The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
- Isaiah 61:1

Bible Salvation

This information is intended to serve as supplementary Scriptural confirmation to the Lordswatch Ministries salvation presentations. If you have not seen the presentation, please see the below videos:

   

Bible Salvation

Pertinent Topics:

The Law

Galatians 3:23  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

All of mankind was born “under the law”.

Hebrews 7:19  For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

Galatians 3:21  Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

Keeping the law does not give eternal life.

Romans 8:7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Even if it did, no man would be able to keep life, because no man can keep the law. So what good is the law?

Galatians 3:24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Romans 3:20  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

The law was given so that man might see his inability to keep the law (because we will always break it), and thus see our need for a Saviour to free us from being in bondage under the curse of the law.

Galatians 3:10  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

Galatians 3:13  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

As long as we are “under the law”, we are cursed, and are separated from the life of God.

Guilty Under the Law

Romans 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 3:10,12  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:  12  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Romans 3:19  Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Romans 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Romans 3:4  God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

James 2:10  For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Abomination

Each and every one of us has worked abomination.

Proverbs 6:16-17 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.

Lying, just like shedding innocent blood (murder), is an abomination to God.

Thus, we CAN work abomination, and therefore we ARE an abomination to the Lord.

Deuteronomy 25:16 For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the LORD thy God.

If you can do abomination, if you can lie, you cannot go to Heaven. Not just because you have done things that  are abominations, but because you ARE an abomination. You ARE abominable to the Lord.

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

All of your works, even your “good” ones, are abomination. God will not accept any of them.

Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

It isn’t just that you have done abominable things, it is that you CAN DO abominable things, and therefore you ARE abominable in the sight of God. You ARE an abomination. He cannot let you into Heaven.

Revelation 22:15 For without [Heaven / New Jerusalem] are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

If you can make a lie, you will be without (outside of) Heaven.

To be within Heaven, it must be completely impossible for you to lie, or work any abomination.

The Sentence Is Death

Romans 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

James 1:15  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

2 Corinthians 1:9  But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

Revelation 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

You will die again (after the death of your body). This is the eternal death of your soul.

God (Jesus) Became Flesh

1 Timothy 3:16  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Isaiah 44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
Isaiah 44:8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.

The Lord is “the first and last”. Jesus is also “the first and the last”.

Revelation 2:8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

There is no God “beside” the Lord. Yet Jesus is called “Lord of all” and is literally beside God, sitting on His right hand.

Act 10:36  The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

1 Peter 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

Isaiah 43:10-11 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.  11  I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

Hosea 13:4 Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.

The Lord God says clearly that He is the Saviour, and there is no other Saviour beside Him. But Jesus is both “beside” Him and is also called Saviour.

Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Isaiah 44:24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

The Lord says clearly that He created the heavens and the earth by Himself. But the Bible also says clearly that Jesus made the heavens and the earth by Himself.

John 1:2-3 The same [the Word – Jesus Christ] was in the beginning with God.  3  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Colossians 1:16-17 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:  17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

All this is only possible if Jesus IS God. If you choose not to believe this, you’ve made God a liar (1 John 5:10).

John 14:8-10 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.  9  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?  10  Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

John 1:1,14  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 10:30  I and my Father are one.

Isaiah 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

John 8:24  I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

Jesus Cannot Sin

2 Corinthians 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

1 Peter 2:21-22  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:  22  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

Hebrews 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 7:26-27  For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;  27  Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

The whole idea of Jesus paying for the sins of the world depended on His being sinless. Otherwise, he would have had to pay (die) for his own sins.

1 John 3:5  And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

Hebrews 6:18  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Titus 1:2  In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Because Jesus is God, it was impossible for Him to lie; to sin, to work abomination. 

Also, because Jesus is the Son of God, it was impossible for Him to lie; to sin, to work abomination.

Luke 1:35  And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

John 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Jesus was the only begotten Son of God. He was born of God.

1 John 3:9  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

It was impossible for Jesus to sin because he was born of God. Just like Jesus, it needs to be impossible for you to lie; to sin. You need to be born of God. You need to be made a son of God.

Righteousness

Proverbs 11:4  Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

Matthew 25:46  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Isaiah 60:21 Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.

Righteousness is required for eternal life.

Romans 3:10  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Unfortunately, no one is righteous before God.

But wait, weren’t there certain people called righteous before Jesus?

Psalms 106:30-31  Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed. 31  And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.

Romans 4:2  For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.  3  For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Understand that Phinehas and Abraham’s righteousness was their own. And it was not considered righteousness BEFORE GOD.

Deuteronomy 6:25  And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.

The only thing man ever had before Jesus Christ was man’s own righteousness. Your own righteousness. Not God’s righteousness.

Ezekiel 33:13  When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.

Isaiah 57:12  I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee.

Your own righteousness cannot save you.

Isaiah 64:6  But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Your own righteousness is not clean to God.

Galatians 3:21  Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

The law can not make you righteous before God. The law cannot give you life. So what is the answer? What CAN save man?

Isaiah 46:12-13  Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness:  13  I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.

Isaiah 56:1  Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.

Psalm 24:5  He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Job 33:26  He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.

God promised to give to man HIS righteousness, which would be our salvation. It was made available to man through Christ.

Romans 3:25-26  Whom God hath set forth [His Son Jesus] to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;  26  To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Only Jesus Christ has God’s righteousness.

2 Peter 1:1  Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

Only Jesus Christ, who IS God, can offer you, God’s righteousness.

Romans 10:2-4  For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.  3  For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.  4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

There are two (2) types of righteousness. 1- Your own righteousness (of the law by works) and 2- God’s righteousness (of Christ by faith). Man’s righteousness does not profit. God’s righteousness gives eternal salvation.

Romans 5:17-19  For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)  18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.  19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

This passage in a nutshell says, They which receive the gift of righteousness, shall be made righteous.

The gift of God is righteousness. God will give you the gift of His righteousness, if you will call and ask for it.

God’s righteousness, the free gift, will make you righteous, and give you eternal life.

Romans 4:20-25  He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;  21  And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.  22  And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.  23  Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it [righteousness] was imputed to him;  24  But for us also, to whom it [righteousness] shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;  25  Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Until Christ, man has never had anything other than his own righteousness. Now, we can have God’s righteousness given to us, if we believe on Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

Jesus Christ needs to be made righteousness and salvation to you.

Philippians 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

You need HIS righteousness, not your own.

Isaiah 54:17  No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.

Psalm 71:1-2  In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.  2 Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.

Psalm 71:16  I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.

The Lord’s righteousness saves. Trusting in your own righteousness, at all, will cause you to die in your sins. You must put your trust in God’s righteousness ONLY. 

Works vs. Grace

Romans 9:31-32  But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.   32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

Romans 4:4-5  Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.  5  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

In other words, if you are trying to be good enough (working) to get into heaven, then you will have to pay the value (the debt) of being good enough to get into Heaven. As you will have seen above, the requirement is complete perfection. Having never sinned or told a lie. Those in Heaven will not even have the ABILITY to lie. So if you think you can work your way into Heaven, you are very mistaken.

Conversely, if you are trying to do good works to atone for your sins, you also have a debt to pay off. Let’s say that you were found guilty of a misdemeanor (minor crime) in a court of law and sentenced to 200 hours of community service. Unless you are given credit for someone else’s labor on your behalf (which is what Jesus did for mankind), you will have to work those hours yourself. You will have to pay off your own debt. And unfortunately, the sentence for sin is not 200 hours of community service. It is death. So, you die, or you believe on Jesus, who died for you, and accept His payment (the free gift of God) of your debt. Your choice.

Acts 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

The GIFT OF GOD cannot be purchased with money, good works, penances, or anything else! If you are attempting to pay for it, then it is NOT a GIFT of God.

Romans 4:6-7  Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,  7  Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

Galatians 2:16  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Galatians 3:11  But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Jeremiah 48:7  For because thou hast trusted in thy works and in thy treasures, thou shalt also be taken: …

Galatians 2:21  I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

2 Timothy 1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

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

Romans 3:20-22  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.  21  But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;  22  Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Romans 11:6  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

You can’t be saved by both God’s grace and your works. You must believe in Christ’s righteousness (by grace) alone, without your fleshly works.

You can’t do fleshly WORKS. You have only two works (two spiritual works) to do: Believe and Confess.

Romans 10:9-10  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

After we repent, and do the first works (Believe and Confess), we receive Grace, and CEASE from our own works.

Revelation 2:5  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Romans 5:2  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

John 6:28-29  Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Hebrews 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

Acts 13:39  And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Romans 3:28  Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Impossibility of Sin

Romans 8:7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Naturally, man is capable of sin. And INCAPABLE of keeping God’s laws.

And God cannot allow the possibility of sin and death into His home.

Galatians 5:19-21  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  21  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

If you can do any of these things (e.g. envy or hate), you cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Revelation 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Revelation 22:15  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

If you can make a lie (and you can) then you cannot enter Heaven; you will be WITHOUT.

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Psalm 5:6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing [lying]: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

Proverbs 19:5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

Proverbs 19:9  A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.

Psalm 101:7  He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.

It needs to be impossible for you to lie – to sin.

Isaiah 63:8  For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.

God’s people will not lie. You need a Saviour to make you one of His people; incapable of lying.

Zephaniah 3:13  The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

The saved, the elect, spiritual Israel, will be incapable of lies and all iniquity (sin).

Psalm 119:29 Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.

This cannot be true of your flesh. It must be true of your spirit.

Psalm 32:2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,  10  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Those that believe on Christ are washed, justified from all things, and are made incapable of sin.

Repentance

Luke 13:3  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Acts 17:30  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

One must repent to be saved. Without repentance, one cannot believe the gospel.

Acts 20:21  Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Repent does not mean “to turn” as many teach. Repentance and turning are two separate actions.

Ezekiel 14:6  Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.

Ezekiel 18:30  Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

In one Old Testament instance, Israel was turned by God… before repentance. 

Jeremiah 31:19  Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.

While this is not the order in which a man believes unto salvation in Jesus Christ, it shows definitively that “repent” and “turn” are separate items.

Acts 26:20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

Repent does not mean “turn from your sin”. Repent means to change your mind. 

Genesis 6:6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

God is the 1st being in the Bible to “repent”. But He did not turn from His sin. He merely changed his mind.

Jeremiah 18:7 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom,…to destroy it; 8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil,  I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. 9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; 10 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.

The Lord repents. The Lord repents of good, and the Lord repents of evil. But He never “turns from His sins”. He merely changes his mind concerning the things that He “thought to do”. To repent is to change your thoughts.

You are commanded to repent (change your mind) from YOUR works, and YOUR righteousness, toward God’s works, and God’s righteousness.

Acts 20:21  Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Revelation 2:22 Behold, I will cast…them…into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. Revelation 16:11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

A man must repent of his deeds (works), not merely of his sins. Repentance must be of all your deeds, not just the bad ones.

Hebrews 6:1  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

You need to change your mind (repent) from trusting works, to acknowledge the truth.

2 Timothy 2:25-26  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;  26  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

The truth of the gospel that must be acknowledged is that there is none righteous but one: Jesus Christ. One is either “in Christ” (made righteous by Jesus’s works) or one is “in works” (condemned by his own works). Without repentance from works, one is already condemned, being “in works”.

Titus 1:16  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

You may say that you know God, and that you believe in Him. But if you believe that your works can in any way affect whether you ultimately make it into Heaven or fall short of it, then you are IN WORKS. You are still under the curse of the law. All you have is YOUR OWN righteousness.

Galatians 5:1-12  … be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage [works].  2  Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised [working], Christ shall profit you nothing.  3  For I testify again to every man that is circumcised [working], that he is a debtor to do the whole law.  4  Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law [works]; ye are fallen from grace.

You can’t have both grace and works. If you are trusting your works at all, Jesus Christ profits you nothing.

You need to repent from trusting your works entirely toward trusting ONLY on God and His work He did.

One Sacrifice

Romans 6:10  For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Hebrews 10:12  But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

Hebrews 10:14  For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Hebrews 10:16-18  This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;  17  And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.  18  Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

Salvation in Jesus Alone

Acts 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

2 Timothy 2:10  Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Believe on Jesus Christ

John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

What does it mean to believe on the name of Jesus Christ?

First, you have to believe that Jesus IS God.

Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

To believe on His name, is to believe that Jesus is “God with us”.

Second, you must believe that He is the only salvation that mankind has. You must believe that Jesus is the only way for you to have eternal life.

Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

But in addition, to really believe on Jesus Christ, you have to believe the record that God gave of Him. If not, you have called God a liar, and you have not believed on Christ.

1 John 5:10-12  He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.  11  And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  12  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

The record of Jesus Christ, which must be believed for eternal salvation is this:

  1. Eternal life is in Jesus Christ alone.
  2. If you have Jesus you have life.
  3. If you don’t have Jesus you do not have life.

THERE IS NO GREY AREA.

If you believe that you, or anyone else, can have eternal life without Jesus, then you are calling God a liar, and you have not believed on Jesus.

If you believe that you, or anyone else, can have Jesus without eternal life, then you are calling God a liar, and you have not believed on Jesus.

The world’s best do-gooder has no life if he/she does not have Jesus.

The world’s worst murderer has life if he/she has Jesus.

Repent (change your mind) and believe the record.

Call on The Lord

Romans 10:8-10  But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;  9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Eternal Security

Titus 1:2  In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Romans 5:8-9  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. [9] Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Justified by HIS blood and saved though HIM. Not through yourself.

Romans 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Saved by HIS life, not your own life.

Galatians 3:3  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

The flesh (your works) cannot make you perfect. Only the The Spirit of Jesus Christ can. Likewise the flesh (your works) cannot keep you perfect. Only the Spirit of Jesus Christ can.

Romans 6:9-11  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.  10  For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.  11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The saved man is unable to sin or die any more, not because of himself, but because Jesus Christ’s life is what keeps one alive.

Hebrews 7:24-25  But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.  25  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

1 John 3:9  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

He who has trusted in Jesus, repented, and was born again, cannot sin. So how could he possibly lose his salvation? He can’t.

Hebrews 10:14  For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

1 John 5:13  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

John 10:28-29  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.  29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

Romans 8:38-39  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

John 1:12-13  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:  13  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Those that are in Christ were born again of the Spirit of God; made a new creature. Death has no more dominion over them. They cannot sin, and cannot die, just as Christ cannot sin and cannot die.

Romans 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:33  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.

Hebrews 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Those that are in Christ are made perfect and have their names written in the book of life heaven.

Revelation 3:5  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

And they will never be blotted out… for those that overcome. And who overcomes?

1 John 5:4-5  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.  5  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

And that’s a good thing too, because…

Revelation 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Is your name in the book of life, or not?

You need to sincerely and humbly pray:

Dear Lord,

I REPENT OF BELIEVING IN WORKS. I must be saved by grace, without works.

I BELIEVE JESUS IS GOD, the One True Almighty God.

I BELIEVE ONLY JESUS MATTERS. Jesus died for me, and rose again.

I SUBMIT TO GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS, so I will have the impossibility of sin.

Amen.