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.”
Dear reader, if the entire Lordship Salvation crowd truly understood the preceding Bible passage, they'd never tell someone to “turn from your sins” again to be saved. What does the Bible means by “the deeds of the law” in Romans 3:20? Everyone is familiar with the Ten Commandments: thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not take the Lord's name in vain, thou shalt not covet, et cetera. The Word of God says you cannot get to Heaven by keeping those commandments!
So please logic with me here. When a proponent of Lordship Salvation tells a lost sinner that they must forsake a lifestyle of committing adultery, stealing, killing, taking the Lord's name in vain, coveting, et cetera, how is that not “the deeds of the law”?
The religious Jews were stuck on the law in the New Testament. That is what the Epistle of Galatians is all about. They totally missed the purpose of God's law in the Old Testament. They thought God intended for them to keep the law to get to Heaven. That is what the advocates of Lordship Salvation are trying to do! Notice above in our text passage that Romans 3:20 says, “FOR BY THE LAW IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF SIN.” God gave mankind the law to be used as a measuring stick, by which when compared, men fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23; Galatians 3:24-26). The law brings a lost sinner to Jesus Christ, to be saved by grace (Galatians 3:24-26).
Dear friend, you cannot get to Heaven by the deeds of the law. Respectfully, when Pastor Marty Herron tells lost sinners to “repent of your sin” to be saved, he is telling them to do “the deeds of the law” to get to Heaven. When Dr. Steve Pettit and Bob Jones University tell their 2,700 students to “be willing to turn from your sins” to get to Heaven, they are teaching them to do “the deeds of the law.” The inspired King James Bible teaches that eternal life is a “free gift” from God (Romans 5:15-18; 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus paid for it with His precious blood (1st Peter 1:18-19). What Marty Herron, Steve Pettit, John MacArthur, Ray Comfort, Paul Washer, John Piper, Stephen Davey and countless heretics are preaching today is not a free gift.
The apostle Paul loved people and desired for all men to be saved. Since the beginning of humanity, sinful human nature has compelled men to attempt to please God in the flesh, by keeping “the deeds of the law.” Paul says that if you want to get to Heaven by “the deeds of the law,” then you have to perfectly keep them. Romans 2:13, “(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.” Paul continues his teaching in Romans chapter 3, by describing the depraved human nature (Romans 3:10-22), concluding in Romans 3:23 that no human being has ever perfectly kept the law, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” 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.”
What do you think it means, when you tell a man that he must “turn from his sins” to be justified with God? You are telling him to do “the deeds of the law.” This is so simple folks. You don't need a degree in theology to grasp the simplicity of the Holy Bible. So where in the world did John Calvin (1509-1564) come up with the heretical idea that people must persevere in holiness (“the deeds of the law”) to get to Heaven? Why do millions of foolish preachers follow the heresy of an unsaved man who lived nearly 500 years ago? It is because they are not born-again themselves, and do not understand the grace of God, which comes only by saving faith. Our churches are absolutely filled with this type of junk theology today, that demands you “turn from your sins” to receive the grace of God. They say you cannot qualify to receive God's gift of eternal life unless you first are willing to “turn from your sins.” Cartoon evangelist Jack Chick (1924-2016) taught that religious garbage. I still see his perverted religious tracts in every Baptist church that I go to! Consequently, the Gospel has been embellished so much, especially in the Devil's perverted Bible revisions, that professed Christians no longer see the dangers of Roman Catholicism, Calvinism and false religion.
Read this beautiful passage of Scripture. Romans 3:24-26, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” Do you see anything in there about being willing to turn from your sins to be saved? No, you don't! The Bible speaks of GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS, which is given to HIM WHICH BELIEVETH IN JESUS!!! We are saved by faith alone!
He That Commiteth Sin Is Of The Devil
1st John 3:6-10, “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.”
Taken by itself, who could argue that a Christian must dwell in righteousness, and avoid committing sin? The epistle of 1st John is one of the most misunderstood books of the Word of God. Verse 9 in particular, which says, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin.” At a glance, these passage of Scripture seems to teach that you cannot go to Heaven of you continue living in willful sin. This is not what the Bible is saying, not at all. John was the disciple who walked closest to the Lord, called “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 21:20). If your life is the same as it has always been, you're not walking with God, and are deceived. Your life is a hoax! In John 15:5, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” This is what John is talking about in 1st John, our walk with God.
I am listening to Pastor Ralph 'Yankee' Arnold preach a helpful sermon titled: '1st John Made Simple: Milk Versus Meat,' as I type this article. What a wonderful sermon truth from the Bible! The apostle John speaks about “the love of the Father” in 1st John 2:15. John is trying to get us closer to God, “that your joy may be full.” The subject of the epistle of 1st John is not how to get saved, but how to get the most out of God's salvation. 1st John 5:13, “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, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” A lot of things can go wrong in life, but God has never done you or me wrong! Our life can become filled with questions and doubts if we foolishly focus on this temporary life. Instead of griping and complaining, put a smile on your faith and praise God that your name is written in Heaven! Is the truth in your life? Have you obeyed the truth of the Gospel? Jesus tells us in John 16:33b, “BE OF GOOD CHEER,” because He has overcome the world! What an awesome Savior!!!!!!!
John is writing to Christians. They are already saved. Please notice a key verse in 1st John 3:24, “And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” So if you have the indwelling Holy Spirit, you are saved. Romans 8:9, “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” This is exactly what the apostle John is teaching in his epistle of 1st John. If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM (1st John 1:6-9). Fellowship is like two FELLOWS in a SHIP! Amos 3:3, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” If we are not in agreement with God, choosing rather to live in sin in the flesh, then we cannot enjoy sweet fellowship walking with the Lord.
1st John 3:19-21, “And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.” If we don't walk with the Lord, our heart will condemn us. We're not foolish God. Confidence comes from knowing and trusting THE TRUTH (John 17:17). If there's anything you should learn in the days of your life, it is THE TRUTH! Man's wisdom is from below, but as God's children we receive the wisdom that comes from God.
The same apostle who wrote 1st John, also wrote the book of John. John 11:9, “Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.” We stumble when we don't walk in the Spirit. That is what John is talking about in the epistle of 1st John, our walk with God. Am I living in the Spirit according to light, or in the flesh according to darkness? It is possible for a born-again believer to live and think like the Devil. Matthew 16:23, “But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”
So the determining factor of whether you are saved or not, is not if you've turned from your sins, but do you have the Holy Spirit? Strong Scriptural confirmation of what I just taught you is found in Paul's epistle to the Galatians:
It is important to keep in mind that God wrote the Bible to the individual, not the group. 1st John is for YOU alone to determine if you are God's child, not for you to go around as a fruit inspector judging who is or is not saved. People who do so are foolish. I know I am saved because of God's written promise in the Bible. His indwelling Holy Spirit confirms my faith. For people to wonder if they have the Holy
If we take all of these Scriptures into consideration, we learn that the evidence of being saved is the indwelling Holy Spirit, and not a changed life. A changed life is the “fruit” of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25). Many unsaved religious people live an upright life. In Acts 10:1-4, we read about Cornelius, who was a devout man who feared God, gave alms to the poor, prayed and fasted, but he was as lost as a moose in a caboose in a snowstorm! That's really lost! Let me tell you! Cornelius didn't get saved until Acts 10:44. Trusting Christ by faith alone cannot cannot be revealed by works at all; salvation can only be revealed by works, if works are required to be saved! Are works required to be saved? No, absolutely not—no works of any kind at any time. I'm going to Heaven only because of the work Christ did for me!
The true story of Cornelius evidences the vanity of looking at someone's life to determine if their faith is real. Only God can see into a person's soul to see if they are saved. We can judge outwardly what we think (which is what James 2:17-21 means), but we cannot know for certain if a person is saved by examining their life. Some of the most moral, decent and loving people are lost sinners on their way to the Lake of Fire forever. The truth is still the truth, even if no one believes it; and a lie is still a lie, even if everyone believes it!
The proponents of Calvinism (aka, Lordship Salvation) teach that genuine believers may stumble and fall, but they will persevere in the faith, so they must get up. They claim they must get up before they die, when they fall, lest they lose everything! That is exactly what Dr. Steve Pettit (president of Bob Jones University since 2014) heretically teaches. Dear reader, you DON'T get to Heaven by “running the race through pursuing holiness and ministry, and service to others” (Dr. Pettit's very words). Mr. Pettit says you “lose everything,” even “Heaven itself,” if you fail to persevere to run the race until the very end. Kindly, Steve Pettit is preaching another gospel of damnation. We must expose false prophets who subvert whole households of their faith (Titus 1:10-13; Ephesians 5:11).
Taken by itself, who could argue that a Christian must dwell in righteousness, and avoid committing sin? The epistle of 1st John is one of the most misunderstood books of the Word of God. Verse 9 in particular, which says, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin.” At a glance, these passage of Scripture seems to teach that you cannot go to Heaven of you continue living in willful sin. This is not what the Bible is saying, not at all. John was the disciple who walked closest to the Lord, called “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 21:20). If your life is the same as it has always been, you're not walking with God, and are deceived. Your life is a hoax! In John 15:5, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” This is what John is talking about in 1st John, our walk with God.
I am listening to Pastor Ralph 'Yankee' Arnold preach a helpful sermon titled: '1st John Made Simple: Milk Versus Meat,' as I type this article. What a wonderful sermon truth from the Bible! The apostle John speaks about “the love of the Father” in 1st John 2:15. John is trying to get us closer to God, “that your joy may be full.” The subject of the epistle of 1st John is not how to get saved, but how to get the most out of God's salvation. 1st John 5:13, “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, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” A lot of things can go wrong in life, but God has never done you or me wrong! Our life can become filled with questions and doubts if we foolishly focus on this temporary life. Instead of griping and complaining, put a smile on your faith and praise God that your name is written in Heaven! Is the truth in your life? Have you obeyed the truth of the Gospel? Jesus tells us in John 16:33b, “BE OF GOOD CHEER,” because He has overcome the world! What an awesome Savior!!!!!!!
John is writing to Christians. They are already saved. Please notice a key verse in 1st John 3:24, “And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” So if you have the indwelling Holy Spirit, you are saved. Romans 8:9, “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” This is exactly what the apostle John is teaching in his epistle of 1st John. If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM (1st John 1:6-9). Fellowship is like two FELLOWS in a SHIP! Amos 3:3, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” If we are not in agreement with God, choosing rather to live in sin in the flesh, then we cannot enjoy sweet fellowship walking with the Lord.
1st John 3:19-21, “And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.” If we don't walk with the Lord, our heart will condemn us. We're not foolish God. Confidence comes from knowing and trusting THE TRUTH (John 17:17). If there's anything you should learn in the days of your life, it is THE TRUTH! Man's wisdom is from below, but as God's children we receive the wisdom that comes from God.
The same apostle who wrote 1st John, also wrote the book of John. John 11:9, “Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.” We stumble when we don't walk in the Spirit. That is what John is talking about in the epistle of 1st John, our walk with God. Am I living in the Spirit according to light, or in the flesh according to darkness? It is possible for a born-again believer to live and think like the Devil. Matthew 16:23, “But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”
So the determining factor of whether you are saved or not, is not if you've turned from your sins, but do you have the Holy Spirit? Strong Scriptural confirmation of what I just taught you is found in Paul's epistle to the Galatians:
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 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? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”Paul had received news that the church at Galatia had been horribly corrupted with a counterfeit gospel. So the apostle writes a heartfelt letter to them, asking them who bewitched them that they should not obey the truth of the Gospel. Paul doesn't ask them if they've “repented of their sins.” Paul only wanted to know one thing—how did you get the Holy Spirit? Carefully notice the capital “S” in Galatians 3:2, meaning God's Holy Spirit, not our human spirit. Paul wanted to know if they got saved by the works of the law (which definitely includes Lordship Salvation), or the simplicity in Christ of believing the Gospel they heard preached unto them? So we learn that the evidence of being saved is the indwelling Holy Spirit, which is confirmed by our faith alone in the Gospel. People sometimes ask me how to know if they have the Holy Spirit? That is why God gave us the epistle of 1st John.
It is important to keep in mind that God wrote the Bible to the individual, not the group. 1st John is for YOU alone to determine if you are God's child, not for you to go around as a fruit inspector judging who is or is not saved. People who do so are foolish. I know I am saved because of God's written promise in the Bible. His indwelling Holy Spirit confirms my faith. For people to wonder if they have the Holy
If we take all of these Scriptures into consideration, we learn that the evidence of being saved is the indwelling Holy Spirit, and not a changed life. A changed life is the “fruit” of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25). Many unsaved religious people live an upright life. In Acts 10:1-4, we read about Cornelius, who was a devout man who feared God, gave alms to the poor, prayed and fasted, but he was as lost as a moose in a caboose in a snowstorm! That's really lost! Let me tell you! Cornelius didn't get saved until Acts 10:44. Trusting Christ by faith alone cannot cannot be revealed by works at all; salvation can only be revealed by works, if works are required to be saved! Are works required to be saved? No, absolutely not—no works of any kind at any time. I'm going to Heaven only because of the work Christ did for me!
The true story of Cornelius evidences the vanity of looking at someone's life to determine if their faith is real. Only God can see into a person's soul to see if they are saved. We can judge outwardly what we think (which is what James 2:17-21 means), but we cannot know for certain if a person is saved by examining their life. Some of the most moral, decent and loving people are lost sinners on their way to the Lake of Fire forever. The truth is still the truth, even if no one believes it; and a lie is still a lie, even if everyone believes it!
Why Lordship Salvation Is Wrong (Pastor Yankee Arnold)
The proponents of Calvinism (aka, Lordship Salvation) teach that genuine believers may stumble and fall, but they will persevere in the faith, so they must get up. They claim they must get up before they die, when they fall, lest they lose everything! That is exactly what Dr. Steve Pettit (president of Bob Jones University since 2014) heretically teaches. Dear reader, you DON'T get to Heaven by “running the race through pursuing holiness and ministry, and service to others” (Dr. Pettit's very words). Mr. Pettit says you “lose everything,” even “Heaven itself,” if you fail to persevere to run the race until the very end. Kindly, Steve Pettit is preaching another gospel of damnation. We must expose false prophets who subvert whole households of their faith (Titus 1:10-13; Ephesians 5:11).
“Jesus Christ is God's LOVE GIFT to the world, and believers are the Father's LOVE GIFT to Jesus Christ.” —Pastor Ralph “Yankee” Arnold, '1st John made Simple: Milk Versus Meat'
He That Doeth Truth Cometh To The Light
John 3:20-21, “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”
Getting saved is a matter of accepting the truth.
2nd Timothy 2:23-26, “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”I love this next Bible verse:
Colossians 1:5, “For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;”People who love their sins won't come to Christ, lest their deeds should be reproved (or spoken evil of). Jesus said in John 5:40 that “YE WILL NOT COME” unto me to have life, He didn't say YE CANNOT COME. Repentance and faith are a matter of someone acknowledging that they are a needy sinner, and believing on Jesus Christ to be saved. So getting saved is very much a matter of accepting the truth. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the father, but by me.” In John 8:32 Jesus said “the truth shall make you free,” and then in verse 36 He says if the Son shall make you free, “ye shall be free indeed.” Sin can only offer a lifetime of pleasure and temporary happiness, but since we all die, we can only be a servant in the house of sin for a short time; but since Jesus is alive forever, whosoever lives in Christ is alive forevermore. That is true freedom! That is what Jesus taught...
John 8:31-36, “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”That is beautiful. We already have eternal life, because Jesus is eternal life. 1st John 5:20, “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” The truth of the Gospel is what saves. The Bible has MUCH to say about THE TRUTH. Someone once asked me to sum up the Holy Bible in as few words as possible. I gave them just one word: “TRUTH”! John 17:17, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” In John 18:27, Jesus told Pilate that He came into the world to bear witness unto THE TRUTH. In John 16:13, the Holy Spirit is called: “the Spirit of truth.”
In the New Testament we find the phrase “THE TRUTH” mentioned 62 times! In the Old Testament we find those words, “THE TRUTH,” mentioned 20 times! John 8:45, “And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.” I don't know about you dear friend, but I need THE TRUTH! I am a truth-seeker. The truth can be dealt with, but a lie cannot. I must have the truth! The Devil knows better than anyone, that if he can corrupt THE TRUTH of God's Word, then he can mislead people into all manner of deceptions and falsehoods, taking them to the Lake of Fire with him forever!!! We are living in a woeful generation of abominations, a terrible time of changing and tampering with the inspired Word of God, a wicked time of lies and deception like never before in human civilization. The Scripture foretold that evil men would do this:
Romans 1:20-25, “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.”What an amazing set of words: “THE TRUTH”! Homosexuals and liberals have changed THE TRUTH, that God created all humans either male or female (Genesis 1:27), into a lie. Wicked impostors in churches today have changed THE TRUTH, that salvation is simply by faith alone in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, into the lie of Lordship Salvation. The Devil's crowd have changed THE TRUTH of God's inspired preserved Word, into a bunch of counterfeit Bible revisions. Wicked Communists have changed THE TRUTH of God's Biblical creation, into the bogus blatant lies of manmade evolution.
The Devil's hands have been very busy!!! Satan has changed and perverted THE TRUTH of the Gospel, the Word of God, human gender, and the origin of man, all INTO BIG LIE!!! The Devil has done these dastardly deeds to DECEIVE as many people as possible, to steer you away from God your Creator!!! The core foundation of happiness in life is to establish a proper relationship with one's divine Maker. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”
Please understand that the phrase “he that doeth truth” in John 3:21 does not mean “good works.” Some proponents of the heresy of Lordship Salvation try to use this Scripture to justify their lies. The Bible doesn't say “he that doeth works.” If God meant “works,” He would have said “works”! God said what He meant, and meant what He said!!! God said, “HE THAT DOETH TRUTH”! Obviously truth is a thought and not a work. Wicked sinners refuse to acknowledge their sinnership before a holy God. In order to be saved, a person must come to their senses about sin, recognizing their need for redemption:
1st John 1:8-10, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”It is popular in this gender-bending wicked generation, for liberals, kooks and sodomites to teach that homosexuality is not a sin. Instead they claim that they were “born that way,” and that God created them “gay.” There was never a bigger lie told! Homosexuality is perverse, abnormal, against nature, confusing, offensive, filthy, disease-prone, disgusting and a very horrible sin in God's sight (Genesis 19: Leviticus 20:13; Romans 1; Colossians 3:5-6; Jude 1:7). Homosexuals and the heathen world are in willful denial of THE TRUTH! This is what “he that doeth the truth” means. This is repentance my friend!
Pastor Harry Ironside (1876-1951) beautifully explains it this way:
“Which comes first, repentance or faith? In Scripture we read, 'Repent ye, and believe the gospel.' Yet we find true believers exhorted to 'repent, and do the first works.' So intimately are the two related that you cannot have one without the other. The man who believes God repents; the repentant soul puts his trust in the Lord when the Gospel is revealed to him. Theologians may wrangle over this, but the fact is, no man repents until the Holy Spirit produces repentance in his soul through the truth. No man believes the Gospel and rests in it for his own salvation until he has judged himself as a needy sinner before God. And this is repentance.” ('Except Ye Repent,' p. 16) [emphasis added]That is what Jesus meant in John 3:21, when he spoke these wonderful words of life to Nicodemus.
Your POSITION Versus Your CONDITION In Christ
Romans 6:4, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
I typed this article while listening to Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold's awesome sermon titled: 'Why Lordship Salvation Is Wrong!' There's a big difference between SHOULD, OUGHT and MUST and AUTOMATIC. The judicial aspect of salvation is JUSTIFICATION, at the moment we are saved by faith alone. We are adopted into God's heavenly family as His child. That is out guaranteed POSITION in Christ at the time of salvation, which is forever settled, just as if we never sinned. All sins (past, present and future) are forever washed away, and judicially we are declared as pure and holy as God Himself. This all happens the moment you trust Him as your saint.
Yes, we ought to serve the Lord. We SHOULD obey Him in our daily life. In this life, practical sanctification and growth in grace is an option, for each believer to make, which requires a separate act of choice. Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” It was a choice to trust Christ as your personal Savior. It requires a second choice to serve Him as your Lord and Master. You do not have to submit to live a certain type of lifestyle, guarantee or promise to do better, mend your ways, improve your behavior, or turn from sin, in order to be saved. Forget all of those things! Salvation is by faith. Growth in grace is a matter of discipleship, not sonship.
We are all sinners and we deserve to go to Hell. Jesus loved you and me, and paid our debt of sin with His precious blood. We are bought with a price, and that price is Jesus' blood (1st Corinthians 6:20). Thank God for the blood!!! I know I am going to Heaven, and I don't have to look at anything other than the Word of God. Jesus promised in John 6:37b, “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” The Word of God is the only PROOF I need that I;'m going to Heaven, because He promised not to cast away anyone who comes to Him.
Heretics call it “Lordship Salvation” because they claim you must live a holy life to prove you have it, surrendering all to Christ as Lord and Master. You won't find that theological garbage in the pages of God's inspired Word. We are saved simply by resting in the finished redemptive work of Jesus Christ!
Lordship Salvation is a big can of worms! Proponents of Lordship Salvation teach that you must “persevere” in the faith to get to Heaven. So what if a professed Christian dies in his sinful state, while not persevering? Do you see how confusing Lordship Salvation is? The truth of God's Word is that no matter how much sin you may allow in your life, it does not jeopardize your position on Christ. Samson chased harlots (Judges 16:1). Demas forsook Paul's side in the ministry, having loved this present world (2nd Timothy 4:10). David commit adultery and murder (2nd Samuel 11). When Jesus rose from the dead, Peter was completely naked in public when He found him (John 21:7). These are God's saints! You and I are no better. We are all dirty sinners, deserving of Hell, but Jesus rescued us with His precious blood (Romans 5:9; 1st Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 1:5; 7:14).
Calvinists (like Paul Washer) teach that you may live in sin for a short time, but you won't continue living in sin. That is another gospel. The new corrupt Bible versions, like the English Standard Version (ESV) that Bob Jones University officially uses, sells and sanctions, corrupts 1st John 3:9 to say that you cannot be saved and continue committing in sin. The New International Version (NIV) says the same garbage. Those are the Devil's Bibles!!!
The wise Bible student keeps salvation SEPARATE from DISCIPLESHIP. One has nothing to do with the other! Salvation is based solely upon Christ's sacrifice on the cross for our sins. Eternal life is a free gift (Romans 5:15-18, 6:23). You don't earn, merit or work your way toward obtaining everlasting life. John 6:47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” Jesus invited us to believe on Him to be saved. Nothing else is required. Anyone who tells you that you must “repent of sin” to be saved (like Pastor Marty Herron) is adding to the Gospel, perverting it! No one will go to Heaven who thinks they must make an effort to turn from sinful living to be saved. Satan's greatest weapon is to con people into living the Christian life without ever being born-again. Like Ellen G. White of the Seventh-Day Adventists, so also do Dr. Steve Pettit and John MacArthur pervert the Gospel, requiring people to do more than place childlike faith in the Savior.
Your POSITION in Christ was forever settled the moment you received Jesus Christ as your personal SAVIOR. Your CONDITION in Christ is determined by the choices you make, the life you choose to live, and our circumstances. Don't ever forget that eternal life is a GIFT!!! Go look up every meaning of “gift” you can find, and it always means “something freely given and freely received.” I noticed one day that we rarely hear Calvinists talking about the “GIFT” of eternal life. That word doesn't set right with their corrupt reformation theology!
I typed this article while listening to Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold's awesome sermon titled: 'Why Lordship Salvation Is Wrong!' There's a big difference between SHOULD, OUGHT and MUST and AUTOMATIC. The judicial aspect of salvation is JUSTIFICATION, at the moment we are saved by faith alone. We are adopted into God's heavenly family as His child. That is out guaranteed POSITION in Christ at the time of salvation, which is forever settled, just as if we never sinned. All sins (past, present and future) are forever washed away, and judicially we are declared as pure and holy as God Himself. This all happens the moment you trust Him as your saint.
Yes, we ought to serve the Lord. We SHOULD obey Him in our daily life. In this life, practical sanctification and growth in grace is an option, for each believer to make, which requires a separate act of choice. Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” It was a choice to trust Christ as your personal Savior. It requires a second choice to serve Him as your Lord and Master. You do not have to submit to live a certain type of lifestyle, guarantee or promise to do better, mend your ways, improve your behavior, or turn from sin, in order to be saved. Forget all of those things! Salvation is by faith. Growth in grace is a matter of discipleship, not sonship.
We are all sinners and we deserve to go to Hell. Jesus loved you and me, and paid our debt of sin with His precious blood. We are bought with a price, and that price is Jesus' blood (1st Corinthians 6:20). Thank God for the blood!!! I know I am going to Heaven, and I don't have to look at anything other than the Word of God. Jesus promised in John 6:37b, “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” The Word of God is the only PROOF I need that I;'m going to Heaven, because He promised not to cast away anyone who comes to Him.
Heretics call it “Lordship Salvation” because they claim you must live a holy life to prove you have it, surrendering all to Christ as Lord and Master. You won't find that theological garbage in the pages of God's inspired Word. We are saved simply by resting in the finished redemptive work of Jesus Christ!
Lordship Salvation is a big can of worms! Proponents of Lordship Salvation teach that you must “persevere” in the faith to get to Heaven. So what if a professed Christian dies in his sinful state, while not persevering? Do you see how confusing Lordship Salvation is? The truth of God's Word is that no matter how much sin you may allow in your life, it does not jeopardize your position on Christ. Samson chased harlots (Judges 16:1). Demas forsook Paul's side in the ministry, having loved this present world (2nd Timothy 4:10). David commit adultery and murder (2nd Samuel 11). When Jesus rose from the dead, Peter was completely naked in public when He found him (John 21:7). These are God's saints! You and I are no better. We are all dirty sinners, deserving of Hell, but Jesus rescued us with His precious blood (Romans 5:9; 1st Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 1:5; 7:14).
Calvinists (like Paul Washer) teach that you may live in sin for a short time, but you won't continue living in sin. That is another gospel. The new corrupt Bible versions, like the English Standard Version (ESV) that Bob Jones University officially uses, sells and sanctions, corrupts 1st John 3:9 to say that you cannot be saved and continue committing in sin. The New International Version (NIV) says the same garbage. Those are the Devil's Bibles!!!
The wise Bible student keeps salvation SEPARATE from DISCIPLESHIP. One has nothing to do with the other! Salvation is based solely upon Christ's sacrifice on the cross for our sins. Eternal life is a free gift (Romans 5:15-18, 6:23). You don't earn, merit or work your way toward obtaining everlasting life. John 6:47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” Jesus invited us to believe on Him to be saved. Nothing else is required. Anyone who tells you that you must “repent of sin” to be saved (like Pastor Marty Herron) is adding to the Gospel, perverting it! No one will go to Heaven who thinks they must make an effort to turn from sinful living to be saved. Satan's greatest weapon is to con people into living the Christian life without ever being born-again. Like Ellen G. White of the Seventh-Day Adventists, so also do Dr. Steve Pettit and John MacArthur pervert the Gospel, requiring people to do more than place childlike faith in the Savior.
Your POSITION in Christ was forever settled the moment you received Jesus Christ as your personal SAVIOR. Your CONDITION in Christ is determined by the choices you make, the life you choose to live, and our circumstances. Don't ever forget that eternal life is a GIFT!!! Go look up every meaning of “gift” you can find, and it always means “something freely given and freely received.” I noticed one day that we rarely hear Calvinists talking about the “GIFT” of eternal life. That word doesn't set right with their corrupt reformation theology!
“Jesus Christ is God's LOVE GIFT to the world, and believers are the Father's LOVE GIFT to Jesus Christ.” —Pastor Ralph “Yankee” Arnold, '1st John made Simple: Milk Versus Meat'
Evangelist Ravi Zacharias' Counterfeit Gospel
2nd Corinthians 11:3, “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.”
I thank God for all THE TRUTH which He has shown unto me. 1st Corinthians 2:9-10, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” Genesis 32:10, “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.” Thank you God!!!
One of the most subtle, wealthy, popular and dangerous FALSE PROPHETS today is Ravi Zacharias. His ministry rakes in about $25,000,000 each year. Spiritual crime pays! Ravi has been invited to speak in over 55 countries, and Mormons love him! I have nothing personal against Mr. Zacharias, but he is preaching ANOTHER GOSPEL, and I have a duty as a born-again child of God to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3b). In a YouTube video titled: “How Can Someone Receive Jesus' Gift Of Salvation?,” Ravi says the following to have a relationship with Jesus...
“In fact when Jesus comes into your life, he helps you cross the greatest bridge, from the head to the heart. I experienced that at the age 17. The fact that I could pray and invite Jesus Christ into my life—a simple prayer—asking Him to become my Savior, and the transformation He brought; how He changed not only my life, but years later my father's life. And I would like you, to bow your head and with me repeat a simple prayer, if you want this to happen in your life. Just pray with me one sentence at a time:
Heavenly Father, I thank you for loving me. I need your forgiveness. I need your salvation. Lord Jesus, enter into my heart. Change me. Give me with your presence. Help me to follow you. I receive you, this moment, and commit my life to you. Thank you Father. In Jesus' name, Amen!”
SOURCE: YouTube - 'How Can Someone Receive Jesus' Gift Of Salvation?'Folks, that is not 'THE GOSPEL'! Let's break down Ravi's unbiblical plan of salvation and list his requirements to be saved:
- Repeat a prayer
- Invite Christ into your life
- Ask Jesus to become your Savior
- Thank God for loving you
- Tell God you need forgiveness
- Tell God you need His salvation
- Ask Jesus to enter into your heart
- Ask Jesus to change you
- Ask Jesus to give you His presence
- Ask Jesus to help you follow Him
- Receive Jesus
- Commit your life to Jesus
And kindly, so are the shameful pastors of the apostate Harvest Baptist Church on Guam for inviting, promoting and honoring, and God forbid, BIDDING GODSPEED to this wicked man who teaches doctrines of devils!!! 1st Timothy 4:1, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;” I understand that there is something called “semantics,” where different preachers each word the plan of salvation a little differently, but Ravi MISSES THE BALLPARK COMPLETELY!!! If they don't want to accept me as a part of their family for the sake of love at Harvest, then I will expose them for the sake of truth! When churchgoers are more loyal to ungodly pastors than to God, apostasy has overtaken the churches! The Bob Jones University crowd wreak with the stench of favoritism, prejudice and carnality.
Ravi Zacharias says to tell God that you need forgiveness and salvation. Folks, God already knows what you need! Ravi says to tell God that you love Him. That's sweet, but this is not a part of the Gospel to be saved. What in the world does asking Jesus to “change you” have to do with receiving the free gift of eternal life? Following Jesus is not a part of the Gospel. Judas followed Christ, but died in unbelief, and is now burning in Hell forever. Neither do you have to commit your life to Jesus to be saved. Forgiveness of sins and eternal life are a free gift! Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” If I give you a gift, all you need to do is freely receive it; you don't have to “ask” me for it, because I am offering it to you. The same is true with salvation, Jesus has already paid the price for your sins with His blood, and all you have to do is freely take it by faith. Ravi has wickedly ADDED a bunch of junk to embellish the Gospel.
Heresy Of Having To “Pray” To Be Saved
(Be very careful—make sure to preach the Gospel!)
(Be very careful—make sure to preach the Gospel!)
My intent is not to criticize Ravi Zacharias, for I am the biggest sinner I know. I am sure he is a wonderful man to know in real life. He seems like a nice person. However, I am strictly refuting his unbiblical teachings that help the Devil BLIND “the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2nd Corinthians 4:4b).
The interviewer follows after Ravi's Satanic plan of salvation by saying: “I hope you will pray that prayer and mean it!” My friend, you can “PRAY THAT PRAYER” a thousand times and go straight to Hell to burn forever when you die!!! Sadly, Harvest Baptist Church on Guam invited, praised and honored this ungodly man in June of 2017. They invited Mr. Zacharias to speak to 1,000 local guests, church members and military who came to hear him preach.
“The backslider likes the preaching that wouldn't hit the side of a house, while the real disciple is delighted when the truth brings him to his knees.” —Evangelist Billy Sunday (1862-1935)What is happening dear reader is that money-hungry Bible colleges are selling pieces of paper called “degrees” for the right price, to anybody who shows up to class and meets the minimum requirements; but when they graduate they cannot discern THE TRUTH, cannot preach their way out of a paper bag, and are mere parasites off Christendom!!! Dead spiritual leaders produce dead followers!!! Only preachers can reproduce preachers, which is why Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001) put preachers instead of teachers into the classrooms at Hyles-Anderson College (while Brother Hyles was still alive on earth), which is why my website ministry is here—I am a Bible-preacher!!! Love me or hate me, “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me” (1st Corinthians 15:10). God loves you dear reader and so do I.
We've got a bunch of spiritually dead churches and Bible Bible colleges today, who are more concerned about making money, training nurses, and teaching how to play musical instruments, than they are about trying to save a nation for God with Bible-preaching and soulwinning!!! I'm talking about apostate Bob Jones University, Pensacola Christian College, Ambassador Bible College, Crown Bible College, Dallas Theological Cemetery, Moody Bible SINstitute, and Hyles-Anderson College today (who no longer believe that the King James Bible is inspired). My God, what the hell is going on in churches today? Has everybody lost their guts and backbone? Has everybody lost their spiritual discernment? I sure feel like the Lone Ranger these days! I am so grateful for modest ladies, caring Christians, and uncompromising Bible-preachers, and I truly thank God for BOTH OF YOU!!!
I Wish Churches Cared About The Truth
Kindly, Harvest Baptist Church on Guam promotes Ravi Zacharias. Ravi is now in Hell in my humble opinion, because he followed Jesus, living the Christian life, but was never born-again. Harvest chooses to go to Hell with their pastors, for their Lordship Salvation lie, who despise me and won't have anything to do with me, simply because I told THE TRUTH as a friend to them. They really owe me a big apology for this whole ordeal since November of 2014, because I did the right thing from the start in November of 2013. They'll never do that though, because in my humble opinion they are sinfully proud men, fake ministers according to 2nd Corinthians 11:13-15. I was hoping to make peace with them for the 2019 holidays and come back to their church in 2020, because I have been hurting for a long time without a church family, but they couldn't care less. I am casting my pearl before the swine. I am faced with the harsh reality that Harvest Baptist Church on Guam has become a mere religious business, where people don't really matter. This is the horrible world that we live in today! All I ever humbly requested (umpteen times) since 2017 is to simply attend church services. They have consistently refused me! God will be their only Judge (Romans 14:10).They are ungodly pastors and I will expose them for what they are—apostates! I have a right to my opinion, just like they do. If we can't get along inside the church family, then so be it, I will express my opinions outside the family. All I have ever wanted since 2014 is to attend a local church, but the truth of the matter is that they are serving Satan, and I think God must be protecting me from them! I don't know how, where or when, but God is going to reckon Harvest for their wickedness, it is just a matter of time. No one can mock God and get away with it (Galatians 6:7). In fact, the context of that Scripture passage from Galatians 6:7 is that a works-based cult had infiltrated the church of Galatia (Galatians 3:1-11), just like John MacArthur and Steve Pettit have infiltrated Bob Jones University with their damnable heresy of Lordship Salvation.
Just like all the wicked people in America, who sin and snub their noses at God, so also have Harvest's pastors and complicit staff snubbed God with their arrogance, heresy, indifference, woeful lack of love for hurting people like me, and apostasy! Sadly, as long as their paychecks keep coming, they couldn't care less! It is a crying shame that Harvest bids Godspeed to evildoers. God curses Harvest according to Galatians 1:6-9. I love them all tremendously, God knows my heart, but they do not love God, truth nor me.
What Exactly Is The Gospel?
What saith the Scripture? The word “Gospel” means “Good News” or “Glad Tidings.” There is no need to guess what the “Gospel” is because the Bible plainly tells us. The “Gospel” is the Good News of Christ's DEATH on the cross for our sins, His BURIAL and bodily RESURRECTION three days later: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.”We are saved by BELIEVING “the Gospel,” which is the power of God unto salvation. 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.” John 6:28-29, “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.” It is that simple to be saved. If you'll simply come to God as a needy sinner, and receive Christ's sacrifice on the cross as full payment for your sins—believing that He died, was buried and bodily resurrected three days later from the dead—then YOU'LL BE IMMEDIATELY, IRREVERSIBLY AND FOREVER SAVED!
I love you dear web visitor with God's unconditional love. I have never felt so lonely in all my life as I do nowadays, in so many ways, but “I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:” (Job 19:25b). Job 13:15, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” I always feel like no one wants to be around me, as Brother Hyles said he used to feel, because of his stand for truth and right. I feel like no woman would ever want to marry a guy like me, in pain and a devil-fighter (I guess that's good practice for marriage...lol).
In a sermon, Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001) said his adult daughter, Cindy, used to ask him for a dinner date, so she could ask his advice. Brother Hyles said he knew she didn't really need advice, she simply knew that he needed to FEEL NEEDED. I sure know that feeling. I think that is beautiful what his daughter did for her Dad. I especially know that lonely feeling, being alone without a wife for the past 14 years since 2006, but I thank God that He PROMISES In Hebrews 13:5 never to leave nor forsake me as His child. Jesus is precious!!!
Why Lordship Salvation Is Wrong
Matthew 7:22-23, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
'Lordship Salvation' is simply where people believe that you have to do works to be saved, to commit your life to Christ, so where salvation is not only trusting Christ, but also includes serving Christ, and you don't get one without the other. This is what Dr. Steve Pettit, president of Bob Jones University, errantly teaches. Calvinism teaches that you must make Jesus the “Lord and Master” of your life to be saved. Consequently, they claim you have to look at your life to know if you are saved. This is another gospel (Galatians 1:6-9).
The Christian life is a warfare. We are battling the flesh, the Devil and the world. We are battling against heresy constantly creeping into the church. Jude 1:3b, “that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Even little children should be able to understand the Gospel, if it is presented in its intended simplicity (2nd Corinthians 11:3-4). We are at war ladies and gentleman over the Gospel today. Satan is more clever than you or me, and he has been trying to infiltrate, corrupt and destroy churches since the beginning of Christianity. Sadly, the Devil is winning many battles today! Satan's greatest weapon is to con people into living the Christian life without ever being born-again.
1st Timothy 1:18-19, “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:” This speaks of how you live your life, not salvation. Salvation is by grace alone! You cannot discern the doctrine of devils, if you don't know the doctrines of God. You have to be able to know truth in order to discern error! The best way to expose the darkness is to shine the light of God's Word!
Lordship Salvation is a doctrine of devils. If you have to look at your life to prove that you're saved, it proves that you're not. No one lives above sin. You may manage to live above reproach, but NO ONE can live above sinning! We have all done wickedly. That is why Christ died on the cross, to pay our debt of sin that He did not owe, so we could be made the righteousness of God through faith alone in Christ (2nd Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9).
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.” John MacArthur, R.C. Sproul, Paul Washer, John Piper, Steve Pettit, Sam Horn, Marty Herron, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Finney, and all other heretics, errantly teach that you must “turn from sin” to be saved. You've heard of 'Black Lives Matter'? Well, to the Calvinist only 'Some Lives Matter.' They teach that Jesus only died for SOME, and God only chooses SOME for salvation, and only SOME can be saved. In sharp contrast, the Holy Bible teaches that Christ DIED FOR ALL, and that ALL may be saved by faith alone in Jesus Christ! Jesus is precious!!!
Justification is where God declares you righteous by faith, instantaneously. Sanctification is the process of becoming Christlike, which takes a lifetime. John 6:47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” If you add one work, you've mutilated the Gospel of grace! All these false prophets who teach that you must “repent of your sin” to be saved, are adding to the Gospel of free grace. You cannot show me one place in the Bible that teaches to “repent of sin” or “turn from your sins” to be saved. Jesus said in John 6:47 to simply “BELIEVE ON ME”! There is no mention of forsaking sinful ways to receive the free gift of eternal. Salvation does not include a personal commitment or promise to serve the person of Christ. It sounds logical and good, but it is an accursed message. God does not and will not save anyone who adds works to the Gospel. You may not live like a saint, but because of your position in Christ in God's eye, you are a saint!
Your lifestyle has nothing to do with how much God loves you, and whether He saved you or not. God saved you because you trusted His only begotten Son! John 3:16a says, “For God so LOVED THE WORLD.” God loves you dear friend! God wants to save you by faith alone in His son's sacrifice on the cross for your sins. You works and performance is what YOU DID, not what HE DID! True salvation is the decision to TRUST, not a commitment to SERVE! Are you truly trusting Christ and Him alone, and not your performance and what you do? Saving faith is simply being convinced that what God said in His Word is true! The Gospel is 'Good News' to be BELIEVED, not a lifestyle to be LIVED.
My condition in Christ may change depending on my circumstances and personal choices, but my position in Christ as His redeemed child never changes. Calvinism teaches that real faith inevitably produces a changed life, but that is a false gospel. Are you looking at what Jesus did for you on the cross, or what you are doing for Him in your personal life? My confidence is solely in what Christ did for me on the cross, and not in what I do for Him. As believers we SHOULD walk in newness of life, but if we don't, we are still saved. Does your child have to obey you to be your child? No, they don't. We are the children of God by faith. Galatians 3:26, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
'Lordship Salvation' is simply where people believe that you have to do works to be saved, to commit your life to Christ, so where salvation is not only trusting Christ, but also includes serving Christ, and you don't get one without the other. This is what Dr. Steve Pettit, president of Bob Jones University, errantly teaches. Calvinism teaches that you must make Jesus the “Lord and Master” of your life to be saved. Consequently, they claim you have to look at your life to know if you are saved. This is another gospel (Galatians 1:6-9).
The Christian life is a warfare. We are battling the flesh, the Devil and the world. We are battling against heresy constantly creeping into the church. Jude 1:3b, “that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Even little children should be able to understand the Gospel, if it is presented in its intended simplicity (2nd Corinthians 11:3-4). We are at war ladies and gentleman over the Gospel today. Satan is more clever than you or me, and he has been trying to infiltrate, corrupt and destroy churches since the beginning of Christianity. Sadly, the Devil is winning many battles today! Satan's greatest weapon is to con people into living the Christian life without ever being born-again.
1st Timothy 1:18-19, “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:” This speaks of how you live your life, not salvation. Salvation is by grace alone! You cannot discern the doctrine of devils, if you don't know the doctrines of God. You have to be able to know truth in order to discern error! The best way to expose the darkness is to shine the light of God's Word!
Lordship Salvation is a doctrine of devils. If you have to look at your life to prove that you're saved, it proves that you're not. No one lives above sin. You may manage to live above reproach, but NO ONE can live above sinning! We have all done wickedly. That is why Christ died on the cross, to pay our debt of sin that He did not owe, so we could be made the righteousness of God through faith alone in Christ (2nd Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9).
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.” John MacArthur, R.C. Sproul, Paul Washer, John Piper, Steve Pettit, Sam Horn, Marty Herron, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Finney, and all other heretics, errantly teach that you must “turn from sin” to be saved. You've heard of 'Black Lives Matter'? Well, to the Calvinist only 'Some Lives Matter.' They teach that Jesus only died for SOME, and God only chooses SOME for salvation, and only SOME can be saved. In sharp contrast, the Holy Bible teaches that Christ DIED FOR ALL, and that ALL may be saved by faith alone in Jesus Christ! Jesus is precious!!!
Justification is where God declares you righteous by faith, instantaneously. Sanctification is the process of becoming Christlike, which takes a lifetime. John 6:47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” If you add one work, you've mutilated the Gospel of grace! All these false prophets who teach that you must “repent of your sin” to be saved, are adding to the Gospel of free grace. You cannot show me one place in the Bible that teaches to “repent of sin” or “turn from your sins” to be saved. Jesus said in John 6:47 to simply “BELIEVE ON ME”! There is no mention of forsaking sinful ways to receive the free gift of eternal. Salvation does not include a personal commitment or promise to serve the person of Christ. It sounds logical and good, but it is an accursed message. God does not and will not save anyone who adds works to the Gospel. You may not live like a saint, but because of your position in Christ in God's eye, you are a saint!
Your lifestyle has nothing to do with how much God loves you, and whether He saved you or not. God saved you because you trusted His only begotten Son! John 3:16a says, “For God so LOVED THE WORLD.” God loves you dear friend! God wants to save you by faith alone in His son's sacrifice on the cross for your sins. You works and performance is what YOU DID, not what HE DID! True salvation is the decision to TRUST, not a commitment to SERVE! Are you truly trusting Christ and Him alone, and not your performance and what you do? Saving faith is simply being convinced that what God said in His Word is true! The Gospel is 'Good News' to be BELIEVED, not a lifestyle to be LIVED.
My condition in Christ may change depending on my circumstances and personal choices, but my position in Christ as His redeemed child never changes. Calvinism teaches that real faith inevitably produces a changed life, but that is a false gospel. Are you looking at what Jesus did for you on the cross, or what you are doing for Him in your personal life? My confidence is solely in what Christ did for me on the cross, and not in what I do for Him. As believers we SHOULD walk in newness of life, but if we don't, we are still saved. Does your child have to obey you to be your child? No, they don't. We are the children of God by faith. Galatians 3:26, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
“All you have to do is accept His gift of eternal life and you'll go to Heaven when you die!” —Pastor Jack Hyles, sermon: “I Find No Fault In This Man!”
How Could My Favorite Preacher Not Be Saved?
Acts 15:1, 24, “And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. ...Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:”
We need to differentiate between great religious leaders, and actually being saved. Martin Luther King Jr. was an amazing man. He was a sinner, like all of us, but he said some amazing things, and was a man's man kind of leader. Mr. King was a Baptist preacher his whole life, and African American Baptists everywhere loved and revered him. Yet, Mr. King openly denied Jesus' virgin birth, deity and bodily resurrection. You couldn't make that stuff up!
Martin Luther King Jr. was no Christian! Likewise, John Calvin and Martin Luther were famous religious leaders, who both taught Baptismal Regeneration. So it shouldn't be surprising that many amazing preachers (past and present) are not saved. In Matthew 7:21-23 we read about a group of religious people who gave all to follow Christ, calling Him "Lord, Lord," doing many wonderful works in Jesus name, but Jesus said "I never knew you." When I listen to Pastor John MacArthur preach, it is hard for me to imagine that he is not saved. MacArthur says some really great things. However, with Matthew 7:21-23 in mind, Jesus plainly taught that following Him does not produce the new birth. Judas followed Christ everywhere he went as His apostle. We get saved by trusting Jesus as our personal SAVIOR, not by following Him as our LORD; and not by trusting and following Him as LORD and SAVIOR.
It is hard to believe that something as small as adding a requirement to "turn from your sin" would keep a person from getting saved, but that is what the Bible teaches. In Acts 15:1 some false prophets added one thing, keeping the law according to the law of Moses (which effectively is the same as turning from your sins), but it was no longer the Gospel (which the disciples confirmed in Acts 15:24). I was recently horrified to learn what Charles G. Finney taught, totally denying the imputed righteousness of God for the believer.
There is a fine line between the Gospel and living the Christian life. They are not the same thing. The people in Matthew 7:22-23 had lived the Christian life, like Seventh-Day Adventists so, but they had never been born-again by faith alone in the Son of God. A lot of people get into some church or religion, and outwardly learn to do all that a Christian does. They know the language. They know what is expected of them. They walk the walk and appear outwardly as Jesus' sheep, but they are tares, wolves in sheep's clothing, not saved at all. The difference is in what they are trusting in to get them to Heaven.
I cannot say who is or is not saved. I certainly have my opinion of who's saved or not saved. I don't think Ray Comfort or John MacArthur are saved. I don't think anybody is saved who thinks they must "turn from your sin" to be saved. that is human effort. They have the wrong mindset. My attitude as a born-again Christian is that JESUS PAID IT ALL. I owe Him nothing! It was a free gift. It is "reasonable" that I should serve Him (Romans 12:1). I have been bought with a price (Jesus' precious blood), so I SHOULD glorify God with my spirit, soul and body (1st Corinthians 6:20).
I think many people are saved who use the phrase "Lord and Savior." I see no harm in that phrase. Even the Bible uses it (2nd Peter 1:11). Jesus is every Christian's Lord and Savior, but you only need to trust Him as your Savior to get to Heaven. Jesus is Lord, we don't make Him LORD! Jesus automatically becomes our Lord at the time of salvation. He owns us from that point on! We belong to Him. God seals us with His Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13). If you've never read it, I encourage you to read Michael P. Bowen's excellent book titled: "I Never Knew You."
Chapter 5 is about Pastor Rick Warren. Great stuff! Mr. Warren teaches that you have to live like Jesus to be saved. I love Michael's book, because it clearly shows how so many famous preachers teach salvation as a lifestyle that we must live, instead of a one time gift that we need simply to receive. Their thinking is very different from the Word of God. I got saved at age 13 and it is a done deal! My sins have been forever washed away, sins I haven't even committed yet. That is why when we sin as believers, God's grace "DID MUCH MORE ABOUND" (Romans 5:20). Acts 13:39 says we have been "JUSTIFIED FROM ALL THINGS."
The goal of my articles is not to attack people who teach Lordship Salvation, but to warn everyone else about them. When the apostle Paul wrote to the corrupted church at Galatia, all he wanted to know is how they got saved (i.e., how did they get the indwelling Holy Spirit)—by keeping the law, or by the hearing of faith (Galatians 3:2). We are saved by placing our childlike faith in the Gospel when we hear it preached (or read it preached). That is very simple. Paul didn't ask them if they had been converted from their sinful ways. He didn't ask them if they had surrendered to Jesus as Lord. He simply wanted to know if they had faith. Only God knows who is truly saved or lost.
I do think it is possible for someone to be confused, caught between grace and works, and still be saved, depending on the extent of the damage. Pastor Phil Kidd believes if you are saved, you will live a changed life. That borders on Calvinism, and I don't like it, but I think he is saved. The correct teaching is that a saved person SHOULD live a changed life; not MUST (that is works); not WILL (that is Calvinism). The Bible says Demas forsook Paul's side in the ministry, having loved this present world (2nd Timothy 4:10). Demas was saved, but worldly. Samson chased women (Judges 16:1). This was God's man. Samson lived in sin his whole life, and so does every Christian. We all sin in different ways. I once saw a church sign that read: "Don't judge others because they sin differently than you do!" I like that.
The whole idea of turning from sin is ludicrous, because no one can turn from their sins. We can take a pig and clean it up nice, with perfume and a bow-tie, but it is still a pig and will run for the mudhole as fast as it can when set free. Humans are sinners! We will run for the mudhole of sin every chance we get, until we get converted (born-again) and our nature changes. As a Christian, I want to live right as much as I can, in the Lord's strength, because I fear and love the Lord (John 14:15). I am still a sinner, but my nature changed at age 13. I didn't have to commit to be willing to change to get saved. That is the junk theology today taught at Bob Jones University (in their Statement of Faith no less)! I didn't "turn from my sins" to get saved.
I simply knew that I was a sinner, and I knew Jesus was the Savior who died for my sins on the cross, and I cried out in my soul in faith for the risen Savior to save me, and He wonderfully did. The Holy Spirit moved inside to indwell me. He began to work on me, convicting me about sins in my life. I started reading my Bible each night before I went to sleep. I was changing, because I had the Holy Spirit. That is how salvation works! You simply trust the blessed Savior, and then the indwelling Holy Spirit changes us through renewing our mind with the inspired Word of God. The reason why it is so hard for people to understand this truth, is simply because they are not saved, they are merely religious. Religious people always think in terms of turning away from sins. To be saved we simply need to turn away from RELIGION and trust the Savior!
We need to differentiate between great religious leaders, and actually being saved. Martin Luther King Jr. was an amazing man. He was a sinner, like all of us, but he said some amazing things, and was a man's man kind of leader. Mr. King was a Baptist preacher his whole life, and African American Baptists everywhere loved and revered him. Yet, Mr. King openly denied Jesus' virgin birth, deity and bodily resurrection. You couldn't make that stuff up!
Martin Luther King Jr. was no Christian! Likewise, John Calvin and Martin Luther were famous religious leaders, who both taught Baptismal Regeneration. So it shouldn't be surprising that many amazing preachers (past and present) are not saved. In Matthew 7:21-23 we read about a group of religious people who gave all to follow Christ, calling Him "Lord, Lord," doing many wonderful works in Jesus name, but Jesus said "I never knew you." When I listen to Pastor John MacArthur preach, it is hard for me to imagine that he is not saved. MacArthur says some really great things. However, with Matthew 7:21-23 in mind, Jesus plainly taught that following Him does not produce the new birth. Judas followed Christ everywhere he went as His apostle. We get saved by trusting Jesus as our personal SAVIOR, not by following Him as our LORD; and not by trusting and following Him as LORD and SAVIOR.
It is hard to believe that something as small as adding a requirement to "turn from your sin" would keep a person from getting saved, but that is what the Bible teaches. In Acts 15:1 some false prophets added one thing, keeping the law according to the law of Moses (which effectively is the same as turning from your sins), but it was no longer the Gospel (which the disciples confirmed in Acts 15:24). I was recently horrified to learn what Charles G. Finney taught, totally denying the imputed righteousness of God for the believer.
There is a fine line between the Gospel and living the Christian life. They are not the same thing. The people in Matthew 7:22-23 had lived the Christian life, like Seventh-Day Adventists so, but they had never been born-again by faith alone in the Son of God. A lot of people get into some church or religion, and outwardly learn to do all that a Christian does. They know the language. They know what is expected of them. They walk the walk and appear outwardly as Jesus' sheep, but they are tares, wolves in sheep's clothing, not saved at all. The difference is in what they are trusting in to get them to Heaven.
I cannot say who is or is not saved. I certainly have my opinion of who's saved or not saved. I don't think Ray Comfort or John MacArthur are saved. I don't think anybody is saved who thinks they must "turn from your sin" to be saved. that is human effort. They have the wrong mindset. My attitude as a born-again Christian is that JESUS PAID IT ALL. I owe Him nothing! It was a free gift. It is "reasonable" that I should serve Him (Romans 12:1). I have been bought with a price (Jesus' precious blood), so I SHOULD glorify God with my spirit, soul and body (1st Corinthians 6:20).
I think many people are saved who use the phrase "Lord and Savior." I see no harm in that phrase. Even the Bible uses it (2nd Peter 1:11). Jesus is every Christian's Lord and Savior, but you only need to trust Him as your Savior to get to Heaven. Jesus is Lord, we don't make Him LORD! Jesus automatically becomes our Lord at the time of salvation. He owns us from that point on! We belong to Him. God seals us with His Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13). If you've never read it, I encourage you to read Michael P. Bowen's excellent book titled: "I Never Knew You."
Chapter 5 is about Pastor Rick Warren. Great stuff! Mr. Warren teaches that you have to live like Jesus to be saved. I love Michael's book, because it clearly shows how so many famous preachers teach salvation as a lifestyle that we must live, instead of a one time gift that we need simply to receive. Their thinking is very different from the Word of God. I got saved at age 13 and it is a done deal! My sins have been forever washed away, sins I haven't even committed yet. That is why when we sin as believers, God's grace "DID MUCH MORE ABOUND" (Romans 5:20). Acts 13:39 says we have been "JUSTIFIED FROM ALL THINGS."
The goal of my articles is not to attack people who teach Lordship Salvation, but to warn everyone else about them. When the apostle Paul wrote to the corrupted church at Galatia, all he wanted to know is how they got saved (i.e., how did they get the indwelling Holy Spirit)—by keeping the law, or by the hearing of faith (Galatians 3:2). We are saved by placing our childlike faith in the Gospel when we hear it preached (or read it preached). That is very simple. Paul didn't ask them if they had been converted from their sinful ways. He didn't ask them if they had surrendered to Jesus as Lord. He simply wanted to know if they had faith. Only God knows who is truly saved or lost.
I do think it is possible for someone to be confused, caught between grace and works, and still be saved, depending on the extent of the damage. Pastor Phil Kidd believes if you are saved, you will live a changed life. That borders on Calvinism, and I don't like it, but I think he is saved. The correct teaching is that a saved person SHOULD live a changed life; not MUST (that is works); not WILL (that is Calvinism). The Bible says Demas forsook Paul's side in the ministry, having loved this present world (2nd Timothy 4:10). Demas was saved, but worldly. Samson chased women (Judges 16:1). This was God's man. Samson lived in sin his whole life, and so does every Christian. We all sin in different ways. I once saw a church sign that read: "Don't judge others because they sin differently than you do!" I like that.
The whole idea of turning from sin is ludicrous, because no one can turn from their sins. We can take a pig and clean it up nice, with perfume and a bow-tie, but it is still a pig and will run for the mudhole as fast as it can when set free. Humans are sinners! We will run for the mudhole of sin every chance we get, until we get converted (born-again) and our nature changes. As a Christian, I want to live right as much as I can, in the Lord's strength, because I fear and love the Lord (John 14:15). I am still a sinner, but my nature changed at age 13. I didn't have to commit to be willing to change to get saved. That is the junk theology today taught at Bob Jones University (in their Statement of Faith no less)! I didn't "turn from my sins" to get saved.
I simply knew that I was a sinner, and I knew Jesus was the Savior who died for my sins on the cross, and I cried out in my soul in faith for the risen Savior to save me, and He wonderfully did. The Holy Spirit moved inside to indwell me. He began to work on me, convicting me about sins in my life. I started reading my Bible each night before I went to sleep. I was changing, because I had the Holy Spirit. That is how salvation works! You simply trust the blessed Savior, and then the indwelling Holy Spirit changes us through renewing our mind with the inspired Word of God. The reason why it is so hard for people to understand this truth, is simply because they are not saved, they are merely religious. Religious people always think in terms of turning away from sins. To be saved we simply need to turn away from RELIGION and trust the Savior!
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