What Does It Mean To “Play Church”?

Matthew 15:7-9, “Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” John 4:24, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” Revelation 3:15-16, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”

We've all heard the saying “playing church,” but what does it mean? Playing church is when religious people merely go through the motions of attending church and living the Christian life outwardly, but they have become indifferent toward the truth and people—apathetic toward the purity of God's Word, unconcerned about the accuracy of the Gospel, woefully lacking genuine compassion for others; all the while maintaining the masquerade of loving God and being a good Christian. Jesus calls them HYPOCRITES!!! To the same degree that you are active in church, but don't care about the purity, integrity and soundness of THE TRUTH, you are merely playing church. Right doctrine matters!!!

Our text passages of Scripture are very fitting for this topic. Jesus quotes Isaiah the prophet, who called the people “hypocrites” because they were superficial. Here is the passage from the Old Testament that Jesus quoted. ...

Isaiah 29:13-14, “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.”

Jesus told the Samaritan woman at Jacob's Well in John 4:24 that God can only be worshiped in “truth” and in “spirit.” God cannot be worshipped in rituals, ceremonies or traditions. Likewise, Jesus said that God can only be worshiped in TRUTH. 

Let me also quote to you this passage from the book of Mark, which elaborates a bit more...

Mark 7:6-13, “He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.”

Jesus plainly said that the Word of God is no longer effective when people replace it with traditions and the commandments of men. And may I say, the Word of God also becomes ineffective when replaced by the Devil's corrupt modern Bible revisions. For example: 

KING JAMES BIBLE (KJB) - 1st Corinthians 1:18, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”

ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION (ESV) - 1st Corinthians 1:18, “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

Someone ADDED the word “being,” which is not found in the King James Bible. Born-again believers “ARE SAVED,” we are not “BEING SAVED.” Receiving eternal life is a new birth, not an ongoing process. Contrary to theological false prophets like Ray Comfort, Steve Pettit and John MacArthur—you don't have to run the race, live a lifestyle of repentance, nor surrender all to Christ as “Lord” to be saved. To be saved you simply trust Jesus as your Savior. Christ died on the cross for your sins, He was buried. Three days later He physically resurrected from the dead. This is “the Gospel” (or Good News) according to 1st Corinthians 15:1-4.

“Playing church” refers to people who have become so shallow, that nothing matters to them anymore. These are today's churches that use more than one Bible version, confusing everybody. The Bible says in 1st Corinthians 14:33b that “God is NOT the author of confusion.” Yet, over 90% of your churches today use multiple Bible versions. What is wrong with today's pastors and churches that they don't care? They are merely playing church.

“Playing church” refers to people who go along with embellishments of the Gospel. There is only one Gospel, which I just mentioned to you. Turning away from one's sin is not part of the Gospel. Surrendering all to Christ as “Lord” is not part of the Gospel. Following Jesus no matter what the cost is not a part of the Gospel. The preceding teachings are popular in today's apostate churches, but none of these things comprise the Gospel of free grace. Far too many congregations and pastors today are merely “playing church.” They draw nigh unto God with their mouths, singing sycophantic praises unto Him, but their hearts are far from Him. Instead of loving the truth as they ought, they love the praise of men and tolerate heresy. Our churches are full of lies and heresies today, but people couldn't care less!

Bob Jones University (BJU) and their alumni are a perfect example. Somewhere along the way BJU changed their doctrine from that of a free grace Gospel, to that of the Devil's heresy of Lordship Salvation. BJU today says you must turn away from your sin to be saved, which is a work, and nowhere taught in the Word of God. Hebrews 4:10-11 says to cease from your works to have God's rest (salvation), but BJU says you have to “turn away from sin” (i.e., live a righteous life) to be saved. Kindly said, BJU are theological liars and deceivers!!! They are playing church. Truth doesn't matter to them. The accuracy of the Gospel doesn't matter to them. The purity of God's Word doesn't matter to them.

Instead of upholding the inspired and infallible Word of God, the Bob Jones crowd follow the doctrines of men, using the manmade Bible revisions of greedy men, which are corrupt. Instead of preaching the pure unadulterated Gospel of free grace, the BJU crowd preach another gospel of turning from sins, surrendering all to Christ, following Jesus no matter what the cost, faithfully running the race, persevering unto the end, and exchanging all that you are for all that Christ is! I'm not kidding, that is the junk theology that they all teach!

Hardly anyone cares anymore. It is sadly the direction which America has gone. It doesn't matter where you go these days, people just don't care. Cops don't care. Politicians don't care. Pastors don't care. People at the front desk at car rentals, hotels and restaurants don't care. Go look online at complaints against any business you can think of, and you'll likely find thousands of complaints, but no one cares! I just searched Google for “PayPal complaints” and at the Better Business Bureau found 14,476 complaints filed against them! Who cares, right? So what, people filed 14,476 complaints against PayPal. Does anybody care? PayPal is booming in business! What are all those complaints going to accomplish? Those people are all angry. They were mistreated. But there is no consequence anymore for bad service. Companies can treat you like total crap and get away with it! That is one main reason why I don't like living in America anymore, people just don't care.

Likewise, I have written over 300 articles since 2014 exposing the shameful Harvest Baptist Church of Guam for their indifference, using multiple Bible versions, preaching Lordship Salvation, bidding Godspeed to false teacher Dr. John MacArthur, and ostracizing me when I have pleaded for their love and help repeatedly over the past several years. They just don't care, which proves they are merely PLAYING CHURCH and not serving God. You cannot be right with God and wrong with your neighbor. Besides praying for God to open their eyes at Harvest, I have been cursing Harvest Baptist Church of God and Bob Jones University since 2014, for their apostasy, and all the damage they are doing to the cause of Christ by not caring. Attitudes are contagious, and the BJU crowd projects a horrible spirit of indifference.

The Lord said in Revelation 3:15-16 that He rejects and vomits lukewarm churches out of His mouth. How can any church be right with God when they promote, sanction and go along with this type of insanity? There are so many bad attitudes in churches today. People just don't care anymore. Proverbs 14:15, “The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.” Most churches are installing overhead projectors, investing in fancy music programs, doing all they can to draw in more crowds; but they don't care about which Bible they use, which gospel they preach, or hurting people who are difficult. They just don't care. They are academic types who lack compassion.

Churches want the easy cases, and people with money. They don't want to suffer persecution for the name of Jesus, so they avoid anything controversial. They don't want to be put outside the gate with Jesus. So they dip their sails in sinful compromise, going along with the herd. If a pastor denies the inspiration of the King James Bible, then his church congregation will follow him over the same cliff. If a pastor preaches a corrupted gospel message, then most of the people will follow his perverse teachings. Jesus told the Samaritan woman that God CANNOT be worshipped in error. Pastor John MacArthur worships God in vain, and so does everyone who follows his false teachings!

Dear friend, I see churches across the United States swelling with rot. They are not growing! As an example: The First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Florida is one of the largest and most influential churches in the country, yet they are Gospel perverts! If you go look at their Statement of Faith, they require FIVE THINGS to be saved! One of these things is to “Stop practicing the sin that is separating you from God.” What blasphemy! Dear friend, nowhere does the Bible require sinners to “Stop practicing the sin” to be saved. 

While it is true that our sins have separated us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2), it is the blood of Jesus Christ alone that brings us nigh to God. Ephesians 2:13, “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” The First Baptist Church Jacksonville is of the Devil, preaching another gospel of partial faith in Christ plus works, playing church without truth. Galatians 1:6-9 teaches that GOD'S CURSE is upon them. They sing their 7-11 (7 words repeated 11 times) sycophantic worship that nauseates God. I don't care how popular a church may be, or how loving the people may be, they are FAR AWAY FROM GOD when they talk about stopping your sins to be saved.

Let God Be True But Every Man A Liar

Romans 3:4, “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.”

We need a revival in our churches today about letting the Holy Bible speak for itself. Men are notorious for adding to what God has already plainly stated in the Scriptures. For example: Please consider the following quote from Dr. John R. Rice (1895-1980), in which he adds the word “penitent” before faith, which is nothing you'll find in the Bible...

It would be a serious mistake to make verse 13 refer to the great plan of salvation for the soul, for thus it would contradict many other plain statements in the Bible showing that salvation is not by works, not by man's goodness or faithfulness or endurance, but by virtue of the blood of Jesus Christ. That salvation is received by penitent faith. [emphasis added]

SOURCE: Dr. John R. Rice, “Matthew,” pp. 377-378; Sword Of The Lord, ©1955

Here are some passages of Scripture which teach salvation BY FAITH, but you won't find the word “penitent” in any of them. Penitence is feeling sorrow for sins, expressing remorse for misdeeds. This is not a condition of salvation dear friend.

Ephesians 2:9, “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.”

Galatians 3:26, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:9, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”

Evangelist Alexander Marshall (1846-1928) provides this excellent helpful explanation of repentance versus sorrow for sins concerning salvation. This information is taken from a little Gospel tract titled, “God's Way Of Salvation,” authored in the 1920's by Brother Marshall...

“I HAVE NOT REPENTED ENOUGH”

What do you mean? “I am not sorry enough for my sins.”

And if you were very sorry, would God be more willing to save you than He is now? “I think so.”

Then you are completely mistaken.

“But does it not say, unless we repent we shall perish?”

Yes; but what do you think is the Scriptural significance of “repentance”? If you say “sorrow for sin” you are wrong. It does not mean sorrow for sin: it means a CHANGE OF MIND (Matt. 21:29). This change will doubtless produce sorrow; but sorrow and repentance are two very different things (Heb. 12:17. margin, and II Cor. 7:9). When God calls on you to “repent, and believe the Gospel,” He wishes you to lay aside your wrong thoughts, and believe the glad tidings that He proclaims to you. Formerly you may have imagined that you were required to feel very sorry before being saved. Change your mind. You may have supposed you must first “feel” some great change in order to know you were saved. Change your mind. First believe in God's great love to you, as revealed in His gospel, and you will KNOW that you have eternal life (John 5:24). [emphasis added]

SOURCE: Evangelist Alexander Marshall, “God's Way Of Salvation”  

Yes, that is excellent. Mr. Marshall is 100% correct! When God calls on you to “repent, and believe the Gospel,” He wishes you to lay aside your wrong thoughts, and believe the glad tidings that He proclaims to you. Brother Marshall plainly says that sinners are saved by BELIEVING THE GOSPEL, that is, he says, “to lay aside your wrong thoughts [repentance], and believe the glad tidings [Gospel] that He proclaims to you.” Respectfully said, Dr. Rice is wrongly adding to the Gospel by mandating sorrow for sins, which the Bible does not.

Romans 3:4 says to let God be true, but every man a liar. Don't you dare believe whatever I say, you go check and verify it with the Scriptures. I know of numerous Christians today who blindly follow Dr. Peter S. Ruckman (1921-2016). They admire him so much for his stand upon the infallible King James Bible, that they dare not oppose him on anything else. Kindly said, Dr. Ruckman was a heretic concerning salvation in the Old Testament. The prophet Habakkuk calls Dr. Ruckman a liar! People have always been saved BY FAITH alone (Acts 10:43).

God knows that I do not enjoy refuting other preachers, but I do find joy in contending for the Christian faith (Jude 1:3). We must always remember that men are flawed, mortal, finite, sinful and incapable of understanding all there is to know. No preacher has ever had it all right doctrinally. As I grow older I am continually honing my own beliefs, trying to articulate my words better to explain the truth to God's sheep. But I would be doing you a great injustice friend, if I didn't make sure to let you know that my words are not infallible. Only God's Words in the King James Bible are inspired and infallible. Men's words are fallible and merely inspired by mankind. Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

One of the main reasons why so many people are having doctrinal difficulties these days, is because they are tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine from different preachers. Ephesians 4:14, “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;” There is no deception any more deadly than that of Lordship Salvation (which is rooted in heretical Calvinism). The false doctrine of Lordship Salvation teaches that faith in Jesus as one's personal Savior is not enough to be saved. Believing the Gospel, they say, is not enough to receive eternal life. In addition, proponents of Lordship Salvation say you MUST repent (turn) from all your sins, make a commitment to live for Christ, unconditionally surrender to Christ as one's “Lord,” and follow Jesus no matter what the cost, or else they say you are not ready to be saved.

One of the most popular and beloved pastors in America over the past couple decades is Dr. John MacArthur. Unfortunately, Mr. MacArthur is the most significant teachers of the Lordship Salvation heresy. In fact, Dr. MacArthur even heretically calls salvation an “exchange” of sorts. But dear reader, the Bible teaches that eternal life is a “free gift” from God (Romans 5:15, 17, 18), which cannot be merited with human effort. I am tired of hearing Bible college professors and pastors, who are in utter denial, speaking of salvation by God's grace while at the same time calling it an exchange. That is impossible! Romans 11:6, “ And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”

May we all be extremely careful not to add or subtract from the Word of God. If we accept the King James Bible at face value, then we clearly see that salvation is by simply by “faith.”

Does Mark 2:17 Teach Turning From Sins To Be Saved?

Mark 2:15-17, “And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

I am humbly proud to be one of the biggest voices on the internet in defense of a Free Grace Gospel. I give God all the credit, praise and glory. I am just A VOICE! I am just a humble broken sinner, very happy and grateful to be used of God in some capacity. I must decrease, but Jesus must increase! That is my heart's attitude in all that Christ does through me as His humble servant. I pray for God's Holy Spirit to work in your heart, as my words speak to your mind. I am just clay, and so are you dear friend, God is the Potter.

Having said that, I get trolls writing to me frequently, trying to straighten me out doctrinally. I received an email today from a man, who defended Evangelist James R. White. Kindly said, James White is a misled Calvinist theological fool. In the preceding video titled: “James R. White On Lordship Salvation,” White critiques “Easy Believism,” calling it “The False Gospel.” No, James White is preaching an accursed false Gospel of Lordship Salvation. Please read the helpful article exposing Mr. White called: “James White's Embarrassing Ignorance Of Free Grace.”

White ignorantly accuses Free Grace proponents of teaching that a person can be saved without being changed by the Holy Spirit, and without repentance, and without growth in grace. Well, a person who is saved is indwelt by the blessed Holy Spirit (1st John 3:24). But whether or not that person grows is a matter of inward sanctification, and not outward justification. John Bunyan (1628-1688) said it very well: 

“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”

James White is woefully ignorant of theology. He blindly tries to defend John MacArthur and the Lordship Salvation crowd, but he cannot do so by using the inspired King James Bible.

Growth in grace has nothing to do with receiving the free gift of eternal life. What James White is teaching is deadly Calvinism (i.e., the heretical teachings of a man named John Calvin, 1509-1564). Calvinism falsely teaches that if you are truly saved, you will persevere in holiness and Christian service all your life. Calvinism combines and confuses discipleship (service) with salvation (sonship). The Free Grace Gospel makes a clear and definite distinction between these two things, and for good reason, because salvation if it is truly by grace through faith alone, cannot require faithfully living the Christian life (which is works).

Getting back to the man I mentioned earlier, who wrote to me today. He quoted Mark 2:17 in an effort to defend James White and condemn me for believing a Free Grace Theology, “They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” It would be ridiculous to interpret this passage as meaning that “sinners to repentance” refers to turning away from one's sins, because if that were true, then “the righteous” would refer to people who have already turned away from their sins. Would Jesus say that He didn't come to save those who had already turned away from their sins? Does that make any sense? I mean, at all?

Clearly the Lord is speaking here about self-righteousness, that is, works. Jesus said that He didn't come to save the self-righteousness, who think they have no need of the blessed Savior. Jesus came to save sinners, who know that they are guilty, and have desperate need of a Savior! So when the Bible says that Jesus came to call “sinners to repentance,” it simply means that He came to save whoever would let Him be their Savior. John 5:40, “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” John 6:37, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” Jesus eagerly wants to save everyone who wants to be saved (2nd Peter 3:9). That is what “the elect” means in Mark 13:22 and other passages. The elect are the saints of God. God has chosen to save everyone who chooses to be saved! We are “the elect” as believers!!!

Rebuke Them Sharply

I never rebuke someone sharply for being ignorant. I only rebuke ignorant people sharply when they call me ignorant. I mean, if you're unlearned that is one thing, but if your stubborn in your ignorance, unwilling to learn, then someone needs to put you in your place. There is no controversy if you believe the Bible! There is no ongoing debate over repentance unless you are ignorant of the Scriptures. The Bible is very clear on this matter of repentance and the Gospel. We don't have to theorize, guess nor make deductions about how to be saved. God gave us an entire book, the Gospel of John, to teach us how to have eternal life. The word “believe” appears in John 85 times! The Bible says to simply “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31b).

Despite my attempt to help teach the man who wrote to me today, he didn't want to learn. Here is the page of resources that I sent him. Literally, I just copied and pasted this information from my email to share with everyone. I wanted to share these helpful resources with others, because they are invaluable to anyone who wants to understand Bible repentance (and you should). Please don't believe whatever some pastor tells you, SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES for yourself (John 5:39).

So after I sent this information to him, the man replied by saying: “you are closer to understanding.” I wrote back and told him that I am not “close to understanding” James White's corrupt theology. I told him that I don't debate with people who have agendas. That is, they have already made up their minds what they believe, and merely want to debate and argue. Titus 3:9, “But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.” Debating Lordship Salvation is indeed debating the law. “The law” equals works, period! 

I am tired of well-meaning arrogant religious people trying to convert me over the their heretical beliefs. I tend to deal harshly with false teachers, which is 100% Biblical. Titus 1:13-14, “This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.” I kindly wrote the man back and called him my enemy, because he is accusing me of being ignorant of the Gospel, when in fact I am telling THE TRUTH. We'll, let me show you exactly what I wrote to him, and I quote:

*******,

Titus 3:10-11, "A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself."

You are deceived my friend. I just prayed for you, for God to open your eyes. There is no agreement between truth and heresy. Anyone who adds "turn from your sins" to the Gospel is going to Hell. There is no "misunderstanding" as you erroneously call it. James White is just as strong in his critique of free grace proponents, as I am of them. You are foolish to attempt to bring doctrinal harmony where there can be no harmony. You didn't even bother to read the dozens of resources that I sent you. I seriously doubt if you examined 20 hours of material in 3 minutes! That tells me you have an agenda and don't really care about the truth, for if you viewed the material you would have seen that James White is a heretic.

Your sinful spirit of ecumenism is destroying the churches. We need to stand firm against heresy, not try to coddle them and win them over, which simply won't happen. They aren't going to change their Lordship Salvation views, because like you they are indoctrinated, but accuse others of the very same thing. You are wrong that I am "closer to understanding." I understand just fine, it is you my enemy who are deceived and need to get saved. If you are saying that I am closer to understanding James White's idiotic theology, then you are a bigger fool than you realize...

James White's Embarrassing Ignorance Of Free Grace...

http://freeindeed123188.blogspot.com/2015/11/james-whites-embarrassing-ignorance-of.html

In Jesus' precious name,

Titus 1:13-14, “This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.” I pull no punches, suffer no fools, make no apologies, and don't hold back when arrogant false teachers get in my face. If you come at me with your “turn away from your sin” garbage, prepare for a spiritual battle. If you come at me with the Devil's Lordship Salvation (which is nothing less than Calvinism repackaged), prepare for a spiritual battle! The war has already been won at Calvary! We are more than conquerors through Christ Who loved us (Romans 8:37).

I once heard Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001) say something profound (of the thousands of profound things he said...lol). Dr. Hyles said—Do you know what Hyles-Anderson College needs? It needs a mean old man walking around the perimeter like a junk yard dog, on-guard against the enemy creeping in!—to that I say Amen! Folks, that is what I am doing as a Christian, as a custodian of one! In this sermon clip, Pastor Hyles talks about the future of First Baptist Church of Hammond, in which he exhorts every church member to become A CUSTODIAN OF ONE!!! I love that. In other words, if no one else does the right thing, then you as an INDIVIDUAL take a stand, walk out the door, and stand against the apostasy!!!

I am walking around on the internet like a mean Pitbull dog, exposing heresy wherever I find it. If that makes me unpopular, so be it! If rebuking the heretics at the Harvest Baptist Church on Guam (who preach Satan's lie of Lordship Salvation) compels them to count me as their enemy, then so be it! I am obeying Titus 1:13-14. God is pleased with me for telling THE TRUTH (Romans 3:4). Harvest's incompetent pastors have blood on their hands. The truth does not matter to them, keeping the money coming in matters to them. So they dip their sails in sinful compromise, going along with the heresy at Bob Jones University.

I'm talking a stand against their apostasy at FBCH from Guam, 9,000 miles away! Since 2008 the church and Hyles-Anderson College no longer believe that the King James Bible is inspired. Ladies and gentlemen, if the Bible is not inspired by God, then it can only be inspired by men! It cannot be without inspiration. Every book written by a man is inspired by that author. Likewise, how can we have a Bible that is not inspired by its Author. Pastor Jack Hyles recognized “THE REAL BATTLE.” Sadly, 99% of professed Christians today don't, which is why each succeeding generation is being sucked further into the vortex of the Devil's NEW WORLD ORDER. Please watch the classic 1:46 hour movie: “New World Order Bible Versions.”

If You Believe On Jesus You Already Possess Eternal Life

John 6:54, “Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” John 11:25-26, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”

Dear reader, Eternal Life and Eternal Security are not two separate doctrines in the Bible. They are one and the dame teaching. The man who has Eternal Life has Eternal Security. The only type of life which God gives is eternal life. God does not give temporal life or probationary life, He only gives eternal life. John 6:54, “Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” Jesus said that the person who believes on His name “HATH” eternal life. The Lord didn't say we “SHALL” have eternal life; but rather, He promised that the one who believes “HATH” eternal life. I love that!

According to Jesus' Words in John 11:25-26, no saint will ever die spiritually. The moment that we got born-again, we possessed eternal life. That means we cannot die. Matthew 22:32, “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” This is why we know there is no such thing as “Soul Sleep.” Jehovah's Witnesses and Seventh-Day Adventists believe in Soul Sleep. That is, they believe that when the human body dies, we lie dormant in the grave until some future time when God will resurrect us. It is true that out physical body will remain in the earth until it is resurrected, but our soul and spirit immediately return to God at death. Ecclesiastes 12:7, “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”

If you're born once, you die twice; if you're born twice, you die once! In other words, “Ye must be born again” (John 3:3b). Once you are born anew from above, God seals you with His blessed Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:12-14, “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” The indwelling Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are born of God. 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.”

If you are saved, you have eternal life, which is eternal security. How could a saint not be secure in his eternal life? I was saved at age 13. My security is that God PROMISES to give eternal life to anyone who trusts in His only begotten Son. John 20:31, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” 

As believers we are not sinless, but we ought to sin less. Amen! God is good. But if we do sin, GRACE DOTH MUCH MORE ABOUND (Romans 5:20). Friend, you don't have to turn away from your sins to enter into Heaven, you have to be 100% sinless!!! Even one sin is enough to keep you out of Heaven (James 2:10). All God asks for you to do to go to Heaven, is to believe that HE DID IT FOR YOU! Christ paid for your sins. Jesus already did it for you! All God wants you to do is accept Jesus as your personal Savior. Simply receive Christ's sacrifice on the cross as payment for your sins. 

Pastor Jack Hyles teaches “How To Go Soul Winning.” Here is a wonderful soulwinning sermon by one of my favorite preachers, Pastor A. Ray Stanford...

Pastor A. Ray Stanford (1916-2012), “Master Soul-Winner”

If you'll simply take God at His Word as recorded in the Scriptures, He will save you this very moment forever!!! God will give you the everlasting gift of eternal life. Philippians 3:9, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” I love that phrase, “AND BE FOUND IN HIM.” 

Revelation 14:13, “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” My mother died in the Lord in 2001. My father died in the Lord in 2010. My youngest sister died in the Lord in 2016. I will die in the Lord at some future time. Only God knows WHEN our time is up on earth (Hebrews 9:27). 

The important thing is to make sure that you are ready Freddie! I am ready. I 100% KNOW that I have eternal life, because my faith is solely in Jesus Christ, because of what He did through the cross to pay for my sins with His precious blood. Jesus died on the cross. He was buried. Jesus miraculously raised up bodily three days later as my intercessory High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16; Romans 8:34). My faith is only in Jesus. I am wholly resting in Jesus' sweet name!!! 

My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus Christ, my righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand. My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus' blood and His righteousness. Amen and amen! I don't hope I have eternal life, I have a hope of God's promise of eternal life (Titus 1:2). 

That is why read read in 1st Timothy 6:12, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” To LAY HOLD ON ETERNAL LIFE simply means that every saint already has it! So God says make the best of it! Good night, if you are a born-again believer, you already have eternal life. Your name is written in the Book of Life in Heaven. So we ought to get busy preaching the Gospel, trying to win lost sinners to Christ by faith. 

Jesus exhorted believers to LAY UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES IN HEAVEN (Matthew 6:19-20). That is why I am sitting here right now typing earnestly to reach others for Christ with THE TRUTH. I labor by faith on my website ministry day and night. I usually go to bed early, by 9 pm. I couldn't sleep last night. I was up working at 3 am until late morning. I stay busy for the Lord, redeeming the time. Colossians 4:5, “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.” Ephesians 5:16, “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Kindly said, how do you make use of your time? Time is so precious. 

I encourage other believers to write blogs to share the Gospel. It's free. I encourage believers to get actively involved in a soulwinning church. If you have a pulse, God has a plan and purpose for your life dear reader. I don't care if you are 70 years old and just got saved, God has something for you to do, but you have to get involved with other believers in a local Bible-believing New Testament church.

How Permanent Is Your Salvation?
(Pastor Hank Lindstrom, 1940-2008)

Helps For Anyone Still Confused About Repentance

Mark 2:17, “When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

In Mark 2:17 there is no indication that repentance means to turn from sin. Acts 20:21 teaches "repentance toward God." Jesus said in Matthew 21:32, "For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him." As we clearly see here, the sinners who repented, did so, by believing on the only begotten Son of God. This is what John 20:31 teaches as well, "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." The Gospel of John was written specifically to show humanity the way of salvation. The Gospel of John never mentions the word "repent" even once, because the man who believes (which is mentioned 85 times) has also repented.

Here are some helpful resources explaining Biblical repentance:

Pastor Curtis Hutson (1934-1995), "Repentance: What Does The Bible Teach?"...
http://www.soulwinning.info/gs/curtis_hutson/repentance.htm

The Great Biblical Meaning Of "Metanoia" (Repent)...
http://www.lovethetruth.com/bd/metanoia.htm

Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, "Repentance In The New Testament"...
https://youtu.be/LokoxECTHW4

Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, "Repentance In The Old Testament"...

http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/BTP/Pastor_Ralph_Yankee_Arnold/repentance_in_the_old_testament.mp3

Wrong Repentance...
http://getgodsgift.org/index.php?p=1_21_Wrong-Repentance

Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, "Is Repentance A Part Of Salvation?"...
http://www.jesusisprecious.org/sermons/audio/ralph_yankee_arnold/is_repentance_part_of_salvation.mp3

Dr. Yankee Arnold, "Easy Believism"...
http://www.jesusisprecious.org/sermons/audio/ralph_yankee_arnold/easy_believism.mp3

Pastor Harry A. Ironside )1876-1951), "Except Ye Repent"...
http://www.jesusisprecious.org/books/harry_ironside/Except_Ye_Repent/toc.htm

Sadly, James White is actually in agreement with the Mormon cult on repentance...
http://www.soulwinning.info/fr/mormon/bju_repentance_heresy.htm

Believing On Jesus Is Enough, Repentance Is Automatic...
http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Basics/believing_is_enough.htm

Pastor Jack Hyles, "Misunderstood Repentance: An Enemy Of The Gospel"...
http://www.soulwinning.info/books/jack_hyles/enemies_of_soulwinning/misunderstood_repentance.htm

Dr. Harry Ironside, "Hopeless Repentance" (Judas turned from his sins and went to Hell forever)...
http://www.jesusisprecious.org/books/harry_ironside/Except_Ye_Repent/14.htm

All of those resources should prove very helpful my friend. It is important to understand that the English meaning of the word "repent" is NOT the same as the Biblical meaning of the word. Roman Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventists, Mormons and Lordship Salvationists all use the English meaning of "turning from sin." The Greek meaning is simple " a change of mind." The Gospel (Good News) is that Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins. He was buried. Three days later He bodily resurrected from the dead by a miracle of God. That is all you have to believe to be saved. If you acknowledge your sinnership, receiving Christ's sacrifice on the cross as payment for those sins, you are eternally saved.

2nd Timothy 2:25-26, “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.” You see, repentance has nothing to do with making an effort to stop your sinning. No one can stop their sinning! You may clean up your life, making great improvements to your character, like a pig all cleaned up from wallowing in the mud, but you are still a dirty sinner. That pig is still a pig. At best we can strive as saints to walk in the Spirit Who lives inside us, but the flesh is still with us until we get to Heaven (Romans 7:14-25).

The Bible never says to “turn from your sins” and believe the Gospel. No, it says in Mark 1:15 to “Repent ye, and believe the Gospel.” Repentance is a matter of acknowledging THE TRUTH (2nd Timothy 2:25) that one is a guilty sinner (Romans 3:19-20) and THE TRUTH of the Gospel. Salvation is a matter of embracing THE TRUTH, not of committing to improve one's character. I only emphasize those words "THE TRUTH" for emphasis, not to shout. The guilty sinner who earnestly “repents” has done so by putting his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. Nothing more is required to receive the gift of eternal life. You have God's Word on it. John 6:47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”

Lordship Salvation: An Enemy Of Soulwinning (Dr. Jack Hyles)

Misunderstood Repentance: An Enemy Of Soulwinning (Dr. Jack Hyles)

The Corrupt First Baptist Church Of Jacksonville

Galatians 1:6-7, “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.”

Dear friend, I see churches across the United States swelling with rot. They are not growing! They are like dead corpses swelling with rot. As an example: The shameful hip-hop First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Florida is one of the largest and most influential churches in the country, yet they are Gospel perverts! If you go look at their Statement of Faith, they require FIVE THINGS to be saved! One of these things is to “Stop practicing the sin that is separating you from God.” What blasphemy! Dear friend, nowhere does the Bible require sinners to “Stop practicing the sin” to be saved.

While it is true that our sins have separated us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2), it is the blood of Jesus Christ alone that brings us nigh to God. Ephesians 2:13, “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” The First Baptist Church Jacksonville is of the Devil, preaching another gospel of partial faith in Christ plus works, playing church without truth. Galatians 1:6-9 teaches that GOD'S CURSE is upon them. They sing their 7-11 (7 words repeated 11 times) sycophantic worship that nauseates God. I don't care how popular a church may be, or how loving the people may be, they are FAR AWAY FROM GOD when they talk about stopping your sins to be saved.

Here is their corrupt Statement of Faith on how to go to Heaven...

HOW CAN YOU BELIEVE? 

CONFESS

Acknowledge your sin. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 1 JOHN 1:9, NLT 

BELIEVE

God is able to make you holy through Jesus. And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. 1 JOHN 3:23, NLT 

TURN

Stop practicing the sin that is separating you from God. Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign Lord. Repent, and turn from your sins. Don’t let them destroy you! EZEKIEL 18:30, NLT 

ASK

Express to God your desire to be forgiven and made sinless by Him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." ROMANS 10:13, NLT 

TRUST

God has given you eternal life. And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. 1 JOHN 5:11–12, NLT [emphasis added]

That is junk theology. Nowhere does the Bible command us to “love one another” to be saved. Nowhere does the Bible command us to “ask” God to save us. The Bible simply teaches to believe. Nowhere does the Bible make a distinction between believing and trusting. The plan of salvation presented by the First Baptist Church Of Jacksonville is utterly confusing. You don't have to trust in addition to believing. That makes no sense at all. Ezekiel 18:30 deals with Israel's sin as a nation, and not God's free gift of salvation. Whoever wrote this plan of salvation for the First Baptist Church Of Jacksonville is woefully ignorant of the Scriptures.

One of the main reasons why so many churches have been corrupted today are all the new Devil's corrupt Bible revisions...

KING JAMES BIBLE (KJB) - Mark 1:15, “And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION (NLT) - Mark 1:15, “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

Things that are different are not the same! Do you see what the wicked translators of the New Living Translation (NLT) did to corrupt the Word of God? They ADDED the words “of your sins” after the word repent. In so doing they have corrupted the true meaning of “repent,” which is a Greek verb here (metanoeo) meaning “to think differently.” Obviously thinking differently has nothing to do with the act of making an effort to stop from your sinning.

It makes me sad to see such a big church, with so many happy people, being led astray concerning the Gospel. Dear friend, I don't care how successful your church may be in this world, you are an enemy of the cross of Christ when you pervert the grace of God. All across America we've got a bunch of false teachers today proclaiming that salvation is still by God's grace, while at the same time insisting that you must exchange all that you are for all that Christ is (Dr. John MacArthur), turn away from your sins (Bob Jones University), faithfully run the race (Dr. Steve Pettit), and persevere until the end to receive eternal life (Evangelist Paul Washer). That is a false Gospel, which does not produce the new birth in Christ Jesus!!!

As I just showed you from their own website, the ungodly First Baptist Church Of Jacksonville teaches that the way you “believe” is to stop practicing sin. I am saddened and shocked that thousands of people are accepting this garbage as truth, and merely go along for the sake of fitting in with a group of knuckleheads. I can handle the electric guitars and drums in church. I can handle the women wearing pants in church. I can handle the worldliness in church, although I don't like or approve of it. But I cannot handle a false gospel. But as we see with the First Baptist Church Of Jacksonville, with corrupt doctrine comes corrupt living!

The Tragic Life And Death Of Gangster Al Capone

Psalms 7:11, “God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.”  Psalms 9:17, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. Psalms 10:4, “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.” Psalms 11:5: The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.” Psalms 11:6, “Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.” Psalms 28:4, “Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.” Psalms 32:10, “Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.” Psalms 34:21, “Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.” Psalms 36:1, “The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.” Psalms 37:10, “For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.”

Those are some powerful Scripture passages. Arguably, the most infamous gangster in history is Alphonse Gabriel Capone (January 17, 1899 – January 25, 1947), sometimes known by the nickname "Scarface." Al Capone was an American Italian gangster and corrupt businessman, who attained notoriety during the Prohibition era (1920-1933) as the co-founder and boss of the Chicago Outfit. His seven-year reign as a crime boss ended when he went to prison at the age of 33. Something about Al Capone's criminal life drew my curiosity right away—he was so young!

Al Capone was born in 1899, the same year that Pastor Dwight L. Moody went to Heaven. Both of these men lived and made their mark on the world in the city of Chicago. That is very interesting! I remember as a boy watching The Saint Valentine's Day Massacre (full movie), which is a Hollywood enactment of one of the most brutal mass-assassinations in history in 1929. I watched the film each year, and never got tired of seeing it, because like so many people in the world I was intrigued by the gangs of the 1920's. Today in Chicago, literally, you'll see giant pictures of Al Capone painted on the side of tall buildings, and all kinds of tributes to Chicago's infamous gangsters of history. It is quite interesting.

St. Valentine's Day Massacre Movie (1967)

In the 1967 film, actor Jason Robards (1922-2000) starred as Al Capone, making him about age 45 at the time the movie was made. But in real life, in 1929 at the time of the massacre in Chicago, Capone was only 30 years old. So Al Capone was much younger in real life than the movie portrays him to be, as an older mob boss. In real life, Capone died in Florida at age 47. One thing that amazes me is the loyalty of Al Capone's wife Mae. She was an Irish Catholic. She stayed married to Al Capone despite his infamous life as a mob boss! Women and men back then in America still believed once married, always married, the way it should be!!! Today in 2020, 69% of American women initiate divorce, and 90% for college women. Shame!

Contrary to what many people think, Al Capone wasn't a senseless murderer, he almost always killed thugs who were hired to come kill him first. In a few cases he killed people who owed him a lot of money, or became informants for the police. Even though murder is murder, it is obvious that gangster killings were part of doing business. It is still wicked and brings the judgment of God, but I can understand why a gangster would want to knock someone off who is coming to do the same to him! Still, if Mr. Capone had not become a criminal in the first place, shaming his family, then he wouldn't have put himself into such a dire situation.

I am intrigued that Al Capone was so young during his reign as the mob boss of Chicago. He was only in his late 20's. That is remarkable! Jesus is the most famous figure in human history, Who only lived to be 33 years old. And yet look at all the wonderful things Jesus did during His short time on earth. I once heard Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001) point out that most of our freedoms were paid for with teenage blood. That thought had never occurred to me before. Most of the tens of millions of soldiers who were killed by each other during World Wars I and II, were teenagers. That is a startling fact. My heart breaks when I stop and think that most of those 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 year olds never had a girlfriend, never knew the pleasure of marriage, never had the privilege of becoming a father, or the pride of being a grandpa. It is not fair! Life is not fair. Old men start wars, young men fight wars, and everybody in the middle loses! Truly Satan is the god of this world.

Al Capone was only 33 years old when he went to prison in 1932. When he arrived at the prison, medical doctors diagnosed him with gonorrhoea and syphilis, two deadly venereal diseases. 

Capone was sent to Atlanta U.S. Penitentiary in May 1932, aged 33. Upon his arrival at Atlanta, the 250-pound (110 kg) Capone was officially diagnosed with syphilis and gonorrhoea. He was also suffering from withdrawal symptoms from cocaine addiction, the use of which had perforated his nasal septum. Capone was competent at his prison job of stitching soles on shoes for eight hours a day, but his letters were barely coherent.

SOURCE:  Al Capone

Al Capone was diseased from all the adultery he committed. Capone attempted to justify his evil business by saying that he simply gave people what they wanted. Ungodly people wanted booze! They wanted fornication and adultery! They wanted gambling! Capone gave it to them, and it made him filthy rich, with the emphasis on FILTHY! Think about how short his parade of wickedness was! Al Capone went to prison at age 33, and only served 6 of an 11 year sentence due to his failing health. At the time he was released from prison at just age 39, Capone's doctor documented that he had the mind of a 12 year old. Penicillin wasn't invented until 1942, but by then the damage to Capone's brain had been done. The diseases of syphilis ate him alive! 

Venereal diseases were rampant throughout the ancient world. Most theologians agree that king David suffered in his old age from venereal disease, from all his wives...

Psalms 38:3-7, “There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.”

There is no doubt that Solomon likely suffered this tragic ordeal too, considering that he had 700 wives and 300 concubines. The Roman empire was infected was much venereal disease. During the American Civil War, a shocking 25% of the Confederate Army has STD's, which compelled the state of Tennessee (and other states) to legalize prostitution during the war. Oh how sin thrills and then it kills! Oh how sin fascinates and then it assassinates! Al Capone died a diseased, broken and wearied man, at only age 47. A life of sin never wins! There's a high price for low living!!! Capone's reign of crime over the Chicago underworld only pasted 7 years! Just 7 years of wine, women and song.

My father was a Skid Row preacher in Chicago. He directed the Chicago United Mission at 34 S. Displaines Ave. I grew up tagging along with my father to the various rescue missions, helping to feed, cloth and house the poor and homeless. I remember that right next to the mission there was still standing The Legion Hotel, with a big fancy outdoor balcony overhanging the front of the hotel. This is where Al Capone lived high during his sinful years! I watched years later when the wrecking crews came to tear down the hotel. They left the north wall standing, for concern that tearing down the wall would also destroy the mission's north wall. My father and I found an old soda pop machine in the abandoned Legion Hotel, which we brought over to the mission. Coke bottles were only 25 cents. My father ordered sodas regularly, and we enjoyed cold Coca-Colas. That was pretty cool.

I just wrote this blog to emphasize the worthlessness of living in sin. It's just not worth it dear friend. This earthly life is so short. Look at Eddie Van Halen's miserable life of sin. All that horrible noise, called rock music. They ran with the Devil, as their song titled boasted, but now where is Eddie? He died in 2020? Catholics don't go to Heaven according to the Bible (Mark 7:6-13; Galatians 1:6-9; 1st Corinthians 15:1-4). The Bible does not teach keeping Seven Sacraments to get to Heaven. It is a counterfeit plan of salvation. I also read today that Al Capone was a devout Roman Catholic in his youth, but strayed from his roots. Kindly said, Catholicism is a prisonhouse of religion! There is no salvation in the Catholic religion, only rituals, phony priests, pedophiles and manmade traditions which cannot produce the new birth. Religion is the worst thing that ever happened to this world!

Al Capone was only in his 20's when he murdered 30 people (and that's just the killings that authorities are aware of). And then there were 3 more murders in his early 30's. When the Prohibition era ended in 1933, so did Capone! Al Capone's motive for all the evil things he did was the love of money. Money is the same motive for Hollywood's filth, Netflix's filth, street gangs selling drugs across America, Mexican drug cartels, and a thousand other evils! They that live by the sword die by the sword. Chicago has a notorious history, even still today, of having a strong criminal underground. Galatians 6:7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” 

“Listen if you're politically correct, you're Biblically perverted (and vise versa). It cannot be both! ...You know why we don't accept change? 'Cause we believe in something! We've got something to believe in.” —Pastor Danny Castle, a quote from the sermon titled: “THE HARVEST IS PAST, THE SUMMER IS ENDED, AND WE ARE NOT SAVED!!!”

You Cannot Prove You're Saved By Doing Good Works

Romans 4:1-5, “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

I visited the website for 'The Church At Rockypeak' in Chatsworth, California today. When I look at a church, the first thing I always do is head for their Statement of Faith, particularly their view of salvation. Here is what I sadly found...

Salvation

Believers are eternally safe and secure in Jesus and give evidence of genuine faith by a life of good works. (John 3:16, John 10:27-29, Romans 8:38-39, James 2:14-17) [emphasis added]

SOURCE: https://www.rockypeak.org/about/what-we-believe/

I have a big problem with the preceding statement. I think the preacher John Bunyan (1628-1688) said it best...

“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

Kindly said, the pastors and people of 'The Church At Rockypeak' in Chatsworth, California are corrupting the Word of God, and casting stumbling blocks before the people. They are preaching another Gospel which is rooted in the errors of Calvinism. As I just quoted to you, 'The Church At Rockypeak' heretically says: “Believers are eternally safe and secure in Jesus and give evidence of genuine faith by a life of good works” [emphasis added]. The first part of the statement is okay, but the last part corrupts the Gospel. To help you better understand where I am going, please read what Dr. Steve Pettit (president of Bob Jones University since 2014) also heretical says, which is the same junk theology:

“For the real reality of the genuineness of your faith is that you are faithful to run the race!” —Dr. Steve Pettit (“What Does It Mean To Run 'The Race'?” - 22:44)

No, the reality of the genuineness of my faith is MY FAITH ITSELF! Dr. Steve Pettit teaches the same Lordship Salvation trash that 'The Church At Rockypeak' teaches, which is NOT the Gospel of free grace! They are teaching the deadly falsehood of Lordship Salvation. The idea that you must prove the genuineness of your faith by living the Christian life is a false gospel. 

The proponents of Lordship Salvation are hypocritical to say you are not saved by works, but then say that if you don't have works you're not saved! That is a manipulative backdoor approach to Lordship Salvation!!! Front-loading the Gospel is when you require meritorious works of a person BEFORE they are saved. Rear-loading the Gospel is when you require meritorious works of a person AFTER they are saved. Either way, preachers are perverting the Gospel when they ADD to it! Galatians 1:6-7, “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.”

It is not necessary for believers to “give evidence of genuine faith by a life of good works” to know that they are saved. But didn't the Apostle James say works without faith is dead? James chapter 2 is one of the most misunderstood passages in the Bible. ...

James 2:14-20, “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”

Where so many people go horribly wrong is that they assume “works” here means doing good deeds and turning away from sin, but please notice what “WORKS” Jesus said you have to do to go to Heaven...

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.”

Dear friend, the only “works” that you must do to get to Heaven is to BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!!! Listen, if you have to look at your life to prove that you're saved, it proves that you're not! That is the fatal mistake that the people made in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 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.” 

They looked at their life in an attempt to prove that they were saved. They boasted of doing “many wonderful works” in Jesus' name. They also boasted of having “prophesied” (peached) in Jesus' name. They even bragged that they had “cast our devils” in Jesus' name. And here is the granddaddy fatal error of all, they followed Jesus as their “Lord” instead of trusting Him as their personal Savior. Satan's greatest weapon is to con people into living the Christian life without ever being born-again. They said, “Lord, Lord,” but Jesus replied with these horrifying words: “I NEVER KNEW YOU: DEPART FROM ME, YE THAT WORK INIQUITY.”

Dear reader, you don't get to Heaven by surrendering to Jesus as “Lord” of your life. Nor do you get saved by faithfully “running the race,” enduring unto the end. Nor do you get to Heaven by “living a lifestyle that proves the reality of your repentance” (as Ray Comfort's falsely teaches). You don't receive the new birth by giving “evidence of genuine faith by a life of good works” (as the 'The Church At Rockypeak' foolishly teaches). Nor do you have to “turn away from your sin” (as Bob Jones University errantly teaches). You get saved by ceasing from your own self-righteous works, and simply resting in the finished redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 4:10-11, “For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”

These damnable heretics that I've mentioned by name, all pervert God's grace. When you attack the grace of God, you attack the God of grace! These wicked false prophets tell you that you cannot merely say you accepted Christ as your personal Savior, and that's it, you're on your way to Heaven! They add to the Gospel, teaching that you must persevere in living the Christian life, to prove the genuineness of your faith. The big problem with their warped teachings is that you can never have the sweet assurance that you are 100% saved. 

Read again what they teach at 'The Church At Rockypeak' in Chatsworth, California...

Salvation

Believers are eternally safe and secure in Jesus and give evidence of genuine faith by a life of good works. (John 3:16, John 10:27-29, Romans 8:38-39, James 2:14-17) [emphasis added]

SOURCE: https://www.rockypeak.org/about/what-we-believe/

How can you be safe and secure in Jesus if you don't live a life of good works, since they say it is the EVIDENCE that your faith is genuine? Clearly you cannot! They are heretically teaching that if you're still living a lifestyle of willful sinning, your faith is not genuine, and you were never saved to begin with. That is the Devil's lie of Lordship Salvation. They teach that if you are not fully surrendered to Jesus as the absolute Lord of your life, your faith is not real. So effectively, you have to do GOOD WORKS for your faith to be valid. Folks, that is blatant works-based plan of salvation. This is the garbage that the Harvest Baptist Church of Guam teaches. This is the junk theology taught by Dr. Marty Herron at the Faith Baptist Bible College And Theological Seminary in Ankeny, Iowa. Read what Dr. Steve Pettit false teaches:

“You can't just speak about getting saved, and you accepted Christ, and then that's it! There is a justification; There is a sanctification; There's ultimately a glorification, and though there are three parts, they are all part of the whole, and you cannot separate them. In order for you to qualify for the award, you have to get into the race, you have to stay in the race, and you have to finish the race. If you want to win, you have to run to the end; and winning in the Christian life is everything, because if you lose—if you don't finish—you lose everything—you lose your SOUL. And so, the Christian race is the life of faith that begins, is run, and is finished when we cross over into Heaven!” [emphasis added]—Dr. Steve Pettit (“What Does It Mean To Run 'The Race'?” - 11:34)

Do you see how they corrupt the Gospel of free grace? The new birth is a free gift. It is instantaneous and permanent. Once you are born-again by the Word of God (1st Peter 1:23), a miracle wrought by the Holy Spirit of God in response to one's faith (John 1:12-13), there ain't no turning back partner! You be saved, saved, saved!!!

I truly feel sorry for the Paul Washer crowd. I feel sorry for the followers of Ray Comfort. I feel sorry for the John MacArthur cult. I feel sorry for the Bob Jones University cult. I feel sorry for the Pacific Garden Mission 'UNSHACKLED' radio crowd. I feel sorry for the followers of R.C. Sproul. I feel sorry for anyone who adheres to the Satanic deception of Lordship Salvation (i.e., Calvinism), because these people can never have the sweet blessed assurance that they are guaranteed, 100%, no shadow of a doubt, SAVED!!! If you are required to live the Christian life as evidence that your faith in Christ is real, then the only way you can KNOW you are saved is by continued works. 

The King James Bible teaches something very different. You simply come to God as a guilty sinner (Romans 3:19-23). You simply put your trust (reliance) in Jesus' death on the cross for your sins, His burial, and His bodily resurrection three days later (1st Corinthians 15:1-4). Anyone who receives Christ's sacrifice on the cross as payment for their sins is saved. Nothing else is required. You can 100% KNOW that you are saved right now this moment. Yes, you certainly CAN speak about salvation and confidently say, “I just accepted Christ.”