Saturday, September 26, 2009
Dr. David M. Berman

Hey, I have a great deal for you, listen up. If I told you that you can come to this historical figure named Jesus, let him into your heart, have to do nothing, join nothing, hold to no specific doctrine, just believe in this man, and you will be saved forever while you continue to do anything you want including (but not limited to) getting drunk often, divorce without scriptural grounds, fornicate, give nothing to support God’s Church, care not if anyone else goes to hell, and have no desire to know anything about the Bible, would you be into that? Its free, no strings attached, no surrendering of your will, and no suffering to further this message…what do you think? Are you in?

This is the false American gospel. It is preached by popular T.V preachers, and is used in the emergent movement, as well as many American churches who see their mission as getting people to pray a prayer while making sure they are not offended. Now many do not say these words however the affect of their Luke warm non offensive gospel has the end result of counterfeit converts. I have been hearing “Christians” say “doctrine does not matter” for years. Some have used Calvinism to talk themselves into believing that God predestinated them and since they prayed a “sinner’s prayer’” they are all set. Calvinism tends to promote that mindset…I know, a bunch of you just got very mad at me for saying what I just said.

You guessed it, I am not a Calvinist. I do not believe in double predestination. I find it to be contrary to the whole of Scripture. Having said that, in no way am I saying that I believe Calvinists to be false Christians. I do however believe that the idea of “just pray this prayer and all is well” is helped along by Calvinist thinking. (This article is not about Calvinism. If you want my stand on that see my book “Berman’s Commentary on The Book of Romans”)

Not only is the “sinner’s prayer” not found in the Bible, the idea that a simple prayer saves you is also not found in the Word of God. I know some are now wondering if I believe in a works gospel. The answer to that is NO! We are only saved by grace through faith. What is the gospel message? Is it a shallow message? Is it the idea that we are saved by a technicality? Just pray the prayer and you are saved? That is not the gospel nor is it the self help book mindset that so many T.V. preachers spew out; “This is your day” Your best life now” “How to be rich in God’s kingdom”  “Wealth secrets of the Bible” and on and on. The important thing to remember about deception is that it usually contains some truth mixed with lies. Is God interested in your life prospering? Yes he is. Will there be a change in your finances when you practice the financial principles of the Bible? Yes there will. However, is life enhancement, and riches mixed with a prayer really the gospel?  Is simply praying a prayer and “accepting Jesus” really all there is to it. Could it be that the rotten fruit of “American Christianity” with all its liberalism, and lack of depth is a result of wrong thinking?

This is the true gospel;

1. Man is a transgressor of God’s law.

   Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”

2. God’s law is a clear schoolmaster.

   Galatians 3:24 “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith”
   

3. No person is able to save himself by any work.

   1 John 3:4 “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law”
   

4. Repentance is essential.

   Matthew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”

   Acts 3:19 “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord”

   Acts 20:21 “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ”

   2 Corinthians 7:10 “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death”

5. Believing in the existence of God is not enough.

   James 2:19 “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble”
   

6. God demands justice for sin because He is Holy and Righteous.

   Romans 1:29-32 “Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them”
   

7. We all deserve damnation and yet Christ took the punishment for us so we can be saved.

   2 Corinthians 5:21 “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”
   

8. In order to receive salvation we must have godly sorrow and repent of our wickedness and sinful actions. Then we receive the gift of eternal life from true repentance.

   James 1:22 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves”

   AND THE KEY VERSE:

   Romans 10:10 “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

A person must believe in their heart, repent with godly sorrow, and confess Christ as true Savior in order to really be saved. After that there is fruit that speaks of the true conversion. Consider this passage;

Matthew 7:18-21 “A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 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”

Jesus said “not everyone who saith unto me, Lord Lord, shall be saved.” Many will believe that just praying a prayer saved them even though they had no change in their life based on true godly sorrow repentance, no desire to win the lost, no care about any moral behavior, no desire to know God’s Word, and no concern for proper doctrine. The gospel is at its base the message of God’s grace in taking sin upon himself on the cross, mankind repenting and surrendering by grace through faith to Christ through repentance with fruit that speaks of a true conversion.

Am I saying that a true believer never sins? I am not saying that at all. Consider this passage;

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”

Speaking here of believers including the Apostles, it is clear from this passage (and others) that all believers still struggle with the sinful flesh nature that all are born with. No mere human is able to be perfect in every thought, and action. There however is a major distinction between walking in repentance as we seek to mature in our walk with Christ in thoughts and actions, and the false idea that all you must do is pray a prayer and then thoughts and actions are really not that important. Vast numbers of “Christians” have no concern for obedience to God’s will or concern for sharing the true gospel of Jesus Christ. This is why pastors do marriages for people who are divorced without scriptural grounds (divorced without scriptural grounds even after they were “saved”). This mindset allows pastors to not confront people in their church that are living in sin and fornication. Grace has been cheapened in many churches who desire to be man pleasers rather than pleasers of God.

Let me be the first to confess as the Apostle Paul did that I am the chief of sinners. I am in no way saying that I have arrived at some sort of perfection in my human condition. I know I am saved only by God’s grace. I examine my own life to look for fruit and continually search my heart before God. What I am saying is that the false American gospel has been selling an untruth to many. The truth is that without true repentance with godly sorrow, a person will not be born again and therefore they are not true converts who bring forth lasting good fruit. The reason there is so much divorce, fornication, lack of loyalty, selfishness, and bad doctrine in the American Churches today is because of this deception caused by the preaching of a false gospel that does not include repentance, and godly sorrow. Wake up church and go back to the Bible. Preach repentance, godly sorrow, and sound doctrine. I leave you with this important passage concerning this article;

2 Timothy 4:3 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears”

American Churches are living in this time. Wake up!