Ray Comfort Says Sinful Believers are Not “Safe” in Jesus

By David J. Stewart

“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth
the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” —Romans 4:5

On page 1513 of THE EVIDENCE BIBLE, under the section “Questions & Objections,” Ray Comfort addresses the statement: “Because Jesus died on the cross we are forgiven of every sin.” Here’s Ray Comfort’s reply to this statement…

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." -Matthew 7:15“The forgiveness that is in Jesus Christ is conditional upon ‘repentance towards God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ’ (Acts 20:21). It is a gift that God offers to everyone, but individuals must receive it by repenting and trusting in Christ, or they will remain dead in their sins. No one has Biblical grounds to continue in sin, assuming that they are safe just because Jesus died on the cross. See 1 John 3:4-6.” [Emphasis added]

SOURCE: THE EVIDENCE BIBLE, by Ray Comfort, pg. 1513; 2003, Bridge-Logos Publishers, Orlando, Florida

Those are some very dangerous words at the end, “…assuming that they are safe just because Jesus died on the cross.” We can identify two very distinct plans of salvation here... Mr. Comfort's verses the Bible's.

Ray Comfort's False Gospel...

Mr. Comfort makes the grave mistake of separating repentance from believing; thus, presenting them to the sinner as two separate steps to salvation. According to what you just read by Ray Comfort, a person must repent from their sins first (meaning to cease from committing them), and then (and only then) that person qualifies to place their faith in Jesus Christ. Mr. Comfort teaches that you repent and then believe, as a process. So according to Mr. Comfort's errant thinking, people who have faith but don't stop sinning have never repented and are not saved. In Mr. Comfort's false gospel, the sinner is obligated to try hard to stop sinning. This is damnable heresy, a wrong understanding of what it means to repent unto salvation, and a false gospel of self-righteousness.

The Biblical Gospel...

In sharp contrast, the Bible teaches that faith and repentance are inseparable. Although repentance and faith are two different parts of salvation, there is only ONE STEP. The man who believes has repented, and the man who repents has believed. This is evidenced in the Gospel of John where the words “believe” and “believed” appear 85-times; but the word “repent” is not mentioned (not even once). Clearly, repentance is part of believing. They happen simultaneously. In Biblical salvation, the sinner is not obligated to stop sinning. Eternal life is a free gift (Ephesians 2:8-9). A gift is simply received.

The major problem with Ray Comfort’s theology is his faulty understanding of what Biblical “repentance” means. It is interesting that Ray Comfort avoids defining the term directly; whereas the New Testament Greek does… METANOIA, “a change of mind.” That’s it! Ray Comfort understands repentance to mean literally forsaking one’s sinful lifestyle to get saved. He’s putting the cart before the horse. The changed life comes AFTER a person is saved; not as a prerequisite to be saved. This is what 1st John 3:4-6 means. A believer’s faith should be evidenced by a changed life; BUT, you can’t mandate that changed life, i.e., forsaking one’s sins, as part of saving faith.

Are not all believers “safe” in Jesus Christ? Yes, they certainly are safe (Ephesians 1:13; Isaiah 28:16; Romans 10:11); but Ray Comfort teaches they are not. Ray Comfort is teaching heresy to say that believers who fail to forsake their sins are not safe in their salvation. Such reasoning places a heavy burden upon the sinner, requiring one to depart from sinful bad habits as a prerequisite to be saved.

Ray Comfort's teaching here beckons the question: How much sin is considered "safe"? Aren't we all willful sinners at times? Yes indeed. Is any amount of sin "safe"? Clearly, Mr. Comfort interprets "repentance" for salvation as ceasing from one's sins, which is entirely wrong. Man's only part in salvation is to believe on Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43).

Dr. Harry Ironside (former pastor of Moody Memorial Church, 1930-1948) correctly understood repentance to mean…

"Repentance is the recognition of my sinnership — the owning before God that I am as vile as He has declared me to be in His holy Word."

SOURCE: Except Ye Repent, by Dr. Harry Ironside, chapter 3

Clearly, Ironside taught a Free Grace view of the Gospel. H.A. Ironside correctly recognized repentance as the confession that "one is utterly without merit" and that if one is "ever saved at all it can only be through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ." Salvation is without works of self-righteousness. Romans 4:5 plainly teaches that a man's faith is COUNTED for righteousness, i.e., the righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to one's heavenly record by faith. Repentance and faith are inseparable. The Gospel of John mentions the word "believe" 85-times; but the word "repent" is never mentioned even once. In genuine salvation, one who believes on Jesus Christ has repented; and one who repents has believed on the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

In sharp contrast, Ray Comfort separates repentance from faith, thus requiring lost sinners to cease from their sins as a prerequisite to placing their faith in Christ for salvation (which is a false gospel).

Ray Comfort Perverts Matthew 7:22-23

Ray Comfort Perverts Luke 8:13

Ray Comfort is a nice man, and I admire his courage, but he is wrong to teach that believing on Christ to forgive one's sins is not sufficient enough to be saved. Mr. Comfort clearly teaches that cleaning up one's sinful lifestyle is also required...

"If belief is all that is necessary for salvation, then the logical conclusion is that one need never repent.

SOURCE: http://www.livingwaters.com/witnessingtool/browse.shtml

The problem is that Mr. Comfort teaches that a person must stop living in sin in order to be saved, and that is self-righteousness. I'll prove it to you with Mr. Comfort's own words. On page 1197 of THE EVIDENCE BIBLE, Ray Comfort comments on Matthew 7:22,23...

"These are perhaps the most frightening verses in the Bible. Vast multitudes of professing Christians fit into the category spoken of here. They call Jesus 'Lord,' but they practice lawlessness. They profess faith in Jesus, but have no regard for the divine law. They tell 'fibs' or 'white' lies, take things that belong to others, have a roaming eye for the opposite sex, etc. They are liars, thieves, and adulterers at heart, who will be cast from the gates of heaven into the jaws of hell."

SOURCE: THE EVIDENCE BIBLE, by Ray Comfort, pg. 1197; 2003, Bridge-Logos Publishers, Orlando, Florida

Ladies and gentleman, Ray Comfort is teaching works salvation! According to what we just read by Ray Comfort, every believer who is still living in deliberate sin won't be allowed into Heaven. If you lust or tell lies, then Mr. Comfort teaches that you have never repented and are going to Hell. Ray Comfort has a complete misunderstanding of the Biblical meaning of REPENTANCE concerning salvation. John MacArthur, Paul Washer, Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort are all heretical Calvinists. The Lordship Salvation heresy is rooted in the works of John Calvin, particularly the Perseverance of The Saints heresy.

The correct interpretation of Matthew 7:22,23 must include verse 21...

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."

What is "the will of the Father"? The answer is found in John 6:40...

"And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day."

The group in Matthew 7:21-23 were unsaved because they refused to do God's will concerning salvation. It wasn't because they still had personal sins in their life. Every believer still has sin in their life! We all sin every day. That's not to say that we have God's approval to sin, God forbid (Romans 3:31). It just means that even the best of Christians are still sinners. Ray Comfort wrestles the Scriptures to his own destruction, and sadly for those who follow his false teachings.

It is not one's unwillingness to forsake personal sins that prevents a person from being saved; but rather, one's love for such sins. In John 5:40 Jesus said, "And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." Jesus didn't say, "Ye cannot come." He said, "Ye WILL NOT come." But if such a sinner does come to Jesus, acknowledging his guilt of sin and sincerely desiring to be forgiven, the Lord will save him eternally.

Jesus exclaimed in Mark 1:15, “...repent ye, and believe the gospel.” The Greek word for “repent” here is METANOEO, which means, “to change one's mind.” Biblical repentance is a change of one's mind. There is NO controversy if you believe the Bible.

Ray Comfort is an extremely popular evangelist, with his ministries, THE WAY OF THE MASTER and LIVING WATERS. Unfortunately, Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron teach the heresy of Lordship Salvation...

“Merely being sorry for your sins, or confessing them to God won't help you. You must turn from sin (repent).”

SOURCE: LIVING WATERS ministry, SAVE YOURSELF SOME PAIN

Heresy! That is self-righteousness! Adding even the slightest work of self-righteousness to the Gospel corrupts it into a false way, a false plan, a road to damnation.

 

What About Charles Spurgeon?

As with other false prophets, Ray Comfort leans heavily upon the quotes of historically great men to support his unbiblical position. THE EVIDENCE BIBLE quotes Spurgeon often. Unfortunately, Ray Comfort (as does John MacArthur) horribly take Charles Spurgeon's words out of context, and claim that Spurgeon taught Lordship Salvation. Nothing could be further from the truth, as this quote by Spurgeon himself plainly reveals...

"You must not expect that you will be perfect in "repentance" before you are saved. No Christian can be perfect. "Repentance" is a grace. Some people preach it as a condition of salvation. Condition of nonsense! There are no conditions of salvation. God gives the salvation himself..."

— Charles Spurgeon

SOURCE: http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0044.htm (from a sermon preached at the New Park Street Chapel, Southwark, on September 23, 1855)

Why doesn't Ray Comfort quote those words by Spurgeon? Ray Comfort is guilty of twisting the Scriptures around and misrepresenting the beliefs of Spurgeon to support his unbiblical position.
 

Pastor Harry Ironside Is Correct On Repentance

Pastor Harry A. Ironside - Man of GodPastor Harry A. Ironside (1876-1951) DIDN'T teach Lordship Salvation, which is evidenced in the following quote by Pastor Ironside...

"Repentance is the very opposite of meritorious experience. It is the confession that one is utterly without merit, and if he is ever saved at all it can only be through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, 'who gave himself a ransom for all.' Here is firm footing for the soul who realizes that all self-effort is but sinking sand. Christ alone is the Rock of our salvation."

SOURCE: Harry A. Ironside; Except Ye Repent, pg. 36

Clearly, Ironside taught a Free Grace view of the Gospel. Consider further the following quote by Dr. Ironside...

“The Gospel is not a call to repentance, or to amendment of our ways, to make restitution for past sins, or to promise to do better in the future. These things are proper in their place, but they do not constitute the Gospel; for the Gospel is not good advice to be obeyed, it is good news to be believed. Do not make the mistake then of thinking that the Gospel is a call to duty or a call to reformation, a call to better your condition, to behave yourself in a more perfect way than you have been doing in the past …

Nor is the Gospel a demand that you give up the world, that you give up your sins, that you break off bad habits, and try to cultivate good ones. You may do all these things, and yet never believe the Gospel and consequently never be saved at all.”

SOURCE: Harry A. Ironside, from the sermon: What Is The Gospel?

Amen! Pastor Ironside is correct concerning Biblical repentance and salvation. Yes, repentance is necessary for salvation, but Biblical repentance is simply acknowledging my sinnership, the owning before God that I am as sinful as He hath declared me to be in His Word.

Read what Dr. Ironside said in his Gospel tract, ANOTHER GOSPEL? ...

"When anyone comes promising salvation to those ‘who make full surrender' of all that they have to God, and who 'pay the price of full salvation' he is preaching another gospel, for the price was paid on Calvary's cross and the work that saves is finished. It was Christ Jesus who made the full surrender when He yielded His life on Calvary that saves us, not our surrender in any way to Him."

SOURCE: Harry A. Ironside, from the Gospel tract, Another Gospel.

What a contrast in teaching from that of Ray Comfort! Harry Ironside is teaching the Bible correctly; Ray Comfort is not. We are saved by Christ's righteousness alone, and not in any way by our own self-righteousness. If a man must stop lusting and telling little white lies as part of saving faith (as Mr. Comfort teaches), then our salvation is dependent upon our willingness to clean up our sinful lifestyle and commit our life to live for God. Jack Chick teaches this same heresy.

"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." -2nd Corinthians 11:13,14

Photo: Ray Comfort on Left, Kirk Cameron on Right

The FACT of the matter is that the Bible never uses the phrases “repent of your sins” or “turn from your sins” in regards to salvation. Salvation is the free gift of God—not of works—and relies totally upon God's mercy through the LITERAL blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:12); not “turning from the act of sin” (Titus 3:5, Ephesians 2:8,9). 

“Repent” in regards to salvation does not mean “stop living in sin.” It means to “change one's mind.” Carefully notice in Mark 1:15 what Jesus said... “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” Notice that Jesus DIDN'T say “repent ye, and forsake your sins.”  No, rather, Jesus said, “repent ye, and believe the gospel.” This is why we find the word “believe” mentioned 85-times in the Gospel of John, but the word “repent” is not mentioned even once. The man who has believed has repented, and the man who has repented has believed.

Salvation is NOT a process. You don't give up your sins first as Ray Comfort teaches, and then place your faith in Christ. A changed life is the FRUIT of genuine repentance, and not a part of the ROOT of saving-faith. Lordship Salvationists have it backwards. The Bible teaches regeneration, which brings reformation. Lordship Salvationists require reformation as a condition of regeneration.

Aiden W. Tozer (April 21, 1897 to May 12, 1963) was a false prophet! Mr. Tozer unquestionably taught Lordship Salvation. At one time I viewed him as a great man of God, but then one day realized that he taught a false gospel. Mr. Tozer errantly states:

"In the Bible the offer of pardon on the part of God is conditioned upon intention to reform on the part of man. There can be no spiritual regeneration till there has been a moral reformation" (The Best of A.W. Tozer, Book 2, pg. 115-117; Compiled by Warren W. Wiersbe).

Wrong! Salvation is receiving, NOT giving. Mr. Tozer requires sinners to “reform” themselves before they can be saved. This goes totally contrary to the plainest teaching in the Bible. Romans 4:5 states: “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”  Mr. Tozer is teaching works salvation!!! Salvation is a free gift, freely given and freely received. Tozer's teaching on repentance is that you cannot come to Christ for salvation unless you first intend not to walk in sin after you receive Him. This is “qualification by works” as a prerequisite for receiving Christ as Savior. The Gospel is the most delicate thing in the universe and is so easily corrupted. It is so simple... We are SINNERS and Jesus is the SAVIOR. When anyone starts mandating that people give up their sinful habits to be saved, they've just made salvation extremely difficult and burdensome, because lifelong sinful habits are not easily broken. God is the One Who changes us after we get saved; it is not a requirement to salvation.

I'll say it again and again... A person doesn't give up their sins to get saved; they give up their sins because they ARE SAVED! A changed life is the FRUIT of genuine repentance; and not a prerequisite of the ROOT of saving-faith. Eternal life is a free gift. Salvation is receiving, not giving. Our part is simply to acknowledge our guilt of sin and receive Jesus as the Christ. John 1:12, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

Ray comfort and Kirk Cameron are heretics! They teach that lost sinners MUST forsake their actual sins to be saved...

"You must turn away from sin and turn to God. Desire to have NOTHING to do with sin, and surrender your life to the One who can save you... If you will confess and forsake your sins..."

SOURCE: http://www.livingwaters.com/good/022.shtml

Read once again what Dr. Harry Ironside said in his Gospel tract, ANOTHER GOSPEL? ...

"When anyone comes promising salvation to those ‘who make full surrender' of all that they have to God, and who 'pay the price of full salvation' he is preaching another gospel, for the price was paid on Calvary's cross and the work that saves is finished. It was Christ Jesus who made the full surrender when He yielded His life on Calvary that saves us, not our surrender in any way to Him."

SOURCE: Harry A. Ironside, from the Gospel tract, Another Gospel.

Ray Comfort is condemned by his own words. The Bible is clear in Romans 4:5... "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Did not the thief on the cross utter just a few words ... "Lord, remember me"? Does not the Bible proclaim in Romans 10:13... "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved"? Why corrupt "the simplicity that is in Christ" (2nd Corinthians 11:3)? 

Biblically, one need only acknowledge their guilt of sin under God's Holy Law (Romans 3:19) and believe on Jesus for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43). Ray Comfort perverts the simplicity of the Gospel. Any guilty sinner that believes on Christ for the forgiveness of sins will be saved eternally. The changed life comes as a newborn babe (new believer) feeds on the milk of the Word of God (1st Peter 2:2). Salvation is a free gift (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9), freely given and freely received (Revelation 22:17). We must not confuse the FRUIT of genuine repentance with the ROOT of repentance, which is... "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). A changed life is the result of genuine repentance, and not a part of saving-faith. Biblical repentance is a change of mind that involves turning to Jesus Christ to be forgiven of one's sins.
 

No Difference Between the False Gospel of Ray Comfort and Benny Hinn

Here's the prayer Benny Hinn suggests lost sinners to pray to be saved, as quoted from Hinn's own website...

Dear Lord Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God. I believe You came to earth 2,000 years ago. I believe you died for me on the cross and shed Your blood for my salvation. I believe you rose from the dead and ascended on high. I believe You are coming back again to earth. Dear Jesus, I am a sinner. Forgive my sin. Cleanse me now with Your precious blood. Come into my heart. Save my soul right now. I give you my life. I receive You now as my Savior, my Lord, and my God. I am Yours forever, and I will serve You and follow You the rest of my days. From this moment on, I belong to You only. I no longer belong to this world, nor to the enemy of my soul. I belong to You, and I am born again. Amen! [emphasis added]

SOURCE: http://www.bennyhinn.org/salvation/default.cfm

Although sincere and innocent sounding, it's a false gospel. Why? It's because Mr. Hinn ADDED to the Gospel. Where does the Word of God require serving and following Christ, i.e., a surrendered life, to be saved? It does NOT. By the way, Benny Hinn has publicly endorsed praying to Our Lady of Fatima on the Larry King Show. Every hellbound Catholic has no problem with the gospel of ray Comfort and Benny Hinn. The Biblical Gospel excludes ALL forms of self-righteousness.

Listen for the third time (because I want you to get this) to what the man of God, Dr. Harry Ironside (1876-1951), former pastor of Moody Memorial Church (1930-1948), had this to say about Lordship Salvation...

"When anyone comes promising salvation to those ‘who make full surrender' of all that they have to God, and who 'pay the price of full salvation' he is preaching another gospel, for the price was paid on Calvary's cross and the work that saves is finished. It was Christ Jesus who made the full surrender when He yielded His life on Calvary that saves us, not our surrender in any way to Him."

SOURCE: Harry A. Ironside, from the Gospel tract, Another Gospel.

Benny Hinn and Ray Comfort teach ANOTHER GOSPEL that is not found in God's Word. Dr. Ironside is correct, anyone who teaches that salvation requires surrendering to Christ's Lordship is teaching a false gospel. That makes Jack Chick a false prophet, because he requires people to surrender their life to Christ to be saved. Jack Chick does not believe that faith in Christ is enough to be saved; he also teaches that a sinner MUST have intentions to reform to be saved. That is a very false gospel, ANOTHER GOSPEL.

Heretics require a changed-life, i.e., surrendering to Christ's Lordship at the time of salvation as part of saving-faith. This is wrong, unbiblical and nowhere taught in the Scriptures. The word "gift" speaks for itself in Scripture, and only those who are self-righteous would dare say that salvation can be lost, or must be maintained in any way. It is the gift of God.

“To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name
whosoever believeth in him
shall receive remission of sins.”
—Acts 10:43


Ray Discomfort  |  Ray Comfort Perverts Luke 8:13  |  The Damnable Heresy of Ray Comfort

Ray Comfort's Perverted Gospel  |  Hell's Best Kept Secret  |  The Unbiblical REPENTANCE Heresy!

Ray Comfort: Is it Just a Matter of Semantics?

The Evidence Bible Exposed!

Spurgeon DIDN'T Teach Lordship Salvation

Harry Ironside DIDN'T Teach Lordship Salvation


Paul Washer’s Washed-up Gospel

Dr. John R. Rice speaks on worldly Christians  Are they not saved?

Dr. Curtis Hutson speaks on Biblical repentance Must a person stop sinning to be saved?

Paul Washer Calls Soulwinning Baptists 'Stupid'
(Lordship Salvationists... making salvation hard)


Ye Must Be Born Again! | You Need HIS Righteousness!