Do I have to turn from my sins?

DO I HAVE TO TURN FROM MY SINS TO BE SAVED?

Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Perhaps you have seen a tract at one time or another with the following "steps to salvation" printed in it:

1. Admit you are sinner.

2. Be willing to turn from sin (repent). (FALSE)

----> Please note: the word “repent” does not mean "turn from sin", please see my article on repentance for more details

3. Accept Christ as your Saviour. (or “turn to Christ in faith” etc.)

But the Bible says it is impossible to turn from your sins. The gospel is not about us and our effort to reform our lives.

Ecclesiastes 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

The Bible says there is no one who doesn't sin. Every person commits sin on a daily basis. But let's break down what it means to "turn from sin." First of all, what is sin?

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

According to the Bible, sin is transgression of the law. So if sin is breaking the law, turning from sin would mean to start keeping the law. What does the Bible say about keeping the law for salvation?

Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

The Bible says we are not justified by the works of the law. That means you cannot keep the law in order to be saved. If you had to keep the law to be saved, Christ's death would be pointless.

Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Furthermore, and more importantly, the Bible goes on to say that if you are trusting the law to justify you in any way, Christ will profit you nothing! Because in order to be saved, you must believe in (trust) Jesus Christ to save you, and repent of trusting works (which is what most people in the world are trusting).

Galatians 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

If you are trusting the law to save you, Christ is become of no effect unto you. It's not that you can lose your salvation, part of getting saved is the decision to trust Christ, and repent of your dead works (Heb. 6:1). Once you do that, you know the law has nothing to do with being saved, but people can get tripped up by words. Just remember, "turning from sins" is something you have to do. But salvation is not by any works we have done.

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

If you could keep the law to be saved, you would have your own righteousness. But the Bible says we are saved by Christ's righteousness. Our righteousness is not enough, and Christ righteousness is not lacking. Thus, we need his righteousness to save us.

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

THE SIN OF CAIN

Salvation is all about Jesus and what he did. Yet man in his pride wants it to be all about himself. This is nothing new, in fact it goes all the way back to the children of Adam and Eve.

Genesis 4:3-5 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

(4) And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

(5) But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

Abel brought an animal sacrifice, picturing Christ. Abel was obeying God and offering the sacrifice he was commanded, but Cain brought his fruits...the fruit that he worked for . This is an excellent picture for us of those that believe in simple faith in Christ to save them (Abel) and those who want their works to save them (Cain).

Just like Cain, people who are trusting works get very angry when you suggest that all the works they have done for God are not enough to save them. Cain got so angry he ended up killing his brother. You see this repeated all throughout history. The Jews, specifically the Pharisees, killed Jesus. (1 Thes. 2:15) They then continued to persecute the Apostles. The Roman Catholic church, which teaches you are saved by sacraments and deeds, killed many Christians who believed in faith alone for salvation as "heretics".

But it's not about us! God will not share his glory with anyone. You are either saved by Jesus, or else you will go to hell and pay for your own sins. If you trust in works in any way, God will judge you by your works and you will not be able to stand on judgment day. ONE SIN will send you to hell.

Q: Do you need to turn from sin to be saved?

A: NO. (Jonah 3:10, Eph. 2:8,9)

Q: Can you lose your salvation by continuing to sin?

A: NO. If you could, salvation would be based on your works, not on Jesus. (John 10:28, Philippians 3:9)

Q: In that case why not eat, drink, and be merry if we don’t have to stop sinning?

A1: Because we love God and want to obey him. (John 14;15)

A2: We will be rewarded in heaven based on what we do with our lives. (2 Cor. 5:10)

A3: We will be chastened in this life if we continue in sin. You reap what you sow here on earth. (1 Cor. 11:32)

Turning from sins means keeping the law. And no one is justified by keeping the law.

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

SALVATION BY FAITH ALONE

Pastor Roger Jimenez

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