We Are Saved, Not Being Saved

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.”

The following is further evidence what is so WRONG with today's plethora of new Devil's Bible revisions. We are saved by faith in a NANOSECOND, it is not an ongoing process (which is what Calvinism and Lordship Salvation falsely teach).

Here is a comparison between the inspired King James Bible (KJB) and the demonic New American Standard Bible (NASB). Carefully notice how the NASB changes "are saved" to "being saved" (a process). ...

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.”

NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE (NASB) - 1st Corinthians 1:18, “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗱 it is the power of God.”

Dear reader, there is a BIG difference between BEING saved versus knowing that you ARE saved. I am saved!!! I was born again at age 13 in the year 1980 at the Northland Baptist Church (now defunct) on Chicago's northside. I haven't tried to maintain God's free gift of eternal life for the past 43 years. It is not my salvation; but rather, it is God's gift of salvation to all whom believe on the name of His only begotten Son, Jesus. John 1:12, “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:” Since we cannot visibly see Jesus, we get saved by simply BELIEVING on His name. My total trust is upon the name of Jesus my Savior.

Now please take a look at what Bob Jones University teaches their 5,000 impressionable young students today. Dr. Steve Pettit (president of BJU from 2014 to 2023) is a hellbound Calvinist! Sadly, Pensacola Christian College (PCC) teaches this same theological garbage today to their thousands of impressionable young students. Both PCC and BJU errantly teach that justification, sanctification and glorification are a package deal, which you cannot separate. That is a lie of Satan which they teach! Of course you can separate them!

In other words, BJU and PCC falsely teach that if your BEHAVIOR hasn't changed, you have never repented (according to their misunderstanding of what it means to repent to be saved) and are not saved. Let me truthfully say dear reader that BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION is not a part of God's simple plan of salvation. Whether your behavior changes is a strict matter of discipleship as a child of God, and not a matter of getting saved itself. Salvation is more than being saved, to be sure. God has a plan for your life dear saint of God. But whether you choose to yield to walk in the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25), or choose by default to walk carnally in the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21), it is a matter of SERVICE (Romans 12:1-2) and not SALVATION (Luke 1:77).

Look at this heretical screen-capture from PCC's Campus Church. ...

Damnable Heresy Being Taught At Pensacola Christian College (PCC)

Take a look at the tommyrot being foolishly taught at PCC today (I put the red cancellation circle over PCC's false teaching). PCC teaches that you haven't repented unless your behavior improves. That is Lordship Salvation, not God's grace.

Pilgrim's Progress author, John Bunyan, gets it 100% correct. ...

“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.” —John Bunyan (1628-1688)

The true Gospel of free grace keeps sanctification (i.e., service, discipleship) completely SEPARATE from justification (i.e., salvation, sonship). One thing has nothing to do with the other, otherwise you have deadly Calvinism. In John Calvin's (1509-1564) perverse theology, he viewed living the Christian life as being synonymous with saving faith, so that you cannot have one without the other. But that is Lordship Salvation, which is 100% works based. Satan's greatest weapon is to con people into living the Christian life without ever being born again.

We must expose cults like PCC and BJU who corrupt the Gospel. BJU became corrupted first, because when they started allowing the Devil's modern perversions of the Bible to be used at BJU, it changed their doctrine. Sadly, BJU today is a cesspool of hardcore Lordship Salvation. John MacArthur is an alumni of BJU, of whom they are sinfully proud and wickedly bid Godspeed to him and his demonic Calvinist ministry.

PCC has been infested with ticks and flees from laying down with BJU. PCC are ungodly compromisers. Shame on any church that supports the apostate PCC cult today. RIGHT DOCTRINE MATTERS!!! I won't shut up. I won't be silenced. I am a VOICE!

The one truth that I want you to take away from this blog is that we 'ARE SAVED' as believers, we are not 'BEING SAVED'. All of today's modern Devil's bibles are corrupted by Satan. Whatever Bible version you use right now, just flip the pages open to 1st Corinthians 1:18 and check to see if it says “are saved” or “being saved.” It should say “are saved,” which is what the trustworthy inspired King James Bible says. I plead with you dear friend to use only the King James Bible.

Getting saved is NOT a process, it is a new birth (aka, born again). Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001) has authored a very helpful book titled: 'SALVATION IS MORE THAN BEING SAVED.' Dr. Hyles uses the illustration of being recycled from the incinerator at a waste facility. Likewise, when we trust Christ as our Savior, God salvages us from being burned in Hell for all eternity. But now the recycling process begins, which is a process. We must never confuse being salvaged from being recycled. Likewise, we must never confused being born again from being sanctified to be used for God's service.

Pastor Hyles preached a helpful sermon called: 'YOUR SALVATION DID NOT CHANGE YOU ONE BIT.' I love this sermon! Dr. Hyles uses the true illustration of a strip joint that existed down the street from the First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana (FBCH). That illicit house of sin was a thorn in the church's side for decades. Soulwinners from FBCH regularly passed by the front of the place and passed out Gospel tracts. The owner despised and hated the FBCH.

As time passed the strip club closed down and a couple more years passed. One day Pastor Hyles received a letter in the mail from the owner of the club, offering to sell the building to the church. The man also shared with Pastor Hyles that he had been born again and was now preparing for full-time ministry as a pastor.

The First Baptist Church of Hammond purchased the building. Now, it was still decorated as a strip club. The building had transferred ownership from the former owner to the church. Although the church now owned the building, it was still adorned as an immoral place of sin. Dr. Hyles illustrated that the same thing happens when a lost sinner gets saved. We have changed ownership from Satan to God. But although our spirit, soul and body now belong to Christ as a saint, we haven't been remodeled yet. Just because the former strip club had transferred ownership in no way changed what it looked like inside. And just because you received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior in no way changes your character, behavior or lifestyle. You need to be remodeled as a new believer, which has nothing to do with the new birth, which is solely of God (John 1:12-13).

Dr. Hyles wonderfully explains these precious truths in chapter 3 of his book titled: 'SALVATION IS MORE THAN BEING SAVED.' Chapter 3 is called: 'CONVERSION AND SALVATION.' Pastor Hyles tells the story I just mentioned to you much more eloquently:

The word "conversion" means "to turn around," "to change direction," "a change of purpose." In summary, it means "turning around the use of something. Conversion then would be "the outward manifestation of regeneration." Regeneration means "re-gening" or "being born of new genes." Conversion then would become the outward change brought about by regeneration. It is God Who places in us the new nature and re-genes or regenerates us. Just as the good Samaritan took the wounded man to the inn and commissioned the host to care for him, even so upon regeneration the newborn Christian is to place himself in a New Testament church so that church and the Christians therein can be used by the Holy Spirit for the converting of a life that was used for self to be used for others, that was lived in sin to be lived in righteousness, and that was producing works of the flesh to produce the fruit of the Spirit.

Conversion then is the work of the church and its members as they are led by the Holy Spirit to change the life and work of one who has been regenerated.

Redemption is a work of God the Son. Regeneration is the work of God the Holy Spirit. Justification is the work of God the Father as He declares the sinner righteous in the Son. Conversion then becomes the work of the church as we change the use and purpose of a life.

One block from the First Baptist Church of Hammond there is a building that was occupied for many years by a nightclub. It advertised all kinds of unrighteousness, even to that of nude dancing. For years our people would go to the sidewalk in front of this club witnessing and passing out Gospel tracts. After several years the nightclub closed. We never knew why it closed until one day I received a call from an eastern state. The caller was a gentleman who informed me that he had previously been the owner of the aforementioned nightclub. He told me how that for a number of years he had hated our people because they had bothered him so much with Gospel tracts and with their attempts to try to tell him about the Saviour. He then proceeded to tell me that one night he went home and told his wife that he felt like those people from First Baptist were getting to him. He then said, "Pastor Hyles, they did get to me. I gave my life to God, closed the nightclub, and I wanted to call you to tell you that I am now preaching the Gospel and will be licensed to preach in a few days. I wanted to thank you and your people for being consistent witnesses and for what they have meant to my life."

Shortly thereafter the First Baptist Church purchased the nightclub building. Upon purchase it was ours. The price was paid, the deal was consummated and the building changed ownership. However, the building had not yet been converted. It had the same bar, the same furnishings and the same decor. It was purchased. It was redeemed. It was owned by the church, but now it must be converted in order that it might be used for another purpose. As soon as it was redeemed, or purchased, and as soon as it changed ownership, work was begun by our people in order that it might be converted to use for God, Had we purchased it and left it as it was, it would not be converted. Neither could we go in and convert it before it was purchased. The converting of the building would not have made it ours. It would have made us guilty of criminal offense. The purchasing of the building did not convert it. First the price had to be paid, then the deal was consummated, the title then changed hands, and then the workmen entered to change its use and convert It to use for God.

Now there are many Christians who are saved but not converted. They have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ but their feet do not walk in new ways; their tongues do not speak a new language; their minds do not dwell on spiritual things. They are saved,' but they are carnal. I Corinthians 3:1-3, "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" 

SOURCE: Dr. Jack Hyles, 'Salvation Is More Than Being Saved'; chapter 3, 'Conversion And Salvation

So, please remember that the actual new birth is a one time, instantaneous thing. No one has ever been born again twice, or partially or temporarily. The Bible teaches: “ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED” (OSAS). I like to say: “IF SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED.” That is, once you have been born from above by the Holy Spirit of God, you can NEVER lose God's free gift of eternal life. If salvation were determined by one's performance, faithfulness and works, then we could indeed lose it. Albeit, we absolutely cannot lose God's gift of eternal life.

You may lose heavenly rewards for not labouring (1st Corinthians 3:7-15). You may not shine as the brightness of the stars for not soulwinning (Daniel 12:3). But these things have NOTHING to do with the new birth, which is by faith alone.

Pastor M.R. DeHaan (1891-1965) said it best:

"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." —Pastor M.R. DeHaan, “Hebrews”; Zondervan Publishing House; 1959 (p. 117)

Bravo Dr. DeHaan! I couldn't have said it any better. It is rare to find doctrinally sound preachers.

Beware of Calvinism (i.e., the heretical doctrine of a man named John Calvin who lived from 1509 to 1564). Calvin taught a perverse form of theology that combined living the Christian life with the new birth, so that anyone who doesn't live a holy sanctified Christian life is said not to be saved at all. That is a 'partial faith in Christ plus works' counterfeit gospel. The true Gospel always points you to CHRIST; a false gospel always points to YOU.

I fully agree with this helpful quote from Pastor Yankee Arnold:

“It is 'Good News' if no one must have good works before salvation, or after salvation. For salvation to truly be by grace, it must not have any stipulations of any kind at any time. Works before, during or after; works cannot be evidence of my salvation.” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, “Does Calvinism Change The Gospel?”

Good works are not the payment for sin, the payment for sin is death. That is why Christ died on the cross for our sins (Romans 5:6-9). Salvation is not a reward for the righteous, it is a gift for the guilty! Salvation is not doing your best, it is having Christ's best put to your account through receiving Him by faith. Turning away from sinful ways would be a work. Faith puts all of the merit where it belongs, on the object of our faith, Jesus and His work.

If to “repent” means to forsake our sinful ways TO BE SAVED, but Jesus already paid for our sins by dying on the cross, then what are we repenting from? Repentance is simply changing one's mind regarding THE TRUTH that one is a guilty sinner and Jesus is the only Savior. John 6:47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”

Tragically, Jimmy Buffet Is Almost Assuredly Burning In Hell

1st Corinthians 16:22, “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.”

Sadly, famous singer Jimmy Buffet (1946-2023) just died of skin cancer at age 76. He died on September 1, 2023. Jimmy was first diagnosed with skin cancer 4-years ago. I found this horrible song that Jimmy sang in 1976 titled, “My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink and I don't Love Jesus.” That is blasphemy against the only begotten Son of God, the Christ. ...

Jimmy (Fool) Buffet Sings (1976):
'My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink And I Don't Love Jesus'

Jimmy (Fool) Buffet Sings (2014):
'My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink And I Don't Love Jesus'

What saith the inspired Scripture? 1st Corinthians 16:22, “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.” The word “Anathema” means “cursed.” The word “Maranatha” means “The Lord is coming.” The Bible warns that if any man doesn't love Jesus, let him be cursed because the Lord is still coming anyway!

Jimmy Buffet was a fool to sing such a horrible song. Regardless of what some may say, that the song is just a play on words, the message is clearly blasphemous against God. Jesus is almighty God:

Revelation 1:5-8, “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”

Jesus is not merely “a god” as the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses errantly teach, the inspired Holy Bible teaches that Jesus is in fact “the Almighty” God (cf. John 1:1-3, 14; 8:57-59, 10:33).

Jimmy Buffet was tragically a lifelong Roman Catholic—the biggest religious cult on the planet. Salvation cannot be found in any religion; but rather, by faith in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. 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.” Believing on the name of Jesus excludes placing your confidence in the damnable Sacramental Salvation of the Catholic cult. No one has ever been saved by keeping sacraments in some dead church. Jesus said in John 3:7b, “Ye must be born again.”

Here is buffet's shameful 1973 hit song, "Why Don't We Get Drunk And Screw.” ...

Jimmy Buffet (1973): “Why Don't We Get Drunk?"

I love the C6th Hawaiian steel guitar intro (I play steel guitar myself), but the lyrics are wicked as can be. What saith the Scripture? ...

Luke 12:15-21, “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Jimmy Buffet spent his life living large, glorifying drunkenness and acting the fool through his worldly music. His millions of fans were boozers, partiers and selfish people who just wanted to have a good time in life. Like the foolish rich man, Buffet was not rich toward God. Ironically, Forbes announced that in 2023 Jimmy Buffet became a BILLIONAIRE!!! I say “ironic” because it was the very same year that Buffet became a billionaire in 2023, that God took his life from him. Buffet made his billion dollars (much of it filthy lucre) from operating casinos, clothing, nightclubs, restaurants, booze and vacation resorts. Buffet spent much time performing in 'SIN CITY' itself, Las Vegas.

Buffet admitted that his live shows resembled Sodom and Gomorrah to some people. It is clear that Jimmy Buffet didn't love Jesus, and his Catholic faith couldn't save him from Hell. ...

Appreciation: Jimmy Buffett, in his own words: ‘What I see at my shows might look like Sodom and Gomorrah’

“And what I see out there at my shows might look like Sodom and Gomorrah to some people. But the only thing I can compare it to is (the tradition of) carnival. Whether you were the king of France, or a guy in the gutter, for three days a year you could put a mask on and be whoever you wanted. And when carnival is over, you put the mask away and go back to your job.

SOURCE: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/music/story/2023-09-02/appreciation-jimmy-buffett-dead-at-76-what-i-see-out-there-at-my-shows-might-look-like-sodom-and-gomorrah

Sadly, the American people are infamous for debauchery (getting drunk, lust, behaving foolishly, fornicating, public nudity, adultery, divorce, partying irresponsibly, indifference, fighting, lawlessness, et cetera). It was Buffet's 1977 hit song “Margaritaville,” and his business savvy, that catapulted him to become a billionaire in 2023.

Kindly said, by all indication, Jimmy Buffet sadly went to Hell. I am sad about that. God is not willing that anyone should perish, but that all humanity would change their mind to trust in the GOOD NEWS (Gospel) of Jesus Christ crucified for our sins, buried and bodily risen the third day from the dead (2nd Peter 3:9). Buffet made his choice not to love Jesus, to not rest in Christ's sacrifice on the cross as payment for his sins. Salvation comes only though faith in Jesus Christ. Buffet's Jewish roots couldn't save him.

There is no salvation in Catholicism, only bondage to religious rituals, manmade traditions and priestly abuse. John 6:47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” Mr. Margaritaville is now sadly burning in the fires of Hell according to the Word of God. Unless Jimmy Buffet repented of his false religion, and placed his trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation on his deathbed, he went to Hell. Revelation 20:15, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

Beware Of The Heresy Of 'Empty Believism'

2nd Corinthians 11:3, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

The Bible teaches EASY-BELIEVISM. I agree that there is a danger of wrestling the Gospel into a mere prayer. For decades now I have avoided leading lost sinners in saying a prayer to be saved, for this very reason, because it runs the risk of the lost person misunderstanding what is required of them by God to be saved; and also because using a prayer runs the risk of confusing the person (as it did me for several years after I was saved at age 13). The truth is that the Bible does not require prayer to be saved. Faith is the only righteous thing that I can do.

Albeit, I have seen many preachers errantly go from one heretical extreme to another. In this case, many preachers commit the horrible sin of leading lost sinners to deceitfully think they got saved by saying a prayer. Prayer never saved anybody; but rather, the Bible says a man is saved by faith from a believing heart (Romans 10:9-10, 15). A sinner is compelled to pray (call, ask) upon the name of the Lord to be saved, because he or she first BELIEVES in their heart. When a person responds to an altar call to walk down an aisle in a church, they were already saved before they even left their pew, because of the faith that made them respond. Faith saves!

But then there is another sinful extreme that preachers are often guilty of, where they complicate God's simple plan of salvation. They use unbiblical terms; such as, "greasy grace," "easy-believism," "empty-believism" and "cheap grace" to disparage free grace Gospel preachers. Grace is not "cheap" dear reader, it is 100% free, paid for by the precious blood of Jesus Christ (1st Peter 1:18-19). We must not make getting saved hard, when God intentionally made it very simple, free and easy to obtain for humanity.

Dr. John R. Rice (1895-1980) refutes the Devil's lie of Lordship Salvation. Just because somebody professes faith in Christ, but continues to live a life of open sin and shame, does NOT mean that they didn't get born-again. It just means they haven't been mentored. Just because a soulwinner wins multitudes to Jesus Christ, but then none of those converts ever mature to become disciples of Jesus, doesn't necessarily mean they didn't really get saved. Most likely it means that no one ever followed up with them.

Statistics show that 82% of people only come to church because someone invited them. The problem behind carnal Christians today is not false conversions because of a poor Gospel presentation; but rather, it is because pastors are no longer preachers. It is because churches fail to follow up with the people they led to Christ. It is because pastors no longer preach against sin. The problem is not a flaw in God's plan of salvation; but rather, the problem is a woeful lack of Spirit-filled preaching preachers today.

Neo-evangelicals (e.g., the cult at Bob Jones University) with their corrupt Bible revisions, damnable lie of Lordship Salvation and misunderstood repentance are greatly to blame for the destruction of tens of thousands of churches today. Any admitted guilty sinner who receives Christ's sacrifice on the cross as payment for their sins, believing that Jesus was buried, but then resurrected from the dead three days later, is securely saved instantly, irrevocably and eternally.

Salvation is not doing your best, it is having Christ's best put to your account through receiving Him by faith. Salvation is not a reward for the righteous, it is a gift for the guilty! The true Gospel always points you to CHRIST; a false gospel always points to YOU.

Dear reader, I loathe the false doctrine of 'EMPTY BELIEVISM.' You'll find an assortment of foolish articles on social media (especially Facebook), that promote the Devil's lie of 'Empty-Believism." This heresy falsely claims that if you place your trust in Jesus as your personal Savior, you didn't really get saved unless there follows a drastic change in your thinking and behavior. It's just another backdoor approach to Lordship Salvation. Lordship Salvation falsely teaches that faith is not enough to get to Heaven. In addition, proponents of Lordship Salvation require that you surrender all to Jesus as the absolute supreme "Lord" of your life. They also require that you forsake a lifestyle of sinning to get to Heaven. These are 100% self-righteous WORKS, and not childlike trust in the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.

Satan is relentlessly trying to get preachers and laymen alike to live the Christian life without ever being born again. The Roman Catholic church are woefully guilty of doing that. Catholics diligently attempt to live the Christian life, but they have never been reborn from above. Jesus warned in John 3:7b... YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN!!! Religion cannot produce the new birth. Salvation is NOT found in any religion, but in a person, the Lord Jesus Christ. Religion wants to show us the way, but Jesus says: “I am the way...” (John 14:6a).

God deliberately made His plan of salvation simple. So simple in fact that even a small child can be saved. All God requires is that a person acknowledge being a guilty sinner. You've got to know why you need to be saved. There is a penalty on sin, which is death (Romans 6:23). This includes a second death in Hell (Revelation 21:8). The GOOD NEWS (Gospel) is that God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die on a cross to pay our debt of sin (1st Corinthians 5:1-6). The GOOD NEWS is that Jesus died on a cross to pay our debt. Jesus paid a debt He did not owe, because we owed a debt we could not pay. Jesus was buried. Three days later He resurrected physically from the dead. 1st Thessalonians 4:14, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” I love that tremendous Bible verse!!! Anyone who BELIEVES that Jesus died on a cross and raised up from the dead is saved. This is THE GOSPEL.

Did you see anything in 1st Corinthians 15:1-6, 1st Thessalonians 4:14 or anywhere else in the inspired King James Bible, that requires you to live the Christian life to be saved? No, you cannot and neither can I or anybody else. Salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone. Faith is the only righteous thing that I can do.

There Is No Such Thing As "Empty Believism"

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.”

Someone showed me a wicked Facebook group today called: "BAPTIST BIBLICAL PATH." (Note: You must have a Facebook account and be logged in to access this link). The following is all DAMNABLE HERESY, which I will refute afterwards:

What is EMPTY BELIEVISM"
"Empty believism" refers to a criticism that suggests some people might claim to have faith in God or salvation, but their faith lacks genuine transformation or the corresponding actions that should naturally flow from that faith. 

This can be dangerous as it may lead to a false sense of salvation without a corresponding change in one's life. It can hinder personal growth, diminish the significance of repentance, and undermine the true essence of Christianity, which emphasizes both faith and works. 

Here's an explanation with biblical supporting verses: 

1. **Profession of Faith**: Empty believism involves merely professing faith in God or Jesus without a true heart change. — Supporting Verse: Matthew 7:21-23 - "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father."
2. **Lack of Transformation**: True faith in Christ should lead to inner transformation and a change in behavior. — Supporting Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:17 - "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
3. **Devoid of Fruit**: Empty believism is marked by a lack of spiritual fruit, such as love, joy, and kindness. — Supporting Verse: Galatians 5:22-23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."
4. **Faith and Works**: Genuine faith is accompanied by good works that demonstrate the authenticity of one's beliefs. — Supporting Verse: James 2:17 - "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
5. **Obedience**: Empty believism neglects obedience to God's commands and teachings. - Supporting Verse: 1 John 2:3-4 — "We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person."
6. **True Repentance**: Genuine faith involves sincere repentance for sins and a desire to turn away from them. — Supporting Verse: Acts 3:19 - "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."
7. **Relationship with Christ**: Empty believism lacks a personal, ongoing relationship with Jesus Christ. — Supporting Verse: John 15:4-5 - "Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."

In summary, empty believism is the notion that faith without genuine transformation, works, obedience, and a personal relationship with Christ is inadequate. The Bible emphasizes that true faith is evidenced by a changed life and a commitment to following God's teachings.

Sadly, what the previous junk theology is saying is that you must have WORKS to prove that your FAITH is genuine. That is a backdoor approach to the Devil's Lordship Salvation. How could anyone ever know 100% that they are saved securely if the preceding were true? They couldn't, because each individual has a different idea or limit that they use to determine who is saved. The truth is that NO ONE has ever turned away from a lifestyle of sin. You may attempt to reform your own life of sin, but you will still be a dirty rotten sinner in God's sight. James 2:10, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

Now you please listen to me dear friend, and you listen carefully—the ONLY thing that makes you and myself any more righteous than Adolf Hitler, John Wayne Gacy, Pol Pot, Jeffrey Dahmer, Hugh Hefner and the vilest criminals that you can think of, is the precious blood of the slain Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. My sins belong to me, but my righteousness is Jesus Christ's.

The heretical idea that a person can actually place their childlike faith (trust, confidence) in the 'GOOD NEWS' (Gospel, Glad Tidings) of Jesus Christ crucified, buried and risen (1st Corinthians 15:1-6), yet still not be saved because they haven't begun to faithfully live the Christian life is damnable heresy!!! Pilgrim's Progress author John Bunyan got it 100% correct:

“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.” —John Bunyan (1628-1688)

The Satanic proponents of Lordship Salvation are guilty of mixing and combing sanctification with justification, blurring the lines between grace and works, so that lost people cannot discern what the true Gospel is. Pastor M.R. DeHaan also made this helpful statement:

"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." —Pastor M.R. DeHaan, “Hebrews”; Zondervan Publishing House; 1959 (p. 117)

It is possible to become a born-again heaven-bound believer, and yet still choose to live a worldly non-productive life for God. We see this truth concerning the future Judgment Seat Of Christ (for all saints) bore out in 1st Corinthians 3:15, “If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” Many saints (through faith in Jesus Christ) will barely escape the everlasting fires of Hell. They will receive no rewards for service in eternity. They got saved, but lived wasted lives for God, doing nothing to serve God. They will receive no rewards in Heaven, yet they still have eternal life. To be biblically sound we must separate service from salvation. We must keep separate discipleship from salvation.

Jesus Christ came into the world and died on a cross to pay our debt of sin. God does not require that you forsake a lifestyle of sinning to receive His free gift of eternal life. God saves us and then the Holy Spirit begins to work to change us, but this work is not required to get to Heaven. Getting born-again is a one time new birth, not an ongoing process or probationary period. I fully agree with the following excellent sermon quote from Pastor Yankee Arnold:

“'You can't tell me you can trust Christ as Savior, and then go out here and live like the Devil, and still go to Heaven!' Yes, I can tell you that! That's what the Bible says. If you don't come to the conclusion, that—Yes, you can trust Christ as your Savior and live like the Devil, and still go to Heaven when you die—you don't get grace, because that is the exact truth! That is the truth! I do not have to change my life! I don't have to stop one sin! You say, 'I've never heard a preacher say that.' You just heard one! And you listen to me—I want to live as holy and as godly as I possibly can. I am now 70 years old. I've been saved for 52 years. ... the only reason I'm going to Heaven is because, 52 years ago in a little living room, I accepted Christ as my Savior.” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, a great quote from the awesome sermon, “Calvinism And Grace Are NOT Compatible”

Dear reader, you will NEVER be able to rightly understand the Gospel unless you keep SERVICE separate from SALVATION. God never gives any of His redeemed children permission to continue in sin, yet that is exactly what we all do, isn't it. Romans 3:31, “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” God commands and expects every believer to obey the Holy Bible.

But if we do choose to sin (and we all do every day), then we read in Romans 6:1, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” The more that a child of God sins, the more God's saving grace abounds, so that we can NEVER lose His free gift of eternal life. How could we ever lose that which was not ours to give in the first place? Salvation is not a reward for the righteous, it is a gift for the guilty!

Salvation is not doing your best, it is having Christ's best put to your account through receiving Him by faith. Turning away from sinful ways would be a work. Faith puts all of the merit where it belongs, on the object of our faith, Jesus and His work. If to “repent” means to forsake our sinful ways TO BE SAVED, but Jesus already paid for our sins by dying on the cross, then what are we repenting from? The true Gospel always points you to CHRIST; a false gospel always points to YOU.

There is no such thing as “empty believism.” All faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ produces the new birth. There is no such thing as a person, who has placed their childlike trust in Jesus because of what He did through Calvary's cross to pat for their sins, that didn't result in the second birth. You cannot show me any example in the Holy Bible of partial faith, false faith, insincere faith, et cetera. Faith is faith. Faith is the only righteous thing that I can do.

Please RUN away from these heretics on social media who go around falsely warning against “empty believism.” What they are really doing is combining discipleship with sonship, wrestling the Gospel into perversion. God deliberately made His plan of salvation for mankind free, easy and simple. If it is true, as those false prophets who propagate the idea of “empty believism” allege, then God's plan of salvation would be extremely difficult. Turning away from lifelong sinful bad habits is very difficult, if not impossible, especially for drug and alcohol addicts.

I love Pastor J. Vernon McGee (1904-1988), but I disagree with a sermon that he preached titled: “Missing Heaven By 18 inches.” The basic gist of the message is that it is not enough to believe merely in your mind. According to Dr. McGee, you must also believe in your heart. The whole premise is strange doctrine! It is impossible to believe with your mind but not your heart. Biblically, your heart is your subconsciousness, a part of your mind. The heart (which is protected inside your ribcage) is a muscle about twice the size of your fist that pumps blood 100,000 times each and every day of your life.

It is tragic that Pacific Garden Mission, on their popular 'UNSHACKLED' radio program, today preach the Devil's damnable lie of Lordship Salvation. PGM errantly preaches that a lost sinner will immediately forsake their drug, sex, alcohol and other addictions at the moment of salvation, without any professional intervention to help rehabilitate such addicts. PGM is teaching blatant false doctrine. Substance abuse addicts need medical intervention. Getting saved doesn't solve these issues automatically. PGM heretically requires that to be saved, lost sinners must turn away from their sins to be saved.

Please don't be deceived by lying false neo-evangelicals teachers. Search the Scriptures!

You're Not A Christian Just Because You Join A Church

John 3:3-7, “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. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”

I hear famous people all the time claim to be "Christian," who have never been born again. Hollywood actor Dwayne Johnson (aka, The Rock) is one example. Dwayne professes to be a “Christian,” yet he is a devout Roman Catholic. I cannot say for certain that Dwayne is not saved without talking to him directly to see what he believes; however, I can say conclusively that if anyone follows the false damnable teachings of the Vatican, they will die in their sins and burn in Hell forever. The inspired Holy Bible doesn't teach Sacramental Salvation, the Bible teaches faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. The infamous “Seven Sacraments” of Catholicism are of the Devil. You cannot be regenerated by keeping some manmade sacraments. The only way to be born again is by placing ones childlike faith in the GOOD NEWS (Gospel) of Jesus Christ crucified, buried and bodily risen the third day. 1st Thessalonians 4:14, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”

Another example of an unsaved person who claims to be a “Christian” is heavy metal rock singer Ozzy Osbourne. Ozzy claims to be a Christian, but is a member of the corrupt Church of England. This Anglican church teaches that you get saved by following Christ as one of His disciples. Unfortunately for them that is not how you get saved. Jesus warned in John 3:1-7 that a man must be “born again” to enter into the Kingdom of God. Judas was a follower of Jesus, one of Jesus' very apostles. Yet, John 6:70 says that Judas had a devil in him.

Furthermore, Judas "repented himself" in Matthew 27:3b. But the Greek word for "repented" here is a completely different word (metamellomaiin, "to regret") than the verb used for salvation (metanoeo, "to think differently) in the Bible. Judas regretted betraying Christ (this is penitence). Judas returned the 30 pieces of silver (this is penance). Judas turned from his sins (this is reformation). Sadly, Judas never truly repented (i.e., change his mind) toward God (Acts 20:21). Bible repentance is a change of mind from unbelief to belief. Judas didn't believe that Jesus was who He claimed to be, the very Christ. Judas died in his sins and went to Hell, as do all Christ rejecters.

I have given you two examples of false professions of faith. Dwayne Johnson's Roman Catholic false Christianity won't save him. Many people today have churchianity without Christianity. Pastor J. Vernon McGee (1904-1988) rightly said that. Ozzy Osbourne's membership in the Church of England won't save him. Sadly, Queen Elizabeth was also a member of the Church of England, and to my understanding the head of it as the queen. Did the queen also go to Hell to burn forever, even though she professed to be a Christian? If her faith was in merely following Christ as the Church of England false teaches, then I fear so. Dear reader, belonging to a religious group, club, church or institution doesn't produce the new spiritual birth, which is by FAITH ALONE in Christ as one's personal Savior.

I marvel that so many Bible students, pastors and theologians misinterpret John 3:5-6, where Jesus said that which is flesh is flesh, and that which is spirit is spirit. John 3:5-6, “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” I have read umpteen heretical Bible commentaries, and found multiple corrupt references in study Bible notes, where they claim that “water” in John 3:5 refers to water baptism. Dear friend, if anyone ever suggests that being “born of water” refers to water baptism or the Word of God, they are WRONG! Jesus plainly explains what He meant by “water” in Verse 6b, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh.” A fetus in its mother's womb spends 9 months in a bag filled with water. Just before delivery of the baby, the mother's water bag breaks. Every human being ever conceived in the womb was born of water, i.e., the flesh.

You're not truly a "Christian" unless you've been born again from above by the Holy Spirit of God (1st John 3:24), through faith in the seed of the inspired Word of God (1st Peter 1:23). Faith in the GOOD NEWS (Gospel) that Jesus died on a cross to pay for our sins, was buried and He physically resurrected from the dead after three days. is the Bible way to be born again. But be forewarned, if you ADD even the slightest work to your faith, it is no longer faith in Christ, but a false conversion. Faith plus water baptism equals damnation. Faith plus turning away from your sinful ways equals damnation. Faith plus following Jesus as the "Lord" of your life equals damnation.

If you doubt what I say, please go read Matthew 7:21-23. They cried out "Lord, Lord," but Jesus denied knowing them as His sheep. They had spent their lives living the Christian life without ever being born again. They boasted in their own defense of having done "many wonderful works" in Jesus' name, but they never rested entirely in Christ's finished work through Calvary's cross. John 6:40 teaches that the "will of the Father" is to BELIEVE ON JESUS.

The religious group in Matthew 7:21-23 had made the fatal error that so many billions of fools are making today in 2023, they are serving Christ without ever being born again. I dare say that over 97% of people who profess to be a "Christian" have never been born again. Sadly, our independent fundamental Baptist churches today are full of tares (unsaved people). For example: Pastor Sam Adams of the Independent Baptist Church in Ocala, Florida preaches hardcore Lordship Salvation. He says you absolutely cannot go to Heaven unless you follow Christ as the "Lord" of your life. That is NOT the Gospel taught in the inspired King James Bible.

When asked by the Philippian jailer in Rome how to be saved, Paul and Silas simply replied: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ." Paul and Silas didn't tell the man to pray, ask, call, repent of sins, serve, follow, surrender, get baptized with water, speak in tongues nor anything else. Faith is the only righteous thing that I can do.

New IFB Pastors Are Wrong About The 'Sinner's Prayer'!

Acts 16:30-31, “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

Amen! I really appreciate Norm Diamante's contending for the Christian faith. The New IFB (New Independent Fundamental Baptist) have it WRONG! Pastors' Bruce Mejia, Steven Anderson, Joe Major, Roger Jimenez, Jonathan Shelley and others in the New IFB are falsely preaching (and bullying Norm Diamante, myself and others who disagree with them) that you cannot be saved by just BELIEVING. In addition, these misled preachers all adamantly insist that you must pray, ask and call upon the name of Jesus to be saved. The inspired King James Bible does not agree with them.

Unfortunately, these pastors are guilty of ignoring clear passages of Scripture, while only focusing on obscure passages in the Bible, to justify their heresy. I learned that truth from Dr. Curtis Hutson (1934-1995). Here is an exact quote from Brother Hutson, "A good rule to follow when interpreting the Bible is to never use an obscure passage to contradict a clear one."

Throughout the Gospel of John we find the word "believe" mentioned 85 times, without any mention of praying, serving, repenting, calling, confessing, forsaking, following, baptizing or surrendering to Christ to be saved. The people asked Jesus in John 6:28b-29, "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." The dear Savior's plain answer was to BELIEVE ON HIM. This is the only WORK that a lost sinner can do to be saved, to place one's childlike faith in Christ. Faith is the only righteous thing that I can do.

New IFB pastors have made John 4:10 their GO-TO Bible verse to bolster up their strawman heresy. John 4;10, "Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water." So here we see that Jesus told the curious Samaritan woman that if she truly recognized Him, she would "ASK" Him for the living water.

It is important to point out that nowhere in the following passage does it ever mention any of the Samaritans "ASKING" Jesus to be saved. They simply BELIEVED and were saved. ... 

John 4;39-42, "And many of the Samaritans of that city BELIEVED ON HIM for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. And many more BELIEVED because of his own word; And said unto the woman, Now WE BELIEVE, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world." [emphasis added]

No one called, prayed or asked to be saved, they simply BELIEVED ON HIM. I think it is clear to see that New IFB pastors are preaching nonsense to say that you cannot be saved without praying, asking or calling. It is certainly not wrong to call, ask or pray (but I don't do it because it can confuse people), just so long as it is explained to them that FAITH SAVES, not praying. It is a natural thing for a person at the time of salvation to feel the urge to ask Christ to save them, but it is not necessary.

Dr. Jack Hyles (1926-2001) preaches the truth that you don't have to pray to be saved... 

You Don't Have To Pray To Be Saved
(Dr. Jack Hyles)

When the Philippian jailer in Rome asked Paul and Silas how to be saved, they simply replied: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 16:30-31). Carefully notice that Paul and Silas didn't require the man to call, confess or pray. They didn't require the jailer to follow Christ as the "Lord" of his life, or to turn from his sinful ways to perpetually live a lifestyle of repentance, nor anything else. These are the heresies being preached today by Ray Comfort, John MacArthur, Paul Washer, Sam Adams, John Piper, Steve Pettit, Marty Herron, Gary Walton, Sam Horn, Joel Osteen and other false prophets. Eternal life is received through faith alone without works.

It is okay to pray when you receive Christ, but you don't get saved by saying a praying. FAITH SAVES!!! The Bible says you call upon the Lord because you have already BELIEVED (Romans 10:15). Anybody who says that you cannot be saved unless you pray is a liar!

Is Asking Jesus To Save You A 'Work'?

No, I humbly do not think asking Jesus to save one's self is a work. Many lost sinners ask Jesus to save them. Jesus invited the Samaritan woman at Jacob's Well to "ask" Him for the living water in John 4:10. The repentant thief on the cross asked Jesus to save him. So, asking Jesus to forgive your sins and save you is not a work. However, it is totally unnecessary to ask, call or pray to be saved, because God has already plainly promised “TO SAVE THEM THAT BELIEVE” (1st Corinthians 1:21b).

Every preacher I had heard as a teenager, and every religious tract that I had read, directed me to pray a prayer to be saved. Although I knew that I was saved by faith and not prayer, I was confused for several years, thinking that the way you put your faith in Christ is to pray and ask Him to save you. So, I kept doubting my salvation, wondering if I missed something. I couldn't remember years later what I had prayed, so I wondered if I had left an important element out of my prayer. I couldn't find peace in the matter.

At age 17 I finally went to my pastor, in tears, asking him to help me settle the matter. He assumed that since I didn't know I was saved, I must not be. He then did the absolute worst thing he could have done, he led me in another Sinner's Prayer. I had already prayed hundreds of times since age 13 for God to save me, because I was scared to tears of going to Hell. I was simply uneducated in the Word of God, and preachers had been lying to me all along, by insisting that the way to be saved is to pray. Kindly said, these New IFB pastors are doing incalculable damage today by teaching that you cannot be saved without praying a prayer. THEY ARE LIARS EVERY ONE!!!

I learned decades later that I was innocently lied to by preachers. I learned that I could be saved from my pew, by simply BELIEVING on the name of Jesus, without praying at all. Pastor Max D. Younce taught me these excellent truths in his free helpful book titled: "SALVATION AND THE PUBLIC INVITATION" (BACKUP).

Most preachers horribly require unsaved people to walk down a church aisle to learn how to be saved. That is WRONG to do! God doesn't require a person to walk down an aisle to be saved, so why should we? Heaven only knows how many millions of lost sinners never got saved, because they weren't willing to walk down a church aisle to find out how to be saved. They might have been shy, or perhaps didn't feel well physically that day, felt embarrassed, or they were nervous, et cetera. Why cannot a preacher tell people how to be saved right in their pew? Why do they need to walk down an aisle? For this reason I am against pastors requiring lost sinners to walk an aisle to learn how to be saved. Every preacher should allow people the opportunity to be saved right from their pew.

Likewise, Jesus doesn't forgive sin. He has already PAID for everyone's sins with His precious blood. I learned that wonderful truth from Dr. Bob Gray Sr., and he is correct biblically. You don't have to "ask" Jesus to forgive your sins, because He has already paid for them. All you need to do to be saved is to accept God's free gift. Simply BELIEVE that Jesus Christ did it all for you. Simply receive Jesus' sacrifice on the cross as payment for your sins, believing that He was buried and then bodily resurrected three days later.

God needed to make His plan of salvation very simple, because there are many uneducated, ignorant, mentally challenged and educible slow people in the world. Even a small child can understand the Gospel enough to be saved, because God's plan of salvation is so simple. 2nd Corinthians 11:3-4 calls the Gospel "the simplicity that is in Christ." Sadly, men complicate everything.

I am 100% against New IFB pastors who are falsely teaching that a person cannot be saved unless they pray. If they want to lead lost sinners in a prayer to be saved, I am okay with that as long as it is explained that FAITH SAVES, and not praying. Dr. Bob Jones Sr. (1883-1968) also refutes the heresy that you must pray to be saved...

“'Pray to be saved. Ask the Lord to save you.' This is what I heard a minister say to a convicted sinner who came forward for prayer at the close of an evangelistic service. Nowhere in the Bible are men told to pray to be saved. There are examples where men did pray and were saved. Men are told to repent, to believe, to obey the Gospel, but the Bible never says to pray for salvation. It does say that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved, but nowhere does the Bible command men to pray to be saved. I think I know why, God, who made the human heart, knew that it was not necessary to tell convicted sinners to pray. If a sinner can see Jesus Christ on the cross, it is as natural for him to pray as it is for birds to sing or flowers to bloom. 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.'” —Dr. Bob Jones Sr., “Comments On Here And Hereafter,” chapter: Prayer And Praise, page 163; Bob Jones University Press, Inc., © 1942

The New IFB pastors have it WRONG!!!

The False Gospel In The 2002 Religious Movie, "Joshua"

Galatians 1:6-9 “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

Joshua is a 2002 American drama film based on the novel of the same name by Joseph F. Girzone. It was produced by Crusader Entertainment LLC and directed by Jon Purdy. I enjoyed watching the film, but cringed when I heard their damnable false plan of salvation. The religious film stars journeyman actors' Tony Goldwyn and F. Abraham Murray. These are two of my favorite Hollywood actors. Tony Goldwyn plays the role of Joshua (Jesus) in the film. Unfortunately, the film is extremely ecumenical, blurring the line between the cult of Roman Catholicism and Bible Christianity. 

Much worse, the film presents a deadly false plan of salvation. About halfway through the film, Joshua brings character Father Pat Hayes (played by Kurt Fuller) to a ministry music concert featuring the real life Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) group, Third Day. Character Kevin (played by Matt Zeigler) is invited to give his testimony, in which he says the following:

“Thank you. Uh, there's a long time where I felt a bit lonely, I guess, and angry. And ah, it was like I was missing something in my life, but I couldn't figure out what that something was. And I've realized that it was God who I was needing, and that all I needed to do was open my heart up and ask Him to be a part of my life; and I did.” [emphasis added] SOURCE: Joshua, Kevin speaking at a Third Day, CCM ministry concert; 2002

Dear reader, what you just read is NOT the Bible way to Heaven. The film Joshua misleads viewers to believe in a counterfeit plan of salvation—a heretical fallacy that cannot produce the new birth required to enter into God's Kingdom. Joshua 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.” In the movie, Kevin fails to mention that Jesus is the Christ, the only begotten Son of God. Kevin fails to mention that we are all guilty sinners. Kevin fails to mention Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, His burial or His bodily resurrection three days later. Nothing Kevin says is how a person gets saved!

You don't get saved by asking Jesus to be a part of your life!!! Jesus was a major part of Judas Iscariot's life, but Judas had a devil in him (John 6:70). Judas perished in his sins and went to Hell forever without Christ as His personal Savior.

We also read about the false prophets in Matthew 7:21-23 who called Jesus "Lord, Lord." Yet, Jesus denied knowing them as His sheep. They had not been born-again by faith alone in Christ alone. Instead, they foolishly served Christ as a substitute for the new birth. They preached in Jesus' name. They did many wonderful works in Jesus' name. Yet, Jesus denied knowing them as His sheep, and they were cast into Hell to burn forever. Satan's greatest weapon is to con people into living the Christian life without ever being born-again.

Dear reader, I did not write and publish this article to be critical of others; but rather, to warn you about the false gospel of the movie, Joshua. RIGHT DOCTRINE MATTERS!!! My heart's desire is for you to go to Heaven when this earthly life is over. The inspired Holy Bible teaches that you can know you are saved.  We can know beyond any shadow of a doubt that we are saved, because a man's salvation does not rest upon his best performance; but rather, upon the finished redemptive work of Jesus Christ. My faith is solely resting in Christ's sacrifice on the cross for my sins; upon His precious blood that He shed for my sins (1st Peter 1:18-19); upon His resurrection from the dead (1st Thessalonians 4:14). What a savior!!!

You cannot be saved by asking Jesus into your life. You cannot be saved by inviting Christ into your heart, nor by serving Him or following Him as your Lord. You must be born again!!! Salvation is a matter of coming to God as a guilty sinner and simply believing that Jesus did it all for you on Calvary's cross. Beware of all the unbiblical rhetoric today that obscures the light of the truth of the Gospel.

Please warn others. Asking Jesus into your life is another gospel. That is not the Bible way to Heaven. You must admit to God that you are a guilty needy sinner (Romans 3:19-20). You must believe that Jesus is the Christ, the only begotten Son of God (John 20:31). You must place your confidence is Jesus because of what He did to pay for your sins (Romans 4:4-7). Jesus died on a cross, paying a debt He did not owe, because we owed a debt we could not pay (2nd Corinthians 5:21). He was buried and after three days physically raised up from the dead (1st Corinthians 15:1-6). Thank you for reading my blog. Jesus is precious!!!