Abiding

Grace vs Holiness [podcast]

Paula White Exposed [video]

THAT’s My King! Pastor Lockridge [video]

Powerful Prayers from Children-This Will Shake You [video]

The Fear of the LORD is to Hate Evil: Pride, and Arrogancy #shorts [video]

“The horrible travesty we have in America today is Christianity without holiness.” A.W. Tozer

Grace and holiness come only from God. The LORD is Holy and He extends salvation by grace to repentant, believing sinners at the moment of conversion. Grave vs Holiness: WHY is one of these two so overwhelmingly overemphasized by today’s pastors and self-appointed “grace teachers,” when the other is prioritized by God as is demonstrated by the number of times it appears in Holy Scripture?

Which word appears more times in the Bible?:

Grace, or
Holiness

LET’S DO THE MATH:
Comparing Grace and Holiness

170 to 654 is the score …

Before we do the actual math, let’s ask…..

QUESTION:

Which of these two phrases is found in God’s Word?

— “Grace, grace, grace”

…. OR

— “Holy, holy, holy”

?

ANSWER:

“Holy, holy, holy” is found twice in Holy Scripture (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8). The phrase “grace, grace, grace” appears nowhere in the Bible.

Shocking: Numbers don’t lie! A stunning revelation of the prophecy of Jude in the modern church world! (Jude 4)

“Grace” appears 170 times in the Bible. “Holy” appears 611 times, and “holiness” 43 times—a total of 654 times in God’s Word. Yet many preach all grace and no holiness – which alone reveals they are “accursed” for preaching “another gospel” (Galatians 1:6-9).

Holiness 654 vs Grace 170

The difference in the numbers here is shocking and should cause us to pause and see if we’ve over emphasized one thing in God’s Word while ignoring another. This is due to a priesthood of preachers passing on imbalances from generation to generation.

It’s quite amazing how so many have been misled. All they can speak of is God’s grace, which they view as a license to sin, and yet these same people NEVER mention and are completely ignorant to God’s holiness. Let’s take a peek at these 2.

Every honest person who is an eternal securist who looks at these numbers will be rebuked, convicted. And, they will have the opportunity to realize they’ve been scammed and it’s all their fault for not diligently studying God’s Word for themselves.

TODAY’S self-proclaimed “grace teachers” are expert at tickling ears and are sought out by the tell-me-what-I-want-to-hear counterfeits (2 Timothy 4:2-4).

Perhaps more than any other Bible topic, the topic of grace offers deceivers the grand opportunity to exploit their prey. This is exactly what the Holy Spirit warns us about in Jude 3-4 and exactly what we see happening on an epidemic scale today.

The many “accursed” false grace teachers today preach “another gospel” as they offer a salvation by grace that guarantees their audience the license to live in sin and still be saved into Heaven when they die – no matter how they lived their life on earth. There’s no such grace taught in God’s Word (Galatians 1:6-9).

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Romans 6:1-2

Saving grace does not abound, is not applied, is not appropriated by, or accredited to anyone living in sin. Any writer, pastor, evangelist, etc., who is not regularly preaching the essential of personal holiness is preaching “another gospel” and is an “accursed” wolf.

The whole counsel of Scripture communicates to us that God gave us His grace to make us holy as He is holy and not to grant the believer a license to live in the sin Jesus died and rose again to deliver us from. Since God is “Holy, holy, holy,” the Bible teaches us that all who die in sin, regardless of their past relationship with Christ will suffer eternal damnation (Ezekiel 18:4; 33:12-13; Romans 6:1-2, 15, 23; 11:20-22; Galatians 5:19-21; Hebrews 3:12-14; 10:26-39; 2 Peter 2:20-21; etc.).

“For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.” 2 Peter 2:20-21

In light of this differential between the appears of holiness vs grace, can someone please tell me why there are virtually no messages on holiness in the modern church? ~Greasy grace, the eternal security lie, sells. Holiness does not sell but rather scatters counterfeits.

Obviously, God spoke much more about His own “Holy, holy, holy” divine nature and the necessity of personal holiness in those who will be His – than He did about grace (1 Peter 1:15-16).

The false grace perpetrated by modern church wolves coddles and justifies people in their sin! Jude foretold this very thing! (Jude 4)

“For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness (license for sin), and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 4

ANY time you see some vile wolf calling himself a “grace teacher,” you know you are dealing with the very “ungodly” grace-perverting devils Jude specifically warned us about. Jude 4

Beware of the many flowery definitions of grace which can be very misleading (Titus 2:11-12; Jude 3-4, etc.). Why not get your theology, your knowledge of God straight from His divine mouth by studying His Word for yourself? (2 Timothy 2:15)

Just as the Holy Spirit warned us through Jude, a false grace is being peddled. Saving grace has been perverted via false teachers (Titus 2:11-12).

God’s grace through Christ did not change His definition of sin and the fact that sin separates the sinner from God – no different than how it separated sinless Adam and Eve after they sinned. The wages of sin is still death (Romans 6:23). Any person who was saved in the past and then dies in sin, will be in hell forever. Read Ezekiel 33:12-13; Revelation 22:11. God is “Holy, holy, holy” and that never changed and never will (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8).

God gave His Son and gives His grace so His people can overcome all sin, not make excuse for it (Romans 6:14).

Backslidden counterfeits are willingly deceived “enemies of the cross of Christ”, who want nothing to do with anything that involves giving up their lives in this fleeting world and so they hide behind the prophesied grace-perverting false doctrines of eternal security and Calvinism (Philippians 3:18-19; Jude 4).

Wolves are known in that they never teach the crucified life Christ and His holy apostles taught. This is the only way to follow Jesus and the only way to remain holy as He, the LORD is holy.

Below, let’s peek into a wider portion of this passage. Notice just after warning us to beware of the grace-perverting “ungodly men,” the LORD tells us here how He judged His own covenant people and angels. They were all right with Him and then expelled from His holy presence upon sinning – beginning with the angels in Heaven who were expelled due to their sin.

“For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. 6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.” Jude 4-6

Many are listening to wolves and being indoctrinated with a false grace message. Beware.

SO MUCH is said today in the modern church world of grace, grace, and more grace and yet, little to nothing is ever mentioned of the holiness of God. WOW! Are we really gullible enough to believe that we have divine grace in its proper biblical perspective?

When’s the last time your favorite “grace teacher” even mentioned what God’s Word says of His grace in Titus 2:11-12? Go see why they never mention that! Did Jude not warn us of the “ungodly men” who’d pervert God’s grace? (Jude 4)

It’s only the sin-justifying, grace-perverting frauds who hate personal accountability and obedience as the manifestation, the fruit of true worship and love for God (Titus 2:11-12; Jude 4).

IF you love God, truly, you will obey Him. Those who do not obey Christ, don’t love Him (John 14:15; 1 John 2:3-6, etc.).

Hell is full of people who got saved, then made excuses for their Christ-denying, cross-less life on earth (Matthew 7:21; Titus 1:16).
The way modern wolves preach you’d think grace was the only thing found in the New Testament. Oh, and a perverted grace at that! In this we see the prophetic utterance of the Holy Ghost, of the perverting of the grace of God, through Jude manifesting before our very eyes.

Many of the vile snakes operating as pastors today in the modern church received their theological marketing degree from an evangelical, vatican-controlled seminary. These men are peddling a false grace and are fulfilling the prophecy of Jude 4. Our part to fulfill is Jude 3 – to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” In other words to expose these “ungodly men” who teach the eternal security doctrine of devils!

Is it not also telling that no such divine attribute of “Grace, grace, grace” appears anywhere in Holy Scripture, and yet “Holy, holy, holy,” appears not once but twice (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8)?

Do you know anyone who calls themself a “grace teacher”? Do you know anyone who uses the term “sovereign grace”? Beware.

Easy grace sells. This is why it’s overemphasized by the marketers many call “pastors.”

YOU can plainly see when someone is refusing to be honest about their sin when they migrate to the grace, grace, grace, “sovereign grace” delusionment. Simultaneously they evade truth, holiness, judgment to come, hell, the gospel necessity of the crucified life – the daily cross, etc.. BEWARE of devils like this (Jude 3-4). ETERNAL SECURITY / OSAS is a diabolical myth espoused by Christ-denying, cross-denying counterfeits.

WHEN you hear the term “sovereign grace,” it’s coming from a Calvinist, reformed heretic.

Those who cry “grace, grace, grace,” “sovereign grace,” “once saved always saved,” and “eternal security” are frauds – the very “ungodly men” the Holy Ghost warned us about in Jude 3-4. Hint: These delusional, diabolical wolves NEVER even mention, don’t even know, and intentionally evade GRACE Scriptures such as Titus 2:11-12. And they do so because they want nothing to do with personal responsibility in the crucified life – without which no man can live in an abiding, Heaven-ready relationship with Christ! Read John 15:1-6.

Hell is full of OSAS counterfeits! Caught red-handed are agents of the father of all twists, half-truths, and lying deceptions! Discerning Satan’s agents.

The Necessity of Continuing in the Grace of God to the End of our Lives on this Earth

“Grace” theology that excludes divinely inspired truth such as that found in Titus 2:11-12 is purposely withheld by “ungodly men” in order to pervert saving grace (Jude 3-4). 99% of today’s modern so-called, self-proclaimed “grace” teachers never mention Titus 2:11-12 and it’s by design. These are the very “ungodly men” who’ve turned God’s grace into a license to sin – without the consequence of losing salvation (Jude 3-4).

YOU’D better find out for yourself all that God’s Word says about grace….. Jude 3-4 tells us there are many “ungodly men” today perverting the original Gospel message of grace which never justifies sin but rather grants the divine ability to overcome all sin (Romans 6:1-2; Titus 2:11-14).

IT would be impossible for a preacher to be taking up the cross himself and not be preaching the cross, the crucified life. What’s that say for America’s preachers? (Philippians 3:18-19)

Reader, any observation on the vast number of times holiness appears as contrasted with grace? The point this illustrates is that grace-perverting wolves over-emphasize and pervert grace while ignoring the holiness of God which is much more prevalent in the Bible. In Jude 3-4 we are mandated specifically to “earnestly contend” against these Christ-denying, cross-less, grace-perverting wolves.

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 3-4

In fulfillment of this profound prophecy (above), today we see so many so-called, self-proclaimed “grace teachers” who are the very “ungodly men” we are warned of and told to “earnestly contend” against.

Have you ever noticed that there are no people calling themselves “holiness teachers”? Is that not telling? Such a declaration would certainly mean very low numbers and not much popularity among sinful men, right? Right! Holiness preaching doesn’t tickle ears and garner nickels, noses, and numbers (2 Timothy 4:2-4).

Today, we often hear a lot about the biblical doctrines of grace, faith, and mercy and yet seldom hear of the biblical doctrines of the cross of Christ, the crucified life God calls us to, repentance, abiding in Christ, enduring to the end to be saved, bringing forth good fruit, holiness, and being ready for Christ’s return.

Today we have many Calvinist devils who use the term “sovereign grace” but never “sovereign holiness.” Isn’t that interesting now that we’ve done the simple math and now know that “holy/holiness” nearly quadruples the number of times “grace” appears in the Bible? Do you think there could be an agenda? Duhhhhhh

You KNOW when you are listening to a wolf when he never speaks of holiness, fearing God, and obeying God, but rather always only speaks of grace, mercy, love, etc. RUN!

Divine grace is the means to holiness (via the cross, the daily crucified life) and never the excuse for sin!

Also, these vile, self-proclaimed “grace teachers” NEVER teach what God’s Word teaches about grace in Titus 2:11-12. Watch this and you will see why they intentionally negate this passage:

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;” Titus 2:11-12

Those truly saved by grace aren’t sitting around in the “eternal security” club like a bunch of moral cowards rejoicing that they are “saved no matter what.” No, they are learning – being taught by true divine saving grace – to be “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”

Here are Bible verses you will never hear these devils mention, much less desire to be honest with and expound upon:

“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” Hebrews 12:14

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16

There are a myriad of severe warnings that the lame “grace teachers” of today will never mention. Here are two more Bible passages the false grace teachers purposely avoid:

“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from ALL filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1

What kind of church is Jesus coming back for?

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 THAT he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27

The reason counterfeits intentionally avoid such biblical truth: Such biblical truth would interrupt their perpetration of a false grace. These wolves are running a scam that is ensnaring millions who refuse to truly repent and study the whole of God’s Word for themselves. They simply do not love the LORD and therefore His truth, and consequently will be “damned” eternally (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).

If you’ve been deceived, it’s only because you have refused to study God’s Word for yourself – as He commanded you to do (2 Timothy 2:15). Now repent, shut off the false teachers, and get into God’s Word!

Biblically speaking, we will only be permanently secure when we are with Him in glory. For now, if you’ve been truly born again, you must “endure to the end to be saved” (Matthew 10:22; 24:13).

They Myth of Eternal Security | Did Jesus and His Apostles Teach Eternal Security? Take a Look

The term sovereign grace never appears in Scripture and is the invention of the Calvinist devils the Holy Spirit warns us about in Jude 3-4. Calvinism is Heresy
Satan will give people a million pounds of truth to kill them with that one ounce of poison.

But Calvinism has ample amounts of poison and no one who holds Scripture as final authority could possibly buy into it. “A little leaven leaveneth (ruins) the whole lump” (Galatians 5:9). Here is a library of posts exposing the roots and false doctrines of Calvinism. Calvinism

The Truth about Holiness [podcast]

“Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” Exodus 15:11 As we just read, divine “holiness” is “glorious.” Holiness is not what most of us think it is. Holiness in the divine economy is something of great “beauty” and utterly refreshing (Psalms 96:9). It seems that holiness is not merely a divine attribute but rather the divine nature of the Almighty. Are we ready to allow our LORD, who alone is “Holy, holy, holy,” to define what holiness truly is and how He brings it […]

Can You Forfeit Salvation by Living in Sin? [podcast]

Those who foolishly espouse the myth of eternal security/once saved always saved, do so because they worship self, not the Savior. Their heretical theology is built around what caters to them, to their sin, and not Christ who is “Holy, holy, holy.” (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8; 1 Peter 1:18-19, etc.). They’ve made a god in their own evil image and are idolaters. Do you realize that the the apostle Paul named 5 specific sins that kept God’s people out of their promise land (which equates to Heaven) Can You Forfeit Salvation by Living in Sin? (1 Corinthians 10:1-13) “What shall we […]

GOD’S GRACE “IN THIS PRESENT WORLD” TITUS 2:12 [podcast]

Excerpt from the book Lie of the Ages LOTS OF FRAUDS WHO CLAIM TO BE SAVED BY GRACE YET DEFEND INSTEAD OF ADMITTING, REPENTING, CALLING OUT AND CONFESSING SIN. “Grace” that isn’t leading you to live godly in this present world, denying ungodliness instead of living in it, is NOT saving grace. You are lost if this is the phony “grace” you have. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” Titus 2:11-12 YES God’s […]

Can a Believer be Cut Off After being Saved? [podcast]

Paul reminds us Gentiles believers of how God “cut off” His own people, the Jews, when they rebelled against Him, and that He will also “cut off” any of us who do not continue in His goodness and severity (Romans 11:20-22). Any person who rejects this truth is a grace-perverting, sin-justifying fraud who has made a fake god in their own image due to the refusal to truly repent. “Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches (Jews), take heed lest he also spare […]

Abiding

The Death before the Death [podcast]

Gethsemane Preceded Calvary

“And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22:42-44

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30

“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:10-12

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?” Luke 9:23-25

Shall We Freshly Declare the Cross to be Front and Center in our Personal Lives?

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

5 Aspects of the Mind of Christ [podcast]

5 Components of the Mind of Christ from Philippians 2 Jesus Christ made Himself of no reputation. He took upon Him the form of a servant. He was made in the likeness of men. He humbled Himself. He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:2-10 “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but […]

The Cross and the Throne of Grace [podcast]

“Hid with Christ in God” “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4 The safest place in the universe is in the cross of Christ: “your life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). Our place of protection is […]

Raised Up in Christ [podcast]

3 Resurrections to Celebrate 1. Christ’s resurrection (Matthew 27:64; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, etc.). 2. Your resurrection at the moment of regeneration and daily resurrection (Romans 1:4; 4:25; 6:3-14; 8:11; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Ephesians 2:6). 3. Final resurrection into glory or damnation (John 5:28; 29; 1 Corinthians 15). Christ’s resurrection guarantees ours and that we need not fear death. Dancing on hell’s grace. Read 1 Corinthians 15 serveral times. “But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and […]

The Only Way Up is Down [podcast]

Chapter 8 from the book Raised Up (narration) “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18 The Down and Up Principle of God’s Kingdom “And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root DOWNWARD, and bear fruit UPWARD.” Isaiah 37:31 The Scriptures follow a pattern of death and resurrection, a downward death and upward life. See if you can observe such a truth in the following verses: “The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth UP all those that be bowed DOWN.” Psalms 145:14 Do you possess the blessed desire to be raised up by […]

Abiding

“Rend Your Heart, and Not Your Garments” [podcast]

Who Does God Look to? Who Does God Dwell in?

Beware of any man pretending to represent Christ who isn’t praying and preaching for you to be possessed by a humble and contrite heart.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3

“‘Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’ (Matthew 5:3). A low condition. ‘Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted’ (Matthew 5:4). To mourn over our sin and our utter wickedness before a holy and righteous God. Those are the ones who will receive the comfort and ‘joy in the Holy Ghost’ (Romans 14:17).” Karen Cochran

Abandoning Our Own Sin, Our Own Way, for God and His Better Way!

To “rend your heart” is a biblical phrase meaning to tear open your heart in radical sincerity, true humility, and genuine repentance.

The phrase comes from Joel 2:13 in the Bible: “Rend your heart and not your garments and return to the Lord your God.”

One source notes the following:

“Context and Deeper Meaning:

Cultural Background: In ancient times, the Jewish people would tear (rend) their clothes as a public, highly visible display of grief or repentance.
The Spiritual Message: God is warning that outward rituals (like ripping clothing) are meaningless if the heart remains unchanged. Rending your heart implies breaking through your pride, letting go of excuses, and being completely vulnerable and authentic before God.
The Reward: The verse goes on to say that God is “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.” Tearing open your heart allows you to experience His forgiveness and restore your relationship with Him.”

To see an example of rending one’s physical garment in representation of rending their heart, see Acts 14:11-18.

Where is the LORD Looking?

“But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

“Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God” Joel 2:12-14

“What a gracious invitation is contained in these words. How tenderly the Lord reasons with his people. And what an encouraging assurance it folds up with. Reader! do not fail to observe that this call of the Lord, the accompanying grace to incline the heart to the observance of it is implied. It is most blessed ever to remember that when the Lord thus comes forth in his endearing invitations, he is secretly inclining the heart to accept them. Grace must first enter the heart, or there will be no inclination to obey.” Robert Hawker

“Jeremiah’s message was never meant to leave the heart in despair. Every warning from God carried an invitation to return. The Lord does not expose empty religion to shame His people, but to heal them. Repentance is not the loss of hope, it is the beginning of hope. Christ still receives every soul that comes with humility, and He gives living faith where there was only habit, peace where there was only fear, and joy where there was only emptiness. The call remains the same today, to draw near to Him with a sincere heart, trusting that His mercy is always greater than our weakness.” Dan Blincoe

A Fresh Start with God Always Begins with Humility and True Repentance

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19

Concerning rending our hearts before the LORD, one source notes:

The classic Bible passage on this concept is Joel 2:13, where God commands: “Rend your heart and not your garments”. In ancient biblical culture, tearing (or “rending”) one’s physical clothing was a customary, visible display of extreme grief, despair, or repentance. Through the prophet Joel, God is essentially telling His people: Stop doing the empty, outward religious ritual of tearing your clothes to show everyone how sorry you are. Instead, let me see true, inward brokenness over your sins.

Examples of Rending Physical Garments

In the Bible, the physical act of tearing clothes was used as a dramatic expression of deep emotion in several well-known narratives:

Joseph’s Brothers (Genesis 37:29, 34): When Reuben realized Joseph was not in the pit, and later when the brothers brought Joseph’s blood-stained coat to Jacob, they tore their clothes in grief and despair.
Job (Job 1:20): After hearing that he had lost all his wealth and his children, Job stood up and tore his robe as an outward sign of his overwhelming sorrow.
King David (2 Samuel 1:11-12): When David received news of the deaths of King Saul and Jonathan, he and his men tore their clothes to mourn.
The High Priest (Matthew 26:65): In a dramatic display of hypocritical outrage, the high priest tore his own garments when Jesus declared He was the Son of God, falsely accusing Him of blasphemy.

The Spiritual Meaning of “Rending the Heart”

The concept of “rending the heart” contrasts an outward show with inward reality.

Genuine Repentance: Tearing your heart means being vulnerable, acknowledging your brokenness, and deeply repenting of sin before God.
Prioritizing Relationships over Rituals: God desires a sincere heart—true sorrow and a desire to change—more than he desires traditional religious pageantry or dramatic, public displays of grief.
The Promise of Forgiveness: In Joel 2:13, the command to rend the heart is immediately followed by the promise of grace: “Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love”.

God sees beyond our external habits and religious actions, requiring instead a humble, contrite heart to fully experience His mercy.”

God’s Mercy

“Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?” Joel 2:12-14

In God’s Word, where we see men who tear open their garments…. This holds the illustration of rending our hearts before the LORD.

Don’t render outward tearing, no, rather, tear open your inner man, your heart—be honest, sincere, exposed, and vulnerable to the LORD whom you trust.

Let’s attempt to get at, to ascertain what God is commanding of His beloved people to do in this “rend your heart” passage.

“Joel 2:13: Rend your heart—Let it not be merely a rending of your garments, but let your hearts be truly contrite. Merely external worship and hypocritical pretensions will only increase the evil, and cause God to meet you with heavier judgments.

For he is gracious—Good and benevolent in his own nature.

Merciful—Pitying and forgiving, as the effect of goodness and benevolence.

Slow to anger —He is not easily provoked to punish, because he is gracious and merciful.

Of great kindness—Exuberant goodness to all them that return to him.

And repenteth him of the evil—Is ever ready to change his purpose to destroy, when he finds the culprit willing to be saved. See the notes on Exo_34:6, Exo_34:7.” Adam Clarke

“Joel 2:12-14: III. DIVINE APPEAL TO JUDAH TO REPENT (2:12-14)
Even now, the LORD calls the people to repentance. It is not too late to return to Him. But it must be more than outward ritual. Their turning was to be with all their heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

To rend our hearts is the consistent message, mandate of God to His people of all ages and eras.

“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” Psalms 34:18

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Psalms 51:17

In Joel 2 the LORD reminds those who are backslidden that He “is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? …”

They must meet His stated conditions to receive His blessings ….

He promises that He will forgive them as they…..

“Joel 2:12-27: THE AVERTING OF JUDGMENT
To rend the garment is easy, but a broken and contrite heart can be imparted only by the grace of the Holy Spirit. The love of God should bring us to repentance. He takes no pleasure in our miseries and if men repent and turn from their sin they find an immediate and loving welcome to the Father’s heart and home. Joel had called for the trumpet to announce war; he now directs the trumpet blast to summon the people, from the highest to the lowest, to plead for help. Prayer and true repentance and faith bring an immediate answer. As the husband yearns over his erring but repentant wife, and is indignant with those who have maltreated her, so will Jehovah remove from us, when we turn to Him, those who have cruelly oppressed us.
The great things Jehovah did against Egypt and Babylon are an earnest of what He will do again. The earth (and all the creation of God) … have good reason to rejoice in what awaits them. God promises not only to forgive sin, but to make us happy and well provided as if the locust and cankerworm had never settled upon our lives.” FB Meyer

Religious hypocrites, counterfeits, emphasize the outward to cover their inner darkness, rebellion.

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. 25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Matthew 23:23-25

“He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” Mark 7:6

"Blessed are the Poor In Spirit" [podcast]

Jesus’ longest recorded message to His people stands on the foundation of the very first words our Savior uttered in this sermon on the mount. The foundational truth of the entire sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7) is found in the very first words of our LORD when unveiling this elaborate, far-reaching, and profound message to His disciples of all ages. Here are His first words: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3 Note, “poor in spirit.” Not poor financially or religiously. The two should be mutually exclusive. The Greek word translated into English as “poor” is PTOCHOS. It […]

"I will have Mercy, and not Sacrifice": What does this really Mean? [podcast]

“But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Matthew 9:13 Jesus specifically instructs us to “go ye and learn what that meaneth.” UNTIL, as an individual, you begin to realize just how wicked you really are, you will never begin to appreciate what our KING and Savior did on that cross! Matthew 9:9-13 – Jesus calls Matthew 9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith […]

How to Walk in the Certainty, the Assurance of Salvation [podcast]

Real, actual assurance only comes from possessing authentic salvation – which begins with humility and true repentance, an original Gospel essential (Matthew 3:2; 4:17; Luke 13:3; 24:47; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 20:21, etc.). Heretical calvinists and eternal security frauds rob people of true assurance which ONLY comes from having a faith that works, is obedient to Christ. Read 1 John chapter 3 and embrace what the LORD is saying. Here’s a taste – “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the […]

The Importance of Pureness of Heart [podcast]

“He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.” Proverbs 22:11 With pureness of heart, our words shall issue forth with grace and seasoning and be more readily received by those who hear. “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Colossians 4:6 David’s Prayer “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psalms 19:14 “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they […]

Abiding

Have We Misunderstood Why Christians Meet Together? [video]

“We’ve created a whole culture of Christians who are just known for going to church.” Dr Wadsworth!

“It is hard to convince a man (modern pastor) he is wrong when his livelihood ($) depends on not knowing he is wrong.” Unknown

The Simplicity of Real Fellowship [podcast]

Satan thinks he has Stolen the Fellowship of the Saints “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Revelation 12:12 Exhorting God’s People “Daily” – not weekly. “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing […]

Church Membership, Manipulation, and Money [podcast]

Is there a connection between church membership and money? “Her princes (leaders) in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.” Ezekiel 22:27 There is no evidence in the New Testament of what we see today perpetrated as “church membership.” Church membership is merely a tool in the arsenal of modern pastors to capture the souls and the money of those ensnared by it. “Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.” 2 Corinthians 1:24 In […]

Is Church Membership Biblical? [podcast]

Churchianity vs Christianity Many use the term “very involved in church” instead of deeply rooted and in love with Jesus Christ. See the difference? Beware. Christ Jesus is your identity. “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14 What is your identity? Why have you chosen such to be that with which you identify? Most pastors make a big deal out of belonging to some organization, church, or group—because this puts them in charge—instead of Jesus. Beware. […]