Have you made the Lord's repentance message of none effect (1) ?

Radical grace preachers will say, "Of course, many people are feeling condemned now because of the preaching of most churches. The sinners would feel more condemned whenever they go to the old, miserable, and condemning churches today. It's because these churches would only preach repentance and point people to their sins. But this is not the gospel that Jesus wants us to preach. That's why we believe that the preaching of grace is better and it will prosper everybody. Hmmm.. when the hearers prosper, we will prosper also, Haha .."
I will tell them, Contrary to what you think, I would say that the people today need to hear more about repentance. That's because:

1. There are more sinners than before. As the population of the world increases, the number of the people who have not accepted Jesus Christ will increase too. When the number of population increases, there would be more sinners than before. If there were many Jews and Pharisees who were liars, thieves, hypocrites, and unfilial sons, there could be more people who are worst than them. People today are generally more greedy. Just look at the many cases of unscrupulous bankers who swindled away our money. We may think that the preachers or pastors would never do such thing in the past. But today we find more and more cases of pastors who misappropriated God's funds and many of them could be doing it secretly by conspiring with their 'inner circles' or brainwashing them to allow them to use the church funds to finance their lavish lifestyle and selfish goals.  
2. The sins committed by the people have become more evasive. There are more people who would sin without any conscience. They would find all kinds of religious and personal reasons to justify themselves. One of the most common ways is to numb their hearts and mind with the philosophies of lawlessness and self-glorification. Some may even keep confessing righteousness, claiming prosperity, and taking holy communion over and over in the name of Jesus Christ, hoping and thinking that they can never be condemned as long as they do not feel any sin conscience (to repent) according to the false doctrine of their preachers.
3. There are more false prophets than before. I don't think I need to prove it in our time. False prophets are everywhere, and yet people would refuse to believe that it can happen in our time:
4. Mat 24:11-26 KJV  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.  (12)  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.  (13)  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.  (14)  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.  (15)  When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)  ..  (23)  Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.  (24)  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.  (25)  Behold, I have told you before.  (26)  Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

Do we stop preaching of repentance just because people are feeling easily condemned today ? 
They will argue, "So what ? even if the sins, iniquity, or lawlessness of the people shall abound in our time ? There are still many more people who are feeling that they are condemned and being taken advantage of by others. We should therefore preach more on grace to help this groups of people who are feeling that they are the condemned or the outcast of the society (the churches)."
I will tell them, If you have never done wicked things against others but you would still feel easily condemned by your boss, your superior, your friends, and your church, can you see a psychiatrist first before you think that it is the problem of your church's preaching ? Of course, I know that some insecure people would always feel easily condemned by anyone or anything.  But not everyone would feel so insecure. Even if the situation is true for you, however, stop hearing or preaching of repentance is not the solution for you. Please think, were there less people who were condemned or oppressed by the Pharisees in Jesus' time ? I believe that there were more widows, orphans, and Jews who were oppressed and condemned by the Pharisees than we can ever think or imagine. But all the more Jesus would want His disciples to preach repentance. Why ?

• Mat 4:17 KJV  From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
• Mar 6:7-13 KJV  And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;  ... (12)  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.
• 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. 

Jesus knew that the sinners would not be easily condemned by His preaching. On the other hand, He knew that the sinners would be saved if they repented.

The preaching of repentance can never be obsolete
If we believe that the preaching of repentance has become obsolete, we would fall into the trap of Satan by admitting that the message or the teaching of the Lord would become obsolete too. No, we would tell him, All the words of the Lord and His main message of repentance to the world and the sinners can never be obsolete. Why ? It is because 'sin' can never be obsolete. As long as there is still a sinner or a sin, the preaching of Jesus Christ can never be obsolete. Jesus would still want us to preach repentance because it is still the gospel for us and for the Jews who were feeling condemned and oppressed by the Pharisees too. In fact, repentance would set the Jews free from the condemnation and oppression of the Pharisees too. The Pharisees had perverted God's laws and sinned without repentance. They used their perverted law or Corban law (Mark 7:11) to control the mind of the people who had no repentance too. Hence, the Pharisees would try to scheme and stop the preaching of repentance at the very start by pretending to come for repentance. But John the Baptist and the Lord knew that the Pharisees would never have the conviction or sin conscience to repent.

• Mat 3:6-11 KJV  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.  (10)  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  (11)  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

The Pharisees had no sin conscience to repent because they thought that repentance was just a ritual or change of mind without any bad conscience about their sins. Many of them could have argued like the radical grace preachers, "If repentance is just going through the thinking and changing of our mind (metanoia) or the ritual of water baptism, we can do it too. We are not against repentance. We have repentance because we have believed. We have changed from our unbelief to believing in it, otherwise we would not have come." However, John the Baptist stopped them from coming because their definition of 'metanoia' was 'change of mind' for those who think that they had no sin like them. But the definition of 'metanoia' from John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus Christ is 'change of mind' or repentance for those who are sinners and who have sinned. Hence, if we have no sin conscience, it is impossible to repent as sinners; we can only 'change our mind' or 'metanoia' like the Pharisees.

• Mat 9:12-13 KJV  But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.  (13)  But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. 

Hence, Jesus would not want them to come and 'repent' with their sacrifice or hypocrisy; He wanted them to come with a genuine heart of true repentance. How can any radical grace preacher teach people that Lord's message of repentance has become obsolete ? Only the Pharisees or the hypocrites would argue vehemently and teach people that repentance is obsolete for them.


If they have to pervert the message of repentance or God's laws to preach 'grace', they have not preached grace; they have preached false doctrine
Hence, I don't care how fantastic the radical grace preachers can preach grace or prosperity. However, if they pervert God's grace or God's commandments, with any radical grace, twisted Old Testament favour, Hebrew typology, or Bible numerology to make the Lord's message of repentance obsolete or of none effect, they are not better than the Pharisees who preached lawlessness and made God's commandments of none effect (Mark 7:11-13, Matt 15:6).
They may argue and say, "No, don't judge. You have misunderstood us again. We have never preached any lawlessness. We are only against the ten commandments or the commandments of stones which are now totally useless to us. Therefore, we preach only grace, 'pure' grace, or the gospel that Paul preached. Hence, whenever I teach my children, I don't use the laws or the ten commandments. I would just tell them, "Son (or daughter), you don't commit sexual immorality, adultery, idolatry, murder, and lies, ok ? Why ? It's because if you are a Jesus' boy (or Jesus' girl), you don't do it, right ?" I would just give them 'Jesus', and most of the time, I found that it was more effective than me giving them the laws .."
I will tell them, If you say so, you have confirmed two things:

1. You know God's laws or the Lord's commandments (not to steal, not to kill, not to lie, not to rob others, and you must love your neighbour as yourself ..)
2. You know that your children need to be taught

Please think, How do you know all these ? Is it from your own instinct, from your pagan parents, or from your society ? I will ask you think deeply, Isn't it from God's laws or that conscience which God has given every man including the sinners or even murderers? Didn't you know that you have to pass down this knowledge directly or indirectly to your children, regardless of whether you will tell them that it is God's laws which tell them not to do such things or it is your own commandments, desires, or preference for them not to do such things ? Yes, of course, we do believe that Jesus can teach our children through us or through others, but it would be very hypocritical of us to lie that we would never teach our children, and we would just do nothing and let Jesus teach our children. You may keep explaining and accusing others for misunderstanding your lawless teaching, but I wonder how many naive parents have misunderstood you, believed everything that you taught, and ended up regretting because they really did nothing to teach their children. They could have been praying, "Lord, we have kept praying to you day and night with tears, asking you to teach our children with 'pure' grace. But why didn't you teach ours sons and daughters .. Is it something wrong with us, something wrong with your grace, or something wrong with our hearing ?"        
I can say to them, "Nothing wrong with you, nothing wrong with God; but something wrong with the 'christs' or the 'anointed ones' whom you think you have misunderstood. Wake up, people ! You did not misunderstand them; you were deceived by them ! The true grace of God will not lead people to confusion and misunderstanding; it will always lead people to sound doctrine, sober mind, and clear teaching."

• 1Pe 5:1-12 KJV  .. (2)  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;  (3)  Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. .. (5)  Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.  (6)  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: .. (8)  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:  ..(10)  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.  .. (12)  By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.
• 2Pe 3:1-8 KJV  This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:  (2)  That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:  (3)  Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,  (4)  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.  (5)  For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:  (6)  Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:  (7)  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.  (8)  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

I will tell them, You said that we should preach only 'pure grace' or the pure gospel that Paul preached. Does it mean that if we preach 'pure minds', something is wrong with us ? Do you know why Peter would say, by way of remembrance instead of by just beholding ? It's because under the New Testament, we don't believe by just seeing or beholding like the Israelites who beheld the bronze serpent and lived (Num 21:9); but we repent, believe, and keep God's words by remembering and doing the commandments of the Lord. Peter had just said, This is the true grace of God. The true grace of God can never be wrong if we would still hear and do the words of the Lord:

• Joh 14:21-26 KJV  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.  (22)  Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?  (23)  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.  (24)  He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.  (25)  These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.  (26)  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

I will tell them, Are those Bible verses above still true and applicable to us and the believers ? Of course, yes. It's because Jesus said that "the Holy Spirit will bring all things to your rememberance, whatsoever He have said to you". Hence, if this is still true and applicable to us, what's wrong if we would still read or teach these Bible verses to "stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:  (2)  That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: (2Pe 3:1-2) ?

It is not a curse to have sin conscience to repent
In fact, it is the grace of God for the sinners to have sin conscience to repent. It is the gospel of Jesus Christ to have sin conscience to repent. If we have sin conscience to repent, we can see the need of repentance or the need to have sin conscience to repent. We will truly repent. When we are truly repentant, we would see the salvation of God.

• Luk 19:7-10 KJV  And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.  (8)  And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.  (9)  And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.  (10)  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

They will argue, "How can we preach sin conscience ? If we preach sin conscience, people will feel condemned and they would perish with condemnation. This can never be the goodnews. The goodnews is because we have received grace; not because we have sin conscience and condemnation.. We should preach that we have no more sin conscience (see Heb 10:2) .."   
I will tell them, Please read the full chapter of Heb 10, instead of quoting the Bible out of its context:

• Heb 10:1-4 KJV  For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.  (2)  For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.  (3)  But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.  (4)  For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Yes, if you would just highlight the words 'no more conscience of sins' and argue that the gospel should be preached with 'no more conscience of sins' or with 'no more repentance of sins', many sinners who think like the Pharisees would scream and shout 'Amen'. They have no true knowledge of Heb 10:2, no sin conscience to repent, or no intention to repent. I will tell them to read Heb 10:1-4 again. How can you conclude that the Hebrew writer tells you to have no more sin conscience to repent ? No, he is telling us that there is no more sin conscience to offer any animal sacrifice. If you still cannot understand the simple English, you may go to the original scripture to find out the true meaning of theses words.

A person who do not have any sin conscience to repent can never see the salvation of God
But I would think that the Pharisees or anyone who has no more sin conscience to repent will still not able to see the true meaning of repentance after reading and studying the original text and the Greek language. They would still use many Bible verses to justify themselves so that they do not have any more sin conscience to repent. They could only believe in their own 'gospel' which preaches differently and convince themselves that they do not need to have any sin conscience to repent, but only with their 'righteous conscience to metanoia' whenever they come before God.

• Luk 3:3-8 KJV  And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;  .. (5)  Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; ..  (6)  And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.  (7)  Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  (8)  Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin 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.
• Luk 18:10-14 KJV  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.  (11)  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.  (13)  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.  (14)  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Interestingly, it is quite boastful and similar to the 5 I's which were found in Lucifer's (Isa 14:13-14). 
• Joh 3:7-12 KJV  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.  (9)  Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?  (10)  Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?  (11)  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.  (12)  If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

In Joh 3:7-12 above, Jesus told Nicodemus that he could never understand it because he would not believe it. It was because Nicodemus and the Pharisees could never understand and would never understand What is born again or the baptism of repentance. The Pharisees had no sin conscience to repent.

Are you teaching or hearing like the Pharisees who had no sin conscience to repent?
However, today there are still many people, believers, or even preachers, who may come to Jesus 'in the night', like Nicodemus and who do not believe in sin conscience to repent. They would think that repentance is only a philosophy of mind changing based on their literal translation from the word 'metanoia'. They will tell people to 'change their mind' and full stop. Hence, I don't think that they have any intention to repent when they preach or listen to the 'radical grace' message. They would argue against the preaching of repentance and say, "Grace and the goodness of God will lead us to repentance, and therefore, there is no need to preach any repentance or sin conscience to repent..". Obviously this is their excuse for giving the sinners deceitful 'righteous conscience to change their mind' only. This is a totally different message. And it is obviously not the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the gospel of the modern day 'Pharisees', who do not believe in sin conscience to repent, who could not find any place in God's churches that preach repentance, and who would band together to argue against the Lord's message of repentance with many lies, miracles, and twisted Bible verses quoted out of its context. Very likely, they are also the people who would keep saying, "Don't judge us, don't condemn us, don't quote any harsh Bible warning to us, don't speak negative words, don't throw stones, don't tell us to repent, don't preach angry God to us, don't... It's because we are the righteousness of God, we are the anointed one, we are the kings, As He is anointed, so are we. As He is Christ, so are we the christs .. (I would tell them, No, you are not the christs; but you are in crisis !)"
They would accuse all the churches for preaching a condemnation gospel whilst they have come to the rescue with a better version of the gospel or revolution which is full of grace and prosperity. They would promise that their gospel is the true gospel of 'no more condemnation and sin conscience' for the world which is now unfairly 'condemned' and 'judged' by the churches. Jesus said, "Don't believe it. They are the false christs. They are not from Me":

• Mat 24:11-26 KJV  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.  (12)  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.  (13)  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.  (14)  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.  (15)  When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)  ..  (23)  Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.  (24)  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.  (25)  Behold, I have told you before.  (26)  Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 

Can you preach false repentance and argue that you have preach repentance?
They will say, "Ok, ok. Since there are so much opposition from the churches who preach repentance and condemnation of sins. I will just follow and do it, in case you accuse me of preaching another gospel. Now, do you know that I have been preaching repentance too. Oh, you didn't get what I said. I mean I preach against sins too. When we tell people to focus on Jesus and turn away from self, we are preaching against sins too. However, there are only two types of sins as far as we are concerned. The sin of unbelief and the sin of fear. It is recorded in the Bible as sins in:

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

Jesus would condemn only one type of sin if we have sinned ie. the sin of unbelief. He would only condemn us gently and urge us to take some more from Him:

• Mat 6:30 KJV  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
• Mat 8:25-26 KJV  And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.  (26)  And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
• Mat 16:7-8 KJV  And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.  (8)  Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?

So, these are the only Bible verses which tell us that Jesus rebuked His disciples. You will never find Jesus rebuking the disciples for sinning or stealing. Hence, the main problem of the churches today is not idolatry, stealing, adultery, or false teaching; it is the lack of faith and boldness to take from Jesus. These two problems are the greatest 'sins' in the eyes of God and we have been preaching against these sins and tell the churches to 'repent'. So, how can you falsely accuse us for not preaching repentance. But come to think of it, the Bible does not want us to preach too much of sins. Why ? It said, "In this gospel, is the righteousness of God revealed, not the sinfulness of man". However, today we still hear a lot about the sinfulness of men being preached in many churches. But the gospel that Paul preached would no longer focus on repentance or the sinfulness of men. It is on grace and righteousness of God for men instead. Hence, we should preach the gospel that Paul preached, not the gospel that Peter preached, John preached, or Jesus preached. Preaching of repentance, the sinfulness of men, or sin conscience to repent, has become obsolete after Jesus has risen.."


The Lord can be harsher than what you think if you twist His words
I will tell them, Firstly, if you would quote Rev 21:8 to talk about the sins and condemnation, can you see that there are other sins committed by the people who have sinned against God too. Please open both of your eyes to see the rest of the words; instead of blocking your eye to see only with a 'lopsided vision' or 'radical blindness'.

• Rev 3:18-19 KJV  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.

Secondly, if Jesus would rebuke His disciples gently only with those Bible verses above, it does not mean that Jesus would never rebuke the false prophets, the liars, the idolaters, and the false believers harshly if they would preach false promises and lawless commands to contradict His words. What makes you think that Jesus would rebuke you more gently if you did worse than the Pharisees and you made the words of the Lord of none effect:

• Mat 15:6-14 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.  (7)  Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,  (8)  This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.  (9)  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.  (10)  And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:  (11)  Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.  (12)  Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?  (13)  But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.  (14)  Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
• Mat 7:15-24 KJV  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. .. (21)  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  (22)  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  (23)  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.  (24)  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
• Luk 6:46-48 KJV  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?  (47)  Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:  (48)  He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood (false doctrine) arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. (Hence, Jesus said clearly that He would not just want us to have right believing, right faith, right miracles, right preaching, or right confession only; he wants us to have right doing with His words too, because right doing would prove that we are His true disciples on the rock of salvation.)
• Rev 22:18-21 KJV  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:  (19)  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.  (20)  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.  (21)  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

I will tell them, You said that in your grace teaching, you would ask the people to turn away from self and self-efforts. Do you know why Jesus wanted the disciples to turn away from self ? Isn't it because our self is a sinful self. In another words, Jesus would want us all to turn away from sins. It was a figurative way of telling the disciples to die to sins in repentance, when He told them to deny self (or their old man), take up their cross, and die to the self (Mat 16:24, Mar 8:34, Luk 9:23,).

• Joh 12:24 KJV  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.
• Luk 9:23-24 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.  (24)  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

Hence, in your grace teaching, it does not make sense for you to, in one moment, reject repentance as turning away from sins (or dying to sins) and argue with all the churches who preach repentance with sin conscience to repent, and then, in another moment, accuse them for misunderstanding you. You may prove that you have preached repentance or God's laws directly or indirectly, but when you twisted and changed God's words to confuse the believers, you have made repentance and God's words of none effect. More sinners would end up becoming so confused that they can never truly repent. You have abused the teaching of repentance and use it as your contention to falsely accuse those who tried to correct you. That's why you would twist the preaching of repentance (or sin conscience to repent) and define your own 'repentance' (as metanoia only, as believing only, as beholding Jesus only, as doing nothing, as mind changing philosophies, as effortless theologies, as confession of righteousness, as grace supplies, as .. 
Have you accused that all the churches have got it all wrong about the preaching of repentance and God's commandments ignorantly (or intentionally) ? May God help you. You don't have to feel condemned, just repent.


The gospel that Paul preached was the same gospel that Jesus and the disciples preached
You quoted Rom 1:16-17 when you said, "For therein, in the gospel that Paul preached, is the righteousness of God revealed; not the sinfulness of men or the shamefulness of men." Can you please do not quote the Bible out of its context. When Paul said, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, he did not refer to a new gospel or a different gospel from what Jesus preached. He referred to THE gospel that Jesus preached. It was the same gospel of grace through repentance, faith, and belief in the words, teaching, and commandments of Christ which were passed down to the twelve disciples and all those who believed. Jesus did not tell Peter, John, James, Paul, and the rest of the believers to preach a new gospel or a new commandment:

• 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.
• 1Pe 5:12 KJV  By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand ..
  2Pe 2:21 KJV  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 .. 2Pe 3:1-2 KJV  This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:  (2)  That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:   
• Rom 1:16-17 KJV For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (17) For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
  

I will tell the radical grace preachers, How can you do away with repentance or any principles of the doctrine of Christ ? How can you be ashamed of the gospel that Jesus preached, even though it may bring sin conscience (to repentance) or cause you to be ashamed of your sins. Do you know why Paul said that he was not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It's because he was not ashamed of the doctrine of Christ Heb 6:1-2 which includes the six basic foundations of repentance from dead works and sins, of faith, of the doctrine of baptism, of laying of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgement.

• 1Jn 2:3-7 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.  (5)  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.  (6)  He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.  (7)  Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. .. 1Jn 2:18-19 KJV  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.  (19)  They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us .. 1Jn 4:6 KJV We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error .. 2Jn 1:6-10 KJV  And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. .. (9)  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.  (10)  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 
• Rom 16:17-18 KJV  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.  (18)  For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. 

If any man is ashamed of the doctrine and foundation of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. He becomes antichrist. Very like, he could have already created many doctrine in place of Christ or Christ's doctrine. If any man destroys the foundation of Christ, him shall God destroy:

• 1Co 3:17-23 KJV  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.  (18)  Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.  (19)  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.  (20)  And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.  (21)  Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;  (22)  Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;  (23)  And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. 

Paul did not give us the wrong impression that admitting sin is a shameful thing
If we read Paul's letters again, we would know that Paul was never ashamed to call himself a sinner because he admitted that he 'was' the chief of sinners (with all the present tense). Hence, he could still have sin conscience (to repent) and the need to confess his sins before God.

• 1Ti 1:14-20 KJV  And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.  (15)  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.  .. (18)  This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;  (19)  Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:  (20)  Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.
• Rom 7:14-25 KJV  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.  (15)  For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.  (16)  If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.  (17)  Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.  (18)  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.  (19)  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.  (20)  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.  (21)  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.  (22)  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:  (23)  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.  (24)  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  (25)  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. (Did you see all the present tense in red ? I believe that he used the pronoun 'I' and the present tense because it refers to his current situation and struggle of sins in his flesh. Some of you may think, One day, probably I will ask Paul, "If that was the case, did you still confess your sins before God or men ?" Well, I cannot answer for Paul whether he did confess his sins or his struggles to God, but I can answer for him whether he did confess it to men. Can't you see ? He had just confessed it to men, otherwise why would he say so in Rom 7:14-25 ? Of course, if Paul had say so, he would never say that confession of sin is a shameful act to him or it is an insult to God's grace:)   

Many radical grace preachers argued that Paul was a better person than Peter because Paul believed and preached more grace, whilst Peter was still hypocritical and naive because he was still a law preacher who believed in many God's laws and commandments. However, can we conclude that Paul was more gracious or more perfect than Peter just because Paul had preached more grace and rebuked Peter in Gal 2:11-12 ? Probably yes, but at least we know that Paul would never want us to think so because of grace. He admitted that he still had struggles of sin in his flesh (although many radical grace preachers would still preach that Paul was close to a perfect saint who have 'extra' grace, more favour, more goodness of God, more prosperity, more anointing, more revelation, and more effortless success in life). However, contrary to what radical grace preachers preach, Paul did not want us to think so:

• 2Co 12:6-11 KJV  For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.  (7)  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.  (8)  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.  (9)  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  (10)  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.  (11)  I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
• Rom 12:3 KJV  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
• 1Co 9:27 KJV  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Paul confessed that he was still a sinner who had the struggle of sins in his flesh
I will tell them, If Paul confessed to us that he was still having the struggle of sins in his flesh or in his mind (Rom 7:14-25), he would never think that confessing our sins or confessing our struggle of sins will make us sin even more. On the contrary, confession of our sins will give us the courage to confront our problem honestly and to make humble and conscious effort to obey and to yield ourselves to the righteousness of God. Otherwise, Paul would not write as follows:

• Rom 6:15-22 KJV  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.  (16)  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?  (17)  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.  (18)  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.  (19)  I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.  (20)  For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.  (21)  What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.  (22)  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

If any radical grace preacher will ask me, "How did you know that Paul had repented ? Paul had never said that he repented or he preached repentance .."
I will ask them, Are you sure ? If you think that repentance is just a 'change of mind', why can't you see the change in Paul's mind when he wrote about it in the Bible verses above ( Rom 6:15-22 and Rom 7:14-25) ?
Paul had the struggle of sins in his flesh; because he had repented. However, before he came to Christ, he was probably a Pharisee who had no struggle of sins; he thought he could just 'change his mind' (as a Pharisee), give tithes, and offer a few sacrifices, and he would become more 'righteous' than the others. But 'now' he could see himself as the chief of all sinners (1Ti 1:15) because of God's grace. Hence, he could now confess that he had the struggles of sins in his flesh (Rom 7:14-25) and would admit that he still need, to 'change his mind' (as a sinner), to turn away from his sins (Rom 7:14-25), to yield his members unto righteousness (as a servant of righteousness Rom 6:15-22), and to serve God and the law of God with obedience and fruit unto holiness (Rom 6:16, 19, 22, 7:24-25):

• Rom 7:14-25 KJV  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.  (15)  For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.  (16)  If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.  (17)  Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.  (18)  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.  (19)  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.  (20)  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.  (21)  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.  (22)  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:  (23)  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.  (24)  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  (25)  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God;   

I will tell them, If you insist that repentance is just a 'change of mind', you may be right. But Paul had gone further by showing us that repentance is :

• a change of mind from his viewpoint as a sinner who will yield his members to do righteousness and serve the law of God, with obedience and fruit unto holiness; 
• not a change of mind from the viewpoint of a Pharisee who would just want to do the works of the law and do nothing to change their hypocritical behaviours. 

Paul would preach true repentance which will lead to 'no condemnation' 
Hence, if Paul had been 'changing his mind' according to Rom 7:24-25, Paul would have repented as a sinner. And his repentance would have led him to no condemnation which is shown clearly in the next chapter of his letter to us in Rom 8:1-4:

• Rom 8:1-10 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.  (3)  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:  (4)  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (5) For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  (6)  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  (7)  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  (8)  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  (9)  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.  (10)  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
   (There is therefore now no condemnation because of what we did in Rom 7:24-25 or because of our change of mind as a sinner to turn from our sins. We would no longer walk after the flesh because we would have carried our own cross, died to our old self, and yield our members servants to righteousness unto holiness (Rom 7:19). We would have truly repented.) 

I will tell them, Yes, we do not deny that the goodness of God or grace will lead the sinners to repent (or to change their mind). But not all repentance (or change of mind) will lead to no condemnation. Only the repentance that is according to the preaching of Jesus Christ and the teaching of Paul will lead to no condemnation. For example, Paul said that true repentance will tell a sinner to 

• Rom 6:15-22 to repent (or to change his mind) and become the servant of righteousness
• Rom 7:14-25 to repent (or to change his mind) and serve God and the law of God with obedience and fruit unto holiness
• Rom 8:  1-10 to repent (or to change his mind) and mind the things of the Spirit; but to reject the things of the flesh, the things of the carnal mind, and the things that is not subject to the law of God (see v7). This would tie in closely with the teaching of the Lord in Joh 8:52, 14:23-25, 10-12, the teaching of Heb 8:10, 10:16, and many other Bible verses too.

Hence, if we were to compare the Bible teaching with what the radical grace preachers said, we would summarise both as follows:

1. Radical grace teaching: Grace or the goodness of God will lead to joy, gratitude, and change of mind (or repentance).
2. The Bible teaching: the goodness of God may lead to joy, gratitude, change of mind (or repentance), but only true repentance will lead to no condemnation.

Now will you believe the 1. radical grace teaching as God's words or 2. Bible teaching as God's words ? Surely, we must choose properly because we have been warned by the Lord that tares could be preached like God's words among us too, but they can never save. They can never lead to 'no condemnation'; but to the wrath of God:

• Mat 13:20-24 KJV  But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;  (21)  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. ..  (24) Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:  (25)  But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.  (26)  But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also...
• Mat 18:32-34 KJV  Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:  (33)  Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?  (34)  And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

continued ..

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