K089. Is the gospel of Jesus Christ called the gospel of grace or the gospel of repentance?

Many radical grace preachers would say, "Of course, it is the gospel of grace because Jesus preached grace and told us to preach grace only. He told Paul to preach grace too. That's why we should be called only the grace preachers; not any other preachers. We should preach only the gospel of grace; or else, we would be (doubly) cursed for preaching another gospel:
Gal 1:6-9 KJV  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:  (7)  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  (8)  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  (9)  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."

I will tell them to read the Bible again.

1. Jesus did not preach grace only
Jesus preached repentance and the commandments of God. He did show grace, but most of the time, He preached repentance and the words of God. Hence, He was not a grace preacher; but a repentance preacher. But was He doubly cursed? No. We can be grace preachers,  truth preachers, repentance preachers, commandments preachers, faith preachers, prophecy preachers, New Testament preachers, or just God's preachers. Of course, we can preach many things in Christ, including His warnings, reproofs, judgements, and prophecies. Just make sure that we still keep His commandments and sound doctrine.
2Pe 1:19 KJV  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

2. Jesus told His disciples to preach repentance
If He told the disciples to preach repentance. It is unlikely that He would switch and tell us to preach grace only.
Luk 24:45-48 KJV  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,  (46)  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:  (47)  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  (48)  And ye are witnesses of these things.
Act 26:19-21 KJV  Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:  (20)  But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.  (21)  For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.

3. There is a difference between believing in grace and believing in repentance
When the sinners believe in grace, in the goodness of God, or in God, they may not repent. There are already many religions or beliefs which believe in 'grace', goodness of God, and many things, but they do not know or preach repentance in Christ. If they do not know the gospel of Jesus Christ through repentance, they will never repent in Christ. But, if they believed and obeyed the words of the Lord to repent, they have repented in Christ.

4. We do not try to explain grace; we just tell people to experience grace
But to experience grace, the people must repent. This is why the gospel that Jesus preached is the gospel of grace. It is also the gospel that Paul preached too.

5. The gospel of Jesus Christ is called the gospel of grace because there is grace for every sinner to repent
Luk 13:5-9 KJV  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.
If we deliberately argue and tell the sinners that the gospel of Jesus Christ is only the gospel of grace and not the gospel of repentance, we would unknowingly show our rebellion against God and His repentance message. The sinners would get the wrong message that we do not want them to repent (intentionally or unintentionally) too. It would futile to argue with the Lord and tell Him that everyone has misunderstood us for preaching a confusing 'grace' message.

6. The gospel of grace has clear and solid preaching of repentance
Many still argue, "No, the gospel of Jesus Christ is called the gospel of grace simply because it is only about grace and favour; not because of any other things. In fact, Jesus, Paul, and Martyn Lloyd-Jones showed us that, if we do not preach grace radically until we are misunderstood, we are not preaching the grace of God. Jesus told me (in an audible voice or a still small voice) to preach grace radically too." 
I will tell them, Still a small voice? No, Jesus has said to me in a loud and clear voice: "Repent and believe" in Mar 1:15. The gospel of grace without repentance is simply another gospel. Please do not quote from them if you do not really know what they preached. I do not want to explain again what the Bible has already shown us: Jesus (Mar 1:15), the twelve disciples (Mar 6:12 ), and Paul (Acts 26:20) were all repentance preachers. It is because they all preached repentance so that the people will know the grace to repent in Christ. But, if you are still not sure what Martyn Lloyd-Jones preached, visit this link: https://arminiantoday.wordpress.com/tag/martyn-lloyd-jones/
Do you know that Martyn Lloyd-Jones preach repentance more radically than we think? He said, ".. Your nearest and dearest and the whole world may call you a fool, or say you have religious mania, you may have to suffer financially, it makes no difference, that is repentance .."

7. The gospel of grace must have a 'change of mind' which is worthy of repentance
Mat 3:7-9 KJV  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.
So we are against the radical grace gospel not simply because it preaches grace or radical grace; but because it radically and deceitfully argues against all the words, laws, and commandments of God, and gives the false impression that Jesus, Paul, and Martin Lloyd-Jones did not preach repentance WITH fruits (proofs of turning away from sins).
Hence, if we must preach repentance as change of minds, we would preach repentance as change of minds in a sinner; not in a Pharisee. The change of mind in a sinner is to turn away from sins; but the change of mind in a Pharisee is just to have better opinion of God, better favour, better blessings, better prosperity, better thanksgiving, better ego, better self-esteem, and better self-righteousness:
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.
Mat 9:13 KJV  But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

8. The gospel of grace is for those who will repent radically
Of course, I do not mean that they are those who will just repent radically with their mouths or minds; I mean those who will repent with fruits like that of Zacchaeus:
Luk 19:8-10 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.  (10)  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
We know that Zacchaeus was saved because He repented. But how do we know that Zacchaeus had truly repented? Was it because He told Jesus that he believed in Him, worshipped Him, called Him Lord, served Him delicious food, or just change his opinion about Jesus? No. We saw repentance and salvation because we saw:
1. the proof of his repentance
2. his obedience to the words and teaching of Jesus Christ, and
3. Jesus confirmed it with His words (Luk 19:9-10)

9. We would suffer reproach if we preach the true gospel
But will the world still reproach us if we just preach grace without preaching repentance? Please think, Will we suffer more reproach, persecution, and false accusation because we preach against sins, or because we preach grace, favour, prosperity, and goodness to everybody? Of course, we know what Paul meant when he talked about his reproach and why he suffer it:
1Ti 4:9-11 KJV  This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.  (10)  For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.  (11)  These things command and teach.
Act 26:19-21 KJV  Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:  (20)  But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.  (21)  For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.

10. There would be guilt feeling if we preach true repentance
Many still argue that change of mind alone (without any guilt feeling) is sufficient, and that, if there is just a change of mind, there is repentance. I will ask them, Do you know why Zacchaeus knew that he must repent? It is because the words and teaching of Jesus pricked his heart, convicted him, and brought guilt feeling or sinful feeling about what he had done. Obviously, the doctrine and repentance teaching of Jesus revealed the urgent need for him to repent or change. But, if Zacchaeus had no guilt feeling; but only righteous feeling (or non-urgent feeling to change) like that of the Pharisees, would he still repent?

Guilt feeling will lead to two types of consequences:
1. repentance with Christ, or
2. condemnation without Christ*
Act 2:37-38 KJV  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?  (38)  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
2Co 7:9-10 KJV  Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.  (10)  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Paul told us clearly that there are two types of guilt feeling:
1. guilt feeling which leads to repentance - It is a type of guilt feeling which will bring godly changes in lives, like that of Zacchaeus and Prodigal Son.
2. guilt feeling which leads to condemnation - This is the other type which will not bring repentance. When it is 'coupled' with self-righteousness, it will produce self-pity and bitterness against all others, including their spouses, bosses, colleagues, friends, churches, and God.

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