Faith Alone Saves: Are We Eternally Saved By Committing To Christ?

Friday, June 12, 2026

Are We Eternally Saved By Committing To Christ?

John 6:47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”

Jesus promises that anyone who believes in Him ~hath~ eternal life. Nothing more is necessary, required or permitted in God's simple plan of salvation.

The repentance (Greek noun–metanoia: “change of mind”) that brings eternal life is changing your mind about the sin of unbelief in Jesus.

Pastor Bob Gray Sr. correctly preaches:

“Repentance means to change your mind—change your mind—change your mind about how you want to get to Heaven to what God says you've got to do to get to Heaven. If you've got to repent of all your sins, you're still headed for Hell tonight.” —Pastor Bob Gray Sr., a quote from the awesome MP3 sermon, 'Why You Should Be A Part Of A Growing Church'

Christian author Michael Patrick Bowen states in his excellent book titled, “I NEVER KNEW YOU,” on page 114...

“Repent, as Christ meant it to be in terms of salvation, means to change your mind from trusting in what you can do for God to trusting only in what He can do for you.” —Michael Patrick Bowen, a quote from the awesome book, “I NEVER KNEW YOU” (p. 114)

Excellent! As you can see, these men fully understand that God's simple plan of salvation ~does not~ require turning away from your sinful behavior to get to Heaven, which would constitute works. The only change of mind concerning sin that you need to have to be saved is to acknowledge that you are a guilty sinner (Romans 3:19-20). That is, you need to know what you are being saved from, which is the penalty of your sins (Romans 6:23). And you must repent (change your mind) to acknowledge that Jesus is the only Savior to trust Him.

Consider the following quote by the faithful man of God, Pastor Harry Ironside (1876-1951):

"Repentance is the recognition of my sinnership — the owning before God that I am as vile as He has declared me to be in His holy Word." —Pastor Harry Ironside, 'Except Ye Repent,' chapter 3

Evangelist Alexander Marshall (1846-1928) correctly writes:

“When God calls on you to 'repent, and believe the Gospel,' He wishes you to lay aside your wrong thoughts, and believe the glad tidings that He proclaims to you. Formerly you may have imagined that you were required to feel very sorry before being saved. Change your mind. You may have supposed you must first 'feel' some great change in order to know you were saved. Change your mind. First believe in God's great love to you, as revealed in His gospel, and you will KNOW that you have eternal life (John 5:24).” [emphasis added] —Evangelist Alexander Marshall; “God's Way Of Salvation,” chapter 25: “I Have Not Repented Enough”

Yes, that is excellent doctrine! Alexander Marshall is 100% correct! Yet, some unlearned heretical person changed his tract, completely removing the preceding section on repentance from the work. Brother Marshall plainly says that sinners are saved by BELIEVING THE GOSPEL, that is, he says, “to lay aside your wrong thoughts [Repentance], and believe the glad tidings [Gospel] that He proclaims to you.”

“Repenting of sins” in order to be eternally saved is ~NOWHERE~ commanded in Scripture. You must repent (change your mind) from unbelief to trust Christ instead; not change your behavior as a requirement to be saved. The phrase "repent of your sin" is not found in the inspired King James Bible.

Repenting of your sins is not part of what saves anyone. That is salvation by human good works. Also, “committing your life to Christ,” (from false prophet Billy Graham) a.k.a. dedicating your life to discipleship, has NOTHING WHATSOEVER do with being saved. Salvation comes ONLY from believing the GOOD NEWS of Christ crucified, buried and risen the third day. 1st Thessalonians 4:14, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”

Sanctification (growing in grace, love, holiness and fellowship) is the “fruit” produced by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Our salvation is eternally and irrevocably secure. That is, our POSITION is forever settled at the time of salvation. It is Christ, and not we ourselves, who lives the Christian life THROUGH US (Galatians 2:20), but only if we will yield to His written Word day by day in obedience (2nd Corinthians 10:5-6). This is walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25).

No comments:

Memorable Quotes

“We don't grow in strength as believers, we grow in grace.”

“Salvation is not a reward for the righteous; it is a gift for the guilty!”

“The trouble with many men is that they have got just enough religion to make them miserable.” —Pastor Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899)

“Like the thief on the cross who never had an opportunity to 'turn from his sin,' we, like him, can only 'acknowledge our sinfulness' in order to be saved (Lk 23:40-41). ...True repentance has nothing to do with 'turning from sin' and everything to do with 'acknowledging one's sinfulness' (Jonah 3:5). Like the thief on the cross who simply acknowledged his sinfulness (Lk 23:39-43), the only part a person has in salvation is the beggar's part.” —Pastor Brad Strand, "The Strand Study Bible"; 2nd Corinthians 7:8-9, p. 1939

“The wickedness of a life has not one thing in this world to do with where you go when you die; not one thing.” —Pastor Jack Hyles, "Religion Or Christ?"

“Religion and Christ are in opposition to each other.” —Pastor Jack Hyles, "Religion Or Christ?"

“The fella who knows what repentance is knows it's included in believing.” —Pastor Curtis Hutson (1934-1995)

“There is power in this Gospel message. Most people just don't know how to present it... The clarity of the Gospel is what makes it easy for them to believe.” —Pastor Yankee Arnold, “WHY GRACE CAN SAVE THE WORST MAN!” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, "Why Grace Can Save The Worst Man"

"There is a vast difference between coming to Jesus for salvation and coming after Jesus for service. Coming to Christ makes one a believer, while coming after Christ makes one a disciple. All believers are not disciples. To become a believer one accepts the invitation of the Gospel, to be a disciple one obeys the challenge to a life of dedicated service and separation. Salvation comes through the sacrifice of Christ; discipleship comes only by sacrifice of self and surrender to His call for devoted service. Salvation is free, but discipleship involves paying the price of a separated walk. Salvation can't be lost because it depends upon God's faithfulness, but discipleship can be lost because it depends upon our faithfulness." —Pastor M.R. DeHaan, “Hebrews”; Zondervan Publishing House; 1959 (p. 117)

“The law tells me how crooked I am. Grace comes along and straightens me out.” —Evangelist Billy Sunday (1862-1935)

“Works cannot be the evidence of salvation. If works are required as evidence, then they will prove that you are not saved. Your good works cannot prove you're saved; they can only prove that you're not, if you go by works. Why? Because you have to be perfect. So your works can only prove you're not saved. You have to live a perfect life. 'Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.' You have to fulfill everything that is commanded, that you have to do them. You know that good works did not save you!” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, "Once Saved Always Saved: The Final Word"

“The ‘whosoever wills’ are the elect and the ‘whosoever won’ts,’ the non-elect.” —Pastor Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899)

“Salvation is one thing and service is another, and never the two goes together. No man is saved because he serves, and no man has to serve because he is saved. Gotta keep them separate. And if you don't do it, the Scriptures will be confusing to you. You'll not rightly divide what God has to say.” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, "Why Lordship Salvation Is Wrong"

“It is 'Good News' if no one must have good works before salvation, or after salvation. For salvation to truly be by grace, it must not have any stipulations of any kind at any time. Works before, during or after; works cannot be evidence of my salvation.” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, "Does Calvinism Change The Gospel?"

"The LAW and the GOSPEL are two keys—the law is the key that shuteth up all men under condemnation, and the Gospel is the key which opens the door and lets them out. Remember this, if you're depending upon your own good works to get you to Heaven, you're lost! Your salvation had to be purchased with something that was incorruptible, with the precious blood of Jesus Christ!” —Pastor Ralph 'Yankee' Arnold, Bibleline Radio Show, "The Precious Blood Of Christ"

“Dear sinner, do not make this a difficult matter. There is one simple step between you and Jesus. When you trust Him, everything else is settled, and you have repented, you have come to Christ, you have received Him, you have done everything necessary to be saved.” —Dr. John R. Rice, “What Must I Do To Be Saved?”

“We suppose there are many faulty ideas about repentance, but we will deal here with the more popular ones. Perhaps the most popular false idea is that repentance is turning from sin. We have heard some well-known preachers say, If you want to be saved, repent of your sins, turn from your sins.' If turning from your sins means to stop sinning, then people can only be saved if they stop sinning. And it is unlikely that anyone has ever been saved, since we don't know anyone who has ever stopped sinning.” —Dr. Curtis Hutson (1934-1995), booklet titled: “Repentance,” p. 4; © 1986, Sword of the Lord Foundation

“Several years ago I read a book by a professor at a fundamental university. Under the chapter on salvation, he said, 'Quit your sinning, and God will give you a new heart.' He presented repentance as turning from sin. I wrote this dear brother and expressed my concern, knowing that such teaching frustrates the unbeliever and makes him think that salvation is unattainable since he cannot live a sinless life.” —Dr. Curtis Hutson (1934-1995), booklet titled: “Repentance,” p. 5; © 1986, Sword of the Lord Foundation

“You don't get better to get saved; you get saved to get better. You can't get better until you do get saved.” —Dr. Curtis Hutson (1934-1995), booklet titled: “Repentance,” p. 5; ©1986, Sword of the Lord Foundation

“You can never tell a true Christian by the way they live, because many imposters and many hypocrites and many false teachers are living in counterfeit of the Christian life. You cannot tell by the way they live.” —Pastor Max D. Younce, "James 5"

“What right does any preacher have to make it HARD for people to go to Heaven, when the Lord did all the work and made it easy for us, and all we had to do was accept what He did for us? It's the gift of God; it's not of works, lest any man should boast. But get what he said: 'When ye had seen it, repented not afterward,' and you ought to underline this in your Bible then, 'that ye might believe him.' You see, you change your mind and put your faith in what Christ did for you.” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, "Repentance In The New Testament"

“Now, a great many say, 'I am too great a sinner to be saved.' That is like a hungry man saying he is too hungry to eat, or a sick man saying he is too sick to send for a doctor, or a beggar saying, 'I am too poor to beg; I'll wait till I get some money first.'” —Pastor Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899)

“The change in your heart, sinner, is God's part and you may be sure He will attend to that. Your part is to simply believe in Him. Whatever else is necessary in your eternal salvation, the Lord attends to when you trust in Him, or believe in Him.” —Dr. John R. Rice (1895-1980), “What Must I Do To Be Saved”

“When you get saved, you get saved not because you deserve it, but because you simply let God save you and because you confess your own poor sinful state and your inability to save yourself.” —Dr. John R. Rice (1895-1980), “Dr. Rice... Here is My Question,” p. 304; 1962, Sword of the Lord Publishers; ISBN: 0-87398-158-8

This is one of my very favorite books. Michael P. Bowen grew up in private religious schools, seeing much spiritual abuse in his youth. Consequently, he became an atheist as a young man, but then gradually out of a hungry soul to find meaning in his empty life took an interest in Christianity. Unfortunately, Michael was being misled by dozens of famous big name preachers (e.g., Billy Graham, Charles Stanley, Joel Osteen, Rick Warren, Ray Comfort, John Hagee, Beth Moore and others. Michael had churchianity without Christianity! Finally, he was blessed by God to hear a humble man of God named Hank Lindstrom (1940-2008), who preached a simple Gospel sermon called: "How Permanent Is Your Salvation," which opened Michael's eyes to the true Gospel and he got saved. Led by the encouragement of his godly mother, Michael wrote a wonderful helpful book titled: "I NEVER KNEW YOU," in defense of the only true free grace Gospel. I love this book and so will you dear friend. If you know someone struggling with the assurance of God's gift of eternal life, please share this book with them.

Faith Alone Saves

Friday, June 12, 2026

Are We Eternally Saved By Committing To Christ?

No comments:

Post a Comment

The Gospel In Just One Minute!

Search This Blog

My Blog List

Popular Posts