The purpose for this writing is to remove a false understanding -a deception - from the true believer’s heart and mind. I say that because this deception has been a great stumling block for me.
Only the TRUTH will set the captive free. The one that knows to do right and doesn’t do it commits sin. True freedom comes from not being under the dominion of sin. The Holy Spirit of the Almighty God can, and will, enable every true follower of Jesus Christ to NOT have sin in their lives. If He is in a “Christian” and a “Christian” is in Him, there is NO room left for a sinful nature. (Read more here.)
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2nd Corinthians 5:17) The “old” sinful nature is gone. He is a “new creature” if he is in Christ.
The “new creature” didn’t become so by asking forgiveness of his sins. This “forgiveness” only takes place when the “heavy laden” (Matthew 11:28) comes to Jesus Christ for “rest”. “… Repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance” (Acts 26:20) means to change directions, to “do a 180″, to change the mind, to repent FROM following the god of this world and repent TOWARD the Almighty God by following Jesus Christ. To “do works meet for repentance” will be the evidence (witness) that belief in Him – a new conviction – has, and is, taking place. The “evidence” is the absence of sin in the believer’s life, or the absence of the “nature” of sinning. To make it plain as day: How can one go in two directions at the same time? Either one follows Christ or he doesn’t. If the believer’s eyes are upon Jesus he will not sink.
Acts 26:18: 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.
This verse is Jesus telling Paul that he was being sent to:
Open their eyes.
To turn them from darkness to light – from the power of Satan unto God.
That they might receive forgiveness.
Repenting of sins - stop sinning – is for the REAL Christian only. For the sinner that hasn’t come to Jesus for his salvation: First he must see the light, then turn and then receive – not ask for forgiveness first so that belief in Him can be obtained.
Praying the prayer, “Lord, I’m sorry for my sins and I ask You for forgiveness of my sins. Please come into my heart now, Lord Jesus. I now accept you as my Lord and Savior” is what most people have been taught to pray in order to become a “Christian”. I cannot find this to be scriptually sound. This leads to much more misunderstanding, which results in no spiritual growth, in the life of the one subjugated to such an unsound doctrine.
If eyes have not FIRST been opened so that a person can SEE who Jesus IS, then going through these OTHER (another gospel) steps is fruitless. Oh yes, this prayer will get most anyone into the so-called, “body of Christ” and into church membership. But what good is that if the heart has not been changed and sin is and accepted part of the Christian’s(?) life?
If this prompts any one to ask questions or to challenge what has been said here in an honest attitude of desiring to know the truth (or to correct me), I’ll do my best to comply by responding with what the Bible has to say. If my reply is not understood, I will then do my best to explain it further. This should be a mutual understanding. I will not argue. I only desire to know the truth.
