Salvation Is A Gift, Not An Award

Acts 15:10-11, “Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.”

What a lovely and clear Bible passage! A group of false teachers, Judaizers, had come to the city of Antioch preaching Lordship Salvation. Acts 15:1 and 24-26, “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: It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.That is the same as Lordship Salvation, because effectively it requires the same thing—keeping the law (e.g., don't murder, don't steal, don't commit adultery, don't covet, et cetera). If a person must be willing to stop committing those sins (aka, “turn from your sins) to be saved, that is the same as trying to keep the law in addition to your faith in Jesus Christ.

Please notice in Acts 15:24, that through their letters the apostles themselves reassured the confused believers at Antioch, that they hadn't given any such commandment to “turn from sins (i.e., keep the law)  to be saved. Acts 15:10-11, “Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.” That is exactly what Lordship Salvation does, it places an unnecessary yoke upon sinner's shoulders, which neither the patriarchs, nor the apostles, nor are we able to bear! No one can keep the law to please God (Romans 3:20). So what makes a proponent of Lordship Salvation (i.e., turning from your sins and making full surrender to Christ as Lord” to be saved), foolishly think that God expects us to turn away from committing sinful behavior as a condition of receiving His free gift of eternal life?

Dr. Steve Pettit Heretically Calls Heaven An Award”

One of the most dangerous heretics of our time is Evangelist Steve Pettit, the new president of Bob Jones University since 2014. I am certain that many of the faculty and students at Bob Jones University in 2015 were very disturbed and uneasy, as Dr. Pettit made the following heretical statements, teaching a works-based false gospel. The sermon was preached in chapel on January 26, 2015 and is titled: “What Does it Mean To Run The Race?” (MP3, 'The Daily Platform,' Dr. Steve Pettit). Dr. Pettit heretically teaches that “THE RACE” we run as Christians is necessary for salvation. That is exactly what Seventh-Day Adventist false prophetess' Ellen G. White (1827-1915) taught! Steve Pettit teaches:
“'The race' is a description of the whole of the Christian life of faith.” —Dr. Steve Pettit (“What Does It Mean To Run 'The Race'?” - 4:26)
That is some dangerous talk when you include the next quote from Dr. Pettit, in which he teaches over 2,600 BJU students that the “AWARD” for running 'The Race' is “Heaven itself”!!!
“We run the race, we cross the finish line, and so what’s the prize? What is the award? Well, there are different viewpoints. Some would have the viewpoint that the awards are crowns in Heaven. But as I read the book of Hebrews and see the whole gist of the book and the flow of the book, I don’t believe its referring to crowns in Heaven. I think it is referring to Heaven itself.” [emphasis added] —Dr. Steve Pettit (“What Does It Mean To Run 'The Race'?” - 22:57)
Heaven itself? Oh my! What saith the Scripture? 1st Corinthians 9:24-25, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.” As you just read, the “award” will be an “INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN,” but Steve Pettit says it will be HEAVEN ITSELF!!! Heaven is not “a reward” dear reader, a gift from God, a solemn promise “TO SAVE THEM THAT BELIEVE” (1st Corinthians 1:21). Dr. Pettit is pulling on the same rope as the Devil by teaching that Heaven in “an award.”

Heaven Is Not An Award, It Is A Free Gift

Mr. Pettit is literally saying that the AWARD for running 'The Race' is salvation!!! Folks, eternal life is not an “AWARD,” it is a free gift! Are you getting this? What a demonic heretic!!! Salvation is a “free gift” (Romans 5:15), which does NOT require living a faithful life to secure!!! Kindly said, Dr. Steve Pettit is a reprobate in the pulpit, an unsaved heretic, and a theological liar!!! He falsely says:
“So not only does it have a start, but 'The Race' has to be run! It starts with faith, but it continues with faithfulness. You start the race with the purpose of finishing the race. Nobody starts the race, so that they can quit half-way through. When you start in faith, you need to run and finish in faith. However, let me also remind you, that this race is HARD. Is a race not hard? Is it not difficult to get out and run?” —Dr. Steve Pettit (“What Does It Mean To Run 'The Race'?” -  6:34)
Let me ask you a very important question dear reader—If I give you a gift, what does that mean? Here is what it means:
  1. A gift will cost you NOTHING, because it cost me. I paid for it. Jesus paid for the gift of eternal life!
  2. Receiving the gift does not obligate you in any way to do anything, or else it cannot be a gift. The dictionary defines “gift” as: “Something acquired without compensation.” Eternal life is a “free gift” (Romans 5:15, 18).
  3. I cannot take it away from you, otherwise it wasn't truly a gift, or else I am a thief for taking it back.
  4. If it is an “award,” then it cannot also be a “gift”! The dictionary definition of “award” is: “Something given for victory or superiority in a contest or competition.” Folks, getting saved is a free gift, not a race or competition!
  5. It is not “HARD” to receive a gift. Steve Pettit says running the race is “HARD,” and he says you must run the race to get the “award” of Heaven. What a con man in the pulpit! Getting saved is easy, not an award; it is a free gift!
Dear friend, if you will simply always keep in mind that eternal life is a “free gift,” it will steer you clear of mountains of heresy!!! Steve Pettit is a deadly false prophet, who corrupts the simplicity that is in Christ (2nd Corinthians 11:3-4). Romans 5:18, “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”

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