Let’s Get Down To The Un-Basics

Ever heard the saying “You’re going to need to wipe the slate clean” Meaning, you’ll need to set aside everything you think you know. In this case, things about the Bible and what you’ve been taught maybe your whole life.

Sure, there’s some standards that haven’t changed, namely Jesus died and resurrected to set free a world held captive by sin. He is the way, the truth and the life. His is your salvation, your Lord and savior. Only through the blood of Christ do we gain access to the Father. That’s the easy stuff.

BUT – What about the fine print. For example: How do you become a Christian? Are the books of the Bible the only books inspired by God? Who was the Book of Revelation written for? Is the earth really only 6000 years old? Is the United States mentioned in the Bible? Did Jesus really die on “Good” Friday?

Can you answer any of those questions with authority? I’m guessing you at least think you know how to become a Christian. But what if you don’t? What if Satan has deceived the message by a simple mistranslation of a word? What if the modern day church only thinks they are Christians? These are the kind Un-Basics we’re going to explore here and in the blog. Let’s begin with some staples.

How do I find a Pastoring Teacher I can trust?

As explained on the home page, the Bible clearly tells us how we get our faith to begin with:

Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent?” The answer is in verse 17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

We see by these verses, to first believe and develop faith we must hear the word from a preacher who is sent to deliver it. It’s important to know by “sent”, doesn’t mean sent to your doorstep. “Sent” means this person has been chosen of God and given to the world to teach his ways. Finding them is most likely up to you wanting to. Fortunately there is an app, it’s called prayer. Ask the Son and Father to direct you.

Here’s some advice what to lookout for in a preacher/teacher that might be worth listening to.

If they went to a seminary, chances are they don’t know what their talking about. They’ve been programmed with the CSFD.
If they subscribe to any denomination, they’ve been indoctrinated into a cult, and will only look to make you one them.
If they’re leading a “Mega Church” they’re most surely man-pleasers, preaching prosperity and what God can do for you.
If they are polished, celebrity seeking, talking pundits on Main Stream Media, you should first assume they are the Devil’s mouthpiece.
If they deny Hell and the Devil, RUN!
If they don’t at least read and write Hebrew and Greek, they do not understand, nor can they teach the Bible.

By way of recommendation, I only know of one voice teaching God’s word taught straight. His name is Joseph A. Cortes of “Faith Cometh By Hearing” ministries. You can find his website at www.TeachingFaith.com.

I hope and pray there are many others. If you know of any, please use the contact page to send names, details and links so we can take a look and maybe add them here.

Is “repenting” your sins a requirement to become a Christian?

Hold onto your hats folks, we’re about to enter sacred waters. Here’s where we look how Satan has used a simple mistranslated word to sabotage the “born again” experience of untold millions and millions of Christians, and putting a stumbling block in the way of many who may have come to have known Jesus Christ as their personal savior.

Let’s read the first recorded words of Jesus’ ministry: Matthew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” That command seems clear enough doesn’t it? But is it?

What did Jesus mean by “repent” vs what modern day Christian doctrine tells us? Are we not told by the Preacher, or by “witnesses” of Christ we must repent of our sins, meaning to turn away from, apologize for, and ask forgiveness of our sins in order to be saved? Is that what Jesus was commanding us to do? If so, it would seem to fly in the face of Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Everywhere we look in the New Testament salvation is given through God’s grace. It’s a free gift. If “repentance” is required to receive the free gift of grace, it’s a work. It’s something you must do to earn the “free gift”. It would be something you could boast about.

The word Jesus used mistranslated “Repentance”, in the Greek was Metanoia, meaning ‘to change one’s mind’, or to have a change of heart. The change of mind isn’t from our sins. If that was true could we ever stop repenting? We’re still sinners after we are saved, and we’ll sin until our last breath. No, the change of mind is a 180 degree turn from rebellion and disbelief, to faith and trusting in Jesus as our Lord and savior.

Let’s check our work

Why would God want our coming to know his son to start with an act of dredging up all our past sins? Did not Christ die for, and forgive them already? Past, present and future?

In every verse of the Bible where the words repent or repentance are used you will notice there is no one reacting to the call by falling to their knees and regurgitating all their sins at the feet of Jesus or the Apostles. Replace the words in those verses with “change your mind” and see how much more sense it makes.

Jesus called all his Apostles by simply saying “Follow me”, and straight away they left what they were doing and followed him. There is no account of Jesus saying, “Hey wait, before you follow me I need you to repent of your sins and ask forgiveness”. Nor do you read in the Bible where Jesus, or his apostles are demanding it from anyone they witnessed to. Look for yourself.

Additional Info

Pastor Joseph A Cortes has a continuing video series on his website regarding the true meaning of repentance available here. You can watch the first video in the series below.

You can click here to request a free copy of his book “A Change of Mind” Vol 1