Way of Life:The History of How Evangelism Was Corrupted Among Independent Baptists

[RSS Robot]

Prior to the 1970s, Independent Baptist churches in general were spiritually stronger than today (though never strong enough, in our estimation), and one reason was that they were more careful about salvation.
Consider some prominent examples:
John R. Rice, 1940 - “To repent literally means to have a change of mind or spirit toward God and toward sin. It means to turn from your sins, earnestly, with all your heart, and trust in Jesus Christ to save you” ( What Must I Do to Be Saved? 1940).
Baptist Bible Fellowship International, 1950 - “We believe that Repentance and Faith are solemn obligations, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God; thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our... Read More

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[heartstrings]

I disagree on this point;

Quote

Another thing that happened in the 1970s to corrupt the practice of evangelism was the redefinition of the doctrine of repentance. 

We have seen that Independent Baptist preachers formerly taught a clear doctrine of repentance as a turning, a surrender, a change of mind that results in a change of life, but this changed.

Instead of repentance and faith as two different things, as Paul taught (Acts 20:21), repentance and faith became one thing. Repentance became faith. 

Instead of a turning to God from sin and false religion, repentance became a turning from unbelief to belief. 

Instead of repentance as something that always produces evidence (Acts 26:20), repentance became something that might not be seen.

 

Repentance and faith ARE one thing. Salvation is not a "Step one, step two" process. To "repent" is to turn against or away from something. During "Godly sorrow":, they are confronted with what a lowdown sorry sinner they are, headed for Hell and deserve it, and when they realize the holiness and righteousness of Christ and they simply turn from sin and self to Christ , they are saved. The turning from sin and self to Christ is ALL by faith and takes place in the heart.. THEN a process of ongoing repentance or "progressive sanctification" is begun.

I disagree on this point;

Quote

Another thing that happened in the 1970s to corrupt the practice of evangelism was the redefinition of the doctrine of repentance. 

We have seen that Independent Baptist preachers formerly taught a clear doctrine of repentance as a turning, a surrender, a change of mind that results in a change of life, but this changed.

Instead of repentance and faith as two different things, as Paul taught (Acts 20:21), repentance and faith became one thing. Repentance became faith. 

Instead of a turning to God from sin and false religion, repentance became a turning from unbelief to belief. 

Instead of repentance as something that always produces evidence (Acts 26:20), repentance became something that might not be seen.

 

Repentance and faith ARE one thing. Salvation is not a "Step one, step two" process. To "repent" is to turn against or away from something in your heart. During "Godly sorrow":, a sinner realizes what a lowdown sorry sinner they are, headed for Hell and deserve it, and when they realize the holiness and righteousness of Christ and they simply turn from sin and self to Christ as their only hope , they are saved. The turning from sin and self to Christ is ALL by faith and takes place in the heart.. THEN a process of ongoing repentance or "progressive sanctification" is begun.

Edited August 21, 2018 by heartstrings

[Jordan Kurecki]

9 hours ago, heartstrings said:

I disagree on this point;

 

Repentance and faith ARE one thing. Salvation is not a "Step one, step two" process. To "repent" is to turn against or away from something. During "Godly sorrow":, they are confronted with what a lowdown sorry sinner they are, headed for Hell and deserve it, and when they realize the holiness and righteousness of Christ and they simply turn from sin and self to Christ , they are saved. The turning from sin and self to Christ is ALL by faith and takes place in the heart.. THEN a process of ongoing repentance or "progressive sanctification" is begun.

I disagree on this point;

 

Repentance and faith ARE one thing. Salvation is not a "Step one, step two" process. To "repent" is to turn against or away from something in your heart. During "Godly sorrow":, a sinner realizes what a lowdown sorry sinner they are, headed for Hell and deserve it, and when they realize the holiness and righteousness of Christ and they simply turn from sin and self to Christ as their only hope , they are saved. The turning from sin and self to Christ is ALL by faith and takes place in the heart.. THEN a process of ongoing repentance or "progressive sanctification" is begun.

Not true. Repentance and faith absolutely are not the same. 

Repent means to change your mind, it’s got many connotations but it’s a

change of mind about

1. Sin (being serious)

2. Self (not being good enough, 

3. The Saviour (he’s the only

way)

 

true Faith cannot happen with repentance, as well as true repentance cannot happen without faith. 

Jesus said Repent AND believe the Gospel. They are not the same! 

Repentance is aknowledging that your way is wrong, that your in trouble, Faith is trusting in Gods way. 

They are intimately connected but are not the same.

 

 

 

 

 

[John Young]

We are currently going over "Repentance and Faith" at church. Below are my notes in regard to this topic. We are also currently going over in our Sunday School every time the word "repent" is being used in scripture.

REPENTANCE AND FAITH

We believe Repentance and Faith are solemn obligations, and inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God; thereby, being convicted of our guilt, danger and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Savior.

Psalm 51:1-4,7; Isaiah 55:6-7; Mark 1:15; Luke 12:8; 18:13; Acts 2:37-38; 20:21; Romans 10:9-11,13

 Repentance: Always has an inward change of heart and mind that manifests in an outward change. We believe “Repentance towards God” is the spiritual action of humbling one’s self before God in the knowledge they sinned and deserve the punishment declared and is willing to do what is required to make it right again. (Re=to do again; penitence=the state of being penitent; regret; contrition; repentance; penitent=feeling or expressing sorrow for sin or wrongdoing and disposed to atonement and amendment; repentant; contrite. Contrite=showing sincere remorse. filled with a sense of guilt and the desire for atonement; penitent: a contrite sinner. A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Psalms 51:17. (Repentance is a requirement for mercy and grace from God regardless if the person has been saved or not. God resist pride but rewards the humble with grace. Proverbs 3:34, James 4:6)

Faith: We believe “faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" is Realizing the penalty and payment made for our rebellion, Accepting this payment, and Relying on Christ to keep us.

Obligations: The requirement to do something. (The binding power of a vow, promise, oath or contract, or of law, civil, political or moral, independent of a promise; that which constitutes legal or moral duty, and which renders a person liable to coercion and punishment for neglecting it. The laws and commands of God impose on us an obligation to love him supremely, and our neighbor as ourselves. Every citizen is under an obligation to obey the laws of the state. Moral obligation binds men without promise or contract. Web1828)

Grace: A special favor given to the humble sinner to be heard of God, even though Judgement has been declared.

Quicken: to make alive again. (1. Primarily, to make alive; to vivify; to revive or resuscitate, as from death or an inanimate state. Romans 4:17.2. To make alive in a spiritual sense; to communicate a principle of grace to.You hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins. Ephesians 2:1. 3. To hasten; to accelerate; as, to quicken motion, speed or flight.4. To sharpen; to give keener perception to; to stimulate; to incite; as, to quicken the appetite or taste; to quicken desires. 5. To revive; to cheer; to reinvigorate; to refresh by new supplies of comfort or grace. Psalms 119:25. Web1828)

Thereby: By the Spirit of God we receive the ability to repent, believe, and call out for salvation from our corrupted state. It is not of our own ability but that of the Spirt of God working in us when we hear the Gospel of our salvation.

Heartily: From the heart; with all the heart; with sincerity; really. (1. With zeal; actively; vigorously. 2. Eagerly; freely;)

only and all-sufficient: Not trusting in self, works, or anything or anyone else to save and that Christ Saves so completely that nothing else is ever needed again.

 

Processes involved in biblical repentance and faith.

1. Man rebels by violating God's order and God declares his intent to punish it. (the Soul that sins shall die)

2. Mankind recognizes their fault, God's rightful justice, accepts it, humbles self before God, and asks for mercy. (re-pentance)

3. God sees their humility before Him and humbles Himself by forgoing judgement and grants mercy. (Mercy. A stay of judgement but not a removal of grievances)

4. God then extends Grace in their humbled so that they can believe in his prescribed method of removing the grievances (Grace)

5. Mankind accepts the method and conditions offered for restoration of peace. (Faith) 

God repenting: God repents of declared punishment of rebellion only if Mankind repents of the rebellion (Jeremiah 26:13). God does not Repent of Covenants or Promises (Numbers 23:19-20)

[swathdiver]

On 8/21/2018 at 12:33 PM, heartstrings said:

I disagree on this point;

 

Repentance and faith ARE one thing. Salvation is not a "Step one, step two" process. To "repent" is to turn against or away from something. During "Godly sorrow":, they are confronted with what a lowdown sorry sinner they are, headed for Hell and deserve it, and when they realize the holiness and righteousness of Christ and they simply turn from sin and self to Christ , they are saved. The turning from sin and self to Christ is ALL by faith and takes place in the heart.. THEN a process of ongoing repentance or "progressive sanctification" is begun.

I disagree on this point;

 

Repentance and faith ARE one thing. Salvation is not a "Step one, step two" process. To "repent" is to turn against or away from something in your heart. During "Godly sorrow":, a sinner realizes what a lowdown sorry sinner they are, headed for Hell and deserve it, and when they realize the holiness and righteousness of Christ and they simply turn from sin and self to Christ as their only hope , they are saved. The turning from sin and self to Christ is ALL by faith and takes place in the heart.. THEN a process of ongoing repentance or "progressive sanctification" is begun.

Wayne. I think what the article means is that repentance has been de-emphasized and the focus goes on faith.  When you query them about it, they of course agree that one cannot happen without the other, they are two sides of the same coin.  But in witnessing and in teaching the flock, many are skipping repentance; a big mistake in my opinion.

[John Young]

Basically, for me, Repentance is the state in which grace can be received. God will not chose a non-repentant person for salvation nor will a non-repentant person want to be saved.

[heartstrings]

On 8/21/2018 at 9:30 PM, Jordan Kurecki said:

Not true. Repentance and faith absolutely are not the same. 

Repent means to change your mind, it’s got many connotations but it’s a

change of mind about

1. Sin (being serious)

2. Self (not being good enough, 

3. The Saviour (he’s the only

way)

 

true Faith cannot happen with repentance, as well as true repentance cannot happen without faith. 

Jesus said Repent AND believe the Gospel. They are not the same! 

Repentance is aknowledging that your way is wrong, that your in trouble, Faith is trusting in Gods way. 

They are intimately connected but are not the same.

 

 

 

 

 

Brother Jordan, what is it that made you "repent"?

[heartstrings]

Brother Jordan, I didn't get an answer.

 What made you "change your mind"? Faith did. One does not just decide one day to repent. Repentance takes faith. Repentance is part of faith. They are inseparable. Salvation is not a step one, step two thing. Otherwise it would be works.

Edited August 29, 2018 by heartstrings

[Jordan Kurecki]

56 minutes ago, heartstrings said:

Brother Jordan, I didn't get an answer.

 What made you "change your mind"? Faith did. One does not just decide one day to repent. Repentance takes faith. Repentance is part of faith. They are inseparable. Salvation is not a step one, step two thing. Otherwise it would be works.

This a straw man. I never said salvation was two steps. I am simply pointing out that faith and repentance are not equivalent. They have different shades of meaning.