Will God's goodness alone lead to repentance?

What is radical grace revolution?

 The radical grace revolution is based on the following popular argument from the radical grace preachers - Grace Revolution @LW Oct 2011:   

• A.  a lawless revolution wrongly titled as 'grace revolution':
• B.  a false repentance wrongly confessed as the 'true repentance':  
• C.  a lawless grace without God's laws and judgement: 

A. a lawless revolution wrongly titled as 'grace revolution': 

“Under the law, God said, I will condemn you and visit all your sins  to the third or fourth generation, but under grace, God said, I will be merciful to your unrighteousness. And all your lawless deeds, I will remember no more. There has been a change, church ... There has been a CHANGE in the covenant, with no more laws and commandments for us to keep ! It’s a pure grace REVOLUTION and forgiveness when God will just bless all sinners who will just believe or repent with or without repentance or confession of sins !
The above is a plea to the churches to preach the so-called 'grace revolution' without any law. However, the plea is also a false impression given to everyone (including the sinners) that most of the churches who preach doing God's laws and commandments are under the law (the Old covenant or Jewish law of circumcision). Hence, it is a plea for all the churches to change from teaching and keeping God's commandments under the New covenant to preaching more radical grace under the 'new' revolution; it could be a 'lawless revolution'. I will explain next time why a change in the covenant would not be necessarily a change or removal of all God's laws and commandments in the covenants. But now I can explain why God is merciful to our unrighteousness. It's because we are under the New covenant; we are under the New covenant because we have God's laws in our hearts, and we have God's laws in our hearts because we have accepted Jesus and His words:

• Heb 8:10-13 KJV  (10) For this is the covenant .. I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, ...  (12) For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.  (13)  In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old...   

Radical grace preachers will argue, "But no one can keep all God's laws. Jesus said, If you look at a woman and lust after her, you have broken the law. When you broke one law, you have broken all the laws.. Under the law, we are all condemned. But under grace, we do not have to keep any laws to be righteous. We are righteous even if we broke all the laws. That's why we can never be condemned under grace .."
I will tell them, No, Jesus did not say that if you look at a woman and lust after her, you have broken all the laws and therefore you do not need to keep any laws. If what you said is true, why did He said: 
Joh 14:15 KJV  If ye love me, keep my commandments and Joh 15:10-12 KJV  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; ..  (12)  This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
If I were you, I would not simply give people the excuse by deliberately changing or misinterpreting the teaching of the Lord. When Jesus said that if we look at a woman and lust after her, He wanted all of us, including the Pharisees, to know that we are the sinners who have the propensity to sin, no matter how righteous we may think about ourselves Mat 5:28. (This Bible verse alone has also shattered the radical grace doctrine of 'no future sins' and 'no more confession of sins' for the radical grace believers.)
Mat 5:1-28 KJV  And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:  (2)  And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, .. (28) But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Jesus knew that all His disciples could not keep all the laws perfectly too, but He did not say that, therefore, they would not need to keep any laws. 
Hence, I will tell the radical grace preachers, You should never say that "if no one can keep any laws, we do not need to keep any laws too". If you preach like this to the lawless people, you may convert all of them immediately, but it is not a true conversion. Ultimately, you may convert the whole world 'under grace' and become the biggest church, but you have also brought lawlessness into the churches under the disguise of 'radical grace'. Can anyone or sinner be under the New covenant without keeping any laws ? No, please read from Heb 8:10 onward. A sinner is under the New covenant only if he has believed in Jesus and His teaching; he must go through the baptism of repentance by faith, died to self, taken up his cross willingly (Mat 16:24-25), experienced born again in the Spirit, and received God's laws and commandments with obedience in his mind and heart. Hence, we can say that God is merciful to all our unrighteousness because we have God's laws and commandments in our hearts through the baptism of repentance and of His Spirit.

• Joh 3:5-8 KJV  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  (6)  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  (7)  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  (8)  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. (Jesus was talking about 'repentance' to Nicodemus when He told him about 'being born again' in the Spirit - See explanation on John 3:16 in video - 6. To confess sin or not to .. @slide 10").

Of course, baptism of repentance is not just believing only or changing our mind only. It is a baptism of death which must involve denying, dying, and burying of self through an inner change of emotion, desires, passion, determination, preference, and choice which is more 'complicated' than just the outward water baptism ceremony or verbal confession of sins. Ultimately it will cause us to be born of water and of the Spirit and put God's laws and the commandments of Jesus in our heart, in our mind, in out thinking, and in our confession. Obviously the repentance message was a 'revolution' against the teaching of the Pharisees. It was a revolution against their 'Corban' law or 'lawless confession' (Mark 7:11). Hence, it will not make sense for us to start another revolution to go back to the 'lawless confession' again. Yet, we have found many churches today preaching another revolution or another confession similar to the 'Corban' law confession; they use 'radical grace' confession instead. They would just preach or confess grace, Holy Spirit, and Jesus, while rejecting all God's laws and commandments as the hard sayings for the legalistic only. Well, they may not have used the same religious jargon; for example, the Pharisees' Corban law confession, to excuse themselves and to justify themselves for rejecting and changing God's commandment, but they have the same thinking as the Pharisees who will keep the laws with their mouths only; they want to make it easy for the people and themselves. Yes, God's laws may be hard for some of us to follow, but it should always be in our heart and become the unwavering goal, delight, and life of every truly born again believer who is determined to take up his cross and die to self.

• Psa 119:10-37 KJV (10)  With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.  (11)  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.  (12)  Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes ... (32) I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.  (33)  HE. Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.  (34)  Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.  (35)  Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.  (36)  Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.  (37)  Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.

Many of us know that king David is a man after God's heart. He was different from the Jews and the Pharisees, even though he was under the law (or the Old covenant). That's because he had the thinking of a New covenant believer. He had the Spirit of God's laws in his heart. He understood Heb 8:10 and Heb 10:16 when God would put His laws in the heart of the people. Unlike the Pharisees and the Jews, he is a type of the new believers who will always have Jesus and God's laws in his heart.

• Mat 16:24-25 KJV  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  (25)  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 
• Luk 9:23 KJV  And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 
• Mar 8:34 KJV  And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
• Mar 10:21 KJV  Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 

Hence, God's promise is not for anyone who would still love unrighteousness, refuse to repent of himself, and love the riches of this world more than the commands of the Lord. God's promise is for those who are born again under the New covenant or the baptism of repentance, after their willingness to repent, to die to themselves, to deny themselves (of riches) by taking up their cross daily, and to keep the Lord's commands in their heart. New covenant must have true repentance, God’s laws, and change of life; otherwise it is just a false ‘new-age’ covenant which is preached by some mega-rich preachers who always give excuses and explain all the commands of the Lord as hardsayings or obsolete teachings under the law. I will ask them, Will you preach that Jesus' command to all of us to take up the cross as obsolete teaching also? If the Lord has no commands, how can Heb 8:10 say that God will put His laws or commands into our mind and write them into our hearts? Of course, I will never believe that God's laws or commands in Heb 8:10 is just to listen to your commands  or 'now words' only. Hence, New covenant or the true gospel of Jesus Christ must have the Lord's commands; otherwise it is still very similar to the 'perverted' lawless covenant, prosperity gospel, or Corban laws (Mark 7:11) created by the greedy Pharisees. They will argue, "Of course, the command to take up the cross is an impossibility. It should be considered as the hard sayings or the commandments given to the Pharisees only. Jesus yoke is always easy and effortless. Besides, look at Mar 10:21, who will be so dump to sell whatever thou hast, and give to the poor today? Those who want to do so, please sell all and give your riches to me.. Haha.. or transfer all your wealth to me .. Heh..heh" 
I will tell them, Selling everything and following Jesus Christ was not a dump thing to do. At least, Peter knew it was the wisest thing for him when the Lord said to him in the following verses:

• Mar 10:28-30 KJV  Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.  (29)  And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,  (30)  But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
• Mat 19:27-28 KJV  Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?  (28)  And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

I will tell them, However, I would be dump to sell all and give it to you. I would be dump if I believe that giving to you and to your churches is equivalent to giving to Jesus or God. Why should I sell all and give to you 

1. when you are not poor (in fact, you are filthy rich) ?
2. when you are not preaching the word of God ? and
3. when you are not Jesus ?

I will tell them, If 1 John 1:9 is applicable or written to the sinners, the unrighteous, or the agnostic, all the more we should tell the sinners, the unrighteous, the cheaters, the liars, the conmen, the counterfeit preachers, and the false believers to repent and to confess their sins to obtain God's mercy; otherwise, how can we be God's preachers? God's preachers should not be afraid to tell sinners about their unrighteousness just like the doctors telling patients about their sicknesses. No doctors would say, "Oh, because the sickness will always cause stress and condemnation to our patients, we will choose to tell them only the goodnews." Similarly. God's preachers should not be afraid to tell the truth. Telling of the truth is like rubbing of the salt on the 'wounds'. When we tell the truth, God heals.  

• 1Jn 1:8-9 KJV  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  (9)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Mat 5:13 KJV  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.   

 B. a false repentance wrongly confessed as the 'true repentance': 

“Under the law, God said, You have to repent first in order for Me to bless you, but under grace, God said, I will bless you first before you repent. When you receive the blessing and goodness of God, His goodness will lead you to repentance. This repentance is the realization or change of mind to know how good God is. It empowers you to sin no more without the law. Hallelujah ! We do not need any law or God's commandment now. This is true repentance ! The church has got it messed up by preaching repentance first or by telling you to sin no more first, and then God will forgive you and bless you. But my Bible said, Jesus gave the adulterous woman the gift of no condemnation first which had empowered her to go and sin no more.. Hallelujah, if you preach no condemnation, people will be empowered to go and sin no more.. This is the Grace Revolution ! Hallelujah !"   

What? I will ask them, Repentance, especially repentance from sins or repentance with the confession of sins, is under the law? If this is true, water baptism is also under the law? Are you saying that the whole Church since the Apostle's time has been preaching or teaching under the law? If sinners will all want to receive God's forgiveness and blessings first and repent later, our churches are doomed. Our churches will be filled with 'confessing' Christian who may never repent in the end. Of course, I would not deny that God can bless all sinners of the world before they will even repent. Didn't God bless and prosper all the sinners and send rain to all their crops even before they repented? Mat 5:45 KJV .. for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. In fact, many of them, including the believers, have been receiving the blessings and goodness of God. However, many of them will still not repent. 

• Luk 12:16-50 KJV  And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:  (17)  And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?  (18)  And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.  (19)  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.  (20)  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?  (21)  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God .. (30) For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.  (31)  But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you  .. (49) I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?  (50)  But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

I was shocked when I heard grace revolution which gives sinners the option to choose when they should repent. I would ask them, So, are you saying that preaching of repentance to the sinners is wrong or that your no condemnation message to the world is more effective than the Lord's repentance message? Don't be arrogant ! You may think that most of your believers are fools because they don't know your 'hidden agenda'. But we know that when you said that the church has got it messed up by preaching repentance to the world; you literally mean Jesus has got it messed up by preaching repentance too, that His call for the sinner to repentance is an obsolete message, and that He should follow you by telling all His disciples to call sinners to 'no condemnation' or 'changing their mind' only. You could have knowingly or unknowingly promoted yourselves as the 'Christ, even though you may keep saying that you hear from Him. No, you are an impostor who have changed the word and commandment of God and denied everything that Jesus had said. Your behaviour is despicable. It is like putting all your thoughts and contents in another person's blog using his name to sell false doctrines and poisons to profit yourselves, and then let him clear all the mess. If you do the same thing in the kingdom of God, God will flush you out forever...

C. a lawless grace without judgement:  

"When it comes to stoning or judging the adulterous woman, the Pharisees would if they could, but they could not. But on the other hand, Jesus could but He would not. Hallelujah, this is our God who will never judge us or condemn us...".  

I will ask them, Have you been thinking that the Pharisees were very condemning people? However, when you accuse the Pharisees of their hypocrisy, you are not only condemning the Pharisees, you are also condemning yourselves? The Pharisees were basically lawless people although they were legalistic in many ways with thousands of their own laws. Jesus had looked at them as the lawless people who changed God's commandments and created their own Corban's law (Mark 7:11). Hence, when you condemn the Pharisees' behaviour and blame it on all God's laws and commandments, you have led the 'lawless' Gentiles from one form of lawlessness (which is their total ignorance about God's laws 1Jn 3:4) to a deeper form of lawlessness (which is a complete rejection of God's laws from their hearts). Worst, you have given them the false promise that Jesus will never judge any lawless people who are unrepentant like the Pharisees. Are you more humble or more boastful than the Pharisees? or are you just more lawless than the Pharisees? God knows: 

• Mat 23:8-28 KJV  But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.  (9)  And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.  (10)  Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.  (11)  But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.  (12)  And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.  (13)  But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. .. (28) Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity (lawlessness)... (33)Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?   

The warning and judgement of the Lord against the lawless Pharisees and all those who are the lawless ones above is so clear to everyone who read it. How can we give the false promise that Jesus would not judge any sinners or false prophets who would continue in their lawlessness, lawless doctrines, and false teachings? How can we create lies by showing only the Bible passage about the adulterous woman or God's promises which please everybody but cunningly hide the above warning and judgement to the lawless people. Obviously, some of us have deliberately preached the lawless gospel, lawless grace, or lawless Bible (without the Lord's permission) to fulfil a very 'dark secret' at the expense of millions of lost souls. 

    

Will God's goodness alone lead to repentance?
 

I will now explore more on the second category of the radical grace revolution above; namely: B. "a false repentance wrongly confessed as the 'true repentance'": 

Many preachers today want to preach that God's goodness will lead to repentance or preaching of God's goodness must come first before repentance (before people will repent). I would just chuckle within and ignore it if they are just ignorant about God's word. However, if they argue vehemently and preach it as though it is the truth or revolution against all the churches who preach clear repentance to everybody, I will condemn it as a lie against the Lord's repentance message or the Lord's command to repent. Why? It is because if the preaching of repentance is always ambiguous, not clear, complicated, and evasive, very likely it could be just an 'anti'-repentance message in disguise.   

1. Does it matter to repent now or to repent later? Or do you find it difficult to repent now?

The Pharisees and Nicodemus could have asked John the Baptist and Jesus to accept them and baptised them first before they would really do repentance. But John the Baptist refused to baptise them and rebuked them. It's because he could judge their hearts:  

• Mat 3:8-9 KJV  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:  (9)  And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham ..
• Luk 11:39-42 KJV  And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter, but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. ..(42)  But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 

The problem with the Pharisees was: They all wanted to show the good side, but inside, they were full of ravening and wickedness. They wanted to show the people or act as though they have repented by going through the water baptism or baptism of repentance without true repentance but John the Baptist and Jesus would not allow it. Today we have believers and preachers who think like the Pharisees too. They would all want to be accepted or forgiven first even before they will obey the command of the Lord to repent. My question is: If they really have the heart to repent, does it matter to repent immediately or to repent later? Of course, no. If it is not difficult (or it does not matter) to do it now or later, why can't we do it now, before we receive the goodness of God? Obviously, their insistence to receive God's acceptance or God's goodness first could be their excuse or unreasonable demand on God with the intention not to repent at all. Very likely, if they could not repent now, they would never repent at all.

2, Will God want you to repent first, or repent later (after you've received God's goodness) ?

Some of them will argue, "The gospel of grace will show God's goodness first and you will repent later. How can you condemn the gospel of grace? It is the most glorious message Jesus has given us. It will lead sinners away from sins and then to repentance later .."

I will tell them, No, this is not the gospel of grace. Yes, it looks glorious to the unrepentant but it is not the gospel of Jesus Christ at all. It is the gospel of man. Why? Jesus did not preach the goodness of God; Jesus did SHOW the goodness of God, but He PREACH repentance ! Jesus has never said preaching of blessings, prosperity, and goodness of God will lead people to repentance.. Jesus did say He called sinners to repentance and tell His disciples to preach repentance. Why? Of course, preaching of repentance will lead the sinners to repentance.

But they will argue, "Which one comes first? Goodness comes first or repentance comes first? Of course, goodness must come first. When men see the goodness of God, they will then repent. In another word, the goodness of God is so good that it empowers them to sin no more.."

I will ask them, So, is it so 'good'  that you don't have to preach repentance? or is it so 'good' that you can just preach another repentance which is to metanoia or change your mind only? Obviously, you have not only changed your mind; you have changed the Lord's repentance message. You have denied Christ by denying His word.

3. Repentance is something which those, who can believe only or who want to believe only, cannot do

Repentance is not just believing only or changing your mind only. There are three types of beings who can just believe only or change their minds only:

1. The devils (Jas 2:19-20 KJV  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.  (20)  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?)
2. The Pharisees (Mat 3:5-9 KJV  Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,  (6)  And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.  (7)  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  (8)  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:  (9)  And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham).
3. The righteous (Mar 2:17 KJV  When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.)

Obviously, all of them can believe only or change their mind but they cannot repent. If this is true, how can we say that to repent is to believe only? If we use the meaning of 'repent' in the following Bible verse for God and apply it in our repentance before God, we would be too naive.

Jon 3:10 KJV  And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Yes, God could just change His mind when He repented, but sinners don't just change their mind when they repent.

4. Repentance has something more than believing only

Of course, when God repented, He changed His mind. But when men repent, they cannot just change their mind only - we are not God; we are sinners. Satan thinks that he is like God. That's why he can never do true repentance before God. Are there many who think like Satan too? You bet. The Pharisees and many believers today. I am not surprised that even the preachers are thinking like that too. I will tell them, How can you define repentance as believing without turning from sins, confessing (or admitting) your sins, and doing recompense. Of course, repentance must do something more than believing only unless you are stuck on the cross like the thieves who were beside Jesus. Confessing or admitting one's weaknesses, mistakes, or sins and showing fruits worthy of repentance is one of the most noble and bold human efforts before God and men. It requires great faith and humility to do it. How can we say that it is just a Jewish tradition or legalistic teaching which has passed away like the 'old wine' teaching? It would take great courage for many great men of God to admit wrong too. If we are like the English professor who would define every word according to the English dictionary, yes, I can't argue with many radical grace preachers who literally take out the word 'metanoia' from the Bible and insist that 'to repent' is 'to change your minds' only or 'to believe' only. But if we look at the whole Bible, we know that Jesus want all the people to repent from their sins and wicked ways which would, of course, include a change in their thinking and action too. No point telling people all the time to repent just to repent only, or to repent to believe only, or to repent to repent later, or to repent to prosper in the end, or to repent to boast of how much we can get grace and favour, or to repent to stop people from telling us to repent, ... Yes, some of us can 'repent' very well by doing all the above; except when it comes to repentance to repent from sins. It's so ironical.  

5. Repentance includes turning back to God's commandments (or turning from lawlessness)

However, above all, Jesus wants all the sinners to turn from sin, turn from lawlessness thinking, and obey God's commandments:

• Mat 19:17 KJV  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
• Joh 14:15 KJV  If ye love me, keep my commandments.
• Joh 15:10 KJV  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
• 1Jn 2:3-4 KJV  And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.  (4)  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
• 1Jn 3:22 KJV  And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
• 1Jn 5:2-5 KJV  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.  (3)  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.  (4)  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?
• Rev 12:17 KJV  And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
• Rev 14:12 KJV  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Hence, it is considered as lawlessness if we do not obey God's commandments:

• 1Jn 3:4-5 LITV  Everyone practicing sin also practices lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.  (5)  And you know that that One was revealed that He might take away our sins, and sin is not in Him.

6. Repentance includes repenting from sins

Now I will ask the radical grace preachers, When the whole Bible is so clear, can you say that Jesus would want you to believe only? or to believe in a repentance that has no law, no commandment, no warning, no judgement, no teaching from Him, no discipleship, no turning away from lawlessness, .. Obviously you are preaching 'another Jesus' who is the Lawless One. This Lawless One could be the perfect one with lawlessness or the so-called 'Pure Grace' without any God's laws and commandments.

If you are still not clear about the meaning of repentance in the Bible, please read the whole Bible; don't take out the word 'metanoia' and read only from the Hebrew or Greek dictionary.

• 2Co 12:21 KJV  And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
• Rev 16:11-16 KJV  And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.  (12)  And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.  (13)  And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.  (14)  For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.  (15)  Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.  (16)  And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

When the Bible tells us to repent, it tells us to repent of all these (can you see those words in red?) I have to show these Bible verses from the New Testament to the radical grace preachers because they have argue that repentance with confession of sins is a Jewish tradition which is no longer valid for all the believers today. And I can tell from the above Bible verses that they could have become the most religious and the most rebellious believers in the end time as indicated in the NEW TESTAMENT according to the Bible verses in 2Co 12:21 and Rev 16:11-16.  

7. Repentance without turning back to God's commandments is like losing your garments

Many believers will not realise it because they have been walking around naked while their eyes were looking up and not looking down. They have lost their 'wedding garments' which was also mentioned in:

• Mat 22:11-14 KJV  And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:  (12)  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.  (13)  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  (14)  For many are called, but few are chosen.

When believers refused to keep any God's laws and commandments in their hearts or minds, they have lost all God's commandment from their lives. When they lost God's commandment or the word of God, they lost their 'wedding garments' too. Jesus had shown us that God's commandment is the word of God:

• Mat 15:6 KJV  And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
• Mar 7:12-13 KJV  And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;  (13)  Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
• Mat 4:4 KJV  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

That's why we can tell why the preaching of radical grace today is so different and so appealing compared with the gospel of grace preached by the traditional churches. The missing ingredient (God's commandments) in the modern preaching may result in greater revolution and revival in our church history, but it may have deceive thousands or even millions to become the confessors of the wrong repentance - confessors of lawless grace or lawless righteousness in 'Christ'. How can there be righteousness of God if there is no God's commandment? From the Bible in the beginning, God has shown us that God's righteousness is in God's commandment.

8. Repentance will enforce better way of keeping God's commandments

When Adam rebelled against God's command in Gen 2:16-17, Adam lost the righteousness of God; instead he 'gained' lawlessness which is sin. He also lost the 'garment' which covered his nakedness before God. He did not kill or steal, yet his heart to rebel or to ignore God's command was serious enough to send him to eternal banishment from God. Is it God's mistake for giving Adam the command? No. God's command was supposed to protect and cover Adam's nakedness. It would never deprive him of God's blessings and glory. However, Satan had managed to cause Adam and Eve to think otherwise. Similarly, Satan would like us to think like them too. He would say, Just blame anyone or anything (including God's laws, God's commands, God's creation, God's preachers, and their condemnation around us), except our sins. However, without obedience to God's command or commandment, it is impossible to have God's righteousness. Yes, God's righteousness is imputed to us without doing the works of the law under the Old covenant, but it is imputed to us through a better way of keeping God's commandment in our hearts now. Hence, true preaching of grace will never tell the believers to go back to Adam's rebellion or lawlessness by rejecting all God's laws and commandments again. True preaching of grace will enforce better way of keeping God's laws and commandments through the law of the Spirit and God's doctrine.

• Rom 8:1-2 KJV  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  (2)  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

However, if gospel of grace would just tell us to keep God's commandments vainly or effortlessly like keeping the Corban law or the law of the Pharisees in Mark 7:11, it is not the gospel; it is still lawlessness. That's why the gospel of grace must preach repentance from lawlessness and not just preaching against 'the obsolete Jewish law' which had passed away. The sinners today should repent from lawlessness and not from 'the law' which they have never being under. We should not confuse them, lest they will repent from 'the law' which is non-existent, and miss out the true repentance which is repentance from lawlessness and sin. 

9. Repentance is the gospel of eternal life under the New covenant with God's commandments

I have mentioned at the top of this post (@ A. a lawless revolution..) that, under the New covenant, a sinner must go through the baptism of repentance by faith, died to self, taken up his cross willingly (Mat 16:24-25), experienced born again in the Spirit, and received God's laws and commandments with obedience in his heart. Hence, God is merciful to all our unrighteousness because we have God's laws and commandments in our hearts through the baptism of repentance and of His Spirit under the New covenant. How do we know that this is the New covenant which has eternal life ? We know it because of the confirmation of the Lord and the following Bible verses from all the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John:

• Mat 19:16-30 KJV  And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? (17) And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments ... (21)  Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.  (22)  But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. .. (27)  Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?  (28)  And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration (Strong's and Thayer's dictionaries on the word 'regeneration' is:- 'Rebirth, new birth, spiritual restoration') when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  (29)  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.  (30)  But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
• Mar 10:17-30 KJV And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? .. (21) Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. (22) And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions .. (28) Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.  (29)  And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,  (30)  But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
• Luk 18:18-30 KJV  And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?  ..  (22)  Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.  (23)  And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.  (24)  And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! .. (28)  Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.  (29)  And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,  (30)  Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.
• Joh 12:23-25 KJV  And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.  (24)  Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.  (25)  He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 
• Joh 3:5-16 KJV  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  ..  (15)  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.  (16)  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.

The Lord's teaching on taking up the cross, denying the things of the world, dying to self, and follow Him has been repeated or emphasized in all the gospels. Obviously, eternal life is in the regeneration or baptism of repentance under His New covenant.

• Luk 10:25-30 KJV  And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?  (26)  He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?  (27)  And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.  (28)  And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.  (29)  But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?  (30)  And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead...
• Joh 17:2-6 KJV  As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.  (3)  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.  (4)  I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.  (5)  And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.  (6)  I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.

The above Bible verses have shown us again that Jesus wanted us to do His words and God's commandments. Jesus said, If we reject Him and receive not His words, we have not only rejected Him; we have also rejected God, God's words, God's commandment, and eternal life. He will not judge us but His word which has God's commandment will judge us in the last day. I did not say this. Jesus said this in the following Bible verses (especially John 12:48-49):

• Joh 12:44-50 KJV  Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.  (45)  And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.  (46)  I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.  (47)  And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.  (48)  He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.  (49)  For I have not spoken of myself, but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.  (50)  And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
• Joh 5:38-40 KJV  And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.  (39)  Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.  (40)  And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
• Joh 6:68 KJV  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 

Hence Jesus is the Commandment and the Word of God who has come in the flesh. That's why His glory is greater than the glory of Moses. Moses brought down the Commandment of God, but Jesus came down as the Commandment of God Himself. His glory shone from every part of His body when He was at the mount of transfiguration. He became the true Commandment laid between the two angels in the spiritual 'ark of the New covenant' when He was placed in the tomb.

• Jesus is the Commandment and the Word who has become flesh - Joh 1:1-18 KJV  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God .. (4)  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  (5)  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not ... (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.  (15)  John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.  (16)  And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.  (17)  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.  ..
•  Jesus is the Commandment who will judge the lawless - Mat 15:6 KJV  And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Mar 7:13 KJV  Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. Mat 4:3-4 KJV  And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.  (4)  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
• Jesus is the Commandment who has fulfilled the Old covenant - Joh 20:11-12 KJV  But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,  (12)  And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
• Jesus is the Commandment who now lives in us under the New covenant - Heb 8:5-10 KJV  Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.  (6)  But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.  ..  (8)  For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:  .. (10)  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

Under the Old covenant, the Jews were cleansed and considered righteous (temporarily) through the blood and death of a lamb, but under the New covenant, the sinners will be cleansed and considered righteous (forever) through the blood of the Lamb and the baptism of repentance or death with the Lamb.

That's why Jesus Himself had to go through the baptism by John the Baptist. He had actually laid down the precedence for us to die with Him - a symbolic death as well as a spiritual death which is of water and of the Spirit:

• Mat 3:13-17 KJV  Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.  (14)  But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?  (15)  And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.  (16)  And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:  (17)  And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
• Joh 3:5 KJV  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
• Rom 6:4-6 KJV  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  (5)  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:  (6)  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

10. God's preachers should all the more preach repentance if it has been misunderstood

They will argue, "Of course, radical grace is effortless. If it is not effortless, it is not called grace. Why can't we preach effortless grace .. Why can't we preach it? Grace will lead people to the goodness of God, and the goodness of God will empower them to sin no more.. This is more effective than repentance or those messages which keep telling people to REPENT,REPENT, REPENT.. No, I have heard preachers who shouted and scream as though God is an angry God. No, we preach only a loving God. No wonder, we have so many believers in our churches, so many visitors to our websites, so many rich millionaires who give to us, so many .. "

I will say, No wonder, there is so many falsehood. Did Jesus tell you to preach REPENT, REPENT, REPENT? Obviously you have gone to the wrong preachers who shouted at you and tell you to repent like a parrot. The Pharisees would confess repentance without any fruits worthy of repentance. Some of us may also confess repentance like the parrot. If all the preachers have preached repentance this way or preached it wrongly, it does not mean that we do not have to preach repentance any more. We should all the more preach repentance so that people will repent correctly. However, it would be questionable if we just want to  preach only effortless grace or the goodness of God all the time. Effortless grace is lawless grace if it is without God's laws and commandments. Please check your Bible. The Lord and the Apostles had never asked you to preach effortless or lawless grace. Obviously you have messed up 'the law' (which is the Old covenant) and 'God's commandment'.

Of course, our God is a loving God but when he needs to judge the false prophets or false doctrine, He is an angry God. Why? It's because false doctrine will cause the believers to fall and lose their salvation. God would love us so much that he could become angry against the false prophets and false teaching. Do you know why hell is created? I can't imagine it if God would smile and tell people that hell is created because He is not angry with anyone. Please do not be deceived.

• Mat 22:11-14 KJV  And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:  (12)  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.  (13)  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  (14)  For many are called, but few are chosen.  

That was hell ! I don't think God was smiling when He did that. 

11. Direct preaching of repentance does not mean 'REPENT, REPENT, REPENT'

I will tell the radical grace preacher, You said, "Grace will lead people to the goodness of God, and the goodness of God will empower them to sin no more.. This is more effective than repentance." 

This is a lie. How can preaching of other things be more effective than repentance when the Bible has told us that 'repentance' itself is 'turning away from sin'? Yes, grace and the goodness of God is good, but it is not turning away from sin, but only repentance is turning away from sin. Preaching of grace and goodness of God is good, yes, it will tell people more about grace and the goodness of God but it does not tell people to repent. Only the preaching of repentance will tell people to repent. Hence, how can the preaching of grace or goodness of God without telling people to repent be more effective than the preaching of repentance which is more direct? Of course, direct preaching of repentance is not just repetitive shouting of 'REPENT, REPENT, REPENT' throughout the whole sermon. Besides, even if the preaching of grace and God's goodness is more effective than the preaching of repentance, it does not mean that preaching everything good is God's message. We must find out if the preaching of 'everything is good' is the Bible way. If it is not stated or written, it is not God's message. I have checked the Bible, I did not find the Bible tell us to preach only radical grace, pure grace, lawless grace, too good to be true promises, positive thinking, once saved always saved, prosperity, transfer of wealth, .. etc - all these are just men's interpretation on the Bible; I cannot find the Bible verses which have those words. However, I can find 'repentance', 'sound doctrine', 'the commandments of God', 'humility', 'contentment', 'fruit of the Spirit', 'godliness', 'obedience', .. etc.

12. Preaching repentance to the Jews and Gentiles was the real passion of Paul

If we look at the preaching of the 'radical grace', 'prosperity', 'transfer of wealth', and 'effortless riches' by those preachers again, I am afraid we can probably find just one or two New Testament Bible verses in their whole sermon; the rest, probably 99% of what they preached are trash from their hearts. Talking about their passion? Yes, a lot of passion, for super abundant prosperity or riches of God, but far from the real passion of God or Paul who counted everything as dung. They all want to reign like kings? Why? To help the poor? To help themselves so that they can help the poor? Maybe. But many have actually said it hypocritically. If they know Paul, they would know why Paul has deliberately dropped his Benjamin status including his kingly name 'Saul', and chose a different status in Christ and named himself 'Paul' or 'Little':

• Act 13:21 KJV  And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.
• Rom 11:1 KJV  I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
• Php 3:5-7 KJV  Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;  (6)  Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.  (7)  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 
• Php 3:8 KJV  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Are there any kingly generation or Benjamin generation out there? Please read your Bible. Paul has dropped the law so that he can have Christ. You may not have dropped the law which you have never been under as a Gentile, but you've also picked up what Paul has dropped - the vain Benjamin inheritance and status which oppose to the new status in Christ. Paul considered his old status as dung, but you? You consider it as prosperity? What a shame? Paul's passion is to preach repentance, how about you? metanoia only? If Paul preached 'metanoia' only, he would not face so much persecution from the Pharisees.

• Act 20:19-21 KJV  Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:  (20)  And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,  (21)  Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
  Act 26:19-21 KJV  Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:  (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.  (21)  For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.
• Act 17:30-31 KJV  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:  (31)  Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world..

13. Will God's goodness alone lead to repentance?

Ok, I've digressed too much. I have not answered the question yet when you said, "Grace will lead people to the goodness of God, and the goodness of God will empower them to sin no more.. This is more effective than repentance." 
Now, let's look at this teaching and try to look for it in the Bible, you may think that it is in the Bible. You may say that the adulterous woman who received the forgiveness of the Lord will sin no more, and hence, you would conclude that grace and the goodness of God has empowered her to sin no more. Of course, if you preach this and stop here, I will not deny that it could be a God's message. But if you continue to blah.. blah.. and tell people that this is more effective than repentance.. I would say this is a lie.  Do you know that when Jesus told the adulterous woman to sin no more, he was telling her to repent ? 

• Joh 8:10-11 KJV  When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?  (11)  She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
• Joh 5:11-14 KJV  He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. ..  (14)  Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
• Mat 4:17 KJV  From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Yes, Jesus showed God's goodness to her, but He would still 'preach' repentance to her or call her to repentance. Hence, Jesus has also shown us that showing God's goodness to the sinners is not enough, we must preach repentance or call the sinners to repentance too. 

• Pro 20:5-11 KJV  .. (6) Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?  (7)  The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.  (8)  A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.  (9)  Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?  (10)  Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.  (11)  Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

King Solomon said, Proclaiming God's goodness to us or our own goodness is not enough. God is looking for men of faithfulness and integrity. Who is faithful and pure ? It is he who knows God and God's commandment in his heart. It is he who has repented, died to self, taken up his cross, and allowed God's law and commandment to dwell in him.  

• Gal 6:8-13 KJV  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.  (9)  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  ..  (11)  Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.  (12)  As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.  (13)  For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

Paul said, Those who sow to the flesh shall reap from the flesh corruption and death. Although Paul was preaching against the law of the flesh or the law of circumcision, he was also telling the Jews, the believers, or any sinners not to sow to the flesh or the 'old man'. It means do good, die to self, and sin no more. If sowing is a process which require patience in waiting before we can see its fruits in due season, Paul's reminder or command to sow to the Spirit has shown us clearly that constant repentance or renewal of the mind against sinful thoughts and sinful lives would still be necessary for the Jews, the believers, and the churches too.

Please don't forget, if you insist that only preaching grace or the goodness of God will empower people to sin no more, there are many other things which may empower or help people to sin no more too. The thought of their families, their love for their wives and children, the support from their loved ones, the teaching of family values and responsibilities, the word of God, God's commandments, sound doctrine, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit, all can empower them to sin no more. Why must we limit God's power to the preaching of grace or the goodness only?  However, when we want people to know the truth and to act on it, we must be more direct and specific about it. Of course, the preaching of repentance can empower people to repent or to sin no more too. Just like faith, without the preaching of faith, how can there be faith? 
Rom 10:14-17 KJV  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?  (15)  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!  (16)  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?  (17)  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 

14. Similarly without the preaching of repentance, there is no repentance.

Yes, grace and truth may lead people to repentance, so can God and the Holy Spirit lead people to repentance too. But it does not mean that we should therefore preach only God and the Holy Spirit instead of preaching repentance. For grace, truth, God, or the Holy Spirit to lead people to repentance, there must be preaching of repentance. How can we excuse ourselves from preaching it by saying that repentance will just come automatically or it is just believing only? If repentance will come automatically, Jesus or the disciples would not need to PREACH it; they would just do miracles and prosper everyone so that everyone will know how good God is? Yes, a lot of prosperity, miracles, and healing will show a lot of grace, a lot of favour, and a lot of goodness from God .. but will it always lead to repentance? Of course not. There were a lot of people who received the goodness of God but they did not follow Jesus or repent:

• Luk 18:11-12 KJV  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.  (12)  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
• Mat 18:27-28 KJV  Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.  (28)  But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
• Luk 17:17-19 KJV  And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?  (18)  There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.  (19)  And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
• Joh 6:14-66 KJV  Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.  (15)  When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone. .. (66) From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
• Luk 16:19-30 KJV  There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: .. (23) And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. ..  (30)  And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
• Luk 12:18-21 KJV  And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.  (19)  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.  (20)  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?  (21)  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
• Act 8:13-22 KJV  Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. .. (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.  (21)  Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.  (22)  Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

15. It is a lie to say that preaching of other things is more effective than preaching of repentance

I will tell the radical grace preachers, Contrary to what you said, the people above had all received grace and goodness of God, but they did not repent. Probably Simon in Act 8:13-22 started to repent only after he was told to repent.If the Bible has said that these people did not repent even though they had received the goodness of God, many people today may not repent even after they have received the goodness of God too. To say that grace or goodness of God will empower them to repent is already a half truth. When you said, it is more effective than repentance, it becomes a lie. False prophets have extended it by saying that more prosperity, more riches, more favours, more money, more transfer of wealth, more comfort, and luxuries have empowered many of their followers to sin no more (or do not know about their sins) and that their ministries are more powerful or more effective than repentance. Yes, I will not deny that their gospel may appear to be more effective, more powerful, or more like a tsunami or an atomic bomb of great revolution; however, they have forgotten: tsunami can excite people for a while, atomic bomb can also create a fantastic scene in a moment; but what follows after it is the undesirable effects of radioactive fallouts and devastation which will last for a long long time. I will tell them, If riches and money can empower people to sin no more, you might as well tell your followers that your golden calves can empower them to sin no more too. I am not surprised to know that the Pharisees were fantastic prosperity preachers too. They knew how to preach fantastic favours, blessings, mammon, riches, and prosperity of king Solomon and Abraham too. Their messages were probably very similar to most of our prosperity gospel which always quote from the Old Testament - to prosper through the covenant blessings of Abraham and the blood. However, none of what they preached lead people to repentance. Today, when you have lots of riches and prosperity, you can make yourselves look more righteous than others. You can buy sex, buy violence, buy deception, buy riches, buy people's hearts, buy promotion, buy internet, buy websites .... You can do many things legally without breaking any laws and appear like a gentlemen and show people that you have no more sins. But does it mean that all the goodness and favour of God has empowered you to sin no more. God knows. Hence, grace or goodness of God is like money or riches. It can be used to do good or do wicked. Preaching of more grace, more favours, more riches, more prosperity, more of this .. or that is not the message or solution of the Lord. We have to simply go back to the root problem of the human heart - all men have sinned and need repentance:

Preaching of repentance will lead to repentance

16. 'Repentance' that leads to true repentance is to 'change your mind' and truly REPENT

Most false preachers will never reject repentance directly. They are wise enough to keep talking about repentance or to show people that they are God's preachers. However, many of them could have preached junk and now it is time for them to take stocks of what they have or, do some 'fine-tuning' and 'patching' over what they had preached, in the hope that people are so confused that they could not reason with them. Of course, as they do this, they will realise that the 'new wine' will keep tearing on the 'old wine' skin. It will eventually create bigger holes and show people how much oxymoron they have preached.

Many of them had preached that there was no conviction of sins by the Holy Spirit which mean they can never sin, will never have future sins, and would not have the need to confess sin. I will not want to argue with them if they need to confess sin in repentance (there is a video on confession of sin here), but I know many of them have tried to convince their followers that they are very humble and that they could sin or lust after other women too. However, the problem is: If they admitted that they could sin, they would have the need to confess sin. If they have the need to confess sin, repentance would include confession of sins too. If confession of sins is true for them, 1 John 1:9 would be for the believers too. If 1 John 1:9 is for the believers, churches who preach repentance and confession of sins is not bringing sins conscience to the people. If repentance and confession of sins will not bring sins conscience to the people, the churches can preach more repentance to all the sinners and believers. If the churches can preach more repentance, the accusation that churches who always preach repentance are preaching sins and condemnation is not true. If the accusation is not true, it means that those preachers who made the accusation is false preachers. Can you see it .. the radical grace doctrine and everything will be torn apart.  I can see that many of them are more and more confused. They are in a dilemma, to repent, admit wrong, and reject all the false doctrine, or to continue to do patching on their oxymoron doctrine which cannot hold anything any more.

• 2Pe 2:16-22 KJV  But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.  (17)  These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.  (18)  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.  (19)  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.  (20)  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.  (21)  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.  (22)  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
• Jud 1:10-25 KJV  But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.  (11)  Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.  (12)  These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;  (13)  Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.  (14)  And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,  (15)  To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.  (16)  These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.  (17)  But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;  (18)  How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.  (19)  These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.  (20)  But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,  (21)  Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.  (22)  And of some have compassion, making a difference:  (23)  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.  (24)  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,  (25)  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

17. Repentance must have conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit

I discovered one more ridiculous radical grace or oxymoron teaching on the definition of 'numb' repentance from the radical grace preachers when they claimed that the Holy Spirit would not convict any people of their sins.They would say, "We have been preaching repentance every week because every week there are believers believing what we preach. Repentance is to believe or change from unbelieving to believing. There is no sorrow, no regret, and no beating of the heart; just believe, repent, and celebrate. cool ? Cool ! This is the New covenant way of repentance. Amen.. " 
I will ask them, Of course, the Bible did not ask everybody to beat their chest and repent  But do you know that when Peter preached repentance to the people, people would feel pricked in their heart? Wasn't that a conviction of sins by the Holy Spirit?

• Act 2:37-41 KJV  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?  (38)  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  (39)  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.  (40)  And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.  (41)  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

However, they would still try to do their doctrinal 'patching' by saying, "Oh, being pricked in their heart is not feeling regret or sorrowful about their sins, neither is that a conviction of sin in repentance too. There was no conviction of sins by the Holy Spirit or confession of sins. They were pricked in their heart only because they felt pain in their heart for killing such a wonderful saviour, a saviour who would love them and prosper them so much. That's why they felt so pricked in their heart. They were pricked in their heart for missing so much blessing from the Lord... It is like the lady who accidentally dropped her diamond ring into the toilet bowl just before she flushed the toilet. Oh, it was such an agony - a great loss with pain. That is a prick in the heart. Can you understand it? Only old repentance will have regret or sorrow on their sins; today we repent in the new way, under the New covenant .."
I will tell them, If a prick in the heart is just pain, yes, I can feel the 'prick' in my heart now. It is such an agony to see how you have twisted Peter's repentance message with great deception. Obviously, when he told the Jews to repent, he wanted them to know that they had sinned against God. If they admitted that they had killed their Saviour, they should have known that they had sinned against God. Isn't killing a sin, and the prick in their heart because of their killing a conviction of sin too? or can they just feel 'numb' for killing any man? Of course not; but if they felt numb and had no sorrow feeling or no prick in their heart for killing any man, their repentance would be false repentance. Repentance without sorrow feeling or regret on their sins is 'hollow' or 'numb' repentance. True repentance must have conviction of sins and confession of sins; otherwise, it is not repentance. That's why Jesus had told the people that they would not need to repent if they were righteous or if they had no sins:

• Luk 5:31-32 KJV  And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.  (32)  I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Jesus had never told us that there was an old repentance for the Jews and a new repentance for the people today. Obviously the teaching of the so called 'old' and 'new' repentance is a only lie or 'smokescreen' to preach the 'numb' or false repentance. The Lord has only one repentance for all people, irrespective of whether they are the Jews or Gentiles, the old or new .. from anywhere and any time .. 

• Luk 24:47 KJV  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
• Act 20:21 KJV  Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Act 26:20 KJV  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.

18. Repentance will not bring sin-conscience to sin

I have stated at the beginning of my post that God's preachers should not be afraid to tell the sinners about their unrighteousness just like the doctors telling their patients about their sickness too. Doctors will not say, "Oh, we will choose to tell our patients only the goodnews because sickness will always cause sickness consciousness and condemnation." No. God's preachers should not be afraid to tell the truth too. Repentance will not bring sin-conscience to sin more. It will bring sin-conscience to repent more.     

• 1Jn 1:8-9 KJV  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  (9)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Most of us are afraid to see the doctors because we are afraid to be diagnosed with sicknesses. We have sickness conscience. However, once we have got assurance from our good doctors, we can go to them without any phobia and we will be bold enough to listen to all their medical reports on our sicknesses, including the 'bad reports' too. Why? because we trust our doctors. Similarly, before we knew Christ, we had sins conscience. We try our means to hide or remove our sins conscience. However, once we know God's assurance to forgive us if we come to Him through the repentance message of the Lord and God's preachers, we can go to God without any fear. We can accept all the words, warnings, corrections, or conviction of the Holy Spirit without fear too. We know that God will forgive us if we come boldly to Him to admit and confess our sins. It requires courage, boldness, faith, humility, and honesty for anyone to admit wrong and to face the consequences. Hence, how can we think that doing it will not please God; but instead it will bring sins conscience to us and insult to God? No. God knows that there are false preachers who will discourage sinners to confess sins. That's why He gave the sinners and everyone (including the believers and the writer John himself) the following Bible assurance, that He is faithful and just to accept us even if we sin. 
1Jn 1:9 KJV  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Of course, confessing or admitting our sins is one of the ways to show that we repent. As God's believers, I am sure that we can do more than just confessing it if we have sinned or offended someone unintentionally. For example, we could turn our car back to the crime scene where we had knocked somebody accidentally, and offer immediate medical help to him, instead of fleeing or leaving him dying on the spot.

The word of God in 1 John 1:9 is the greatest assurance to everyone who sins, including us. How can we say that the above Bible promise is only for the agnostic or that God is faithful and just only to the agnostics and criminals. Of course, God is also faithful and just to the believers too, even if we sin.   

19. Only unrepentant spirit will bring sin conscience

Hence, how can we tell people that preaching of repentance will only cause people to be more afraid or more sins conscience? No. Only unrepentant sinners or the Pharisees will always be plagued by sins conscience even though they may keep confessing on the blood sacrifice, the righteousness of God, or the covenant of Abraham. Why? They are still under the old covenant without truly being born again through the baptism of repentance in the Lord. They knew that they were hypocrites. Their hearts would be forever in sins conscience even if they offered blood sacrifices every year. Some of the believers today may think that they have believed in God's covenant and the righteousness of God too, but they have never truly repented in the Lord. They are still very sensitive to sins conscience whenever they heard about the preaching of repentance or whenever they heard others telling them to repent. Yet they would totally shut their conscience from responding to God's message. Hence, they would have to keep listening to the no condemnation messages and radical grace philosophies which excuse them from going through the baptism of repentance in the Lord. They will argue, "How can you say that we have no repentance when we keep confessing that we've believed in true repentance and that we have faith in Jesus Christ ?" I will tell them, No, you do not have faith in the Lord because you have no faith in the baptism of repentance by the Lord. You may believe in 'metanoia' only or believing only; but you have no faith in going through the real baptism of the Lord. Please be honest. When you keep telling others that preaching of repentance from sins or preaching of confession of sins will always bring sins conscience to you, would you still repent (from your sins) as a sinner? No, of course; you will just want to believe only or metanoia only. You will never repent from sins because you think that it will bring sins conscience. Therefore, you may not have repented at all !

20. The baptism of repentance includes turning away from sins

They will argue, “No, confession of sins or repentance from sins is the old Jewish way to come before God. It was a Jewish practice to show remorse before God. That was before the death of Christ. But now we are living under grace because the gospel of grace has come. Repentance has become a jubilee or a celebration, Hallelujah ! Under the law, we have to preach the baptism of repentance for people to come to God; but under grace, it is the preaching of grace revolution which lead people to God and to true repentance. It is the new wine. When the new wine comes, the preaching and teaching of repentance from sins would become the 'old wine'. We have proved that the new wine can really ‘intoxicate’. That’s why many people are jealous of us .. Look at our churches now, do you find any sinner who beat their chest in repentance” 
I will ask them, Do you baptise believers in your churches? Yes? Ok, if you still do, do you know why you baptise them? You should know that water baptism is closely related to repentance like confession of sins. So, now I am just curious, If you said that confession of sins is an old Jewish tradition from John the Baptist and the Pharisees who were under the law, why do you follow the tradition of water baptism which had been practised by John too. Isn't water baptism or baptism of repentance a very 'Jewish tradition' too?

• They will say, "Of course, we will still do water baptism but we don't really emphasize on it anymore. Water baptism, like the baptism of repentance, will pass away. It is an old teaching which should be left behind by the churches. That's why we don't preach repentance anymore. This is what we have understood from the book of Hebrews: Heb 6:1-4 KJV  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,  (2)  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.  (3)  And this will we do, if God permit.  (4)  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,..

I will tell them, Are you going to stop teaching all the doctrine of Christ, doctrine of faith, baptism of the Spirit, resurrection, judgement, and salvation also, based on Heb 6:1-4 ? The Hebrews writer said, And this will we do, if God permit in (v3). It means that some believers cannot do that, if they are still 'babes', or if they do not have the right foundation even if they have been once enlightened or tasted the heavenly gift of God. How can you leave the foundation of repentance and of faith toward God, if you have no right foundation yet. Obviously foundational doctrine is not unimportant doctrine; it is the most important doctrine for salvation, before you can even leave for more spiritual things. Please read the Hebrews chapter just before we can leave the foundational doctrine of repentance:

• Heb 5:12-14 KJV  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.  (13)  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.  (14)  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Of course, it is ridiculous to explain everything about repentance or the first principles of God as Jewish tradition. Doctrine of repentance is like the doctrine of faith toward God. It is a foundation for salvation; it is not a tradition. Obviously, water baptism and baptism of repentance before others is one of the first principles which is an outward confession of the inner heart to turn from sin, die to self, take up the cross, and follow Jesus Christ. It is to be born again and to live for Christ. That's why repentance is also referred as the baptism of repentance which encompasses following Jesus, acceptance of His repentance teaching, turning away from sins, dying to self, being born again, living with Christ,and walking in the newness of His Spirit. Can we just take away any of these from the baptism of repentance? No. We would be nuts if we take away turning from sins too! Of course, we cannot tell people that baptism of repentance is just to believe only or to change your mind only.

• Mar 1:4-5 KJV (4) John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.  (5)  And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.
• Mar 1:9-11 KJV  And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.  (10)  And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:  (11)  And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
• Mar 1:14-15 KJV  Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,  (15)  And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

To believe the gospel of the kingdom of God is to believe in the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins through Jesus, to follow after Jesus, and to get baptised in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

• Mat 28:19-20 KJV  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  (20)  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
• Luk 24:45-48 KJV  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,  (46)  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:  (47)  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  (48)  And ye are witnesses of these things.
• Act 2:38 KJV  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Will you compare the words marked in red from Mark 1:4, Luke 24:47, and Act 2:38 ? Jesus has commanded us to preach repentance FOR the remission of sins too

• Act 3:19-26 KJV  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;  ...  (26)  Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

In case the people still could not see the meaning of 'repentance', Peter continued by telling them that Jesus was sent to bless them, in turning away everyone of them from their iniquities or evil ways. It means that the Pharisees must turn away from their evil ways too if they were to repent; otherwise, they have not repented.

21. Repentance is the Lord's focus throughout His preaching ministry - it is the gospel Mar 1:14

I can say that because from the beginning of the gospel when He started His preaching ministry and sent His disciples out to the people until the end of the gospel when He was resurrected, He has never stopped telling His disciples to PREACH repentance; He did not tell them to preach grace, favour, prosperity, or the goodness of God. He did not say, "Preaching of all these will also lead people to repentance. Therefore, preach only the goodness of God and prosperity". Instead, He would just ask them to PREACH repentance. Please read your Bible again.

• In the beginning of the gospel, Jesus preached repentance as the gospel: Mat 4:17-19 KJV  From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand..  Mar 1:14-16 KJV  Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,  (15)  And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.  (16)  Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
• During His preaching of the gospel, Jesus used many parables to explain repentance to the people. He had even sent out His disciples to preach repentance too: Luk 16:30-31 KJV  And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.  (31)  And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. Luk 15:21 KJV  And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. Mar 6:12-13 KJV  And they went out, and preached that men should repent.  (13)  And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.
• At the end of His preaching, He still commanded all His disciples to preach repentance: Luk 24:45-48 KJV  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,  (46)  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:  (47)  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  (48)  And ye are witnesses of these things. Mat 28:19-20 KJV  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  (20)  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Act 2:38 KJV  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Act 26:19-21 KJV  Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:  (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.  (21)  For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.

If we look at the Bible verses during the Lord's preaching of the gospel, we can see a lot of miracles and healing. Even His disciples were sent out to cast out the demons and heal the sick. However, they were told to do one very importing thing; that is to 'preached that men should repent' (see Mar 6:12-13 above). Hence, preachers today, who think that Jesus would only want them to do more miracles so that people will be healed and delivered and that God will be glorify, must 'metanoia' or change their mind now. Jesus did not give special power to His disciples to be supermen or incredible hulks so that God could get more glory; Jesus gave His disciples the special power to be fishers of men, to preach repentance, and to 'prove' that all should listen to God and repent. 

Mat 4:17-19 KJV  From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.  (18)  And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.  (19)  And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Hence, if we were to receive special power today, it would be meaningless for us to use it just to prove that God is great or God is good, or just to glory God. God is too good or too powerful for anyone to miss Him. Obviously God does not need any of us to prove that He is God or He is good or He is powerful; He would only need us to open the eyes of the 'blind' or the hearts of the sinners and to prove that they should all repent (Mar 6:12-13).

Luke 24:45-48 KJV  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,  (46)  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:  (47)  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
 Act 17:30-33 KJV  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:  (31)  Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.  (32)  And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.  (33)  So Paul departed from among them. 

22. Preaching of repentance is still the gospel for all the sinners today

There is now a debate on whether we should preach grace or repentance to the sinners? If Jesus has not said anything about it, I would say, Let's forget about the debate and preach anything which can bring people to Christ. However, if Jesus has commanded us to preach repentance, I will tell them to read the Bible again.
Many of them will still argue, “Why can’t we preach grace to the sinners or even to a murderer ?” I will say, Yes, a murderer may believe, receive God’s favor, and even escape the death sentence (like the debtor who received radical favor from the king in Mat 18:26-34).

• But, if the murderer has not truly repented, will he be saved in the end? No, ‘radical’ favour without repentance or change of heart is ‘dead’. He could still lose everything in the end.
• Now, if the murderer has truly repented but he did not receive any ‘radical’ favour and will be hanged for his crime later, will he still be saved ? Yes, of course. Repentance without any favour can still save.

Hence, can you see it ? Which one should we preach if we want to tell the sinners, debtors, cheaters, or murderers that they can never lose their salvation ?  Their repentance or ‘radical’ favour ? I believe we should preach repentance !
They will still argue, “No, most of us were just sinners, not murderers or cheaters. Hence, we don’t have to repent like them. Repentance may be applicable to them; but not to us. We’ve not committed any crime or broken any law. Besides, we are righteous now by the blood of the Son ...”
I will tell them, If repentance is the gospel for the murderer,  then it is the gospel for the publicans and all the common sinners too. In the eyes of God, the sin of a sinner is the same as the sin of a murderer. They both need to change their heart and do repentance before God.

• Isa 64:6 KJV But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
• Rom 5:12-14 KJV  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 .. (14)  Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come
• Mat 5:21-22 KJV Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; .. (22) But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: 
• Mat 5:28 KJV But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Jesus said, If you were a sinner, you are as sinful as any other sinners in the eyes of God. You will never be too righteous to repent like them, even as the murderers or the adulterers, because we have all committed the same Adam’s transgression and will be condemned to the same punishment - death. However, radical grace preachers and those who do not like to repent and admit sin will vehemently deny the need to repent from sin and interpret the Bible verses above as the Lord's preaching, hard sayings, or condemnation against the Pharisees only. They will say, "Jesus did not condemn sin or preach against sin. He did not preach any hard sayings or God's commandments to us. Instead, He preached all hard sayings and God's commandments only to the Pharisees. He did not really ask the sinners to repent and obey all God's commandments... Hence, those Bible verses on His judgement of sins eg. Mat 5:21-22 and Mat 5:28 are for the Pharisees; not for us.. " I will tell them, Please read the whole chapter of Matthew 5 again. You will know that the whole chapter of Matthew 5 is Jesus preaching against sin, telling people to turn from sin, to repent, to obey God's commandment, and to be more like Him. I don't see any reason to push everything to the Pharisees and give ourselves the excuse to ignore all His words, when He had said it so clearly to His disciples and all the people:
Mat 5:1-4 KJV  And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:  (2)  And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,  (3)  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  (4)  Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Yes, I would not deny that the scribes and Pharisees could be in the multitudes above when Jesus gave the warning and judgement against sin in Mat 5:21-22 and Mat 5:28. However, His disciples and many Jews were clearly seen in the Bible verses above too. Hence, I would conclude that Jesus had taught us those words and wanted us to humble ourselves, to repent, and to be more like Him. In another word, His repentance message is still the gospel for all the sinners today.

23. Repentance is not only for the sinners; but also for the churches too

• Rev 2:5 KJV  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.
• Rev 2:16 KJV  Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 
• Rev 2:21 KJV  And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 
• Rev 2:22 KJV  Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 
• Rev 3:3 KJV  Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. 
• Rev 3:14-19 KJV  And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;  (15)  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  (16)  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.  (17)  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:  (18)  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.  (19)  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

If you study the Bible verses above, you will know that they are the warning to the struggling churches, carnal churches, or fallen churches. These churches were not worldly organisations or religious organisations; they were churches with all kinds of believers. Although some of us may argue that the warnings are only against the false believers and therefore the warnings are not for us, we should realise that these warnings are written to us and to the churches, not to the world. We cannot afford to ignore the warnings and chuck them into the 'dustbin' by casually brushing them off as 'not for us'. They are actually great warnings for the 'blind' churches. If we have always been preaching God's word and commandment by saying that they are 'not for us' - we could have already been blinded by the 'Lawless One'. We should all the more take heed to these warnings seriously. Please read them again. Did Jesus ask these churches to change their mind only? No. When Jesus asked them to repent, He wanted them to turn away from their sins, nakedness, ungodliness, pride, blindness, and the things which could cause them to lose their salvation. Hence, don't just keep telling others that false prophets can only come from other religions, other people, or other churches. False prophets and false teaching could from within our own churches too. That's why we can never deny the fact that we must preach God's warnings and commandments to our own churches too. 

Radical grace preachers will still argue, "Please read them again. Jesus was writing to the angel of the church; not to the church. The angel of the church here could be the pastor or  the keeper of the church. They could have fallen. Hence, Jesus would take away their cnadlesticks: Rev 2:5 KJV  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. But the removing of candlestick is not to remove them from the book of life, it will only close down the churches. When the churches are closed down, the believers will just move to other good churches which have the candlesticks. Hence, none will be lost. No one will lose their salvation.."

I will tell them, That is a very logical comfort to all your believers; but it will show that you have given false promises to them. 'Candlestick' is not only like the key to a premise; it is the keeper of God's truth, God's light, and God's Spirit. Removal of the candlestick means loss of everything, total loss of the spirit and light, and TOTAL BLINDNESS ! Any teaching or preaching which follows after the removal of the candlestick means false doctrines or blind doctrine which can not save. How can we tell the churches that they can never lose their salvation when their candlestick has been removed ? Sigh .. how many preachers have really read the Bible?

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