Things I Fear - Salvation Without Repentance

Temple Baptist Church - 8-3-2014 

Matthew 21:23-32

 

Introduction:

A. There is a song that says, “Change and decay in all around I see” and religion worldwide is no different. There was a time when Christianity was more than just a profession of faith that proceeded from the lips and went no farther than that but the typical “convert” of these last days is no different than anyone else out there.

B. I said the other night that the word “converted” is little used in the modern churches. When someone said that they had been converted, you knew that a wonderful change in their life had been wrought when they were saved. There was a day when you heard someone say, “He was a good Christian man or she was a good Christian lady.” Now, you have to ask the question: “Were they saved,” because their life does not reflect biblical salvation.

C. Now, the King James Bible has not changed, but preaching in most pulpits certainly has! I know that many have left the Word of God for perverted versions off of a perverted text (these are translated from the Wescott-Hort or “Minority Text”) but we have God’s Word and, as we said of the Holy Spirit, it is pure in its product!

D. I fear that one of the many problems with modern day religion is that these churches are preaching a salvation without repentance. In the fundamental Baptist movement a few years ago, the controversy raged over is repentance necessary for salvation. That is as bad as having to vote to make the man the head of the home.

E. In our text, we find the Lord’s story of a man with two sons: one said that he would not go work in his father’s vineyard but repented and went while the other son said that he would go and work but went not. Jesus asked the question: “Whether of them twain did the will of his father?”

F. The lesson being taught was the necessity of repentance in order to do the will of the Father. Publicans and harlots go to heaven through repentance and chief priests and elders who do not repent do not! Religion will not get you to heaven!

G. The Lord then said, “For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.” They knew John the Baptist!

Luke 7:27-28 This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. (28) For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

H. Is repentance a necessity for salvation?

1. The greatest prophet that ever lived, John the Baptist, said it was: Matthew 3:1-3 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, (2) And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (3) For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

2. Our Lord Jesus Christ said that it was: Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Luke 24:45-47 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.

3. The Apostle Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost on Pentecost, said it was: Acts 2:38 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.

4. The Apostle Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, said it was: Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

5. Paul, before Agrippa, said this: Acts 26:13-20 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. (14) And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. (15) And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. (16) But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; (17) Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, (18) To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. (19) 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.

I. Here is a simple contrast between biblical repentance and a lack of biblical repentance:

1. Biblical repentance brings spiritual birth that leads to Heaven.

A lack of biblical repentance continues spiritual death which leads to Hell.

2. Biblical repentance brings spiritual understanding of Scripture and doctrine.

A lack of biblical repentance leaves the natural man in spiritual darkness.

3. Biblical repentance brings faith and continuance.

A lack of biblical repentance brings lack of faith, faithfulness, and falling away.

4. Biblical repentance brings a godly testimony of a life that is changed.

A lack of biblical repentance brings worldliness and lack of a godly testimony.

5. Biblical repentance brings a faith that reproduces itself in saving faith to others.

A lack of biblical repentance brings a dead faith that reproduces dead faith.