1 00:00:01,420 --> 00:00:06,440 Back in the 1930s, a seminary professor in 2 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:11,940 Dallas published a systematic theology that became quite 3 00:00:11,940 --> 00:00:14,960 popular, especially among Baptists. 4 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:18,780 In it, he stated that repentance was not 5 00:00:18,780 --> 00:00:23,340 a necessary component to salvation, that you could 6 00:00:23,340 --> 00:00:25,380 be saved without repentance. 7 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:30,060 This ideology appealed to the sinful nature of 8 00:00:30,060 --> 00:00:34,000 man, and it was embraced and adopted into 9 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:37,480 the modern gospel, which has become known as 10 00:00:37,480 --> 00:00:38,600 easy believism. 11 00:00:39,160 --> 00:00:41,060 All you had to do to go to 12 00:00:41,060 --> 00:00:44,480 heaven was to believe, and you could believe 13 00:00:44,480 --> 00:00:46,120 a number of things. 14 00:00:46,580 --> 00:00:48,900 You could believe the truth of John 3 15 00:00:48,900 --> 00:00:52,240 .16, and that alone would get you to 16 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:54,460 heaven by believing a verse. 17 00:00:54,820 --> 00:00:57,260 You could go to heaven by a physical 18 00:00:57,260 --> 00:01:00,720 act, by walking an aisle or repeating a 19 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:01,200 prayer. 20 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:02,960 That would get you in there. 21 00:01:03,319 --> 00:01:05,820 You could go to heaven by joining the 22 00:01:05,820 --> 00:01:07,860 church through church membership. 23 00:01:08,380 --> 00:01:12,680 But as popular as these man-centered methodologies 24 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:16,900 are, and they're used so frequently, they're contrary 25 00:01:16,900 --> 00:01:21,660 to scripture, because the word of God demands 26 00:01:21,660 --> 00:01:24,780 repentance if you want pardon for sin. 27 00:01:25,380 --> 00:01:26,840 Jesus said so. 28 00:01:27,180 --> 00:01:28,780 You want to argue with him? 29 00:01:29,180 --> 00:01:34,420 Jesus said in Luke 13.3, Except ye 30 00:01:34,420 --> 00:01:38,020 repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 31 00:01:38,580 --> 00:01:42,060 Except ye means except you. 32 00:01:42,900 --> 00:01:47,700 All perish means everyone who does not repent. 33 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:53,200 Perish means damnation in a devil's hell, even 34 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:56,000 if you are the chairman of the deacons. 35 00:01:56,380 --> 00:02:00,140 The early church and the apostle Paul preached 36 00:02:00,140 --> 00:02:02,320 man's duty of repentance. 37 00:02:03,100 --> 00:02:06,360 We see so in Acts chapter 20 and 38 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:08,580 verses 20 and 21. 39 00:02:09,759 --> 00:02:13,480 How I did not shrink from declaring to 40 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:17,860 you anything that was profitable and teaching you 41 00:02:17,860 --> 00:02:22,260 in public and from house to house, testifying 42 00:02:22,260 --> 00:02:26,380 both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance 43 00:02:26,380 --> 00:02:29,460 toward God and of faith in our Lord 44 00:02:29,460 --> 00:02:30,720 Jesus Christ. 45 00:02:31,260 --> 00:02:36,360 Jesus' first sermon was on repentance, as we 46 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:38,500 see from Mark chapter 1. 47 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:42,720 Now, after that, John was put in prison. 48 00:02:43,620 --> 00:02:47,720 Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel of 49 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:51,560 the kingdom of God and saying, The time 50 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:55,440 is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is 51 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:56,300 at hand. 52 00:02:56,720 --> 00:02:59,640 Repent ye and believe the gospel. 53 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:02,780 And his last word to the church was 54 00:03:02,780 --> 00:03:03,600 repentance. 55 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:07,980 In Revelation 3.19, we read, As many 56 00:03:07,980 --> 00:03:10,700 as I love, I rebuke and chasten. 57 00:03:11,340 --> 00:03:14,400 Be zealous, therefore, and repent. 58 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:18,220 Jesus told his disciples to go out and 59 00:03:18,220 --> 00:03:19,040 preach repentance. 60 00:03:19,740 --> 00:03:23,440 We read so in Mark 6, verse 12. 61 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:27,180 And they went out that man should repent. 62 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:29,920 So the word of God is sure, friend, 63 00:03:30,300 --> 00:03:33,020 and it teaches us clearly that men should 64 00:03:33,020 --> 00:03:35,940 repent if they want forgiveness of sin. 65 00:03:36,380 --> 00:03:40,620 So why, brother pastor, do you admit repentance 66 00:03:40,620 --> 00:03:42,300 from your gospel preaching? 67 00:03:43,020 --> 00:03:46,420 Is it because you're more interested in growing 68 00:03:46,420 --> 00:03:49,620 your church than in the real salvation of 69 00:03:49,620 --> 00:03:50,260 souls? 70 00:03:50,700 --> 00:03:54,200 What is my standing is the question we 71 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:55,600 must ask ourselves. 72 00:03:56,060 --> 00:03:59,920 Did I enter the Christian religion without ever 73 00:03:59,920 --> 00:04:02,640 exercising repentance myself? 74 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:06,920 Have I ever, ever repented of my sins? 75 00:04:07,380 --> 00:04:13,840 Perhaps you've confused reformation with repentance like a 76 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:16,860 ship captain did in the following story. 77 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:19,079 I'm going to read you a story, friends. 78 00:04:19,380 --> 00:04:21,480 It's one of the best stories I ever 79 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:22,020 heard. 80 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:24,480 I want you to listen to it carefully, 81 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:28,180 and I promise you, you will benefit from 82 00:04:28,180 --> 00:04:28,920 it immensely. 83 00:04:29,380 --> 00:04:32,340 Here now are the words of a ship's 84 00:04:32,340 --> 00:04:32,900 captain. 85 00:04:34,020 --> 00:04:37,860 I was captain of a smuggling boat at 86 00:04:37,860 --> 00:04:38,420 dawn. 87 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:41,600 We discovered a Coast Guard boat in the 88 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:42,240 distance. 89 00:04:42,840 --> 00:04:45,500 The Coast Guard was still a long way 90 00:04:45,500 --> 00:04:49,720 off, and we soon saw her turning toward 91 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:50,180 us. 92 00:04:50,180 --> 00:04:52,760 We couldn't possibly get away. 93 00:04:52,980 --> 00:04:56,240 We all knew what would happen if we 94 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:57,060 were caught. 95 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,680 Now, not only would the boat and cargo 96 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:04,240 be confiscated, but we'd all go to prison. 97 00:05:04,980 --> 00:05:08,000 There was a dead silence as we stared 98 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:10,200 at each other in dismay. 99 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:13,920 The Coast Guard was coming up fast behind 100 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:14,380 us. 101 00:05:14,380 --> 00:05:17,300 Suddenly, I thought of a way out. 102 00:05:17,820 --> 00:05:21,340 Hastily, we rigged a screen at the stern 103 00:05:21,340 --> 00:05:22,980 to hide our deck. 104 00:05:23,420 --> 00:05:26,380 Then, I sent the men in line to 105 00:05:26,380 --> 00:05:29,820 hand up the cargo and pitch it overboard. 106 00:05:30,500 --> 00:05:31,800 We worked fast. 107 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:35,500 Nothing was heard but the splash of the 108 00:05:35,500 --> 00:05:38,040 cargo dropping into the sea. 109 00:05:38,500 --> 00:05:40,960 The hold was empty and fast. 110 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:42,880 We'd soon be finished. 111 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:47,120 I saw the ship's boy was exhausted, so 112 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:49,520 I sent him to see if the Coast 113 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:51,840 Guard was very far off. 114 00:05:52,340 --> 00:05:55,980 In a minute, he came rushing back, gasping, 115 00:05:56,240 --> 00:05:58,000 it won't sink. 116 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:01,020 Why, I ran to the stern of the 117 00:06:01,020 --> 00:06:01,460 ship. 118 00:06:01,900 --> 00:06:05,500 The sun was just rising behind us, and 119 00:06:05,500 --> 00:06:09,540 there, in that long line of light, were 120 00:06:09,540 --> 00:06:14,020 the packages of cargo bobbing up and down 121 00:06:14,020 --> 00:06:15,280 in our wake. 122 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:19,280 The first package in line had just reached 123 00:06:19,280 --> 00:06:21,800 the oncoming Coast Guard boat. 124 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:24,800 Helplessly, we stood and stared. 125 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:28,140 The proof of our guilt was spread out 126 00:06:28,140 --> 00:06:29,700 for all to see. 127 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:34,120 In our ears, it rang, it won't sink. 128 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:38,020 In prison, from time to time, I would 129 00:06:38,020 --> 00:06:41,960 resolve to correct my ways, but resolving is 130 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:44,200 one thing, doing is another. 131 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:47,220 As soon as we were free, I went 132 00:06:47,220 --> 00:06:48,300 back to smuggling. 133 00:06:49,580 --> 00:06:52,420 A few years later, I went out on 134 00:06:52,420 --> 00:06:53,460 a boat at night. 135 00:06:53,940 --> 00:06:56,580 It was New Year's Eve, and in spite 136 00:06:56,580 --> 00:07:00,720 of myself, I began to review my life. 137 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:04,700 I saw myself as a child, saying my 138 00:07:04,700 --> 00:07:05,320 prayers. 139 00:07:05,780 --> 00:07:09,080 I heard my mother tell me of one 140 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:12,260 who came down from heaven to bring life 141 00:07:12,260 --> 00:07:14,940 to the world, and the more I thought, 142 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:18,520 the more horrified I was. 143 00:07:19,300 --> 00:07:22,280 God had created me, and I had lived 144 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:26,020 and was still living, as though there was 145 00:07:26,020 --> 00:07:28,440 neither God nor eternity. 146 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:32,640 I got down on my knees and prayed 147 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:34,760 that God would help me. 148 00:07:35,220 --> 00:07:36,680 I would be another man. 149 00:07:37,060 --> 00:07:39,480 I wouldn't touch a drop of liquor. 150 00:07:40,140 --> 00:07:44,220 I made many more resolutions about what I 151 00:07:44,220 --> 00:07:47,260 would do and what I wouldn't, and I 152 00:07:47,260 --> 00:07:50,520 began to feel very good about myself. 153 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:54,700 On further reflection, I saw that there were 154 00:07:54,700 --> 00:07:57,100 a lot more things I ought to clean 155 00:07:57,100 --> 00:07:57,500 up. 156 00:07:58,420 --> 00:08:03,120 I must throw overboard everything that didn't belong. 157 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:07,060 My life was to be completely changed. 158 00:08:07,580 --> 00:08:11,220 My resolutions were getting more serious, and my 159 00:08:11,220 --> 00:08:15,040 heart grew lighter, and I was happy in 160 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:18,380 the thought that I had become a new 161 00:08:18,380 --> 00:08:19,100 man. 162 00:08:19,740 --> 00:08:23,400 Having made this decision, it seemed as if 163 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:25,500 everything was in perfect order. 164 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:28,140 I was ready to go back to land, 165 00:08:28,640 --> 00:08:32,720 when suddenly the moon broke through the clouds 166 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:36,580 and shone across the water to my boat. 167 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:40,940 The memory of that morning when, chased by 168 00:08:40,940 --> 00:08:44,160 the Coast Guard, I had cast the cargo 169 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:48,400 into the sea came over me with overwhelming 170 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:49,320 power. 171 00:08:49,740 --> 00:08:52,740 I heard the cry, it won't sink. 172 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:55,100 How blind I was. 173 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:58,320 I had tried to lighten the ship by 174 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:01,520 casting the cargo overboard, and there it was 175 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:05,440 all there, floating behind me like an accusing 176 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:09,020 lion, stretching up to the very throne of 177 00:09:09,020 --> 00:09:09,620 God. 178 00:09:09,820 --> 00:09:13,300 All that I had done, said or thought, 179 00:09:13,680 --> 00:09:17,640 was there before God, and it wouldn't sink. 180 00:09:18,180 --> 00:09:20,840 A fool that I was, I thought I 181 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:24,880 could drown all my wickedness without a thought 182 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:26,940 of the holiness of God. 183 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:30,380 If I'd been able from that moment on 184 00:09:30,380 --> 00:09:33,980 to do only what was good, it would 185 00:09:33,980 --> 00:09:37,540 not have changed the evil done in the 186 00:09:37,540 --> 00:09:38,200 past. 187 00:09:38,860 --> 00:09:41,420 What good was it to be forming good 188 00:09:41,420 --> 00:09:46,020 resolutions for the future, when the past couldn't 189 00:09:46,020 --> 00:09:46,640 be hidden? 190 00:09:47,260 --> 00:09:49,300 Tears filled my eyes. 191 00:09:49,620 --> 00:09:51,980 I was hopelessly lost. 192 00:09:52,660 --> 00:09:54,740 Then I remembered something. 193 00:09:55,980 --> 00:09:59,800 Hadn't I been told about Jesus, the Savior 194 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:00,580 of sinners? 195 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:04,260 Hadn't he died on the cross for me? 196 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:08,660 And if I turned to him now, wouldn't 197 00:10:08,660 --> 00:10:12,960 his precious blood wash away my many sins? 198 00:10:13,420 --> 00:10:17,800 Wasn't there grace and mercy for even me? 199 00:10:18,370 --> 00:10:21,440 All at once, everything was clear. 200 00:10:21,940 --> 00:10:26,220 Yes, the Lord Jesus had died for me. 201 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:31,140 He had borne the punishment of all my 202 00:10:31,140 --> 00:10:34,440 sins, and if I accepted that, they would 203 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:37,900 all be cast into the depths of the 204 00:10:37,900 --> 00:10:38,460 sea. 205 00:10:38,890 --> 00:10:42,720 The verse, through sins and inequities will I 206 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:46,780 remember no more, came to my mind, and 207 00:10:46,780 --> 00:10:48,800 I was filled with joy. 208 00:10:49,500 --> 00:10:52,720 Entirely relieved of my burden, I turned my 209 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:54,220 boat toward shore. 210 00:10:54,580 --> 00:10:56,040 I was a new man. 211 00:10:56,340 --> 00:10:59,400 I'd gone out a lost sinner, but I 212 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:03,260 was coming back redeemed by the Lord. 213 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:06,700 Well, I like that story, friends, don't you? 214 00:11:07,180 --> 00:11:10,940 But we must ask ourselves the question, what 215 00:11:10,940 --> 00:11:11,940 is my standing? 216 00:11:12,700 --> 00:11:16,040 Have I ever exercised repentance toward God? 217 00:11:16,660 --> 00:11:18,220 Be assured of this, friend. 218 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:22,760 The Bible says God requires that which was 219 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:23,480 passed. 220 00:11:23,900 --> 00:11:27,420 It also says, he that covereth his sins 221 00:11:27,420 --> 00:11:32,980 shall not prosper, but whoso confesseth and forsaketh 222 00:11:32,980 --> 00:11:34,980 them shall find mercy. 223 00:11:35,580 --> 00:11:39,140 The blood of Christ, his Son, cleanses us 224 00:11:39,140 --> 00:11:40,680 from all sins. 225 00:11:41,060 --> 00:11:44,460 Listen, friend, let me ask you, what is 226 00:11:44,460 --> 00:11:46,500 God saying to you?