Repent of your sins ( Heresy?)

[Rachel07]

Hi all,

just happen to be surfing sermons on youtube and came across this sermon

Garrett Kirchway "Repent of Your Sins Heresy". and i wanted to know the thoughts of others.

I dont agree with him but what you do think?

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

Not going to waste my time watching something I know isn't edifying but I will say that without repentance, there can be no salvation.

 

[Gnarwhal]

Hi all,

just happen to be surfing sermons on youtube and came across this sermon

Garrett Kirchway "Repent of Your Sins Heresy". and i wanted to know the thoughts of others.

I dont agree with him but what you do think?

Hi Rachel,

Welcome to Traditional Theology, the home of adherents to historic and Traditional Christianity (such as Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Lutherans, and Anglicans). If you'd like to understand more about how this sub-forum specifically, feel free to take a peak at the Traditional Theology Sub-Forum Statement Of Purpose.

Rejecting the notion of repentance is dangerously close to, if not outright, Antinomianism, which is an ancient heresy. So, as a soon-to-be Catholic, I most certainly disagree with him. Confession is a Sacrament in Catholicism, and so making a point to go through that on a regular basis and repent thereafter is a vital part of the Christian faith.

 

[Winken]

Hi all,

just happen to be surfing sermons on youtube and came across this sermon

Garrett Kirchway "Repent of Your Sins Heresy". and i wanted to know the thoughts of others.

I dont agree with him but what you do think?

The leading of the Holy Spirit followed by confession results in eternal security. "Repent" does not mean "Lord, I'm sorry." You'd have to go back to original sin (as in Adam-Eve) in order to "atone" for all your sin/sins. Short answer: The Cross. Jesus paid it ALL, ALL to Him I owe.

One does not "repent" (return to) in order to be saved. Repentance comes after salvation, when an authentic Christian strays into sin. (Now I have something to return to! See 1 John 1:9).

One comes under Holy Spirit conviction of sin. One then confesses Jesus as Savior, placing belief, hope, trust, in Him and Him alone, simultaneously, because God via the Holy Spirit has offered it. The confessor now (instantly) looks forward to salvation by Grace through Faith, the everlasting GIFT of God. That's why there is so much joy when one receives the GIFT.

I can't "earn" salvation. I can't "sustain" salvation.

Scripture is clear that everyone begins life “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1-5), resulting in a life focused on our sinful desires. Jesus taught that the remedy for living in sin is Spiritual birth (John 3:3-5) through Faith in Him. That birth is a connection to the source of life, which Jesus pictured in John 15:1-6. Once saved, He is the vine, and we are the branches grafted in. Without being connected to Him, we have only a sinful life; when we have Jesus, we have eternal life (1 John 5:11-12).

The scripture leading to eternal life is Romans 10:8-13. Once you confess that, you receive His assurance: Romans 8:1, John 5:24, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:16-17. HE is the only Way, John 14:6.

One has to rely on Matthew, Mark and Luke to come to the conclusion that "repentance" comes first.

 

[John Hyperspace]

Hi all,

just happen to be surfing sermons on youtube and came across this sermon

Garrett Kirchway "Repent of Your Sins Heresy". and i wanted to know the thoughts of others.

I dont agree with him but what you do think?

He is saying that "repent" as equal to "stop sinning" is false teaching if taught as the conditional for "saved": if I'm understanding this definition, I would agree with him. The problem with "stop sinning" as an indicator(or, definition of) "repentance" would mean that, either a man is perfectly sinless, or, a man has not actually repented at all, and is not saved. Thus "repentance" is equal to "perfection": This of course begs the question of "what is sin?" in order to become "perfectly sinless": though I haven't yet met a person who claims to be perfectly sinless, thus according to "repentance = perfection = salvation" I've yet to meet a person who is saved. I suppose it could be the case that there are perfectly sinless people out there; but so far I've met none. All I've met is sinners who continue to sin.

Hopefully, we are all forgiven in the end.

 

[JESUS=G.O.A.T]

this typically happens... thread ends up being people defining their own view on salvation lol. But yeah basically repentance is a thing in the old and new testament... don't believe anyone who tells you otherwise. The bible says to repetent for the remission of your sins.

 

[AvgJoe]

One does not "repent" (return to) in order to be saved. Repentance comes after salvation, when an authentic Christian strays into sin. (Now I have something to return to! See 1 John 1:9).

I have to disagree on this one point, as repentance is required for salvation. Many understand the term repentance, from the Greek word metanoia, to mean “turning from sin”, but this is not the biblical definition of repentance. In the Bible, the word repent means “to change one’s mind.” The Bible also tells us that true repentance will result in a change of actions (Luke 3:8-14; Acts 3:19). Acts 26:20 declares, “I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.” The full biblical definition of repentance is a change of mind that results in a change of action.

What, then, is the connection between repentance and salvation? The Book of Acts seems to especially focus on repentance in regards to salvation (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 11:18; 17:30; 20:21; 26:20). To repent, in relation to salvation, is to change your mind in regard to Jesus Christ. In Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts chapter 2), he concludes with a call for the people to repent (Acts 2:38). Repent from what? Peter is calling the people who rejected Jesus (Acts 2:36) to change their minds about Him, to recognize that He is indeed “Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). Peter is calling the people to change their minds from rejection of Christ as the Messiah to faith in Him as both Messiah and Savior.

Thus, repentance must accompany salvation (justification). Then continued repentance comes after salvation, when we stray into sin (sanctification).

 

[~Anastasia~]

Hi all,

just happen to be surfing sermons on youtube and came across this sermon

Garrett Kirchway "Repent of Your Sins Heresy". and i wanted to know the thoughts of others.

I dont agree with him but what you do think?

Hello Rachel. Welcome to CF, and welcome to Traditional Theology! We are glad that you've joined us, and I pray you are blessed by being here.

As to the video, I only listened to the first few minutes.

He claims that repentance is a man made doctrine because the passage he quoted says that in order to be saved, we must believe.

But they are not competing instructions.

If you go through the New Testament, looking for Scriptures about salvation, you will find ...

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ,
Believe in Christ AND the Father who sent Him,
Repent,
Be baptized,
Confess with your mouth that Christ is Lord ...
and so on, including various combinations of the above.

It's not a checklist, and it's not an either/or with one verse pitted against another. Some of these are more means of God's grace, and some are more a description of what Christians do.

I think he might have a different definition for "repent" because he said it was impossible, was a "work" and that Christ has already done it.

In Orthodoxy, we focus (ideally) on living a life of repentance. Simply, we acknowledge that we fall short of the ideal of Jesus Christ, we don't make excuses for that fact, we ask forgiveness, and we get back up and try to do better.

What that looks like is different for every person. One who was a thief, hopefully will get a job and steal no more. One who has a tendency to get irritated at people who are rude to him might struggle with that for years before he really overcomes it. Or really substitute any sin or sinful tendency in there - some are easier to overcome than others, all depending on the person, and some we may never rid ourselves of, but we try to do the best we can.

That's not a "work" to "earn" salvation, though - it's what being a Christian looks like, as we cooperate with the grace of God. It is God's aim to make us like Christ. We probably won't see that fully happen as long as we live in fleshly bodies in this age, but we let God's grace accomplish what He will. This is what happens when we repent.

Also the word "heresy" has a specific meaning. Just because something is wrong doesn't make it a heresy. Certain particular errors are identified as heresy, such as Arianism, Nestorianism, etc.

I don't normally like to split hairs in this way, and prefer to listen to the heart as best I can hear it behind what a person is saying, and to be charitable. But since you asked, and since this person is putting himself forth as a teacher, apparently, then to critique it according to Scripture is the best reply, I suppose.

Again, welcome to CF, and to TT.

God be with you.

 

[Soyeong]

Hi all,

just happen to be surfing sermons on youtube and came across this sermon

Garrett Kirchway "Repent of Your Sins Heresy". and i wanted to know the thoughts of others.

I dont agree with him but what you do think?

It doesn't do any good for him to say that all you need to do to be saved is to believe in the Lord Jesus when he doesn't understand what we should be believing about him. If we believe in the Lord Jesus, then he is our master and we are his servant, and if we trust him to guide us in how we should live and to save us from sin, then we will practice obedience to hs commands by faith and practice repentance from our sins by faith.

Every single prophet came with the message to repent from our sins up to including Jesus who started his ministry with the message to repent from our sins for the Kingdom of God is at hand (Matthew 4:17), so repenting from our sins is a central part God's plan of redemption of the Gospel message, not a man-made teaching. We need to have faith in God to grant us repentance (2 Timothy 2:25), so it is based on faith, and by that same faith we repent and turn back to obedience. In Hebrews 11, it is full of examples of people who obeyed God's commands by faith, but they were not saved by their obedience, but by having a faith that led to their obedience.

Our salvation is from sin, so it impossible to be saved from sin without repenting from it. Jesus gave himself to redeem us from all Lawlessness, not so that we could continue in unrepentant Lawlessness, so it should make us want to go out and sin no more.

 

[Rachel07]

I agree with him and also think that repenting of your sins as a step in salvation is a false doctrine that adds works to salvation in effect cancelling salvation. It's very sad and leading a huge number of people that think they are saved to hell.

Ephesians 2:8,9,10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we SHOULD walk in them.

Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing and regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Three very clear verses that show that salvation is not of works. Repenting of sins is work.

2 Corinthians 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them: and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Study that verse closely...he's reconciling the world (that's everyone) unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them. He's not charging anyone with sin so how could repenting of your sins be a required step in your salvation?

Why do so many churches have this wrong? Because they don't rightly divide the word of truth as they are instructed to do in 2 Timothy 2:15. 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. If they don't use a King James Bible they'll never even know that they need to rightly divide because the translations took that out. Definitely something lost in translation there.

Instead of rightly dividing churches are blending the Bible so they end up with mixed up doctrine and in a lot of cases don't have a clear gospel message that would save anyone. If you are not extremely well versed on rightly dividing please check out truthtimeradio.com and also listen to the truth time radio programs on YouTube.

Hi Thanks for your reply!

You stated that adding a step ( which I don't believe) to salvation cancels salvation, am I to assume you believe that one can lose their salvation? Secondly, if one doesn't not repent and truely believe how then is he to receive salvation? By saying that everyone who says I believe in Jesus would receive salvation. Therefore, is professing with your mouth not a work?

I believe, that repentance is softening of the harden heart to God. Admitting we have a problem. Through that admission God gives us life changing faith that results in good works. It's not the other way around if it were so it would be legalism.

If repentance is of little importance then why is it spoken of over and over again.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Hi Rachel,

Welcome to Traditional Theology, the home of adherents to historic and Traditional Christianity (such as Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Lutherans, and Anglicans). If you'd like to understand more about how this sub-forum specifically, feel free to take a peak at the Traditional Theology Sub-Forum Statement Of Purpose.

Rejecting the notion of repentance is dangerously close to, if not outright, Antinomianism, which is an ancient heresy. So, as a soon-to-be Catholic, I most certainly disagree with him. Confession is a Sacrament in Catholicism, and so making a point to go through that on a regular basis and repent thereafter is a vital part of the Christian faith.

What Geech said bears repeating ... so as a point of accuracy, since this is Traditional Theology, it needs to be emphasized that Christianity as a whole, from earliest times has always viewed repentance as a necessary component of the Christian faith.

It is not a "work" any more than having faith is a work (faith is the gift of God), nor is baptism a work (baptism is a means of God's grace bestowed upon us). A repentant heart is one that submits to God and does not rebelliously cling to its own sin in defiance of God.

As Geech said, to reject repentance is borderline, if not actual heresy. If you are interested, Geech provides the link to Antinomianism above, for more information, which the Church has regarded as heretical from its early days.

It is difficult for me to even imagine an unrepentant person claiming to be a Christian, though I have seen it once.

 

[dqhall]

Hi all,

just happen to be surfing sermons on youtube and came across this sermon

Garrett Kirchway "Repent of Your Sins Heresy". and i wanted to know the thoughts of others.

I dont agree with him but what you do think?

The argument about whether repent is a Holy word or a heresy is like the argument about whether or not one can be saved by works. If one has faith there will be good works and if there are good works, there must be faith. Whether the chicken or the egg came first is also a circular argument.

Matthew 3:8 (World English Bible - Public Domain)
Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance!

25 Bible Verses About Repentance - Scriptures About Repentance

 

[hedrick]

I’m not going to listen to a 30 min video, but I did listen to the beginning. (Sorry, but it’s simply not reasonable to ask readers to do that. You need to summarize what it said or give us a transcript.)

It seems to me that he’s making a false dictomy. Jesus spoke of people who came to him as repenting. It’s a change in direction, which includes both believing in Christ and accepting the need to obey. The preacher quotes a passage in Acts where someone is asked what is needed to be saved and is told believe in Jesus. But Jesus himself is asked, and he says obey the commandments.

Faith in Christ isn’t just believing certain statements to be true. it’s being his follower, and that means orienting our lives based on what he taught. It doesn’t mean we’ll be perfect. It doesn’t mean the wonderfulness of our lives merit salvation. But Jesus is very clear that someone who claims to follow him and ignores what he taught is deluding themselves. (Mat 7:21)

Paul’s teaching about justification by faith has been misunderstood. Paul was dealing with a group of people who were doing list-checking: Unless you have done these specific things you can’t be a Christian. We’ve got plenty of those today, and Paul stands against them. In holding up faith, Paul was saying it’s the fact that we are following Christ, not that we’ve checked the boxes, that marks us as his followers. We can’t set up specific tests for what or how much you have to do.

But Jesus is clear that we can’t be his followers if we don’t follow. I believe the implications of his various illustrations of judgement are that we need to make a difference to people. Not that we have to be morally perfect, but there ought to be at least some result. (He speaks of “fruit.”)

 

[hedrick]

I also note that their statement of faith has the surprisingly common contradiction: all you need is faith, no repentance needed, unless of course you're gay.

(I note that discussions of homosexually are not permitted in this group My intention in mentioning it isn't to argue about its acceptability, but to point out that it seems weird to list an unacceptable sin given that theology.)

 

[Soyeong]

I agree with him and also think that repenting of your sins as a step in salvation is a false doctrine that adds works to salvation, in effect cancelling salvation. It's very sad and leading a huge number of people, that think they are saved, to hell.

Ephesians 2:8,9,10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we SHOULD walk in them.

Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing and regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Three very clear verses that show that salvation is not of works. Repenting of sins is work.

2 Corinthians 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them: and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Study that verse closely...he's reconciling the world (that's everyone) unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them. He's not charging anyone with sin so how could repenting of your sins be a required step in your salvation?

Why do so many churches have this wrong? Because they don't rightly divide the word of truth as they are instructed to do in 2 Timothy 2:15. 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. If they don't use a King James Bible they'll never even know that they need to rightly divide because the translations took that out. Definitely something lost in translation there.

Instead of rightly dividing churches are blending the Bible so they end up with mixed up doctrine and in a lot of cases don't have a clear gospel message that would save anyone. If you are not extremely well versed on rightly dividing please check out truthtimeradio.com and also listen to the truth time radio programs on YouTube.

Our salvation is from sin, so can you explain to me how we can be saved from our sin without it involving turning from our sin?

 

[Soyeong]

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Twenty verses later:

John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

So to believe in the Son is to obey and to not repent of our disobedience is to not believe in the Son.

 

[sandpiper22]

Hi all,

just happen to be surfing sermons on youtube and came across this sermon

Garrett Kirchway "Repent of Your Sins Heresy". and i wanted to know the thoughts of others.

I dont agree with him but what you do think?

Repentance comes after, not before, regeneration, or quickening of the Spirit, or what many call "born again". There is no repentance required for past sins, but, as one is made conscious of sin in his TIMELY life, then the Bible says we ought to turn away from it.
One does not repent to get saved, in the eternal sense of the word.
One repents because one IS saved, a child of God, born from above, not to gain ETERNAL life, but because sin is abhorrent to the Father, and will never reap timely blessings and salvation from the results of sin here in time.
Refer: David's adultery with Bathsheba, his murder of Uriah, and the resulting "sword" in his house: the rape of his daughter Tamar by her half-brother, the rebellion of Absalom, the loss of his kingdom, the death of his eldest son by Bathsheba.
Refer: Solomon and his departure from the wisdom that God granted him.
Refer: Samson and his many fornications.
Refer: Saphira, and Ananias.
Refer: Members of the Corinthian church who "slept" because they had no regard to the holiness of the Lord's Supper.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

The leading of the Holy Spirit followed by confession results in eternal security. "Repent" does not mean "Lord, I'm sorry." You'd have to go back to original sin (as in Adam-Eve) in order to "atone" for all your sin/sins. Short answer: The Cross. Jesus paid it ALL, ALL to Him I owe.

One does not "repent" (return to) in order to be saved. Repentance comes after salvation, when an authentic Christian strays into sin. (Now I have something to return to! See 1 John 1:9).

One comes under Holy Spirit conviction of sin. One then confesses Jesus as Savior, placing belief, hope, trust, in Him and Him alone, simultaneously, because God via the Holy Spirit has offered it. The confessor now (instantly) looks forward to salvation by Grace through Faith, the everlasting GIFT of God. That's why there is so much joy when one receives the GIFT.

I can't "earn" salvation. I can't "sustain" salvation.

Scripture is clear that everyone begins life “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1-5), resulting in a life focused on our sinful desires. Jesus taught that the remedy for living in sin is Spiritual birth (John 3:3-5) through Faith in Him. That birth is a connection to the source of life, which Jesus pictured in John 15:1-6. Once saved, He is the vine, and we are the branches grafted in. Without being connected to Him, we have only a sinful life; when we have Jesus, we have eternal life (1 John 5:11-12).

The scripture leading to eternal life is Romans 10:8-13. Once you confess that, you receive His assurance: Romans 8:1, John 5:24, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:16-17. HE is the only Way, John 14:6.

One has to rely on Matthew, Mark and Luke to come to the conclusion that "repentance" comes first.

In traditional theology, the notion of eternal security is viewed as heterodox. As Luther states in the small catechism, we must daily put away the old Adam; i.e. repent daily. Simuli Justus et Peccator, Saint and sinner at the same time. While being saved by faith and justified by the blood of Christ, we still carry the stain of original sin, and as such we sin daily; therefore we must repent daily.

 

[Winken]

Paul’s teaching about justification by faith has been misunderstood. Paul was dealing with a group of people who were doing list-checking: Unless you have done these specific things you can’t be a Christian. We’ve got plenty of those today, and Paul stands against them. In holding up faith, Paul was saying it’s the fact that we are following Christ, not that we’ve checked the boxes, that marks us as his followers. We can’t set up specific tests for what or how much you have to do.

Yea!

 

[Winken]

In traditional theology, the notion of eternal security is viewed as heterodox. As Luther states in the small catechism, we must daily put away the old Adam; i.e. repent daily. Simuli Justus et Peccator, Saint and sinner at the same time. While being saved by faith and justified by the blood of Christ, we still carry the stain of original sin, and as such we sin daily; therefore we must repent daily.

Following salvation, yes. It is something I must do daily.