Did Old Testament Saints Have Assurance Of Salvation?

Genesis 15:6, “And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” Deuteronomy 33:27, “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.” Job 19:25, “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:” Jonah 2:9, “But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.” Habakkuk 2:4, “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.”

Did the Old Testament saints have assurance of salvation? Yes, absolutely! The Bible clearly evidences that the Old Testament saints were fully confident of their redemption, not lingering in doubt and fear. God's promises stand sure! Titus 1:2, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;” There has always been only ONE plan of salvation, which is by faith alone 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.” People in the Old Testament were saved by looking to Christ. Isaiah 45:22, “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” Please notice that this promise was not just for the Jews, but was extended to “all the ends of the earth.” Jews and Gentiles alike have always been saved by LOOKING TO CHRIST.

I am tired of hearing woefully ignorant preachers say that there were multiple plans of salvation in the Bible. Dr. Peter S. Ruckman (1921-2016) comes to mind. Sadly, Dr. Ruckman has a cult following of ignorant men, who teach that people were saved by faith plus works in the Old Testament. Some of these men are; namely, Robert Breaker, Gene Kim, Chett Hensley, Bryan Denlinger and William P. Grady. These are but a few of Ruckman's deceived followers. The very notion that anyone has ever been saved by anything more than faith alone in the Messiah directly contradicts the plainest teachings of the Holy Bible. Romans 4:4, “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.”

The Bible says that Abram (later changed to Abraham) was saved by faith alone:

Genesis 15:6, “And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” Romans 4:1-5, “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

Peter Ruckman and his deceived followers claim that God changed His plan of salvation under Mosaic law. What saith the Scripture? I just quoted to you Acts 10:43 which says “ALL THE PROPHETS” gave witness to salvation through faith alone in Christ, but Moses himself preached THE GOSPEL (i.e., THE GOOD NEWS)  to the Jews...

Hebrews 4:1-2, “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” ...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 do not think the Bible could be any plainer. Hebrews 4:10 clearly teaches that we are saved by ceasing from works, as God did from His works after 6 days of creating, and resting completely in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. There is not one mentioned anywhere in the Bible about a different plan of salvation for Old Testament Jews under the Mosaic law. If it had been so, then the Bible surely would have made this clear, but it doesn't even hint to it. We have plain Bible verses in Acts 10:43 and Romans 4:4 which teach that salvation has always been by faith, not by works.

The Old Testament saints had the sweet assurance of salvation, just as believers do today. If you don't have that sweet assurance as a believer, it is only because you lack Scriptural knowledge dear friend. To help those struggling, I wrote this helpful 42 chapter book to help titled: “SALVATION.” You CAN know 100% that you are saved beyond any shadow of a doubt, because eternal life is a PROMISE, not a trade, exchange or process. Titus 1:2 says God made the PROMISE of eternal life before the world began.

Moses understood that eternal life was secure. Deuteronomy 33:27, “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.” Job said that He KNOWS His Redeemer liveth. Job spoke with absolute assurance in Job 19:25, “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:” That is assurance of salvation dear reader! The prophet Jonah proclaimed in the dark belly of a whale that he knew SALVATION IS OF THE LORD, not by works. Jonah 2:9, “But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.” The prophet Habakkuk confidently proclaimed that THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY HIS FAITH. Habakkuk 2:4, “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” Clearly, all these saints had the full sweet assurance of God's salvation, otherwise they never could have made these bold statements of faith.

Proponents Of Lordship Salvation Add To God's Words

Proverbs 30:5-6, “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” Romans 3:4, “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.”

We've got a bunch of liars in the church pulpit today. Romans 3:4 plainly teaches that if what I say, or what you say, agrees with The Holy Bible, then our sayings (or writings) will be justified on judgment day when we stand before God almighty. Hebrews 4:13, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” I don't care who you are, one day in eternity you will stand before your Creator and be held accountable for your thoughts (Proverbs 24:12), deeds (Ecclesiastes 12:14) and words (Matthew 12:36). Hebrews 9:27, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

We've got a bunch of lying Bible professors today. When a Bible professor from Hyles-Anderson College says that the King James Bible is not inspired, he is a liar. When a Bible professor from Bob Jones University says that you must turn away from your sin to be saved, he is a liar. The Bible does not agree with either of those liars. We have an inspired Bible according to Psalms 12:6-7 and 2nd Timothy 3:16-17. I am so sick and tired of hearing 97% of Bible colleges today say that God inspired only the original texts, and then He preserved those sacred texts for today; but they clearly DON'T believe that God's Word are inspired anymore. They have to believe that way in order to justify having more than one Bible version today, because the different revisions disagree, sometimes drastically.

Dear reader, it doesn't require being a learned theologian to see that God promised in Psalms 12:6-7 to keep and preserve His PURE WORDS. The whole point of keeping and preserving God's Words is to maintain their PURITY. Psalms 119:139-140, “My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words. Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.” David said he loved God's Words because they were VERY PURE! How do you think David would have felt about the hundreds of English Bible revisions available today on the market to purchase? I'll tell you, because I feel the same way, David would have hated and rejected all of them except the King James Bible. Only the King James Bible says that people “worshipped” Jesus. All of the Devil's revisions change it to a mere “knelt” or “bowed.”

Psalms 12:6, “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” Clearly, the whole purpose for God keeping and preserving His words is to ensure that they stay VERY PURE. It would be ridiculous to say that God gave His PERFECT inspired Words to mankind, but then preserved them in an IMPERFECT non-inspired manner. Does that make any sense to you friend? If you don't think we have a perfect, inerrant and inspired Bible today, then I say to you: “O ye of little faith!”

But it gets much worse dear friend, ALL of the Devil's modern Bible revisions completely remove God's promise from Psalms 12:6-7, changing it to God protects the saints instead of His Word. What liars!!! Why would they change this passage? The reason is obvious, because if God has indeed kept His solemn promise to preserve His very pure Words forever, then there can only be ONE accurate translation in any particular language. Think about that! If you think that God has preserved His very pure words in hundreds of English Bible revisions, then you are very foolish, ignorant, deceived and far from the truth friend. God only authored ONE BOOK, and I believe we have it in the inspired, inerrant and infallible King James Bible today.

It would be ludicrous to say that God gave men His absolutely accurate words, but then only preserved those words in hundreds of less than perfect, flawed Bible translations. It not only makes no sense, it blatantly contradicts God's promise. God didn't promise to preserve His Words, He promised to preserve His PURE WORDS. The fact that modern Bible publishers have corrupted Psalms 12:6-7 proves that they are deceivers and liars, who lack the faith that God can give us a perfect Bible for today.

Proverbs 30:5-6, “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” Take a look at what the corrupt Literal Standard Version (LSV), which was published in 2020, does to change Proverbs 30:5, “Every saying of God [is] tried, || He [is] a shield to those trusting in Him.” Every saying of God is tried? That is not what the King James Bible says. The Bible says EVERY WORD OF GOD IS PURE!!! They have no right to change “words” to “sayings,” corrupting the Scripture. “Things That Are Different Are Not The Same” (a wonderful MP3 sermon by Pastor Curtis Hutson, 1934-1995).

Having said that, some of the most ungodly pastors I have known are the shameful men who lead the Harvest Baptist Church on Guam. Dr. Marty Herron is a servant of Satan. I say that kindly. Pastor's Jared Baldwin and Joe Hanson have no business working in any ministry, because the truth means nothing to them. The Apostle Paul called heretics by name, as I am doing. 1st Timothy 1:19-20, “Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.” Paul mentioned the names of these men who were corrupt. Likewise, the Bob Jones crowd have moved away from the hope of the Gospel. 

Pastor Gary Walton of the Harvest Baptist Church of Guam (HBC) and the aforementioned men, are all pulling on the same rope as the Devil. These men masquerade as pastors, but they are ministers of unrighteousness (2nd Corinthians 11:13-15). They are apostates, Neo-evangelicals, uncaring and indifferent toward truth. The Bob Jones University (BJU) alumni which I have met on Guam are indifferent, shallow, uncaring and don't stand for anything. Consequently, they sanction the Devil's Bibles. This Bible, that Bible, it doesn't matter to them! HBC and BJU sanction Dr. John MacArthur and his damnable Lordship Salvation heresy. 

Sadly, there is a growing trend in independent Baptist churches today to accept the heresies of John Calvin (aka, “Calvinism”). Calvinism teaches the Devil's lie that you must “turn away from sin” to be saved. They merge sanctification with justification, so that if you aren't living the Christian life they consider you still unsaved. That is “another Gospel” accursed by God (Galatians 1:6-8). The competent preacher absolutely MUST put a clear separation between outward justification wrought by faith alone in the Savior Jesus Christ, versus the inward sanctification wrought by the indwelling Holy Spirit of Christ. To combine sanctification with justification is the heresy of Lordship Salvation, which does not produce the new birth.

Anyone who professes faith in Christ but lives in open willful sin is said to still be lost. That is not the free grace Gospel. The whole Bob Jones' crowd is on their way to Hell with the deceived people in Matthew 7:21-23. They called Jesus “Lord, Lord,” but they were not saved at all. Like the Bob Jones crowd, they performed “many wonderful works” in Jesus' name, but they weren't wholly trusting Him. They prophesied (preached) in Jesus' name, but Jesus said He did not know them. If you are trying to prove you are saved by the way you live, you are not saved at all. Dear friend, Satan's greatest weapon is to con people into living the Christian life without ever being born again.

Please beware of the Bob Jones University crowd. Don't let them take you to Hell with their faith plus turning from your sin heresy. Evangelist Michael P. Bowen wrote an excellent book called: “I NEVER KNEW YOU,” which greatly offended the pastors at Harvest Baptist Church on Guam. The book exposes some of the biggest names in mainstream evangelicalism today; namely, Ray Comfort, Charles Stanley, Joel Osteen, Pat Roberson, John Hagee, James Dobson, Rick Warren, Billy Graham, Beth Moore, Franklin Graham and Jimmy Swaggart. The pastors of Harvest Baptist Church on Guam bid Godspeed to many of these men, and preach the same phony Lordship Salvation trash. Galatians 1:6-7, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.”

It is no small matter to add to God's Word. To be saved, there's nothing in the Bible about turning from sin, committing your life to Christ, surrendering to Christ as “Lord,” nor following Jesus no matter what the cost. These are all proper in their place, but none of these comprise the Gospel. You may do all these things, plus faith, and never have been saved at all. The only way to get to Heaven is by FAITH ALONE.

Bob Jones University Speaks With A Forked Tongue

Galatians 1:6-8, “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.”

Bob Jones University is the most dangerous theological institution in America today! I am going to show you how they say one thing, but then teach another. Here is BJU's statement of faith concerning salvation:

With regard to the doctrine of Soteriology:

We believe Scripture teaches that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (Eph. 2:4–10; Rom. 3:21–26; Titus 3:5) and apart from any human work of righteousness (Phil. 3:9). [emphasis added]

SOURCE: https://www.bju.edu/about/positions.php

Now read what the Roman Catholic Vatican similarly says:

For there is no distinction: since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, they are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as an expiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins; it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies him who has faith in Jesus. [emphasis added]

SOURCE: https://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s1c3a2.htm 

That is from the Vatican's website!!! God night, what deceivers! Now look what the Vatican says elsewhere:

1129 - The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation. (Cf. Council of Trent (1547): DS 1604.) 

[emphasis added]

SOURCE: https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P33.HTM

Huh? So much for being justified by God's grace! According to the headquarters of the biggest religious cult in the world, Roman Catholicism, you must keep the Seven Sacraments to get to Heaven. That cancels grace! Romans 11:6, “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” Could the Bible be any plainer? I think not. Either salvation is completely free, as God's gift by grace through faith alone, or else you have to do something else to have it! I have plainly showed you the hypocrisy of the Catholic church, and how they preach “ANOTHER GOSPEL” (2nd Corinthians 11:3-4; Galatians 1:6-9).

Likewise, Bob Jones University are deceivers, preaching “ANOTHER GOSPEL.” 

With regard to the doctrine of Soteriology:

We believe Scripture teaches that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (Eph. 2:4–10; Rom. 3:21–26; Titus 3:5) and apart from any human work of righteousness (Phil. 3:9). [emphasis added]

SOURCE: https://www.bju.edu/about/positions.php

Now look what BJU says elsewhere that negates grace:

God offers this salvation freely to all men who are willing to repent and turn from their sins (Acts 3:19, 17:30) [emphasis added]

SOURCE: https://www.bju.edu/about/positions.php

What lying deceivers! The heretics at Bob Jones University are just as guilty as the Roman Catholics, adding something to the Gospel which God does not require. When I got saved at age 13, I knew I was a sinner, but I wasn't willing to start turning from my sins until after I was saved, because the Holy Spirit started convicting me. The process of sanctification began as a result of salvation, NOT as a requirement of salvation. That is where BJU goes horribly wrong! The former is sound Bible doctrine, but the latter is damnable heresy. Bob Jones University is teaching damnable heresy! Dr. Steve Pettit is an unsaved false teacher, propagating the same damnable heresy as Pastor John MacArthur.

Let me make clear that after I got saved, the Holy Spirit started convicting me about my sins, but I never gave up all my sins. Nor did I try to give up my sins to prove that I was saved, which would be adding works to grace. That thought never even crossed my mind. Sanctification has absolutely NOTHING to do with getting saved. The Bible is full of sinful saints. Anyone who attempts to connect the way you choose to live with getting saved is a false teacher. The famous preacher John Bunyan (1628-1688) 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.” [emphasis added] —Evangelist John Bunyan

I love that beautiful quote! You cannot show me anywhere in the Bible where it says to repent “of your sins” to be saved. Quite the contrary, we read in Acts 20:21, “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Carefully notice that repentance is “TOWARD GOD,” and not turning away from anything. But don't you have to turn from something to turn to something. Yes, you are turning from your unbelief. 

What saith the Scripture? Matthew 21:32, “For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.” You see, repentance is turning to Christ by faith to be saved, not committing yourself to clean up your life as a requirement to be saved. God the Father asks nothing from us to receive His gift of eternal life, but our faith in His only begotten Son! John 20:31, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” We are saved simply by believing.

Kindly said, Bob Jones University, and the Harvest Baptist Church on Guam who support them, are wrong on the Gospel. They are pulling on the same rope as the Devil. The Gospel of John is God's Gospel tract according to John 20:31, which I just quoted to you. The word “believe” is mentioned 85 times in John, but the word “repent” is not mention even once. That is because repentance is automatic. It would be like me asking you to get up out of your seat, and then please walk 50 feet, to go get something out of my car for me. Do I really need to say all that? No, I could just ask you to please go get something out of my car, and hand you the keys. That is how repentance works. No one has ever believed on Christ who didn't repent, but repentance is simply a change of mind. The man who repents has done so by believing on Christ 

A  lot of preachers who are ignorant get mad at the thought that repentance is merely a change of mind. That is what the Greek noun for “repent,” metanoia, means in the Bible. It is simply “a change of mind.” The verb form is metanoeo which means “to think differently.” Repentance does NOT mean “to turn from your sins,” which would be works added to faith. In their woeful ignorance, these fake preachers cannot understand how a person can be saved and continue living in willful sin. Dear friend, every Christian still lives in willful sin! If you don't pray without ceasing for everyone in your life, you are sinning (1st Samuel 12:23). We are all wretched sinners, even the best Christian among us (Romans 7:14-25).

When you get saved, God indwells you with His Holy Spirit (1st Corinthians 3:16-17). That is the beginning of sanctification, and it takes a lifetime. The Holy Spirit sanctifies us (i.e., makes us more like Jesus) with the inspired and infallible Word of God (John 17:17). We have an inspired and infallible Bible today in the King James Bible. All modern Bible revisions have been corrupted by Satan. You cannot trust the new versions!!! BJU and their alumni (which includes HBC on Guam) have been corrupted by the Devil's perverted Bible revisions. Sadly, they don't care. As a true friend, I have warned Marty Herron, Gary Walton and the other pastors of Harvest Baptist Church of Guam, but they are sinfully indifferent and arrogant in their doctrinal error. 

In typical false prophet fashion they insist that salvation is solely by grace, while at the same time unbiblically telling people that God won't save them unless they are willing to turn away from their sinful bad habits. Dear friend, you don't have to be willing to stop getting high on illegal drugs to get saved. You don't have to stop shacking-up with your girlfriend in fornication to receive God's free gift. You don't have to stop lying, cheating or lusting to have eternal life. It is a free gift! A gift is a take proposition, not a give proposition. You simply take it and you give nothing in return. Salvation is not a trade, it is not an exchange of sorts as John MacArthur sinfully calls it; salvation is a gift (Romans 5:15-18, 23; Ephesians 2:8-9). If you have to try to give up your sinning to be saved, then it is a reward, not a gift.

Bob Jones University talks out of both sides of their mouth, as do the Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventists, Church of Christ and Roman Catholics. bidding Godspeed to heretic John MacArthur. Dear reader, DO NOT TRUST any pastor, church or Bible college that bids Godspeed to damnable false prophet John MacArthur. Moody Bible Institute in Chicago is of the Devil today, because they invite, honor and publish Dr. MacArthur's books. MacArthur's false plan of salvation is so complicated that he teaches little children cannot be saved. It is apostasy when pastors support this kind of Satanic teaching in church's today. 

Kindly said with Christ's love, Harvest Baptist Church of Guam, Bob Jones University, Moody Bible Institute, Pacific Garden Mission (UNSHACKLED), and anyone else who sanctions Lordship Salvation has BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS! And they sure do have a lot of blood on their hands (Galatians 1:8). The man who repents has done so by believing on Christ (Acts 16:30-31). If you think you are going to Heaven because you are following Jesus as the “Lord” of your life, you are not saved (Matthew 7:21-23).

But Whom Say Ye That I Am?

Matthew 16:13-17, “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”

Jesus was testing His disciples in our text passage of Scripture. The Lord asked them whom the people say that He is. The disciples responded by saying that some of the people think he is Elijah the prophet. Others said that He is Jeremiah the prophet. Still other said He is John the Baptist. But the Lord asked them the $64,000 question: “BUT WHOM SAY YE THAT I AM?” I love how impetuous Peter was, speaking right up to say: “THOU ART THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD”! Boy, I love that! And I 100% agree with Peter. Jesus is the promised Christ that should come, to save us from our sins. Jesus is the only begotten Son of the living God. Jesus “is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe” (1st Timothy 4:10).

Oh dear friend, do you believe? John 6:47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” Carefully notice that Jesus didn't ask the disciples in Matthew 16:13-17 if they had “repented and turned away from their sins.” This is a popular damnable heresy which has crept into most Baptist churches today, called Calvinism (aka, Lordship Salvation). The Gospel set forth in the Scriptures is intentionally kept very easy, simple and free, so that even a small child can be saved, simply by believing upon the name of the Lord. Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins. He was buried. Three days later He physically resurrected from the dead. This is the Gospel (or Good News) according to John 19-20 and 1st Corinthians 15:1-4. Believe it oh sinner and you have eternal life!

The inspired Word of God is so simple. Men complicate everything, don't they? Yes, men make salvation hard. If you don't believe it, read what Pastor John MacArthur teaches, even using the word “HARD” concerning salvation. No my friend, getting saved is not hard at all, it is very simple according to the Bible. 2nd Corinthians 11:3-4, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” 

So I ask you friend, whom do you say that Jesus is? If you think Jesus was a mere historical figure—a man who once existed, but died like any other man, then you are not saved. If you merely think that Jesus was a prophet, as did George Harrison of The Beatles, then you are not saved. If you think Jesus was a remarkable man, who spoke some great enlightening words, but was elevated by men to the status of deity, then you are not saved. Ah, but if you accept what the Holy Bible teaches—that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16), the crucified, buried and risen Christ (John 20:31), and you receive His sacrifice on the cross as payment for your sins—you have eternal life. Whom say ye that Jesus is?

You're Not Going To Heaven Just Because You Love God

Matthew 15:7-9, “Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

What an indictment against manmade religion! There are billions of religious people in the world, who sincerely think they love God. An estimated 1.6 billion Muslims reject Jesus as the Messiah, worshipping instead a false god called “Allah.” According to the Koran, Allah has no biological son. But the Christian Holy Bible teaches that God has a biological Son, whose name is Jesus. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Galatians 3:22, “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” Before the world began, God promised eternal life through faith in Christ. Titus 1:2, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;”

There are an estimated 1.2 billion Roman Catholics who are infatuated with the Blessed Virgin Mary. Of course, we know from the Bible itself that Mary did not remain a virgin. Matthew 13:55-56, “Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?” In this passage of Scripture we learn that Jesus had at least four biological half-brothers and two half-sisters. Joseph was NOT Jesus' biological father, God Himself is. Jesus was conceived of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). Please note that all Scripture references are only to the inspired King James Bible, because all of the modern Bible revisions have been corrupted by the Devil.

So just between Muslims and Roman Catholics, and another 200 million Orthodox Catholics and Europe and Russia, this amounts to 3 billion people who have religion without salvation. There is no salvation apart from faith in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:10-12). Bible salvation excludes the 1.6 billion Muslims who are trusting in Allah to save them, based upon their works. According to the Bible not one of them will ever enter into the Kingdom 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.” There is no true salvation in Islam.

And then there are 1.4 billion Roman and Orthodox Catholics, who elevate the traditions of men above the inspired Word of God, keeping their own commandments, “teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9b). I say that with love, and a kind heart, upon the authority of God's Word. Galatians 1:6-8, “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.” 

The Apostle Paul defines “THE GOSPEL” in 1st Corinthians 15:1-4, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” The Word of God defines “THE GOSPEL” as Christ's death on the cross, burial, and bodily resurrection three days later. This is the GOOD NEWS (which is what the word “Gospel” means), that you must BELIEVE to be saved (i.e., to receive eternal life).

What saith the Scripture? Mark 1:15, “And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” The word “repent” in this verse simply means “to change one's mind,” but not to turn away from sinful living (which many heretical preachers teach today, like Ken Ham, John MacArthur, Ray Comfort and Bob Jones University). 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. 250-252; Sword Of The Lord, Murfreesboro, Tennessee; ©1963

Amen and amen! John the Baptist didn't preach a different plan of salvation than Jesus or Paul, but one and the same Gospel. 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. This is so important to see dear reader! One repents toward God has done so by trusting in Jesus Christ. A change of mind toward sin is necessarily involved in saving faith. A person does not have to forsake sinful behavior to be saved; but rather, they must see them self as a needy sinner.

What saith the Scripture? Romans 3:19, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” The purpose of the law is to show humanity our need for Christ (Galatians 3:24-26). We are all guilty sinners (Romans 3:23). Galatians 3:19, “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.” Jesus Christ is the “seed,” unto Whom God the Father promised that all men could be saved through faith in Him. The law was given because of man's sins, to show us our need for salvation through Christ. This is all part of God's sovereign plan for the human race—eternal life through faith alone in Christ—which was promised before the world began (Titus 1:2). The law was never given as a way of salvation; but rather, as a means to facilitate salvation by grace through faith.

Dear reader, you are not going to Heaven just because you love God. A man named Cornelius loved God in Acts 10:1-2, but he was not saved. You are not going to Heaven just because you are devoutly religious (as evidenced by the religious Pharisees in Jesus' time). Matthew 5:20, “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Dear friend, you must be BORN AGAIN to get to Heaven! You are not going to Heaven because of your own goodness, charity, love, kindness, dedication, hard work, nor anything else that you can do. Salvation is of the Lord (Jonah 2:9b). Salvation is not doing your best, it is having Christ's best put to your account through receiving Him by faith. 

You Need To Say That The King James Bible Is Inspired

2nd Timothy 3:16-17, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

Those words “given by inspiration of God” are translated from just one Greek word, theopneustos. “Theo” means God. “Neustos” (like pneumatic) means air. The Holy Bible is God's breath. It was breathed out by the Holy Spirit of God upon the approximately 40 writers. There is absolutely nothing in the Greek word theopneustos that limits it only to the originals. I am saddened as I read church and Bible college statements of faith, seeing that they deny that the King James Bible is inspired. I mean, is it so hard to believe that we have an inspired Bible today?

I went to look at Crown College's website today, and Temple Baptist Church in Powell, Tennessee, where Pastor Clarence Sexton is their preacher. I like Brother Sexton. I have been listening to his sermons on YouTube. He's a great guy. Albeit, the college doesn't believe that the King James Bible is inspired. I was looking because I am planning to move a.s.a.p., Lord willing. I need to leave Guam and go back to the United States, so I can be part of a church family. I like the work at Temple Baptist Church in Powell, Tennessee, but it bothers me that they refuse to say that the King James Bible is inspired. The same is sadly true of Hyles-Anderson College today and First Baptist Church of Indiana. Since 2008 they have denied the inspiration of the King James Bible. 

I am considering moving to Pastor Jeff Fugate's ministry in Lexington, Kentucky at the Clay Mills Baptist Church, where they boldly proclaim the inspiration of the Scriptures. They don't mention the King James Bible being inspired, but since they don't talk about the "originals" they don't need to. They proclaim to believe that the Scriptures are inspired, so that includes the King James in their statement of faith. I give them a thumbs up, humbly said. 

I am also considering the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Longview, Texas. I love their church's statement of faith. Pastor Bob Gray II is their preacher. They boldly proclaim the inspiration of the King James Bible. I am humbly proud of them, and I know God is too. They are not lukewarm, they are hot for the Lord, preaching THE TRUTH from an inspired Holy Bible! Get mad at me if some of you want, there is something wrong with a Bible preacher who denies that we have an inspired Bible today. Please consider the following thought provoking truthful statements...

“The Bible is not the inspired, inerrant and 100% historically true words of God. ... If we would destroy the Christian religion, we must first of all destroy man’s belief in the Bible.” —Voltaire (French philosopher and former unbeliever 1694-1778 - He now knows better [in Hell])

As one liberal theologian pointed out in his review of Harold Lindsell’s, The Battle for the Bible, the only real difference between the conservative and liberal positions on the Bible is that the conservatives say the Bible USED TO BE inspired and inerrant, whereas the liberal says it NEVER WAS inspired or inerrant. BOTH positions agree that the Bible IS NOT NOW inspired or inerrant.

As brother Daryl Coats so aptly says in his article The Two Lies: “If the Bible was inspired only in the original manuscripts, no one in the entire history of the world has ever had an inspired Bible. The original autographs of Job and the books of Moses had disappeared more than a thousand years before the first book of the New Testament was written, so no one has ever owned a complete Bible made up of the 'divine originals.' Nor, has anyone ever owned a complete New Testament made up of 'inspired originals,' because the originals were distributed among more than a dozen individuals and local churches.”

Lord willing, I am also considering moving to Tucson, Arizona and Chattanooga, Tennessee. My mind is all over the country right now. There are so many great churches and places to move, but I haven't found peace about any of them yet. I am praying for God to give me peace about a place to move. Lord willing, I want to find a wife. I have been alone too long, and it affects me. God is good. One day at a time. Please pray for me my friends.

Now back to my main point. Why won't they say it? Why won't today's preachers and Bible colleges say that the King James Bible is inspired? Why do they say the originals are inspired, and those words have been preserved, but somehow that means those words are no longer inspired? Pastor Jack Hyles is right, who reasoned: “What good is inspiration without preservation?” In other words, what would have been the point of God giving mankind His very pure inspired words, and then preserving those words if they were no longer inspired? 

If the King James Bible is not inspired, then there can be MORE THAN ONE BIBLE today, which is very bad. Having two authorities requires a third authority—manmade scholarship—to decide which of the first two authorities are correct. That elevates flawed sinful men in charge over the eternal Words of almighty God. That is exactly why they won't say that the King James Bible is inspired, because if they do, then they are saying that none on the other Bible versions can be inspired. There absolutely cannot be TWO inspired Bibles, when those two Bible disagree in places. Look at this picture to see what I mean...

A Picture Is Worth 1,000 Words!

You show me a church or Bible college that refuses to say that the King James Bible is “inspired,” and I'll guarantee you that they never criticize the modern Bible versions either. Hyles-Anderson College and Crown College do not expose the Devil's Bible versions. If they do, please show me. Bob Jones University is even worse, they use, sell and promote the Devil's Bible versions. 

I am very concerned about the direction of Baptist churches in America. Crown College plays intercollegiate sports with BJU. They have several BJU alumni on staff at Crown College. Now, I am not against that, because in the old days BJU was great. But these institutions are eerily silent about the Lordship Salvation being preached at BJU today. I see all this moving toward apostasy! Doesn't anyone take a stand against Lordship Salvation anymore? Doesn't anyone take a stand against counterfeit Bible versions anymore? I rebuked one assistant pastor at the Harvest Baptist Church on Guam. He tried to weasel his way out of my question. I asked him why he supports corrupt Bible versions. He tried to defend himself by replying that he doesn't agree or support all of the modern Bibles. I put him on the spot by asking him to name just one, which he couldn't. You see, these are neo-fundamentalists. That is someone who thinks they are a Fundamentalist, but in reality they are a Neo-evangelical. 

It is a big deal. Listen folks, there is a direct correlation between pastors who are corrupt on the Gospel and the Devil's modern Bibles. It is no coincidence that one of my favorite preachers, Pastor Ralph "Yankee" Arnold is 100% King James Bible only, and he is also 100% correct on a Free Grace Gospel. You see, doctrine follows one's attitude toward the Holy Bible. That is why I make such a big fuss and criticize Hyles-Anderson College and Crown College, and especially Bob Jones University, for hobnobbing with the Devil's Bible of the month club! This Bible, that Bible, more and more all the time, they never stop coming!!!

Dear friend, you need to say that the King James Bible is inspired. I don't care if you're a pastor, a missionary, a Bible professor, or a layman in the church—we all need to speak up as God's children and let the world know that WE HAVE AN INSPIRED BIBLE TODAY!!! Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001) boldly proclaimed the inspiration of the King James Bible. For those of you who don't want to say the King James Bible is inspired, it is only because you don't really think we have an inspired Bible today. Therefore, you are pulling on the same rope as the Devil, preparing the next generation to ditch the King James Bible and embrace the Devil's corrupt Bible revisions. The preacher John Wesley wisely said: “What one generation tolerates the next generation will embrace.” Why are preachers tolerating evil.

There is a subtle demonic spirit at work in our churches and Bible colleges today, which says all manner of positive things about the King James Bible, but THEY WON'T SAY IT IS INSPIRED. I tell you THE TRUTH dear reader—the King James Bible is infallible, pure, innerant and INSPIRED by God. They are living Words (John 6:63), which is what inspired means (IN-SPIRIT). They are God's Words, not men's words. That is what inspired means. The Bible are God's breathed out words. 

It is ridiculous to say that inspiration only refers to the process of God giving His Words to man. If only the originals were inspired, then we don't have a perfect Bible today. And if we don't have a perfect Bible today, then God lied in Psalms 12:6-7. That is why every modern Bible version changes and removes this promise completely. It is wickedness!!! The fact that ONLY the King James Bible retains this promise from God in Psalms 12:6-7, to preserve and keep His pure Words forever, should be enough to convince you that the King James Bible is the One! We only have ONE Bible today in the English language, and it is the King James!!!

They Called Him “LORD,” But Jesus Didn't Know Them

Matthew 7:20-23 “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

This is one of the most intriguing and disturbing passages of Scripture. This group of people called Jesus, “LORD, LORD,” but He knew them not. They were not born-again. That is, they were not saved, and they went to Hell to burn forever in their sins. How did this happen? What did they do wrong? Dear friend, they made the fatal mistake that millions of churchgoers are making in America and the world today—they are serving Christ instead of wholly trusting Christ to get to Heaven! The heresy is commonly known as “Lordship Salvation.”

Evangelist Steve Pettit is in this accursed religious group. Dr. Pettit has been the president of Bob Jones University since 2014. Read what Dr. Pettit foolish says:

“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)

That is not the Gospel of Free Grace dear friend. You don't have to run a race of holiness and serving Christ to prove that you are saved. If that were true, then you could never really know with full confidence that you have been saved. Dr. Pettit further heretically elaborates:

“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)

Dear friend, eternal life is a free gift. It is an instantaneous new birth, not a race or a process. Steve Pettit has perverted the new birth into a Marathon Race that must be finished to know for sure that you've qualified for the award. None of that terminology applies to the Gospel. Eternal life is God's free gift (Romans 5:15-18; 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9), not an award which you must qualify to obtain as Pettit teaches. 

Kindly said, Dr. Pettit is making the same fatal mistake that the people in Matthew 7:21-23 made. They did “many wonderful works” (like run a Bible college) in Jesus' name. They “prophesied” (like Steve Pettit preaches in BJU chapel) in Jesus' name. They called Jesus “LORD, LORD,” but the Savior firmly stated with these horrifying words: “I NEVER KNEW YOU.” Jesus calls them “ye that work iniquity.” Satan's greatest weapon is to con people into living the Christian life without ever being born-again! 

Listen, you don't get saved by running the race friend. You get saved by getting out of the race, and resting wholly in Jesus' name! 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.” After six days of creating, God rested on the seventh day. God didn't cease from His sins, God stopped working. 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.” The way you labour (or work) to enter into God's rest is to BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. 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.” That is the only thing we are told to DO to be saved in the Bible—“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31b).

I could give you umpteen more examples of Calvinist false prophets today (Ray Comfort, Sam Horn, Marty Herron, John MacArthur, John Piper, R.C. Sproul, Paul Washer, Chip Ingram, William Lane Craig, Stephen Davey; Kevin Bauder, et cetera). Repeatedly in the Holy Bible we are simply taught to BELIEVE to have eternal life. In fact, God authored an entire specific book of the Bible as a Gospel tract, which is the Gospel of John. We read in John 20:31, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” So if all we had was the Gospel of John, we have enough to be saved. Everything that we need to know to obtain eternal life is contained within the pages of John's Gospel. Not even once does John mention the word “repent.” That is because repentance is automatic when one believes. Repentance and faith are simply two sides of one coin. Repentance is a change of mind. The man who changes his mind has done so by believing on Christ.

Salvation is so simple. The Bible even calls it “the simplicity that is in Christ” (2nd Corinthians 11:3-4). God saves a man solely by faith (Galatians 3:26); and then we are sanctified by the Word of God as we walk by faith (John 17:17; 1st Peter 2:2). Becoming a Christian is instantaneous; but becoming Christlike takes a lifetime. The former is salvation (or sonship); the latter is service (or discipleship). Dr. Pettit errantly teaches that sanctification is a package deal with justification, and that you cannot separate the two. So if you aren't being sanctified, Dr. Pettit teaches you've never been justified either. That is the Devil's lie of Lordship Salvation! Evangelist John Bunyan (1628-1688) got it 100% correct, who said:

“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

John Bunyan was a wise man concerning the Gospel. Folks, this is a big deal. There are pastors, Bible colleges and churches everywhere today who are taking this doctrinal matter lightly, as if it doesn't really matter; but it DOES MATTER! Right doctrine matters! The horrified people in Matthew 7:21-23 found out just how much doctrine does matter!!! They called Him “LORD, LORD,” but Christ denied knowing them. The $64,000 question then, dear reader, is not whether or not you know Jesus, but does Jesus know you? Are you one of His redeemed sheep, or are you a tare like the Bob Jones crowd today? 

You had better stop trying to be saved, and you had better start trusting to be saved. You had better stop trying to faithfully “run the race” as Steve Pettit heretically teaches, and stop trying to commit your life to serving Christ as John MacArthur foolishly teaches, and stop trying to “turn away from you sin” as Marty Herron errantly teaches, and instead just “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31b). If you are ever saved at all, it will be solely because of GOD'S faithfulness, and not in the least part by YOUR faithfulness. Eternal life is a free gift. Salvation is a take proposition, not a give proposition. Salvation is received, not achieved. To be saved, you simply cease from your own works, as God did from His on the seventh day, and you REST completely in the finished redemptive work of Christ—Who died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and bodily resurrected three days later (1st Corinthians 15:1-4). That is how you get saved Oh needy sinner!