In regards to the question on the previous post ....

by Rose

If I understand some correctly, they are saying that repentance (stopping sinful behavior) is automatic with salvation and that even if we don't tell potential converts that they must forsake certain sinful behaviors to obtain eternal life in Christ, they will forsake them. Further, if I understand correctly, they purport that even though change away from sinful bahavior is automatic, we still should tell potentail converts that they must or will forsake the bahavior. Here is an example of what it could sound like:

My response to someone who asks, "Will I need to stop doing X sin?" would be "No, but you'll want to."

I do think there is a danger in this approach.

Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone. We are told in the Scriptures that relying upon our own good or lack of sin to obtain eternal life and righteousness is poisonous. This is a given, no? Can we all stipulate to this fact?

We tell a person to whom we are witnessing of their sinful state and standing before God and we preach the remedy - Christ and the gift of God, eternal life. We tell them of all that Christ did to justify sinners who will put their faith in His completed work. We entreat them to receive the gift of God.

Then, (and here is the part I have a problem with) some go on to tell them about stopping sin. This could either be something like: "God will give you a new heart and you will want to stop whoring around, no doubt about it." or "If you really do trust in Christ, you'll stop whoring around." or "Every time you whore around you're telling God that you're not interested in salvation." or "True Christians always repent of the sin of their non-Christain life." or worse "You must stop whoring around or you can't be saved."

At this point, there is a danger. I think it is human nature for a hearer of such a message to zero in on doing rather than faith, rather than believing in what Christ has done. Wouldn't it be tragic for a message like this, while starting beautifully, to end in the hearers trying to fake the supposed "results of salvation," this turning from sin? Wouldn't we rather amplify to the unsaved the gift of God, that Christ has done it all? We should tell them that they can come to Him just as they are and recieve justification and eternal life by doing nothing but believing in Christ and what He has done for them. When we start to describe change in beahavior or a lack of sinful deeds as a part of salvation, I believe that the fleshly nature of many unsaved will try to fake their own transformation and the last state of those people will be worse than the first. This is religion, not eternal life. I think it is a mixed message, even if some are not trying to give people a false message of works salvation, they will inadvertantly do so. It is human nature to try to do things for ourselves.

Now, my answer to the question in the previous post is this:
I think it is fine to preach a turn from sinful deeds to an unsaved person. Say you have a daughter who is whoring around. Of course you want her to stop doing that. It will make her miserable and could even kill her. However, if you have also been telling her of the gospel and entreating her to receive it by faith, you should make it clear that those are two separate messages. "Repent of your whoring to escape disease, sadness and misery, yes! ... but the gift of God -justification and life eternal - can be received by simple faith in what Christ has done for you. Look at Him and see what He has done to satisfy God."

I think it is important to keep those messages separate.