I have said that repentance and grace was like 'bread and butter' in my previous post. I have shown all the Bible verses which have both the preaching of repentance and grace (forgiveness of sins) and conclude that we should never split the preaching of repentance and grace. Hence, most radical grace preachers today can never deny it now. They can never say that preaching of repentance is the teaching of the Old Testament and therefore we should preach only grace. However, they will now argue that they have preached repentance when they preached grace.
They said, "When we preach grace without telling people to repent, it will still lead people to repentance. Preaching of grace will automatically lead people to repent. Repentance is just change of mind: its a change from unbelief to right belief. Hence, we would tell people to believe only. When we tell them to believe, it is the same as telling them to repent. Therefore, no one can falsely accuse us that we have not preached repentance .."
The Pharisees and false prophets could not repent
I find that this type of interpretation or thinking is the same as the thinking of the Pharisees who did not like to repent and yet they would not want people to accuse them of not repenting. So, the Pharisees would finally accept the teaching of repentance from John the Baptist but they would internally change the meaning of repentance and made it acceptable among themselves. But look at what John the Baptist said in Matt 3:8; he did not say, "We should give more grace to the Pharisees who came, and grace will lead them to repentance". Instead, he rebuked them sharply because he knew that the Pharisees would take advantage of the repentance message, pervert it, and deceive the people again, in the same way they had corrupted God's laws with their own 'corban' law:
- Mar 7:10-13 KJV For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: (11) 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 3:5-10 KJV Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, (6) And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. (7) But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (8) Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: (9) And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. (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.
The Pharisees and false prophets would corrupt the meaning of repentance
Of course, I believe that John the Baptist wanted to be gracious to the Pharisees and false prophets too, just like he was gracious to the sinners whom he baptized. However, when John thought of the people who perished because of these Pharisees and false prophets, he knew what he should do: If he was gracious to the Pharisees and the deceivers, he would be ungracious to all the sinners.
Can we repent without confessing our sins?
Now back to the question: Can we repent without confessing our sins? "Of course, not", John the Baptist would tell the Pharisees when he was baptizing the people. Matt 3:6 tells us that the people .. were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins (v6). This shows us clearly that people who repent must confess their sins, not just outwardly, but inwardly too.
Some people may argue, "No, we confess our sins inwardly only, we don't confess our sins outwardly any more. Only the Pharisees would confess their sins outwardly.." I will tell them, Confessing our sins outwardly is not necessarily confessing our sins verbally or loudly. It does not mean that we must constantly whispering our sins, chirping like the birds. Do you still baptize people in water? That is how you tell people to confess their sins outwardly to God and people. Of course, we can confess our sins outwardly in many ways. We do not limit it confessing it loudly or softly or confessing it quietly through water baptism only; we can also confess it by making recompense or saying sorry to those whom we have offended.
Of course, we can be flexible with the outward expression of repentance, but we can never play down the importance of inward expression of repentance. And I believe that 1 John 1:9 is not talking about the outward expression of repentance; it is an inward confession to God. How do I know that? Please read it again:
- 1Jn 1:5-10 KJV This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (6) If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: (7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (8) 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.
- see a psychiatry doctor
- find out what kinds of sins that have bothered you so much that you must confess it verbally loudly or softly
- repent, change your lives, and make recompense
- change your church. Obviously your understanding of repentance is so distorted that you think that to repent is just to confess sins verbally or chirping meaninglessly like the birds
Have we thought why John said, If we confess our sins .. and Paul said, If we sin wilfully..? Does it mean that John always confessed sins or Paul always sinned wilfully? No. We can say that they hardly sinned. But does it mean that they are saying it to the agnostic believers and therefore their warnings are not applicable to us? No. They are saying it to us and their warnings are for us. Please think, When a father warned his kid and said, "Son, if we take drugs, we will get addicted and we will regret one day..", does it mean that the father had taken drugs? No. We can say that the father had never taken drugs or hardly took any drugs. But does it mean that the father could only say it to other kids and therefore his warning was not applicable to his kid? No. It is ridiculous to twist the warning of the father and convince the son that his father's warning was not for him. Similarly, it is equally ridiculous to twist the words of God in Heb 10:26 and 1 John 1:9 and convince God's children that God's warnings are no more applicable to them.
I will tell those who split the letter of John and tell us which verse is for us and which verse is not for us, Don't leave church or change church yet. Go to see a psychiatry doctor first ! If necessary, see a brain surgeon too.
- Mat 18:6-9 KJV But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. (7) Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! (8) Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. (9) And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
- Rev 3:15-19 KJV I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. (16) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (17) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: (18) I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. (19) As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
If we can confess sins outwardly, there is no problem for us to confess sin inwardly too
Hence, it is absurd to tell people that they can confess their sins outwardly (like doing water baptism) but they cannot confess it inwardly according to 1 John 1:9. If believers can sin and confess their confess to one another; why can't they confess it to God?
- Jas 5:15-16 KJV And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. (16) Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Similarly, the Pharisees who came for repentance might tell John that they wanted to say 'sorry' to God and to the people through his baptism. But John refused to baptize them. John might have told them that it was meaningless for them to say sorry without confessing their sins or admitting that they have any sin. Obviously, the Pharisees could not bring forth fruit meet for repentance because John would want them to repent by asking them to confess their sins, admit it, and make recompense for the sin they have committed. Obviously the Pharisees could only believe; they could not repent. King Herod could not repent too. That's why they hated John the Baptist for preaching repentance:
- Mat 14:3-5 KJV For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. (4) For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. (5) And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
I don't see any logic to confess only righteousness when we sinned
I will tell them, If you do not confess sin when you sinned or after you sinned, you are showing the wrong way to the sinners who do not know Christ. You deceive them that they can come to God as the righteous or the proud even though they are all sinners:
- It's because many of them still think that they have not sinned
and they would never confess it as sins. They still think that it is
alright to commit adultery, covet, cheat, lie, and sin 'minimally'.
Hence, they would think that you have the right preaching or right
believing for them. Your preaching would become a license for them to
continue to sin 'minimally' like before. It's because they will think
that they can just continue to sin and confess that they are the
righteousness of God even though they have no intention to repent (or to
do a drastic turn from their old Gentile thinking, behaviours, and
ignorance to God's words, to keeping the law and the words of God).
1Th 4:4-5 KJV That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; (5) Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: (I will tell the radical grace preachers, Paul commanded that everyone must know this. Hence, how can this become self-effort when we teach more on living right, holiness, or godly living with sanctification?)
1Co 10:6-15 KJV Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. (7) Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. (8) Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. (9) Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. (10) Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. (11) Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. (12) Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. (13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (14) Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. (15) I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. (These teachings are certainly for us because it is said clearly that these are the examples, warnings, or admonition for us)
- There are also those who sin and know that they have sinned. But they would never like to confess it or admit that it is sin. Hence, they would also think that you have the right preaching or right believing for them. Your preaching may not be a license for them to continue to sin, but it is certainly a relief for them to know that they can continue to sin without the need to repent or to confess it to God. They may have gone through water baptism but they do not know the real meaning of water baptism which is not just a declaration of their faith in Christianity; but also a indication of their determination to repent and to die to sinful self. In fact, water baptism is a form of confession of sins too. The Lord's prayer in Luk 11:4 is also a form of confession of sins. 1 John 1:9 is confession of sins. Paul confession of the evil, weaknesses, and sins in his flesh (Rom 7:19) is a confession of sins. Hence, I don't see any problem with the confession of sins. If you think that confession of sins is the problem, you should not do any water baptism, because it will certainly remind you of your sins and your confession of sins. But as for us, we will continue to do and teach water baptism to the believers. Why? It's because we want to show them that we must confess that we are sinners and that we must die to our former self, including our sins, in order to live for Christ. Hence, we don't just confess our sins privately or publicly through water baptism; we also confess God's righteousness with our lives in true repentance:
I have always heard radical grace preachers in the TV telling the sinners (or the smokers) that they should confess "I am the righteousness of God" while they smoked or sinned and it is guaranteed that they would be set free. I know that this would sound like a great theology to most of the smokers or sinners. But to us, Hmmm, big problem.. How can we confess righteousness when we sin?Eph 4:17-25 KJV This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, (18) Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: (19) Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. (20) But ye have not so learned Christ; (21) If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: (22) That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; (23) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (24) And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (25) Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
1Pe 1:14-23 KJV As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: (15) But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; (16) Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. .. (22) Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: (23) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Please think deeper, If an adulterer sin, will he confess "I am the righteousness of God"? Will a rapist confess "I am the righteousness of God"? No, if a person really sin, he won't confess "I am the righteousness of God" and he should not confess "I am the righteousness of God"; he should instead confess "I have sinned and I am a sinner who needs the forgiveness of God and the forgiveness of my wife".
Hence, confession of sins does not empower us to sin no more. Neither can confession of righteousness does wonder to a sinner who has the habit of sinning too. Confession of sins is just the natural verbal expression of regret, of knowledge of wrong, of repentance, of acceptance of punishment from others, or of consent to compensate others. However, if a person has no intention to change himself or to recompense others, his confession of sins is just vain verbal repetition of words which is meaningless to God and others. There is no true repentance in his heart to admit wrong and accept responsibility for the wrong he has done. He may confess it beautifully and repeatedly, like a pro or a parrot, but he is a hypocrite. He would still be a hypocrite if he chooses to confess righteousness, thanksgivings, or the positive things instead.
- 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.
** Denying the problem of sins without confessing it can never be the solution Many radical grace preachers argue, "No, we should not preach against sin. It will only bring sin conscience, and sin conscience will remind us of more sin and lead us to sin even more and more.. Hence, we should preach only confession of righteousness or positive confession of the good things in Christ. We should only have good opinion of God, and God will have good opinion of us. This is how we get more and more favour from God. Hence, whoever preaches anything about sins eg. the laws against sins, condemnation of sins, repentance from sins, or judgement against sins will always remind the people about sin. It will remind them to sin even more. He would be like the law preacher or Pharisee who always preached against sins or condemnation of sins, but they themselves would sin even more than anyone else. They were the hypocrites. However, we are not like them. We confess that we are the righteousness of God in Christ. And this will truly stop us from sinning .."
- I will ask them, Do you know that there are many who still preach against sickness, laziness, and unfaithfulness too? Do you honestly think that their preaching will make the people more sick, more lazy, or more unfaithful too? Have you forgotten that you are still preaching against the Pharisees and their hypocrisy too? Why can you preach against the Pharisees and their sins; but others cannot? If preaching against sins and hypocrisy will make the people more hypocritical, your preaching against the Pharisees would make you yourselves even more hypocritical too. Do you get the point? If you can argue or preach against others, so can others do it against you too !
- I will tell them, Do you know that your refusal to confess your sins is a kind of spiritual sickness too - It is a form of self-denial which refuses to accept the truth
For example, it is like a murderer who has just buried the dead body under the sand and tried to think no more of it, hoping to forget that he is still a murderer. However, one day the toes of that dead body will stick out from the sand and bring him back to confront the problem (the dead body) again.
Similarly, like most sinners, you may just want to 'bury' your sin behind your unrepentant conscience and try to think no more of it, hoping to forget that you are a sinner. However, one day your lawlessness or nakedness will still be revealed when you are before the Lord. Mat 22:11-12 KJV And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: (12) And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
- What should we do if we are a sinner (or a murderer)? According to the words of the Lord, we should confess and admit that we are the sinners (some of us are murderers, adulterers, robbers, thieves, liars, .. ) and seek forgiveness from God and from those whom we have offended. Hence, denying it, refusing to confess it, or thinking no more of it will never solve the problem.
If preaching about sins will make the people sin even more, does it mean that Jesus had made the Jews sin even more when He preached about sins?
I will ask them, Do you know that Jesus was a repentance preacher? Did He tell the people just to believe only? No, if to repent is just to believe only, He would not teach us to do many of His words, principles, commandments, and doctrine: eg. to be born again (Joh 3:3), to be baptised (Mat 28:19), to confess our sins (Luk 11:4), to love our neighbour as ourself (Luk 10:36-37), to do good to others (Mat 25:37-40), to do more than what the world could teach us (see His sermon on the mount in Matt 5-7), to be the light and salt of the world, to keep God's commandments, to take up the cross, to watch and pray, to beware of the false prophets, to walk in the light instead of darkness, to hear and do His words diligently, to divide His words responsibly, to preach repentance in His name (Luk 24:47), and to teach all that He has commanded us to do (Mat 28:20).
I will ask them, Do you know that you can never do any of His teaching if you are not born again or if you are not truly His? But many Pharisees could have asked, "How can we be born again?" Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again by repentance (John 3); not by believing only. What is repentance? Is it just to confess your sins or change your mind only? No, confessing your sins is just an outward sign of being born again, like the water baptism which is seen by the people, whilst changing your mind is a mental process which occurs only in the mind. But true repentance will do more than the outward physical and the inner mental process and it will bring the final change of heart through the Spirit of God. We may just want to define repentance as a 'change of mind' or 'metanoia'. But we must be more specific about it - it is not just any change of mind (metanoia) by the Pharisees (the self-righteous); but the change of mind (metanoia) by the sinners. Common sense tells us that the change of mind by a sinner is not just to believe only or to believe like the self-righteous who would just change their minds to have good opinion of God. But the genuine change of mind by a sinner is to stop sinning and start living and doing God's righteousness. That's why Jesus would never call the Pharisees or the self-righteous to repentance. He knew that the Pharisees could never change their minds and repent like the sinners:
I will now ask them, Did Jesus preach about sins, repentance from sins, or the reminder of sins? Of course, if He always called sinners to repentance, He would preach about their sins too. Did He tell people to sin no more too? Of course, He did said to the woman and the man, Sin no more, but walk in the light:
- Luk 5:32 KJV I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
- Mat 3:5-14 KJV Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, (6) And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. (7) But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (8) Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: (9) And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
- Luk 18:11-14 KJV The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. (12) I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. (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.
- Luk 19:8-9 KJV 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. (What's the difference between the 'repentance' of the Pharisee in Luk 18 and the repentance of Zacchaeus in Luk 19 (in the next chapter)? One repented by believing only or having good opinion of God only, but the other repented by turning from his wickedness and doing recompense. Hence, only the true repentance from the heart of a sinner will see God's justification and salvation.)
Have you read what Jesus said? Do you think that the Jew had sinned even more because of the reminders of sins by Him? Obviously, if you think that the preaching of sins, conviction of sins, repentance from sins, or punishment of sins will make people sin even more, it is not from the teaching of Christ; it is your own teaching, and it is from an anti-Christ's teaching.
- Joh 5:14 KJV Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
Joh 8:11-12 KJV She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. (12) Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.- Luk 13:2-5 KJV 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.
** The Holy Spirit will reprove anyone in the world, including the churches and believers
By the way, did Jesus say that the conviction or reproof of sins will make the people sin even more? I don't think so. If the conviction of sins will make the people sin even more, He would never send the Holy Spirit to the world:
Now, what did Jesus mean when He said that the Holy Spirit will reprove or convict the world? Is the word 'elegchō' a word to condemn, beat, kill, or annihilate the people of sin? No, it is also the same word that 'elegcho' or convict the world of righteousness and of judgement too. Hence, the word 'elegchō' is not a word to condemn sins; but a word to reprove, correct, chasten, admonish, reveal, convince, test, prove, or make known the sins of the world, the righteousness of God, and the judgement of God too.
- Joh 16:7-12 KJV Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (8) And when he is come, he will reprove (elegchō) the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (9) Of sin, because they believe not on me; (10) Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; (11) Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. (12) I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
I will tell the radical grace preachers, I find it hard to be convinced by you if there are so many Bible verses which tell us that we can be reproved, rebuked, and convicted by His words. And I don't think we can twist the word 'elegchō' and interpret it as a word to condemn or judge without love and justice, neither can we change the tone of the word to deceive the people that it is just a soft, smooth, positive, smiling, happy,, fun and joyous word which has no more rebuke, no more judgement, no chastisement, no discipline, no suffering, no hardship, no testing, no endurance, no requirement, no demand, and no commandment. I will tell them to read all the Bible verses above again. If they would still insist that Jesus or the Holy Spirit can only speak the soft, smooth, and positive words to the believers, they have not only blinded themselves and others; they have also worked for the one who is try to restraint, hold back, or withhold the Holy Spirit from reproving the world or the believers in the last days:
- Joh 8:7-9 KJV So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. (8) And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. (9) And they which heard it, being convicted (elegchō) by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. (Jesus' words convicted the Pharisees too. Did Jesus make them sin even more?)
- 2Ti 3:16 KJV All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof (elegchō), for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
- Joh 3:19-21 KJV And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (20) For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved (elegchō). (21) But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
- Eph 5:11-13 KJV And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove (elegchō) them. (12) For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. (13) But all things that are reproved (elegchō) are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
- 1Ti 5:20-21 KJV Them that sin rebuke (elegchō) before all, that others also may fear. (21) I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
- 2Ti 4:2-3 KJV Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove (elegchō), rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
- Tit 1:9 KJV Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince (elegchō) the gainsayers.
- Tit 1:12-13 KJV One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. (13) This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke (elegchō) them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
- 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 (elegchō) with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
- Heb 12:5-9 KJV And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked (elegchō) of him: (6) For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. (7) If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? (8) But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. (9) Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? .. (11) Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
- Rev 3:15-19 KJV I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. (16) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (17) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: (18) I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. (19) As many as I love, I rebuke (elegchō) and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
- 2Th 2:1-12 LITV And, brothers, we entreat you, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of our gathering together to Him, (2) for you not to be quickly shaken in the mind, nor to be disturbed, neither through a spirit, nor through speech, nor through letter, as through us, as if the Day of Christ has come. (3) Do not let anyone deceive you in any way, because that Day will not come unless first comes the falling away, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, (4) the one opposing and exalting himself over everything being called God, or object of worship, so as for him "to sit in the temple of God" as God, setting forth himself, that he is God. Dan. 11:36; Eze. 28:2 (5) Do you not remember that I told you these things, I yet being with you? (6) And now you know the thing holding back, for him to be revealed in his time. (7) For the mystery of lawlessness already is working, only he is holding back now, until it comes out of the midst. (8) And then "the Lawless One" will be revealed, "whom" "the Lord" "will consume" "by the spirit of His mouth," and will bring to nought by the brightness of His presence. Isa. 11:4 (9) His coming is according to the working of Satan in all power and miraculous signs and lying wonders, (10) and in all deceit of unrighteousness in those being lost, because they did not receive the love of the truth in order for them to be saved. (11) And because of this, God will send to them a working of error, for them to believe the lie, (12) that all may be judged, those not believing the truth, but who have delighted in unrighteousness.
We don't just define repentance; we preach repentance
Hence, it is absurd to tell people to repent without asking them to confess their sins or admit that they have sinned too. Please think, Have you heard of the English professor who said to his students, "We define 'love' as a great affection or liking for someone or something. But we don't see any 'neighbor' or 'loving your neighbor as thyself' in the definition."
Of course, we don't define 'love', like the English professor. We preach 'love' and therefore we must preach what Jesus preached about 'love' and about how we love others too.
Similarly, when we preach repentance, we don't just define repentance and full stop; we tell people what they must do when they repent, like John the Baptist.
- Luk 3:7-15 KJV .. (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. .. (10) And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? (11) He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. (12) Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? (13) And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. (14) And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages. (15) And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;
- Luk 15:29-32 KJV And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: (30) But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. (31) And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. (32) It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Similarly, we know that the return of the prodigal son mean that all the sinners must repent and return to the house of God under the New Testament. There would still be God's laws and commandments in the house of the Father. Many Bible scholars think that the prodigal son refers to the Gentile sinners who have gone astray and left God, but the Jews remains in the house of God and that's why they must give up their laws. I have already said that both the Gentiles and the Jews must still keep God's commandments.
My personal interpretation of the parable - it could be the metaphor about Adam and Lucifer who have both fallen
But now I have slightly a different view about the parable of the prodigal son. I would think that the prodigal refers to the whole mankind who have become lost because of sins or lawlessness (departure from God's command and God's glory). The elder son could be Satan who was Lucifer. Both Adam and Lucifer were God's first created beings with the spirit and will to choose between obedience to God's commandments and rebellion against God's commandments. That's why are called the sons of God - Lucifer, being the elder son, would continue to remain in the house of God, whilst Adam, being the younger son, fell and became the prodigal son. Adam was tempted by the serpent. As a result, he came to the planet earth because he thought it was beautiful planet.
- Gen 3:6-7 KJV And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. (7) And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
Many will argue, "But how could Lucifer (or the serpent) appear in the garden of Eden to tempt his brother Adam if he was supposed to be in his Father's house."
I will tell them, This is just my personal interpretation and hence I won't say whether it is right or wrong. It is just a metaphor or parable for my illustration of man's lawlessness in the planet earth. However, if you have problem accepting the metaphor because you think that Lucifer and the serpent can never appear at two places at the same time, I would suggest that you can just cast away my illustration and read the Bible with a simple mind, and still repent like the prodigal. Similarly, you should reject anyone who come to you and give you the illustration of the parable of the prodigal sons with their antinomian arguments for the sinners (or 'prodigal son') against the churches too. I find it more ridiculous to think that they themselves, the sinners or the so called 'prodigal son', can receive more favours than the believers or the 'elder sons' in the churches because the churches obey and keep God's commandments.
If we are not liars, we would still preach and confess sins
In summary, we must preach repentance
and tell the people that they have sin because we know that all sinners have departed from the law of God
since Adam fell in Gen 3. Otherwise, we are liars. If we refuse to preach repentance, we
have denied that we are all sinners who need Christ. We have denied
Christ. And we have become antinomians who deceive ourselves and lie
about our sins. John said it very clearly, If we repent or confess our sins, God will
forgive us (1 Jn 1:9). If we refuse to repent or deny that we have sins
or we have sinned, we make Him a liar. As God can never lie with His
words; we become the liars instead:
- 1Jn 1:6-10 LITV If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and we walk in darkness, we lie and are not practicing the truth. (7) But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of His Son Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. (8) 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 righteous that He may forgive us the sins, and may 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.
- Mat 3:5-8 KJV Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, (6) And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. (7) But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (8) Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
- 1Jn 1:7-10 KJV But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (8) 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.
** Repentance is not for the Jews and the Pharisees only
I will ask them to read the Bible verses above again. Both Bible verses have shown us that confession of sins and repentance is under the New Testament. How can it be preached as something that is for the Old Testament or only for the Jews and the Pharisees? If it is only for the Jews because it is the law for them to do repentance and water baptism, why do you still baptise your believers with water? Why don't you preach that water baptism is under the law and say that all the churches who do it are under the law? If you justify yourselves for doing the water baptism of repentance and condemn others for doing it, you are no different from a double standard preacher or a lukewarm believer that is neither 'hot nor cold' or neither 'here nor there', and the Lord will spew you out one day. Repent:
- Rev 3:15-19 KJV I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. (16) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth ... (19) As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Repentance is not just the philosophy of a change of mind
I will tell them again, Please read Mat 3:5-8 again. If repentance is just the philosophy of a change of your minds, the Pharisees could do it better than some of us. It's because they wanted to just confess their sins, change their minds, and do nothing. They would never bring any fruits meet for repentance.
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