Why would the sinners need to be saved ?

Why would the sinners need to be saved ?
We need to answer this very simple and basic question because, if we do not know how to answer it or if we answer it wrongly, we cannot save ourselves or other sinners.

• 1Ti 4:11-16 KJV  These things command and teach.  (12)  Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.  (13)  Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.  (14)  Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.  (15)  Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.  (16)  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Of course, if we read the Bible and answer the question honestly, we should do well. However, too many of us have been confused by the radical grace's preaching or twisting of repentance until we have forgotten to ask why sinners need to be saved.
You may not agree with me as to why sinners need to be saved, but it should be clear enough at the end of the day if you would ask the question honestly. It should lead you to think and realise that the radical grace preaching may have swept all the root problem of  mankind below the 'carpet' in the name of 'radical grace' or 'effortless repentance'.


Men are not saved; it's because they want to be 'lawless' in their own ways
I have heard a radical grace preacher who said, "We are under sin because we always sweat. As sweat will dim the pearl and tarnish it, so will it dim God's grace, favour, and glory in our life too. Without God's favour and glory, how can we shine for God ? That's why working with sweat will always make us under stress, under anxiety, under fear, under doubts, and under the law and condemnation. And we cannot shine for God. That's why men must be saved from the curse of sweat; not so much from the curse of sin. That's why Jesus sweated in the garden (Luk 22:44) to redeem us from the curse of sweat. Hence, we repent from doing work with sweat to doing work with no more sweat, or from working hard to working effortlessly. This is the gospel. Hence, forget any gospel which tell you to do and do and do. Some religions will tell you to do many repentance(s) and make you sweat (with much self-effort). That is not the gospel; that is the curse of the sweat or the curse of the law. We are like the pearl purchased by Christ (Mat 13:45-46). We should not let any sweat tarnish the Lord's glory in us ..."

I will ask him, How can our sweat tarnish God's glory? Didn't you say that God's grace is greater than our sins ? Yes, I agree that true grace is great because it can never be tarnished easily by anything, any sin, or even sweat. However, you are contradicting yourself when you say that sweat can dim the grace and glory of God now. Your interpretation of self-effort and sweat is ridiculous. Obviously you have confused yourself and mistaken sweat for sins.

Whether you sweat or don't sweat, you must repent from your sins and confess your sins before God. Why ? We are sinners not because we sweat; we are sinner because we rebel, we love lawlessness, and we refuse to confess it before God, like Adam and Eve. Hence, sweat is not the root problem; sweat came because we sinned. Hence, we’ve to go to the root problem to admit sin, confess sin, and repent from our sin before God, instead of going to God and change our mind by thinking of no more sweat. 

Hence, God sent Jesus to us not because He wants to save us from the curse of sweat so that we can prosper more 'effortlessly'; but because He wants to save us from the curse of sins and lawlessness. Obviously preaching against sweat or self-effort with the intention to ignore our sins and root problem is not the gospel. It is not the preaching of true grace. We should admit and confess the root problem of our sins which came from Adam and Eve when they rejected God's words and command given to them. 
Gen 2:16-17 KJV  And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:  (17)  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

It was a command and 'glory' which was given to 'cloth' them from their nakedness or lawlessness. This was the main reason why men could not die, but Satan deceived men and took it away (stolen it) by giving them the same promise of 'eternal life' (minus God's command). When they believed Satan and thought that they could still live, they no longer believed in God's word or God's command any more. Hence, that 'glory' which clothed them departed.

a. Lawlessness can make a man appear naked in the presence of God  
Gen 3:4-5 KJV  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:  (5)  For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 
Satan had deceived Adam and Eve. He tried to deceived Jesus too. Hence, we should not be surprised to know that he would deceive the churches and the believers too. We should know that he would not give up his stealing act especially after men have received the seed or God's command. He will still come like the fowls to steal the seed which is supposed to grow, bear fruits, and cover the nakedness of men. 
Mat 13:3-4 KJV  And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;  (4) And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:  
Mat 22:10-12 KJV  So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.  (11)  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.
I hope we will not be careless to lose that 'garment' again like the man who was speechless when he was found naked before the King. The man came into the presence of God only to find himself naked like Adam and Eve, even though he could have been given amber instructions, warnings, or commands from the words of God before he was invited to the presence of God. What a pity ? 
Rev 3:17-18 KJV  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.
Of course, Jesus did not talk about the physical nakedness of the churches because of the lack of their material wealth in this world. In God's kingdom, even a beggar can still be properly clothed if he has the laws and the commandments of God, like Lazarus in Luk 16:23. But Jesus wants us to be properly clothed by His words and commandments. If we still do not understand this, we are blind and naked. It is possible for the churches to become blind and naked if they will just listen to the fowls or serpent which will come to steal the seed. Have we asked why would the fowls or serpent steal the seed or the command from Adam and Eve, from the Israelites, from Jesus (Matt 4:3), and from the churches (2Co 11:3, Rev 12:17) ? Why wouldn't they steal from the people of the world ? It is because only God's people have the seed or the command of God. They wouldn't steal from someone who has nothing !

b. Lawlessness is an 'epidemic' in the last days
There is another way to steal the seed. Satan can just give you the seed or God's word without the 'embryo' or God's command. In fact, Satan had done it when he repeated what God did say to men:  
Gen 3:1 KJV  Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Satan might have explained and preached to Eve what he knew and understood about God's word; but he deliberately took away God's command and replaced it with a false promise from his own lawlessness. Today Satan would still use the same tactic when he comes to men:
Mat 13:24-25 KJV  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.
What is the difference between the tares and wheat ? The tares have no God's commandment. Satan may preach it like the wheat or like it is God's commandment but we know that it is not from God. Please think if someone comes to you and says that he preaches God's commandment from the scriptures or quoted the law of God from Psalm 1:1-3, but he said, 'There is nothing for you to obey or do'. Can it still be God's commandment or even God's word ? No, it is meaningless to preach any commandment which has no more requirement to obey or do anything. It is not the word or the seed from God - it is just the 'husk' or 'tares' with no more embryo or life in it !

• 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 14:11-12 KJV  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.  (12)  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
• Rev 22:14 KJV  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (I have searched for the same Bible verse in other Bible versions. I was shocked to realise that they gave a different meaning. Have they only made a mistake ? Or is it a spiritual warfare in the end time where some believers will lose their patience, become tire of keeping God's commandments, and allow the lawless ones to change the scriptures ?)   

c. Men must die to lawlessness and sin to find eternal life
Jesus would never say that God's commandment or His law must 'die' so that His seed will grow in 'lawlessness'. If we can still remember the example Jesus gave about the corn which must die in order to live in Joh 12:24-25, we will understand why eternal life will come only after a corn 'die'. I believe Jesus said that the 'husk' of the seed, the outer layer, the old part of the law, or old covenant must die so that the inner part with the Spirit of the law of God will grow in a man.

• Joh 12:24-26 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.  (25)  He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.  (26)  If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

A man needs to die to allow God's embryo or the seed of life to grow in him. He can only keep and do His commandments after he repented, died, and yielded his spirit to do the righteousness of God and the commandments of God:

• 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.

Hence, men are not saved; it is because they want to be lawless in their own ways, and this has been defined as sin and lawlessness in the eyes of God, even though they do not kill, steal, or do any lawless deeds. Adam and Eve did not do any lawless deeds; yet they could be condemned because of lawlessness.

• 1Jn 3:3-7 LITV  And everyone having this hope on Him purifies himself even as that One is pure.  (4)  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)  Everyone remaining in Him does not sin. Everyone sinning has not seen Him, nor known Him.  (7)  Little children, let no one lead you astray; the one practicing righteousness is righteous, even as that One is righteous.

Hence, we should find out the root problem of men's sin which dated from the time when Adam and Eve rejected God's command given to them, instead of finding all the ways to make men enjoying, prospering, or living happily like the Gentiles in this world. Of course, we are not against enjoying and prospering in this world; however, we should ask ourselves, Did Jesus tell us to preach about all these to make his gospel sound better ? No. If we understand what He said, we would never preach prosperity over and over which will make the people lose their focus on the kingdom of God and salvation in Christ through repentance and dying to this world:

• Mat 6:31-33 KJV  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  (32)  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  (33)  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
• Luk 9:23-26 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.  (25)  For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?  (26)  For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.
• Joh 12:24-25 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.  (25)  He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

Men lost the glory of God because they believed in lawlessness
Hence, lawlessness does not mean lawless deed although it can lead to lawless deed. Lawlessness started from men's will to reject God's laws and commandments since the beginning (since the day Adam and Eve rejected God's command that was given to them in Gen 2:16-17). Hence, Men were rejected by God not because they did lawless deeds but because they thought of doing lawless deeds or thought of lawless deeds under the influence of the serpent. In another words, men were rejected because they thought of lawlessness (as the saying goes, right thinking will lead to right living, and right living will lead on to right doing). When John wrote about the problem of men in 1Jn 3:3-7 above, he confirmed that sin is doing lawlessness or thinking of lawlessness. Hence, based on this Bible truth, he would continue to warn us that "(6)  Everyone remaining in Him does not sin. Everyone sinning has not seen Him, nor known Him.  (7)  Little children, let no one lead you astray; the one practicing righteousness is righteous, even as that One is righteous." In another words, that could be extended to mean "everyone remaining in Him does not think of lawlessness or doing lawlessness too. Everyone doing lawlessness or thinking of lawlessness has not seen Him, nor known Him .." This is the message to all mankind who have rejected God and become 'lawless' in their thoughts and deeds.
When Moses brought down the command or the commandment of God to the Jews, men began to see the cloud and the glory of God again. But it could not cloth everyone of them like it clothed Adam, Moses, or Jesus Christ when light could be seen shining out of their face and garment. God has an eternal plan to cloth all men with His light and His glory again through the giving of His Son Jesus Christ (Heb 8:10, 10:16). But His plan would still fail if men would still believe Satan and think that they can never die without any God's laws and commandments. Jesus did not just come to make God's plan or covenant successful by coming to the world as God's Word and Commandment; He also taught all those who followed Him to keep, confess, teach, and do God's commandments; and most important of all, beware of the ancient serpent which will come again to tempt the churches and those who have received Jesus, Jesus' commands, and the glory of God :

• Mat 4:3-11 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.  .. (7)  Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.  .. (10)  Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.  (11)  Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
• 2Co 11:3-4 KJV  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.  (4)  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

Men must repent from their lawlessness to be 'clothed' again
Hence, if we want the people to be saved. We must preach repentance. Yes, we may say that we must all change our minds, but we must also tell them to change their minds from the thinking of lawlessness to the thinking of obedience or keeping of God commandments. That's why Jesus would always mention keeping of God's commandments when He preached repentance to the sinners. You would never hear Him saying, "No more laws and commandments !" Repentance is a word which is spoken and preached to the sinners who must admit that they have violated God's laws and commandments; it cannot be understood or practised by the Pharisees or radical grace preachers who think that they are too righteous to think of any law.

• Luk 13:1-5 KJV  There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.  (2)  And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?  (3)  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  (4)  Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?  (5)  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

They think that they have high regard for God's laws for NOT KEEPING ANY LAW, but in God's eyes, they have already transgressed against His laws by preaching or doing nothing about His laws. They have made God's laws of none effect or of 'no value':

• Mar 7:11-13 KJV  But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.  (12)  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 15:3-6 KJV  But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?  (4)  For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.  (5)  But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;  (6)  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.
• Mat 25:24-30 KJV  Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:  (25)  And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.  (26)  His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:  (27)  Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.  (28)  Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.  (29)  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.  (30)  And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Many God's servants will argue, "No, we are not lawless. We are God's servants. We have the law of God. Although we may not believe everything and keep all the Ten Commandments but at least we have believed and kept the law of God to rest or the Sabbath law. We have high regard for this only law because we believe in effortless repentance, success, and prosperity. Isn't this what God want us to believe ? We knew that God is a strict Judge, that there is no way for us to keep all the laws, and that we were afraid. So what's wrong if we will just obey Him and do nothing?" 
 God will say to them, You are not fit to be my servants. You will ultimately lose everything that is given to you and become 'talentless' (or lawless) in your own 'lawless world'.
They will argue, "Please don't preach law to us. We are under grace. All those Bible verses above are not applicable to us. We are no more under the law to keep any law. What Jesus said about the laws and commandments have all become obsolete. Only the Jews must keep God's commandments, the moral laws, and the ten commandments. We are no more under the law to obey those commandments. We are saved, forever saved, radically saved, and incredibly saved by the gospel that Paul preached. We are saved by the gospel of grace with no more law, no more effort from us, no more .. this and that. Hence, God's grace is greater than our sins. Of course we won't ask people to sin but should we sin, like the devil, we are still saved. We have no more sins, no more past, present, and future sins.."
I will tell them, You don't have to sin like the devil to be condemned. If you sin by listening to the words of the devil, you have sinned enough to be totally cast out from the presence of God. Who told you that the teaching of Jesus has become obsolete ? The gospel that Paul preached must be based on the teaching of Jesus. Hence, the gospel that Paul preached is the gospel that Jesus preached too, and the gospel that Jesus preached is the gospel of grace. The gospel of grace according to the teaching of the Lord is not the gospel of 'lawlessness, effortless repentance, or just merely changing your mind. The gospel of grace that Jesus preached is based on His teaching of repentance.


Men are not saved even if they have received grace; they must repent and bear fruit

• Luk 13:1-10 KJV  And Jesus answering said unto them, ..  (5)  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  (6)  He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.  (7)  Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?  (8)  And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:  (9)  And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.  (10)  And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

Yes, grace is given to all who are undeserved. All of us are undeserved. All of us have received grace whether we are the just or unjust and whether we know it or not. But not of us who have received grace will be saved. Only those who will truly repent are saved. Only those who will truly repent will bear fruit, bring forth fruits worthy of repentance, or do good like Zacchaeus. 
They will argue, "Your interpretation of that parable is obsolete. That can never be the gospel. When you preach 'do good get good; do bad get bad', you are not preaching the gospel. I tell you, What is the gospel ? It is the gospel when you can receive good that you don't deserve because another one, Jesus Christ, had received all the bad that he didn't deserve ! It takes the Holy Spirit to understand this as the gospel. But to understand 'do good get good, do bad get bad', you don't need the Holy Spirit. But religion always teaches you that. The law of 'do bad get bad' is from the world .." I will tell them,

1. Firstly, the Lord's parables, words, teaching, and warnings can never be obsolete.  
2. Secondly, 'do good get good, do bad get bad' is not the law from the world. It is from God. Paul preached it in Eph 6:1-3, Col 3:5-10, and Rom 13:8-14. Jesus preached it too in most of His parables, including the parable of the fig tree above. 
3. Thirdly, you need the knowledge of God's laws to be convicted by the Holy Spirit. Only the lawless can never understand the logic of 'do good get good', 'do bad get bad', and God's judgement. Most of them do not believe in God's commandments too. I will say this to you too, If you don't believe in 'do good get good', it is meaningless for you to preach any God's laws or commandments; you are just deceiving yourselves and others by meditating or memorising all the laws of God without any conviction to do it, or any conviction that it is good and it is God's will for you to do good.
4. Fourthly, yes, the Lord's parable of the fig tree above may be considered as 'do good get good or do bad get bad' teaching which shows people that they must do something to get salvation; otherwise they will be cut down. But it is the gospel which has more gospel truth than what you preach in your own 'gospels', whether you like it or not. Please think, Isn't it the gospel for the 'fig tree' when it is given a another chance ? In fact, the fig tree had received more grace or more chances than it deserved. It is because the Lord of the vineyard had not done anything although the fig tree was fruitless for many years. I don't think it is right for the fig tree to bargain for more grace by telling the Lord to extend grace with no more time limit, no more requirement to do anything, no more cutting down, no more commandment, or no more judgement.

Yes, it is the gospel for us to do nothing to deserve grace but that does not mean radical grace to do nothing. In the gospel of Jesus Christ, we must do something after we have received grace; otherwise, we will be cut down. Yes, we do nothing to receive grace; but that does not mean that we receive grace to do nothing. Hence, grace is not unearned, undeserved, or unmerited favour to do nothing but it is certainly unearned, undeserved, or unmerited favour to do something. That's why I wonder why should anyone preach an effortless gospel to give people the wrong impression that, under grace, we can just have effortless success in place of the repentance gospel of Jesus Christ.
Hence, we don't preach to the people so that they will just receive grace to be saved, but that they will repent and bear fruit, to be saved. It's because all the people have already received grace. That's why Paul explained clearly why he would preach repentance to both the Jews and the Gentiles. Paul knew that Jesus had done much for all the sinners and that grace has ALREADY been given to everyone; however, the Lord would NOW want to see everyone come to repentance, bear fruit, repent, and do like Zacchaeus.

• Act 20:20-21 KJV  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 26:19-20 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. (Hence, we can say that all the disciples of Jesus including Paul would preach repentance to both the Jews and the Gentiles. However, Paul would only preach grace to the Jews who were under the law. It's because only the Jews would find it difficult to repent under the influence of the Pharisees. Paul had no choice but to argue against the law or the Old Covenant given to the Jews so that the Jews would be saved. That's why he said, 1Co 9:20 KJV  And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;)

Repentance from lawlessness is not merely effortless changing of mind
Yes, grace is undeserved favour from God; but it is not effortless for us. Grace is God's favour for us to do something, to repent, or to bear fruits worthy of repentance. Grace is God's second chance to us so that we will repent. Yes, grace is something that we cannot work for it; but it is something that must 'tell' us to do something. If it is something that tells us to do nothing or keep no more laws, it is not grace. It is not from God; it is from lawlessness.

• Col 3:16 KJV  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
• Tit 2:11-15 KJV  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,  (12)  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;  (13)  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;  (14)  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.  (15)  These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Yes, Jesus has raised the 'bar' of God's commandments to show people that they must all repent. But we cannot use that to interpret that He wants us to forget all the laws of God. On the contrary, He wants us to remember God's laws and commandments in our hearts and mind, admitting our needs for his grace by confessing to Him our lacks and weaknesses daily. However, some preachers or believers would never do it because they think that grace is given 'once and for all' (grace is not given once and for all; only Jesus has died once and for all). They think that after they have offered the blood sacrifice through the Lamb, they would be 'too righteous' to confess any sin again. They refuse to see the need of grace daily through confession of sins or admitting of their weaknesses. Hence, anyone, including God's people or the Pharisees, can still corrupt God's covenant and sin wilfully and boastfully, whether they preach blood sacrifice of the animals or the Lamb; or they preach under under the law or grace.

• Heb 10:2-30 KJV  For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins .. (16) This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;  (17)  And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.  (18)  Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin ..  (26)  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,  (27)  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.  (28)  He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:  (29)  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?  (30)  For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

Repentance from lawlessness is to know our sin conscience to repent
Many God's people may think that they have no more sin conscience to repent based on the Bible verses above, and therefore they can NEVER sin again. However, they are deceiving themselves. They do not realise that the Bible verses have only told them that they have no more sin conscience to offer animal sacrifices or do like the Jews; but NOT no more sin conscience to repent or to confess before God.  
They will still argue, "But, if you agree that Jesus has raised the 'bar' to show people that they can never do any God's commandments, you should know that Jesus has no intention for us to keep any God's commandments or think of any God's laws. He does not want us to think of sin conscience to come before God; but He just want us to keep thinking of His grace without any self-effort to come before God."
I will tell them, Jesus did not raise the 'bar' to teach us to reject God's laws from our mind and do nothing; He raised the 'bar' to teach us to reject 'self-righteousness' which tells us not to think of any sin conscience to repent. 'Self-righteousness' was something that had kept the Pharisees from true repentance, from any effort to repent, or from any fruit worthy of repentance; it is also something which could keep some of His disciples from true repentance too:

• Mat 5:1-22 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 .. (17) Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.  (18)  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.  (19)  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  (20)  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.  (21)  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:  (22)  But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. (Jesus did not say that we should be as righteous as the Pharisees, but He said we should be more righteous than the Pharisees who were hypocrites. In another words, 1. All the Jews must still repent even though they thought that they were as righteous as the Pharisees, 2. All of us, who are now in Christ should never follow the deceivableness of unrighteousness (2Th 2:10) that is in the Pharisees or hypocrites too.)

Repentance from lawlessness is to live with the Spirit of God and to raise the 'bar' for ourselves
Did Jesus say that we must be as 'righteous' as the Pharisees, who were self-righteous, to enter the kingdom of God ? No, He said, We must be more righteous than them.
But many will argue, "How can we be self-righteous or more religious than them to enter the kingdom of God ?" I will tell them, No, Jesus did not ask you to be like the Pharisees. He wants you not only to exceed their righteousness; but also the requirement of the Ten Commandments and God's written law to the Jews. When He set this 'bar' for all His disciples, it is not a 'bar' to condemn them; but it is a 'bar' to show them where they should strife to achieve, and of course, in the Spirit of the law of God, so that they will walk in the Spirit, instead of walking in self-righteousness or self-complacency of the flesh:

• Rom 8:1-9 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.

Please think, If the Lord were to condemn selfishness and preach that 'whosoever is selfish like the Pharisees shall be in danger of judgment (Mat 5:22), will you conclude that His words are not for us again? No, we can't just conclude that, since we can still lust, get angry, and become selfish, therefore, we are no longer subject to God's laws to stop thinking of lusts, anger, and selfishness.
Hence, Jesus raised the 'bar' to let us know that we will still have a long way to go, even after we have received grace as His disciples.  

• Rom 7:18-25 KJV  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.
• 1Ti 1:14-15 LITV  But the grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love in Christ Jesus.  (15)  Faithful is the Word and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

Did Paul say that he has reached the place where he had no more law or no more problem with his flesh ? No, he was still wrestling against the law of his flesh; but he knew where was the 'bar' that Jesus had set for him. Hence, with that mind in the Spirit, he said (v25) that he would continue to serve the law of God and subject to the law of God. If Paul would still admit humbly about his present struggle and confess his sin problem before men, can anyone still boast that he has no more struggle, that he can live life effortlessly without the law of God, that he has no more need to confess sin before men or God, and that he has made it under grace ?   


Repentance from lawlessness is to keep the laws and commandments of God
However, many will still argue, "But Paul told us not to keep any law. He told us that if we keep the laws and commandments of God, we are asking the people to go back to the law. If the people go back to the law, they will be under the law. If they are under the law, they will be under the curse of the law and they would be hypocrites like the Pharisees.."
I will tell them, You have always said that others have falsely accused you. But if you have been preaching day and night that those who keep the laws of God are hypocrites, you are the ones who have falsely accused others. Please think, Did you tell your believers to keep their mouth from speaking evil against others ? If you did, you have just preached the ten commandment - ie. not to bear false witness against others. If you have preached the laws and commandments of God, how can you say that those who teach or keep the ten commandments are condemning people like the Pharisees ? You said that you preached only positive words and that no one should condemn with God's laws, but secretly, did you quote from Isa 54:17 and said, No weapon formed against you will prosper; every tongue that rises against you in judgment, you shall condemn !
You could be speaking like a hypocrite too if you have falsely accused others who teach God's commandments or the ten commandments, but secretly, you would still teach, condemn with the Bible, and give people the impression that you can condemn better than God's commandments. You did not give due credit to God or God's commandments. Please read His words again Mar 7:11-13, Mat 15:3-6. Jesus did not say that those who keep God's laws and commandments were hypocrites; He said that those who made God's laws and commandments of none effect were hypocrites. Similarly I would advise you to read the words of Paul again.

• Act 15:5 KJV  But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
• Act 15:24 KJV  Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
• Gal 6:13 KJV  For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
• 1Co 9:20 KJV  And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

Paul did not tell us not to keep any law; he told us not to keep the law, and the law is referred as the law of the Old Covenant, the law of circumcision, or the law of the Jews.
Paul did not tell us not to keep any law; on the contrary he told us to keep all God's commandments:

• Eph 6:1-3 KJV  Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.  (2)  Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)  (3)  That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
• Rom 13:8-9 KJV  Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.  (9)  For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Hence, we may preach repentance as a change of mind from thinking of lawlessness to thinking of God's grace or thinking of Jesus. But for a true believers, repentance must not stop there, it must go on from thinking of grace or thinking of Jesus to thinking of God's laws and commandments, and finally he will also repent like Zacchaeus too. We know that a believer must do more than just changing of mind and he must repent like Zacchaeus to be saved because of what Jesus said in:
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.


         From thinking of lawlessness - to thinking of grace - to thinking of God's laws 
                        From a sinner with nakedness - to a believer with the law of God 
From the mark of lawlessness - to the mark of God


 

It is God's grace and God's will for men to repent and confess their sins
However, many will still argue, "We are against sins although we do not ask people to repent or to confess their sins. We tell people to hate sins and to humble themselves. We tell them to change their mind from unbelief to believing in God. We tell them to know that they need grace. We tell them to think of grace. We tell them to confess Jesus, confess the righteousness of God, .. etc. Hence, by doing all these, we have repented !"
I will tell them, If you can confess and do so many things to 'repent', what's so difficult to 'confess sins' ? Is it really because you think that you have no more sins to confess ? I don't think Jesus will agree with you because:

1. Jesus has never said that you would be so perfect that you have no more sins after you have believed in Him, 
2. nor would Paul say that you are so righteous that you have no more sins conscience to repent or to confess your sins in the future. He had only said that you would have no more sins conscience to offer animal sacrifice again and again.   Heb 10:1-2 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.

I don't think anyone with the Spirit of God would agree with your 'no more confession of sins in the future' too. It could be just your excuse for anyone who would not repent and confess their sins. If you tell people that they can hate sins, why can't you tell them that they can confess sins too. We can confess sins, hate sins, and died to sins because we know that it is God's will for us to do so:

• 1Jn 1:8-10 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.  (10)  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
• 1Pe 2:20-24 KJV  For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.  (21)  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:  (22)  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:  (23)  Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:  (24)  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
• Rom 7:17-25 KJV  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.

Even Paul confessed that he had the struggles of sins although he hated sins and preferred to subject himself under the law of God rather than living under the law of sin. Now the question: Had Paul been totally delivered from sin or the law of sin ? I don't think so. In fact, he confessed that he still sinned or had sins, and he used the present tense when he talked about the 'sin that dwelleth in him'. Did he say that this would insult God when he still showed the weaker side of himself to men ? No. Of course, since he could humble himself and confess his sins to men, he would confess his sins to God too. Hence, I don't see any problem if we have to confess our sins to God if sin still dwelleth in us too. Paul would say that there is only one place where he would not have any struggle or any need to confess his sins - heaven ! However, Jesus would tell us that there is another place where men will not need to repent or confess any sin too - hell !

• Luk 16:29-31 KJV  Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.  (30)  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.

In hell, no one can change anything even if they will repent or confess their sins 'day and night'. It is because, in hell, there will be no more grace. Grace is given to them only when they are still living on the earth. However, grace cannot save them. They will still perish, except they repent.

• Luk 13:1-10 KJV  And Jesus answering said unto them, ..  (5)  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  (6)  He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.  (7)  Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?  (8)  And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:  (9)  And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.  (10)  And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.
• Jon 3:4-10 KJV  And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.  (5)  So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. ..  (10)  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. ...  Mat 12:39-42 KJV But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: .. (41)  The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.. (Jesus said that the people of Nineveh repented not because they believed only; but because they did more than that. They did much effort to turn from their evil way. The unrepentant generation today will ask for some other sign too, but Jesus will still tell them that there is no other sign, except the same sign for them: To Repent and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ through His resurrection)   

Hence, we can say that it is God's grace and God's will for men to repent and to confess their sins before the time is expired on them. This is the gospel we must preach to all men before the end of time.

• 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.

Jesus even taught His disciples to confess their sins before God:

• Luk 11:1-4 KJV  And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.  (2)  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.  (3)  Give us day by day our daily bread.  (4)  And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. (Did Jesus told the disciples that after he had risen, they should stop teaching the sinners to repent or to confess their sins ? No, on the contrary, the Lord commanded us to preach repentance and teach all the nations to observe whatsoever he had taught us before he was risen. Only the radical grace preachers would interpret it differently and claim that they have heard another 'voice' or another teaching which tells them to stop the preaching of repentance or to preach less of repentance.)

However, it would be foolishness to repent or to know the importance of repentance only when they are in hell, like the rich man in the parable.


::