We All Wonder Where Someone Went When They Died

Ecclesiastes 12:6-7, “Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”

Several notable celebrity deaths have occurred recently, including actor Robert Carradine, who died by suicide at age 71, and former New York Jets running back Matt Snell, who passed away at 84. Additionally, civil rights icon Jesse Jackson has also perished. Phil Campbell died, and the former guitarist of the band Motörhead. Also, actress Jennifer Runyon, known for her role in "Ghostbusters." Other notable deaths include actor Eric Dane, who battled ALS; and John Alford, a British actor who died in prison. Martin Short's daughter, Katherine Short, passed away at 42. These were all recent deaths!

We all wonder where such deceased people went in the afterlife. Is there an afterlife? Are those departed souls unconscious in the grave? Are they suffering in a literal burning Hell? Did they go to a literal place called Heaven with streets of gold? We simply do not know dear reader. If you believe the inspired Holy Bible to be true, as I do, then you believe that there is an afterlife. And you also believe that when a person dies, there are only one of two places they go go, which is either Heaven or Hell forever. There are no second chances beyond the grave! Once you've breathed your last breath on earth, and your heart has beat for the very last time, your eternal destiny is permanently sealed. I believe in an afterlife according to the plain teachings of Scripture, but I cannot prove that there is an afterlife and nobody can!

Dear reader, The Grim Reaper is coming for us all. The death angel doesn't discriminate. Today could be the last day of our life. What saith the Scripture? Proverbs 27:1, “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” James 4:14, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” Life is so short in comparison to the timelessness of eternity. No one can escape death! You might be able to delay your death by living a healthy lifestyle, but you assuredly will eventually die. Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Have you been born again dear friend? It's still not too late.

Death often come without notice. It could be a car accident. You could slip on the ice, hit your head and die, which happened to health guru Robert Atkin (1930-2003). Life has no guarantees. Comedian George Burns (1896-1996) smoked a cigar every day and lived to be 100. So much for the dangers of tobacco! Yet, he still perished.

Someone asked Star Trek film series icon William Shatner (born 1931) how he managed to live to be 94 years old. Shatner said it is just a matter of some good luck and genetics beyond his control. Sadly, William Shatner, best known for his role as Captain Kirk in Star Trek, does not believe in life after death and identifies as an atheist. Shatner's life is near an end but he is not prepared to meet His Creator. That is so heartbreaking.

I oftentimes wonder where AC/DC rhythm guitarist Malcom Young (1953-2017) went in the afterlife. The Young brothers have been very private publicly about their family's beliefs. In sharp contrast, frontman Brian Johnson has publicly denied Jesus' deity, calling him a clever man who deceived the world. Woe unto the wicked! I feel so sorry for Christ-rejecting sinners like Brian Johnson, who blaspheme the Son of God who came down to earth to die on a cross for him. My trust is completely in Jesus Christ because of what He did to pay for my sins on Calvary's cross 2,000 years ago.

Lord willing, as I grow older in the time remaining of my life on earth, I will likely see many of my childhood musical idols pass away into the afterlife. I cannot help but often wonder where they are now. For example: Where did Olivia Newton John (1948-2022) go? Although she did profess to be a Christian, she was a heathen Roman Catholic, regularly visiting mass at Capuchin Novitiate in Santa Ynez, California. There is no salvation in the Catholic prisonhouse of religion. No one has ever been born again via sacramental salvation!!!

It will be interesting when I get to Heaven to learn where everybody went. If the Bible be true, then I am safe in the Father's hands, because Jesus is my only hope for Heaven. I have placed all my hope in the Gospel plus nothing. I hope you have that same peace of assurance dear friend. If you don't you can right now. Simply by faith (taking God at His written Word) accept Christ's sacrificial death on the cross as full payment for your sins. Believe that He was buried, this proving that He was dead. And then finally, believe that Jesus physically resurrected from the dead three days later for your justification and mine. That is, validating our faith in Him as the only begotten Son of God, the Christ. These three things comprise “THE GOSPEL” (1st Corinthians 15:1-6), by which all who BELIEVE IT are saved. 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.”

There's a lot of famous celebrities dying lately, and as the Baby Boomer generation ages we'll see millions more passing away over the next 25 years. Glenn Frey (1948-2016) of The Eagles died on January 18, 2016, at the age of 67, from complications of rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia. I couldn't find any information about his beliefs. I have no idea where he might have went in the afterlife. The Holy Bible is nothing to shirk off dear reader. If the Word of God be true, you could end up burning in Hell forever if you neglect to obey the Gospel by simply believing it. Please don't delay if you've never been saved.

To Whom Should We Pray In The Godhead?

Matthew 6:6, “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”

John 16:23, “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.”

I don't find any certain command in the Bible concerning which Person of the Godhead to pray to. Certainly, we must realize that to pray to Jesus, the Father, or the Holy Spirit is to pray to God, for there is only ONE God (Deuteronomy 6:4). The Apostle Paul speaks of the "mystery of God" in Colossians 2:2.

The Godhead is a mystery indeed, but we believe it because the Bible teaches it, and the Holy Spirit bares witness with our spirit that it is true. God has manifest (or revealed) Himself to mankind in the Persons of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

I pray to all three Persons of the Godhead, usually depending on the circumstances. When I pray for guidance, comfort, or power, I usually pray to the Holy Spirit because the Bible mentions the Holy Spirit with those things. If I want something from God, I'll usually pray to the Father, asking “In Jesus name” as the Gospel of John directs us to do so. Daily, I speak with the Lord Jesus, just as I would a friend, Who knows and understands what it means to suffer and be rejected and despised of men.

I don't think it really matters to which Person of the Godhead we choose to pray, just as long as we understand that we are praying to ONE God and that we must come to the Father through the Son, i.e., in Jesus' name. Jesus said in John 14:6 that we must come to the Father through Him, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Jesus is one with the Father, and the Holy Spirit lives within the believer's heart. The Holy Spirit is God within us. Thus, we pray TO the Father, THROUGH the Son, IN the Spirit.

This is not to say that we cannot pray directly to the Holy Spirit, knowing that He is the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9), or that we cannot pray to the Son of God, Who is called the “Everlasting Father” in Isaiah 9:6. The Godhead (Trinity) is a mystery that unbelievers cannot grasp, because it is spiritually discerned. Unbelievers cannot reconcile their finite human thinking with the eternal truth of God. But as true Christians, we understand (1st Corinthians 2:14-17; Luke 7:35).

Here is a wonderful quote from Dr. Jack Hyles' excellent book, 'EXPLORING PRAYER WITH JACK HYLES' . . .

I remember one night years ago when Dr. John R. Rice and I were at a Bible conference together. Before he preached, he prayed something like this, "Oh, Father, breathe on me. Lord Jesus, help me to preach tonight. Holy Spirit, give me power."

After the service a young preacher came to Dr. Rice and said, "You made a serious mistake while you prayed to God the Father, then you prayed to Jesus, then you prayed to the Holy Spirit." He continued, "The proper procedure is to pray to the Father through the Son in the Spirit."

Dr. Rice looked at him with a sheepish grin and replied, "Son, I've been in the family long enough until I know all of Them personally. I just talk to whichever One I need to talk to at the time." The old giant patted the young man on the shoulder and went his way.

There is nothing wrong with the child of God saying, "Jesus, I love You," "Father, supply my needs," and "Holy Spirit, give me power." Sometimes we can be so busy being theologically correct that we can be spiritually empty! Oh, for the heartbeat of the Christian faith! Oh, for the lilt and joy! Oh, for the tears and the burden! Oh, for the warmth and the tenderness!

SOURCE: Dr. Jack Hyles, 'EXPLORING PRAYER WITH JACK HYLES,' chapter 35

The most important thing is that we understand it is only on the basis of Christ's blood sacrifice that we are entitled to approach the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:15-16). Amen!

Beware Of The Modern Corrupt Bible Versions

Galatians 3:26-29, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Look in many of the new corrupt Bible revisions and you'll find that they change the first coming of Jesus Christ from “the time of reformation” to “the new order”...

NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV)—Hebrews 9:10, “They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.” [emphasis added]

KING JAMES BIBLE (KJB)—Hebrews 9:10, “Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.” [emphasis added]

Clearly they are promoting the New World Order. The 1984 NIV even changed Jesus from the chief cornerstone to “THE CAPSTONE.” Don't you see my friend how the Devil is changing Jesus into the Antichrist? The NIV 2011 changed it back to cornerstone. The word “Antichrist” doesn't mean “against Christ”; but rather, “IN PLACE OF” Christ.

The phrase “the time of reformation” simply refers “the change brought about by Christ's sacrifice.” It does not mean “the new order.” The Greek word for “reformation” is diorthosis which means “to straighten thoroughly; rectification, that is, (specifically) the Messianic restoration.” Please throw away or burn your modern Bible revisions because you simply cannot trust them! The only inspired Words of God in the English language are in the King James Bible.

We've got it too easy today in America. The love of money has ruined our nation.

“It would be a godsend if the Church would suffer persecution today; she hasn't suffered it for hundreds of years. She is growing rich and lagging behind. Going back.” —Evangelist Billy Sunday, 'The Need for Revivals,' From 'Billy Sunday: The Man and His Message,' by William T. Ellis, Philadelphia: John C. Winston Co., 1914.

Please only use the inspired King Janes Bible, lest you be deceived by the Devil.

The Gospel In 45 Seconds

1st Corinthians 15:1-4, “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.”

The gospel is three things:

1. Jesus DIED on a cross 2,000 years ago to pay your dent of sin.
2. Jesus was BURIED.
3. Jesus bodily RESURRECTED from the dead three days later.

You must realize that you are a needy sinner. 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.” You've got to know what you're being saved from, the penalty of sin in Hell forever (Revelation 21:8).

Any admitted guilty sinner who comes to God, by faith (taking God at His written Word), accepting Christ's sacrificial death on Calvary's cross as FULL PAYMENT for your sins, believing that Jesus was buried but then raised up the third day, is saved. 1st Thessalonians 4:14, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” That's all you need to do to go to Heaven, simply REST in the finished work of Christ through Calvary's cross. Simply BELIEVE (trust, rely) that Jesus did it all for you.

Salvation is not a reward for the righteous, it is a gift for the guilty.

Salvation is not doing your best, it is having Christ's best put to your account through receiving Him by faith.

Turning away from sinful ways would be a work. Faith puts all of the merit where it belongs, on the object of our faith, Jesus and His redemptive work.

The true Gospel always points you to CHRIST; a false gospel always points to YOU.

Faith is the only righteous thing that I can do.

You don't need to pray a Sinner's Prayer to get to Heaven, just “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).

Thank you for reading my ministry blog.

Rod Stewart And The Apostate Church Of Scotland

Galatians 3:1-2, “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”

I was curious today if singer Rod Stewart (I have no idea if we are related) is a Christian. Very interestingly (to me at least), his full name is Roderick David Stewart. Wow! I learned that Rod is a member of the Church of Scotland. He joined for his wife. Naturally, I was curious what their church is about. Well, I'm sorry I looked.

First, they permit their pastors to perform same-sex marriages. Oh boy. what a nightmare! Homosexuality is a gross sin that brings the judgment of God (Romans 1:24-31; Colossians 3:5-6; Jude 1:7). And of course, the Church of Scotland permit women pastors, which is sinful and evil on numerous levels (1st Timothy 2:12). Evil is planned sin. Since they ordain females as clergy, it is pure evil, just like abortion. It is blasphemy against the inspired Word of God!

Second, Rod Stewart's beliefs are a big mess. In a 2020 interview he claimed to be a lapsed Catholic, but has also joined the Protestant Church of Scotland of which his wife was already a member. I don't think Rod knows what he truly believes.

Here are some heresies taught by the apostate Church of Scotland, a false Gospel...

This eternal afterlife is a gift for those who trust in Jesus Christ and follow His teachings, showing them how to get to heaven. SOURCE: https://www.theorchard.church/how-to-get-to-heaven

No, that is very wrong! You don't have to follow Jesus' teachings to get to Heaven, because that constitutes WORKS. Rod Stewart will definitely go to Hell if this is how you get saved, because he sure doesn't follow Jesus' teachings as an idolized rock star! I've never heard Rod Stewart give honor and praise to the Lord Jesus Christ in his ruck music concerts.

The Church of Scotland further perverts the Gospel...

Salvation is a transformation of the heart and soul, moving from a state of separation from God due to sin to a restored relationship with Him. This transformative process involves repentance, faith in Jesus' atoning death and resurrection, and a commitment to follow Him. It is not earned by human efforts or good deeds but is received through belief in Jesus as Lord and Savior. SOURCE: https://www.theorchard.church/how-to-get-to-heaven

No, again that is very wrong! Nowhere does the inspired King James Bible require that a lost sinner make a commitment to follow Christ to get to Heaven, because that constitutes WORKS! You only need to receive Jesus as your Savior, not your “Lord” to be saved (John 1:12-13; 1st Timothy 4:10). Receiving the “Lord Jesus” is not the same thing as receiving “Jesus as Lord.” All of the Devil's modern Bible revisions corrupt Romans 10:9, and in so doing they have perverted God's simple plan of salvation.

And if I haven't already convinced you that Satan reigns supreme in the Church of Scotland, please make sure you are sitting down for what you are about to read next...

“Repentance, on the other hand, is the sincere turning away from sin and turning towards God. It involves a heartfelt acknowledgment of one's sins, a genuine sorrow for them, and a commitment to change. Acts 3:19 urges, "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." Emphasizing that repentance is not just about feeling remorse but also involves a decisive shift in one's life direction. Faith without repentance is incomplete, as true faith naturally leads to a transformed life marked by a desire to follow God's will.” SOURCE: https://www.theorchard.church/how-to-get-to-heaven

No, no, no! That is another Gospel. I have to itemize these heresies because they are numerous:

1. Repentance is not a sincere desire to turn from sin. Bible repentance is “a change of mind” (Greek noun: metanoia). To know what we must change our mind about we need supplemental information, which will be determined by any particular Scripture passage.
2. Repentance is not a genuine sorrow for sin. Being sorry is an emotion. Certainly, it is quite normal for emotions to accompany one's faith at the time of salvation, but feeling sorry or mourning over sin is NOT Bible repentance.
3. Repentance is not a commitment to change. You cannot show me anywhere in the Holy Bible where we are taught to make any type of commitment to Christ to get to Heaven. Faith is the only righteous thing that I can do.
4. Repentance is not feeling remorse. You may or may not feel remorse. To be saved, you must come to God as a needy sinner, realizing your guilt for violating His laws (Romans 3:19-20; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:11-15).
5. Repentance does not involve a decisive shift in one's direction. Sadly, whoever wrote this Statement of Faith is a Bible ignoramous. God deliver us from wannabe theologians!
6. Faith does not automatically lead to a transformed life with a desire to follow God's will. To grow in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ grace a baby believer must nourish on the milk of the inspired Word of God (1st Peter 2:2). We are sanctified by the Word (John 17:17). Part of 'The Great Commission' is for local churches to mentor new converts, indoctrinating them in the doctrines of Christ (Matthew 28:19-20). Spiritual growth is not automatic. A changed life is not the result of genuine repentance, it is the “fruit” of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25). But if a believer fails to walk in the Spirit on purpose, by default we all walk in the sinful flesh. Christ's Spirit lives the Christian life through us by faith (Galatians 2:20), but we must yield to obey the Spirit's leading with the written Word of God (2nd Corinthians 10:5-6).

The major problem with all this repent of your sins garbage being taught everywhere today is that it places the burden of change upon the sinner's shoulder. The true Gospel always points you to CHRIST; a false gospel always points to YOU. Salvation is not doing your best, it is having Christ's best put to your account through receiving Him by faith. Salvation is not a reward for the righteous, it is a gift for the guilty.

If to “repent” means to forsake our sinful ways TO BE SAVED, but Jesus already paid for our sins by dying on the cross, then what are we repenting from? To be saved you must turn from your UNBELIEF dear reader, nothing else. Regarding sin, you just need to admit that you are one. The only thing that you and I contribute to our own salvation is the sin that made it necessary.

One of my favorite Bible teachers is Pastor Brad Strand. I recently purchased his 'The Strand Study Bible.' I love it so much that I bought two of them! Here is Brother Strand's commentary for our text passage from 2nd Corinthians 7:8...

Repentance may include “remorse” (made you sorry), but remorse is not repentance. If so, then Judas repented because he was remorseful over what he had done to Christ (Mt 27:3). You can weep over sin and even express great remorse, but until you “change your mind” as to who you are and who Christ is and agree with God (Mt 3:2), you have not repented biblically.

Repentance may include “sorrow” (you were made sorry), but sorrow for sin is not repentance. Hell is full or sorrow, but only for the consequences of sin. The rich man who died and went to Hell uttered not a word of sorrow for his sin, only sorrow for his pain (Lk 16:19-31). You can weep over sin and even express great regret, but until you “change your mind” as to who you are and who Christ is and agree with God, you have not repented biblically.

Repentance may include “conviction” (after a godly manner), but conviction is not repentance. If so, then Felix repented when he trembled before Paul (Acts 24:24-25). You may be convicted that you are a sinner and even admit that you are lost, but repentance is a two-sided coin. You not only have to “change your mind” as to who you are, you have to also “change your mind” as to who Christ is and call upon Him to be your Savior (Rom 10:9-13). Otherwise, you have not repented biblically.

SOURCE: Brad Strand, “The Strand Study Bible” (free .pdf edition), p. 1938

I am so thankful for Pastor Strand, that he is one of few preachers today who gets repentance correct. Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001) in a sermon titled: “A Vote For Preaching,” spoke in this excerpt about the false gospel of Lordship Salvation which is unfortunately being preached from nearly every pulpit today. RIGHT DOCTRINE MATTERS!!!

Dear reader, the perverted plan of damnation being promoted by the apostate Church of Scotland absolutely cannot produce the required spiritual new birth (i.e., “Ye must be born again,” John 3:3b) to enter into God's Kingdom. I hope and pray that Rod Stewart and his wife will wake up before it is too late, and realize that they're members of a religious cult, not a true New Testament church.

In this important blog article, I have exposed TEN non-essential additions (embellishments) that the apostate Church of Scotland have added to God's simple plan of salvation to woefully corrupt it. NONE of the following things are necessary to get to Heaven:

1. Commit to follow Jesus' teachings
2. Commit to follow Jesus
3. Turn from sin
4. Have genuine sorrow for sin
5. Commit to change
6. Feel remorse
7. Believe in Jesus as “Lord”
8. Have a decisive shift in direction
9. Lead a transformed life
10. Desire to follow God's will

Truly, Satan is a beautiful liar! Have you been deceived dear friend? This is simply not the Gospel of free grace presented in 1st Corinthians 15:1-6 in the inspired Word of God. The simple “gospel” is that:

1. Jesus DIED on a cross to pay for for our sins.
2. Jesus was BURIED.
3. Christ RESURRECTED from the dead three days later.

Those three things comprise 'THE GOSPEL,' by which all guilty sinners who believe this 'GOOD NEWS' are saved. 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.”

Am I Going To Heaven?

John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Choose below what you think is necessary to get to you Heaven...

1. Obey God's laws and commandments
2. Be sorry for your sins
3. Sincerely do your best
4. Turn from your sins and stop sinning
5. Do good deeds
6. Give money to church or charity
7. Water baptism or holy communion
8. Trust in Jesus Christ alone as your personal Savior
9. Trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior and also serve him
10. There is no Heaven or Hell

1) Obey God's laws and commandments
Trying to keep the commandments cannot save us but only shows us that we are sinners. The Bible says:

James 2:10 "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."

2) Be sorry for your sins
Being sorry for your sins, or confessing your sins cannot take away sin. The Bible says the penalty for sin is death. We all die physically, but we also deserve to die spiritually by spending eternity in Hell. The Bible says:

Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

3) Sincerely do your best

Doing your best is commendable, To turn from your sins and stop sinning is also very desirable (yet impossible). Will doing these things make you perfect? No! Heaven is a perfect place and you must be perfect to enter. The Bible says:

Revelation 21:27, "And there shall in no wise enter into it (Heaven) anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the lambs book of life."

4) Turn from your sins and stop sinning

Doing your best is commendable, To turn from your sins and stop sinning is also very desirable (yet impossible). Will doing these things make you perfect? No! Heaven is a perfect place and you must be perfect to enter. The Bible says:

Revelation 21:27, "And there shall in no wise enter into it (Heaven) anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the lambs book of life."

5) Do good deeds

No deeds, charity, contributions to churches, nor any good work by you, can take away your sins or save you. The Bible says:

Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

6) Give money to church or charity

No deeds, charity, contributions to churches, nor any good work by you, can take away your sins or save you. The Bible says:

Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

7) Water baptism or holy communion

Water baptism and communion cannot pay for sins. They are for those who are already saved.

Titus 3:5, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us..."

8) Trust in Jesus Christ alone as your personal Savior

Correct! By trusting in Jesus Christ who paid for all of your sins when he died on the cross, you will receive the GIFT of everlasting life.

Salvation is a GIFT, all you have to do is accept that GIFT.

Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Even though you may die physically, your soul will live forever in Heaven. Jesus Christ said:

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

Jesus Christ also said:

John 6:47, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath (possesses now) everlasting life."

9) Trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior and also serve him

Incorrect! You can do nothing to add to the finished work of Christ. By doing so, you are not trusting in Christ alone as your Savior but only as your helper. You cannot go to Heaven that way. You must forget about your good works and commitments as a means of saving yourself, and put your trust ONLY in the Savior - Jesus Christ.

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

10) There is no Heaven or Hell

Friend, I cannot make you believe in Heaven or Hell. Maybe you don't believe in it because you can't see it. But neither can you see the air you breathe, yet without it you would die. Heaven is real! Hell is real! Why not investigate God's word?

John 3:18, "He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

How can I go to Heaven?

The fact is ... we are all sinners; we all deserve to go to Hell; Heaven is a perfect place and nothing we do can make us perfect. How then can we go to Heaven? The answer is found in God's word, the Bible:

"For He (God) hath made him (Christ) to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (II Corinthians 5:21)

You see, Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead to pay for all of our sins. He died FOR us. Only through Him can we have eternal life. What then must you do to go to Heaven?

By trusting in Jesus Christ as the one who died for your sins, you will receive everlasting life. Even though you may die physically, your soul will live forever in Heaven. Jesus Christ said:

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

Jesus also said:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me HATH (possesses now) everlasting life." (John 6:47)

The moment you trust Jesus Christ as your Savior, your sins will be forgiven, and you will receive God's righteousness (perfection). This allows you to enter Heaven...

"And by Him (Christ) all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13:39)

Trusting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior is a one time decision in your life. The moment you believe in Christ, God will give you eternal life. Once you have believed, God accepts you as his child.

"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." (John 1:12)

God may discipline you when you disobey, but He will never cast you out of His family, You have eternal life which is secure. You can never lose it, neither can you forfeit it. God's unconditional promise is that He will never take it away from you.

"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand." (John 10:28)

This is called eternal security. Serving the Lord is important, once you are saved. It brings God's blessings and joy to your life. But if relied upon to get you to Heaven, it will not work. Salvation is ONLY by faith in Jesus Christ.

"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life..." (I John 5:13)

Right now, why not trust Jesus Christ as your Savior. He will save you for all eternity. You can also have the assurance that your sins are forgiven (past, present, and future). God has said it, and He cannot lie!

"All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out. And this is the Father's will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day." (John 6:37-39)

 

Lordship Salvation: A Dubious Plan Of Salvation

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.”

The word “dubious” means “fraught with uncertainty or doubt, open to doubt or suspicion.” This is a perfect word to describe the counterfeit gospel of Lordship Salvation. I have actually heard some preachers separate the heresy of Lordship Salvation from the heresy of “repent of your sins” to get to Heaven, but in truth they BOTH add works to grace. So, I consider BOTH of these damnable heresies to be 'LORDSHIP SALVATION.'

Evangelist Kent Hovind for example, preaches against the heresy of Lordship Salvation, and yet he is wrong on repentance. I went to Dr. Hovind's official website and clicked on “ARE YOU SAVED?” (which link he has since removed since 2016; I guess he no longer cares if people get saved, he just wants your money). The former link took you to this page (now a dead link) which contained a YouTube video. The video is still on YouTube. Here's what Dr. Hovind says in his perverse video:

“The Bible says you have to repent. The word 'repent' means 'to turn.' It actually means two things: to turn from your sin, and to turn to God. God's looking for a change in your attitude, where you say, 'Lord, I don't want to do wrong anymore. I'm sorry. I've offended you. I want to do right,' and you turn from sin and you turn to God, and you say, 'God will you please forgive me. Would you save me?'” [emphasis added]

SOURCE: Dr. Kent Hovind - Salvation By Jesus Christ

Kindly, Dr. Kent Hovind is teaching heresy by embellishing the meaning of Bible “repentance” to include a willingness to turn away from sinful behavior. This is the same doctrinal error of the late Jack Chick (1924-2016). Kent foolishly says to be saved you must say to God: “LORD, I WANT TO DO RIGHT” and then “YOU TURN FROM SIN.” It may seem like a little thing, but telling a lost sinner that in order to be saved they must be willing to clean up their life to reform and cease from sinful bad habits, has now made God's simple plan of salvation very complicated and burdensome, when God intended for it to be free, easy and simple.

I heard Dr. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, foolishly say that he doesn't ascribe to “easy-believism.” What a darn fool! Dear reader, you cannot show me “hard repenting” in the inspired King James Bible! Contrary to Dr. Mohler Jr., the Apostle Paul said in 2nd Corinthians 11:3-4, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”

Anyone, even an angel the Bible says, who tampers with God's simple plan of salvation (i.e., by grace through faith alone in the Good News of Jesus crucified, buried and risen) is accursed (damned) by God almighty (Galatians 1:6-9). It is no light thing to make God's free gift of salvation cumbersome and difficult for sinners, as many wicked clergy have done.

Such harmful unbiblical teachings by Jack Chick, Kent Hovind and Albert Mohler Jr. ostracize sinners from the Gospel, who would have been saved but weren't ready to give up their sinful bad habits (e.g., shacking up in fornication, drunkenness, substance abuse, stealing, et cetera). Matthew 1:21, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” The inspired Holy Bible teaches that Jesus came to save humanity (the Jews first in time, and then the Gentiles - Romans 1:16) from our sins; God does not demand that you first be willing to turn from your sinning (human reformation) to receive His free gift of eternal life.

May I remind you that after Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus to death, he repented (felt sorry) of his sins in Matthew 27:3, yet Judas is sadly burning in Hell forever because he perished in his sins without Christ. Judas was sorry (penitence). He even brought back the 30 pieces of silver (penance). Judas was a changed man (reformation). But he never repented (changed his mind) to BELIEVE ON JESUS to be saved (John 6:27-28, 40, 47). No one has ever been saved by repenting of their sinning. You get saved by faith, accepting Christ's sacrifice on the cross as full payment for your sins, believing that Jesus was buried, but then bodily ressurected from the dead three days later. This is the only Gospel (1st Corinthians 15:1-6).

Kindly said, Kent Hovind is preaching “ANOTHER GOSPEL,” not “the simplicity that is in Christ” (2nd Corinthians 11:3-4). Christ died on Calvary's cross 2,000 years ago to pay for our sins. You couldn't turn from your sinning if you tried, and neither could I. We are wretched piles of sinful manure, whom without Christ's sacrifice on the cross would be damned to burn in the fires of Hell day and night forever without rest nor hope. Thank God for the Lamb of God (John 1:29).

Repentance Means to Lay Aside Your Wrong Thoughts to Believe the Gospel

Pastor Bob Gray Sr. at the Longview Baptist Temple church in Texas correctly preaches . . .

“Repentance means to change your mind—change your mind—change your mind about how you want to get to Heaven to what God says you've got to do to get to Heaven. If you've got to repent of all your sins, you're still headed for Hell tonight.” —Pastor Bob Gray Sr., 'Why You Should Be A Part Of A Growing Church'

In his excellent book, “I NEVER KNEW YOU,” Michael Patrick Bowen states . . .

“You can live for Christ, you can love Christ, you can serve Him with all your might, time, talent and wealth. You can pray to Him, read your Bible, get water-baptized, join a church, witness to people, and do every wonderful work contained within the realm of Christianity, but if you fail to trust Jesus Christ alone for your salvation, He will 'dump' you.”

SOURCE: 'I NEVER KNEW YOU' (.pdf), by Michael P. Bowen; by Barbour Books, © 2009; page 77

Beware of the false teaching in most churches today, even many Baptist churches, which says that you have to forsake sinful living to get saved, commit your life to Christ and surrender fully to Christ's Lordship. Satan loves to corrupt the Gospel by either adding good works, or by subtracting bad works, to be saved. Whether good or bad works, both are DEAD WORKS! (Hebrews 6:1).

Michael Patrick Bowen correctly explains Biblical repentance...

“Repent, as Christ meant it to be in terms of salvation, means to change your mind from trusting in what you can do for God to trusting only in what He can do for you.”

SOURCE: Michael Patrick Bowen, a quote from the awesome book, “I NEVER NEW YOU” (Page 114)

Also, Dr. Hal Lindsey has repentance Biblically correct, who states:

“Repentance, as it relates to Christ, means to change our minds about Him, who He is and what He's done to provide forgiveness, and deliverance from our sins. When we place faith in Jesus as having taken our place personally on the cross and borne the penalty due our sins, then we're automatically repenting, because we couldn't accept Him in this way without having to change or minds in some way concerning Him.” (From the Liberation of the Planet Earth, by Hal Lindsey. (p. 133)

The Great Meaning Of The Word “METANOIA”!

A Dubious Plan Of Salvation

By wickedly complicating God's simple plan of salvation, today's corrupt neo-evangelical pastors, Bible colleges and clergy have made the Gospel dubious! Again, the word “dubious” means “fraught with uncertainty or doubt, open to doubt or suspicion.” This is a perfect word to describe the counterfeit gospel of repenting of your sins, aka, Lordship Salvation. You won't find any such tommyrot, poppycock, balderdash and nonsense in the inspired King James Bible. You'd have to use Satan's modern English Bible revisions, which are ALL corrupt!

As a fundamentalist Baptist preacher, each year I receive hundreds of ministry emails from confused people. They've been lied to and woefully deceived by lying ungodly fake preachers like Ray Comfort, John MacArthur, Todd Friel, Paul Washer, Jeff Redlin, Bobby and Brad Moffett, Billy and Franklin Graham, Bill Adams, Marty Herron, Jared Baldwin, 'UNSHACKLED' radio, Joel Osteen, Albert Mohler Jr., Pensacola Christian College, Jack Chick and countless more damnable FALSE PROPHETS!

These accursed FOOLS have made the Gospel dubious, instilling fear and uncertainty into their victims by associating salvation with reformation (i.e., turning from your sins to get to Heaven). Pilgrim's Progress author John Bunyan (1628-1688) said it best, I humbly think...

“If you do not put a difference between justification wrought by the man Christ without and sanctification wrought by the Spirit of Christ within, you are not able to divide the Word aright; but contrariwise, you corrupt the Word of God, and cast stumbling blocks before the people.” [emphasis added] —Evangelist John Bunyan

I couldn't have said it any better. John Bunyan is exposing Satan's lie of Lordship Salvation, which mixes works with grace to pervert the Gospel. To protect and properly present the Gospel, it is imperative that we always maintain a clear line of separation between service versus salvation, between discipleship versus sonship, between sanctification versus justification, between the new birth versus growing in grace.

“There is power in this Gospel message. Most people just don't know how to present it... The clarity of the Gospel is what makes it easy for them to believe.” —Pastor Yankee Arnold, “WHY GRACE CAN SAVE THE WORST MAN!”

If a sinner must live a lifestyle of repentance (as Ray Comfort ignorantly teaches), then you can never have the sweet assurance of salvation. This is why in his toxic 'The Evidence Bible' on page 1377 Ray writes...

"We show our love for God by our obedience. If we do not obey, we do not truly love Him (see vv. 23,24). There are many who call Him 'Lord, Lord,' but do not do what He says. Matthew 7:21-23 tells us their fearful state."

Source: THE EVIDENCE BIBLE, by Ray Comfort, pg. 1377; 2003, Bridge-Logos Publishers, Orlando, Florida

Ray Comfort errantly associates a believer's behavior with salvation itself. This is the dire error of mixing works with grace, thus perverting God's simple plan of salvation. Anytime that you remove the burden of sin from Jesus' shoulders which He bore upon the cross of Calvary, and you instead place that heavy burden upon the sinner's shoulders, you have wickedly corrupting the Gospel. You are now a Gospel pervert!

I am sick and tired of well-meaning but incompetent clergy placing the burden upon sinner's shoulders to clean up their own life of sin—to change their behavior, reform, feel sorrow, surrender all, commit to serve Christ, live a lifestyle of repentance—as a mandatory prerequisite to get to Heaven. That is simply not the Gospel taught in 1st Corinthians 15:1-6.