2nd Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
As read in our text verse, the Holy Bible teaches that if any man be in
Christ, he is a “new creature.” That new creature is Jesus Christ! I hear
false prophets (like Evangelist Paul Washer) teach that a person must change
to be saved; but the change that happens at salvation is not behaviour
modification, it is the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit of God, which
is Christ in us. Romans 8:9, “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the
Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have
not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” The new man is Jesus!
This is why a believer can either “WALK IN THE SPIRIT,” or we can choose to “WALK IN THE FLESH.” Galatians 5:16, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” We have a choice as a born-again believer to either walk in the Holy Spirit Who indwells us, or we can walk in the flesh. Galatians 5:25, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Every believer lives in the Spirit (or is alive in the Holy Spirit), but we should also choose to walk in the Spirit, by yielding in obedience to the Word of God.
The Bible teaches
in Hebrews 1:1-2 that God speaks to us in these last days through His Son,
“and his name is called THE WORD OF GOD” (Revelation 19:13). Dr. John R. Rice
(1895-1980) used to say that Jesus and the Written Word are twins. I like
that. Have you ever wondered why Jesus is the Living Word, but the Bible is
the Written Word? What does that mean? It means that Jesus is the
manifestation of God (1st Timothy 3:16), and so also is the Written Word the
manifestation of God (John 1:1-3,14). Both the Living Word and the Written
Word manifest (or reveal) God to mankind. John 1:1, “In the beginning was
the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Jesus is the
Word. The Word is God. When you met Jesus, you met the “fulness of the Godhead
bodily” (Colossians 2:9 - King James Bible).
Christ Changes a Man, Not the Man Himself
There are many false converts who turn from their sins, modifying their own behavior, and are said therefore to be “saved.” Christ's apostle Judas is one such example. Matthew 27:3 says that Judas “repented,” meaning that he regretted betraying Christ, and he even tried to return the 30 pieces of silver. But Judas didn't believe the Gospel and was never saved. Judas experienced reformation, but not regeneration.
It sharp contrast, notice that Galatians 2:20 teaches that Christ lives through the believer. Judas experienced outward transformation, but not inner transformation by the Holy Spirit of God. Our churches are filled with people who've experienced outward transformation, following some false plan of salvation which requires surrendering to Christ's Lordship, ceasing from sinful bad habits, forsaking the world and confessing Christ publicly. Although these things each have their proper place in the Christian life, NONE of these things are required for salvation. The only thing that you need to do to be saved is to realize that you are a sinner for breaking a holy God's commandments, and BELIEVE the Gospel (i.e., the good news that Christ died on the cross for our sins, was buried and raised-up after three days). That's it!
Don't ever let anyone deceive you with a false plan of salvation, who teach that you must change your life to be saved. This is what Paul Washer, Billy Graham and John MacArthur teach in one variation or another. It is a mistake to require a changed life from someone for salvation. Evangelist Paul Washer's teaches the following false condition of salvation . . .
“Because when God moves, and particularly when God moves to save, there is repentance. Now what is repentance? The word means to change. Let me ask you a question … Have you changed?”
SOURCE: Repent and Believe, Part 4 - Heart Cry Missionary
That is not what the Bible teaches? The new creature is Jesus Christ in you, not a changed LIFE! 2nd Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” The Bible doesn't say that a man has a new behavior. No, it says he is a new creature, and that new man is the Lord Jesus Christ. Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Where do they get this heresy from? Could it be the modern counterfeit Bible versions that PERvert the Holy Scriptures? The Greek word for “repent” in Mark 1:15 in the King James Bible is metanoeo, which means, “to think differently.” It is a change of mind. It DOESN'T mean to “change your hearts and lives,” which is what the corrupt ERV says!!! . . .
KING JAMES BIBLE (KJB) — Mark 1:15, “And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” [emphasis added]
TREE OF LIFE VERSION (TLV) — Mark 1:15, “Now is the fullness of time,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near! Turn away from your sins, and believe in the Good News!” [emphasis added]
AMPLIFIED BIBLE (AMP) — Mark 1:15, “And saying, The [appointed period of] time is fulfilled (completed), and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent (have a change of mind which issues in regret for past sins and in change of conduct for the better) and believe (trust in, rely on, and adhere to) the good news (the Gospel).” [emphasis added]
EASY-TO-READ VERSION (ERV) — Mark 1:15, “He said, 'The right time is now here. God’s kingdom is very near. Change your hearts and lives, and believe the Good News!'” [emphasis added]
That is wrong, wrong, wrong! You don't have to change your own life as a requirement to be saved. Rather, it is the indwelling Holy Spirit that comes to live inside the body of a person at the time of salvation. It is the Holy Spirit Who changes one's heart and life. Paul Washer, Ray Comfort and John MacArthur mandate changing one's life as a prerequisite to saving faith, which is exactly what today's Luciferian false Bible versions teach.
Good night, did you see what the Amplified Bible (AMP) says? The Bible simply defines “repent” in Mark 1:15 as “a change of mind.” The Amplified Bible changed it to this.... “have a change of mind which issues in regret for past sins and in change of conduct for the better.” This effectively turns the gift of God into a reward instead, which must be earned. The Amplified Bible is satanic. You don't have to feel regret for your past sins to be saved. This is an emotion, that can only come once a person has received the Holy Spirit as a new believer. The Bible does not require anyone to feel regret
As you have read firsthand for yourself, the new corrupt Bible versions are changing what it means to be saved.
