do we know this? 

Answer: Because Jesus, who is love incarnate, preached a message of repentance everywhere that he went and his disciples followed His example.  Please consider these passages of scripture.

Matthew 4:17 - “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

This verse tells us that Jesus’ standard message from the time of John the Baptist’s arrest was a message of repentance. Therefore, unless one is willing to argue that Jesus was calling for people to repent of something other than their sins, Timmy’s argument already contradicts God's word.

This also means the tax collectors and prostitutes that Jesus 'hung out with' first heard Jesus' message of repentance.

Furthermore, unless one is willing to say that Jesus was unloving and uncaring when he told people to repent of their sins then Timmy’s argument is not based upon the full council of scripture.

So that you do not think I am engaging in sophistry I will provide more passages that bear this fact out.

In Mark 1 we see a cross-reference to Matthew 4:17 that confirms that the message Jesus preached to everyone called for repentance and belief.

Mark 1:14-15: “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God,  15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” 

Not only did Jesus' message call for people to repent of their sins, Jesus actually reproached and called down judgement on those who would not repent. This is an important fact because Timmy tries to argue that John 8 should form the basis of Christian evangelism. But, Timmy’s argument falls flat because he’s ignored those passages of scripture where Jesus acts contrary to John 8. Matthew 11:20 is a prime example. In this passage we find out that Jesus reproached the inhabitants of cities that did not repent.   

Matthew 11:20: “Then He began to reproach the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent.   

Furthermore, in Luke 13 Jesus told his listeners in no uncertain terms that they were sinners and that unless they repented they would perish.

Luke 13:1-3, 5:   There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.  2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

These passages clearly and directly contradict Timmy’s argument about John 8.

In point of fact, if we are to truly follow Jesus example of evangelism and His treatment of un-believers then we need to look at more than just John 8. We must also look at those passages where Jesus clearly calls people to repent and threatens punishment to those who refuse.

The next fact to consider is that the disciples followed Jesus’ example and His instructions regarding the message that they were to proclaim and take to the ends of the earth. Their message, just like Jesus’ was a message of repentance.

Mark 6:7   And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.  8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—  9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.*  10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.

From this passage we can also say with certainty that, it is an untenable position to argue that the message of repentance is either unloving, unkind, or hateful because the disciples were preaching the EXACT SAME message that Jesus’ preached. 

We also have a blistering example of the Apostle Peter holding his audience responsible for murdering Jesus in the sermon he preached at Pentecost.

Acts 2:22   “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—  23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

Acts 2:36   Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 

If we were to believe Timmy and those like him, we’d have to conclude that Peter was a ‘sucky Christian’ and that he was being unloving, harsh, judgmental and contradicted the example of John 8. But if we believe the scriptures we have to believe that this was not only an act of love but that his words were prompted and empowered by the Holy Spirit.  As a result of this powerful and blistering message, Peter’s audience was literally convicted of their sin and unbelief. Here is what the next verse in this passage says:

Acts 2:37   Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

Peter’s audience felt horrible. They were convicted and mortified of their sins.

Who convicted them?

Answer: The Holy Spirit. That means the Holy Spirit was the one who inspired Peter to say those blistering words and the Holy Spirit used those words to convict Peter's audience of their sins.

We shouldn’t be surprised by this because this is EXACTLY what Jesus said the primary job of the Holy Spirit is in John 16. Here is what Jesus said:

John 16:8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me

In Acts 2 we see the fulfillment of Jesus’ words regarding the Holy Spirit. Far too many people get caught up by the fact that the Apostles were speaking in tongues when the Holy Spirit came upon them that they overlook the fact that the Holy Spirit was also actively convicting people of their sin and unbelief. This was just as much a miracle as the gift of tongues.

What was Peter’s response to those people who had been convicted of their sins by the Holy Spirit? Read for yourself:

Acts 2:37   Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”  38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins...

Peter’s answer was the same as Jesus’. Once again we see a clear call to repentance.

Now it is time to dispel this false notion that Paul was not following the example and message of Jesus. As if Paul was some type of loose canon or renegade Christian who acted contrary to what Jesus would have done. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Here was the message that the Apostle Paul brought to the meeting of the Areopagus on Mars Hill.

Acts 17:29   Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.  30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,  31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” 

Paul was in Athens and his audience was 100% pagan and he brought them a message of repentance from the sin of idolatry.  The message of repentance was a core component of Paul’s gospel presentation. But, where did Paul learn to preach like this?

Answer: Paul received his ‘gospel message’ directly from Jesus Christ.

Gal. 1:11   For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel.*  12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 

Scripture even records for us the EXACT words that Jesus spoke to Paul upon his conversion.  These words also confirm the message of repentance .  Here is what Jesus told Paul.

Acts 26: 19 I am sending you 18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

If Timmy is correct and Paul acted in a way that was contrary to Jesus’ example and his message was different than Jesus’ then we’d expect that Jesus or the other Apostles would have rebuked or corrected Paul. Instead, we have clear passages of scripture that tell us that Jesus not only approved of what Paul was preaching and doing, but that Jesus didn’t want Paul to stop.

Acts: 18:9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”

Paul never did stop. He was NEVER silent. He was even bold enough to proclaim the message of repentance to governors and kings.

Acts 26:19   “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,  20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.

Scripture clearly shows us that the message of repentance from sins is not an optional part of the proclamation of the Gospel.  Instead it is a core, non-optional component of the Christian message.

In fact, the Christian church is under direct orders from Jesus Christ to preach the message of repentance and the forgiveness of sins to all nations.

Luke 24:45 Then he (Jesus) opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.

Notice the Jesus commands that the message of repentance be preached to ALL NATIONS this includes early 21st Century America.

Repentance was Jesus’ message. This was the message He taught his disciples to preach.  This was the message that the Apostles proclaimed.  This is the message that we are bound to.

The only ‘sucky Christian’ is the one who refuses to obey his Lord and preach the message that Jesus has commanded the church to preach.

Comments

[Rick Weiss]

Seems Timmy is smokeing to much weed.

Keep the faith
RB

[Joe]

RB proves what I am about to say, Chris. I am with you that we should preach repentance. But sometimes we Christians are mean in how we preach it. We seem to enjoy the fact that if people don't repent they're going to Hell. It's like we get some sort of sick perversion out of it. If we can say, "Seems So and So is smoking too much weed" then we can make ourselves feel better. I'm not picking on him but it proves my point so well...if Rick really believes that Timmy is smoking weed or has some similiar problem his response should be one of brokenness for a brother who needs to change, a response of prayer...not one of mocking and gleeful "we get it and they don't"
We need to repent of that too. I think that's why Christians can sometimes stink.

[Mrs Pilgrim]

Nicely put, Mr. Rosebrough. I ditched discussing things with them because of their holier-than-everyone attitude.

[Erica]

Chris,
This was a nice rebutal! I would love to see this more in the blog world! Instead what i see is battering back and forth. If you don't agree with someone take their argument blow apart like you just did! Good job!

[Joe]

Oh and for the record I don't think Timmy does weed.
Peace

[Chris Rosebrough]

Erica,

Thank you for the comment and thank you for taking the time to read the article.

It is always good to see you and Joe here.

I think you got what I was trying to do. I'm not interested in attacking people so much as I would like to challenge their ideas based upon scripture.

Joe, I agree with you that it is disheartening that so many Christians attack each other in such shallow and unconstructive ways.

I also do not think that Timmy does pot. However, my sincere hope is that Timmy will read what I've written in light of God's word prayerfully consider a different course.

Pax

[Ken Silva]

"We seem to enjoy the fact that if people don't repent they're going to Hell. It's like we get some sort of sick perversion out of it."

This is such a tired straw man. I know of zero Christians who feel this way. Like the message of Hell is even preached in the sinner sensitive emerging new evangelical religion in the first place.

Nice job Chris of teaching the balanced message of the Biblical historic orthodox Christian faith. O, and peace... :-)

[jimmy@relevantchristian]

Chris,

I feel that what seems to be getting missed from the post in question by Timmy was NOT saying that we shouldn't preach repentance. It was the method in which it was done that was called into question.

We all know that repentance is ESSENTIAL to the Christian faith.

The scripture bears out in Luke 5 "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

We are not questioning the FACT that repentance needs to be preached...merely the METHOD in which it is done.

I cannot speak for the all of the "Emergents" (as we have been blamed of being part of) but I am not afraid of preaching repentance. HOWEVER, I don't believe that standing on the street corner and yelling out "REPENT" is necessarily an effective method of delivering the TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ.

Just wanted to give my thoughts.

Peace!
Jimmy@RelevantChristian

[Val]

Ricky,

Your comment about Timmy smoking weed is not appropriate. God's word instructs us that...

Ex. 23:1   “You shall not spread a false report.

Chris correctly dealt with Timmy according to the issues and by using God's word. You would be wise to do the same.

[Erica]

Chris,
I still come by all the time. I don't always have something to say. ( I know who could imagine me not having something to say!):-)
Again you did a great job with this post! I really enjoyed reading it.

[Joe]

Ken,
You need to get out more then. Without working hard, I could take you down the hallway here where I work and show you at least two guys who would fall into that category. BTW, you might want to look up the definition of Straw man. It isn't ussually used by people who agree with the post.
Always a plesure running into you, Ken.
Peace

[Erica]

Ken,
I grew up Baptist and part of the GARBC. (I am not sure if you have ever heard of this association) I was involved in many missions’ trips and many vacation bible schools. We were taught to use the wordless book, or the story of the three crosses. At the end of these books I always told the children about heaven and hell. Every illustration talked about how they would burn in fire forever if they did not accept Jesus. I had one little girl crying. She came to me and said "Miss Erica I don't want to burn in hell I want to accept Jesus right now."

What Joe is saying is not a "straw man" as you call it. It is a true realization. What if the message of the cross was simply a person realizing they are sinner, believing in what God has done for them on the cross and confessing with their mouth that He is Lord! Wait it should not stop their but it does. Look through the entire New Testament, hell was never part of the evangelistic message. Jesus was not the best recruiter. He always told people what it would cost them to follow Him! We "bribe" people into heaven by telling them to pray a prayer and they stay out of hell. It is a sick perversion of the gospel! Knowing the Lord should be more than a prayer of repentance. It should truly change your life and cost you everything even your life.

[Matt]

Erica,
We must be very careful about equating what we often call "the evangelistic message" with the Gospel of Jesus Christ dying and rising to redeem us from our sins. As evangelists, we are called to preach the ENTIRE word of God, both the scary parts that show us we are condemned and the nice, fluffy parts that show us we are saved. As part of the complete message, hell most certainly was part of it--check out the woes to Chorizan, Bethsaida, etc. and any of the parables with weeping and gnashing of teeth!

However, these aren't supposed to be scare tactics to try and force someone to make a decision. Preaching the full "evangelistic message" also includes the Biblical understanding that the Spirit works where He will, that no one can come to the Father unless Christ calls him, and that God's Word does not return void. In other words, if we are convinced that it is our duty to try and convince others, we easily crash either into the Scylla of strong-arm scare tactics or the Charbydis of "preaching" warm fuzzies that fail to address the reality of sin.

We can't bribe people into heaven because it's not the prayer that keeps them out of hell--it is God's gift of faith, and more specifically, it is the OBJECT of that faith: Jesus Christ.

So beware of cherry-picking the "evangelistic message". Sometimes a secure sinner needs to hear about hell, and sometimes a crushed sinner needs to hear about Jesus the Savior who earned our forgiveness. Remember that most of the time it's presented in the Gospels, REPENTANCE was to be preached to lead to FORGIVENESS!

Peace in Christ

[Ken Silva]

Thanks Joe, "Straw man isn't ussually used by people who agree with the post." Uh-huh, and I was referring to your comment. Perhaps you should pay closer attention to that which you criticize.

And Joe, "zero Christians" is hyperbole, you know, a rhetorical device. 1) How do you know how much I "get out"?

2) The vast minority of professing Christians who might exhibit such behavior re. Hell hardly outweighs the vast majority of genuine Christians who certainly don't.

Thus, it is a straw man argument. Keep trying though, maybe you'll get one right yet. O, and peace.

[Joe]

Oh Ken,
I do try. I was saying that I agree with the post there, Bud. So if I agree with the post why would I use a straw man argument. See, Ken I knew you didn't like to actually do any research, but I at least thought you could follow a thread.
Peace!

[Joe]

Oh Ken,
I do try. I was saying that I agree with the post there, Bud. So if I agree with the post why would I use a straw man argument. See, Ken I knew you didn't like to actually do any research, but I at least thought you could follow a thread. I agree with Chris. How did you put it once....oh it doesn't matter.
Ken, I hope you have a great day.
Peace!

[Joe]

Sorry about the double post. I hate Windows based computers. Hit the wrong button before I was done.
Peace!

[Ken Silva]

Joe,

This is the last I'm going to say on this. You asked: "I agree with the post why would I use a straw man argument"?

I don't know but in my previous comment I showed again that you, in fact, did. Perhaps you need to figure out why you would use it. As we both know judging someone's else's motives and calling them a liar is bad, huh. Shalom. :-)

[Joe]

Ken, I've adopted a new policy for you.
Here it is;
I hope you have a great day!
Peace

[Joe]

BTW Ken, It's not all that bad when you can show how they lied and thus keep them from influencing people to go down a path that is dishonoring to God.
I hope you have a great day!
Peace

[Erica]

Matt,
I don't disagree with you. I guess I am not sure what you are trying to say to me. Could you try again? :-)

[Matt]

Erica,

I'm glad that you don't disagree (and not just because of my egotistic tendencies!). I was just looking for some clarification; some people might read "hell was never part of the evangelistic message" and assume that you meant that we should never mention the H-E-double-hockey-sticks word when talking with non-believers. There is often confusion between "evangelism" in the sense of the whole process of witnessing, "evangelism" in the sense of proclaiming the Good News in particular, and the "evangel", the Good News itself. If you were talking about the "evangelistic message" as the Gospel of Christ crucified, you're spot on! Hell no longer has any place for us or in our lives. If you intended to mean that hell was never a part of Jesus' ministry (which could lead some to the conclusion that it should therefore have no role or mention in our own ministry), then you might want to rethink and reread the Gospels.

So I guess the bottom line is that I may have been misled by a phrase--sometimes the English language just isn't clear enough!

God bless!

[Erica]

YES! I believe their is a hell , I believe pre-christians, non believers,peagens, whatever you choose to call them are on their way to Hell if they do not believe in Jesus and cofess with their mouth that he is Lord! However, I believe we are often to busy scary people into hell, telling them they want a relationship with Christ to avoid hell rather than tell them the cost of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. Instead of scaring them into Hell what if we told them what it meant to have a real, authentic relationship Jesus? It was not a famous recruiment speach but Jesus told people they would loose their life for Him, they will face persecution, they should hate their mothers and fathers; when was the last time we told someone when we shared the gospel with them whatit means to truly follow after Christ? Like I said I do believe in Hell but saving people from Hell should not be our goal. Our goal should be to prepare them to live a life surrended to Christ whatever the cost might be.

[Joe]

our goal should be to prepare them to live a life surrended to Christ whatever the cost might be.

That's my girl and that's an awesome statement!

[Matt]

Groovy--I think we're on the same page here. A life of Christian surrender really can be, and usually is a challenge. (How's that for an understatement!) Thank God we have His assurance of an eternity in perfection with Him after all our struggles here--and all because of an execution! (Sometimes I really wish Christianity made more sense...)

[Erica]

Here's the thing, rather you believe in eternal security or not it should not matter a whole lot if we shared with people how to be disciples of Christ from the beginning.Sure we all fall short and stop doing doing sometimes what we know we should be doing but that should not last. Our hearts desire should be to seek after God with all our life and heart. We should not know God and feel we have a free ticket into heaven to finish living our life here on earth the way we choose! Unfortuntely, I beleive their are more Christians out there that live their lives for themselves than Christ.

[Larry - KY]

It’s helpful to keep in mind some of the examples of the actual calls to repentance. For example Peter in Acts 2 calls them to repent and be baptized. He has just told them that they crucified the Lord of glory, albeit in the purpose of God set forth. The audience is primarily Jewish, the Law, the very “moral”. And how did they go about this? The very moral Jews conspired with the very immoral Romans to crucify the Lord of Glory, to wit, they crucified Grace. And why? Because both definitive immorality and definitive morality, especially religious, hates grace, because immorality doesn’t wish to be labeled immoral and morality very MUCH hates to be labeled against the Law of God. For Grace means neither have ANYTHING to boast about. TO THIS Peter says, “repent and be baptized”. Again, we see John the Baptist tell the very very very moral Pharisees, you brood of vipers show forth fruit of repentance. So if we are going to preach repentance, preach it in FULL strength and not half strength. Otherwise one is either an unloving ‘let all immorality be’ (liberal) person or an unloving religious coward (conservative). Either way one is unloving and a coward.

The parables about pruning are helpful. How are they usually taught? By works, you get pruned to do away with the “flesh” so that works of faith come forth. But what is the usual for “flesh works”, the negatives almost always with a push toward doing “good works” done if faith, but these are usually code for more flesh effort.

But the pruning is a pruning of things not in faith, that is not in Christ. Few consider that this ‘pruning’ could be religious duties “in the church box” that are really being done by flesh. That is to say ANYTHING one does to give rest or assure for themselves personally of heaven is in FACT outside of Christ, even if that work is evangelism. I hear boos and hisses from the religious, “boooo….hissssss, throw him out”. Yet, anything done to make assurance by way of ANY work no matter how good and indeed especially because of its outward good quality is OUTSIDE of Jesus. That’s manifestly obvious is it not? That is, an “assurance” or “hope” (certain expectation) or “faith” (trust) that arises from “doing” is point blank outside of Christ. For true assurance, hope and faith look only to Jesus ALONE.

For pruning does hurt and its soar-making killing harsh cutting blunts the branches outward reach in the direction away from the root or main vine. Thus, the branch adheres all the more to the vine. The pain of the outside cut and the forced “no life” given by the same cut drives it to the vine more tightly because its outward reach, like a bridge being built, is leading away from the source of life and actually separating it from the vine/root. If the branch is left to its own wanderings eventually it will kill itself and fall off as it reaches and reaches and reaches further and further away. The cut of the vine dresser forces the branch to cleave all the more to the vine and root itself by necessity of “seeing” the death blow in the cut and that real and true life is back here at home, the vine/root. It thus, finding no life where it formerly reached, flees to the vine.

This is the crux of pruning and it is not a clearing of definitively bad “works” versus definitively good “works” as pietist vainly think and delude themselves. No, it is a pruning of definitively bad works and definitively good works, that is ANYTHING you find yourself resting, assured or building your faith in. A work that says, “I’m sure I’m of the kingdom because I see a clean and changing life in me, a move toward better and better, I’m busy with lots of church yard piety, I don’t do the worldly things I did before”, that is a branch that is cut off and cast into the fire. Because that reaching branch is outside of Christ and leading one to death. A man turns from free grace no so much due to definitively evil works but by the best definitively good works, especially the church yard monkery we find today. Those are branches attempting to escape being IN Christ. The vine dresser CUTS these off and cast them away as the killing works they are and so the branch, the man/woman, is driven back into CHRIST ALONE for ALL trust, assurance and hope. When ever a work leads one to believe they have life, it is a false and dead work that is outside of Jesus, even if it is said to be done in Jesus name and prescribed in Scripture…this work is dead utterly no matter how definitively good it is otherwise.

It is like Luther said, “when ever the Scriptures prescribe for you to do a good work, Scripture FORBIDS you to do it by yourself”. How do you do it by yourself? You derive trust, hope and assurance from it. When you see or declare the “way you live” before anybody as a sign of your conversion, you are doing it by yourself even if the name of Jesus is evoked. Beware of where your heart is looking! Puritan Thomas Hooker warned and offered this test: Take your best pious work that you think you do, prayer, evangelism, church attendance, bible study, your deluded clean life…what ever it is and then don’t do it. Simply just stop doing it altogether and for a long time do this. Then, note well, how you react to it, how your heart itches for the doing of it, the alarm that arises within you by not doing it. THEN, you will know what your deceptive heart is REALLY trusting even though you say with your mouth, “I trust in Jesus alone”. Be very aware of mouth and mind confession, when your heart is fooling you and actually trusting, living and walking in something besides Jesus alone for you. Hooker’s test shows the heart’s REAL trust, assurance and hope in works, the best of works even. Hence again what Luther said, “when ever the Scripture prescribes for you a good work, Scripture FORBIDS you to do it by yourself”. One can be doing it by themselves even saying, “I trust in Jesus alone”. What we are getting at is what faith looks like and how it walks, lives and functions, not the confession of the mouth and mind.

Pruning, true pruning, is not a pruning of the definitive evil works, but a pruning of the definitive good works, anything of high place that sets itself up against Christ alone. Pruning is the painful, “I find NO comfort but shear terror in my soul even and especially in these “good works” I do”. That’s the hammer of God cutting away the dead and making the eyes of the soul flee deeper and cling ever tighter to the Vine, Christ and Him crucified FOR ME and NOTHNG ELSE.

[Matt]

Well written, Larry. Christian living and "proper" discipleship come out of God's gift to us... our focus should never be simply on how we live. (Quite frankly, most of the Mormons and Muslims I know have the corner on the moral living market!) Obviously, this doesn't give free license to do whatever we want, but my hope and assurance for eternal life rest squarely on Christ crucified. So it's not a matter of believing in eternal security, it's a matter of trusting in the all-encompassing forgiveness of Christ, even when I screw up. And that forgiveness is a really good thing, especially considering that I will always be a sinner as long as I'm in this earthly tent. I don't just sometimes fall short; I always fall short. I should desire to seek after God with all my heart; I don't--I can't. Every time I sin, every time I puff myself up with pride that I haven't sinned today (or so I thought), every time I look down with disdain on others who aren't living as they should--all these times, I must be humbled and pray for God's mercy. And I can be certain of that mercy because of Christ's saving work.

So yes, we SHOULD obey God's law. We SHOULD strive daily for the prize set before us. We SHOULD be prepared to pay the cost of discipleship. But SHOULD does not equal CAN. One of the hidden costs of discipleship is surrendering any pretense that what we do is worth anything more than helping our neighbor out. No one can be saved by knowing how best to be a disciple of Christ; we are saved by Christ. It's certainly helpful to let people know what they're getting into when they are called into God's family, but let's remember that the goal of the Gospel event of the cross is not to encourage us to live a moral life (the Koran does a better job of that according to a lot of people!), but to point us to Jesus Christ who ALONE makes us worthy to stand before our Creator.

[Chris Allen]

You have a great blog! Love it! I recently read your article in the latest edition on Issues Etc. Journal. I absolutely admire Rod Rosenbladt and the guys on the WHI program. But, I now have a greater appreciation of him for what you have written. I have also strayed away from Focus on the Family. I even did their Bike Ride (230 miles) to raise money for them. Anyhow, thanks for your blog and the article. Come by and visit sometime: www.Reform-Shire.blogspot.com

[J. K. Jones]

Interesting post. I couldn’t help typing in a reminder that repentance is for Christians too. It’s a way of life, because we all still sin. It might be that repentance would be best communicated to unbelievers by example, keeping in mind we would have to use words and Scripture to tell them the meaning behind what we are doing.

[Larry - KY]

“ repentance is for Christians too”

That’s great reminder, something our pastor is always doing, by himself as example and what “sin” really is. He always reminds A. That we all still sin much and constantly as Christians, and B. Sin is not just the negatives but the “righteousness” we perceive. It helps seeing sin primarily not as the negatives that even pagans see but as the inward curving upon the self. If you “see” that, then sin and repentance take on a whole NEW dimension and one sees one’s self as a bigger sinner than before.

I’m more afraid of my “self righteousness”, where I think I’m good or OK, than my negative sin struggles. Why? Because no idiot is going to think that “negatives sins” will be like by a holy God, BUT what will make one turn away from free grace is the prettiest of works that we do, especially if they have a churchiness annexed to it or are within the “box of church works” we do. It reminds me of that scene in the newer version of “Luther” when that one guy, can’t recall his name comes in to help serve under the Cardinal, the main antagonist from Rome to Luther throughout the movie – he is asked what he wants to do and replies in a false humility, “I just want to serve God with all my heart”. That’s the most arrogant sinful statement a man could make in that context, God doesn’t need your works and if you are trusting in Christ alone, neither do you, so give them to your neighbor and thus you indirectly serve Christ. But to say, “I want to serve God”, as if He really needs your “services” is arrogant spiritual pride.

We have very young children and so we are around some family/and “ministers” that usually say when their children of the same ages (1-4s) act up/out in a negative disobedient fashion, “You sure can see the sin nature so clearly at such a young age”. I told my wife, “I get so sick and tired of hearing that blind stupidity concerning sin. To show the sin nature more clearly, I think the next time one of our children act real nice and sweet around us in their (the same adults) presence I’m going to look at them just like they do when their children act badly and say, “You sure can see the sin nature so clearly at such a young age”. And then just watch their brains lock up.

Larry KY

[lc]

Chris, Though Tim's word of choice to describe christians is slang for bad, it's origin is vulgar. And even you used it in your rebuttal to Timmy. Words used with respect are not "curse" words. The use of hell and damn are on this same premise. They can be vulgar words used improperly. Timmy showed me the quality of his post in the title. When I saw that you kept using his word I became concerned how we as christians need to watch our own words so carefully. We are examples for the world. I can't imagine Jesus choosing that slang, if He was here preaching and teaching in our midst today. I find myself stopping in mid-sentence at times. Sometimes just when it's in prayer with God. And sometimes when I'm speaking with another person. And it's hard to not quickly use a word or phrase of today that might be ok by the world's standards, but vile by God's standards. God bless you and all of us to be the best examples we can.

[lc]

Chris, Though Tim's word of choice to describe christians is slang for bad, it's origin is vulgar. And even you used it in your rebuttal to Timmy. Words used with respect are not "curse" words. The use of hell and damn are on this same premise. They can be vulgar words used improperly. Timmy showed me the quality of his post in the title. When I saw that you kept using his word I became concerned how we as christians need to watch our own words so carefully. We are examples for the world. I can't imagine Jesus choosing that slang, if He was here preaching and teaching in our midst today. I find myself stopping in mid-sentence at times. Sometimes just when it's in prayer with God. And sometimes when I'm speaking with another person. And it's hard to not quickly use a word or phrase of today that might be ok by the world's standards, but vile by God's standards. God bless you and all of us to be the best examples we can.

[Shelley Lubben]

Awesome rebutal and even better teaching! I reach out to those working in the porn industry and let me tell you, it is NOT easy to do. If I tell them "Jesus loves porn stars" only, they will keep on sinning and hurting people BUT I find the most success in being true to the gospel and preaching repentance WHILE also demonstrating love. The goodness of God leads to repentance. I show them the goodness of God by my testimony, I demonstrate love by telling them they were made for greater things than porn and then I tell them that they will miss out on God's will for their lives if they don't stop sinning. I tell them where their sexual immorality will lead them to. I speak the truth in love.
I use to be in porn myself and I guarantee you, there came a moment in time where God told me I had to repent from that lifestyle because I was destroying myself and others. Godly sorrow leads to repentance. The Holy Spirit convicted me and I've never been the same.

[Matthew]

I'll have to read the original article and this one in more depth. I'd like to add/ask the following: Talking about repentence in this way reminds me too much of the way it's handled in the Roman communion. I would ask everyone to go back to our Lutheran roots and remember that even if we can finally be repentent enough to stop outward sins, there's still a fair amount of unrighteousness in us. And ultimately, our repentence needs to not be about stopping sinning, but turning away from ourselves entirely because all we are is sin.

In fact, when the law is preached in it's fullness, that's exactly what we do as it's revealed to us just how sinful we really are. We repent of self, since all our "self" has to offer is rebellion and sin... Turn from ourselves to Jesus.