The Strand Study Bible

MATTHEW 1558 MATTHEW salvation has nothing to do with “turning from sin” and everything to do with “acknowledging” one’s sinfulness, just like the thief on the cross did (Lk 23:39-43). If repentance means to “turn from sin and change one’s life,” then did God sin when He repented ( Jonah 3:5 -10)? I think not. Telling a sinner that he must “turn from sin” before receiving salvation gives a false view of salvation, and is but another form of “works.” Ephesians 2:8-9 is clear: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works , lest any man should boast. Repentance for salvation does not require a person to “clean himself up first” (turn from his sin) in order to be saved. That would violate the principle behind the physical being a reflection of the spiritual ( Jere 14:1 – point #8). Answer: No. Repentance includes making Jesus Lord (Jn 8:24 and Rom 10:9), not Lord of your life. Jesus said in John 8:24, “If you do not believe I’m Jehovah (I AM – LORD) and a part of the Triune Godhead, you cannot be saved.” You can be ignorant of the Trinity, but you cannot deny the Trinity once it presents itself to you.Question: What part of our old nature can “turn from sin” in order to receive salvation? Answer: None (Isa 64:6). Question #10: Does repentance unto salvation include turning from sin? Answer: No (Jonah 3:1-10). How can the old nature (which is all we have before we get saved) within any sinner turn from sin? It cannot. All we can do as sinners is use our free will within us to agree with God’s Word over our own and accept the facts presented to us ( I Cor 15:1 ). 27:9 Although Matthew was quoting Zechariah 11:13 here, he attributed it to the prophet Jeremiah. ( which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet ). Why? Because Jeremiah’s letters often included Zechariah’s letter. 27:14 Jesus suffered and died without “complaint” ( And he answered him to never a word – Isa 53:7); He knew His death had a greater purpose –the penalty for sin (death and Hell), which should have come to us, instead fell upon Him (II Cor 5:21). THE ADAGE IS TRUE: You come to God as a sinner; you don’t come to God as a “sinless” sinner Question #9: Does repentance unto salvation include making Jesus the Lord of your life ?