Repent and Believe, or Believe and Repent?

I caught an interview with Ray Comfort, from Living Waters Ministries yesterday, and he made a point that I thought made a lot of sense.

The discussion entered into the topic of False-Converts. Ray commented that one of the reasons we may have so many false-converts (people who fall away, who never were of us because they went out from us) in the church, may be because people not saved get into a church community, get confortable, and most times don't even realize they aren't Saved.

Believe and Repent: Someone gets to the point where they believe the Gospel, but aren't nessessarily ready to repent and live in continued sactification...not ready to give up their sins. The problem is that they get comfortable, accepted, and never really get that seed down into the good soil. Hardship comes and they fall away, plus their unrepentant lifestyle affects the church as a whole. Internally, and externally to the community.

Repent and Believe: When someone has taken BOTH steps required to be accepted by Jesus and have righteousness applied to their account, before they come to church, they have been baptized with the Holy Spirit and will have a genuine love for fellowship and the discernment that comes from having the Holy Spirit dwelling within you. There's a much lower chance of them being a false-convert, and perservering in Faith into eternity.

Repentance! Post-modern, emergent movements, and other heretical movements have made a God they are more confortable with. One who is not Just, but a weak, lovey dubby type, who doesn't mind if we continually break His laws. They deny Hell and Divine Justice. They are Idolators!

This why Theology and Apologetics are so important, even at the local church level. True Christianity is under attack...Universalism is rampant...Heresy is rampant.

The Wolves in our churches are more attractive than ever before! Perhaps becasue they know that the Goats may soon outnumber the Sheep! Do Not stand for Heresy! Stand up against false teachings, and Check everything you hear a learn against the Word of God.

Be Blessed!