Reformation or Transformation? - 1 Thess 1:9
In order to biblically evangelize the lost by effectively witnessing for Christ we
must accurately present Paul’s gospel (Rom 2:16, 16:25, 1 Cor 9:17, 1 Tim 1:11 and 2
Tim 2:8), adding no conditional requirements to burden the prospective believer who
desires to be saved. We must know what the Bible teaches regarding this question:
What preparation qualifies receiving Christ Jesus as Savior? This teaching explains
what repentance is and isn't in the life of a transformed soul. Reformation of behavior is
not the objective of salvation; the objective is spiritual transformation of a lost soul.
Believers are added to Christ's Body through spiritual re-birth (John 3:3, 5, 7).
This spiritual birth into Christ grants eternal life. The fact of “being in Christ” (Acts
17:28a) transforms a soul immediately and irreversibly. By definition, receiving Christ
Jesus’ substitute sacrifice on Calvary as one's sole justification before God means all
efforts of self-initiated justification are forsaken. The power of the gospel automatically
eliminates and overshadows any ability to offer one’s own sacrifice in whatever form.
The Savior of the whole world becomes my Savior —and yours —at the exact moment
we respond to truth (1 Tim 2:4), being made alive by God’s Word (1 Pet 1:23).
To understand how a life in Christ is qualified by the Redeemer, the Bible
declares the nature of this (and other mysteries) is unsearchable. It is unknowable by
limited minds and sin-prone hearts. But we do know this: The qualifying preparation
that saves souls precedes the foundation of the world. In eternity past the Holy God of
the universe made a way to redeem unholy man (even before any soul earned the
wages of sin, i.e., death, in the Garden). This divine work of preparation marks the fact
of biblical predestination1. (This is not the unbiblical “Unconditional Election” taught by
Calvinism. Predestination can only be to heaven; never to hell.) Ephesians 1:5
predestination brings all those who are persuaded into the nexus of God’s unmerited
favor; into His unfathomable sovereign Grace. At this exact divine juncture a soul is
redeemed, apart from any repentant work that purports to be reformative in nature.
Immediately, the untaught or double predestination-indoctrinated mind balks. But
if supernatural transformation wholly out of man's control characterizes this
redemption exactly where does man’s responsibility figure in? Nowhere. But, we
ask, doesn’t man angst over his sin, deciding he agrees to be rid of it, once and for all?
Isn’t this the ‘cause’ leading to the ‘effect’ — a “decision” for Christ, initiated by man?
No. It is God’s goodness that leads to repentance (Rom 2:4). Redemption is
wholly and miraculously the result of the Holy Spirit’s transforming work. Man’s one
decision in the matter is his willful yielding to the Holy Spirit's work, leading him to
receive this free gift (Eph 2:8). “Willful yielding” sounds like an oxymoron but it is
actually a divine paradox. (And despite false Calvinistic teaching otherwise, it is
possible for a soul to resist the Holy Spirit. This resistance is the unpardonable sin,
leading to the second spiritual death, after a body physically dies (Rev 20:14, 21:8).
But isn't some form of repentance, i.e., reformed behavior needed to effect
salvation? No. Continual repentance does mark the life a truly born again, spirit-filled
1
Ephesians 1:5 and 1:11
soul. As the Holy Spirit convicts of unconfessed sin in a redeemed life that one must
submit to cleansing in order to be in fruitful fellowship both vertically and
horizontally. But it is the law-bound Pharisee who inspects and judges looking for
tangible qualifiers preceding the moment of salvation while the heart yielded to the
Spirit repents according to 1 Thess 1:9-102 and 2 Pet 3:9.3 This holy repentance
changes hearts, causing lost minds to agree that justice calls for punishment of one's
sins. This holy repentance agrees divine right warrants God damning unrighteous
souls. This holy repentance agrees we are eternally lost without Christ. But this initial
repentance that turns one away from idols to the Living God is not the ongoing
repentance that follows the moment of salvation. In order to effectively witness to
the lost we must not mix the moment of salvation passing from spiritual death to
eternal life with sanctification ―the necessary ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in a
sealed life.
Why is the simplicity of this work of God’s grace so difficult for the law-tuned
mind of man to embrace? Because, operating in the flesh, the Pharisee, the legalist,
prefers self-righteousness, refusing to agree salvation is by God’s grace alone, and not
qualified in some part by man’s (reforming) repentance.
I have questions for those who claim (reforming) repentance must qualify and
precede salvation. Just how much must one reform? In what way for what purpose,
and for how long? What must one do to fully repent, turning from idols to God? How
much work must one do? How much sacrifice must one offer?
This charade is of course what false repentance becomes man's WORKS
not God's. It is a perversion of the gospel when repentance is unlawfully used in an
attempt to qualify salvation (1 Tim 1:8). In Things Which Become Sound Doctrine
Dwight Pentecost declares: “Repentance is not a prerequisite to salvation; for if
repentance is required, salvation is based, at least in part, upon works” (p. 70).
Are "unprepared" "walk-ins" or even "walk-ons" welcome to receive Christ, minus
observable, tangible qualifying evidence acceptable to men who judge? The answer is
YES! Qualification to receive eternal life is demonstrated solely in SELF recognizing it's
utter need: a sinner agreeing they are LOST!
Only One divine Work, offered by the Only Mediator qualifies redemption of lost
souls (Hebrews 8:6). Pharisees and legalists ―cease your perverted preaching! A
"Scarlet Letter" the red Letter "R" is a millstone of feigned righteousness around your
neck evidence of WORKS weighing down your claim that your salvation is predicated
on GRACE when in fact you believe it is your (reformative) behavior that saves you.
Repent now (abandon) this false understanding of the divine operation of salvation.
copyright © 2007 revised M. J. Greene
All rights reserved
www.pprsinc.com
2
1 Thess 1:9 "For they themselves showed us...how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living
and true God;"
3
2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.