The False Teachings Of Pastor Charles Spurgeon

By David J. Stewart | August 2008 | Updated December 2020

“'Repentance' is a grace. Some people preach it as a condition of salvation. Condition of nonsense! There are no conditions of salvation. —SOURCE: https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/the-repentance-unto-life#flipbook (Charles Spurgeon, from a sermon titled, 'REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE,' preached at the New Park Street Chapel, Southwark, on Sept. 23, 1855)

       Based on the above quote alone, I used to defend Pastor Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892) as being a true Gospel minister. However, upon further research and the indwelling Holy Spirit convicting me, I have had to face the unpleasant reality that Mr. Spurgeon taught some serious heresies concerning salvation! Was Spurgeon a true believer? I have my doubts if all I do is look at his quotes. I noticed something very important to remember. If you look at the year in which all of the following sermons were preached by Spurgeon, it was 1855 and 1856. Ladies and gentleman, Charles was born in 1834 and saved in 1850 at age 15. How much theology could a young man know at age 20?

Seriously, it is laughable that tens of thousands of theologians for over the past one hundred years, have argued over the preaching of a 20 year old kid. I'm 53 years old, so to me a 20 year old is a kid! So I wouldn't try to determine if Spurgeon was really saved, based only upon his early ministry writings. All preachers hone their theological skills as they grow older. I did. Dr. Hyles did. You will too dear friend.

Just keep reading and you'll see for yourself why I have my doubts. Consider the foul demonic false Gospel of Evangelist Charles G. Finney. Like Spurgeon, Finney was a well likely personality, a widely known preacher, and a gifted orator; but none of that made him a true man of God! The Word of God teaches that salvation is either BY THE HEARING OF FAITH, or BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW. The apostle Paul said:

Galatians 3:1-3, “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”

Mr. Spurgeon believed that salvation was completely without works or intent to reform. However, Calvinism is a very deceptive form of perverting the Gospel, which says that every saved person WILL persevere in holiness and a changed life. THE TRUTH is that a Christian SHOULD live for Christ; but if he MUST, that is works; and if he WILL, that is Calvinism! A very helpful chart by Pastor Ronald Shea is titled: “THE FOUR PERVERSIONS OF GRACE.”

Any honest man of God knows that preachers are mere men who sometimes make doctrinal mistakes. We all do! I was ordained by a local group of ministers in Chicago as a preacher of the Gospel in 1993. There were about 40 witnesses present. At my ordination one pastor commented to the group: “Well, we know one thing—he is King James Bible only!” I cherish that remark that he made, because it defines my ministry! Looking back, I have made a few doctrinal mistakes in my preaching. When I originally wrote my book called, “SALVATION,” in 2000, I used the term: “Ask Jesus into your heart.” I edited my book several years later and removed that teaching, because it is unbiblical. You don't have to “ask” Jesus into your heart to be saved. In fact, you don't have to “ask” Jesus to forgive you. You read right! Jesus has already paid for our sins on the cross with His precious blood, so we simply need to receive His gift of forgiveness of sins. The Lord is offering you the gift of forgiveness of sins and eternal life, just for the taking. You don't need to “ask” Jesus to save you—HE IS ASKING YOU!!! Besides, the heart is a muscle that pumps blood, so “asking Jesus into your heart” confuses children. Thus, it is unwise and unbiblical to use. You won't find that phrase anywhere within the pages of the inspired Word of God.

Charles Spurgeon also made some big doctrinal blunders! Mr. Spurgeon was at least a TWO-POINT Calvinist. He taught the Calvinist heresy of Limited Atonement (the false teaching that Jesus only died for believers, and not all humanity). Spurgeon also taught the Calvinist false doctrine of The Perseverance Of The Saints.

I intentionally refuse to promote Pastor Charles Spurgeon, because he was wrong on some vital doctrines of the Christian faith. I had a hard time accepting that Mr. Spurgeon taught “ANOTHER GOSPEL,” after reading this statement from him...

“'Repentance' is a grace. Some people preach it as a condition of salvation. Condition of nonsense! There are no conditions of salvation. —SOURCE: https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/the-repentance-unto-life#flipbook (Charles Spurgeon, from a sermon titled, REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE, preached at the New Park Street Chapel, Southwark, on Sept. 23, 1855)

Tragically, despite this beautiful statement from Spurgeon, he was indeed perverted on grace. Spurgeon believed that you were saved without any conditions, but then he taught the Calvinist perverse view of The Perseverance Of The Saints, which is ANOTHER GOSPEL.

Was Charles Spurgeon a Calvinist?
by Nathan W. Bingham Nov 29, 2013

Was Charles Spurgeon a Calvinist? The Prince of Preachers himself answers this question in the affirmative:

“It is no novelty, then, that I am preaching; no new doctrine. I love to proclaim these strong old doctrines, that are called by nickname Calvinism, but which are surely and verily the revealed truth of God as it is in Christ Jesus.” —Charles Spurgeon

In Dr. Steven Lawson’s book, The Gospel Focus of Charles Spurgeon, Dr. Lawson argues that not only was Spurgeon a Calvinist, but his fervent commitment to the doctrines of grace actually “sharpened” his “gospel focus.”

We’ve compiled several adapted excerpts from The Gospel Focus of Charles Spurgeon to outline Spurgeon’s beliefs concerning the sovereignty of God in salvation.

Total Depravity

For Spurgeon, total depravity was where the message of the gospel begins. The saving message of grace starts with total depravity. Man is entirely corrupted by sin. He is spiritually dead and unable to save himself. He could not be more hopeless and helpless.

“If God requires of the sinner, dead in sin, that he should take the first step, then he requires just that which renders salvation as impossible under the gospel as it was under the law, since man is as unable to believe as he is to obey.” —Charles Spurgeon

Simply put, Spurgeon believed that no human will is entirely free. It is either a slave of sin or a slave of Christ, but never free.

Unconditional Election

By necessity, unconditional election flows from belief in human depravity. Because the will of man is utterly dead and cannot choose God, God must exercise His sovereign will to save. Out of the mass of fallen humanity, God made an eternal, distinguishing choice. Before the foundation of the world, He determined whom He would save. Spurgeon contended that were it not for God’s choice of His elect, none would be saved.

Like all the doctrines that Spurgeon held, he believed this truth because he was convinced it is rooted and grounded in the Bible:

“Whatever may be said about the doctrine of election, it is written in the Word of God as with an iron pen, and there is no getting rid of it.” —Charles Spurgeon

Definite Atonement

Charles Spurgeon strongly affirmed the doctrine of definite atonement. This truth teaches that Christ died exclusively for those chosen by the Father and, thus, actually secured the salvation of all those for whom He died. Such a definite redemption stands in contrast to the Arminian view, which claims that Christ did not actually save anyone in particular by His death, but merely made salvation possible for everyone. Spurgeon adamantly rejected this vague position:

“A redemption which pays a price, but does not ensure that which is purchased—a redemption which calls Christ a substitute for the sinner, but yet which allows the person to suffer—is altogether unworthy of our apprehensions of Almighty God.” —Charles Spurgeon

Such a nebulous belief, he insisted, grossly dishonors God, especially His justice, and distorts the saving purpose of Christ in His substitutionary death.

Irresistible Grace

God’s sovereign call, Spurgeon affirmed, is far more powerful than any man’s resistance: “A man is not saved against his will, but he is made willing by the operation of the Holy Ghost. A mighty grace which he does not wish to resist enters into the man, disarms him, makes a new creature of him, and he is saved.” This means no one is beyond the saving power of God:

“Difficulty is not a word to be found in the dictionary of heaven. Nothing can be impossible with God. The swearing reprobate, whose mouth is blackened with profanity, whose heart is a very hell, and his life like the reeking flames of the bottomless pit—such a man, if the Lord but looks on him and makes bare His arm of irresistible grace, shall yet praise God and bless His name and live to His honor.” —Charles Spurgeon

In short, no human heart is so obstinate that the Spirit cannot conquer and convert it.

Preserving Grace

“I must confess that the doctrine of the final preservation of the saints was a bait that my soul could not resist. I thought it was a sort of life insurance—an insurance of my character, an insurance of my soul, an insurance of my eternal destiny. I knew that I could not keep myself, but if Christ promised to keep me, then I should be safe for ever; and I longed and prayed to find Christ, because I knew that, if I found Him, He would not give me a temporary and trumpery salvation, such as some preach, but eternal life which could never be lost.” —Charles Spurgeon

Preserving grace became a key component of Spurgeon’s gospel focus. Without it, he claimed, he would not be able to preach: “If anybody could possibly convince me that final perseverance is not a truth of the Bible, I should never preach again, for I feel I should have nothing worth preaching.” Simply put, the perseverance of the saints was a necessary link in the unbreakable golden chain of salvation that he preached.

SOURCE: Was Charles Spurgeon A Calvinist?

In Ray Comfort's THE EVIDENCE BIBLE, Mr. Comfort quotes Spurgeon extensively in hundreds of places, citing him as a secondary authority for his heresies!

Dr. John MacArthur of the Grace Community Church is aired on radio stations nationwide, teaching his heresies to millions of listeners. I heard Dr. John MacArthur speaking on the radio. The sermon is available and is titled, The Call To Repentance.” MacArthur quotes Charles Spurgeon concerning the matter of repentance...

Of all the statements that I have read on the subject, the strongest one comes from Charles Haddon Spurgeon. Listen to what Spurgeon said. "There must be a true and actual abandonment of sin and a turning unto righteousness in real act and deed in every day life. Repentance, to be sure, must be entire. How many will say, Sir, I will renounce this sin and the other...but there are certain darling lusts which I must keep and hold? Oh, sirs, in God's name let me tell you, it is not the giving up of one sin, nor 50 sins which is true repentance. It is the solemn renunciation of every sin. If thou dost harbor one of those accursed vipers in thy heart and dost give up every other, that one lust like one leak in a ship will sink thy soul. Think it not sufficient to give up thy outward vices, fancy it not enough to cut off the more corrupt sins of thy life, it is all or none which God demands. Repent, says He, and when He bids you repent, He means repent of all thy sins otherwise He can never accept thy repentance as real and genuine. All sin must be given up or else you will never have Christ. All transgression must be renounced or else the gates of heaven must be barred against you. Let us remember then that for repentance to be sincere, it must be entire repentance. True repentance is a turning of the heart as well as of the life. It is the giving up of the whole soul to God to be His forever and ever. It is the renunciation of the sins of the heart as well as the crimes of the life." [emphasis added]

SOURCE: Quote by Spurgeon provided by John MacArthur, The Call to Repentance  --  John MacArthur (Note: Charles Spurgeon originally made this statement in a sermon entitled, TURN OR BURN, preached December 7, 1856, at the Music Hall, Royal Surrey Gardens).

People during the 19th century were no different than people today in the 20th century. You had different groups of people who taught different doctrines (and they fought like cats and dogs). The fierce battle over the meaning of repentance is not a new battle, although the terms have changed. The phrase, “Lordship Salvation” is a contemporary term used to identify the false doctrine of requiring sinners to cease from sinful acts to be saved. I can not and will not try to defend Pastor Spurgeon anymore, because he was wrong on the Gospel. There are many methods of perverting the Gospel, either by frontloading it or by backloading it. Roman Catholics frontload it, requiring works with faith to be saved. Charles Spurgeon and other Calvinists like him backload the Gospel, requiring works as evidence of salvation. This pressures the professed saint to live a certain type of morally upright life, or risk losing salvation (as the Salvation Army errantly teaches), or proving that you were never saved at all (which is what Mr. Spurgeon errantly taught).
 

Understanding the Epistle of 1st John

I realize that many people read the Epistle of 1st John, and walk away concluding that a changed life is mandatory as evidence of salvation. There are some major problems with that philosophy.

First, it doesn't agree with the rest of the Bible. The Gospel of John is God's Gospel tract according to John 20:31. The book of John mentions the word “believe” 85 times without mentioning anything about repentance or turning from sin. The key verses (in my humble opinion) of the Epistle of 1st John is John 3:24 and 5:13. These verses reveal the the purpose of John's Epistle is to help believers “know that ye are saved” (5:13), and the proof of this is the indwelling Holy Spirit (3:24). A favorite GO TO Scripture of Calvinists and Fruit Inspectors is 1st John 3:18, which says “He that committeth sin is of the devil.” But Calvinists ignore verse 9b, which says “he cannot sin.” Clearly, this verse is referring to the new man, which is the Holy Spirit in us as believers. When we sin, it is because we have chosen to WALK IN THE FLESH (Galatians 5:19-21), instead of WALKING IN THE SPIRIT as God commands (Galatians 5:22-25). We have a choice (Romans 12:1).

Second, the unsaved man can imitate all of the evidences of a true believer. I have known many unsaved religious people who lived good lives. Roman Catholics are often some of the kindest, hardest working, most generous and sweet people, but their father is the Devil. They are not born-again by faith alone in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26; Mark 7:9-13; Matthew 15:8). When people read about keeping God's commandments in the Bible, they usually assume (AS-U-Me) good works, but the most important of God's commandments is to obey the Gospel, which means simply to get out of the way and let God do all the saving, by faith alone in Jesus Christ!

1st John 3:24: "And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us."

Unfortunately, John MacArthur does the same dishonest thing, horribly taking Charles Spurgeon's words out of context, and claims that Spurgeon taught Lordship Salvation. Nothing could be further from the truth, as this quote from Charles H. Spurgeon himself plainly reveals...

“You must not expect that you will be perfect in 'repentance' before you are saved. No Christian can be perfect. 'Repentance' is a grace. Some people preach it as a condition of salvation. Condition of nonsense! There are no conditions of salvation. God gives the salvation himself...” —Pastor Charles Spurgeon

SOURCE: http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0044.htm (Charles Spurgeon, from a sermon titled, “REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE,” preached at the New Park Street Chapel, Southwark, on Sept. 23, 1855)

Why doesn't MacArthur quote that? Admittedly, the former quote provided above, by itself, seems to support Lordship Salvation; BUT, if you look carefully you'll notice that Spurgeon continually mentions the word "renunciation" (i.e., rejecting one's sins). To "renounce" does not mean to literally forsake, otherwise Spurgeon would have used a different word. It is clear from Spurgeon's latter statement that he didn't believe in Lordship Salvation at all, and MacArthur is barking up an empty tree. 

You must keep in mind that Charles Spurgeon's words are NOT INSPIRED as are the Words of God. We can base doctrines on every word of God, including the articles and pronouns. Every Word matters! Whereas Surgeon's words are merely that of a frail man, a sinful human being. It is tragic and sad that John MacArthur and Ray Comfort are desperately trying to associate their heretical teachings with Charles Spurgeon. If Spurgeon were alive today, he'd denounce these imposters and expose them for the heretics they are.

Modernists today (unsaved heretics who masquerade as true Christians) are lying about Charles Spurgeon. I'm not hesitant to say that Ray Comfort and John MacArthur are not saved. If you think that ceasing from your sinful lifestyle is necessary to your salvation, then you are trusting in your own self-righteousness for salvation.

As genuine believers, we view salvation as being wholly the gift of God, provided freely and completely in Christ Jesus, without any strings attached. But Lordship Salvation produces an entirely different mindset in the adherent's mind, producing a spirit of fear and uncertainty.

In THE EVIDENCE BIBLE, Ray Comfort butchers Matthew 7:22-23, teaching that religious people with a roaming eye for the opposite sex have never been saved. This is his flawed understanding of what Matthew 7:22-23 means. Unfortunately for Mr. Comfort and all his followers, he didn't include verse 21 in his interpretation.

Spurgeon plainly stated in response to people like MacArthur and Ray Comfort...

“'Repentance' is a grace. Some people preach it as a condition of salvation. Condition of nonsense!” —Pastor Charles Spurgeon

SOURCE: http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0044.htm (Charles Spurgeon, from a sermon titled, “REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE,” preached at the New Park Street Chapel, Southwark, on Sept. 23, 1855)

Keep in mind that there are two Biblical meanings of the word repentance (as explained in detail below). Repentance (a change of mind) is necessary for salvation; but forsaking a sinful lifestyle (which is another meaning of repent) is not necessary to be saved. Spurgeon is condemning the latter, because it is not required for salvation. A changed life is the FRUIT of genuine repentance; and NOT a part of the ROOT of saving-faith...

Repentance as a Lifestyle is Not Taught in the Scriptures for Salvation

The heresy of Lordship Salvation defines “repentance” as a lifestyle; whereas the Word of God does not. Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary provides the following definition of repentance:

“re•pen•tance \ri-'pent-en(t)s\ n: the action or process of repenting especially for misdeeds or moral shortcomings; synonyms see PENITENCE”

SOURCE: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repentance

For many people nowadays, Webster’s definition represents the common understanding of repentance within religious circles.  However, this is NOT the Biblical nor historical meaning of the word "repent."  Prior to the modern meaning of the word, which for the most part is similar to Webster’s definition, the Classical Greek “metanoia” meant something quite differentchanging one’s mind or heart about someone or something.

There are two New Testament Greek words which are translated "repentance" in modern English translations: metanoia (including its verbal counterpart metanoeo) and metamelomai. The first term is translated as "repentance" fifty-eight times in the New Testament, the latter only six times. 

In the Greek Old Testament (aka, the Septuagint) metanoia and metanoeo occur twenty times in the canonical books and seven times in the apocryphal books and maintained the SAME meaning. In most cases metanoia in the translations held to the pre-Christian meaning of “a change of mind about someone or something.” During the early Christian period of Koine Greek (ca. 300 BC to 100 AD) metanoia continued to carry a sense of “a change of mind about someone or something.” 

A changed lifestyle is the hopeful, but not guaranteed, fruit of genuine repentance; and NOT repentance itself. Paul Washer states...

"There is no such thing as a carnal Christian (time: 21:40 in video)... The Bible never teaches that a person, can be a genuine Christian and live in continuous carnality and wickedness and sin all the days of their life... " (time:22:20 in video)

SOURCE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuabITeO4l8

That is simply not true!  Sadly, Washer falls short of 2nd Timothy 2:15. He simply does not study! If there's no such thing as a "carnal Christian," then why did the Apostle Paul say to the believers at Corinth... "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ" (1st Corinthians 3:1). 

In sharp contrast to Paul Washer's claim, the Bible teaches that there is such a thing as a "carnal Christian." King David was a "man after God's own heart" (1st Samuel 13:14); yet he commit adultery with Bathsheba, impregnated her, and then murdered her husband to hide his sin (2nd Samuel 11). Noah got drunk (Genesis 9:21). Samson had sex with a prostitute (Judges 16:1). Jonah ran from God (Jonah 1:3). Peter cursed the name of Jesus and used profanity (Mark 14:71). One-third of the Bible was written by murderers: Moses, David and Paul (formerly Saul of Tarsus). With the exception of Paul, Moses and David were already saved when they commit murder. 

In Romans 12:1 we find the Apostle Paul pleading with the believers at Rome to "present their bodies a living sacrifice" in service to God. Clearly, those believers were saved but not surrendered to Christ's will for their lives. This proves Lordship Salvation is a lie. 

Also, consider the unrepentant BELIEVER in 1st Corinthians 5:5 who had been living in fornication in the church... "To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." Even though Satan would destroy the man because of sinful living, Paul clearly stated that his spirit would be saved. This sinful man was obviously a believer, for only the saved will be blessed in eternity. 2nd Thessalonians 1:8 tells us that those who disobey the Gospel will be punished by a vengeful God in flaming fire. 

Spurgeon simply meant that a person who attempts to justify any sins in their life cannot be saved, until they RENOUNCE all sins as being a violation of God's Holy Law... "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God" (Romans 3:19). Jesus said in John 3:20... "For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." 

The world doesn't want to renounce their sins, nor to be reproved for them. This is why there are many false gospel's today, which don't include the Law of God. For there to be salvation, one MUST realize his or her guilt of sin (and thus need for a Savior), being condemned under God's Holy Law, and then believe upon Jesus Christ to be forgiven of those sins and saved.

May I quote Pastor Charles Surgeon once again...

“You must not expect that you will be perfect in 'repentance' before you are saved. No Christian can be perfect. 'Repentance' is a grace. Some people preach it as a condition of salvation. Condition of nonsense! There are no conditions of salvation. God gives the salvation himself...” —Pastor Charles Spurgeon

SOURCE: http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0044.htm (Charles Spurgeon, from a sermon titled, “REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE,” preached at the New Park Street Chapel, Southwark, on Sept. 23, 1855)

Spurgeon didn't mean that repentance (metanoia) wasn't necessary for salvation; but rather, that repentance (metamelomai) is not required. What's the difference? Metanoia is “a change of mind”; whereas metamelomai means “regret, to feel remorse afterwards.” In Matthew 27:3 we read that Judas “repented” (metamelomai), but Judas still died in his sin of unbelief and went to Hell. Those false ministers (like Paul Washer, Ray Comfort, Paris Reidhead, John MacArthur, Aiden Tozer and William Lane Craig) who teach that a person cannot be saved until they literally turn away from the act of sin, have intent to reform, and make a full surrender to do Christ's will from that day forward, are preaching “ANOTHER GOSPEL” of damnation (2nd Corinthians 11:4-5)!!!

Repent! Repent! Repent!

Clearly, Charles Haddon Spurgeon DIDN'T believe that making full surrender to serve Christ as Lord, or grieving, or feeling sorrow, or being willing to stop committing sins, is necessary to be saved. Rather, Spurgeon believed that these were evidences of genuine repentance. Spurgeon did in fact teach, as have other great men of God, that a sinner ought to turn from his or her sins as evidence of genuine repentance; but this is after-the-fact, and not a requirement for salvation itself. Spurgeon plainly taught there are no conditions of salvation,” which is what the Bible teaches. We are SINNERS and Jesus is the SAVIOR, Who died upon the cross for our sins, was buried, and then resurrected from the dead after three days (1st Corinthians 15:1-4). Jesus is precious!
 

John MacArthur's Secondary Authority

John MacArthur deceitfully cherry-picks and chooses quotes by great men, twisting their words, in a malicious attempt to support his false teachings. This has been the deceitful, lying tactic incorporated by the entire Lordship Salvation crowd. However it shows the fatal flaw and weakness of their perverted theology. They cannot use the Bible, so as a secondary authority, "great men of the past" are being erected as straw-men to bolster their false gospel. They take excerpts carefully chosen from archived sermons, twisted them out of context, well suited with the error of Cain, to deceive the Church. So now we have Satan’s new gospel (actually the same old lie) for our modern day.

These men are motivated by the flesh, so it is not strange they will use the sins of the flesh (lying) to exalt the flesh. Sadly, they believe that they are spiritual! They do not fully understand true GRACE and Christ’s imputed righteousness. How can a person truly be saved and follow the perverted gospel of Lordship Salvation? There are really only 2 religions in the world; it is salvation by human works or by God's Grace alone.
 

John MacArthur is an Unsaved False Prophet

Heretic, Dr. John MacArthur, who denies the efficacy of Jesus' literal, physical blood; denies once saved, always saved; teaches Lordship Salvation; and is a hardcore Calvinist.Dr. John MacArthur teaches a bunch of garbage—quoting the heresies of Martin Luther and John Calvin, and has publicly referred to the Westminster Confession as a "theological masterpiece" over the radio. It's straight from Hell. We ought to follow the Scriptures (John 5:39); and not flawed and imperfect men (Romans 3:4; Psalm 118:8). The Word of God stands true! It bothers me that MacArthur twists Spurgeon's words out of context, attempting to portray Spurgeon as believing in Lordship Salvation, i.e., the heresy that a person cannot be saved unless they turn away, hate, grieve and intend to stop living a sinful lifestyle. 

Such a change is the FRUIT (result) of genuine repentance (which result usually requires time for a new believer to grow in truth and grace); and is not a part of saving faith (the ROOT of salvation). We are saved by God's grace through FAITH in Jesus Christ as our Savior (Ephesians 2:8,9). Salvation is receiving; not giving. We pay nothing! There are no conditions of salvation. The only requirement is that we come as sinners and trust upon Jesus' holy name, Who washes our sins away with His precious literal blood (1st Peter 1:18,19; 1st John 1:7; Hebrews 9:12; Revelation 1:5). 

A professed Christian who still loves sin may, or may not, be saved; but we cannot know with any certainty (1st Samuel 16:7). Only God truly knows who is saved. The Bible is filled with accounts of Christians who horribly sinned. Noah got drunk (Genesis 9:21). Samson has sex with a prostitute (Judges 16:1). David killed Uriah to hide an adulterous affair with the man's wife, Bathsheba, which impregnated her (2nd Samuel 11; 12:9). Jeremiah quit preaching God's Word (Jeremiah 20:9). Isaiah had unclean lips (Isaiah 6:5). Jonah fled from God's will (Jonah 1:10). Peter cursed the name of Jesus and denied knowing Him (Mark 14:71). These are just a handful of examples of believer's who struggled with sin in their lives. If Lordship Salvation is true, then all these wayward saints went to Hell. The truth is that Lordship Salvation is no salvation at all; but rather, a religious trap and a road to Hellfire. 
 

Charles Spurgeon on Repentance

Here is a lengthy quote by Charles Spurgeon concerning Biblical repentance...

You know there are degrees of faith, and yet the least faith saves; so there are degrees of repentance, and the least repentance will save the soul if it is sincere. The Bible says, "He that believeth shall be saved," and when it says that, it includes the very smallest degree of faith. So when it says, "Repent and be saved," it includes the man who has the lowest degree of real repentance. Repentance, moreover, is never perfect in any man in this mortal state. We never get perfect faith so as to be entirely free from doubting; and we never get repentance which is free from some hardness of heart. The most sincere penitent that you know will feel himself to be partially impenitent.

Repentance is also a continual life-long act. It will grow continually. I believe a Christian on his death-bed will more bitterly repent than ever he did before. It is a thing to be done all your life long. Sinning and repenting—sinning and repenting, make up a Christian's life. Repenting and believing in Jesus—repenting and believing in Jesus, make up the consummation of his happiness. You must not expect that you will be perfect in "repentance" before you are saved. No Christian can be perfect. "Repentance" is a grace. Some people preach it as a condition of salvation. Condition of nonsense! There are no conditions of salvation. [emphasis added]

SOURCE: https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/the-repentance-unto-life#flipbook/ (from a sermon preached at the New Park Street Chapel, Southwark, on September 23, 1855)

Spurgeon plainly taught that he believed repentance "includes the man who has the lowest degree of real repentance." You'll never hear this quote from Ray Comfort, Paul Washer, John MacArthur, Jack Chick, or others today who are sinfully teaching Lordship Salvation. Biblically, repentance is a "change of mind." The changes that follow are the result of true repentance at work; and not repentance itself. 

Also, notice that Spurgeon stated: "Repentance is also a continual life-long act." Spurgeon was not teaching that salvation is a process, because it's not. Spurgeon simply meant that once a person initially repents, thus acknowledging their guilty sinful condition and trusting the Lord by faith to be forgiven, those same elements of repentance and faith will work in the believer's mind and heart for the rest of their life. Salvation is more than being saved. When God saves us, the lifelong process of growing in the Lord begins.

Clearly, Spurgeon taught a Free Grace view of the Gospel; and not a false gospel that requires lost sinners to forsake personal bad habits and sins to be saved. Who can do that? Even the best of Christians still sin every day! Even our ignorance is part of our sin. Like it or not, Charles Spurgeon plainly taught the truth that "there are no conditions of salvation." Eternal life is a free gift (Romans 5:15; 6:23), freely received (Revelation 22:17), and without works (Romans 4:5; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; Romans 10:3,4; 2nd Corinthians 5:21). 

We are saved by receiving the gospel as full-payment for our sins. Christ died, was buried and raised-up three days later. That is the gospel message, that is, the good news. The gospel is not a lifestyle to be lived; but rather, good news to be believed. If you add anything to the finished work of Christ, then you have a false plan of salvation. Salvation is without works of self-righteousness. Romans 4:5 plainly teaches that a man's faith is COUNTED for righteousness, i.e., the righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to one's heavenly record by faith.

Repent! Repent! Repent! | Pastor Harry Ironside on Repentance

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“You cannot be saved from corrupted Scripture!”
 —a quote by Pastor Steven Anderson from the awesome MP3 sermon, “Saved By The Word.”

Redeeming The Time


Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

“Nothing in my future can ever affect the salvation that I have... Once you trust the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, you are eternally secure!” —Pastor Hank Lindstrom (1940-2008), a quote from the classic MP3 sermon titled, “How Permanent Is Your Salvation?

“Salvation is based upon purely what Jesus Christ has done. And if you've trusted Jesus Christ here, you're saved forever! Nothing in your life, nothing in your death, angels, principalities, nothing—nothing in your future—could ever undo that relationship that has been made when you trusted Jesus Christ as Savior. And there are many people who are confused over this whole thing.”
—Pastor Hank Lindstrom (1940-2008), a quote from the classic MP3 sermon titled, “How Permanent Is Your Salvation?”

“There are many people who name the name of Jesus Christ, who are not saved, because they're trusting in living the Christian life, or in their works, or in some efforts that they're doing, in order to obtain their salvation.”
—Pastor Hank Lindstrom (1940-2008), a quote from the classic MP3 sermon titled, “How Permanent Is Your Salvation?

Eleven Reasons For Not Teaching “Lordship Salvation” (by Pastor A. Ray Stanford, 2016-2012)


Souls Are Dying!

How Permanent Is Your Salvation?
(an excellent MP3 sermon by Pastor Hank Lindstrom, 1940-2008)

Mark 1:15: “...repent ye, and believe the gospel.”

“The mark of the child of God is that he loves everybody!”
(a quote from Pastor Jack Hyles' classic MP3 sermon, “FORGIVENESS”)

Mark 11:22, And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.


Ye Must Be Born Again! | You Need HIS Righteousness!