Within the Lines

Dad's Sermon, Part 2

Continuing my dad's sermon/essay...

      The second "R" is repentance.  In some churches now, repentance is down-played because they say everything is under the blood, so we don't need to even try to live a holy life.  But Luke 13:3 says that anyone who does not repent will face eternal death.

     Some people believe that repentance means turning away from sin and never repeating it.  However, the Greek word, "metanoeo", translated "repent", means "to think differently".  It can also be translated as a mental about-face.  It has to be more than a change in ideas.  It has to be a mental resolution; a determination to change.  And it has to be a life-long attitude.

     The third "R" is relinquishing the sovereignty of your life.  Again this relinquishment, surrender, commitment, or whatever you choose to call it, is NOT optional.  In most churches, total commitment is rarely taught and if it is taught is is presented as an option.  And yet the Greek word used almost exclusively through the New Testament, "pisteuo", translated "belief", means more than mental assent.  It's a conviction that includes entrustment.  You believe in Jesus and what He did--fine.  But unless your faith includes the entrustment of your life (total surrender to His will) you don't have saving faith.

     Now all these three "R"s, relationship (love God with your all), repentance (mental about-face), and relinquishment (surrender of your life) are goals.  Absolute love, total repentance and complete surrender are perfect states.  But the Bible is clear that unless we resolve to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and unless we determine to be totally repentant, and unless we purpose to be totally surrendered to His will, we don't have saving faith.

     Sadly, extensive surveys have shown that only 2-5% of professing Christians have these goals.  That can only mean that 95-98% of people who claim to be Christian are not actually saved according to Scripture.  It's no good excusing people by saying they mean well; so do Muslims, Hindus, and all kinds of cults.  It's no good to say they have the right doctrines or facts; even demons profess some truth.

     Scripture is full of warnings about this, especially for the last days.  I am talking about the false church, counterfeit believers, the great whore.  Matthew 23, 2Timothy 3, 1Corinthians 5, and numerous other passages warn and instruct about this false church.  But what is being done about it now?