“He’ll always say, ‘I forgive.'” So goes the age-old song that could be painted on the cross that can be found on every church property throughout the world. The question is, ARE THE WORDS IN THE POPULAR SONG TRUE? Does He ALWAYS forgive the sin for which a parishioner has repented? Is forgiveness automatic upon repentance?

Let us turn to the Holy Scriptures for the answer to all questions concerning repentance and forgiveness of sin. In James 5:3 we find the apostle writing to some members of the twelve tribes of Israel who have been scattered abroad because of their sins. James was writing to Israelites who had been converted to the Lord Jesus Christ as James notes in 2:1 where he writes to “My brethren” who have faith in “our Lord Jesus Christ.” These people had faith in the same Lord as did the Apostle. In verse two James refers to their “assembly,” meaning church service. In 5:14 he says that if there are any sick within the congregation they were to call for the elders of the church to pray for him in the name of the Lord (Jesus Christ). In verse 19 James writes about conversion, strictly a church activity. These scattered descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel) are truly converts to the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the second chapter of his letter to the Israelite converts the apostle warns about having faith without works, noting that such faith is dead. In that we live by our faith (a spiritual entity), dead faith=a spiritually dead believer. His message is singular and to the point: FAITH WITHOUT OBEDIENCE TO THE LAW IS DEAD FAITH AND WILL ACCOMPLISH NOTHING. Read verses 10,14,17,18,20,24,26. Note in verse 14 that faith without the works of obedience cannot save the soul.

In chapter three James warns the church about the tongue and what a creator of sin it can be if not kept in check. In chapter four he warns church people about several things that are common among men. In verse eight he gets to the heart of this series when he tells church sinners to cleanse and purify their hearts, calling them “double-minded” relative to obedience to the Law (vss 11,12). These people knew that sin was, and is, defined by God as the breaking of His Ten Commandment Law: “To transgress the Law is sin, for sin is the transgression of the Law” (1 Jn. 3:4).

In chapter five James chastises rich people in the church for their sins, warning them that they are “TREASURING” (storing) up trouble for themselves (vss 4-7). Turn now to Romans 2:1-5 where the Apostle Paul is saying the same thing to the church at Rome, warning sinners therein that they were “TREASURING UP to yourself wrath until the day of wrath,” meaning judgment day when God will “render to every man (including churchman) according to his DEEDS (works–obedience to His Law). In verses seven through sixteen Paul emphasizes the fact that church people must obey God’s LAW in order to receive salvation. Read verses seven through sixteen and note that Paul mentions obedience to the Law NINE TIMES.

Serious students of the Holy Scriptures soon find that relative to sin, which God forbids, REPENTENCE is a key factor, but not the kind of repentance the church practices. The Scriptures tell us that there are two types of repentance: true and false. As will be shown, the church type of repentance is false, of Satan, having the opposite effect of that which God requires relative to the Christian walk that is commanded in order to receive eternal life. God has one goal for repentance, the church has the opposite goal. Where God says “stop sinning for death awaits you” the church says “keep on sinning for life awaits you.” Again, Adam and Eve come to mind. God told them that to eat of the forbidden tree would result in eternal death. Satan told them that doing so would result in eternal life. God’s first (Eden) church chose to follow Satan. His last (Laodicean) church follows in their spiritual footsteps. In the case of the modern church, lack of true repentance is the key factor in her apostasy as this series proves.

What is Biblical repentance? How does it differ from church repentance? First, let us determine exactly what happens when one is Biblically justified, meaning to have one’s sins forgiven. This takes place upon true repentance and CONVERSION. Paul explains in Romans 3:24,25 that true justification results in ALL of one’s PAST SINS being forgiven and remembered no more by God. In His eyes, those sins never took place. One is like a newborn baby–sin free–righteous and holy. One is cleansed totally of all PAST SINS. But here is where the Lord and the church go in opposite directions. Here is where the ultimate question must be asked: “NOW WHAT?” I am righteous and holy–completely without sin. How am I supposed to live my life? As we will see, God says: “DO NOT SIN.” The church says: “You must sin, so be sure to repent.” One of those responses will lead to eternal life; the other will lead to eternal death. The “many” in the church have chosen the latter; the “few” have chosen the former (Mat. 7:13,14; 22:14).

This question–“Now what?” and its dual answers explain exactly why the vast majority of church people are living in sin while believing that all is well. To assure one’s eternity the salvation seeker must 1) know God’s Word, 2) believe God’s Word and 3) obey God’s Word. God’s people are three for three. Chruch people are zero for three. If they were three for three they would not be in the billions-strong Catholic/Protestant Religious System that calls itself “the church.” Instead they would be in that tiny remnant of peculiar, rejected, ostracized “religious nuts” who take God at His Word, including His “fine print.” Though both groups are among those God calls “My people who are called by My name,” only the “few”–the “righteous”–will be saved (1 Pet. 4:17,18)..

Recall that both the dead and the living who will rise to meet Jesus in the clouds upon His return will be those who are “IN CHRIST” (1 Thes. 4:16). Notice that it does not say that those in the first resurrection will be “in the church.” What does it mean to be “IN CHRIST?” We must understand that God and Christ are one in every respect except numerically. Jesus said: “The Father and I (two personages) and one” (in spirit, morality, etc.) For the saint, to be “in Christ” is to be “in God” and visa versa. In First John 1:5 we find that in God there is “NO DARKNESS (SIN) AT ALL.” The church claims to live in darkness (repeatedly sin), but with impunity because of Christ’s death. They even call themselves “sinners saved by grace,” meaning that they are living “in Christ” and “in God” while continuing to sin. In Second Corinthians 5:19 we are told that when Jesus was on earth, GOD WAS IN CHRIST reconciling the world to Himself.” Then in Colossians 3:3 we find Paul stating that CHRIST IS IN GOD, and that the true believer is IN CHRIST, WHO IS IN GOD, IN WHOM THERE IS NO SIN AT ALL. As I point out in the series titled The True Trinity, the obedient SAINT is IN CHRIST. CHRIST IS IN GOD. All three are one spiritually and comprise the only type of trinity found in the Holy Scriptures. Read that series. Key word–True. Hopefully, there are several true trinities. L.J.