It hurts me to say this, but the famous website gotquestions.org perverts the plan of salvation. I'll explain why.
Repentance
Here is what owner S. Michael Houdmann writes about repentance:
"While repentance is not a work that earns salvation, repentance unto salvation does result in works. It is impossible to truly and fully change your mind without that causing a change in action. In the Bible, repentance results in a change in behavior. That is why John the Baptist called people to “produce fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8). A person who has truly repented from rejection of Christ to faith in Christ will give evidence of a changed life (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:19-23; James 2:14-26). Repentance, properly defined, is necessary for salvation. Biblical repentance is changing your mind about Jesus Christ and turning to God in faith for salvation (Acts 3:19). Turning from sin is not the definition of repentance, but it is one of the results of genuine, faith-based repentance towards the Lord Jesus Christ." https://www.gotquestions.org/repentance.html
Earlier in that article Houdmann describes repentance just as a change of mind, which is correct. The Greek meaning for "to repent" is "metanoeo", which is simply "to change your mind, to think different". However, it's not true that it always must lead to a changed life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 talks about our new nature which will enter eternity. It's a biblical fact that we have two natures. You cannot deny that looking at Romans 7:25: "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." Our old carnal nature is still here.
There is a second meaning of repentance, which also is a change of mind, that is "metamelomai" ("to regret, to feel sorry). This seems rather to be what Houdmann requires.
However, in salvation passages like Mark 1:15, Luke 13:3 and Acts 3:19 the word "metaneoe" was used.
Galatians 5:19-23 speaks about inheritance. There are three groups. One is the Arminian group which says you'll lose your salvation if you fall back into sin. The Calvinist side, which Houdmann is very close too - even though he clearly refuted Calvinism - says those people were never regenerated from the beginning on. And there is the third group, which gets inheritance right. Inheritance is NOT the same as entrance. The Greek term is "kleronomia", which means "to receive a portion". So it's clearly talking about eternal rewards, not salvation.
While the Book of James clearly talks about justification before men. Otherwise it wouldn't have said "brethren" in the very beginning.
We also must be careful about the sermon on the Mount. It was still Old Covenant and not under the dispensation of Grace. See Hebrews 9:16: "For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator." The Apostle Paul also made it clear that the Church Age didn't start until Christ was resurrected: "And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins." (1 Corinthians 15:17)
Here a great explaination about repentance by the legendary Jack Hyles:
“Repentance is not some little silly, 'I'm sorry.' Repentance is not simply a fear of God. Repentance is not a monk fasting and afflicting his body in a monastery. Repentance is not remorse because of sin's consequences. Repentance is not penance performed before the pope as you kiss his toe... Repentance is not being sorry for what I've done wrong. It is not confessing one's sins to a priest. It is not just conviction of sin. It is not the signing of a pledge of abstinence. Repentance is that thing when you come before God and see yourself as you are, and see Him as he is, and say with Isaiah 'Woe is me, for I am unclean!'” —Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001), a quote from his sermon, THE GOODNESS OF GOD LEADETH TO REPENTANCE!
Another one comes from Steve McVey:
To genuinely repent is simply to align our belief with the work of Jesus Christ.
http://www.stevemcvey.com/the-true-meaning-of-repentance/
There is not much I can disagree!
True repentance is nothing but realizing you are a hell deserving sinner. If you must have a change of heart, then it's a work. Want proof? See Jonah 3:9-10:
"Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not."
Apostasy
"An apostate is someone who abandons his religious faith. It is clear from the Bible that apostates are people who made professions of faith in Jesus Christ but never genuinely received Him as Savior. They were pretend believers. Those who turn away from Christ never really trusted Him to begin with, as 1 John 2:19 says, “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.” Those who apostatize are simply demonstrating that they are not true believers, and they never were." https://www.gotquestions.org/apostasy-salvation.html
It actually can happen that a true believer departs from the faith. I mean, where's the free will? Of course the Holy Spirit will convict him and try to get him back, no question. But sometimes that never happens. Such a person will not lose his salvation, but his fruit and his rewards, and be "saved, yet so as by fire." (1 Corinthians 3:15)
The Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32 also walked away. OK, he returned. But God is patient.
An important example is Demas. Paul writes about Demas: "For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia." (2 Timothy 4:10)
Was he saved or not?
"And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you." (Colossians 4:11-14)
"But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you. There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus; Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen." (Philemon 1:22-25)
There is zero doubt that Demas was saved, but then he quit his relationship to Christ. Please do not missunderstand, I do not believe it is possible to give back your salvation. You cannot undo your new birth. But you can let your flesh win, even though it's a foolish idea. It's indeed possible! Rare, but possible. The only thing I see as impossible is that a Christian, once truly saved, will end up in hell. Those who will were really never regenerated and just caught up in religion to believe another Gospel. Sadly the Gospel of GotQuestions falls under that category. Only small effort added, but that's already enough.
Conclusion
Houdmann and GotQuestions are clearly caught between grace and works. I think there are a lot of people that came to salvation through it, but rather because they got encouraged to read the Bible exactly. Overall GotQuestions sadly teaches heresy.
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