Our text passage of inspired Scripture from the King James Bible is further proof that a believer cannot lose God's free gift of salvation.
Shame At Christ's Coming Instead Of Hell
1st John 2:28, “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.”
If a believer could lose salvation, then why would those saints of God who live wasted lives in sin and selfish pursuits choked by the cares, pleasures and riches of this world be “ashamed” of Jesus at His coming? Clearly, it is because we cannot lose God's free gift of salvation.
No One Will Get Saved If You Convince Them They Have To Stop Sinning
John 6:26-29, “Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”
This is exactly what is shamefully being taught today at Bob Jones University and Pensacola Christian College; and Brigham Young University in Utah where the hellbound Mormons send their kids. Check and you will find that every pseudo-Christian cult today teaches that to get to Heaven you must repent of your sinning.
RIGHT DOCTRINE MATTERS!!!
RIGHT DOCTRINE MATTERS!!!
Morgan Freeman's Deadly Confidence In Zoroastrianism
John 14:6-7, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.”
One of m favorite Hollywood actors is Morgan Freeman. He has starred in hundreds of films, from Batman: The Dark Knight to Deep Impact. I am a big fan of movies starring Morgan Freeman!
That being said, one of my hobbies is researching the religious beliefs of famous people. Morgan Freeman has expressed a deep appreciation for Zoroastrianism, which he describes as a belief system that resonates with him through its core tenets of "good thoughts, good words, good deeds" (which beliefs are highlighted in the following video). From the research that I've done, it is clear that Morgan is not a born again Christian.
Morgan Freeman About Zoroastrianism
According to the 'Famous People Today' website:
What religion does he follow, then?
So, while Morgan Freeman is no Christian, he is a follower of one of the oldest organized forms of faith on the planet today.It is based on the ancient teachings of Zoroaster, a prophet from years ago. The religion, based in Iran, is seen as one of the most respected religions in the world. Despite its deep respect among the religious community, Zoroastrianism is quite unknown to many.Given that it is primarily seen as an Iranian religion, it is not a religious belief that has spread too far into Western culture. As an individual who thrives on curiosity, though, Freeman is one of many Western believers of Zoroastrianism. The primary tenet of Zoroastrianism is about the duality of good and evil and how in Zoroastrianism, it is believed that, eventually, good will triumph over evil.
And this from the 'Celebrities Religions' website:
What Religion is Morgan Freeman and Faith
Morgan Freeman’s religious beliefs have remained a subject of speculation, with limited public pronouncements on his faith. However, various sources suggest he identifies as a Zoroastrian. This ancient Persian religion, founded by the prophet Zoroaster, emphasizes ethical living, truthfulness, and the importance of free will.
Zoroastrianism is a monotheistic faith that revolves around the belief in Ahura Mazda, the supreme god. It emphasizes the concept of a cosmic struggle between good and evil, symbolized by Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu, the spirit of darkness. The religion promotes a strong ethical code, encouraging honesty, compassion, and the pursuit of truth.
READ MORE
If indeed it is factual that Morgan Freeman is trusting in Angra Mainyu, the so-called “Lord of wisdom,” the famous actor won't be going to Heaven when he leaves this world someday. I say that very kindly with concern. Born in 1937, now at age 89, Morgan doesn't have much time remaining on earth. My heart goes out to him. I don't want him to spend eternity burning in the fires of Hell. Revelation 20:15, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
The inspired King James Bible is very clear that there is no salvation apart from the precious name of Jesus:
Acts 4:10-12, “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
It all boils down to whether or not you believe that the King James Bible is God's inspired Word. John 6:47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” Since the age of 13 when I became born again, my faith has been in Jesus as the Christ, the only begotten Son of God. I am risking my eternal soul, happiness and everything on Jesus Christ! If I go to Hell someday, it will be Jesus' fault alone, because I am 100% relying upon what He did to pay for my sins on Calvary's cross 2,000 years ago.
I am not trying to turn from my sins to get to Heaven. I am not following Christ as part of some misguided effort to get to Heaven. There is absolutely nothing that I am doing, have ever done, nor ever will do that could in any way help secure my place in Heaven. I am relying upon Jesus alone, because of what He has done to pay my debt of sin. The only thing that you or I contribute to our own salvation is the sin that made it necessary.
Only God and Morgan Freeman know where his faith rests, but I can tell you with all Scriptural authority that if he is resting in anything, anyplace or anyone other than the Lord Jesus Christ, Morgan Freeman will spend eternity suffering in the never-ending torments of Hell. I am just the messenger. God is the author of the inspired Holy Bible. Hebrews 10:31, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
Tragically, on November 24, 1991, Queen band frontman Freddie Mercury (1946-1991) learned how wrong he was about following the Zoroastrian religion when he woke up in the fires of Hell beneath. Freddie put his trust in the arm of man, not God. Psalms 118:8, “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”
Please understand that I did not write this article to attack Mr. Freeman, God forbid. I adore the man! I wrote this article in hope that he might find it and read it, and repent of his Zoroastrian false religion and instead trust Christ to be saved. I also wrote this article dear friend in hope that if you have never trusted Jesus as your personal Savior, that you would do so now.
You don't have to become religious to go to Heaven. In fact, the opposite is true. You need to forsake trusting in your false religion and by faith (taking God at His written Word) accept Christ's sacrificial death on the cross as full payment for your sins, believing that He was buried, but then physically resurrected after three days. This is the Gospel (Good News):
1st Corinthians 15:1-6, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.”
Whosoever believes this Good News is saved instantly, irrevocably and permanently. Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” The gospel, not my eloquent words of speech or cunning human wisdom, is the POWER OF GOD unto salvation to all who BELIEVE IT! Do you believe dear reader? To go to Heaven when you die someday, you simply need to believe that Jesus did it all for you through Calvary's cross.
Thank you for reading my ministry blog. Jesus is precious!!!
Actor Roddy McDowall Didn't Plan For Hell
Mark 7:7-9, “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.”
Roddy McDowall (1928-1998) is one of my favorite Hollywood actors. He starred as Cornelius in the popular original Planet Of The Apes 5-part movie series (1968-1973), along with actor Charleston Heston (1923-2008) who played Colonel Taylor, and Kim Hunter (1922-2002) who played Cornelius' wife, Zira.
As a hobby I enjoy learning the biographies of famous people. That's why I love reading the Old Testament, it is fascinating. Genesis is one of my favorite books to study. I enjoying listening to the King James Bible being read to me. The company Litchfield Associates who own the copyrights to Alexander Scourby (1913-1985) frequently threaten people for sharing his audio recordings. For that reason, I actually prefer hearing Willard Waggoner read the King James Bible, which is public domain. Here are his recordings on YouTube.
I was sad to learn that Roddy McDowall was a closet homosexual, as were many Hollywood actors in the 1960s and 1970s. Merv Griffin, George Takei, Marlon Brando, James Dean, Richard Pryor, Robert Reed, Ronald Reagan and Rock Hudson were all closet homosexuals, to name but a few wicked sinners.
I was reading about the life and death of Roddy McDowall today and something caught my attention. Roddy was raised in a strong Irish Catholic home by his mother. He attended a Catholic school in London. Roddy was a life long devoted Roman Catholic.
In April of 1998, at age 70 Mr. McDowall died of pancreatic cancer at home. Per Roddy's request, he was cremated and his ashes scattered into the Pacific Ocean. McDowall died at his home in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles, said Dennis Osborne, a friend who had cared for the actor. “It was very peaceful,” Osborne said. “It was just as he wanted it. It was exactly the way he planned.”
When I read those quotes, that Roddy McDowall was laid to rest just as he had wanted and planned, my heart broke for the man. My heart broke because I know that there is no salvation in the Roman Catholic religion, or any religion for that matter. Salvation is found only in a person—the Lord Jesus Christ. In Catholicism, members are taught to seek salvation in the sacraments. They are taught to seek forgiveness of sins through confession to a priest. They are taught that good works are required to get to Heaven, faith is not enough. All of these teachings are unbiblical. Ephesians 2:8-9, “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.”
If Roddy McDowall died in his Roman Catholic beliefs, he is sadly in Hell now and forever. I can guarantee you that he didn't “plan” for that! I can guarantee you that Hell is not what he wanted. Whenever anyone dies, the funeral speaker always says the same thing: “So and so is in a better place now.” But are they? Is that what the Word of God teaches? No, it's not.
Sheol (Hell) Means More Than Just The Grave
I used to have a Mormon boss when I worked as a truck mechanic nearly 40 years ago. He knew that I was preparing at Bible college to be a Bible preacher. One day at work he approached me and handed me a piece of paper with some Scriptures jotted down on it. One of those passages was Psalm 9:17, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” My Mormon boss said, “If you'll study those passages in the Hebrew language, I think you'll find that the word 'Hell' is 'Sheol,' which just refers to 'the grave.'” Clearly, he was trying to convince me that Hell doesn't exist. That is what Mormons believe.
But dear reader, the word Sheol in the Hebrew simply means: “realm of the dead.” There is nothing in the word itself that limits death to the grave. Rather, Sheol referred to the afterlife. Death was a big question mark to them. If in fact Sheol (Hell) in Psalm 9:17 only means grave, then this passage makes absolutely no sense. Why would the wicked and the righteous be sent to the SAME place? What would be the point? I mean, if the righteous go to the SAME place as the wicked, then what would be the significance of warning that “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God”? Clearly, the wicked go to a different place than the righteous do.
Ultimately, only God, Satan, the angels, those already in the afterlife, and the person who dies know where they went. We cannot know for certain, but it doesn't look good for Roddy McDowall. Unless he repented (changed his mind) to forsake his trust in the damnable lies of the wicked false religion of Catholicism, he couldn't have gone to Heaven. From the cradle to the casket, Roman Catholicism is a prisonhouse of religion! Jesus warned in Mark 7:9, “Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.”
Please understand that in a million years I would never wish evil upon anyone. It breaks my heart, just the very thought that someone went to Hell. Ezekiel 33:11b the LORD exclaims, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” God does not rejoice when wicked people die in their sins and go to Hell. Neither should we ever rejoice when someone wicked dies. When Hugh Hefner died at age 91 in 2017, I was very sad, fully convinced that as an avowed atheist he went to Hell forever.
2nd Peter 3:9 teaches that “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” God wants everyone to repent (change their mind) to believe the GOOD NEWS (Gospel) of His only begotten Son crucified on a cross for our sins, buried and risen the third day, to be saved. It's that simple!
It just bothers me that a brilliant actor and extremely intelligent man like Roddy McDowall, made careful plans before his death regarding how his body and ashes would be disposed of, but he wasn't diligent to prepare for where his soul would spend eternity. Anybody with a pure heart, who is honest with them self, can see that Roman Catholicism is a false religion.
I mean, look at how Catholics have completely removed the second commandment of God which prohibits bowing down to graven images. They removed that commandment from God's Ten Commandments to hide their wickedness of worshipping graven images. If you are a Catholic dear reader, and this doesn't open your eyes to see how phony the Catholic church is, then you truly are a child of the Devil. Roddy McDowall from all that I could find, died in his Catholic religion, which means that he couldn't have gone to Heaven. Jesus warned in John 3:3b, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Why Didn't God Send Christ Into The World Sooner?
Ephesians 1:7-10, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.”
Someone asked me today why God didn't send His only begotten Son into the world much sooner to die for the sins of humanity. My best guess as to why God has allowed so much time to pass is that He needed to set Moses' law in place and give us the biographies of hundreds of saints and unrighteous people alike, 'FOR OUR LEARNING' (Romans 15:4).
Romans 15:4, "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
The truth is that I do not know why God waited for so long. But the law needed to be given, to show humanity our SINNERSHIP and bring us to the dear SAVIOR to be saved by grace through faith alone in Him...
Romans 3:19-20, "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
Today we can look back with 20/20 hindsight and see what God was doing throughout the Old Testament, which they couldn't see at the time. The law shows us our sinnership and points us to Christ to be saved by grace through faith alone in Jesus (Galatians 3:24-26). If God had sent Christ right away, I just don't see how that would have worked at all. I think the way that God did it all is brilliant and beyond question. I am truly amazed at God's greatness, wisdom, patience, faithfulness and brilliance. Blessed be the name of the LORD!
The Word of God tells us that God has even made the wicked for the Day of Judgment. Proverbs 16:4, “The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.” An artist cannot paint a picture unless he has something to contrast it against, say a blank white canvas. This is why the Apostle Paul said in 1st Corinthians 11:19, “For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” We need false teachers, so that those preachers who are learned in the Scripture can preach THE TRUTH against the contrast of false teachings. So, we need heresies!
The Word of God tells us that God has even made the wicked for the Day of Judgment. Proverbs 16:4, “The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.” An artist cannot paint a picture unless he has something to contrast it against, say a blank white canvas. This is why the Apostle Paul said in 1st Corinthians 11:19, “For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” We need false teachers, so that those preachers who are learned in the Scripture can preach THE TRUTH against the contrast of false teachings. So, we need heresies!
Likewise, I humbly think we needed the several thousands of years for God to accomplish all that He did, in the way that He did, if nothing more than to cause us to appreciate His mercy and grace which He has bestowed upon a world of wicked undeserving sinners. Some questions are best left alone, since there is no obvious answer. The Bible calls them "unlearned questions." 2nd Timothy 2:23, “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.”
I have often wondered why for several thousand years God allowed billions of people to die of things as common as diarrhea, or scurvy (lack of vitamin C), or Ricketts (lack of vitamin D), et cetera. I was shocked to learn that the average life's span during the Roman Empire was 20 to 30 years of age. Why did God allow humanity to suffer for nearly 6,000 years without air-conditioning? Toilet paper wasn't invented until about 1850, if you can imagine that.
There were no Walgreen's or CVS pharmacies in early every neighborhood. It has been hot and humid in Pensacola, now being summer (I love winter). I was thinking yesterday as I went outside for awhile and it felt intolerable in the scorching heat, how in the world did people survive for hundreds and thousands of years ago when there was no air-conditioning? I'm sorry, but setting a tray of water on the window sill doesn't comfort my thoughts.
Why didn't God, who is omniscient (knows all), bless men thousands of years ago with the discovery of electricity, medicine, motors, generators, chemistry, oil, et cetera? None of these things could have been discovered without the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century, and the rise of universities that sparked man's curiosity. I think it was the population boom that began all these things, in accordance with God's will and timing. In 1900 there were only one billion people on earth, but today the world's population is at 8.3 billion people in 2026. I am amazed at the inventions we have today (Artificial Intelligence, medical breakthroughs, automated machinery, driverless trucks, computers, cellphones, video games, amazing musical instruments, space telescopes, et cetera).
With the invention of A.I., I think we are on the precipice of amazing new technologies over the next 25 years. A.I. is discovering new things daily. If you haven't tried ChatGPT yet, it is amazing technology. Try it out, ask it anything. I use it all the time and am intrigued with it's intelligence. I signed up for a free account, so it can remember my conversations and provide better answers. ChatGPT is like having a super smart friend. You can ask it ANYTHING!
I simply do not know the answers to many questions. Why does God allow so much suffering? The Bible says if you or I see a brother in need and we don't help them, where is God's love? 1st John 3:17, “But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” And yet God sees little innocent children being kidnapped, assaulted, tortured and murdered, and He does nothing. Billions of people have a problem with God because of this reality. I have heard wicked sinners all my life challenge, bombast and criticize a so-called “loving God” who stands back idle while children are being abused inhumanely.
And yet that same God tells us in the Holy Bible that we are horrible people if we see someone in need, and we have the wherewithal to help them, but we don't. I admit that I have a problem with that too, but I won't place God on trial for the things that I cannot understand. Evil is the consequence of evil men, not our good and faithful God. Ecclesiastes 7:29, “Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.” The problem is not that God has stopped loving man, but that man has never started loving God.
Why did God allow the Hebrews to suffer in Egyptian bondage of slavery for 400 long miserable years before sending Moses to liberate them? I have no idea. Why did God allow Jacob's beloved wife Rachel to die while giving birth to Benjamin? It seems so unfair, but I do not understand why. God can do anything! God could have spared her life, but He didn't. Why did God allow John the Baptist to be beheaded, and the Apostle James? I do not know. Emperor Nero purportedly made human torches with the bodies of martyred Christians in his empirical garden. The Bible admits in Hebrews 11:36-38 that some Christians have been martyred (fed to hungry lions, starved to death, cut asunder and tortured) of whom the Bible says the world was not worthy.
For every answer that I learn, there are at least two more unanswerable questions. Psalms 145:3 says that God's “greatness is unsearchable.” I know that God is good and faithful. I decided a very long time ago to just trust the LORD, damn the torpedoes! Job said that though God kill him, he would still trust the LORD (Job 13:15). I feel the same. Someone once wisely said that if God were small enough for me to understand, He wouldn't be big enough to handle my problems. God spoke trillions of galaxies into existence with the mere power of the Word of His mouth. Wow! Who am I to question such an omnipotent Creator? I refuse to put God on trial in my feeble mind.
I do not know why God waited thousands of years to send Christ into the world. Why could not God have simply given the Holy Bible to Moses, or to John who penned the book of Revelation? Why did God give His Word to approximately 40 different men over a span of 1,500 years? I think the reason for this was so that men could easily confirm the divine origin of the Holy Bible. No other book came into being in such a miraculous manner, which proves that it is from God above.
I marvel and am deeply thankful for God putting my spirit into this body at this time in human history. I mean, look at all the wonderful blessings we have today. God could have put my spirit into the body of a slave in Egypt before Moses came, or God could have put my spirit into one of the negro slaves before The Civil War, or I could have been born in a poor country in Africa, or God forbid, communist North Korea! For whatever reason, God chose to put my spirit into this body at this time in human civilization. I have no complaints to God. Although I suffer horribly from neck pain, burning nerves and bodily afflictions, I am thankful that I am otherwise healthy and can take care of myself. We are so blessed of God.
We simply do not know why God does what He does. Isaiah 55:58-59 teaches that God's thoughts and ways are far above ours, as far as the stars and planets are away from the earth. The Bible says "heavens" (plural), so that includes the galaxies that are quintillions of miles away. The Bible teaches that we cannot figure out God or why He does the things He does, or the way He does them (with few exceptions revealed in the Scripture).
The older I get, the more tired I feel both physically and mentally. Thankfully we don't have to understand God to go to Heaven, we just need to trust in His only begotten Son, Jesus, the Christ (John 20:31). The Bible says that someday in the future when we see Christ, we will finally understand all things, even as we are known (1st Corinthians 13:12).
One Reward That God Cannot Take From You
1st Corinthians 3:5-8, “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.”
In his excellent series on 'Justice,' Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001) said one of the things that he loves about God's justice is that whenever he does something to lose a reward, there is always something he can do to get it back. I fully agree with Brother Hyles.
That being said, even if you were to lose all your rewards in eternity at the Judgment Seat of Christ; so saved, yet as by fire (1st Corinthians 3:15)—the people whom you lead to faith in Jesus Christ during your time on earth, can never be taken away from you in Heaven, no matter what. That thought encourages me.
I sometimes wonder how many rewards I will receive in Heaven, when I am guilty of so many horrible things. And so are you dear friend! We're all wretched sinners in God's sight. But when I start wondering if I will receive many rewards, I am comforted in knowing that the people whom I have helped lead to faith in Jesus Christ are permanent. I humbly think this is what the inspired King James Bible means in Daniel 12:3, “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”
Evangelist Billy Sunday (1862-1935)
Dr. John R. Rice Got This Very Wrong
Galatians 1:6-9, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”
Let me say first of all that I love and respect Evangelist John R. Rice (1895-1980). Brother Rice founded The Sword Of The Lord in Dallas, Texas, in 1934, which organization still exists today. Sadly, in my humble opinion, the Sword today is a far cry from what it once was. On the front of every publication, which I receive bi-weekly, it advertises at the top of the page: “Standing for the Verbal Inspiration of the Bible, the Deity of Christ, His Blood Atonement, Salvation by Faith, New Testament Soul Winning and the Premillennial Return of Christ; Opposing Modernism, (Liberalism), Worldliness and Formalism.” Yet, in all of the dozen recent issues I have received, I see hardly any of these topics presented in their publication, which is sad. It seems to me that the present Editor, Dr. Shelton Smith, is more interested in coddling their readers, than they are to earnestly contend for the Christian faith (Jude 1:3).
That being said, I recently went on Amazon and eBay to purchase several of Dr. Rice's books that are no longer in print. I encourage you to buy his Bible commentaries as well, which are golden treasures dear friend. If you want to learn the inspired Word of God, you won't find a better Bible teacher than Dr. John R. Rice (1895-1980). Albeit, he was only an imperfect man, which Brother Rice would have been the first to admit.
By the way, I have often called my long time ministry friend, Dr. Max D. Younce (1935-2023) the John R. Rice of our generation, and he truly was. Dr. Younce's dozens of books are all still freely available, which I highly encourage you dear reader to download for safe keeping and use them for your edification. Pastor Younce was a competent and prolific Bible scholar!
One of the books that I recently bought by Dr. Rice is titled: “Dr. Rice Here Are More Questions...” (volume II from 1973). I was reading something from chapter 13 titled, “Salvation and Security.” On page 439, to answer the question: “Does God keep His children?,” Dr. Rice writes:
“I believe that all Christians will have to face Jesus Christ and that they will be sorry for their sins and be greatly embarrassed before Jesus at His coming, over things that they have done wrong. I believe that the preacher brethren that have slandered me because they hate the doctrine of eternal salvation by grace along and not of works will have to stand at the judgment seat of Christ and there confess their sin and suffer shame and terror over it. I believe they are saved but in my humble judgment they have sinned certainly worse than the ignorant young Christian who may attend movies or smoke cigarettes.” [emphasis added] —Dr. John R. Rice, “Dr. Rice Here Are More Questions...”, p. 439
I have to say that I was shocked to read what Dr. Rice just wrote. Did you catch it? He said that these so-called “preacher brethren” who “hate the doctrine of eternal salvation by grace alone and not of works” are “saved”! No Sir, they are not saved!!!
I don't know what Brother Rice was thinking when he penned these horrible words, but he couldn't be more wrong. Ironically, the entire reason for which he wrote this particular section of his book was to refute a man who wrongly accused him of teaching that Christians have a license to sin. I say “ironic” because in an attempt to defend himself he makes a different error.
Please know that I do not find any pleasure or thrill in correcting a faithful man of God of Dr. Rice's stature. He was truly a legend in his time. They named a street “Dr. John R. Rice” in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, which I saw in 2013 when I visited the small town. The Sword Of The Lord moved to Wheaton, Illinois, in 1940 after leaving Dallas; and later relocated in 1963 to Murfreesboro.
I could have just overlooked this matter today and not addressed it, but I think it provides a great opportunity to make an issue for the benefit of my readers. What Dr. Rice said contradicts the plain teaching of God's Word. No one is saved who hates the doctrine of eternal salvation by grace alone and not of works. Galatians 5:4, “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” If someone hates the biblical doctrine of eternal salvation by grace alone and not by works, they are NOT saved, and never have been saved.
Ephesians 2:8-9,“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.” We get saved by repenting (changing our mind) to admit that we are a SINNER, and Jesus is the only SAVIOR. Whosoever comes to God as a guilty sinner, by faith (taking God at His written Word) to accept Christ's sacrifice on the cross as full payment for your sins, believing that Jesus was buried, but then physically resurrected three days later, is saved. That is “the gospel” by which all who BELIEVE IT are saved instantly, irrevocably and permanently.
No preacher gets everything correct. I have made doctrinal mistakes in the past too, which I have corrected. Every preacher hones his doctrine and preaching skills along life's journey. All God expects from us as His children is that we do better today than we did yesterday.
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Matthew 7:21-23, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Fat... -
John 10:26-29, “But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they fo... -
Galatians 3:1-3, “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been e...
