PrestorJohn<br><br>I thought I would give you an idea of what I was talking about in my last post, by giving you a quote from a Lutheran.<br><br>"Please keep in mind that the subject that I believe we are dealing with is the subject of Justification, i.e. our right standing "before God". We have used the general term "salvation". <br><br>My understanding of the subject is that our standing justified "before God", i.e. our salvation, is due to Christ's work, completed by Him, alone. Therefore nothing coming from man's response, including repentance, "justifies" himself before God. If anything is required of men to be "justified before God", then it is not Christ "alone", that is our salvation, but Christ plus whatever God requires of man. I believe the tendency of some is to think that "Sure, Christ died for me, but that will not avail me any good at all unless I repent of my sins", thus making "justification" contingent upon one's repentance. I think the tendency is to combine my acceptance with "Christ's work" as the basis of a "right standing" before God. This combining of two things,i.e. Christ's death and my repentence nullifies the "perfect truth" of the gospel, as I understand it and believe it. <br><br>I know that this might have already been said, but I hope this will clarify the subject, as much as is possible by my limited ability to communicate. I in no way want to leave the impression that repentance is unnecessary, but only that our "justification in God's sight" is not contingent upon our repenting. To me this is the issue of the true gospel of Christ. That is why, I believe, that Paul says that he determined to know nothing among those to whom he preached except Christ and Him crucified. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. This is the gospel. Our Justification/salvation is due to His death alone because, simply put, that is the only worth that appeases God's wrath toward the world. It is Christ's death that is the cause of God's "not counting men's sins against them in Christ". <br><br>It is the forgiveness that Christ purchased on the cross and that by which we are now "justified before God". It is that same forgiveness that is proclaimed in the gospel.<br><br>There is nothing required of men to come, but they come because they simply believe the truth of the gospel i.e. that they are accepted by God on "Christ's behalf". <br><br>All things are ready, come to the feast. Jesus Paid it all. Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling. Just as I am without one plea. <br><br>And, "not by works lest any man should boast". "God credits righteousness apart from works"; "a righteousness of God apart from law"<br><br>The truth of the gospel does not teach men to continue in sin but rather calls them "to the obedience that comes through faith" (Rom. 1:5). Thus repentance issues from the faith given in the gospel i.e. from a grateful heart and leading of the Spirit of God who now is at work in us (Phil 2:13)."<br><br><br>