The Gospel Of Repentance

  Yesterday my daughter let me hear a segment of a sermon she was listening to that concerned her. The minister declared in his message that, “A person does not go to hell because of sin because they are covered by the blood of Christ. A person goes to hell due to unbelief!”   While it is true that a person will go to hell due to unbelief, the way the minister presents his case is misleading. How? Any unforgiven sin against the Lord can send a person to hell – not just unbelief. Judas Iscariot was a believer in Christ, yet he went to hell. Why? Not because of unbelief. But because he never repented of his sins to God. He committed suicide due to his sin of betrayal of the Lord Jesus for money (Matthew 27:3-5).   Another problem with his logic is that he is implying that all sin is forgivable except unbelief. Is not unbelief in the atonement of Jesus a sin too? Yes, it is. All sin is forgivable, including unbelief.   As long as a person does not die in unbelief, the word of God is pow

This article is the negative balance of the prior one. The question has been asked, “Why should someone suffer eternally for a temporary life of sins?” That is a valid question. When we sin, it is ultimately against an infinite being – God Almighty. He requires eternal punishment for a life of unrepentant and unforgiven sins. God is completely holy and in His perfect wisdom decided it would be this way. The Lord will not allow evil men to rebel against Him and not suffer the just penalty for that rebellion. The reality of eternal punishment should strike us with fear to the point that we cry out, “LORD WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED – TODAY” (Acts 16:30; 2 Cor 6:2)!    Think about it, God forgives those eternally who trust Jesus Christ as their sin bearer. It only makes sense that He would punish those eternally who do not believe that Jesus is the only  way truth and life (John 14:6).  Why do men reject the truth after hearing it explained to them? Jesus said it perfectly,  “Men

The word of God is replete with scriptures that make it clear we have eternal life abiding on the inside of us if we are Christians. What that means is that we can never lose our salvation although many believe we can. If we can lose eternal  life,  then it is not eternal is it?    Eternal life along with eternal forgiveness are inextricably linked. God does not save a life forever and not forgive that life forever too. God saves who He forgives and forgives who He saves. Why do I belabor this point? Because you have many that tragically believe and teach that a sinner that Jesus shed His blood for on the cross and saves can somehow void the power of the atonement through sin and nullify the grace of God once given to that person. What that means is that the person has allowed their feelings to override the authority and truth of God’s word. Saying it another way, the person does not have faith in the word of God; they have more faith in their vacillating feelings of doubt tow

Justice means just behavior or treatment. Fairness and equity. I would also add respect and equality among every citizen crossing racial, cultural, and religious barriers.   A Biblical definition of justice is God administering righteousness to His people which is  fulfilled  in the salvation provided through Jesus Christ. In this sense, God’s holy justice eternally justifies sinners. Biblical justice is salvation by grace through faith (Eph 2:8-9).    Negatively it is divine judgment on unrepentant sinners.   I  supplied  the answer before discussing the problem. Now I want to discuss the problem of why human justice can never fully be obtained.   Due to the total depravity of man, we can never experience complete justice in our neighborhoods, cities, counties, states, and nation. There are many who do and will not see all people as equals. The rich oppress the poor. The strong dominate the weak. The arrogant belittles the humble. Those who are anti-God hate