The False Gospel without Repentance

Are repentance and obedience part of the gospel?

I saw the following quote from H.A. Ironside, which is posted on a website that obviously holds to the belief in eternal security. Here's what they posted on their home page:

“The Gospel is not a call to repentance, or to amendment of our ways, to make restitution for past sins, or to promise to do better in the future. These things are proper in their place, but they do not constitute the Gospel; for the Gospel is not good advice to be obeyed, it is good news to be believed. Do not make the mistake then of thinking that the Gospel is a call to duty or a call to reformation, a call to better your condition, to behave yourself in a more perfect way than you have been doing in the past …

Nor is the Gospel a demand that you give up the world, that you give up your sins, that you break off bad habits, and try to cultivate good ones. You may do all these things, and yet never believe the Gospel and consequently never be saved at all.”  SOURCE: Pastor Harry A. Ironside, from the sermon: What Is The Gospel? Henry Allen "Harry" Ironside was a Canadian-American Bible teacher, preacher, theologian, pastor, and author, who died in New Zealand in 1951.

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I shared this with my family and here are the responses I got back from them separately without conferring with each other:

“That is error!” – Charity Lacroix, age 18.

“That is incorrect! Many people could be and probably have been led astray by that teaching! I'm sure that the Lord is not happy with that at all!” – Faith Lacroix, age 14.

My wife replied, “Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’" (Mark 1:14-15).

She continued, "I can understand that a person can simply better their life without believing the gospel, but according to Jesus and His gospel, repentance can't be separated from believing the gospel.” – Jennifer Lacroix

My son wrote: “This is downright FALSE!!!! It is totally crazy to say that the gospel is not a call to repentance or that it is not to be obeyed. Jesus himself said, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’ (Matthew 3:2). He didn't say, ‘If you want to you can believe in me,’ or [merely] ‘the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ He told us to repent and it was said as a command not a request. Sure we need to believe, but we also need to obey.” – C.R. Lacroix, age 11.

If you still do not see that in Scripture, as these comments of theirs have so aptly pointed out, then let me share three more, simple Scriptures with you that explicitly teach it:

For Jesus Himself said, "This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." (Luk 24:46-47, NIV)

That is also what the apostles preached. The apostle Paul said, "I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus." (Act 20:21, NIV)

Paul wrote in his epistle to the Thessalonians that the Lord "will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might." (2Th 1:8-9)

When the apostle Peter was asked by his listeners what they must do in response to hearing the gospel, he replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Act 2:38, NIV)

Beware of this false gospel without repentance or obedience. It is very popular these days and very widespread. If you still have any doubts whether repentance and obedience are an essential part of the gospel, then please read the following articles of mine on the subject:

If -- A Picture Paints a Thousand Words
The False Gospel of Eternal Security 
Is Obedience Optional?
The Obedience of Faith
Repentance That Leads to Life 

Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Others taken from the Holy Bible NIV. "Wise and Foolish Builders" painting © 2012 Danny Hahlbohm, all rights reserved by the artist.

Author's note: I also recommend my other articles, The Rise of Antichrists, Called to be Blameless, Keeping a Good Conscience, Living a Life Worthy of the Lord, The Difference Between a Disciple and a Believer, Sins That Will Keep You From Heaven, Ask for the Ancient Paths, and The Law of Christ. I also recommend by daughter's poem, The Dazzling Wine of Deception. You can also find my complete collection of blogs at Writing for the Master.

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

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Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org