ADAM FANNIN LAW OF LIBERTY BAPTIST CHURCH: REPENTANCE CHALLENGE

REPENT OF SINS - False Gospel (youtube.com)

Adam Fannin is the pastor of The Law of Liberty Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida, I have decided to take him up on his Repentance Challenge. 

Fannin's interpretation of repent is "to change our minds about Jesus Christ " or "to be persuaded to change your faith." (Luke 16:30-31). Fannin insists that the bible defines repentance as a change of mind and he rejects the concept of repentance as a change in direction or turning from sin. Isn't turning away from a false belief system such as the JW'S to Jesus Christ the ultimate in turning away from sin? 

Repentance encompasses two sides of the same coin i.e. it involves changing one's mind about sin as well as putting one's trust in Jesus Christ. Don't the demons believe without repentance? (James 2:19). The scriptures inform us that salvation is the gift of God by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:8). Those who define repentance as a "work" do so because they understand "repent" in rudimentary terms as "turning from sin". However, repentance cannot be considered a "work"; it is a volitional response to God's grace and the conviction of the Holy Spirit. (John 16:8-11).

Fannin says he is not an advocate of going back to the Hebrew and the Greek languages. The Law of Liberty Baptist Church is an Independent Baptist church that adheres to the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible. The KJV is a good version, but it is not 100% correct and King James Onlyism can sometimes impede our understanding of the original texts. In this instance, Fannin uses the short definition of repent - metanoeó: to change one's mind.1 

The short definition of μετανοέω is restrictive as demonstrated below.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary:

1. (a.) Prostrate and rooting; -- said of stems.
2. (a.) Same as Reptant.
3. (v. i.) To feel pain, sorrow, or regret, for what one has done or omitted to do.
4. (v. i.) To change the mind, or the course of conduct, on account of regret or dissatisfaction.
5. (v. i.) To be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness; to cease to love and practice sin.
6. (v. t.) To feel pain on account of; to remember with sorrow.
7. (v. t.) To feel regret or sorrow; -- used reflexively.
8. (v. t.) To cause to have sorrow or regret; -- used impersonally.2 

Blue Letter Bible:
to change one's mind, i.e. to repent
to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins
"Repentance (metanoia, 'change of mind') involves a turning with contrition from sin to God; the repentant sinner is in the proper condition to accept the divine forgiveness." (F. F. Bruce. The Acts of the Apostles [Greek Text Commentary], London: Tyndale, 1952, p. 97.)3 

Ellicott: "(2) Repent.--Etymologically, the word 'repent,' which has as its root-meaning the sense of pain, is hardly adequate as a rendering for the Greek word, which implies change of mind and purpose. In the Greek version of the Old Testament, the word is used of divine rather than human repentance, i.e., of a change of purpose implying pity and regret (1Samuel 15:29; Jeremiah 4:28; Jeremiah 18:8). In Wisdom Of Solomon 5:3; Ecclesiasticus 17:24; Ecclesiasticus 48:15, it includes the sorrow out of which the change comes."4  

Meyer: "Matthew 3:2. Μετανοεῖτε] denotes the transformation of the moral disposition, which is requisite in order to obtain a share in the kingdom of the Messiah."4

Cambridge Bible: Repent ye] The original implies more than 'feel sorrow or regret for sin,' it is rather 'change the life, the heart, the motive for action.' It was a call to self-examination and reality of life.4

Clarke: "Repent — μετανοειτε. This was the matter of the preaching. The verb μετανοεω is either compounded of μετα, after, and νοειν to understand, which signifies that, after hearing such preaching, the sinner is led to understand, that the way he has walked in was the way of misery, death, and hell."5 

Blue Letter Bible: "The Hebrew word 'נָחַם' (nâcham) has several meanings, depending on the context:
To be sorry, rue, suffer grief, repent:This usage refers to feeling remorse or regret for one’s own actions. For example, in the Bible, it is used in passages like Genesis 6:6, where God regrets creating humanity.
It can also mean to change one’s mind or turn away from a previous course of action."6 

For the benefit of Fannin and his followers, I have used the KJV in the quotes below. The concept of repentance from sin is a definite factor in these verses.  

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38).

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).

And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; (Luke 3:3; Mark 1:4).

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. (2 Corinthians 7:10). 

I have addressed the further error of "once saved always saved" (OSAS) in a previous post.7

1. Strong's Greek: 3340. μετανοέω (metanoeó) -- to change one's mind or purpose (biblehub.com)
2. Bible Dictionary: Repent (biblehub.com)
3. G3340 - metanoeō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (esv) (blueletterbible.org)
4. Matthew 3:2 Commentaries: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (biblehub.com)
5. Matthew 3 Clarke's Commentary (biblehub.com)
6. H5162 - nāḥam - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (rsv) (blueletterbible.org)
7. WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED? (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)