Keep Your Sins and Go to Heaven!

“Keep your sins and go to heaven!” This is what many evangelicals who are antinomians (lawless ones) are teaching today. Their message is opposed to what the prophets, John the Baptist, Jesus, and the apostles preached. They oppose the Scriptures. We are not to add to or subtract from or misinterpret the Scriptures. That is why you have to have pastors who are God-called (Jer. 1), pious, learned, and Spirit-filled to preach the gospel. We read in the Bible:

• Deuteronomy 4:2: “Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but [obey] the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.”
• Revelation 22:18–19: “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”
• Jeremiah 26:2: “Tell them everything I command you; do not omit a word.”

Jesus pronounced judgment against such antinomians in Matthew 7:21–23: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who [obeys] the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them very plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

We must ask the question: What does the Bible say? We believe in the authority of the Scripture. Paul writes, “All Scripture is God-breathed [God-spoken] and is [profitable] for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly [furnished] for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16–17).  The kingdom of God is “righteousness,” that is, doing what is right in the Scripture, “peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17). And the Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 1, speaks about the authority of the holy Scripture.

Article 4: The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, and obeyed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man, or church; but wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the author thereof: and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God.

Let us, therefore, examine Luke and Acts on the subject of repentance.

1. The Hebrew word for “repent” (shuv) means to turn from sin and the devil, and turn to God. In the Greek, the word is metanoeô, which means to change your thinking in order to change your sinning. The classic example is the repentance of the prodigal son. In Luke 15:21 we read, “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven [that is, against God] and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’” He made a 180-degree change.
2. In Luke 3, John the Baptist preached repentance. The crowd who repented and were baptized asked John the Baptist: “What should we do then?”

John answered, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.” Tax collectors also came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.” (Luke 3:10–14)

Those who are sinning without repentance are children of the devil.

• • 1 John 3:10: “This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.” What is right? Right is what the Bible says. The Bible says what God says.

Turn from sin to do what is right in God’s word. John the Baptist demands proof of repentance. Paul also demanded proof of repentance: “First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds,” by their obedience (Acts 26:20).

Your testimony is fine, but where is the proof of good works? In Acts 5:32 we read, “We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”  We are to obey the Holy Spirit.

3. Jesus came to call sinners to repentance. If Jesus came to call sinners to repentance, cursed is the one who says, “You don’t have to repent to go to heaven.” Such a person is a child of the devil, for he opposes Jesus. He must repent. The publican prayed, “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.” He repented and went home justified forever. The Pharisee therefore went home condemned. He did not repent (Luke 18).
4. Jesus said, “Repent or perish” (Luke 13:3, 5). In other words, “Repent or go to eternal hell.”
5. Repentance brings rejoicing.

• • Luke 15:10: “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Jesus said when one sinner turns from sin and turns to God through faith in Jesus, God, with the holy angels and the holy church, rejoices in heaven. The prodigal repented, and his father rejoiced along with all others.  This is what happens when a person repents. We all rejoice.

It is the duty of every sinner to repent. Every elect sinner when he hears the gospel will repent and be saved. In Luke 23:40–43 we read, “But the other criminal rebuked him. ‘Don’t you fear God,’ he said, ‘since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man [Jesus] has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ Jesus answered him, ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.’” And he was saved, and he died and he went to paradise.

6. The rich man of Luke 16 lived in luxury daily. He dressed in purple, luxurious clothing. He never repented. Because he was rich, he expected to go to heaven when he died, and I think he expected Lazarus the poor beggar to go to hell. His five brothers also refused to repent. The opposite of what the rich man expected happened. He went to hell, to be in fire, in agony, and in torment. I ask you: Have you repented, and proved your repentance by obedience? Or are you like the rich man who never repented and died? He was surprised by hell.

Your money cannot save you. In Revelation 3:17–18 Jesus tells the church of Laodicea, “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.”

7. In Luke 17:3–4, Jesus warned, “So watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” I do not believe in “Keep your sins and go to heaven.” Do not believe that type of thing. You cannot keep your sins and go to heaven. You will go to the other place. Repent or perish. Today many evangelicals refuse to repent. They are antinomians.
8. In Luke 24:47, Jesus said, “Repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in [my] name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” This scripture teaches us that without repentance, God will not forgive your sins. Jesus said so. Jesus is truth; he cannot lie. The devil lies. The devil says, “Keep your sin and go to heaven.” That is, in essence, what he said to Eve: “Eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. You will not surely die.” Eve ate and she died.

The devil always lies, as we read in John 8:44. Jesus said, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” The devil contradicts the Bible. And today there are many churches who will not preach the Bible.

9. The Spirit-convicted people heard Peter’s preaching in Acts 2 and cried out, as we read in Acts 2:37: “Brothers, what shall we do?” The apostle Peter answered them: “Repent [it is a command, in the Greek] and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). We must repent and believe in Jesus Christ. It is our duty. In Acts 17:30 we read, “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands [not begs] all people everywhere to repent.” We must turn from sin and turn to God. We must obey what God commands. There is no salvation without repentance. In Matthew 28:20 Jesus said his disciples are to teach others to do everything he commanded us to do, and Jesus commands us to repent. In fact, it is rebellion not to repent. The devil and his children never repent.
10. In Acts 3:19 Peter said, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” That means so that blessings, one after the other, may come from the Lord. Peter is speaking as Christ’s apostle.

Without repentance, no one can be saved. Repentance is the responsibility, the duty, of the sinner. (PGM) Without repentance, our sins cannot be blotted out, as the Lord promises to do in Isaiah 43:25: “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”

11. In Acts 5:31, Peter preached “God exalted [Jesus] to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give [the gifts of] repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.” This verse tells us that Jesus saves us by giving us the gifts of repentance and forgiveness of sins. So we repent truly by the Spirit and receive forgiveness of sins, and the proof is that we obey the Holy Spirit.

• • Acts 5:32: “We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
  • Romans 8:14: “Those who are being led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” Those who obey the Holy Spirit are sons of God. The Holy Spirit guides us by the word of God, such as telling us to honor our father and mother by obeying them. A person who will not honor and obey the father and mother is cursed eternally.

12. In Acts 8:18–23 we read, “When Simon [Magus] saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, ‘Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’ Peter answered: ‘May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.’” We do not read that Simon Magus ever repented.

All money worshipers go to hell. Simon, who wanted to buy the Holy Spirit with money, could not repent. Money was his god. You cannot serve God and money. Think of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5). They were killed because they stole money.

13. In Acts 11:18 we read, “When [the leaders] heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, ‘So then, God has granted [as a gift] even the Gentiles repentance unto life.” God saves Jews and Gentiles. There is no discrimination. God gives Gentiles also the gift of repentance, and they repent. Paul writes, “Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all” (Col. 3:11). They all belong to God’s holy family.
14. In Acts 20:21 Paul says, “I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.” Paul is speaking about repentance toward God the Father and faith in Jesus Christ. What is faith? The obedience of faith.

• • Romans 1:5: “Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.” Faith without obedience is not saving faith. It is It is agreement that the Bible is true. There are three things: notitia, assensus, and fiducia. We need information. We must make sure the information is correct, but that is not salvation. Fides est fiducia. Faith is entrusting ourselves to Christ and following him.

15. In Acts 26:20 Paul says, “First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.” Those who repent and turn to God must prove their repentance and faith by deeds done in obedience to God.

• • Hebrews 5:8–9: “Although he was Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered, and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.” That tells you that without obedience, you are not saved. If you do not obey Jesus, you are not saved. Peter said in 2 Peter 1:10 to make your calling and election sure. How? Do you obey Jesus?

16. Repentance is turning from sin (that is, hating sin) and turning to our Lord Jesus Christ to obey him and follow him even to death, as we read in Matthew 16:24: “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’” Without obedience to Jesus Christ, our faith is the devil’s faith, as we read in James 2:19: “You believe [this is what assensus means] that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and tremble.” We must work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12).

Godly repentance is marked by godly sorrow. Paul writes, “Now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death” (2 Cor. 7:9–10). Consider the following examples of true repentance:

1. The thief (Ephesians 4:28). “He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to give to those in need.” That is what we do in this church. The best use of money is to give it to those who do not have money.
2. The prodigal son (Luke 15:21). He went away wicked; he came back obedient to God and to his father.
3. Zacchaeus (Luke 19:8–10). “Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.’” When God comes into our hearts, money goes out to help the poor.
4. The sinful woman (Luke 7:44–48). “Then [Jesus] turned toward the woman and said to Simon [the Pharisee, who refused to repent], ‘Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured [expensive] perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.’ Then Jesus said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’” We are reminded of what Jesus said to the adulterous woman of John 8: “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more,” especially the sin of adultery.

The prophets, Jesus, and the apostles command us to repent, but antinomians deny repentance is necessary for salvation. They say, “Keep your sin and go to heaven!” They say it is a mistake and extremely serious matter when repentance is made a condition for eternal life. It is “absolutely free,” no obligation. But Robert Reymond, professor of systematic theology, says, “Such teaching is incredible, for it means that the impenitent can receive eternal life and be saved even though they never forsake their sin.” Let me tell you, no repentance means no salvation and no heaven. You cannot keep your sins and go to heaven. But you will be surprised by hell! Therefore, let us pray for those antinomians who deny the need for repentance, and may God help each one of us to live by repentance before God and prove our repentance by deeds of good works. [1]

[1] Sources: James M. Boice, Foundations of the Christian Faith; Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology; John Murray, Redemption Accomplished and Applied and Collected Works, vol. 2, Systematic Theology; J. I. Packer, Knowing God; Robert Reymond, A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith; R. C. Sproul, Essential Truths of the Christian Faith.