Repentance and Lordship Salvation Revisited
Apr/15/10 16:31
Updated April 15, 2010 (first published December 6, 1996) (David Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org; for instructions about subscribing and unsubscribing or changing addresses, see the information paragraph at the end of the article) -
In July 1996 we published an article in O Timothy magazine entitled “Repentance and Lordship Salvation,” in which we dealt with five errors we have observed among independent fundamental Baptists in regard to the doctrine of repentance:
1. The error that repentance is wrapped up in faith and does not have to be preached.
2. The error that to define repentance as a change of mind which results in a change of life is a “new” thing.
3. The error of confusing repentance with “lordship salvation.”
4. The error of saying salvation can be divorced from accepting Jesus Christ as God and Lord.
5. The error of saying that it is unbelief alone which condemns men and sends them to hell.
This is difficult subject and it is easy for a man to be misunderstood, particularly if a reader has not seen many of our materials and does not understand our overall position and ministry. Also, when we mention the name of an independent Baptist leader who is promoting what we believe to be an error, it is natural for those who respect the man to react negatively toward us. They tend to shoot the messenger! We received a letter from a pastor who cancelled his subscription to O Timothy because of this particular article; and, as it turned out, the problem was that he misunderstood us and thought we were promoting “lordship salvation.” I wrote to this pastor in an attempt to more clearly explain my position, and he called me and apologized for the misunderstanding and for the harshness of his letter. I greatly appreciated the humility and Christian graciousness of this pastor and his willingness to call and discuss this matter. Read More...
In July 1996 we published an article in O Timothy magazine entitled “Repentance and Lordship Salvation,”
1. The error that repentance is wrapped up in faith and does not have to be preached.
2. The error that to define repentance as a change of mind which results in a change of life is a “new” thing.
3. The error of confusing repentance with “lordship salvation.”
4. The error of saying salvation can be divorced from accepting Jesus Christ as God and Lord.
5. The error of saying that it is unbelief alone which condemns men and sends them to hell.
This is difficult subject and it is easy for a man to be misunderstood, particularly if a reader has not seen many of our materials and does not understand our overall position and ministry. Also, when we mention the name of an independent Baptist leader who is promoting what we believe to be an error, it is natural for those who respect the man to react negatively toward us. They tend to shoot the messenger! We received a letter from a pastor who cancelled his subscription to
Repentance and Lordship Salvation
Apr/14/10 16:26
Updated April 14, 2010 (first published July 1996) (David Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org; for instructions about subscribing and unsubscribing or changing addresses, see the information paragraph at the end of the article) -
The Bible very plainly gives us a doctrine of repentance, but there seems to be some confusion among Independent Baptists in this regard. In the June 1996 issue of O Timothy we noted that some even claim that repentance is not a doctrine and that it is not necessary to preach repentance. That this is a widespread problem is testified by the title of a book that was published some years ago by a veteran Independent Baptist missionary. The title was “The Great Omission,” and the subject was the lack of repentance in the preaching of many fundamental Baptists. Not only is repentance almost entirely omitted in many ministries, it is also widely misunderstood and misinterpreted.
I have read dozens of books, articles, and sermons touching on this topic, and the following are some of the errors that I have seen cropping up repeatedly:
ERROR NUMBER 1: REPENTANCE IS WRAPPED UP IN FAITH AND DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PREACHED.
“The word ‘repent’ is not even found in the book of John. It is obviously assumed by God that ‘repentance’ is a part of ‘believing’” (Bob Gray, Longview, Texas).
I will reply to the idea that repentance is the same as faith by asking the following questions:
1. If repentance and faith are the same, why does did Paul make such a plain distinction between them? “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). In reality, repentance and faith are two different actions though they are intimately connected and cannot necessarily be separated in time. Repentance is to acknowledge one’s sin and rebellion against God and to change one’s mind about sinning against God. Repentance is surrender. Faith is to trust the finished work of Christ for forgiveness. Repentance and faith are the two aspects of man’s response to God’s offer of salvation. Read More...
The Bible very plainly gives us a doctrine of repentance, but there seems to be some confusion among Independent Baptists in this regard. In the June 1996 issue of O Timothy we noted that some even claim that repentance is not a doctrine and that it is not necessary to preach repentance. That this is a widespread problem is testified by the title of a book that was published some years ago by a veteran Independent Baptist missionary. The title was “The Great Omission,” and the subject was the lack of repentance in the preaching of many fundamental Baptists. Not only is repentance almost entirely omitted in many ministries, it is also widely misunderstood and misinterpreted.
I have read dozens of books, articles, and sermons touching on this topic, and the following are some of the errors that I have seen cropping up repeatedly:
ERROR NUMBER 1: REPENTANCE IS WRAPPED UP IN FAITH AND DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PREACHED.
“The word ‘repent’ is not even found in the book of John. It is obviously assumed by God that ‘repentance’ is a part of ‘believing’” (Bob Gray, Longview, Texas).
I will reply to the idea that repentance is the same as faith by asking the following questions:
1. If repentance and faith are the same, why does did Paul make such a plain distinction between them? “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). In reality, repentance and faith are two different actions though they are intimately connected and cannot necessarily be separated in time. Repentance is to acknowledge one’s sin and rebellion against God and to change one’s mind about sinning against God. Repentance is surrender. Faith is to trust the finished work of Christ for forgiveness. Repentance and faith are the two aspects of man’s response to God’s offer of salvation. Read More...
Questions Answered About Repentance
Apr/13/10 15:43
QUESTIONS ANSWERED ABOUT REPENTANCE
Updated April 13, 2010 (first published February 24, 2000) (David Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org; for instructions about subscribing and unsubscribing or changing addresses, see the information paragraph at the end of the article) -
My articles and books dealing with repentance and exposing the error of what I call “quick prayerism” have produced questions both from friends and enemies. The following are my answers to these questions:
QUESTION: How can you speak against men such as Pastor Jack Hyles who promote what you call “quick prayerism” when many people have been saved through their ministries?
ANSWER: It is true that people have been saved through the ministries of the men who promote quick prayerism. I know some of them personally, and I praise the Lord for every soul that is genuinely saved through any man’s ministry. I also praise the Lord for every other good thing in the lives and ministries of these men. I don’t consider myself their enemy, though they usually consider me as such. To point out error is a kindly thing to do. Some of these men probably put me to shame in some areas of the Christian life, and I readily acknowledge that before God. The good things in a man’s life and ministry never excuse error, though. Read More...
Updated April 13, 2010 (first published February 24, 2000) (David Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org; for instructions about subscribing and unsubscribing or changing addresses, see the information paragraph at the end of the article) -
My articles and books dealing with repentance and exposing the error of what I call “quick prayerism” have produced questions both from friends and enemies. The following are my answers to these questions:
QUESTION: How can you speak against men such as Pastor Jack Hyles who promote what you call “quick prayerism” when many people have been saved through their ministries?
ANSWER: It is true that people have been saved through the ministries of the men who promote quick prayerism. I know some of them personally, and I praise the Lord for every soul that is genuinely saved through any man’s ministry. I also praise the Lord for every other good thing in the lives and ministries of these men. I don’t consider myself their enemy, though they usually consider me as such. To point out error is a kindly thing to do. Some of these men probably put me to shame in some areas of the Christian life, and I readily acknowledge that before God. The good things in a man’s life and ministry never excuse error, though. Read More...
BOOK “REPENTANCE AND SOUL WINNING”
Jan/27/09 14:00
REPENTANCE AND SOUL WINNING is an in-depth study on biblical repentance and a timely warning about unscriptural methods of presenting the gospel.
The opening chapter, “Fundamental Baptists and Quick Prayerism: A Faulty Method of Evangelism Has Produced a Change in the Doctrine of Repentance,” traces the change in the doctrine of repentance among fundamental Baptists during the past 50 years.
Chapter two is an extensive study on biblical repentance and includes what repentance is not, a study of every Bible passage dealing with repentance, repentance defined by preachers of old, illustrations of repentance, and God’s repentance.
Read More...