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Liberty Advocate
http://www.libertyadvocate.com/
The Unbiblical Doctrine of Unconditional Forgiveness by Karen Pansler Lam, J.D.
False Christianity throws out the Biblical doctrine of repentance. False Christianity preaches unconditional forgiveness. False Christianity preaches salvation without repentance. But this is contrary to the Word of God. Repentance precedes forgiveness. Repentance precedes salvation.
Except ye
repent, And false Christianity preaches we should unconditionally forgive those who wrong us. But the Bible teaches if a brother repents, then forgive him.
If thy
brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; Those who preach unconditional forgiveness pervert the doctrine of God’s grace. Essentially, they condemn God and declare they show more grace and mercy than God because they forgive evildoers who do not repent. The truth is… Without repentance, no man is reconciled to God. Without repentance, no man is reconciled to others. The stiff-necked wrongdoer who refuses to repent of offending God and man is unforgiven and doomed.
False Christianity Throws Out Repentance False Christianity throws out the doctrine of repentance. This is true even in churches that identity themselves as “holiness” churches. Holiness-movement churches are defined by John Wesley’s doctrine of a second work of grace leading to Christian perfection. However, many holiness churches today are as apostate as the other churches because they no longer preach repentance, sanctification, and other Biblical doctrines. My husband and I visited a Wesleyan church a few weeks before Easter. Sadly, we were greatly disappointed. Here is the e-mail I sent to the pastor. The first part of the e-mail rebukes the church for singing Christian folk/folk rock songs. The second half rebukes the pastor for denying the doctrine of repentance. Dear Pastor Diaz, Worship in song is such an important part of the service. We attend the Florida Holiness Campground because of the reverent Sunday morning service, including singing sacred hymns. The old hymns do not just teach doctrine. Indeed, they teach us how to praise and worship with reverence and majesty. Holy music is consecrated or set apart to a sacred use; it fosters unity. It is immediately distinguishable from worldly music in word and spirit. The writers of sacred songs are godly men and women inspired by the Holy Spirit. Certainly, every Christian feels the presence and power of the Spirit in the following hymns: “Praise the Lord,” “It Is Well with My Soul,” “How Great Thou Art,” and “Holy, Holy, Holy.” When sung as intended by the writers – with reverence – no one confuses them with rock ‘n’ roll, jazz, show tunes, pop, folk, folk rock, and other worldly music. Church music must be wholly consecrated to God. Modern Christians use Christian folk/folk rock music and psychedelic Christian rock music as part of church worship to express their feelings, their protests and their vision of the world and life. Church music must never pander to low tastes – “Christian” rock and folk/folk rock and other worldly styles of music that degrade sacred worship. This is sacrilege in the sanctuary. When Kenny and I visited on Sunday morning, we were greatly disappointed that you did not sing more of the majestic sacred hymns that glorify the King of kings; but sang several contemporary Christian folk/folk rock songs…and I noticed many of the congregants were not singing – not even the young people. As for the sermon… Jesus’ last words in Luke 23:34, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” was forgiveness for all who repent and believe the gospel. You did not mention the word “repent” or variations (repentance, repented, etc.) even once in your sermon. Matthew Henry comments:
1.
Christ's prayer for his enemies (v. 34):
Father, forgive them.
Seven remarkable words Christ spoke after he was nailed to the cross, and
before he died, and this is the first. One reason why he died the death of
the cross was that he might have liberty of speech to the last, and so might
glorify his Father and edify those about him. As soon as ever he was
fastened to the cross, or while they were nailing him, he prayed this
prayer, in which observe, Henry’s correct interpretation of Jesus’ words is affirmed by Peter’s preaching repentance in Acts 2:36-38… Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 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? 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.
May I suggest you look up in a concordance the 23 times “repent” is used in
the New Testament and study each Scripture. Kenny and I are looking for a home church that preserves our rich Christian heritage of sacred hymns that reverently praise the glory and majesty of the King of kings, and Lord of lords. And we are looking for a home church that has not thrown out the doctrine of repentance. I am truly sorry we can’t make Faith Wesleyan our home church because you folks are certainly welcoming and friendly. But FWC is part of the New Church Order – part of the New World Order. I pray that you will read some of my messages about the New Church Order. Grace and peace,
Karen Pansler Lam, J.D.
Psychedelic
Christianity:
The Downfall of Christian Culture http://libertyadvocate.com/message17.htm
The New Church Order http://www.libertyadvocate.com/The%20New%20Church%20Order.htm
A Church Divided http://libertyadvocate.com/message25.htm
Open Letter to Evangelical Leaders & The Sixty-Two Theses on the Prophecy of Popular Christianity
http://libertyadvocate.com/message26.htm
No Reverence in God's House http://www.libertyadvocate.com/Reverence.htm
Pastor Diaz did not reply. This “holiness” preacher did not mention the word “repent” or variations (repentance, repented, etc.) even once in his sermon on Jesus’ last words, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”! Nor did he infer that repentance must precede salvation. But there is no salvation without reconciliation to God through Jesus Christ. And to be reconciled to God we must first acknowledge we have sinned against Him and be brought into a state of favor with God by the atoning of Jesus’ blood. Matthew Henry states: Thus who
have the comfort of the remission of their sins, by the sprinkling of the
blood of Christ upon their consciences, must with the utmost care and
caution cleanse themselves from
all filthiness both of flesh and spirit,
and thoroughly purge themselves
from their old sins; for
every one that hath this hope
in him will be concerned to
purify himself. It is the blood of Christ his Son that cleanses us from all sin, and by which atonement is made for us, that we may have admission into God’s presence and may partake of His favor. And, of course, this is why the old hymns are despised and belittled and thrown out in favor of new hymns that don’t teach repentance and other Biblical doctrines. False Christians refuse to sing “Nothing But the Blood”…
What can wash away my sin?
False Christians refuse to sing “There Is Power in the Blood”…
Would you be free from the
burden of sin? These doctrinal hymns declare the Truth: It is the blood of Christ His Son that cleanses us from all sin and justifies us before God. Paul declares in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11...
9 Know ye not
that the unrighteous
shall not inherit the kingdom of God?
Be not
deceived:
neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor
abusers of themselves with mankind, The Corinthian Christians were overcomers. They were washed and sanctified resulting in a change of behavior: “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified”! Glory to His Name! If we repent, then we can sing a song of victory!...
I heard an old, old story, how
a Savior came from glory,
O victory in Jesus, my Savior,
forever, But false Christianity – modern Christianity – teaches us to be overlookers, not overcomers. We are commanded to overlook sin in others – “don't judge.” And we are to overlook sin in ourselves - “nobody's perfect. Repentance and striving for holiness is replaced with good works. But Jesus warns us that false Christians will not enter the kingdom of heaven, even if they do many wonderful works in His name:
Not every
one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
Many will
say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?
And then I
will profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work
iniquity.
Jesus warns us that even if we do many wonderful works in His name, yet remain unrepentant, unholy and unclean, we are not one of His: "And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity." But false Christianity preaches salvation without repentance – unconditional forgiveness. This is a devilish lie that will send countless lost souls to hell…
He that
overcometh shall inherit all things:
Ye must be
born again.
Except ye
repent,
False Christianity not only preaches that repentance is not necessary to reconcile to God, it also preaches repentance is not necessary to reconcile to man. Even though I did not address it in the e-mail to Pastor Diaz because I wanted to focus on his false message of salvation without repentance, he also preached in his sermon that we must forgive all those who offend us even if they don’t repent. But nowhere does the Bible teach unconditional repentance. Indeed, the Bible clearly commands us…
If thy
brother trespass against thee, rebuke him;
And if he
trespass against thee seven times in a day, Forgiveness is based on repentance – a change of heart and a change of mind resulting in a change of behavior. Verse 4 does not intend that if our brother trespasses against us seven times a day for the same offence that we should forgive him. Certainly, if he truly repents the first time, there will not be a second time, third time, and so forth. Anyone who repeatedly commits the same offence against us or a similar offence is lying when he says, “I repent.” For example, if a man steals money from us seven times in a day and says, “I repent” after each time, committing the second act of theft is irrefutable evidence he did not truly repent after the first theft.
(See “Till Death Do Us Part?” Pt.1 http://www.libertyadvocate.com/message6.htm & Pt. 2 http://www.libertyadvocate.com/message7.htm).
Years ago, when I worked in public schools, a young female teacher always looked haggard and had a broken spirit. Later, I learned that her husband beat her, but she would not divorce him because the Assemblies of God church she attended told her it was wrong to divorce him unless he committed adultery. That woman and her children suffered terribly because of this false teaching.
To justify the martyr myth,
people often quote Matthew 5:39. “But I say unto
you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right
cheek, turn to him the other also.” Christ observed the spirit of
this command, but He did not strictly follow the letter of it. John 18 22 And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answereth thou the high priest so? 23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?
Did Jesus urge the man to keep hitting him? No. He boldly protested against being struck wrongfully. We must interpret Christ’s words by His own example and other Scripture. Jesus teaches eternal principles to be modified to each situation. We don’t always have to silently endure wrong. To insist upon the literal meaning of turning the other cheek is a pharisaic interpretation of the New Testament. We must look to the spirit of the Law, not the letter of the Law! Under literal obedience, evil would rule the world! Turning the other cheek would have allowed Hitler to conquer and rule the world!
Nor did the apostle Paul allow himself to be wrongly beaten. Acts 22 records his appeal to his lawful rights as a Roman citizen.
24 The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.
25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?
Paul didn't turn the other
cheek.
And what does our national history teach us? Many advocates of the martyr myth are patriotic Americans. Have you ever heard a Christian American argue that the War of Independence was wrongly named the American Revolution instead of the American Rebellion? No. Have you ever heard a Christian American denounce our Founding Fathers as rebellious, ungodly hypocrites because they refused to obey Scriptural mandates to submit to English government oppression? No. Have you ever heard General George Washington condemned as a rebel against British authority? No. Why not? It is written on our hearts that oppression is wrong; it is written in the Bible that oppression is wrong. “Ye shall not therefore oppress one another; but thou shalt fear thy God: for I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 25:17).
Yes, we celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. As you know, the Declaration lists our causes for independence. We’re all familiar with the assertion, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Thomas Jefferson further proclaims in the Declaration, “In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free People.” So, does history teach that our liberties have been won by sufferings rather than resistance?
Many Christian Americans cheer the Declaration of Independence from tyrannical governmental oppression, but shout down the declaration of independence from familial oppression. You see, we have double standards. It's doublethink. No, we must not allow political tyrants to conquer and brutalize us. Yes, we must allow familial tyrants to brutalize us. In other words, a political tyrant may not oppress us; however, a family tyrant may oppress us. We’re hard on political tyrants; we’re soft on familial tyrants.
False Christianity forces us into spiritual bondage. False teachers have no respect for the rights and dignities of man. They spit on our self-worth and shackle us to their manmade false doctrines that oppress us. Oppression degrades us. Oppression enslaves us.
Listen…
The Bible clearly teaches us that repentance comes before forgiveness. The word “repent” and variations (repentance, repented, etc.) are used about 100 times in the Bible. Just as Jesus does not forgive us our sins unless we repent, He does not teach or preach that we must forgive those who wrong us and refuse to repent. To preach a gospel of forgiveness without repentance is to preach a false gospel.
If a professing Christian wrongs us, Jesus explains in Matthew 18 the procedure to work toward reconciliation:
15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16 But if he will not hear thee, then
take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses
every word may be established.
For private wrongs, there are four steps:
First, “Go.” Do not wait for him to come to you. Take the first step toward reconciliation and “tell him his fault.” Put the fault plainly before him, show him how he has wronged you, and how he has offended God. Do this in private, gently, and mercifully. Hopefully, he will realize his fault and you will be reconciled.
Second, if the offender stubbornly refuses to repent of his wrongdoing, “take with thee one or two or more” as witnesses to your words and actions. Also, the witnesses may persuade the offender of his guilt and need for repentance. Again, this is a private confrontation.
Third, if the offender is still unrepentant, “tell it unto the church.” Of course, the congregation is intended to be composed of true Christians – true followers of Christ.
Finally, if he turns a deaf ear to the authoritative reproof of the Church, “let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.” The unrepentant must be deprived of Church membership and treated as an outcast. We are to have no fellowship with him.
Of course, this procedure should be adapted to reconcile with a person outside the Church: 1) Go tell him his fault; 2) If he refuses to repent, take witnesses; and, 3) If he refuses to repent, have no fellowship with him.
God does not forgive the impenitent, and He does not expect us to do so. Forgiveness should only be given when sought with true repentance. Nowhere in the Bible does God command us to forgive others if they do not repent.
Listen…
Forgiveness is no mercy to the impenitent:
1) It leaves his evil nature unchanged. 2) It encourages and hardens him in his perversity. 3) It encourages others that they will not be accountable for their offenses. 4) It offends public justice.
God never expects us to make a mockery of repentance and forgiveness. There must be evidence of repentance. The Apostle Paul orders concerning the excommunicated Corinthian that when he had given evidences of his repentance, they should forgive him, and comfort him, and confirm their love towards him (2 Cor. 2:7,8).
In fact, we do our offending brother great wrong by not holding him accountable for his offenses. For the intent is to recover the offending brother – bring him to repentance and reconciliation. Without repentance, there can be no reconciliation to God, or to the offended brother.
Love and Reconciliation
The first New Testament commandment is to love the Lord thy God.
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. Mark 12:30
The second New Testament commandment is to love your neighbor.
And the
second is like, namely this, Paul explains the meaning of the second commandment…
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
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 neighbor as thyself.
therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Romans 13:8-10
The principles of God’s Law are that we should live honestly; should hurt nobody; should render to everyone his due- "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” When we transgress against a neighbor, we transgress against God. Therefore, we must reconcile to God and to man; reconciliation to both is inseparable.
Reconciliation implies an estrangement which has been overcome – not overlooked – so that happy relations are again possible for the estranged.
Both the Old and New Testaments teach reconciliation to God and man…
In the Old Testament, judges were appointed in the several tribes and families, who should try cases between man and man, and determine them. Justice must be served to prevent wrongdoers from transgressing the law of man and the Law of God, and to promote peace by the reconciliation of man to man.
The New Testament also deals with the reconciliation of man to man. We have already discussed the procedure of reconciliation to man given by Jesus in Matthew 18: 15-17. When we wrong another, we transgress God’s Law to “love they neighbor as thyself” and must reconcile to God. And we must seek the forgiveness of God because the brother we have wounded is the property of God, and in wronging him we have sinned against his Creator and Redeemer. So, we must be reconciled to God and be reconciled to the wronged person.
Likewise, when someone has wronged us, he must reconcile to God and to us. No one is excused from being accountable for his wrong actions. Everyone must be held accountable for his wrong actions in the home, the church, and the community.
Live Peaceably
Why does God require repentance before forgiveness in our relationships with others? Because godly love is in the best interests of our homes, our churches, our communities, and our nation. Godly love promotes peace. True Christianity requires that honorable and peaceable conduct should be distinctive in our relations to all men: mutual forbearance, sympathy, and cooperation. The true Christian is free from private feuds or quarrels. He does not antagonize others. However, it may not always be possible to live peaceably with some: you know folks like this in your family, your church, the community, and the nation.
If it be possible, We should strive for peace...
Be at peace among
yourselves. If we want to live in peace among ourselves, then we must beware strifemongers: liars, slanderers, thieves, quarrelers, gossipers, busybodies, and all who maliciously cause conflict and contention and disturb the peace. Strifemongers refuse to “lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Tim. 2:2).
Let us therefore follow
after the things which make for peace, If we are to follow after the things which make for peace, then we must not encourage or enable strifemongers – troublemakers. Every private wrong in the home unrepented of is a crack in the foundation of the home and weakens it. Every private wrong in the church unrepented of is a crack in the foundation of the church and weakens it. Every private and public wrong in the community unrepented of is a crack in the foundation of the community and weakens it. Every offense – private and public – affects the individual, the community, and the nation. Slander, lies, deception, fraud, and all private wrongs not only injure the person, but are cracks in the moral foundation of our nation.
True repentance that leads to
true reconciliation
contributes wonderfully toward making our homes, churches, communities and
nation orderly and happy.
Blessed Are the Peacemakers God is the God of peace; the Messiah is the Prince of peace, His birth was welcomed with the angels’ hymn, “Peace on earth.” He is the great Peacemaker. He made peace through the blood of His cross. And because we are made in His image, we are also called to be peacemakers.
Blessed are
the peacemakers: A true peacemaker will not excuse or justify – enable and encourage – a troublemaker, but will hold him accountable. He will make peace by reconciling parties that are at variance by following the Biblical procedure for reconciliation. On the other hand, a false peacemaker will excuse and justify – enable and encourage – a troublemaker, and will not hold him accountable. And he will try to make peace by reconciling parties that are at variance by urging the wronged person to overlook the injuries inflicted by the wrongdoer. This is false peace. And false peace will never heal the wounded person. Those who refuse to hold wrongdoers accountable for their wrongdoing are responsible for the conflict and hostility in our homes, our churches, our communities, and our nation. More important, those who practice unconditional forgiveness pervert the doctrine of God’s grace: they condemn God and declare they show more grace and mercy than God because they forgive evildoers who do not repent. The truth is… God does not forgive the unrepentant wrongdoer just because you forgive him. Godly love for the wrongdoer desires reconciliation to God and to man. If we truly love one another, we will urge wrongdoers to repent and reconcile to God and to man. When a wrongdoer pours out words or acts of true repentance to the person he has wronged, this balm soothes the injured soul, and the healing process begins.
And the fruit of repentance and
reconciliation is peace. Repentance Precedes Forgiveness The doctrine of unconditional forgiveness is a lie. The Bible clearly teaches that forgiveness is conditional: repentance precedes reconciliation to God...
Except ye
repent, ...and repentance precedes reconciliation to man.
If thy
brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; Without repentance, no man is reconciled to God. Without repentance, no man is reconciled to those he has wronged. The stiff-necked wrongdoer who refuses to repent of offending God and man is unforgiven and doomed. Jesus warns us that even if we do many wonderful works in His name, yet remain unrepentant, unholy and unclean, we are not one of His...
And
then I will profess unto them,
May 2019
Liberty Advocate http://www.libertyadvocate.com/
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