Evangelist John Bunyan Versus Evangelist Steve Pettit

Ephesians 5:25:-27, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” John 17:17, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

The famous preacher John Bunyan (1628-1688) made the following profound theological statement, which plainly refutes the heresy of Lordship Salvation...

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

I sometimes make a typo when typing and spell it Lordship SLAVATION instead of Lordship SALVATION. But there was a typo more befitting then SLAVTION, because that is exactly what the Devil's life of Lordship Salvation does... it ENSLAVES people!!! 

The following quote by Dr. Steve Pettit (president of Bob Jones University since 2014) is disturbing, in which he says the opposite of John Bunyan. Whereas John Bunyan rightly says we must PUT A DIFFERENCE between Justification without and sanctification within, Steve Pettit errantly says they are A PACKAGE DEAL...

“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)

Kindly said, Steve Pettit is preaching another gospel. He is corrupting the simplicity that is in Christ by faith alone (2nd Corinthians 11:3-4). Dr. Pettit says if you don't run and faithfully finish the race, you lose everything, you don't get the award of Heaven. Pettit teaches that to qualify for the award of Heaven, you must persevere to run the race. If you don't, then he says you go to Hell. You didn't finish the race, he says, proving that you were never saved at all. 

Dear reader, you can see two very drastic viewpoints on salvation taught between John Bunyan versus Steve Pettit. John Bunyan in 100% correct; Steve Pettit is 100% wrong! I say that kindly with love, but on the authority of the infallible and inspired King James Bible. Dr. Pettit is casting stumbling blocks before the 2,700 students and faculty at Bob Jones University. Dr. Bob Jones Sr. (1883-1968) said himself in 1944, that if an infidel like Steve Pettit ever stood in the pulpit at Bob Jones College—robbing the saints of their faith—he'd come back from Heaven with a stick of dynamite and blow the college to smithereens. ...

Dr. Bob Jones Sr. Would Blow His College Up Today!

Respectfully said, Dr. Steve Pettit is an infidel in the pulpit! He mixes sanctification with justification. Dr. Pettit combines and confuses discipleship (service) with sonship (salvation). Pastor M.R. DeHaan (1891-1965) gets it 100% right... 

“There is a vast difference between coming to Jesus for salvation and coming after Jesus for service. Coming to Christ makes one a believer, while coming after Christ makes one a disciple. All believers are not disciples. To become a believer one accepts the invitation of the Gospel, to be a disciple one obeys the challenge to a life of dedicated service and separation. Salvation comes through the sacrifice of Christ; discipleship comes only by sacrifice of self and surrender to His call for devoted service. Salvation is free, but discipleship involves paying the price of a separated walk. Salvation can't be lost because it depends upon God's faithfulness, but discipleship can be lost because it depends upon our faithfulness.” [emphasis added] —Pastor M.R. DeHaan, Hebrews; Zondervan Publishing House, 1959 (p. 117).

Pastor DeHaan rightly PUTS A DIFFERENCE between the justification by the man Christ without, versus the sanctifying work of the Spirit of Christ within.

The Saved, Crucified, Resurrected And Ascended Life

(awesome MP3 sermon by Dr. Jack Hyles - Read Article)

Eternal Life Is A Gift, Not An Award Or Exchange

Romans 5:15-18, “But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 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.” Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” 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.”

Repeatedly in the Bible we are taught that eternal life is a “gift” from God. Lest anyone should cast any doubt, the Bible clarifies in Romans 5:15, 16 and 18 three times that eternal life is a “FREE GIFT.” If you always keep this beautiful truth in mind dear reader, you will never be led astray by the myriad of false teachings concerning salvation that abound in churches today.

I don't like refuting other preachers, but I do love contending for the faith (Jude 1:3). Interestingly, the Bible says that we actually need false prophets, so those who preach THE TRUTH can be made known. 1st Corinthians 11:19, “For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” Having said that, I want to expose a couple popular false teachers of our generation, who pervert the grace of God.

Evangelist Steve Pettit Is A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing

The first false teacher is Evangelist Steve Pettit (president of Bob Jones University since 2014). In a heretical sermon preached on January 26, 2015 at BJU chapel, titled: “What Does it Mean To Run The Race?,” Dr. Steve Pettit heretically refers to Heaven as an “award” and a “prize”...

“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)

Dear reader, Heaven is not an “award,” it is a gift. The very moment that a person becomes born-again, by faith alone in Jesus Christ, they are 100% guaranteed going to Heaven. Nothing more is required from God than faith. Sadly, Dr. Pettit errantly teaches that in order to obtain the “prize,” the “award,” of Heaven, he says you must “QUALIFY” for it by faithfully running the race all your life. This is NOT sound Bible teaching! Kindly said, Steve Pettit has corrupted God's grace—by misrepresenting the Gospel—turning it into a “prize” and an “award” that depends upon OUR faithfulness, instead of a “free gift” that depends upon GOD'S faithfulness.

Pastor John MacArthur Is A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing

Second is Pastor John MacArthur of Grace To You ministry in California. In his popular 1988 book titled, “The Gospel According to Jesus,” Pastor John MacArthur even heretically uses the word “exchange” concerning being saved:

“Thus in a sense we pay the ultimate price for salvation when our sinful self is nailed to a cross. . . . It is an exchange of all that we are for all that Christ is. And it denotes implicit obedience, full surrender to the lordship of Christ. Nothing less can qualify as saving faith.” [emphasis added] —Pastor John MacArthur; The Gospel According to Jesus, p. 140

Dear friend, salvation is not an exchange, it is a free gift! Receiving the free gift of eternal life is not a trade, not an exchange. John MacArthur is preaching another gospel of partial faith in Christ plus works! MacArthur is teaching doctrines of Devils. Not surprisingly, the preceding heretical book by Dr. John MacArthur is required reading at the demonic Mormon 'Brigham Young University' in Utah. When hellbound Mormons are promoting a preacher's plan of salvation, you know something is very wrong!

Mr. MacArthur is not a born-again Christian, he is a tare in the churches. A true believer is wheat. Matthew 13:38, “The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;” The Bible calls anyone “accursed” who preaches another gospel (Galatians 1:8). Salvation is not doing your best, it is having Christ's best put to your account through receiving Him by faith. God will not save anyone who is trying to be saved, He will only save those who are trusting to be saved. Salvation is received, not achieved!

Religion is man trying to reach God through human effort, but Christianity is God trying to reach man by the sacrifice of His only begotten Son on the cross. It is not your faithfulness that gets you to Heaven, it is God's faithfulness. What saith the Scripture? 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:”

PGM's 'UNSHACKLED' Is A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing

I was disgusted the other day while listening to Pacific Garden Mission's popular radio program called 'UNSHACKLED.' Pacific Garden Mission is troubling Chicago with their perverted gospel of partial faith in Christ plus works. Don't take my word for it, read this sickening transcript from UNSHACKLED:

Program #3625 - Aired in 2020 (the story of Cydanni Ade; she takes a stroll on the beach and meets a stranger, to whom she starts discussing her struggle with truth.) Here is some of their heretical interaction...

Cydanni Ade: “I know, you're going to tell me He [Jesus] loves me unconditionally, and wants to be my Savior.”

Stranger On The Beach: “Yes and no!”

Cydanni Ade: “What?”

Stranger On The Beach: “He does love people, but Him becoming your Savior HAS CONDITIONS!”

Cydanni Ade: “I've always heard He loves everyone unconditionally.”

Stranger On The Beach: “Then, why does He call us to repent? If God loves everybody unconditionally, then you can do whatever you want, and believe whatever you think.”

Cydanni Ade: “I know that's not true!”

Stranger On The Beach: “Right! So, God placed an absolute condition, by which He requires, commands all people everywhere, to repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ, and live for Him!”

Cydanni Ade: “Huh.” [emphasis added]

SOURCE: Program #3625 - Aired in 2020 (the story of Cydanni Ade)

Dear reader, there are NO CONDITIONS of salvation, except to freely RECEIVE God's free gift! No where does the Bible teach to “turn from your sins” (false repentance) to be saved. That would be a trade, an exchange, giving up your sins in exchange for eternal life. That could not be a free gift! No where does the Bible require a person to “live for God” to be saved. Pacific Garden Mission is guilty of perverting the Gospel of free grace. They have sinfully added forsaking your sins, and living for God, as requirements to receive God's free gift. That is NOT what the Bible teaches!

Salvation Is Receiving, Not Giving

Please beware of anyone who teaches that God requires something FROM YOU in return, or as a condition, of receiving His free gift of eternal life. God is offering eternal life to everyone as a free gift! The debt has been paid in full. Your sins have been completely paid for, and all you have to do is receive God's gift of forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Just take it by faith! You don't have to ask God to save you, because He is already asking you! He simply wants you to receive His gift, by taking Him at His Word as recorded in the Scriptures.

John The Baptist Didn't Preach A Different Gospel

Matthew 3:1, “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” Mark 1:4, “John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.”

Many Bible students misinterpret this passage of Scripture, particularly dispensationalists. Evangelist John R. Rice (1895-1980) offers this helpful explanation:

There are those hyper-dispensationalists who think that John the Baptist preached a different Gospel from Christ when he commanded repentance (Matt. 3:2). But it is the same repentance Jesus commanded in Matthew 4:17, in Luke 13:3 and 5, and the same repentance that Paul preached in Athens that God “now commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30 31). Repentance is not a different plan of salvation from having faith: it is part of the same plan of salvation. Or rather repentance is simply another way of describing or looking at the plan of salvation. One who turns from sin to God has done so by trusting in Jesus Christ. A change of mind toward sin is necessarily involved in saving faith. 

Everyone who genuinely repented under the preaching of John the Baptist put his trust in the Saviour John the Baptist preached, and was regenerated. There is no such thing as being “a disciple of John the Baptist” in any honest sense without being a disciple of Jesus, that is, without trusting Christ for salvation.

There are those who think that Peter in Acts 2:38 and 39 preached that baptism was essential to salvation when he said, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” But the phrase “for the remission of sins” could well be translated “referring to the remission of sins” for the indefinite preposition of reference and so used many, many times in the Bible. People are not baptized in order to be saved, but baptized with reference to the salvation they had when they repented. So it has always been among Bible-believing Christians who follow the Scriptures.

So here in Acts 10:43 we have the statement by Peter, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” Get this great doctrinal matter settled: God has only one plan of salvation and that is all He ever had! He has only one Saviour, and that is Jesus Christ. Every Old and New Testament prophet agrees in this that “whosoever believeth in him shall have remission of sins.” [emphasis added]

SOURCE: Evangelist John R. Rice, “Acts: Filled With The Spirit,” pp. 251-252; Sword Of The Lord, Murfreesboro, Tennessee; ©1963

I don't like the phrase “turn from sin,” simply because it is nowhere found in the Bible. Although Brother Rice uses the phrase here, he also CLEARLY explains that he does not think it means to forsake one's sinful behavior as a requirement to be saved. Dr. Rice is correct that repentance is “a change of mind.” God was so careful with the use of this word, that he intentionally chose to use the open-ended, all-inclusive, Greek word: metanoia. When any preacher says that “repent” means “to turn away from your sinful ways,” he has errantly added to God's Words, which is a horrible evil (Proverbs 30:5-6). That man is preaching ANOTHER GOSPEL (Galatians 1:6-9). 

I am shocked that so many professed Christians today (independent fundamental Baptists in particular) are extremely lackadaisical and indifferent in this important doctrinal matter. I agree 100% with Pastor Ralph 'Yankee' Arnold in this sermon, who exposes the sinful indifferent attitudes among professed Christians today, over the counterfeit gospel of Lordship Salvation. Right doctrine matters! All the Devil needs in order to creep his lies into a church, is for that church to stop contending for the faith (Jude 1:3). Revelation 3:2, “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.” At some apostate point in American history, our churches started prioritizing socializing and growing their attendance, over truth and righteousness!

John the Baptist preached the SAME Gospel as did Jesus and Paul. Repentance is not a different plan of salvation from having faith—it is part of the same plan of salvation. Or rather repentance is simply another way of describing or looking at the plan of salvation. 

Evangelist Steve Pettit Denies The New Birth

John 1:12-13, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 3:3, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” 1st Corinthians 6:11, “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” 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.”

These are but a few of umpteen Scripture passages which plainly teach an instantaneous new birth by the power of God. You don't get born again and again and again. Just as the earthly physical birth is a one time event, so also is the second spiritual birth into the Kingdom of God. It would be impossible for a child physically born into the world to go back into its mother's womb and be unborn. Likewise, a child of God cannot lose the new birth, not for any reason. Those false teachers who claim that salvation can be lost due to negligent sinning, and straying too far from God, are denying the new birth. You certainly can lose your religion. You can lose your membership in a manmade organization. You can fall out of favor with a group of humans. But dear friend, you cannot lose the salvation which God alone gives by faith.

I personally heard Dr. Steve Pettit preach at Harvest Baptist Church of Guam in 2014, before he was inaugurated as the new president of Bob Jones University later that year. Steve Pettit labored as a traveling evangelist for 35 years, living out of a recreational vehicle. I love Dr. Pettit as a human being. He is a friendly, cordial and kind man from my recollection of him. I wept as he spoke on the topic of “Wisdom” at Harvest Baptist Church on a Sunday morning. But unfortunately Dr. Pettit is a reprobate concerning the faith; meaning he is a tare instead of wheat, not a true born-again believer. Please consider the following heretical statement made by Dr. Pettit at Bob Jones University on January 26, 2015 to 2,700 students and faculty...

“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)

Instead of a new instantaneous birth, Dr. Pettit errantly views salvation as being a progressive race that we must all run to “qualify.” This is Satanic folks! Respectfully, this is how I KNOW Dr. Pettit is a reprobate concerning the Christian faith. Any man who denies the immediate new birth, and instead views receiving eternal life as a process, which requires living the Christian life, cannot be a true child of God. Dr. Pettit states:

“'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)

Although it is true that Paul was referring to the Christian life in Hebrews 12:1 when he spoke of “THE RACE,” he absolutely was not talking about the gift of eternal life. Dr. Pettit plainly says that Heaven is an “award,” which we must QUALIFY FOR by faithfully living the Christian life. ...

“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)

The heretical quotes I just shared with you by Dr. Pettit, are from a disturbing chapel sermon he preached on January 26, 2015 titled: “What Does it Mean To Run The Race?” (MP3, 'The Daily Platform,' Dr. Steve Pettit). Evangelist Pettit heretically teaches that “THE RACE” we run as Christians is necessary for salvation, to prove the authenticity of our faith. That is exactly what Seventh-Day Adventist false prophetess' Ellen G. White (1827-1915) taught! 

Steve Pettit teaches that the “AWARD” for running 'The Race' is “Heaven itself”!!! 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!!!

Mr. Pettit further heretically states:

 

“God's people HAVE TO continue in the faith! They MUST PERSEVERE, because perseverance is the testimony of the reality of your faith!” [emphasis added] —Dr. Steve Pettit (“What Does It Mean To Run 'The Race'?” - 25:13)

“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)

The preceding statements may sound good to someone naïve, but they are 100% unbiblical. Steve Pettit has perverted the grace of God, changing the instant new birth into a probationary type thing, whereby you are required to prove yourself by your performance for the rest of your life. Matthew 23:4, “For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.” This is the same Satanic plan of damnation taught by Evangelist Ray Comfort, who heretically states:

“So if the plane goes down, you'd end up in Hell! There are two things you have to do to be saved. Do you remember what they are? I told you what they are—You've got to repent and trust the Savior! ... God's offering you everlasting life upon your repentance and faith in Christ. Who in his right mind wouldn't say, 'Whoa! That's a good offer!' (The curious woman asks what it means to “repent”?)... Have you ever said you're sorry to someone you did something wrong to? That's all repentance is—You've sinned against God; it's a matter of saying, 'God, I'm sorry,' and then LIVING A LIFESTYLE that proves the reality of your repentance. That's what repentance is, it's a continual thing! God, 'I'm sorry, but I'm not going going to lie or steal or blaspheme Your name ever again. It has that attitude! And the second thing—trust in Jesus!” [emphasis added]

SOURCE: Ray Comfort, “I've never killed anyone” (MP3 clip from video).

Dear reader, I triple-dog dare you to show me even one verse from the Holy Bible that teaches that “LIVING A LIFESTYLE” is required as part of being saved. You cannot! Now my friend, “a double-dog dare” is serious business, but a triple-dog dare is something you don't want to mess around with! I triple-dog dare you to show me even one Bible verse that agrees with these false statements by Ray Comfort and Steve Pettit. These men are sincere, of that I have no doubt; but as unsaved religious men, they have a corrupt mindset about how to be saved.

You Can Know Instantly That You Have Been Born-Again

Dear reader, YOU CAN speak about getting saved, and you just accepted Christ, and that's that! That is why the Bible calls it a new birth! 1st Peter 2:2-3, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” 1st Peter 1:23, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” 

What Steve Pettit is effectively preaching is that no one can have assurance of salvation, because it is conditional upon your living a faithful Christian life to PROVE the genuineness of the reality of your faith. Well how can we do that without laboring each day, year after year, making sure to prove that your faith is genuine? Oh, this is so awful and sickening folks! Steve Pettit is a false prophet, he truly is! I say that with love and a humble heart. Jude 1:3b exhorts every Christian believer “that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Salvation is by faith alone, and nothing else is required. John 6:47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”

I feel so sorry for all the students at BJU, who will go through life wondering if they are living faithful enough to “qualify” to obtain the “award” of Heaven. That is what Dr. Pettit sinfully preaches! How could anyone ever have the sweet assurance of God's gift of eternal life, with that type of horrible mindset? Dear friend, Bob Jones University has gone to the dogs! Dr. Steve Pettit is an infidel, and so are the Harvest Baptist Church of Guam who bid him Godspeed. I speak THE TRUTH in love (Ephesians 4:15a). God pity the foolish parents who pay for their child to go to such a wicked place, to have the faith of the saints robbed away from them. If you don't believe me, please listen to the godly wisdom of Dr. Bob Jones Sr. (1883-1968) himself...

Dr. Bob Jones Sr. Warns Of Infidels Creeping Into The College

When I was 13 years old I got gloriously born-again. Before that moment in time, I have no recollection of anything in mind concerning God except a blank—just empty darkness. But since the moment I got saved until today, I have felt the blessed presence of God's indwelling Holy Spirit living in me. 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.”

There is a lot of junk theology being preached in Bible colleges and churches today, which are dangerous 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;” We are warned in the Bible that many people have a false assurance of Heaven. Luke 13:23-24, “Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” In Matthew 7:21-23, a group of religious people labored for Christ. They preached in Jesus' name. They did many wonderful works in Jesus' name. They constantly referred to Jesus as their “Lord” (there's your Lordship Salvation crowd right there). But they all went to Hell the Bible says! Jesus said He never knew any of them! The reason why is simply because, like Steve Pettit and many others in the Bob Jones' camp today, they are adding to the Gospel, perverting the grace of God (Matthew 7:21; John 6:40; Galatians 1:6-9; Acts 15:1, 24; Romans 4:4; Ephesians 2:8-9).

The Bible teaches that at the time of salvation, God SEALS every believer with His 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.” There's that beautiful word “TRUTH” again. You get saved by embracing THE TRUTH that you are a SINNER (repentance) and Jesus is the SAVIOR (faith). Once you are saved and sealed, you are forever secure in the everlasting arms of the heavenly Father. When we sin as believers, GRACE DOTH MUCH MORE ABOUND (Romans 5:20). The Christian believer is JUSTIFIED FROM ALL THINGS (Acts 13:39). We've PASSED FROM DEATH UNTO LIFE (John 5:24).

I'm Saved By The Blood Of The Crucified One

When the child of God looks at the Bible, they see it in a very different light than does the unsaved (or natural) man. Kindly said, since Dr. Steve Pettit is religious but not saved, he views the Bible very differently than I do as a child of God. I see God's wonderful free gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23), paid in full by the precious blood of the Lamb (1st Peter 1:18-19). It is a one time free gift, that once received is a done deal (Romans 10:13). I am saved solely on the merit of what Jesus did through the cross, to redeem me from sin and Hell; and not in any way am I saved by my own goodness, merit, works, performance, attitude, perseverance, holiness, nor any other human effort. Jesus paid it all!

What saith the Scripture? 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.” I love that! We get saved by getting out of the way, ceasing from our own works, and resting in Christ alone. That doesn't require a lifetime probationary period as Steve Pettit teaches. That doesn't require living a devoted religious life to prove the genuineness of the reality of my faith. 

The reality of my faith is that I am wholly trusting the Lamb of God. The genuineness of my faith is faith itself! If we must live a certain way to prove that we are saved, then we can never truly know that we are saved! How is that a gift? How is that something we can rejoice over, if we cannot KNOW that our name is written down in Heaven? In order to “rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20b) then I must be able to 100% KNOW that my name is written in Heaven; and the only way I can KNOW that is to have the absolute assurance that I am redeemed. In Steve Pettit's nightmare plan of salvation, you can never truly KNOW that you are saved, because your continued faithfulness is required to “QUALIFY” for the “AWARD” of “HEAVEN ITSELF.” Those are Steve Pettit's exact words!!! GET THEE BEHIND ME, SATAN!!!

What ungodly false teachers—Pastor John MacArthur, Marty Herron, Steve Pettit, Sam Horn, Ray Comfort, Paul Washer, John Piper and Harvest Baptist Church of Guam—preach is not compatible with grace. They have perverted God's instant new birth into an oppressive lifelong process that requires YOUR faithfulness instead of GOD'S faithfulness.

The Real Mother Didn't Want Her Baby Hurt

1st Kings 3:16-27, “Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him. And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house. And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house. And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it. And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear. And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king. Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living. And the king said, Bring me a sword.  And they brought a sword before the king. And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other. Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it.  But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it. Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.”

This is an amazing true story. Two women both made claim to one baby. King Solomon was given the responsibility to determine who the real mother was. Who was lying? Who was telling the truth? The fake mother, the one who was lying, wanted the child divided and killed. But the real mother pleaded with Solomon to let the other woman have the child, to spare its life. She begged the king not to dissect her baby. That clearly evidenced to Solomon who the genuine mother was—the one who didn't want the child divided. 

I think this is a perfect illustration of the Bible version debate today. According to the American Bible Society, there are approximately 900 English Bible revisions (in part or whole) in existence. The Devil's crowd of reprobates keep crying: “Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it!” They claim we don't have an infallible Bible today that is without error. They say that neither you, nor I, can have it. They say a perfect Bible doesn't exist anymore, and that only the ancient “original autographs” were perfect. The problem is that there are no originals anymore. Those Hebrew, Chaldean and Greek manuscripts are not here today! So if the Neo-evangelical crowd are right that we don't have an infallible Bible today, then we absolutely cannot claim to have God's Word.

Honestly, if you'll just take a few moments to think about it dear friend—it is utterly foolish and an insult to the Lord—to even entertain the thought that our great, omniscient (all knowing), omnipotent (all powerful), omnibenevolent (all loving), omnisapient (all wise) and omnipresent (all present) God wasn't even able to give us a perfect Bible today. The very thought that we don't have an infallible Bible anymore is totally inconsistent with God's character and promise. The Lord solemnly promised in Psalms 12:6-7 to preserve and keep His PURE WORDS forever. Yet, every modern Devil's Bible version removes this promise, changing it to God protects His saints instead of His pure Words.

God Is Not The Author Of Confusion

The following Bible verse distances God from the whole Bible publishing craze. 1st Corinthians 14:33, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” With literally HUNDREDS of English Bible versions available—something to fit every occasion imaginable under the sun—God would never author such utter confusion, leaving humanity at the mercy of greedy and unscrupulous men. There are all sorts of categories of Bible versions available for purchase today, but God only authored ONE BOOK! Some Bibles are paraphrases of men's opinion of what God said. Others claim to adhere to strict literal interpretation (which they certainly do not, except for the trustworthy King James Bible).

Something is very wrong with America's pastors, clergy and Bible professors. One of the most fascinating and astounding facts of human civilization is how easily deceived humans are. Humans are so predictably predictable! Perhaps there is no greater example of this deception, than the relationship between the American newsmedia and public. The U.S. mainstream newsmedia are infamous liars and deceivers! The following video kept getting removed from YouTube, so I saved it to my own ministry website (40 MB MP4 video). 

The preceding video so clearly shows how the American people are continually deceived by the controlled media. There is one source of news, and they all repeat the talking points like parrots. There is no real honest news reporting in America, only carefully fabricated manipulative propaganda intended to shape public opinion. Fox News is anything but honest news; they are controlled opposition. By controlling both the perceived left and right paradigms, the Luciferian elite keep America a house divided.

The King James Bible Was Honestly Translated

There are no English words available to express much of the Greek language. That is because the Greek is so exact. God knew what He was doing. In computer science, it would be like writing a C++ computer language, which is less expressive than binary (all 1's and 0's). Binary is machine code, pure computer programming. C++ is a mid level language, commonly used for writing video games. I used to mess with C++ for fun on my computer many years ago. I don't have the patience for computer programming, but I do have the patience for anything relating to my website ministry, knowing it is for the Lord. And then you have computer languages like Visual Basic, which is a higher level language for writing apps.

So English is not as expressive as the KOINE Greek. For example: We only have one English word to describe “Hell.” But in the Greek language in the Bible, you have numerous different words: Hades, Gehenna and Tartarus. When the 54 King James Bible translators were translating, they oftentimes couldn't convey the Greek into English without adding some words to clarify the meaning. This shows how honest these 54 men were in translating God's Word. In comparison, there is not even one modern Bible revision that does this. Instead, one or two Bozos will sit down and torture the Word of God, taking it upon themselves to add to the Bible, which is a serious sin (Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:5-6). You simply cannot trust the modern Bible revisions! A more expensive King James Bible will contain the italicized words. The italics simply let you, the reader, know that those words were not in the original manuscript, but were added necessarily for clarity.

The Dishonesty Of The Devil's Modern Bible Revisions

In sharp contrast, consider the Easy-To Read Version (ERV), which adds to the Word of God in Mark 1:15b. Whereas the King James Bible simply says, “Repent ye, and believe the Gospel”; the corrupt ERV changes it to: “Change your hearts and lives, and believe the Good News!” The translators ASS-U-ME that “repent” (verb: metanoeo) here means to change your heart and life. In fact, this Greek verb simply means: “to think differently.” The ERV adds to what God said. We are commanded to think differently and believe the Gospel, not change our life and believe the Gospel. Do you see the drastic difference in meaning? I sure do! To change one's life would be works instead of faith.

Tragically, Bible translators have taken it upon themselves to play God. They claim that God merely gave us His ideas (thought inspiration), and that a Bible translation is okay just so long as men convey the general idea which God had in mind. That is some dangerous thinking! The Bible makes a big deal of obeying “EVERY WORD” of God. Matthew 4:4, “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” This is a quote from the Old Testament passage of Deuteronomy 8:3. 

Sadly, a new Bible version just came out in 2020 called the: “Literal Standard Version” (LSV), in which they corrupt Deuteronomy 8:3. Whereas the King James Bible reads that man shall live: “by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live”; the LSV changes it to read: “but man lives by everything proceeding [from] the mouth of YHWH.” The emphasis on EVERY WORD is lost. Everything emphasis the thoughts of God, not the exact details of EVERY WORD. If we are to live by EVERY WORD of God, then we most definitely need an EVERY WORD Bible today!

The Churches Are Pathetic Today

It is tragic what is happening to churches today! Pastor John MacArthur is one of the most popular and beloved leaders in America today. Unfortunately, he is an unsaved liberal, who despite his gift of being an orator, denies that Jesus had God's blood flowing in His veins. Effectively Dr. MacArthur is denying Jesus' deity, saying that he was a mere man. Jesus was born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23), meaning that He DIDN'T have an earthly father. So how could Jesus not have God's blood, since God Himself is Jesus Father? Jesus was 100% a man and 100% God—the God-man, humanity's one and only Mediator (1st Timothy 2:5). 

Likewise, churches everywhere are denying that we have an inspired and infallible Bible today. It is tragic what is happening to churches today! Pastors are teaching that Jesus didn't have God's blood in Him. Pastors are teaching that we don't have an infallible and inspired Bible today. Pastors are teaching that Jesus didn't apply His liquid blood to the Mercy Seat in Heaven. Can you believe this? I kindly asked one Baptist pastor—a Pensacola Christian College alumni—if he believed Jesus' blood was in Heaven today. He replied that he didn't know. Well get a Bible man! Hebrews 9:12, “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Jesus is our heavenly High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16; Romans 8:34).

I don't pick on the Bob Jones' crowd because I hate them, God forbid. I rattle their cage because I love them! I jump on their case because at one time long ago, Bob Jones University was the citadel of Christian Fundamentalism in America. Sadly, BJU has changed, and is now a hotbed of Neo-evangelical sinful compromise and utter deceit. I am a thankful and humble graduate of Hyles-Anderson College (1985-1993). That is one of the best decisions I ever made in my life. Albeit, I so much regret that I didn't find a wife there. That was a major blunder, which I will pay for for the rest of my earthly life. Granted, I humbly count my blessings.

Please Don't Divide The Word Of God

The real mother cried out: “give her the living child, and in no wise slay it.” Every born-again believer knows who our mother is. We have all been born again by the “seed” of THE WORD OF GOD (1st Peter 1:23; Luke 8:11). 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.” The word “quick” here means living. The Word of God is not just a mere book, it is THE BOOK!!! John 6:63, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” The Words of God are living words, which is why the King James Bible absolutely MUST be inspired by God. They are inspired (IN-SPIRIT) words, meaning they are ALIVE!!!

The false mother in Solomon's court wanted the baby dead. She said: “Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it!” Since she had rolled over in her sleep, accidently smothering her own child to death, she wanted the other woman to share her pain and loss. That is so wicked. The true mother wanted her child to live, even of it meant letting the other woman raise the child. 

The same holds true concerning the Holy Bible. God-fearing Christians don't want the living Word killed. The Devil's unsaved crowd merely want to make money, willing to murder the Bible again and again, dividing it so that it is no longer alive. What saith the Scripture? Jeremiah 23:36, “And the burden of the LORD shall ye mention no more: for every man's word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God.” Only the King James Bible only crowd are pleading for the life of the Holy Bible, crying out: “Please don't change it! Please don't corrupt it! Please don't subtract and add to it! Please leave the Bible alone and let it live!” But the Devil's religious crowd savagely cry out, saying: “Cut it, change it, corrupt it, and take the life from it!”

Just as king Solomon instantly knew in God's wisdom, that the real mother sought to protect the life of the living child; even so is it clear today that true born-again Christians desire to protect the living Word of God from the hands of corrupt men.

BAPTISM DOES NOT SAVE - DOES NOT HELP SAVE

BAPTISM DOES NOT SAVE - DOES NOT HELP SAVE

by Evangelist  John R. Rice (1895-1980)

       A favorite device of the Devil is to have men look to their works for their salvation instead of looking to Christ. He leads some to trust in their morality, some to depend upon lodge membership, some to depend upon confessions to priests; some he leads to trust in baptism. That is a fatal mistake. The unanimous voice of all the Scriptures is that people are saved by simple faith in Christ, without any act of righteousness, and baptism is never mentioned as a part of the plan of salvation. Baptism is an act of righteousness, for Jesus said in Matthew 3:15, "Thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness." Titus 3:5 says that such acts of righteousness do not save us:

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost."

Baptism is certainly a good work, but Ephesians 2:8,9 likewise says plainly that salvation is altogether a matter of God's mercy and not of our works :

"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."

Salvation is a gift of God which is not deserved, is not bought, and cannot be paid for. No church nor preacher nor the individual saved has any right to claim credit when a soul is saved.

In fact, we are told again and again in the Bible that the man who trusts in Christ has everlasting life immediately. John 3:36 says:

"He that believeth on the Son HATH everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

"Hath" means has, present tense, in modern English. Likewise, John 5:24 says:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, HATH everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation: but IS PASSED from death unto life."

The same teaching is given in John 6:47:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me HATH everlasting life."

In the Bible, we find it clear that people believed first and then were baptized. According to these statements from God's Word, they were already saved before they were baptized and any other man who trusts in Christ is saved that second, before he could possibly get to the baptismal waters. It does not take baptism to save one.

WHAT DOES "BAPTIZED FOR REMISSION OF SINS" MEAN?
In Acts 2:38, the term "for the remission of sins" is used as follows :

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Some people think that this passage contradicts the dozens of other plain statements in the Bible that a man is saved by faith and saved immediately when he believes. But when you use the word for in this passage just as it is used so many times in every-day conversation, you will see what Peter said. A man is arrested for stealing; one is grateful for a favor; one is blamed for carelessness; one is commended for bravery. The word for here does not mean in order to or to secure remission of sins, and it is not rendered that way in any translation of the Bible we know of anywhere. The Greek word eis here translated for is sometimes translated in the Bible against, among, at, unto, upon, etc. It might properly be translated here "baptized upon the remission of your sins" or "baptized referring to, or pointing toward the remission of your sins," or "baptized in the remission of your sins." When one repents, he receives the remission of his sins. Then the obedient heart, following Christ in baptism, is promised the gift of the Holy Ghost, an entirely separate mutter from salvation. What Peter said was that people ought to repent and then, after their sins are forgiven, they should be baptized as evidence of that. That is exactly what people ought to be baptized for, that is, to show the remission of their sins. That Scripture, then, does not mean that people ought to be baptized in order to be saved.


"HE THAT BELIEVETH AND IS BAPTIZED"
In Mark 16:16, believing and baptized are used together:

"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."

Christians are supposed to be baptized as soon as possible after they are saved. In Bible times they were usually baptized the same day, oftentimes the same hour of their conversion, even if it were midnight as in the case of the Philippian jailer in Acts 16:33. In fact, baptism is a public profession of faith. One can see baptism; one cannot see faith in the heart. It is natural to think of baptism following salvation, and Jesus said that those who believed and were baptized should be saved. He did not mean to contradict the rest of the Bible though, as you will see from the following words in the same verse, for He added. "But he that believeth not shall be damned." That makes it clear that the matter which settles it is believing just the same as is taught in John 3:18:

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

The above verse, John 3:18, settles it that the man who believes in Christ is not condemned, whether or not he has been baptized. It also settles that the reason a man is condemned is "because he hath not believed." Salvation is settled by belief in Christ, and only by that.

BELIEVING DOES NOT INCLUDE BAPTISM
There are so many Scriptures which plainly state again and again that the man who believes in Christ is saved, that those who teach baptism is essential to salvation cannot deny that. They try to get around these many Scriptures, however, by saying that faith includes baptism, that is, if one believes in Christ, he will be baptized, and that faith is not complete until one is baptized. However, in Mark 16:16 Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized," showing that believing and being baptized are two different things. If believing includes baptism, then Jesus would not have added the word about baptism. If repenting includes baptism, Peter would not have said in Acts 2:38. "Repent and be baptized." No, they are not the same and are nowhere spoken of as the same in the Bible, nor is it ever stated in the Bible that believing includes baptism, nor that if one trusts Christ, he will be baptized. "He that believeth on the Son bath everlasting life" before he is baptized. Baptism does not save.

"BORN OF WATER" DOES NOT MEAN BAPTISM
"Born of water and of the Spirit" in John 3:5 is often quoted as if it referred to baptism. It most certainly does NOT, however. That passage says nothing about baptism, and in the same conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus repeatedly told just what it took to get this new birth. Read verses 14 to 18 and you will see that it is simply believing in Christ. "Born of water and of the Spirit" in John 3:5, is the same as "the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost" in Titus 3:5. That verse plainly says that this is "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us," by this birth of water and the Spirit, or cleansing of regeneration and being made alive by the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 5:26 tells us how Christ gave Himself for the church "that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word." But this washing takes place inside. James 1:18 tells us that "of his own will begat he us with the word ... ," and I Peter 1:23 says that we are "born again ... by the word of God." These Scriptures seem to mean that when one is saved, he is inwardly washed, cleansed, led to repentance and faith, by the Word of God, and made alive, spiritually, by the Holy Spirit. That, I believe, is the plain meaning of John 3:5, "born of water and the Spirit."

All of that happens on the inside of every sinner who is born of God. It is not on the outside, and is not baptism.

Notice the words again in John 3:5, "born of water and of the Spirit." The second "of" is in italics, which shows that it was not in the original Greek. Jesus said one must be "born of water and the Spirit," one birth. Jesus was only talking about one new birth, which happens on the inside. He did not say one needed to be born of the Spirit inside and of baptism outside, and did not mean so. John 3:5 does not refer to baptism.

"BAPTISM DOTH ALSO NOW SAVE US"
I Peter 3:21 is used as an argument that baptism saves people. Speaking of the ark "wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water," that passage continues:

"The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ."

All difficulty about this passage disappears when you take the first plain statement in the verse that this is a "figure." The ark was a figure and picture of salvation, and the ark was certainly a type of Christ. Baptism is a "like figure" and Roman 6:5 states that it is a "likeness" of the death, and a "likeness" of the resurrection of Christ. Peter then continues that baptism does not put away the filth of the flesh, and says that it is "the answer of a good conscience toward God." Baptism, then, is only a picture, or figure, of salvation, and the man who is baptized should already have a "good conscience." In Hebrews 9:14 we are told how the conscience is to be purged by the blood of Christ. Then, after that conscience is purged "from dead works to serve the living God" and one has a "good conscience," he has a right to be baptized.

One who is baptized professes to have a good conscience toward God, with his sins forgiven. If that is not true, he has no right to be baptized and baptism is a lie and an empty pretense. Baptism is only for saved people, the answer of a conscience cleansed and forgiven.

"BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST"
Some people have been troubled by the phrase "baptized into Christ" in Galatians 3:27, which reads:

"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ."

However, that is very clear if you read the verse before it and the rest of the context. Verse 26 says plainly, "For ye are all the children of God BY FAITH in Christ Jesus." The whole book of Galatians is written to prove that people are saved not by works, but by faith.

"Baptized into Christ" should read "baptized unto Christ" and is often so translated. The same Greek word, eis, translated in our King James Version into in this particular verse, is translated in verses 23 and 24 of the same chapter, unto. It is translated unto in scores of cases, to in many others, and for in many cases.

Compare "baptized into Christ" in Galatians 3:27 and "baptized into Jesus Christ" in Romans 6:3 with a phrase just like them in I Corinthians 10:2, "baptized unto Moses." The word unto is a translation of the same Greek word eis as into in the other passages. If the covering of Israel in the cloud and Red Sea did not put Israel into Moses, then baptism does not, of course, put one into Christ. Rather baptism points "unto" Christ, of course.

What the Lord says here is that as many as have been baptized for Christ, or pointing toward Christ, or picturing Christ, have publicly claimed Him before the world as their Saviour. I Peter 3:21 plainly states that baptism is a figure or picture. Romans 6:5 says twice that baptism is a "likeness" of the death and resurrection of Christ and also pictures the new life which the Christians plan to live. Colossians 2:12 tells us the same thing. A person then should be baptized unto Christ, that is, for Christ and to picture the change of heart which he already has by faith in Christ. This Scripture simply bears out the many, many plain statements of the Scripture that one is saved by faith, and puts on in figure and likeness, before the world, what already God has put in the heart. God puts the light in us, we should let it shine. God works in us our salvation, and we are commanded to work it out. (Philippians 2:12,13).

"ARISE AND BE BAPTIZED AND WASH AWAY THY SINS"
Our friends who claim that baptism saves, or that one cannot be saved without baptism, sometimes quote Acts 22:16 as evidence that baptism saves:

"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."

Compare this with the Lord's account of what happened, as given in Acts 9:17. Ananias said:

"Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost."

Remember that baptism is a figure, or picture, according to I Peter 3:21 and Romans 6:5. When Paul quoted, "Wash away thy sins," he certainly meant to use figurative language. Baptism is a figure as the Lord has told us. Compare this language with Matthew 26:26, 28 where Jesus said, "This is my body" ... and "This is my blood." Jesus certainly meant, "This represents my body and my blood." "Be baptized, and wash away thy sins," certainly means, be baptized to picture the washing away of your sins. That is what baptism always does picture. Paul did not mean in Acts 22:16 to teach a different plan of salvation from that one he gave the jailer in Acts 16:31, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Nor did he mean Acts 22:16 to contradict Acts 13:39 where he told the people at Antioch, "And by him all that BELIEVE are justified from all things." (Already saved without baptism!)

The man who depends on baptism to save him will go down in the water a dry sinner and will come up a wet sinner, but he need expect no change of heart in that water. Baptism is to picture a change of heart which happens when one trusts in Christ.

OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS SAVED BY FAITH, WITHOUT BAPTISM
We have the record of many people in the Bible who were saved without baptism. I remind you that God has never had but one plan of salvation. In the Old Testament it was "not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins" (Hebrews 10:4). In fact, the eleventh chapter of Hebrews tells us of case after case of people in the Old Testament times who were saved by faith. Acts 10:43 makes clear that the only plan of salvation taught in the Old Testament was by faith in Christ, just as it was preached in the New Testament. There, Peter said:

"To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins."

Remember, there never was any plan of salvation but by faith. Every Old Testament sacrifice and ceremony was a picture and shadow and type of the Lord Jesus Christ, "the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world!"

Now, all of these Old Testament saints were saved without baptism, for there is not a word in the Old Testament about baptism and no record of a single person's ever being baptized before John the Baptist began it. Baptism, then, is not a part of God's plan of salvation.

PEOPLE SAVED WITHOUT BAPTISM IN NEW TESTAMENT
Since the same plan of salvation was preached in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, and people were saved in the Old Testament without baptism, you would expect them to be saved in the New Testament without baptism, and they were. In Luke 7:37-50 is the story of a woman, a notorious sinner. Verses 47 to 50 in that seventh chapter of Luke tell us plainly that her sins were forgiven her and that her faith had saved her. Read carefully these Scriptures:

"Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, ARE FORGIVEN; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." 

"And he said unto her, THY SINS ARE FORGIVEN" 

"And he said to the woman, THY FAITH HATH SAVED THEE; go in peace."

Jesus plainly stated that the woman was already forgiven and was already saved by faith. She knelt at the feet of Jesus, trusted Him, and went away a saved woman. She was saved without baptism.

In Luke 18:35-43 we are told about the healing and conversion of a blind man. Verse 42 tells plainly, in the words of Jesus Himself, just how he was saved:

"And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: THY FAITH HATH SAVED THEE."

Notice that salvation was received right there before he was baptized.

That is the same plan of salvation given throughout the book of John; in John 1:12, John 3:14-18, John 3:36, John 5:24, John 6:37, and many other places. It is the same plan taught by Peter after Pentecost (Acts 10:43). It was the same plan taught by Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, (Acts 13:38,39; Acts 16:30,31; Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 3:28 and Romans 4:5-8). People were saved in the Old Testament by faith without baptism, were saved during the life of Jesus by faith without baptism, and were saved after Pentecost by faith without baptism.

That publican, about whom the Saviour has told us in Luke 18:13,14 was saved without baptism. Standing there in the temple, he prayed, saying. "God be merciful to me a sinner." Jesus tells us about him then, that, "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified"! He was saved, then, without baptism.

THIEF ON THE CROSS SAVED WITHOUT BAPTISM
The most remarkable case of this kind is the thief converted on the cross as told in Luke 23:39-43. When that poor man turned to the Lord Jesus and asked to be in His kingdom, the Lord Jesus replied, "Verily I say unto thee, to day shalt thou be with me in paradise"! He died that day on the cross as we are told in the Scriptures and so could not have been baptized. But that day, according to the express statement of the Saviour, he went with Jesus to paradise. And some happy day, all who trust in Christ will see him there.

No, baptism is not essential to salvation.

TRUST JESUS FOR SALVATION
God has just one plan of salvation. It is not a process. It is not a series of steps. People are saved by faith in Christ, that way and no other way. Everything else that God asks of a sinner in order to be saved: repentance, prayer, coming to Christ, et cetera, is summed up and settled when one depends upon Christ for the forgiveness of his sins. One could not turn his mind or heart toward God (repentance), without faith in Christ. You cannot come to Christ without believing on Him. "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?" (Romans 10:14). 

Confession by the mouth simply proves faith in the heart which has already secured salvation. God has no other plan of salvation except that promised in John 3:16,18,36; John 5:24; John 6:47; Acts 16:30-31, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." Baptism follows, should follow immediately, but is not a part of God's plan of salvation. When you are baptized, be sure that fact is made clear to those who look on. If you have this salvation, this change of heart by faith in Jesus Christ, then I beg you, follow Jesus in baptism as soon as possible

Who Exactly Are “The Elect” Of God?

Galatians 3:28-29, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

God has chosen to save all those who choose to be saved. That is what "elect" means. The "elect" refers to the saved, Jews and Gentiles alike. God in the Old Testament chose the nation of Israel to be ambassadors of the Gospel to the world...

Isaiah 45:4, "For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me."

The promise was conditional upon their obedience to God...

Exodus 19:5-6, "Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel."

The Jews rebelled against God, so He divorced Israel...

Jeremiah 3:8, "And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also."

God turned to the Gentiles instead to preach the Gospel to the world, to provoke Israel to jealousy. Israel was destroyed in 722 BC (Samaria - northern kingdom), and 586 BC (Judaea - southern kingdom). The PROMISE to Israel was always a line of faith, as we read in Exodus 19:5-6. Also, Deuteronomy chapter 28. At no time did any unsaved Jew ever go to Heaven. The Bible teaches that unsaved Jews are not heirs of the promise...

Romans 2:28-29​,​ "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God."

So a biological Jew (ethnically) is NOT a Jew the Bible says. A saved Jew is a true Jew in God's sight! The promise of salvation by faith was given to the Jews first, but was afterwards also extended to the Gentiles (all non Jews)...

Galatians 3:14-16, "That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ."

The church does NOT replace Israel. Even though God divorced the Jews (cut them off), the Bible says that Jews can still obtain the promise BY FAITH. ...

Romans 11:23-24, "And they also​ [THE JEWS]​, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?"

Jews today can still have the blessings God made to them in the Old Testament, but only BY FAITH in Jesus Christ. That same promise is given to any Gentile who believes in Jesus. The Apostle Peter wrote the following to the Jews, which is a quote from the Old Testament, but it 100% also applies to the Gentiles, to all who BELIEVE in Jesus...

1​st ​Pe​ter ​2:7​-10,​ ​"​Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.​"​

The unsaved Jews in the Old Testament were NOT God's children...

Romans 9:8, "That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed."

Only those Jews who HAD FAITH were counted for the seed. The promise was never made to the Jews, but to CHRIST. The promise was to the seed (singular), not to seeds (plural). ...

​Galatians 3:16, "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ." 

That great promise is salvation through faith in Christ. ...

Acts 10:43, "To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins."

​God has chosen to save all those who choose to be saved! That is what "elect" means. Physical Jews have never been the elect of God, only those who had faith. And the Bible says in Galatians 3:28-29 that whether Jew or Gentile, we are all of the seed and promise of Abraham through faith in Christ. There has always been only one plan of salvation, by faith alone. 

Pastor Ralph "Yankee" Arnold preached a helpful sermon called: "Understanding The Elect Of God." God has chosen to save all those who choose to be saved! That is what "elect" means.