Dr. Brown Answers Your Questions

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Was God ever “divorced”? Did Judaism influence ancient Greek mythology? What’s so different about repentance for Christians, as opposed to Muslims or Jews? It’s that time again! Dr. Brown answers your questions!

Hour 1:

Dr. Brown’s Bottom Line: Don’t be moved by the latest argument or fad; God’s Word is still the best selling book in the world for a reason. It is still truth, it is still setting people free, and if we will take His Word seriously, we will be transformed!

Hour 2:

Dr. Brown’s Bottom Line: Jesus our Lord is utterly trustworthy. We do have an adversary who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy, but in Jesus we will be kept safe. Keep your eyes on Him, follow Him, and rejoice.

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Other Resources:

How Saved Are We? by Dr. Brown: This unsettling book challenges us to ask ourselves what kind of born-again experience we have had if it calls for almost no personal sacrifice, produces virtually no separation from the world, and breeds practically no hatred of sin.

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Go and Sin no More [mp3 CD]: Titled after Dr. Brown’s book release, this eight part series highlights key biblical truths regarding sin and holiness. This series is a must for believers desiring to walk in holiness before the Lord.

Clear the Way for Prayer! VOR Article by Bryan Purtle

“Pray without ceasing….” -1 Thess. 5.17 The apostles of Scripture, basing their lives on the pattern left by Jesus, gave themselves unreservedly to a life of prayer, and they called the saints to enter into the same reality by the grace of God. They knew that it was only by entering into the place of […]

67 Comments
  1. I feel sorry for Dan1el – this is exactly what Lordship Salvation does! Dan1el is all concerend about doing his thing FOR God. If only Dan1el would rest on the finished Work of Christ and “be still and know that {HE} is God” Dan1el will be fine.

    God is the one who gives us good works to do – we don’t do it on our own to PROVE that we are saved. It is not our Christian activity that proves that we are HIS, it is the CONFIDENCE IN THE PROMISES OF GOD. Lordship wants to keep making a person looking inside and looking inside and making that person go crazy looking for assurance of Salvation!

    Dan1el – trust in God for your ETERNAL LIFE. There is nothing you can do – JESUS PAID IT ALL. HE says – “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” When you come to HIM thus, HE gives you rest – and peace and Eternal life. The verse then goes on to say “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” This is the work you do under the Dicipleship of the Lord Jesus Christ – but His Yoke is easy and His burden is light!

    Find peace in God – the Lord Jesus Christ gave His life for you.

  2. James,

    I really did not intend to post again, since your refusal to answer my simple question spoke volumes to me and made it clear that there was nowhere to go with this discussion right now. (I’m not writing you off; I’m simply checking out due to lack of time and lack of ability to get you to acknowledge some things.)So, I’ll try to make this my last reply.

    1) With regard to BAGD, please be kind enough to cite the full lexical entry there from the dictionary itself, along with its explanation of how metanoeo and metanoia are used in the verses I cited.

    2) I cited 2 Cor 7:10 NOT with reference to salvation but to illustrate that “repentance” in the NT meant more than just a change of mind.

    3) With regard to shuv, yes, it is interesting that the LXX doesn’t render this with metonoeo, but we know from early Jewish literature that John the Immerser and Jesus and the apostles, when preaching in Aramaic or Hebrew, would have used tuv or shuv, respectively, when preaching repentance.

    4) Yes, the same Paul wrote Rom 4:5 and spoke Acts 26:20. I haven’t the slightest problem putting the two together: Salvation is salvation from sin. (Read Matt 1:21 repeatedly until it sinks in!) When we are justified, we are cleansed and forgiven (see, e.g, 1 Cor 6:11), and we begin a new life in Jesus, the fruit of which is seen in a changed life, a life of repentance.

    And now, for a word of wisdom about debating and interacting. Before you can have fruitful interaction, you must adequately understand what the other person is actually saying. To this moment, it appears you are attacking a straw man re: lordship salvation. Once you understand what I actually believe, you might see how all these verses go hand in hand. Thus, you write: “But if you say you must first repent, which in your parlance, must be evidenced by good works and straight and holy living before he can be a Believer is totally not in Scripture, I am sorry.” James, such a thought never entered my mind, nor have I ever preached it in all my life, nor have I ever heard a “lordship salvation” preacher say these words. Again, you’re swinging at shadows rather than dealing with the actual issues at hand.

    I don’t read most of the posts that go up here, due to time constraints, along with the fact that this blog is here mainly for the others to interact, not me, so if you finally do answer my question, you can email our website as well to let me know. In fact, here’s another version of the question for you: You share the gospel with a satanist, and he says, “Yes, I want to trust Jesus to forgive me and save me, but can I still be a satanist?” — what do you tell him? The truth will set you free!

  3. James,
    There are SO many verses that talk about the part of the MAN in salvation — written in James (faith without works is dead), written in 1 John (the child of God KEEPS HIMSELF), and Revelation (HOLD FAST your crown, lest another man take it)… so, sitting around and saying that God saved me is salvation?

    This is so perplexing. My heart is darknened.

  4. The only time I remember having a perfect walk with the Lord is when there was perfect obedience–I would have to lean towards “lordship salvation”.

  5. Dr. Brown –
    The SATANIST has a wrong idea about God – so he has to repent (change his mind) about the true God!

    In my several posts above, I have tried to explain that my quarrel is not with you. You apparently hold onto some elements of Lordship – my quarrel is the entire umbrella of Lordship, not you. And I will readily grant you that I am not a debater not a Scholar like you. Everybody can’t be like you Dr. Brown, or we will all be writing books like you.

    If you do not hold to what I have so much trouble with, then I have nothing against you, except brotherly love. However, I oppose Lordship Salvation preaching since I feel it is a horrible contraption that prohibits simple people from getting into a loving relationship with the Savior! I will try to dig out quotes that show Lordship proponents who state it very clearly that they want to make it VERY HARD for people to enter in! What Wickedness – when the Savior wants people to come to him freely!

    NO ONE IS EXCUSING SIN – this is where you are having great trouble with understanding me. I am frustrated that you have not tried even after several lengthy posts not to understand what motivates my discussion! Free Grace position is not a License to Sin. I tried to explain the Judgement Seat of Christ, but I suspect you did not even read it.

    This is what I am up against – “Salvation isn’t the result of an intellectual exercise. It comes from a life lived in obedience and service to Christ as revealed in the Scripture; it’s the fruit of actions, not intentions. There’s no room for passive spectators: words without actions are empty and futile…The life we live, not the words we speak, determines our eternal destiny” (John MacArthur, Hard to Believe, p. 93).

    Free Grace position is all about WHAT THE SAVIOR HAS DONE! Lordship on the other hand is what WE DO! Good intentions contrary to Scripture are not Good.

    Let me be up straight with you Dr. Brown – when you ask questions about THE SERIAL KILLER, THE SERIAL RAPIST OR ADULTERER, THE SERIAL IDOL WORSHIPER, and now THE SATANIST – IS YOUR POSITION SO INDEFENSIBLE that you have to resort to RATHER EXTREME cases to prove your point??

    I think I have made my point all that I can, I do have constraints for time as well. If you are a honest truth seeker Dr. Brown, please re-examine the two books I suggested before, rather than throwing them out because they do not agree with your THEOLOGY.

    Salvation is simply by faith in Christ – even a child can come trust in Christ’s finished Work and find assurance of Salvation and Eternal Life. John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” It REALLY is that simple. Why make it hard on people?

    If I have said anything that appears harsh or arrogant, I beg you in the Lord to forgive me. I commend you to the Grace of the Lord and may He Bless you.

  6. Daniel,
    Rejoice that Jesus died for you. Focus on that. Praise and worship the Lord that He made a way for us to escape going to Hell.

    When you walk in that mind set then you will have peace and joy residing in you. No need to fear.

    If you sin, confess your sins and the Lord will forgive you immediately.

    There are some folks who take advantage of the Lord’s mercy and grace. Makes me wonder where their heart truly is. No remorse in their sinning.

    The way I look at it is this. Because of what Jesus did for us, how can you not be joyful and have a thankful heart. Having that mindset you want to live your life to serve the Lord. Anything for you Lord, anything. Direct me and tell me Lord.

    Another analogy here. 🙂
    Look at Jesus as a basketball coach. You want to be on His team? Then you need to play for Him.
    Our flesh wants to play on Satan’s team. That is why we need to train ourselves. Training consist of repentance.

    Being on Jesus’s team means to be Jesus’s hand and feet or mouth piece. The Coach will guide and lead you and give you clear direction. Just ask Him too. He is your coach remember. Jesus is on your side. He is not your enemy. If the Lord doesn’t have an assignment for you now, don’t fret, He knows what players He needs to use when and where and how.

    The plays you make(works you do here on Earth) doesn’t give you access into Heaven. The works you do here on Earth gives you rewards up in Heaven.

    Be excited about Jesus, do not walk in fear.

    To fear the Lord is the beginning of all Wisdom. Fear in this verse means to Respect and Honor the Creator, the Almighty.

    If those who do not want to follow and obey the Lord, then that is their choice, their decision. Overall, they will regret it one day. (Scary thought)

    Hoping Daniel you will grab something good out of what I posted.

  7. “…it is the CONFIDENCE IN THE PROMISES OF GOD. Lordship wants to keep making a person looking inside and looking inside and making that person go crazy looking for assurance of Salvation!” – James

    If you have confidence in God then having to repent prior to getting rewarded doesn’t drive you crazy. You seem to be more interested in being assured of your heavenly position than you are in being a servant to God, which is a huge problem.

    “However, I oppose Lordship Salvation preaching since I feel it is a horrible contraption that prohibits simple people from getting into a loving relationship with the Savior!” – James

    You make it sound like repentance is an obstacle to God. How can you approach God without even denouncing evil? I don’t believe that’s possible.

    “Free Grace position is all about WHAT THE SAVIOR HAS DONE! Lordship on the other hand is what WE DO!” – James

    Free Grace is all about ME ME ME and Self Assurance – it forsakes the fact that God is HOLY.
    Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free? It seems like your belief results in you getting a great deal and God getting short-changed. I wouldn’t think God would get into a deal like that personally.

    Free Grace takes the incentive out of repentance. It appears to destroy the effectiveness of Christianity to change the world we live in for the better. It’s too good (for you, not God) to be true.

    There is no way that God would deal with people who are proud of sin – which is why Free Grace is ABSURD.

  8. James, for the benefit of all those who view this thread, I noticed that you didn’t put up the full citation on metanoeo and metanoia from the authoritative Bauer, Arndt, Gingrich, Danker lexicon (BAGD), simply claiming that it backed your view that the words meant only a change of mind. In fact, there’s a short entry under that heading (with no NT references, in fact), and then almost one full page documenting how the words mean repent, turn around, often in the context of conversion. So, every major NY lexicon recognizes the usage and meaning of the words, for good reason.

  9. This is from Thayer’s. I do not have BAGD – I was quoting to you from Bing.

    Right there at the VERY TOP it says TO CHANGE ONE’S MIND.

  10. James, while I await your response to post #63 (which I don’t mean in a challenging but a helpful way), here’s what Thayer said in full (I’m quoting the relevant part of his entry; the rest confirms what I’ve cite; I removed the Greek citations because they didn’t transfer properly):

    “a change of mind: as it appears in one who repents of a purpose he has formed or of something he has done, Heb. 12:17 . . . especially the change of mind of those who have begun to abhor their errors and misdeeds, and have determined to enter upon a better course of life, so that it embraces both a recognition of sin and sorrow for it and hearty amendment, the tokens and effects of which are good deeds”

  11. Guess what I just realized???? Guess what I am convinced of now? The Lord showed me this clearly.

    WE do need to repent before we come to Jesus as Lord and Savior. Why you may ask?

    Because a sign of repentance shows us we are acknowledging the fact that we are sinners. That we need a Savior to forgive us of our sins. Why do we need Jesus? Because in

    Romans 6:23
    For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

    Even the thief on the cross acknowledged he was a sinner.

    Luke 23:40-43
    40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

    43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

    The thief on the cross said…We deserve to die for our crimes. He is acknowledging the fact that he is a sinner and needs forgiveness and a Savior.

    I always knew we need to repent of our sins. But I didn’t realize there is an order to do things.

    Just to note. Just because one acknowledges they are a sinner doesn’t mean that person is saved. They “also” need to be baptized in Jesus name and be filled with the Holy Spirit to be saved.

  12. This may not be much, but John in the book of Revelation speaks on repentance, and not from Israel. Both in Rev 16:11 and 9:21. John didn’t state the unbelievers didn’t believe and then repent. He just mentions they didn’t repent of their evil. John was not against repentance.

    9:20The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; 21and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts.

    6:10Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain, 11and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds.

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