One of the privileges of being involved in ministry is the opportunity to deal one-on-one with people as they struggle with various issues. I especially love it when that individual is a young person who is grappling with Scriptural truth and it's application to their lives.

Recently I have had several opportunities to work with such individuals. The interesting thing to me was that although these young people were coming from very different circumstances, they were ultimately dealing with the same basic issue - the nature of true salvation. As I listened to each one pour out their heart, heard their confusion and their desperate pleas for help and understanding, I realized that the main problem each faced was an insufficient grasp of salvation and all it involved.

These young people did not doubt the historical aspects of the Gospel (the Person of Jesus Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection). On the contrary, what they seemed to lack was a proper understanding of what Christ's work accomplished and how the cross was to be appropriated in their lives both for salvation and for all of life. As we would investigate these concepts together, I found that we began to expose some of the fallacious doctrines they had been taught, which were keeping their hearts and minds in bondage. However, as these misunderstandings were revealed and dealt with, each one came to a greater measure of freedom as the work of Christ was applied, by faith, in their lives.

As I proceed to share with you what I shared with them I must begin by saying that theologians have debated for centuries some of the details of which I will write, specifically their order of occurrence. My purpose here is not to espouse one view or the other (although I certainly do have my opinion). I hope therefore that some of you will excuse me if, in your mind, I don't explain it quite the way you would.

Salvation is, essentially, what I like to call a "great exchange" - a transaction between a person and his or her Maker. An "exchange", of course, involves both sides, each giving the other something of value.

For our immediate purposes, the first element of this "great exchange" concerns that which we give to God: namely, ourselves. This is the essence of the word "repentance". Some people think that repentance is just a grandiose confession of sin, but it is more than that. It is, at root, a navigational term (although used little today, to be sure) implying a reversal of direction, a turning around. "Repentance" occurs when we were heading one way and then do an about face, resulting in our heading the other way.

With that in mind, what was the "direction" in which we were heading from which we need to repent? A simple answer of "sins", though certainly legitimate, would really take more definition to be accurate.

When Adam and Eve ate the fruit in the garden, what was their ultimate trespass? It was the act of exalting themselves above God in their hearts. They decided that they would be the ones who determined truth and righteousness in their lives, and thus they would obey no other master. "Self" became king, reigning on the throne initially intended for God.

Fast forward to the present time in which we, descended from Adam, are brought into this world with that same essential selfishness. Our entire lives are ultimately wrapped up in seeking only that which serves the Self. We really can't help it, for this is our nature. In the same way that one inherits the physical nature of his parents, and nothing can be done to change it, so too do we inherit the spiritual nature of our first parents - and nothing we do can change that either. Religious activities, New Year's resolutions, and self-help seminars may change what we do, but they ultimately cannot change who we are. The Bible labels our condition as being "dead". The last time I checked it doesn't matter how much make-up you put on a corpse - it doesn't change anything.

That is where true repentance comes in. More than just confessing and "feeling sorry" for sins we have committed, it is first acknowledging and then renouncing this Nature of Sin. It is turning from a course of self-service, and to a new life of settled obedience to and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, some people mistakenly label repentance as a work, and therefore not a part of salvation. Well, repentance is NOT a work, my friends - it is a response. It is the only conceivable response to seeing the Lord for Who He is - the Almighty yet Offended Creator Who nevertheless redeemed us by His own blood. It is the "natural" response when we see the Lord suffering in our place, but then conquering through the resurrection, and now seated victoriously on the very throne of heaven. As we begin to grasp what the Lord has done for us, the only thing we can do is fall on the knees of our hearts in deep gratitude and wonder, crying out "Not My Will But Thine Be Done!".

That, my friends, is true repentance, and without it there is no salvation. Jesus Christ "died for all that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf" (II Corinthians 5:15). He did not die for us that we might go on living for ourselves, serving ourselves, promoting our own interests. The heart that is still embroiled with itself is not the Lord's.

Allow me to ask you now: have you ever repented? Have you ever acknowledged your utter sinfulness to the Lord, and in humility given your life to Him? Jesus Christ said very directly while walking this earth, "Unless you repent, you shall likewise perish" (Luke 13:5).

It need not be a morbidly introspective event. It doesn't need to be accompanied with demonstrations of penance or drummed-up sincerity. A simple prayer, surrendering yourself to the Lord will do.

And so we have the first element of the "great exchange". We step down off the throne of our lives and give it entirely to the Lord. And, the one who thus truly repents finds that God has something wonderful in store - but we'll have to speak on that later.

In His Service,

Stephen Tecklenberg
President

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Ministry Report

Romanian Summer Camp. On July 18, Tony Rupp and Stephen Tecklenberg departed for the mountains of Romania for our third year of summer camp there.

Approximately 160 young people attended the two, week-long sessions. Each day they were engaged in over 2 hours of Biblical instruction, along with various sport and adventure activities.

The course of study centered on the work of Christ, starting at the beginning of creation to lay the stage for the need for the Cross, moving through history and then focusing on the actual events surrounding the crucifiction. After laying that groundwork, we then moved into discussions on applying the cross to our lives today.

We rejoice in the news that at least one young man received the Lord during that time, and that several other young people were challenged in their walks with God. Please continue to pray for them that the message of the Cross would not fade in their hearts now that they are home.

Creation Family Seminar. On August 3rd and 4th, we were privileged to host a regional creation seminar with Answers in Genesis. All told, about 300 adults and 150 children attended this two day conference which included lectures by Ken Ham, David Menton, and Buddy Davis, video presentations, a music concert with Buddy Davis and our own Beachmont Boys, and special hands-on workshops for children ages 4-10 led by Buddy Davis and Stacia Byers.

We were especially encouraged to see the enthusiastic response from the attendees, as even weeks afterwards many indicated how much the conference spoke to them and equipped them in their faith. Our ultimate prayer is that it would be a step in returning the Body of Christ to a position of absolute adherence to the Scriptures.