Tracts & Ray Comfort

[Mr. Bill]

Tonight I sent off an order for a sample of Mr. Comfort's tracts, and I will post a review of them here after I receive them. This evening I also happened upon an edition of "The Way of the Master" TV show, starring Mr. Comfort and Kirk Cameron.

I will say this about Mr. Comfort and the Way of the Master ministry: at least their error is fairly consistent. With the assistance of my trusty DVR, I'd like to quote verbatim the four gospel presentations in the program. I’ll comment after the first three and then again after the fourth.

EXCERPT ONE. Mr. Cameron (solo, to the camera): "Here's an important question. Is it necessary for a man to repent in order to be saved? And the answer clearly is yes. The scriptures tell us that. Think of it like this: when a man sins against God, he drives a wedge between him and his maker. He's sinful by nature. There's a big wall between him and his God. There's no communication. The Bible says, our sin separates us from God, so He will not hear our prayers. How does that wall come down? The Word of God tells us we must repent, turn, change our mind about sin that results in a change of lifestyle. We must forsake our sin and turn to our maker, and put our faith in Jesus Christ. If we do that, God will bring down the wall. He will restore communication between us, and we will be saved."

EXCERPT TWO. Mr. Comfort, speaking a man on the street: "Do you know what you should do to be saved?...This is what the Bible says: God commands all men everywhere to repent, because he has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness. God commands you to turn from your sins because He doesn't want to give you justice. He doesn't want you to end up in Hell. He can forgive you because of what Jesus did. If you repent, turn from all sin, and put your trust in Jesus, God says I will forgive you every sin you've ever committed, and grant you everlasting life."

EXCERPT THREE. Mr. Cameron (with Mr. Comfort next to him): "So how will you do on judgment day? Will you be innocent, or will you be guilty? In light of the fact that God sees your thought life, and every sin done in darkness, do you think when you die you will go to Heaven, or Hell? Please, don't gamble with your own soul. You can't afford to be wrong. Simply be honest before God. Confess your sins to Him, and then turn from them once and for all, and put your faith in Jesus Christ to save you. Then obey the Bible. Read it daily. Your obedience is proof of your love for God. God demonstrated his love for you when he sent His Son to die on the cross and take your punishment upon Himself. Listen to what Jesus said, 'What shall it profit a man if he gains the world but loses his own soul.'"


In the first excerpt, we’re told that in order to be saved we need to (a) turn from, or forsake, our sins, and (b) have a change of lifestyle, in addition to putting our faith in Christ. This is adding to Christ’s finished work. This is works salvation.

In the second excerpt, we’re told that in order to be saved we need to turn from all sins, in addition to putting our trust in Jesus. This is adding to Christ’s finished work. This is works salvation.

In the third excerpt, we’re told that we need to (a) confess our sins to God, and (b) turn from our sins once and for all, in addition to putting our faith in Jesus Christ. We’re also told that we have to obey the Bible and read the Bible daily in order to prove that we were really saved. This is adding to Christ’s finished work. This is works salvation.

In none of three presentations are all of the central facts of the gospel provided. The facts of the gospel, according to 1 Cor. 15, are that Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again. This void is a natural byproduct of works salvation, which always places the focus on what YOU have to do and not what CHRIST has done.


EXCERPT FOUR. Mr. Comfort is speaking to a woman on the street: “Do you know what [Christ] was doing? He was taking the punishment for your sins upon Himself. He was paying the fine for the law that you broke, so you could be forgiven, so your case could be dismissed. The Bible says, He was bruised for our iniquities. The Bible says, God commanded his love toward us that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. He suffered and died for your sins, taking your punishment on Himself. Then He rose from the dead and defeated death. What God wants you to do is repent, turn from your sins, and trust in the Savior. The minute you do that you’ll pass from death to life. God says he’ll forgive your sins and grant you the gift of everlasting life….So what are you going to do?” The woman says, “Ask God to forgive, repent,” and, after some assistance from Mr. Comfort, she says “trust in Jesus.”


In the fourth excerpt, we see why clarity in the gospel is so important. Even though the facts of the gospel are given, even though the need to trust in Christ is stated, works are added, the woman’s sinful nature, which wants to work for salvation, gravitates to them. Notice that she immediately responds with what works she needs to do (asking God to forgive her, repenting from her sins) and NOT the fact that Jesus Christ’s work did it all already. She mentions trusting Christ only after Mr. Comfort puts the words in her mouth!

And that is why it is so important to be very careful in the gospel tracts we select. If our gospel presentations include works in ANY form, even in the form of a prayer, depraved sinners will gravitate to them, and they will tend to trust those works instead of or in addition to the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for their sins and rose again, and did everything necessary for them to be saved.

*******************

It boils down to this: was the work of Christ really enough to satisfy God the Father, or is something more required of us now? According to the Bible, Christ's work is enough (John 19:30, Heb. 10:10). According to Ray Comfort, Christ's work is not enough. You have to turn from all your sins and reform your life in addition to trusting Christ.

The impetus for Mr. Comfort’s ministry is “false conversions.” Tragically, I suspect his ministry is responsible for many more of the same.

[Hermit]

Mr Bill, I do not agree with you that this is works salvation. I think you are taking the "not of works" to an unreasonable and unintended extreme.

[Mr. Bill]

Mr Bill, I do not agree with you that this is works salvation. I think you are taking the "not of works" to an unreasonable and unintended extreme.

Mr. Comfort insists that we turn from and forsake all sin, never to go back to it, and change our lifestyle. Oh yeah, we have to trust Christ too.

What is works salvation, if this is not?

[Mr. Bill]

Some additional questions:

1. What if I forsake only 99% of my sins? What about 75%? Can I still be a Christian?

2. What if I willfully sin after I was saved? Is that proof that I never really repented and therefore was never really saved in the first place?

3. What happens if I think I'm forsaking my sins but later realize there's something I didn't realize was a sin and therefore didn't turn from? Was I really saved?

4. How many post-salvation sins can I commit and still claim to be saved?

5. Since I don't know what sins I might commit tomorrow (especially because sinful thoughts count as sins), is it possible ever to have assurance that I'm a Christian?

[Hermit]

I'm not conversant with Mr. Comfort, and do not wish to particularly focus on him. I am not sure that you are not misrepresenting him in the way you voice his teachings by filtering his position through your own doctrinal framework.

A "works salvation" would be when one keeps all of the commandments or otherwise performs righteous acts in order to live a life which enables God to accept him as righteous - apart from salvation in Christ.

I believe one does need to repent in order to be saved. This is not a work which earns one his salvation. I believe that one who has truly been saved will be forever changed, and never happily continue in sin without concern. I believe that one who has been truly saved will bear fruit which are evidence of the salvation he has received.

[Hermit]

1. What if I forsake only 99% of my sins? What about 75%? Can I still be a Christian?

• Does Mr. Comfort actually say that you must forsake each and every sin individually before you can be saved? Or is it just that you must turn from sin to be saved?

I believe one must turn from sin (collectively) in order to be saved. It is not necessary to be aware of all one's sins individually. This is a change of direction.

2. What if I willfully sin after I was saved? Is that proof that I never really repented and therefore was never really saved in the first place?

• Does Mr Comfort say that anyone who willfully sins (once) was never really saved?

I believe that one who continues to live sinfully without restraint does not show evidence of true faith. The Christian will sin, even willfully, but it will create an on-going struggle within him, because he is indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

3. What happens if I think I'm forsaking my sins but later realize there's something I didn't realize was a sin and therefore didn't turn from? Was I really saved?

• Again, does Mr. Comfort say that one must identify each and every sin and repent of them all in order to receive salvation? Or is that the slant you are putting on it because you disagree with his position on the need for repentance generally?

4. How many post-salvation sins can I commit and still claim to be saved?

It is not about what you can claim, and it is not about an acceptable number of sins ... it is more - is there any evidence that you have been changed - born again, indwelt by the Holy Spirit? The one who has been saved will experience a conflict within when wilfully sinning.

5. Since I don't know what sins I might commit tomorrow (especially because sinful thoughts count as sins), is it possible ever to have assurance that I'm a Christian?

• Again, does Mr Comfort say that you must deal with all sins individually to be saved? Does he say one must be sinless to have assurance of salvation?

I doubt it. My questions here are not rhetorical, I really want to know what Mr Comfort says, rather than how you portray Mr Comfort's position.

Mr. Comfort insists that we turn from and forsake all sin, never to go back to it, and change our lifestyle.

I believe that one must turn from sin in order to accept salvation in Christ. One does not need to know or repent of all of one's sins individually. This will happen during the process of learning to live as a Christian (progressive sanctification).

Becoming a Christian is an individual transaction between the sinner and God. How can we know who is a Christian, when we are not privy to that transaction between another and God? Well, the truly saved will struggle with sin, rather than comfortably remain in it on an on-going basis. There will be a change of lifestyle. This is not in order to accept salvation, but evidence that one has.

[Mr. Bill]

Again, does Mr Comfort say that you must deal with all sins individually to be saved? Does he say one must be sinless to have assurance of salvation?

Yes. From Excerpt Two, above: "If you repent, turn from all sin, and put your trust in Jesus, God says I will forgive you every sin you've ever committed, and grant you everlasting life." I assume that his use of "all" actually means "each and every one." Otherwise he would have used "some" or "most."

And, in Mr. Comfort's defense, let's keep in mind that God is perfectly, absolutely holy. If we're going to turn from our sins in order to try to merit salvation, then we had better turn from all of them and not just some of them or most of them.

Does Mr Comfort say that anyone who willfully sins (once) was never really saved?

Yes. http://www.livingwaters.com/helps/faq.shtml#9 "I have sinned since I became a Christian -- but it is against my will. I may take the large piece of chocolate cake, or let a lustful thought enter my mind. However, if I sin willfully, then I am a hypocrite and not a Christian at all."

[Hermit]

From Excerpt Two, above: "If you repent, turn from all sin, and put your trust in Jesus, God says I will forgive you every sin you've ever committed, and grant you everlasting life.

Turning from all sin is not necessarily the same as turning from every sin. "All sin" is a blanket term.

I assume that his use of "all" actually means "each and every one." Otherwise he would have used "some" or "most."

I doubt it. One can turn from all sin without dealing with each and every sin individually. General repentance is turning from sin.

To say one turns from all sin probably means that the sinner acknowledges that all sin (in a general sense) is wrong, and he/she turns from it. He probably does not know of all his sins individually. They will be revealed over time. He does not work through a huge list of his sins, repenting of each individually. He just recognises that he is a sinner, and turns from sin.

In this sense, it is quite different to say that the person turns from all sin (without knowing and repenting of each individually), than to say that he turns from some sins or most sins.

I think what Mr Comfort might be saying here is that the person repents of sin without qualification or limitation. For instance, he does not say "I repent of all sin except my sins of lust". That would not be true repentance, and would not lead to a genuine conversion. You cannot intend to continue in sin and receive God's salvation.

If we're going to turn from our sins in order to try to merit salvation

Again, I suspect that this might be a misrepresentation of Mr Comfort's position. I don't think we turn from our sins in order to try to merit salvation. Turning from our sins does not in any way earn us salvation. But we must turn from sin in order to accept God's free gift of salvation.

I would disagree with Mr Comfort in his inference that the truly saved person will never again sin wilfully. Of course he will. We don't look to our own condition of sinfullness/holiness in order to obtain assurance of salvation. However, the one who continues to sin wilfully without signs of a struggle is probably not indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and therefore probably not a Christian.

[Mr. Bill]

Turning from all sin is not necessarily the same as turning from every sin.

It is helpful to peruse Mr. Comfort's websites, where he has published ample material for public consumption. Below is a link to a tract of his called "Celebrity Intelligence Test." Here is a model prayer that he recommends in that tract:

"Dear God, I repent of all of my sins (name them). This day I put my trust in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Please forgive me and grant me your gift of everlasting life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen."

http://www.livingwaters.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=215&Category_Code=

Notice that Mr. Comfort instructs sinners to identify their sins individually ("name them"), and to stop doing them ("repent"). This doesn't sound too general to me.

If you're going to merit your salvation by righteous living, as Mr. Comfort recommends, you had better turn from each and every one of your sins, not just sin in some flimsy general manner. God isn't interested in general holiness; he demands absolute perfection, all of the time, in every way.

And that's why I need a absolutely sinless savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who paid for all of my sins on the cross, even the ones I willfully commit after I'm saved. For that I give Him all the glory.

[Hermit]

If we're going to turn from our sins in order to try to merit salvation

I will have a better look at his websites. As you know, I think repentance does play a part in salvation, but one is not saved by repenting. I do not think anyone could possibly repent of all their sins individually, at any point in their life. I do not believe that we turn from our sins to merit salvation. I think that your insistence in painting repentance as an attempt to earn salvation is misleading.

[a beautiful soul]

I am not sure that you are not misrepresenting him in the way you voice his teachings by filtering his position through your own doctrinal framework.

A "works salvation" would be when one keeps all of the commandments or otherwise performs righteous acts in order to live a life which enables God to accept him as righteous - apart from salvation in Christ.

I believe one does need to repent in order to be saved. This is not a work which earns one his salvation. I believe that one who has truly been saved will be forever changed, and never happily continue in sin without concern. I believe that one who has been truly saved will bear fruit which are evidence of the salvation he has received.

Surprisingly, I must agree with Hermit.

Mr. Bill, in terms of Biblical doctrine, you are one messed up person!!

Sad to say, you, Mr. Bill, are the victim of a watered down Gospel, which suggests that a person does not have to take responsibility for being a sinner, or be responsible for the sin they have committed.

I would certainly agree with Hermit's suggestion that you are "filtering his (ie. Mr. Comfort's) position through your own doctrinal framework."

Hermit's definition of a 'works salvation' is very accurate.

Let me explain my thoughts and beliefs:

As God begins to draw a person to Himself (cf. John 6:44), and a person begins to realize their need for Christ (ie. they are being convicted of their sin by the Holy Spirit, but have not yet accepted Christ as their Saviour), the Holy Spirit will show them the sin that is in their life. The Holy Spirit will reveal to the person the sin in which this person is in bondage to. The Bible clearly tells us that a pre-salvation person is a "slave to sin" (ie. sin is a master over the pre-salvation person and they have no way of freeing themselves from this bond to sin).

However, when the person, through prayer, begins to claim the name and work of Christ on the Cross as the ONLY way of being set free from sin and confesses/repents (agrees with God that he/she is a sinner and committed the named sins -- ie. owns these sins as his/hers), then God begins to set that person free. During this process (and it is a process), God sees the heart of the sinner and when HE (ie. God) sees the sincerity and honesty of the person's heart , HE (ie. God) grants the person salvation.

REPENTANCE (agreeing with God that we are sinners, taking ownership of that sin, and changing our minds regarding that sin and turning from it) is KEY to the salvation of a person. If we do not agree with God that it is OUR sin, then we will never experience a true conversion.

AND THIS (IE. REPENTANCE) IS NOT A WORKS SALVATION.

Mr. Bill, you really need to re-examine your beliefs and make sure YOU are really saved.

Christ's work on the Cross was sufficient to set us free from the power or bondage of sin, but we must take ownership of the sin that has power over us (ie. agree with God and Christ that it was our sin that put Christ on the Cross and realize that we died with Christ on the Cross) in order to be saved. THIS IS NOT A WORK THOUGH -- IT IS MERELY AGREEING WITH GOD'S DIAGNOSIS OF US!!!

Mr. Bill, according to what you believe and have expressed in your posts, I am inclined to believe that you are NOT a born-again believer in Christ.

You are a victim of the watered down Gospel that is so prevelant in both Brethren and denominational Christianity.

I will NOT insist that you are NOT a believer, but I certainly have my doubts.

[Mr. Bill]

I think we have at least three distinct problems, and they all relate to the meaning of words or expressions. I’d like to tackle them one at a time.

1. Works salvation

Earlier, Hermit defined works salvation as righteous living independent of Christ. Hermit seems to be saying that if the works are performed AFTER one is saved, it isn’t really works salvation.

Ron Shea calls this concept “equivalent to offering God a late-dated check or ‘I.O.U.’ in exchange for salvation. An actual payment in cash is not needed, only a good faith promise or resolution concerning future payment. God is willing to offer eternal life ‘on credit’ as it were so long as the repentant sinner promises a future payment of good works whenever the note comes due.”

And this is what Mr. Comfort does. He says that you can be saved now, but if you’re REALLY saved, you will prove it unfailingly by your works. His claim of never having willfully sinned after he was saved (FAQ #9) is telling. If he admitted to willful post-salvation sin, he wouldn’t be saved by his own definition!

Fortunately eternal salvation is granted not on the basis any human works, including post-salvation works. Let’s see how the Bible defines works. Romans 4:5 says, “But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.” The only action not included in work, according to Romans 4:5 is believing, or faith. That means keeping commandments is a work. That means stepping into a tub in order to be baptized is a work. That means praying a prayer is a work. That means inviting Jesus into your heart is a work. And that means turning from your sins and living a holy life is a work. A work is something you do. It is in contrast to faith, which points to the work that Jesus Christ has done.

The issue that determines my eternal destiny is not whether a perfectly holy God will be satisfied with my works, because He won’t be. This issue that determines my eternal destiny is whether I’m satisfied with the finished work of His Son, who died on the cross for my sins and rose again.

My faith has found a resting place,
Not in device or creed;
I trust the ever living One,
His wounds for me shall plead.

I need no other argument,
I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that He died for me.

-Eliza E. Hewitt

[Mr. Bill]

2. Repentance

The difficulty with repentance is that it has more than one English definition, and therefore confusion about what the word means biblically is understandable. The three fundamental English definitions of “repent,” according to the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary, are: (a) to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life, (b) to feel regret or contrition, and (c) to change one's mind.

Therefore a correct biblical understanding of repentance requires us to dig into the underlying Greek. The Greek word translated as repentance, metanoia, comprises two root words: meta, which means “after,” and noia, which means “mind.” Metanoia, therefore, is an “afterthought,” or a “change of mind.”

A change of mind about what? The answer is, it depends, and usually the scripture context makes it clear what change of mind is involved. But in order to be saved you need to understand why you need to be saved. You need to see yourself as God sees you. You need to see yourself as helpless, unable to save yourself by your works. You need to see yourself as hopeless, in need of a qualified Savior. You need to see yourself as Hell-bound, a just result of your sins. And so you need to change your mind, or repent, in whatever way is necessary to adopt God’s point of view.

This is no small change of mind, but instead it relates to the perhaps most fundamental issue of all: how we see ourselves in relation to God. Perhaps you don’t really think what the Bible reveals about salvation is credible. You need to repent. Perhaps you think you’re a basically good person. You need to repent. Perhaps you think God will overlook your sins. You need to repent. Perhaps you think that your good works will outweigh your bad works. You need to repent. Perhaps you think that your baptism or church membership can save you. You need to repent. Or perhaps you think your commitment to turn from your sins can save you. You need to repent.

And so repentance IS required for salvation, but repentance is a change of mind and is therefore included in believing. (It is interesting that the Gospel of John NEVER uses the word repent. If repentance, when used in connection with eternal salvation, is a separate or distinct requirement from faith in Christ, as Mr. Comfort claims, then John does not give the whole gospel, a fact that would contradict John 20:31.)

Repentance is not feeling sorry about what you’ve done, although such feelings may be used by the Holy Spirit to bring you to an understanding of the gospel. Repentance is not making some sort of commitment to stop sinning or to start living in a certain manner, as Mr. Comfort defines it. Repentance is a massive paradigm shift in your thinking, as you realize your helpless condition and desperate need for the Savior and His finished work.

[Mr. Bill]

3. Salvation

The complication here is that the Bible describes different kinds, sometimes called “tenses,” of salvation. Please see the following chart for a helpful summary of these distinctions.
http://www.duluthbible.org/179547.ihtml (see the "3 tenses" PDF illustration)

Notice that the chart shows a clear biblical difference between salvation from sin’s penalty and salvation from sin’s power. This isn't a man-made invention. We see this as we study the book of Romans. The first four-plus chapters regard salvation from sin’s penalty, while the issue of salvation from sin’s power isn’t addressed until chapters 6-8. If we don’t understand this difference, we will be confused and misapply various scripture passages. For example, often people do handstands trying to fit James 2:14-26 into the Romans model of justification (salvation from sin’s power) by faith alone. The dilemma is easily resolved when it is understood that James is writing to believers, and therefore the salvation in question is salvation from sin’s power (present tense), not salvation from sin’s penalty (past tense).

It is helpful to note that different aspects of Christ’s finished work apply to believers and unbelievers. George Zeller makes this distinction clear: “I was saved from the penalty of sin by believing that CHRIST DIED FOR ME and rose again (1 Cor. 15:1-4). I rested in His finished work (John 19:30; Rom. 4:5). I can be saved from the power of sin by believing that I DIED WITH CHRIST (Rom. 6:6; 6:3; Col. 2:20; Gal. 2:20) and that He is my LIFE (Col. 3:1-4; Gal. 2:20; Phil. 1:21; Rom. 6:11; 1 Cor. 15:22). As a saved person I must rest upon His finished work (Heb. 4:9-11). The great truth of SUBSTITUTION is that Christ died for me. To be justified I must believe this truth. The great truth of IDENTIFICATION is that I died with Christ. To grow in holiness and Christ-likeness (sanctification) I must believe this truth.”

And so we see that God changes our destiny before he changes our walk. He saves us from the penalty of sin as we understand and believe certain provisions of grace, and later, as we live the Christian life, he saves us from the power of sin as we walk and depend daily on related but different provisions of grace. God’s full provision both for salvation from sin’s penalty and from sin’s power effectively sets aside any commitment I might make to stop sinning and to live a holy life. We’re not saved by making commitments, and we don’t grow as believers by making commitments (Col. 2:6).

The facts of the message that we present to the unbeliever must be clear. The gospel does not call for him to clean up his life. The gospel does not call for him to dedicate his life in service the Lord. The gospel does not call for him to do anything. The gospel is that all the work has already been done by the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for his sins and rose again.

[Hermit]

Hermit defined works salvation as righteous living independent of Christ. Hermit seems to be saying that if the works are performed AFTER one is saved, it isn’t really works salvation.

Absolutely. At no time is anyone saved by their works. One cannot do works in order to become righteous and so acceptable to God. One who is saved by God's grace through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus will be changed, and will bear fruit. This is the result of salvation, not an attempt to become saved. If one has true saving faith in Christ, his faith will be evident to others by his works. One who shows no changed life and no works has at best a dead faith.

Ron Shea calls this concept “equivalent to offering God a late-dated check or ‘I.O.U.’ in exchange for salvation. An actual payment in cash is not needed, only a good faith promise or resolution concerning future payment. God is willing to offer eternal life ‘on credit’ as it were so long as the repentant sinner promises a future payment of good works whenever the note comes due.”

Whatever Mr Shea is talking about, he is not talking about my beliefs. If he thinks he is, then he is misrepresenting my beliefs, and he is wrong. One is not saved by their works, pre- or post-salvation. No-one gives God any blank check or IOU, and no-one earns or pays for their salvation. One is saved by repenting of their sin and appropriating by faith the salvation offered through Christ's death on the cross in their place.

Never-the-less, the one who has been saved through faith by grace, will be changed. You will be able to see their "living" faith evidenced by their works. They will bear fruit. They do not do this either to earn salvation, to pay for salvation, or to remain saved. They do it because they are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and are living in relationship with their Lord.

So, let's stop saying that this is a works salvation because they are trying to earn or pay for salvation.

He says that you can be saved now, but if you’re REALLY saved, you will prove it unfailingly by your works.

I agree with Mr Comfort here. The one who is saved will be changed, and will do good works. These are evidence of living faith. He does not do these in order to be saved or earn or pay for salvation.

His claim of never having willfully sinned after he was saved (FAQ #9) is telling. If he admitted to willful post-salvation sin, he wouldn’t be saved by his own definition!

If this is what Mr Comfort believes, I disagree with him on this point. The saved still wilfully sin.

I will try to answer your other points asap. By the way, I appreciate being able to discuss these issues with you, and I will no doubt learn from it. I would be happy to hear of other's thoughts also.