Genuine repentance or traditions of men?
Posted by appolus on September 17, 2019
Many pastors I have known measure the effectiveness of their preaching by the numbers who “come forward.” I am not necessarily or even primarily thinking about salvation, just in general. Although it certainly could apply to salvation. And yet, the way to measure the effectiveness of a word given, if it is given by the power of the Holy Spirit, is the change that it effects in the hearer. Fruits of repentance are the measure.
If repentance is changing one’s mind that leads to a change of one’s actions, and it is, then change would be the flesh on the bone of genuine repentance. If Christendom needs to repent, and it does, then change would be the measure of it. To simply say the words or acknowledge the need and continue on the way it has always been is a sure sign that… these people come near to God with their mouths and honor me with their lips but they remove their hearts far from Me, And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote.( Isa 29:13)
If a man is satisfied with giving the Word and having people come forward for repentance, but does not agonize over a lack of any change, then he is merely perpetuating the traditions of men that they have learned by rote and in fact is a contributor to the very tradition they claim not to be a part of.
A Call To The Remnant 
Elias said
Hi Frank, another fruit we need to see is the fruit of the Holy Spirit, Love, for the Lord and one another, Joy the Joy of the Lord, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self control.
Lisa said
So true brother. I just came out of the organized “church” and I don’t even like calling it that anymore because that’s not the true church at all. My fear is that there are masses being deceived because they don’t have the Holy Spirit. But
When Jesus was talking about purity and washing of hands I think in Matthew 15, he said people would rather listen to men’s traditions than God’s.
Be Encouraged and thanks for speaking Jesus words
appolus said
Amen sister, may the Lord bless you as you follow Him, wherever He leads you………………….bro Frank
Lisa said
I would like to ask a question and hopefully you can give some insight. I’m curious to know if most men who stand behind these pulpits are really and truly deceived or do they know they are deceiving people. May God have mercy on those that do know.
appolus said
I believe that most are deceived and bogged down by tradition and actually believe that they are truly serving God. Remember, centuries before, men used to believe they were serving God by burning other men at the stake, the heart is truly deceitful……………..bro Frank
Lisa said
The heart is truly deceitful. The church I attended was Elder rule whatever that means and now I know there is no such thing. Thanks for your help.