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This section is for those people who believe that past sins are automatically forgiven when we become believers in Jesus Christ, or those others who believe that sins are removed from our heart when we are water baptized. If the devil can deceive us into believing either of these errors, then he will be able to prevent us from seeking for the cleansing that is so necessary to enable us to overcome sin in our own lives. He will also be able to keep us from being healed sometimes, deceive us in other areas, and keep us living without the manifestation of the real spiritual power of God in our lives. The fact that forgiveness of all sins is a PROMISE has already been shown (See #2), and all promises can be asked for and received by faith when we believe in Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20; Matthew 7:7-11; Mark 11:23-24). This does not mean that they are immediately manifested.
MATTHEW 25:1-13 (Jesus)
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened to ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 Those who were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said to the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are going out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, No; lest there is not enough for us and you: but
you go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterwards the other virgins came also , saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Amen I say to you, I do not know you.
13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour when the Son of man
comes.
Note: Here we have a parable about ten virgins who were waiting for the bridegroom to come, the spiritual equivalent of which would be Christians waiting for Jesus to return. Many Christians (symbolised by virgins) are today waiting for Jesus (symbolised by the bridegroom) to come, but what guarantee do they have of being with Jesus when he does return? The foolish virgins were shut out (v10): they called him “Lord, Lord,” (v11) but he would not let them in. Why were they not accepted? simply because they were not prepared, and did not have enough oil (v8). So it will be with many Christians today who think that they are righteous just because they say that they believe in Jesus. Those who really believe will prepare themselves; they will seek for righteousness (See #3.26), learn righteousness from the scriptures (See #3.28), and become doers of the word of God (See #3.24). Obviously the foolish virgins did not do this.
JOHN 8:34
34 Jesus answered them, Amen, amen, I say to you, Whoever commits sin is the servant of sin.
ROMANS 6:20 (Paul)
20 For when you were the servants of sin, you were free from righteousness.
Note: These scriptures put together show that, “Whoever commits sin is ... free from righteousness.”, and the apostle John agreed with this when he wrote, “Whoever commits sin is of the devil;” (1 John 3:8). So how can we be totally righteous when we are living in sin, either knowingly or unknowingly? Until we get God’s word in our heart we cannot live free from sin (Psalm 119:11), and this is an attribute of a righteous man (Psalm 37:30-31; Isaiah 51:7), not a new born babe in Christ. So how can the forgiveness of our sins be automatically manifested when we first believe, or get baptized in water?
EXODUS 12:46
46 In one house shall it be eaten; you shall not carry forth any of the flesh abroad out of the house;
neither shall you break a bone of it.
PSALMS 34:19-20 (David)
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD
delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones: not one of them is broken.
LUKE 23:39-43
39 And one of the malefactors who were hanged railed on him, saying, If you
are Christ, save yourself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Do you not fear God, seeing that
you are in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man
has done nothing wrong.
42 And he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
43 And Jesus said to him, Amen I say to you, To day you shall be with me in paradise.
JOHN 19:31-37
31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the
Sabbath day, [for that day was a great Sabbath,]
besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
32 Then came the soldiers, and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who was crucified with him.
33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they
did not break his legs:
34 But one of the soldiers with a spear, pierced his side, and immediately there came out blood and water.
35 And he who saw it has borne witness, and his witness is true: and he knows that he
says true, that you might believe.
36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
37 And again another scripture says, They shall look on him whom they pierced.
Note: There seems little doubt that one of these robbers became a believer in Jesus just before he died. He could see the kingdom (Luke 23:42), and that shows that he was born again (John 3:3). He had a repentant heart, admitting his guilt for past sins (Luke 23:41), and he called Jesus “Lord” (Luke 23:42), which no man can do, except by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3). In addition to all of this evidence Jesus told him, “Today you shall be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43), making it certain. So was this robber righteous, or not? Jesus was here fulfilling the type of the Passover lamb (Exodus 12:46), and the scripture concerning a righteous man (Psalm 34:19-20), and that is why they could not break his bones (John 19:36). If the robber had been righteous, then they could not have broken his bones either (Psalm 34:19-20), because “the scripture cannot be broken;” (John 10:35). However, his legs were broken (John 19:32), proving that he was not righteous, and that we do not automatically become righteous when we first believe in Jesus.
REVELATION 3:14-18 (Jesus)
14 And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would that
you were cold or hot.
16 So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will
spew you out of my mouth.
17 Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and
do not know that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and
naked:
18 I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be
rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness does
not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye-salve, that you may see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Note: Jesus is speaking here to the Laodicean Christians, and telling those who they were lukewarm (v15); but were they righteous? If so, then why would Jesus spew them out of his mouth (v16)? Surely this is showing us that these people were not acceptable to Jesus in their present state, so how could they be righteous? Why would he tell them, “buy of me ... white garments, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness does not appear;” (v18) if they were already righteous? White clothing is symbolic of righteousness:
(Job 29:14) “I put on righteousness and it clothed me:”
(Psalm 132:9) “Let the priests be clothed with righteousness;”
(Isaiah 59:17) “he put on righteousness as a breastplate,”
(Revelation 19:8) “fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”
These Laodiceans didn’t have it: they were spiritually naked (v18). Jesus even commanded them to repent (v19), as he did with some of the other churches:
(Revelation 2:5) “Remember therefore from where you are fallen, and
repent, and do the first works; or else I will come to you quickly, and will remove
your candlestick
out of his place, except you repent.”
(Revelation 2:16) “Repent; or else I will come
to you quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”
(Revelation 2:22) “Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and
those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they
repent of their deeds.”
(Revelation 3:3) “Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and
repent. If therefore you shall not watch, I will come on you as
a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come upon you.”
Here we have many church members being told to repent, and righteous people do not need to repent:
(Luke 5:32) “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
(Luke 15:7) “I say to you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner
who repents, more than over ninety nine
righteous persons, who need no repentance.”
The fact is that a number of people in these churches were not righteous, including the Laodiceans. They were about to be chastised, and needed to repent (v19; See also #3.14). They needed to seek for righteousness (See #3.26) and learn righteousness from the scriptures (See #3.28).
ACTS 8:9-24
9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, who formerly in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some
great one:
10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
11 And to him they had regard, because that for long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Then Simon himself believed1 also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered,
beholding the miracles and signs who were done.
14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent
to them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they came down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy
Spirit:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy
Spirit was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy
Spirit.
20 But Peter said to him, Your money perish with you, because you have thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter: for your heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of
your heart may be forgiven you.
23 For I perceive that you are in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of
iniquity2.
24 Then Simon answered and said, Pray to the Lord for me, that none of these things which
you have spoken come upon me.
Note: The word translated believed1 is from the Greek verb pisteuw (Gtr. pisteuo) used of Simon (v13), is also used of the other believers (v12), and of the twelve disciples (John 2:11), apart from being used ninety-nine times in the Gospel of John alone; so there is no doubt that Simon was a genuine believer. After being baptized, there is no evidence that he did anything other than follow Philip, listening to his preaching, and beholding the miracles. When he saw the gift of the Holy Spirit being received through the laying on of the apostles hands, his heart, which could not have yet fully repented of his past sins, if at all, led him to try to buy the gift. This shows that his trust and faith was still in money, rather than in God. Peter told him to repent (v22), and righteous men do not need to repent:
(Luke 5:32) “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
(Luke 15:7) “I say to you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner
who repents, more than over ninety and nine
just (righteous) persons, who need no repentance.”
Peter also said that his heart was “not right in the sight of God” (v21), and that he was “in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity2.” (v23). The word translated iniquity2 (Gr. adikiaj, Gtr. adikias) literally means “unrighteousness”. Does a man who is “in a bond of unrighteousness” sound like somebody who is righteous? Does it sound like a man who had just received a totally new heart? No? Then this scripture shows that we do not become righteous, nor do we receive completely new hearts when we first believe in Jesus. When Paul said, “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17), he was referring in a manifested sense to those who are fully baptized into Christ. Look at the context, Paul is talking about someone who lives for Jesus, rather than themselves (2 Corinthians 5:15), and so a better translation would be, “if any man abides in Christ, he is a new creation;” (2 Corinthians 5:17 RPT). This scripture does not refer to new born babes like Simon, who are unskilful in the word (Hebrews 5:13), weak in faith (Romans 14:1), and still carnal (1 Corinthians 3:1-3), which means “sold under sin” (Romans 7:14), but rather to those who have forsaken sin: “Whoever abides in him does not sin:” (1 John 3:6; 3:9).
The events which occurred at Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus are described by three separate scriptures. To obtain the whole story, these need to be put together and compared, and this is what we will do here.
Acts 9:1-19; Acts 22:6-16; Acts 26:12-18
(Acts 9:1-2) “And Saul, yet breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went
to the high priest, And asked of him
letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound
to Jerusalem.”
(Acts 9:3a) “And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus:”
(Acts 22:6a) “And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come
near
to Damascus about noon,”
(Acts 26:12-13a) “Upon which as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, At midday, O king,”
(Acts 9:3b) “and suddenly there shone round about him a light from heaven:”
(Acts 22:6b) “suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.”
(Acts 26:13b) “I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me, and
those who journeyed with me.”
(Acts 9:4) “And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying
to him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
(Acts 22:7) “And I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying
to me, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
(Acts 26:14) “And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking
to me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? it is hard for
you to kick against the pricks.”
(Acts 9:5a) “And he said, Who are you, Lord?”
(Acts 22:8a) “And I answered, Who are you, Lord?”
(Acts 26:15a) “And I said, Who are you Lord?”
(Acts 9:5b) “And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you persecute: it is hard for
you to kick against the pricks.”
(Acts 22:8b) “And he said to me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom
you persecute.”
(Acts 26:15b) “And he said, I am Jesus whom you persecute.”
(Acts 22:9) “And those who were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they
did not hear the voice of him who spoke to me.”
(Acts 9:6a) “And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what
will
you have me do?”
(Acts 22:10a) “And I said, What shall I do Lord?”
(Acts 9:6b) “And the Lord said to him, Arise,”
(Acts 22:10b) “And the Lord said to me, Arise,”
(Acts 26:16-18) “But rise, and stand upon your feet: for I have appeared
to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of these
things which you have seen, and of those things in which I will appear to
you; Delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom now I send
you.
To open their eyes, and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan
to God, that they might receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among those
who are sanctified by faith that is in me.”
(Acts 9:6c) “and go into the city, and it shall be told you what
you must do.”
(Acts 22:10c) “and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told
you of all things which are appointed for you to do.”
(Acts 9:7) “And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.”
(Acts 9:8) “And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man; but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.”
(Acts 22:11) “And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of
those who were with me, I came into Damascus.”
(Acts 26:19) “Upon which, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient
to the heavenly vision:”
(Acts 9:9) “And he was three days without sight, neither did he eat or drink.”
(Acts 9:10-16) “And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here
Lord. And the Lord said to him, Arise and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he
is praying. And
has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have
heard by many of this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem: And here he
has authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on your name.
But the Lord said to him, Go your way: for he is a chosen vessel to me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will show
him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
(Acts 22:12-13a) “And one Ananias, a devout man according to
the law, having a good report of all the Jews who dwelt there, Came
to me, and stood, and said
to me, Brother Saul receive your sight.”
(Acts 9:17) “And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus,
who appeared to you in the way as you came, has sent me, that you might receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy
Spirit.”
(Acts 9:18a) “And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight
instantly,”
(Acts 22:13b) “And the same hour I looked upon him.”
(Acts 22:14-16) “And he said, The God of our fathers has chosen
you, that you should know his will, and see that Just One, and should hear
the voice of his mouth. For you shall be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. Now why
do you delay? arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins,
calling on the name of the Lord.”
(Acts 9:18b) “and arose, and was baptized.”
(Acts 9:19) “And when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples
who were at Damascus.”
Note: The incidents leading to Saul’s conversion are related by three separate scriptures, which have been combined here to show the whole story. Truth is difficult to obtain when reading scriptures separately, because some accounts give details not shown in other accounts, but there are sufficient points of similarity in each account here to put the whole story together in the correct order as follows.
1 Saul travelled to Damascus with authority to arrest any Christians that he found (Acts 9:1-2; 26:12-13a).
2 There shone a great light about him (Acts 9:3b; 22:6b; 26:13b) which he referred to as “a heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19).
3 They all fell to the ground, and Jesus spoke to Saul (Acts 9:4; 22:7; 26:14).
4 Saul answered Jesus, asking who he was (Acts 9:5a; 22:8a; 26:15a).
5 The Lord told Saul that he was Jesus (Acts 9:5b; 22:8b; 26:15b).
6 Knowing now that he was talking to Jesus, Saul called him “Lord” (Acts 9:6a; 22:10a), and asked for instructions.
The fact that he acknowledged Jesus as Lord, and his submissive obedience, which is indicative of faith (Romans 1:5; 16:26), makes it clear that this is the point at which he believed in Jesus.
7 Jesus told Saul of the ministry that he had chosen him for (Acts 26:16-18), and instructed him to go to Damascus (Acts 9:6c; 22:10c).
8 When Saul arose he was blind (Acts 9:8; 22:11).
9 Saul fasted three days without food or water (Acts 9:9).
This is an act of sincere repentance, whole hearted seeking of God, not an act of an unbeliever, as those people who have sought God for three days and nights without food and water will know.
10 Saul had another vision, this time of Ananias laying hands on him to restore his sight (Acts 9:11).
11 Ananias called Saul, “Brother Saul” (Acts 9:17; 22:13).
This is surely evidence that Ananias considered Saul to be a true believer, and a brother in Christ.
12 Ananias laid hands on Saul, who then received his sight (Acts 9:17-18a; 22:13), and was filled with the Holy Spirit (Act 9:17).
To deny that Saul received the Holy Spirit at this point, would be to say that although Jesus sent Ananias specifically for this purpose, among others, it failed to happen. An impossibility!
13 Ananias told Saul that he had been chosen by God, to know his will, to see Jesus, and to be a witness of what he had seen and heard (Acts 22:14-15). Then he told Saul to be baptized, and WASH AWAY HIS SINS, calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16).
Those who profess that the forgiveness of all sins is automatically manifested when we first believe in Jesus, must say that Saul saw two visions, spoke to Jesus, was blinded and healed, fasted three days and nights, received the Holy Spirit, and was still not a believer, even though the scripture shows that the Holy Spirit is only for believers (Mark 16:17; John 7:38-39; 14:17). Either that, or Ananias, chosen by Jesus, didn’t know what he was talking about when he said to Saul, “wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16). The alternative is that the forgiveness of all sins is not automatically manifested when we first believe in Jesus.
HEBREWS 12:6-8 (Paul)
6 For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he
receives.
7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the Father
does not chasten?
8 But if you are without chastisement, of which all are partakers, then are
you illegitimate, and not sons.
HEBREWS 12:11 (Paul)
11 Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless,
afterwards it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who are
exercised by it.
Note: These verses make it clear that every Christian endures chastisement, “of which all are partakers,” (Hebrews 12:8), and there are no exceptions. If we do not endure chastisement then we cannot claim to be saved, because the rod of God does not come on the wicked (Job 21:7-9), and Paul said, “you are illegitimate, and not sons.” (Hebrews 12:8). So why are we chastised then? One reason is that, “afterwards it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who are exercised by it.” (Hebrews 12:11). This shows that we are not righteous when we first believe, but rather God is judging our sinful state, and “we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” (1 Corinthians 11:32). After we first believe, our righteousness needs to be manifested, and chastisement is necessary to do this, because “A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer.” (Proverbs 29:19). Chastisement causes us to learn God’s word (Psalm 94:12; 119:71), and when the word enters our heart, and we obey it from the heart, our righteousness is manifested (Psalm 37:30-31; Isaiah 51:7; Deuteronomy 6:25; Isaiah 48:18; Ezekiel 18:5-9; Romans 2:8; 6:16-18). Salvation by faith may be a short experience for those who die soon after they believe (Luke 23:40-43), but others have to work it out: “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling:” (Philippians 2:12). Repentance is not only a work, “For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation” (2 Corinthians 7:10), but also a painful process, and chastisement is one method that God uses to ensure that we do it properly. Those who do not conform their lives to become obedient to God’s word don’t have a living faith anyway, because “faith without works is dead.” (James 2:17; 2:20; 2:26), and faith and obedience are inseparable.
MATTHEW 3:13-15
13 Then comes Jesus from Galilee to Jordan to John, to be baptized of him.
14 And John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of you, and do you
come to me?
15 And Jesus answering said to him, Permit it to be so now: for thus it
becomes us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he permitted him.
Note: Jesus said, “I am the way” (John 14:6), “follow me” (Matthew 4:19; 8:22; 9:9; 19:21), showing us the way to eternal life. He didn’t need the baptism of repentance for himself, because he never sinned (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22), but rather showing us that baptism is required for us to become totally righteous. Clearly none of us get baptized before we believe, and many professing Christians delay water baptism, or never get baptized at all. If Therefore, baptism is required to “fulfil all righteousness.” (Matthew 3:15), how is it possible for righteousness to be fully manifested when we first believe?
MATTHEW 6:14-15 (Jesus)
14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
MARK 11:25-26 (Jesus)
25 And when you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against any; that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Note: Forgiving others is a condition to obtain forgiveness ourselves, and if we do not forgive, then we will not be forgiven. How impossible is it then for sins to be all automatically forgiven when we first believe? Did every one of us immediately start to remember all things that people had done against us in the past, and forgive them? Can we even now remember all the people that have been offended by us? Only one case of a Christian holding unforgiveness in their heart past the point of believing, proves that sins cannot be automatically forgiven when we first believe. Only one case of a Christian holding unforgiveness in their heart past the point of water baptism, proves that sins cannot be automatically forgiven when we are baptized in water.
2 CORINTHIANS 7:1 (Paul)
1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Note: Were the Corinthians righteous? No, he told them, “Awake to righteousness, and sin not;” (1 Corinthians 15:34), and yet they were water baptized (1 Corinthians 1:12-17), filled with the spirit (1 Corinthians 1:5-7), and Paul instructed them how to operate in the spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 14). How then can sin be gone from our heart when we first believe, or get baptized? After all his instruction in his first epistle, many of the Corinthians repented (2 Corinthians 7:8-11). They need not have done this if they were righteous, because a righteous man does not need to repent:
(Luke 5:32) “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
(Luke 15:7) “I say to you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven
over one sinner who repents, more than over ninety and nine
just (righteous) persons, which need no
repentance.”
Even after this some of them still needed to repent:
(2 Corinthians 12:21) “I shall bewail many who have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.”
The fact that “cleanse” refers to the removal of sin (2 Corinthians 7:1) is made clear by other scriptures;
(Psalm 51:2) “cleanse me from my sin.”
(James 4:8) “Cleanse your hands, you sinners;”
(1 John 1:7) “the blood of Jesus Christ his Son
cleanses us from all sin.”
(1 John 1:9) “he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
The last part of this last scripture is equivalent to: “cleanse us from all sin.” (1 John 1:9), because “All unrighteousness is sin:” (1 John 5:17). If the word “flesh” (2 Corinthians 7:1) refers to the physical flesh, then it refers to the cleansing from some disease, such as leprosy:
(Matthew 10:8) “cleanse the lepers,”
(Matthew 8:3) “And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”
but if it refers to the spiritual flesh (Romans 7:18; Galatians 5:24; Colossians 2:11), then it refers to the cleansing from sin also:
(Galatians 5:19-21) “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness.
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Envying, murders, drunkenness, revelling, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that
those who do such things shall
not inherit the kingdom of God.”
These scriptures show that many in the Corinthian church were not righteous, and needed to repent of sin.
1 JOHN 3:2-3
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him
as he is.
3 And every man who has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.
Note: “This hope” (v3), is that of being like Jesus when he returns, and if we did not believe in Jesus, then we could not believe that he is coming again, and we would not have “This hope”. As only believers can have this hope, what does “every man who has this hope” purify himself from? The word of God declares that we are purified from sin (Psalm 51:9-10; Proverbs 20:9), but as John said “every man that has this hope in him purifies himself,” (v3), how can our sins be forgiven when we first believe? Those who profess that water baptism washes away sins cannot have this hope until they have been water baptized, so the same reasoning applies to them. As John said, “every man who has this hope in him purifies himself,” (v3), how can our sins be forgiven when we are baptized in water?
EZEKIEL 18:5-9
5 But if a man is just (righteous), and does that which is lawful and right,
6 And has not eaten on the mountains, nor lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, nor defiled his neighbour’s wife, nor
come near to a menstrous woman,
7 And has not oppressed any, but has restored to the debtor his pledge, has spoiled none by violence,
has given his bread to the hungry, has covered the naked
with a garment:
8 He who has not given out for interest, neither has taken any increase,
who
has withdrawn his hand from iniquity,
has executed true judgement between man
and man,
9 Has walked in my statutes, and has kept my judgements, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live,
says the Lord God.
ROMANS 2:13 (Paul)
13 For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
JAMES 1:22-25
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man seeing his natural face in a
mirror:
24 For he sees himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what manner of man he was.
25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, not
being a forgetful hearer, but
a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed
in his deed.
1 JOHN 3:7
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
Note: Under the law of Moses, as the Jews were, a man had to be a doer of the law to be counted as justified (Deuteronomy 6:25; Ezekiel 18:5-9), but under the new covenant, under grace, we are still “under the law to Christ” (1 Corinthians 9:21), and we still need to be doers of the word of God, and fulfil the law to be justified (Romans 2:13; 8:4). When we first believe, we are not doers, but hearers, so how can we be justified when we first believe? In order to be a doer, we first have to get the word in our heart. Then we need to obey it from the heart, to set us free from sin and make us righteous (Romans 6:17-18), and purify our soul (1 Peter 1:22). Some people who become believers also get baptized on the same day (Acts 10:47; 16:33), so by the same reasoning they cannot be justified when they get baptized in water either. If we hear the word, but don’t do it, and think that we are justified, then we are deceiving ourselves (James 1:22).
PSALMS 24:5-6 (David)
5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of those who seek him, that seek your face, O Jacob. Selah.
ZEPHANIAH 2:3
3 Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, who have done his judgement;
seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be you shall be hid in the day of
the LORD’S anger.
MATTHEW 5:6 (Jesus)
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
MATTHEW 6:33 (Jesus)
33 But you seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;
and all these things shall be added to you.
GALATIANS 2:17 (Paul)
17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
Note: Obviously, if righteousness has to be sought for when we become believers, and Jesus said this to his disciples (Matthew 6:33), then we cannot be righteous in a manifested sense when we first believe in Jesus.
PSALMS 119:7
7 I will praise you with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned
your righteous judgements.
PROVERBS 2:1-9 (Solomon)
1 My son, If you will receive my words, and hide my commandments with
you;
2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;
3 Yes, if you cry after knowledge, and lift up your voice for understanding;
4 If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasures;
5 Then you shall understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom: out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
7 He lays up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to those who walk uprightly.
8 He keeps the paths of judgements, and preserves the way of his saints.
9 Then you shall understand righteousness, and judgement, and equity; yes, every good path.
ISAIAH 26:9
9 With my soul have I desired you in the night; yes, with my spirit within me will I seek
you early: for
when your judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants
of the world will learn righteousness.
ROMANS 1:16-17 (Paul)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God
to salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For in it is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
1 CORINTHIANS 15:34 (Paul)
34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17 (Paul)
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works.
Note: These scriptures show that righteousness has to be learned through the scriptures, and this is obviously a slow process after we become believers in Jesus.
GALATIANS 5:5 (Paul)
5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
Note: How could Paul the apostle be waiting for “the hope of righteousness”, if we are righteous when first believe? If righteousness is a hope, as Paul said here, then it cannot be seen:
(Romans 8:24-25) “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, what does he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then we do with patience wait for it.”
This being so, then it is impossible for righteousness to be manifested when we first believe, or when we get baptized in water.
2 TIMOTHY 4:7-8 (Paul)
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith;
8 From now on there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but to all
those also who love his appearing.
Note: Just as righteousness is something to be received in a manifested sense after the fight of our faith is over, so it is with salvation also:
(1 Peter 1:9) “Receiving at the end of your faith even the salvation of your souls.”
Salvation is “ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:5), so no one can have it manifested yet. Other scriptures confirm this:
(Mark 16:16) “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved;”
(Acts 2:47) “the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
(Acts 15:11) “we believe that through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
we shall be saved, even as them.”
(Romans 13:11) “now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”
(Philippians 2:12) “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
Paul is indicating in verse 8 that he will get his crown of righteousness when Jesus returns, and so it is with other scriptures:
(2 Timothy 4:1) “I charge you therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead
at his appearing and his kingdom;”
(Revelation 11:18) “your wrath is come, and the time of the
dead, that they should be judged, and that you should give reward to your servants the prophets,
and to the saints, and those who fear your name, small and great;”
(Revelation 22:12) “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”
This being so, how can anyone be righteous in a manifested sense when we first become a believer in Jesus?
DANIEL 11:33-35
33 And those who understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by
plunder, many days.
34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help: but many shall cling to them with flatteries.
35 And some of them understanding shall fall, to test them, and to
purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.
Note: It seems clear from this scripture (v35) that those who have understanding will have to “fall” (or die) in order to purge them, and make them white. Purging is symbolic of the removal of sins (Psalm 65:3; 79:9; Proverbs 16:6; Isaiah 6:7; 27:9; Hebrews 10:2; 2 Peter 1:9), and it is done with blood (Hebrews 9:14; 9:22), even as the robes are washed in blood (See #3.36 Note). Just as chastisement was necessary to become righteous (See #3.14), so purging is also necessary to become righteous (Malachi 3:3). To make someone white also is symbolic of the removal of sins (Isaiah 1:18), and this is done by washing in the blood of Jesus (Revelation 1:5), even as robes of righteousness are made white by washing in his blood (Revelation 7:14). The blood is symbolic of the life (Leviticus 17:10-14), and so the blood of Christ is symbolic of the life he lives through us (Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:4). This being so, how can anyone be righteous in a manifested sense when they first believe, or after water baptism?
REVELATION 6:9-11 (John)
9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, do you not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?
11 And white robes were given to every one of them; and it was said to them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow-servants
also and their brethren who should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
Note: These were people who had been slain for the word of God (v9), and white robes were given to them (v11) after they were dead. A white linen robe is symbolic of righteousness, as indicated by other scriptures:
(Isaiah 61:10) “he has covered me with a robe of righteousness,”
(Revelation 19:8) “fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.”
This being so, how can we be righteous when we first believe, or when we are baptized in water? Some have to go through great tribulation to obtain these robes:
(Revelation 7:14) “These are those who came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the lamb.”
(Acts 14:22) “We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”
Many other scriptures also testify of the tribulation that godly people can expect to go through (John 16:33; Romans 5:3; 12:12; 2 Corinthians 1:4; 7:4; Ephesians 3:13; 1 Thessalonians 3:4; 2 Thessalonians 1:4; Revelation 1:9; 2:9-10; 20:4). This therefore confirms that we are not righteous in a manifested sense when we first believe in Jesus, or immediately after water baptism.
MATTHEW 13:20-21 (Jesus)
20 But he who received seed into stony places, the same is he who hears the word, and
immediately receives it with joy;
21 Yet does not have root in himself, but endures for a while: for when tribulation or persecution
arises because of the word, by and by he is offended.
MARK 4:16-17 (Jesus)
16 And these are those likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness.
17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution
arises for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
LUKE 8:13 (Jesus)
13 They on the rock are they, which when they hear, receive the word with joy; and
these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
Note: Those with hearts like stony ground do become believers (Luke 8:13), and receive the word with joy (Matthew 13:20; Mark 4:16), but are only capable of enduring for a while (Matthew 13:21; Mark 4:17; Luke 8:13); and many new Christians will come into this category. The way to ensure that these new believers are not lost, is to get them to recognise their condition, and show them how to improve their heart, before they endure trials that will discourage them. Repentance from sin is a good place to start. The scriptures show that these stony hearted people cannot be righteous:
(Proverbs 12:3) “the root of the righteous shall not be moved.”
(Proverbs 12:12) “the root of the righteous yields fruit.”
This being so, how can we be righteous when we first believe?
MATTHEW 8:28-29
28 And when he came to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with demons, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce,
so that no man might pass by that way.
29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with you, Jesus, you Son of God? are you come here to torment us before the time?
MARK 1:23-24
23 And there was in the synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with you, you Jesus of Nazareth? are you come to destroy us? I know you who you are,
the Holy One of God.
Note: Just knowing, or believing who Jesus is, by itself, is not enough to justify us, because even the devil and the demons know that, and are also prepared to confess it in public. We must also confess it, because “with the mouth confession is made to salvation.” (Romans 10:10), but were the believing rulers of the synagogue cleansed from their sins, when they would not even confess Jesus (John 12:42)? If not, then how can sins be automatically removed from our hearts when we first believe?
MATTHEW 9:5-6 (Jesus)
5 For whether it is easier, to say, Your sins are forgiven you; or to say, Arise, and walk?
6 But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, [then he says to the sick of the palsy,] Arise, take up your bed, and go to your
house.
MARK 2:9-11 (Jesus)
9 Whether it is easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Your sins are forgiven you; or to say, Arise, and take up your bed and walk?
10 But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, [he says to the sick of the palsy,]
11 I say to you, Arise and take up your bed, and go your way into your house.
Note: There are an abundance of scriptures that show that in the vast majority of cases (but not all) sin can be linked to individual sin as it’s cause (Leviticus 26:21; Deuteronomy 28:15-22; 58-61; Psalm 25:18; 31:10; 38:3-5; 39:11; 89:30-33; 107:10-11; 107:17; Proverbs 11:17; 17:11; Jeremiah 30:14-15; Daniel 9:11; Micah 6:12-13). Jesus made the point here with the man who was sick of the palsy, that it did not make any difference whether he forgave his sins, or healed him, the end result would be the same. There are other places also where sin and sickness seem to go hand in hand (Psalm 103:2-3; Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24), but it is obvious to everyone that all sicknesses do not disappear when we first believe, or when we get baptized. Why then should we believe that all sins go from us? The scripture declares that we were healed by the stripes of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:24), but in the same way that we need to bring these healings into manifestation, by faith, after we become believers, so also we need to bring about the manifestation of the forgiveness of our sins, because the forgiveness of our sins does not automatically manifest when we first believe, or when we get baptized in water.
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