Romans 4:5-6, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.”
As the foundation for my article, our text verse above plainly teaches that
the salvation of a man is solely based upon the IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS of God,
and not upon a man's personal efforts or departure from sinful behavior.
Eternal life is a gift (Ephesians 2:8-10). As you see for yourself in Romans
4:5, a man's FAITH IS COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS; therefore, a man doesn't need
any self-righteousness to be born-again. 1st Corinthians 15:1-4 defines the
“Gospel” as Jesus' DEATH on the cross for our sins, His BURIAL,
and bodily RESURRECTION three days later. Anyone who acknowledges their
sinnership and BELIEVES the Gospel is saved instantly, irrevocably and
eternally. This is
“the simplicity that is in Christ” (2nd Corinthians 11:3).
Before I begin rebutting David W. Cloud's article titled, “Biblical Repentance,” please notice that Mr. Cloud doesn't mention the words “impute” or “imputation” even once. I searched his website and couldn't find any explanation of what he believes about the doctrine of imputation. The same is true of heretic Ray Comfort, who teaches something similar to David Cloud's heresy on repentance from sinful activity to be saved. I don't think it is mere coincidence that these sincere men who corrupt “the simplicity that is in Christ” (2nd Corinthians 11:3), and turn the “free gift” (Romans 5:15) of God into a reward, avoid and fail to stress the Biblical doctrine of IMPUTATION.
May I say, I admire Evangelist David Cloud for his zeal. I was supportive of his ministry many years ago, before I found out that he is a sworn enemy of Dr. Jack Hyles and teaches Lordship Salvation. Boy, did I wake up! Albeit, I like Mr. Cloud because he has guts and stands for what he believes! We are living in a weak-kneed generation of spineless, ear-tickling, back-scratching, lukewarm, preachers! David Cloud is anything but, courageously fighting for what he believes to be Biblical. Unfortunately, Mr. Cloud is wrong on repentance and salvation, which undermines his entire ministry. Tens-of-thousands of pastors, evangelists and Christian workers worldwide, particularly Baptists, are influenced and impacted greatly by David Cloud's writings, which makes him dangerous on a spiritual level. I do not question Cloud's sincerity, there's no doubt in my mind about that. But as author Mark Twain said, “It is easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.” Satan has fooled David Cloud.
Kindly, here is some heresy that David Cloud teaches on his website . . .
TO PREACH REPENTANCE MEANS TO DEAL PLAINLY WITH SIN
The sinner who would be saved must repent, which repentance will always result in a changed life. This means that we cannot have the attitude that we will only deal with specific sin after the person receives Christ. That is the philosophy of many. If the sinner brings up his love for liquor, or his love for immoral relationships, or his love for gambling, some think it best to delay dealing with such things until after that one has come to Christ. And sometimes this is the best policy, but only if the sinner is clearly under the conviction of the Holy Spirit about his sin and is clearly ready to turn to Christ. On the other hand, if the sinner obviously still wants to hold onto his sin, the personal worker must deal with the fact that he must turn from it. [emphasis added]SOURCE: Biblical Repentance, by David W. Cloud, Way Of Life Literature, Inc.; June 13, 1999.
As you can plainly see for yourself, David Cloud teaches “ANOTHER GOSPEL” (2nd Corinthians 11:3-4) from what the Bible teaches (1st Corinthians 15:1-4). According to what you've just read, if a man to whom you're witnessing mentions that he is not ready to cease from his particular sins, he cannot be saved. This is a false plan of salvation. Repentance in the Bible concerning salvation does not mean a willingness to stop committing them; but rather, the realization that one is a sinner in the eyes of a holy God, which compels a man to turn to Christ by faith to be saved.
If eternal life is truly a free gift as the Bible states in Romans 5:15, then there can be no obligations as such. Forsaking sinful bad habits is a high price to pay for many folks. Literally, David Cloud is teaching that salvation is an exchange of sorts, where God will only save those who are willing to clean up their act from sin. This is so wicked and unbiblical. It is tragic that Baptists across the United State support David Cloud in his apostasy!!!
David Cloud wrongly and inaccurately attacks Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001), accusing him of teaching a repentance that leaves off sin altogether. David Cloud states . . .
REPENTANCE IS NOT MERELY CHANGING FROM UNBELIEF TO BELIEF
The late Pastor Jack Hyles, First Baptist Church, Hammond, Indiana, who was an influential independent Baptist preacher, defines repentance to mean turning from unbelief to belief. He stated this in his 1993 book, The Enemies of Soul Winning. One chapter is titled “Misunderstood Repentance: An Enemy of Soul Winning.” He builds his doctrine of repentance largely on human reasoning: since unbelief is the only sin that sends men to Hell (so he claimed), unbelief is the only sin that must be repented of. That sounds reasonable, but it is contrary to the clear example and teaching of the Word of God. Biblical repentance as preached by John the Baptist, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Apostles, involved a change of mind TOWARD GOD AND SIN.SOURCE: Biblical Repentance, by David W. Cloud, Way Of Life Literature, Inc.; June 13, 1999
Here is proof that David Cloud doesn't know what he's talking about, and has grossly misrepresented Pastor Jack Hyles (who 100% correctly and Biblically states concerning repentance) . . .
“Repentance is not some little silly, 'I'm sorry.' Repentance is not simply a fear of God. Repentance is not a monk fasting and afflicting his body in a monastery. Repentance is not remorse because of sin's consequences. Repentance is not penance performed before the pope as you kiss his toe... Repentance is not being sorry for what I've done wrong. It is not confessing one's sins to a priest. It is not just conviction of sin. It is not the signing of a pledge of abstinence. Repentance is that thing when you come before God and see yourself as you are, and see Him as he is, and say with Isaiah 'Woe is me, for I am unclean!'”
SOURCE: Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001), a quote from the timeless MP3 sermon, THE GOODNESS OF GOD LEADETH TO REPENTANCE!
Clearly, Dr. Hyles recognized repentance unto salvation as the recognition of one's self as a guilty sinner in the eyes of a holy God. Romans 3:19, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” Notice in Romans 3:19 that the intent of God's Law is to show man his GUILTY CONDITION because of sin, and not the requirement to cease from those sins as a prerequisite to be saved.
Ironically, in a different article on David Cloud's website, he clearly seems to understand that salvation is without works, yet he fails himself to distinguish justification from sanctification (which he hypocritically accuses Roman Catholics of doing). . .
ROME DENIES SALVATION BY GRACE ALONE IN ITS DEFINITION OF JUSTIFICATION
Rome's gospel is a confused combination of faith plus works, grace plus sacraments, Christ plus the church. It redefines grace to include works. It confuses justification with sanctification. It confuses imputation with impartation.SOURCE: Biblical Repentance, by David W. Cloud, Way Of Life Literature, Inc.; June 13, 1999.
David Cloud's gospel is a confused combination of faith plus works, grace plus forsaking sinful behavior!!! Although Mr. Cloud mentions the word “imputation” in the preceding quote, I couldn't find anywhere on his website that explains what he actually believes about imputation, unless you buy his book on doctrines. Mr. Cloud is guilty of the same thing he accuses Catholics of doing, that is, corrupting the Gospel by adding works to grace!!!
Hypothetically speaking, what if I handed you a birthday gift, but required you to wash my vehicle and stop drinking beer for 3-months to receive it? Would it really be a gift? Would you consider it a gift? Of course you wouldn't! So why is salvation any different? My friend, it is not any different. God calls eternal life a gift. Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” A gift cannot be merited or earned. A “gift” is a gift, and there can be no stipulations or obligations, other than to simply take it. In Cloud's article on Biblical Repentance, the word “gift” is mentioned 14 times, but only in quotes (most of which he is using to bolster his heresy); Cloud himself doesn't mention the word even once. The terms “imputation” and “gift” seem to be offensive (inconvenient at least) to the proponents of Lordship Salvation.
Like the heretics who teach a Young Earth philosophy, and falsely accuse Old Earth advocates of believing in Evolution (which most of them don't, as I don't); false teachers like Jack Chick and David Cloud accuse proponents of “easy-believism” of disregarding repentance altogether, which is untrue. I don't know any Christians who believe in “the simplicity that is in Christ” who deny that repentance is necessary for salvation. Mr. Cloud accuses Dr. Hyles of leaving off the necessity of repentance for salvation, which is simply a false allegation. Dr. Hyles 100% DID believe that repentance is necessary to be saved. Where many people disagree, is upon the definition of repentance. Whereas the Bible teaches that repentance for salvation is simply “a change of mind,” Lordship Salvation advocates errantly teach that it means “a change of life” or “a change of mind that produces a change of life.”
The truth is that IF a person didn't repent, they would never come to Jesus at all. A person comes to Christ for salvation because THEY HAVE REPENTED. It is heresy to recognize repentance as meaning anything more than the admission of one's sinnership in God's holy eyes. I see church websites, which errantly present the plan of salvation as: “1) Admit to God that you are a sinner; and then 2) Repent of your sins; have a genuine change of heart toward sin and your God.” This is a false plan of salvation!!! It is theological heresy to add the requirement to have a change of heart toward sins to be saved. It may sound good to a religious person that repentance means a change of life, but that is NOT what the Bible teaches.
