Modern Day Repentance

Many “so-called” fundamental churches are using a “MODERN-DAY” style of repentance, which is built on man’s ideas and not upon Apostolic faith, “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Jude 1:3

Many of the ideas and explanations of “BIBILCAL DOCTRINES” today have diluted God’s Word to where it has no effect on the life of a sinner after their “so-called" conversion. Most of these man-made doctrines are very dangerous to a Christian, but with the grace of God through the indwelling Holy Spirit (divine influence) upon your heart you will not be deceived to allow willful sin to enter or remain in your Christian walk, “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.” 1Thess. 4:1

The "modern-day" doctrine of repentance is no doubt the most dangerous of all the diluted and false representations to God’s Holy and pure Word. “ From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Mat 4:17 Jesus did not teach the people that if they would make a mental ascent to the fact ~ if they believe there is a God, pray a prayer once once in their lifetime that they could continue in their lifestyle of sin and enter Heaven when they die. This is the foolishness that's being preached today! He taught just the opposite, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1John 1:7 Nowhere in God's Word is sin condoned and excused, but must be repented of and forsaken.

Where does the doctrine of a false repentance leave a person who thinks they have been converted? “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:5 The words "repent," "repentance," and "repented" are mentioned over 100 times in the Bible. There has been a lot of deception and confusion over what the word repentance means. When the word "repent" is used in the Word of God in the context of Biblical salvation, it is referring to a truly God-given, Spirit-led change of heart and mind toward God about sin.

How then, do you know if you have been deceived by one of these slick talking preachers? Are you still practicing willful sin, sin that has been clearly revealed to you by God? Repent if you are!

There must be a hatred of sin, a loathing of it, a turning from it. True repentance is the biblical way of dealing with our attitude and our views toward sin and our walk in this life.

Sin must become, in the eyes of the sinner, exceedingly sinful. The greatest need for any sinner is have his sins washed away, “ Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:22, but a man will never have his sin pardoned, nor receive the grace of God, while he is in love with his sin and continues to walk in it.

Satan has deceived and trained many preachers into perverting the true meaning of apostolic repentance. The trap is set, many have taken the bait and are now deceived and deceiving others under the excuse that God has changed His Word for the modern-day church. These modern-day preachers and teachers are telling their congregations, all you have to do is believe in your mind, accept Jesus and you're guaranteed a home in Heaven. This type of teaching has increased the size of the church, the amount in the offering plates and in turn has produced goats instead of sheep. “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Mat 7:15

These modern-day churches, modern-day bibles (ISV, ASV, NKJV, etc.), and this modern-day repentance produces, “a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2Ti 3:5 This type of repentance is not from our Lord and Saviour, nor the apostles, nor the Holy Spirit which guided the authors of the books of the Bible, but from the great deceiver, “He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” John 8:44

In true Biblical repentance, there will be three things to occur as God does a work of grace upon the sinner's heart:

1) Conviction -- Man must see himself as a lost, guilty, desperately wicked sinner without hope or help, in danger of the judgment of hell. In repentance, a sinner not only needs to see himself as a sinner, but recognizes the fact that he has sinned against a righteous and holy God. The message that Paul preached was: "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" Acts 20:21. In repentance, there will be confession of sin to God.

2) Contrition -- Where sin is abhorred. When one sees himself as he appears before God, he is brought to a place where there is godly sorrow for his sin and he hates it altogether.

"For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin." Psalm 38:18; "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of ..." 2 Corinthians 7:10. To hate sin is to love God. In true repentance, there is not only the desire to turn from the consequences of sin, but to be rid of sin itself as the thing that displeases God.

3) Conversion -- Where sin is abandoned. Repentance involves the forsaking of sin: Repentance is not only a heart broken for sin, but also from sin. We must forsake what we would have God forgive. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon" Isaiah 55:7; "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy" Proverbs 28:13.

It should be stressed that it is not enough just to turn away from sin; one must also turn to God for salvation: “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” Act 26:18 In true repentance, there is conviction, contrition, and conversion as one turns from his sin, to Christ for salvation. Salvation is deliverance of a person from his sin, not merely from a sinful environment but, “that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.” Act 26:20 Jesus Christ is the Saviour not only from the penalty and punishment of sin, but also from the power of sin. Consequently, salvation is more than just a one-time prayer, but a lifetime of growing to be more like our Saviour.

C..H. Spurgeon once made the statement: "Brethren, we shall not adjust our Bible to the age, but the age to the Bible." “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” 2Ti 4:2

What does the Bible say. . . if all you have is this “Modern Day” repentance and where does it lead?

"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" Luke 13:5.