Easy vs. Hard Believism

[bgwilkinson]

While this is off the OP a little, I was in a Facebook thread discussing this very subject and "learned" today that repentance is a "continual process".  I just continue to shake my head at the ignorance of so many.

You don't repent any more or you don't sin any more?

Anyone remember Denny Keniston? He was the B bus honcho before Ray Young.
Just before he was fired he started believing that he could live days at a time without sinning.

 

[Vince Massi]

Less than a month ago, I looked him up. The rumors are true. Denny Kenniston is a Mennonite evangelist and seems to be doing a good job. I thought that it had to be somebody with the same name, but he is identified as a former Baptist. From scattered statements from different people, it SEEMS that Denny really was (and is) a Godly man.


And people get on me for attending an Assemblies of God church.

 

[PappaBear]

Less than a month ago, I looked him up. The rumors are true. Denny Kenniston is a Mennonite evangelist and seems to be doing a good job. I thought that it had to be somebody with the same name, but he is identified as a former Baptist. From scattered statements from different people, it SEEMS that Denny really was (and is) a Godly man.


And people get on me for attending an Assemblies of God church.

He passed away last year.  http://lancasteronline.com/obituaries/local/683566_Dennis--Denny--Gene-Kenaston.html  You might enjoy this message of his, if you knew him while there.

The Great Need Of Revival by Denny Kenaston

He has a series on "The Godly Home" on Youtube.  01. Welcome by Brother Denny and Sister Jackie Kenaston | The Godly Home Series 

A friend of mine from college got to know Bro. Keniston and spoke very highly of him years ago.  He seems to have had a vibrant godliness about him. 

 

[Vince Massi]

Denny was living proof that you can get out of the wrong group and still be used by God. I am sorry to learn that he has died, but I'm glad that he is in Heaven.

 

[North]

I do not see where Mr. Massi said it was impossible.
I also do not see him implying "that a person who says the phrase, ""Jesus, please save me" and means it, is not saved because he did not repent!"

I think you would need to ask Mr. Massi directly regarding the qualifiers before you can use them to counter argue his statements.

I also am not sure Mr. Vassi's definition of "means it" is the same as yours. You would need to clarify that with him also.

A. My questions regarding someone saying, "Jesus please save me." would be:
1. What is that person asking Jesus to save him from?
2. Does that person understand the simple doctrines of atonement and imputed righteousness?

B. I don't believe that it is valid to say: that ANYONE who means "Jesus, please save me." HAS repented. To say that anyone who means it has repented and became saved is the same as saying that everyone who means it has repented and are saved. What is the sinner asking Jesus to save him from? That is what matters regarding eternity. He can really, really mean it, but at the same time lack the knowledge of the basic facts of salvation, what does it matter? He can say it over and over every night before bed, with fervent meaning and without God given understanding of the basic facts of salvation, what does it matter?

 

[North]

I do not remember the exact words I said and have sometimes wondered why some people have been saved "again" as adults because they were so young when they thought they got saved that they "couldn't remember the words they prayed". 

Money Quote!

This is why so many Youth Directors, Deacons, HAC students, and even preachers find themselves doubting their salvation as adults and finally getting saved, and of course, re-baptized to great fanfare.  They are worried that they didn't pray correctly, or used the wrong words, or weren't in the perfect mindset at the time they made "confession unto salvation."  Sure, they believe that God has been leading and guiding them for the past 20 years, even calling them into the ministry.  But they don't believe they were true believers? 

Salvation is about belief in the Lord Jesus Christ.  "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved."  "He that believeth on him is not condemned."  We emphasize the prayer, and minimize the belief.  I know I am saved...not because of the prayer I repeated as a young child at VBS, but because I know that I am a believer.  How could doubt ever enter into it?

You know I just read this and have to comment on it because it jarred something in my mind. I have found, that the biggest issue with those doubting their salvation but in reality they're not saved or internally never saved but faithful in church attendance is that they must come to that point where they are 100% certain they are lost before they can be saved. Period.

Sadly, most of these folks are so focused on whether they "did" it right and "if" they are saved, they spend their whole life in seasons of doubt and never come to that point of truly accepting that they are lost, without Christ, headed for hell. And unfortunately, they will die and go to hell. It is a sad place to be in and there is not much we can do to help them besides getting blue in the face explaining the gospel to them if the light bulb doesn't click in their heart and mind.

 

[prophet]

He that heareth my WORD and believeth on him that sent me hath (present tense possessive verb) everlasting life, and shall not come (shall come is future perfect)  into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.
Passed from damnation to Hell, in the presence of God and His holy angels forever....to.....
Eternal life (this life is in His Son, he that hath the Son,  hath life) God's genes, Jesus indwelling (the Spirit of his Son Gal 4:4-6) in the form of the Comforter.  Everlasting life, which begins at belief, and never perishes, neither can it be plucked out of His hand.  Heaven, the Millenial Kingdom, and any where Jesus is...so shall we ever be with The Lord....LIFE.
Easy:  you hear His Word, and exercise the measure of faith meted to you by The Creator, and He gives you Life. 
Yes Romans 10 is the reverse process.  So Belief triggers calling on Him.  Men have been calling on the name of the Lord since Enos' days (Gen 4:26), and becoming the Sons of God (Gen 6:2, John 1:12)
It wasn't hard for me, or you.
So, testify...was it hard for you?
Please share your own testimony, and describe your 'believism' as hard or easy.

Anishinabe