Prescription for Saving Faith

 "Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.” -Matthew 3:8.

There's been a tremendous moral decay in our times that few would deny, yet religion flourishes, and churches are full; there's a main missing element we're not applying in God's prescription for true salvation.

That element is commonly known, but we're using inferior ingredients to manufacture it, not following the guidelines God gave us. Why are we so careful about the production of goods we buy for loved ones, but lackluster over the right spiritual elements to redeem our souls?

Jesus gave us a saving prescription we should follow, printed here from Mark 2:17 which says;

“...Jesus...saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

That missing element revolves around the concept of repentance, a term many know but few practice as God means it; today the key part of this prescription has been assembled with inferior, substituted ingredients, making it a “repentance” in name only.

Jesus illustrates the key part of this concept by comparing it with sickness, and doctors; that when we believe ourselves to be in good health, we won't seek medical attention; similarly, if we think we're good people in God's eyes, we'll be blind to our sin, and won't seek genuine repentance; we must see that we're SICK, and in need of treatment.

We should already KNOW that all have sinned, and no one is good in God's eyes but himself (Mark 10:17); we must help people see their actual spiritual state before God, that they are separated from Him by their sins, need the reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-20) won by Jesus on the cross. We cannot expect meaningful repentance without this realization.

“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.” -Isaiah 58:1,2. Bold type is added for application.

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one...For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” -Romans 3:10,23.

God's given us a way of showing others that they really aren't good, helping them find their way to repentance and the remission of sins, but it's seldom employed. Just thinking of Jesus' brutal sacrifice on the cross should tell us God is deadly serious about sin, but there seems to be little emphasis on the sin problem when a speaker is trying to lead someone to Christ; generally, it's the sinner's self-worth that's promoted in the presentation, and we may hear things like, “Jesus/God loves you” or “God has a plan for your life” or “You're special to God” or “God has a wonderful gift (eternal life) for you.”

Being sinners by nature is also diminished and considered as, “Nobody's perfect” or “Everyone makes mistakes”; “There's good in everyone,” or “You're not that bad.” The individual is often treated like he's been a child of God all along, when it only comes by adoption (Romans 8:15), and BEGINS with repentance and the remission of sins (Luke 24:47); how can people repent of evil in their lives if

they're made to feel so good about the standing they have with God already? Our Lord cannot tolerate ANY sin in His presence; we need to stand in the righteousness of Christ.

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” -2 Corinthians 5:21.

The Bible says the knowledge of sin comes by the LAW (Romans 3:20), and God uses the Ten commandments (Mark 10:17-22) to show all of us how we've fallen short of His standards; giving us the example of the rich young ruler found in the gospels. Have we lied? Have we ever stolen? Have we honored our parents? The prospective new convert really needs time to reflect on his/her sins, and how they've fallen in view of God's commandments. Older, alleged converts may need this, too.

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.” -2 Corinthians 13:5A.

The term repent may still be used at times, but if sin is presented as a light thing, can true & full repentance actually be embraced? When SIN is diagnosed, it's a terminal disease; but the patient may search for a second opinion that tells him it's just a light head cold, and nothing more. The patient still believes there is some good in him, never fully repenting and yielding to the Lordship of Jesus, but trusts rather in his own decisions and good works.

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” -Romans 6:23.

“Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” -James 1:15.

“So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” -Romans 9:16.

Romans 5:8 says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”, but I fear sometimes it's implied that we were already accepted by God while in our sins, which isn't true; God accepts no man's person (Galatians 2:6), and we see in Romans 5:9 it's only through Jesus' blood we'll be saved from wrath through Him.

If we confess and forsake our sins, we'll receive God's mercy (Proverbs 28:13); if we say we have not sinned, we make out Jesus to be a liar, and His Word is not in us (1 John 1:10)! Jesus is the ONLY cure for the terminal disease of sin we're infected with, so take time to be sure you & your loved ones are walking in the full light of God's Word (John 3:21), holding nothing back.

“There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.” -Proverbs 30:12.

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” -Matthew 7:21-23.

I also have a Youtube video on this subject at https://youtu.be/fQdi1ItvhJk and a video Short at https://youtube.com/shorts/auA0E91gtUE?feature=share.