Blog Articles
Repent and Believe, Part 14: Keeping the Difference of Purpose Clear
A proper understanding of the moment of salvation and the movement of walking in the Spirit hinges on the distinction of purpose for each. Confusing the two purposes threatens to obscure free salvation in Christ while bringing a works or bondage salvation into...
Repent and Believe, Part 13: The Purpose of Repent and Believe Differs for Salvation and for the Spirit-filled Life
Although the concept of faith and repentance is the same for salvation and the Spirit-filled life, the purpose for each differs. The former relates to what you receive. The latter relates to what you do with what you have received. The earthly goal of a decision of...
Repent and Believe, Part 12: The Concept of Repent and Believe Is the Same for Salvation and the Spirit-filled Life
The Bible does not portray two kinds of repentance and two kinds of faith, the one for salvation and the other for the Spirit-filled life. Faith is faith. Repentance is repentance. The concept of repent and believe is the same though the purpose varies.Galatians 3:2-3...
Repent and Believe, Part 11: The Nature of the Turn
The “turn” in repentance is the turn of trust in Christ alone as the Savior, which is the essence of faith. The nature of one’s initial wrong way of thinking will determine details of the turn of trust.For the religious idolater depending on a false god, repentance...
Repent and Believe, Part 10: The Clarity of Turning to Christ
In the New Testament, which provides the greatest precision on the doctrine of salvation, the emphasis of the wording is not on turning from sin. Rather, emphasis is properly placed on turning to Christ (for salvation from sin). The Christ child was named Jesus...
Repent and Believe, Part 9: Confusing Terminology: “Turn and Trust”
Although well-intentioned, confusing terminologies regarding salvation need to be honed to keep the gospel message crystal clear. To add something to the definition of repent, making repentance more than a turning to Christ (believing in Jesus) for salvation from sin...
Repent and Believe, Part 8: Confusing Terminology: “Turn from Sin”
Some explain repentance in a way that suggests ceasing from sin or a personal reformation. Without further clarification, phrases like “turning from sin,” “turning from sins,” or the expanded version, “turning from sin(s) and turning to Christ,” are used to describe...
Repent and Believe, Part 7: Same Essence, Different Emphasis
In the last article we saw how the essence of faith and repentance consists of two sides to one theological coin. Since the essence of faith and repentance is the same, how does the emphasis differ? The essence of repent and believe is to change one’s thinking which...
Introducing Evangelist Pat Tanner
The evangel is the focus of the evangelist. The evangel is the gospel, the good news for sinners and for saints. It is the love of God in sending His Son to deliver man from the penalty of sin and the transforming power of the indwelling Holy Spirit in the lives of...
Repent and Believe, Part 6: Two Sides to One Theological Coin
Although there is a process whereby the Spirit convicts and leads a soul to salvation, there is only one step for salvation, not two. Faith and repentance are not two steps or two conditions, but rather two emphases to one decision, or we might say two sides to one...
Repent and Believe, Part 5: The Essence of Repentance
The essence of believing, of faith, is to transfer one’s dependence to Christ for salvation from sin and hell. What then is the essence of repentance? The verb repent is primarily from the Greek word metanoeo, which means “to change one’s mind.” Since the Holy Spirit...
Repent and Believe, Part Four: Not Lordship Salvation
Dependence for salvation must be only in Christ. Easy-believism is a misunderstanding, and though this error (believing about but not on Jesus) has brought many to an acknowledgement of Christ and nothing more, it is not the only misunderstanding that obscures...
Repent and Believe, Part Three: Not Easy-Believism
In the last article we noted that the essence of faith is God-dependence. Faith for salvation is depending on Jesus to save you from sin and judgment. This decision involves the entire soul of man: mind (understanding), affections (agreement), and will (transfer of...
Repent and Believe, Part Two: The Essence of Faith
What is faith? Regardless of whether you are checking a Hebrew or Greek lexicon or an English dictionary, the noun faith essentially means “trust, reliance, dependence.” The essence of faith is dependence. The verb believe means “to trust in, to rely on, to depend...
Repent and Believe, Part One: Introduction
“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” Mark 1:14-15Many have been confused and hindered in their relationship with God because of...
Recognizing the Enemy’s Tactics of Distortion and Excessiveness
Jesus said of the devil, “he is a liar” (John 8:44), and one of the devil’s many lies comes in the form of distortion. For example, someone may say or do something abrasive to you. They really should not have said or done it, but in all honesty, it isn’t that big of a...
Partial Baptists
Baptists have distinctives, and in a typical ordination council, a Baptist ministerial candidate is asked to articulate them. Though some people may include additional items, these seven elements are at the heart of Baptist distinctives:The Bible: the only rule of...
“Off” on the Holy Spirit
An evangelist focuses on the evangel—the good news of Jesus to sinners and the good news of the Holy Spirit to saints. The message to sinners puts an emphasis on evangelizing; the message to saints emphasizes revival. God may give an evangelist a ministry with an...
Greatest Commandments, Least Commandments and Traditions
Jesus, during His earthly ministry, delineated God’s commandments, distinguishing between the “great commandment” and the “least commandments.” Since Jesus makes this distinction, it is obviously valid. However, we witness some who attempt to put all of God’s...
Triggers for Corporate Revival
As we enter a new year, my heart yearns to experience more of God. Perhaps your heart does as well. The following article highlights ways in which God works. The author, Harold Vaughn, directs Christ Life Ministries which conducts a variety programs and publishes...
God’s Greatest Gifts
In this Christmas season I would like to draw attention to a passage that some preachers rightly use as a Christmas text: “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law,...
Fifty Years Ago
Fifty years ago, in December of 1968, I was born again. It was Christmas time, and we were visiting my grandmother and aunt in Miami. Visits to them were always special, mostly because they were special, but also because they lived in Florida and we lived in Chicago....
The Christmas Spirit
Pertaining to the entire Christmas season, the following was written by my father, Wayne Van Gelderen Sr. Originally authored for a church-wide newsletter in 1989, the message is still relevant today, 29 years later.People speak of the "magic of Christmas." We know...
Desire, Pursuit, Experience
We all know what it is to desire something, which becomes a goal we then pursue, and finally becomes experience. The prophet said, “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain,...
The Significance of “Thank you!”
When someone gives you a gift, courtesy says, “Thank you!” The thank you means you believe you have received. This is significant in the spiritual realm as well. First Corinthians 15:57 states, “But thanks be unto God which giveth [who gives or is giving] us the...
The Real You
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). In Christ, the old has gone, the new has come. Most importantly, Christ has moved in. But in order to do so, your human spirit had...
Thirteen Characteristics of the Holy Spirit
The Scripture provides a number of phrases that describe the characteristics of the Holy Spirit. He is the Spirit of truth (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13; 1 John 4:6). As such He guides us into all truth and seeks to keep us from error. He is the Spirit of holiness (Rom....
Is Temptation Sin?
At a particular church, I preached a series on the Spirit-filled life and noticed a lady who was listening intently. One night after the service, she spoke with me and mentioned being blessed by the truth. However, she also added that during the day, the actions of...
Milk and Meat
Babies start off with milk. This is the only nourishment they can handle. But they must have that nourishment. Based on this reality, Peter states under inspiration, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Pet. 2:2). The...
Mega Grace: The Access to Grace (Part 3)
"But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble." James 4:6 Grace is Spirit-enabling. Pride hinders us from experiencing grace. How then do we access grace? The text plainly states, “God…giveth grace to the...
