THE POWER OF REPENTANCE RESIDES WITHIN THE CAPACITY TO EXERCISE FREEWILL. Not Everybody Acknowledges Freewill Is A Faculty That Resides Within The Human Psyche, Because Some People Have Weird Ideas Of Having Been Born Without The Ability To Make Choices. Atheists compose of those who believe that everything people do is predetermined by some chemical transaction in the brain or some universal non-descript energy. Among Calvinists, Jews, Muslims and Hindus, there is the belief that their existence was predetermined before they were born by their god.

If a Christian has the desire to repent, does this mean his conscience is not seared?

Happy Riches,  Answer requested by Aidan

A seared conscience indicates that the person has no ability to recognize right from wrong. Searing one’s conscience does not mean that a person does not know right from wrong, but has become indifferent to the distinguishing fact that what is wrong is definitely not right to do.

Interestingly, in the book of Hebrews, we learn that those who are mature have learned to distinguish between right from wrong through practice.

• But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their faculties trained by practice to distinguish good from evil. (Hebrews 5:14)

The writer of Hebrews goes on to say that we are to seek maturity, which obviously begins with a foundation of repentance from dead works and faith towards God. Those who have understood this and have been partakers of the Holy Spirit, but have turned their backs on Jesus Christ, after walking with Him as their best friend—literally talking with Him—these ones cannot be restored again because they have purposefully, knowingly, crucified the Son of God on their own account.

• Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, with instruction[a] about ablutions, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they then commit apostasy, since they crucify the Son of God on their own account and hold him up to contempt.(Hebrews 6:1-6)

The good news is that crucifying the Son of God on your own account is a very difficult thing to do. First, you have to possess not only a full knowledge of what your relationship with Lord Jesus means, but be also walking in the power of the age to come. Essentially, only individuals who have been mightily blessed qualify for apostasy. People like Benny Hinn or Kenneth Copeland, Creftlo Dollar are the types of individuals who could qualify, if they were walk away from trusting in Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.

A Calvinist is a person who does not believe people can commit apostasy, because whoever was going to be saved had been chosen before the foundation of the world. Calvinists do not believe people have freewill. Since freewill is required to commit apostasy, a Calvinist believes that this is impossible.

Ironically, a Calvinist influenced street preacher claims that the likes of Dr David Jeremiah have committed apostasy.

Unfortunately, this deceived person (with a good heart) holds to the doctrinal positions found on John MacArthur's Grace To You website.

Now MacArthur has another gospel besides that which the Apostle Paul preached, which is saved by faith because of the grace of God (Romans 4:16). MacArthur preaches the gospel of salvation by grace alone; and contrary to what the Bible teaches, the man teaches that GOD is the author of evil. Moreover, MacArthur, and his ilk, do not believe in the power of Holy Spirit baptism, so it is understandable that the fruit of the Holy Spirit is not evident in their lives.

In fact, Kenneth E. Hagin wrote in one of his booklets that Lord Jesus showed him a woman, who committed apostasy and walked away from her salvation. Dr Michael Yeager says that the woman committed the sin unto death, spoken of in the book of 1 John.

Of course, there are those who perform mighty works in the name of Lord Jesus, who are not known by Him. Such individuals, are more like the televangelists that seem to proliferate today. Texe Marrs claims there is a Global Explosion of Religious Apostasy.

One of the criteria that needs to be met before a person can commit apostasy is tasting the goodness of the word of God. This refers to financial blessing, wealth and prosperity. Nothing wrong with being prosperous. Just that if one becomes wealthy from preaching the Word of God, then maybe putting one’s head in the water closet before its too late, might be a good thing; especially, if it brings one to repentance. But this is impossible if one follows the voice of an evil spirit.

Did John Calvin have an evil spirit?

He executed 59 people in the first five years of his reign over Geneva and displayed a hatred that is not becoming of a person who is filled with the Holy Spirit.

The grace of God is about growing in moral excellence, not moral depravity. Repentance does require faith towards God, but also knowledge of what sin actually is before one can repent. Hatred of evil is the beginning of wisdom and the reason why people repent and find salvation. This can occur anytime in a person’s life on Earth. Unfortunately, after death comes judgment.

Only Those Who Have Repented Know Where They Really Stand

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