[bearbear]

I understand more where you guys are coming from now. I lean towards Lee living in self-deception after reading Jane's book and other accounts. It seems like he believed in deputy-authority with all his heart so he lived as he was accountable to no one, except God as he mentioned in his phone conversation with Sal. The hypocrisy is astounding considering that Lee expected Sal to make the accounts in the Church of Boston transparent to the saints there, yet he himself expected Sal to understand that the MOTA had no need to be transparent about the financial accounts of his own ministry.

Lee's error was that he was abiding in doctrines like Deputy Authority and not the plain word of God. If he really was remaining in Christ and his words like Jesus told us to in John 15, he would have realized his self deception, but when we start straying from the truth of God's word and into man made doctrines and traditions, we allow Satan to wreak havoc over our lives all while thinking we are doing good.

Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

Witness Lee's repentance at the end of his life seemed to focus on receiving of other believers, making no mention of DayStar or Eli-type sins related to his sons. Maybe he had a private confession before the Lord, but that's not really repentance. Jesus said "Salvation has come to this house" to Zaccheus only when he had a true change of heart that resulted in his commitment to publicly right the wrongs he inflicted on others. God expects us to show our repentance through our deeds which results from a heart change. If we're only willing to confess our sin privately, but not publicly when confronted, that's not really confession (admitting we were wrong) but it's hypocrisy.

I believe forgiveness of sins is conditioned on repentance and confession, or the very least the expectation of repentance such as when Jesus told the adulterous woman to "sin no more". God forgives when we admit our ways were evil and forsake it, while turning to him to save us which is the biblical definition repentance.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

2 Chronicles 7:14
if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.