- Jun 13, 2005
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John 3:33 He who has received His (Jesus') testimony has certified that God is true. NKJV
John the Baptist prophesied that the people who received the testimony of Jesus have certified that God is true. God promised in the garden that He would provide a covering for man's sins. Satan accused God of not wanting man to be like Him. The work of Jesus proves Satan wrong and proves God loves the world.
Just what is the testimony of Jesus?
John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. NKJV
John 3:18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. NKJV
John 5:24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. NKJV
John 6:29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent." NKJV
I could have cited a few more red-letter scriptures saying the same thing as those above. I have one more below.
John 10: 24 Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, "How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly." 25 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. (All the previous scriptures) The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." NKJV
The prevalent Gospel message of most churches is: Repent of your sins and believe in Jesus and you will be saved.
God says salvation is a free gift, Jesus provided everything people need for salvation, all people have to do is believe.
Is there anything needed for salvation that God has not provided?
Matthew 3: 14b saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him. NKJV
You probably will say repentance is necessary to be righteous and without righteousness no one gets into heaven.
Acts 5:31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. NKJV
Acts 11:18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life."
NKJV
If the church trusts God to forgive sins, why do they not trust God to give repentance? Can the church have faith in Jesus and not trust that His repentance for our sins is more complete than our futile attempt. God knows more about man and how to get rid of his sins than the church or man does. The church should trust in God's repentance.
A man can go all the way to the point where he has eternal life without repenting or doing works. After reaching the point of eternal life the person is a son of God. Then God expects the person to act like a son of God, repent of bad behavior, and do great works.
Acts 3:19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. NKJV
If God granted repentance for Israel why did Peter call for them to repent above and Acts 3: 19?
Read Deuteronomy 19: 15-21 the people Peter is talking to were guilty of breaking that law. They were guilty of bearing false witness against God as Peter had reminded them during his sermon. He was letting them know they would not have the death penalty held against them if they admitted guilt by believing in Jesus.
Acts 20:20 how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. NKJV
If Jesus did it all then why did Paul preach repentance toward God???
John 3:33 when we believe in Jesus, we have certified that God is true. That is repentance toward God! We have turned and are looking to Jesus to save us. That is faith toward Jesus!
Hebrews 12: 7-8 if we keep that faith in Jesus and accept discipline we have eternal life. John 6:3-5 only those who hear and follow Jesus will accept discipline.
Let's agree with God that salvation is a free gift. If we trust Jesus for our complete salvation, we will not be disappointed. Besides if we say to be saved one has to: “Repent and believe in Jesus for salvation”. We are adding to God's word. We know what happened in the garden when someone did that.
John the Baptist prophesied that the people who received the testimony of Jesus have certified that God is true. God promised in the garden that He would provide a covering for man's sins. Satan accused God of not wanting man to be like Him. The work of Jesus proves Satan wrong and proves God loves the world.
Just what is the testimony of Jesus?
John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. NKJV
John 3:18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. NKJV
John 5:24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. NKJV
John 6:29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent." NKJV
I could have cited a few more red-letter scriptures saying the same thing as those above. I have one more below.
John 10: 24 Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, "How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly." 25 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. (All the previous scriptures) The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." NKJV
The prevalent Gospel message of most churches is: Repent of your sins and believe in Jesus and you will be saved.
God says salvation is a free gift, Jesus provided everything people need for salvation, all people have to do is believe.
Is there anything needed for salvation that God has not provided?
Matthew 3: 14b saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him. NKJV
You probably will say repentance is necessary to be righteous and without righteousness no one gets into heaven.
Acts 5:31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. NKJV
Acts 11:18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life."
NKJV
If the church trusts God to forgive sins, why do they not trust God to give repentance? Can the church have faith in Jesus and not trust that His repentance for our sins is more complete than our futile attempt. God knows more about man and how to get rid of his sins than the church or man does. The church should trust in God's repentance.
A man can go all the way to the point where he has eternal life without repenting or doing works. After reaching the point of eternal life the person is a son of God. Then God expects the person to act like a son of God, repent of bad behavior, and do great works.
Acts 3:19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. NKJV
If God granted repentance for Israel why did Peter call for them to repent above and Acts 3: 19?
Read Deuteronomy 19: 15-21 the people Peter is talking to were guilty of breaking that law. They were guilty of bearing false witness against God as Peter had reminded them during his sermon. He was letting them know they would not have the death penalty held against them if they admitted guilt by believing in Jesus.
Acts 20:20 how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. NKJV
If Jesus did it all then why did Paul preach repentance toward God???
John 3:33 when we believe in Jesus, we have certified that God is true. That is repentance toward God! We have turned and are looking to Jesus to save us. That is faith toward Jesus!
Hebrews 12: 7-8 if we keep that faith in Jesus and accept discipline we have eternal life. John 6:3-5 only those who hear and follow Jesus will accept discipline.
Let's agree with God that salvation is a free gift. If we trust Jesus for our complete salvation, we will not be disappointed. Besides if we say to be saved one has to: “Repent and believe in Jesus for salvation”. We are adding to God's word. We know what happened in the garden when someone did that.
