Please Make Sure You Are Really Saved

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.”

Dear friend, have you been born again? I didn't ask you if you attend church. I don't want to know if you've been water baptized. I am not concerned if you have turned away from a lifestyle of sinning, because that is not how you become a child of God. Have you been born again? That is, have you been reborn from above by a miracle of God? John 1:12-13, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” The new birth is a supernatural miracle of God wrought in response to a person's faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

More specifically, you must know WHO Jesus is. 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.” Jesus is the Christ, the only begotten Son of God. You must also know WHAT Jesus did for you:

1st Corinthians 15:1-6, “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: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.”

Jesus died on the cross for our sins. He was buried. Three days later He miraculously physically resurrected from the dead. That is “the Gospel” (or, “Good News”). You are going to Heaven solely by believing in what Jesus Christ did for you in His death on the cross for your sins, His burial and His bodily resurrection. If you are partially believing in “giving your life to Christ,” repenting of your sins, confessing your sins, confessing your faith, changing your life, loving people, church membership, water baptism; or anything else!, as part of what will get you into Heaven, you will wake up in the fires of Hell the moment after you die. These aforementioned things are all good works—but the Bible never promises salvation by works. Salvation is not by your good works.

So I ask you dear reader: “Are you really saved?” Have you been born anew from above by the Holy Spirit of God? Satan's greatest weapon is to con people into living the Christian life without ever being born again. Seventh-Day Adventism is a prime example. Their religion adheres to the heretical beliefs of Miss Ellen G. White (1825-1915), which is identical to the Devil's lie of Lordship Salvation. Sadly, Bob Jones University today preaches the same false gospel as SDA's, that you must turn away from living in sin to be saved. That is a works-based counterfeit plan of salvation, not the free gift of eternal life which God freely offers by His free grace. If you have been trapped into the Devil's lie of Lordship Salvation, you are not really saved. I plead with you to forsake the cult you've been entangled in, and flee to the free grace Gospel, which is by faith alone (Romans 4:4-6). The fraud of Lordship Salvation says that faith is not enough; but in addition, you are told you must turn away from your sins. 

Here is an example of what I am warning you about. Sadly, this quote came from the popular radio program called: 'UNSHACKLED' by Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago. In UNSHACKLED program #3589 (aired in 2020), a woman named Debbie Brooks meets with a religious friend named Sharon:

SHARON: Trusting Jesus is the only thing that can make a difference in my messed-up life.

DEBBIE: I keep hearing that in church, but I don't get it—how something that EASY can be a life-changer.

SHARON: Oh Debbie, it's not easy—believing in Jesus means repenting and asking forgiveness for all the old ways, and then GIVING THEM UP FOR GOOD. When you find the COURAGE TO DO THAT, He'll help you CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

DEBBIE: Huh, well, I'll have to think about it.

Dear reader, what you just read taught by Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago is of the Devil, straight out of the pits of Hell. I hope you see how evil this is. According to this UNSHACKLED program, it is NOT EASY to be saved; because you are required to GIVE UP YOUR OLD SINFUL WAYS PERMANENTLY! That is “another gospel” accursed by God:

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.”

Pacific Garden Mission are PREACHING ANOTHER GOSPEL!!!

The Gospel is not open to embellishment. There is a certain degree of allowable semantics in presenting God's plan of salvation, but the Gospel itself is set in concrete! Here it is:

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:”

There you have it—Jesus DIED, was BURIED, and miraculously RESURRECTED three days later. There is no mention of turning away from sins, forsaking the old ways for good, speaking in tongues, getting water baptized, joining a church, praying, confessing Jesus publicly, nor of anything else to be saved! The apostle Paul said this is, 'THE GOSPEL,' which Jesus personally gave to Him:

Galatians 1:11-12, “But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Do you know WHO Jesus is? Jesus is the Christ, the only begotten Son of God. Do you know WHAT Jesus did for you? Jesus died on the cross in your place. He was buried. Three days later He triumphantly resurrected from the dead, conquering sin and the grave! But do you also know WHY Jesus did all that for you friend? Jesus did it for you and me because we are guilty sinners (Romans 3:10-23). We are all guilty of breaking a holy God's Commandments (James 2:10). Therefore, we are needy sinners as well. We all need a Savior to redeem us, so that we can escape being punished in the fires of Hell forever without mercy. God has shown the whole world incredible mercy, through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son on the cross.

Dear reader, God desires for ALL humanity to be saved (2nd Peter 3:9). I don't care how evil you may think you are, “CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY” (Romans 5:6-9). That includes you, me, your pastor, Jeffrey Dahmer and the Golden State Killer. Christ didn't just die for our sins, He died for our righteousness too! Isaiah 64:6b says that “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Dear friend, even your very best is filth to God. That is because even if you could live an admirable upright life of moral purity and goodness, even one sin makes you a guilty sinner in the sight of a perfect holy God. James 2:10, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

That is why the whole lame idea that someone is required by God to “repent and turn away from their sins” to be saved is gross theological incompetence. Who can turn from their sins? Proverbs 20:9, “Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” Yet, that is exactly what Dr. Steve Pettit foolishly teaches at Bob Jones University...

“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)

What saith the Scripture? Galatians 3:3, “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Please notice the capital “S,” which refers to the Holy Spirit. That is, when we got saved, God's Holy Spirit came to live inside (indwell) our body permanently. We were born again by the Holy Spirit. And so the Apostle Paul is asking the foolish Galatians why they are trying to complete their salvation in the flesh. That is exactly what Steve Pettit is doing in his preceding false teachings. This is Calvinism by the way, teaching that a saint must persevere in holiness to get to Heaven. That is not the Gospel.

Notice that Dr. Pettit says four times “YOU HAVE TO.” That is works, not grace! There are only two types of religion in the world Dwight Moody said: DO and DONE! You either believe that you must DO something to get to Heaven, or you believe Jesus did it all and it's DONE! Steve Pettit says to be saved YOU HAVE TO do this, and YOU HAVE TO do that, but the Bible says something very different in 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.” 

No, you don't HAVE TO do anything to receive God's free gift of eternal life, you simply receive it by faith. Just take God at His Word as recorded in the Scriptures. Simply receive Christ's sacrifice on the cross as payment for your sins, believing that He is risen from the dead. If the Good News of Jesus crucified, buried and risen is your only hope for Heaven, you are saved. Simply rest in the blessed Savior! 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.” 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.”

Nothing Is More Important Than The Word Of God

Psalms 138:2, “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”

There is nothing in the entire universe more important than the Words which come forth from God's mouth. When the Creator of the universe, the earth, life and of all mankind speaks, there is nothing more important. God is the sole Author of the Holy Bible. God used about forty different men to write the Scriptures, but every word came from God's mouth. Matthew 4:4, “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

Everything that we do in Jesus' name as born-again Christians ought to be because we believe the Holy Bible, and not to secure an income or merely go through the religious motions to please others. The inspired Words of God are what it's all about! Nothing is more important than God's Words, nothing!

Having said that, something is VERY wrong in our churches today. Christian leaders are lackadaisical about which Bible is genuine. There are literally hundreds of Bible versions in the English language. There are articles all over the internet, and even books available, to help you choose which Bible versions is best for you. Why not pick and choose your own God while you're at it? God only wrote one Book.

The Scriptures teach that God's Words are not just pure, but “VERY PURE.” Psalms 119:140, “Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.” David said the reason why He loved God's Word is because it is VERY PURE. What if David had to choose from hundreds of different Bible versions which one he liked the best? Would David still have felt the same? No way! David would not have loved confusion, having to sort through hundreds (or even a dozen) different Bibles, not sure which one he could really trust. There was only one Holy Bible, so David didn't have to choose.

As I just showed you from Matthew 4:4 (which is a quote from Deuteronomy 8:3), God has given to mankind an EVERY WORD Bible. The Lord tells us that man must not live by bodily food alone, but by “EVERY WORD” that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. That means we need an “EVERY WORD” Bible. God authored a VERY PURE Book, and men wrote down EVERY WORD perfectly. When the Bible was finished, it was a grand manuscript, without error, infallible and inspired.

Best of all, God solemnly promised in Psalms 12:6-7 to preserve those VERY PURE Words unto EVERY GENERATION. Psalms:12:6-7, “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.” Somewhere in this world today we have a preservation of EVERY WORD of God. There is an EVERY WORD Bible!!! I believe that EVERY WORD Holy Bible to be the authorized 1611 KING JAMES BIBLE, which was translated from the Textus Receptus. Although there have been numerous editions (to correct typos and update some words), there have never been any new translations and never will be.

There is nothing more important in the world than the Word of God. It is utter hypocrisy for any Bible student, Bible teacher or pastor to profess faith in the inerrant Word of God, while going along with the hundreds of different Bible versions circulating in our churches today. Shame on those bad pastors! There are many people who won't have anything to do with church anymore, because they are sick of the indifferent attitude of pastors who are going-along-to-get along, instead of taking a stand for something as God does in the King James Bible.


It Really Does Matter Which Bible We Use

Why do we go to church? Why do we do what we do for God? The answer is faith. But what good is any of it if we have the wrong Bible? Why do any of it if pastors can't even get the plan of salvation right? I mean, what's the use of going to church if the Word of God is not important enough to defend? Why go to church to hear a false plan of salvation taught? Most churches today are using multiple Bible versions, which all pervert the plan of salvation. May I say, the King James Bible is not a “version,” it is THE BIBLE! Anything worth doing is worth doing right, or else let's not do it! I see professed Christians going through the motions, attending church, singing praises, tithing and doing all that they have been trained to do, yet they don't have any say about the three dozen Bible versions floating around in their so-called “church.”

The Apostle Paul warned believers about ANOTHER JESUS, ANOTHER GOSPEL and ANOTHER SPIRIT. They didn't have printed personal Bibles at the time 2nd Corinthians 11:3-4 was written, but if they did, ANOTHER BIBLE would have been added to the list I am confident. Regardless, we are repeatedly warned in the Scriptures about false prophets who pervert the Words of God. Jeremiah 23:36b, “...for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God.” Today's corrupt Bible versions, like the ERV, teach ANOTHER JESUS, ANOTHER GOSPEL and ANOTHER SPIRIT.

Beware of false Bible versions and the false pastors who use and promote them. Beware of any preacher who requires you to stop living in a lifestyle of sin to be saved. That wayward preacher is playing the part of God, trying to control your life in exchange for a fake salvation that is not his to give. Biblically, eternal life is a free gift, that you simply take for free, and there's nothing required of you, except that you receive it by faith in Jesus, Who is the Christ, the Son of God.

Could you imagine construction workers trying to follow dozens of architectural blueprints to build a big building? Yet the average pastor today doesn't have enough sense to figure it out. Could you imagine the confusion it would cause if a U.S. President's speech writer handed him three dozen speeches instead of one, to give his State of the Union address? Yet, the average preacher doesn't see a problem with church members showing up with dozens of different Bible versions each Sunday. Woe unto the shepherds!

It is very easy to see that Satan is behind all of the more recent modern Bible versions since 1881, which are all based upon the corrupt Greek manuscript produced by Brooke Westcott and Fenton Hort that was completed in 1881. The fathers of today's Bible versions were steeped in Luciferian occult organizations (such as Hermes and Freemasonry). Helena Blavatsky and Alice Bailey, both so-called Ascended Masters of the New Age Movement, said that occultists would infiltrate the churches and con them into teaching the Luciferian doctrines of the mystery religion. Lo and behold, that is exactly what all the new corrupt Bible PERversions are accomplishing, removing all key theological terms, attacking Christ's deity in hundreds of Bible verses, removing the Godhead, diminishing Christ's preeminence and changing the gift of God into a works-based plan of Lordship Salvation. Beware of the ever-changing new Bible versions!!!

Secular intellectual historian, English teacher and expert in 19th century psychology, Dr. Christopher Lane, Ph.D., in his article titled, “FAITH ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE(S),” proclaims what many Christians still refuse to admit, that is, “that even minor changes in translation have dramatic implications for the way people view and understand their faith.” ...

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." So runs the celebrated line in Hebrews 11:1, the rationale that underpins so much of the Judeo-Christian tradition. According to that rationale, as the writer of the Epistle puts it, faith is a summation of hope and evidence apparently lies in "things not seen"—in the invisible and ineffable.

Considering the importance of the line in Hebrews as an anchor to Judeo-Christian belief and faith, it's worth noting—as websites detailing various editions of the Bible underscore—that even minor changes in translation have dramatic implications for the way people view and understand their faith."

SOURCE: Faith According to the Bible(s) | Psychology Today (May 11, 2012)

There are seriously drastic differences in theological doctrine between the different Bible versions. The modern versions all corrupt the meaning of repentance, as evidenced by the satanic Easy-To-Read Version (ERV). I have more respect for a pimp, prostitute or pervert than I do for a preacher who won't stand for the King James Bible. If you don't think that the KJB is the one, then which Bible do you believe is God's Word? Grow a spine! I'm so sick of wimpy pastors supporting hundreds of Bible versions. The KJB says “Lucifer” wanted to ascend above the clouds; but the New International Reader's Version (NIRV) says “King Nebuchadnezzar” wanted to ascend above the clouds. The KJB says “Easter” in Acts 12:4; but the ERV says “Passover.” They can't both be accurate! One is true, the other is false. God pity the pathetic pastor who doesn't care. God only wrote one Book!!!

The sad truth is that most churches these days are just a lousy 501c3 state-licensed business. They're making a comfortable living. The Independent Baptist church down the street from me has a big religious school with 1,000 students, and a Bible college, which bring in millions-of-dollars a year. Since there are Jehovah's Witnesses, Roman Catholics and other false religions in the church, the pastor won't preach on the offensive topics of eternal punishment, Hell, fire and damnation. What kind of church is that? Something is wrong when churches are afraid to stand and tell the truth. You'll never hear a fiery sermon on Sunday morning when the bulk of the church family is there.

I'm not trying to be unkind, but God didn't call us to operate religious schools. God didn't call us to teach children how to play orchestral instruments. The Church is supposed to be the ground and pillar of THE TRUTH, but most churches today cannot even settle on which Bible they believe. Unless you believe that both Easter and Passover can interchangeably be used in Acts 12:4, then you cannot support both the ERV and the KJB. The Baptist church down the street from me officially uses the KJB and the ERV. The KJB says Easter and the ERV says Passover in Acts 12:4. The pastor doesn't see a problem! WELL I DO AND SO DOES GOD!!!

God says in Psalms 138:2 that He magnifies His Word above all His name, and so should we. It matters which Bible we use. They can't all be correct! I'm tired of pseudo-scholars telling us that we don't have a perfect Bible today. That's bullcrap! On Biblica's website (BIBLICA.COM), the company that produces the New International Version (NIV), they openly admit that they don't believe in word-for-word inspiration; but rather, thought inspiration. That is, they believe God gave His thoughts to man, not His very Words. You see, that's the only way they can justify having hundreds of different Bible versions which all say something different.


You Always Recognize Your Mother!

What if you grew up as a child being told that you had hundreds of mothers? How would you know which one is really your true mother? You would just know. When a parent and child are separated at birth, and then meet again years later, there's an instant recognition that is unmistakable. As a born-again child of God, I know that the King James Bible is God's Word. Jesus Christ is the Word, Who was in the beginning with God, and is God (John 1:1). Jesus' Holy Spirit indwells me. As a born-again believer, born again by the seed of God's Word (1st Peter 1:23), I know my mother!

May I say, the Holy Bible is not like religious denominations, where you can pick and choose. God only wrote one Book. Everybody is confused. Not me friend, I only use the KING JAMES BIBLE!!! I hope you will do the same! Only one Bible today upholds Christ's deity and truly honors Jesus, and that's the King James Bible. Only one Bible still says that people “worshipped” the Lord, instead of changing worship to knelt or bowed. If you love Jesus, then this should be alarming to you. If you're not passionate about the Bible debate issue, why not? We're talking about God's Holy Word, the most important treasure in the universe. The Bible is not like a car, where you pick and choose your color, model, style and extras. God authored His Word and gave it to humanity!!!

There are numerous ways to know that the King James Bible is truly God's Word:

1. It's the Bible which built America's churches and has stood the test of time.
2. The KJB came before all these modern imposters.
3. The KJB is the soul-winner's Bible.
4. All modern Bibles come from Westcott and Hort's 1881 Greek and Rudolph Kittel's Hebrew (but not the KJB).
5. The KJB is the one that queers, heretics and ecumenicals hate and attack.
6. The KJB is not copyrighted. All modern versions are copyrighted so the publishers can exclusively profit.
7. Only the KJB contains italics, put there by the translators because they were so honest in their work. These are words added for clarity. The translators wanted us to know that these words were not original. None of the modern versions are that honest.
8. Only the KJB maintains the authoritativeness of God's Word. All modern versions read like comic books.
9. Only the KJB teaches the simplicity that is in Christ concerning salvation. All the new versions teach Lordship Salvation.
10. Only the KJB crowd believes in a word-for-word preserved Bible. All modern heretics claim only the original autographs were word-for-word accurate. They say that every Bible is a flawed Bible today, and we don't have even one perfect Holy Bible.

Sadly, the integrity and purity of God's Word doesn't matter to today's apostate ministers. They're so boggled-down with administrating the church that they have lost sight of what really matters... TRUTH!!!

Manitou Springs, Colorado, near Colorado Springs

The Triumphing Of The Wicked Is But For A Moment

Job 20:5, “That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?”

One of the most frustrating things as a preacher is to preach THE TRUTH but no one listens. Thank God some humble people do listen, but most don't. Sadly, the most stubborn group of people are the religious crowd. I've never personally led a Mormon, Seventh-Day Adventist, Jehovah's Witness or Lordship Salvationist to the Lord, because they are hard core indoctrinated in their false beliefs. The Bible exhorts believers to expose false teachers...

Titus 1:9-13, “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;”

As a born-again fundamentalist Baptist preacher, I have been earnestly preaching regularly, uncompromisingly and unapologetically against the apostate Bob Jones University crowd since 2014. It is tragic that infidel Dr. Steve Pettit took over as president of BJU college in 2014. Dr. Pettit is an avid fan of John MacArthur and a hardcore advocate of Lordship Salvation. As you can see for yourself in these sermon quotes from January 26, 2015, Pettit is a heretical Calvinist who preaches the perseverance of the saints.

John MacArthur is a heretical staunch 5-point Calvinist! The doctrine of the perseverance of the saints in sanctification and holiness, is not compatible with a free grace Gospel and instantaneous new birth. I believe in the perseverance of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:12-14), not the perseverance of the saints. Believers are safe in Jesus because of GOD'S faithfulness, not OUR faithfulness. I don't have to persevere in anything to remain saved, because God's promise perseveres “to save them that believe” (1st Corinthians 1:21b).

Having said all that, the Bob Jones crowd won't listen to rebuke. They are stiffnecked and proud in their errors. They refuse to heed sound doctrine and wisdom. I and others have rebuked them sharply, but they are not yet sound in the faith. Sadly, they are subverted of themselves. Titus 3:10-11, “A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.” Gary Walton (senior pastor of Harvest Baptist Church of Guam since 2018) is subverted of himself and sinneth. Dr. Marty Herron (former senior pastor at Harvest, and now ruining young people's lives in Iowa as executive vice president of Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Cemetery) is subverted of himself and sinneth. Dr. Steve Pettit is subverted of himself and sinneth. None of these men heed THE TRUTH!

All we can do is proclaim THE TRUTH. If those men who are subverted are indifferent toward truth and don't care about the purity of God's Word, then there is nothing we can do except mark and avoid them, and warn others! It is sad, pathetic and tragic that these men have influence over tens of thousands of lives, yet serve their own bellies and not the Lord Jesus Christ. I am marking them, as the Bible says, warning others to avoid them. God knows my heart. All I have ever wanted to do is be helpful, share THE TRUTH, and be a blessing to those around me. But they just want to make money.

Dr. Steve Pettit gets paid over $200,000 a year as president of BJU. Marty Herron also pulls down a lucrative 6-digit salary, over $100,000 a year, by quote on quote “serving God.” Luke 16:13, “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” These men are all diehard followers of DR. JOHN MACARTHUR!!! Salvation is NOT a trade or exchange. Dr. Marty Herron is a damnable false prophet!!! I say that kindly but with love on Biblical authority! No man is doctrinally sound who teaches that you must repent “OF YOUR SINS” to be saved, because that garbage is nowhere taught in the Scriptures. These men are deceived by fables. Sam Horn is the new president of Master's University, having replaced John MacArthur. The college is hardcore Calvinist!

These apostates are triumphing now, but God will rain on their parade before too long. No one can stick their finger in God's face and prosper forever. Dr. Marty Herron's days of preaching heresy are numbered. God's patience won't wait forever. I heard Herron with my own two ears in 2014, on a Sunday morning as he preached to hundreds of people at the Harvest Baptist Church of Guam, heretically say that it is not enough to admit you are a sinner, but also, Pastor Herron says: “You must turn away from a lifestyle of sin to be saved.” That is Satanic! That is a false gospel. Galatians 6:7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” The preceding Scripture verse was spoken in the context of the churches of Galatia tolerating and bidding Godspeed to Gospel-corrupters! John MacArthur had come to Galatia, and the churches loved him, but he was a false prophet. The Apostle Paul called the Galatian churches foolish (Galatians 3:1) and accursed by God (Galatians 1:6-7). 

The Bible says not to speak evil of any man, it doesn't say not to speak out against evil. Titus 3:2, “To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.” Regarding the Bob Jones camp, I am reminded of Kenny Rogers' (1938-2020) popular song: “The Coward Of The County.” In the story lyrics, a young cowboy's father always taught him that you don't have to fight to be a man. But when the Gatlin Boys attacked his fiancée, he killed all of them, singing: 

"I promised you, Dad,
Not to do the things you've done.
I walk away from trouble when I can.
Now please don't think I'm weak.
I didn't turn the other cheek.
And, Papa, I sure hope you understand:
Sometimes you gotta fight when you're a man."

Likewise, I don't like to fight against anyone as a Christian man, let alone a church. But when the Bob Jones crowd pervert the Gospel and corrupt the Word of God, I am compelled to fight because I am a Christian man! My heavenly Dad understands that! I think that is a good analogy. If you're not upset you're not paying attention! Far too many churches today are at ease, going along to get along, lackadaisical, weak and ecumenical, affirming of all manner of sin and wickedness. I am talking about the shameful Harvest Baptist Church of Guam. I am talking about the shameful First Baptist Church Of El Paso, Texas. I am talking about the shameful First Baptist Church Of Jacksonville, Florida. All of these pseudo-churches preach “another gospel” (Galatians 1:6-9; 1st Corinthians 15:1-4) of “turn away from your sin” to be saved. NO ONE has ever turned away from their sin! At best all you can do is try to sin less, but that is human effort, not wholly resting in Christ's finished work of redemption.

Man's Whole Duty Is To Fear And Obey God

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” I love that Bible passage! Dear friend, you don't want to live your life striving against your Creator. Ecclesiastes 8:12-13, “Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.”

Job 20:5, “That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?” I could have just as easily directed this article at the homosexual LGBTQ community. They are gaining much legal ground and rising in the political arena worldwide, but their triumphing will be short lived. Gays and transgendered people are rejoicing these days for the liberal direction of U.S. laws, but this cannot last. Hebrews 9:27, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” God loves you, no matter who you are, and He offers you a free pardon for all your sins (no matter how horrible and how many they may be). CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY (Romans 5:6-9).

The feminist crowd in America is of the Devil. Our homes and marriages are in disarray because of the evil rebellious influence of feminism on women. Titus 2:3-5, “The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” How's your marriage and home? American society today has engineered women to be everything except what we just read. Sadly, my wife broke her marriage vows and divorced me in 2006. I wish divorce were not allowed in America, but it's not only legally allowed, it is encouraged and a guaranteed thing if one spouse files. God will not continue to bless a wicked nation of divorcees. Divorce is a sin (Matthew 19:8).

Hugh Hefner's ungodly Playboy philosophy, since 1953, has absolutely destroyed the integrity of American men, causing tens of millions of adulteries, abortions, divorces and broken homes. The Devil is a beautiful liar. Low living comes at a high price! Sin always undermines any nation. The United States has been on a steadily declining moral slide since Hollywood began in the early 20th century. Pastor Ralph “Yankee” Arnold preached this wonderful sermon on chastity and purity called: “Dating Is Dangerous.”

I could mention many more evils in America. When people allow sin, it hardens their heart. This is why we are taught in Hebrews 3:13, “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” The more that sin is allowed to take root in the United States, the more people embrace it as being “normal.” It is really sad. Hebrews 3:13 teaches that sin needs to be rooted out when it is small, nipping it in the bud whether it be in a church, family, or our personal life. I am shocked how filthy music videos have become nowadays. Have you see this? Taylor Swift is not a good role model for youth.

Listen to the type of language Taylor Swift openly uses in her music today. What will our country be like in 30 years from now, if the Lord Jesus Christ tarries His return? Open vulgarity, lewdness and disrespect for our leaders is commonplace these days, which is a sign of the spiritually depraved condition of our country. Do you think it is mere coincidence that we are seeing widespread police abuse against citizens, Black Lives Matter communist agenda, anarchy at the capital, civilian riots, massive homelessness, an epidemic of drug abuse and crime across the country, blatant corruption in state and city governments, and injustice in the courts? I think not. We are destroying ourselves in America!

I read some foolish comments online blaming President Donald Trump, falsely accusing him of treason. Dear reader, Mr. Trump did not commit treason! If you want to see treason, then research the criminal fraudulent Federal Reserve System (a cruel hoax since 1913). If you want to see treason, look no further than our foolish leaders allowing U.S. corporations to outsource tens of millions of American jobs to foreign soil since the 1970's. President Trump was doing a good job to turn our country around, bring jobs back, and make America great again. I don't know if the 2020 election was stolen, but it sure was in the year 2,000. If more Americans did in fact vote for Joe Biden, then we get the liberal President we deserve!!!

“A nation can survive its fools, even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within... for the traitor appears not to be a traitor... he rots the soul of a nation... he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist.” —Marcus Tullius Cicero

The Food And Drug Administration (FDA) was established in 1906 to protect Americans from fraudulent or risky products that are dangerous to our health, or falsely labeled. There is not a more crooked, dangerous and fraudulent treason today in America, than the trillion-dollar shady and wacky pharmaceutical industry. It is shocking that drugs which pose serious risks to humans, are prescribed like candy to millions of Americans each year! There's your treason!

1st John 2:15-17, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

Time is running out! Lord willing I will turn 54 years old on March 5th, 2021. I cannot believe it! My oh my, where have the years gone? My life is almost over. I just read in the news today that actor Dustin Diamond died. He was only 44 years old. The poor guy found out just 3 weeks ago in January that he had stage 4 cancer in his lungs, and now is dead! That is so sad. Dear friend, your life could be over by sundown or sunset. I am ready to meet my God. Are you? You can be, right now, for free, by faith in Jesus Christ. 

So many people complicate God's plan of salvation. The Bible calls the Gospel the “simplicity that is in Christ” (2nd Corinthians 11:3-4). God had to make the plan of salvation simple, because there are a lot of dumb people in the world. I am not being facetious, I am being very serious. Acts 4:13, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” Some of Jesus' disciples were unlearned and ignorant men. 

In sharp contrast, Luke was a medical doctor and a very brilliant writer. I love the book of Luke. Luke also wrote the book of Acts. Peter wasn't an educated man. In 2nd Peter 3:16-18 Peter said that he had a difficult time understanding the Apostle Paul's writings. Peter didn't rewrite the Bible to make it easier for him to understand, he studied it as it is. There's no bigger lie today than that we always need a new Bible that is easier to understand. As Alan Grant says in Jurassic park III: “Some of the worst things imaginable have been done with the best intentions.” The Bible needs rereading, not rewriting!

Dear reader, are you on the winning side on Jesus Christ? You are if you're a child of God. If you have never been born-again, you are NOT a child of God. You are a son of God by creation, but you are not an adopted son of God by faith (John 1:12-13). Jesus is the only begotten (biological) Son of God (John 3:16). 1st John 4:4-5, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

Romans 10:13-14, You Don't Have To Pray To Be Saved

 We are saved by faith, not by praying. Some preachers teach that you must pray to be saved, but they are wrong in their theology. Romans 10:13 is an obscure passage, since it raises a lot of controversy about praying to be saved. A good rule to follow when interpreting the Bible is to never use an obscure passage to contradict a clear one. We have a clear passage in the entirety of the Gospel of John, in which we find the word “believe” mentioned 85 times without any mention of “praying” or “repenting” to be saved. How ridiculous it is for any preacher to insist that a person must pray to be saved. 

The word “call” simply means that you come unto Christ to be saved, because you already believe. Romans 10:14, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” A good illustration of the way Roman 10:13 uses the word call is when my Mom used to take me with her to the grocery store. I remember as a boy often reading a sign inside the store which said: “Please call again!” I didn't understand that, because we didn't call them on the phone before we came. 

As I grew older I understood that to call simply means that we came to their store. We went to their store because my mother trusted that they would sell would she needed (food, et cetera). Likewise, we come to Jesus to be saved because we trust Him. But we are saved the moment we believe, not when we call. Preachers who insist that you must call are basing a doctrine on ONE BIBLE VERSE! 

Advocates of having to pray to be saved will run to Romans 10:13 and play it as a one-string banjo! Ignorant preachers do the same thing with Romans 10:9-10, playing this one verse as a one-string banjo, claiming that you must publicly confess Christ to be saved. The hellbound Church of Christ insists that you cannot be saved unless you publicly confess Christ. They base this heresy on obscure passages of Scripture, wrongly dividing the Word of Truth.

In Acts 10:43-44 Cornelius was saved simply by believing the Gospel as they heard Peter preach it. No one prayed. In Acts 2:41 the Bible says 3,000 people were saved when they gladly received the Gospel which they heard Peter preach. No one prayed. I cannot think of even one example in the Bible where someone prayed to be saved. Yet these ignorant and arrogant Baptist preachers today angrily get heated under the collar, insisting that you must pray a sinner's prayer to be saved the Bible way. They are foolish and wrong. But don't take my word for it dear reader. What saith the Scripture? I triple-dog dare you to show me even one place in the Bible, where someone was required to pray (or prayed voluntarily) to receive God's free gift of eternal life. I haven't found it yet.

Now, having said that, I am not saying that it is wrong to pray when someone gets saved. There is a natural desire in a person's heart when they believe on Christ that compels that to pray. It is natural to want to pray. So that is fine! If you want to pray with someone as you lead them to Christ, then do so. But please make sure that the person clearly understands that you don't need to pray to be saved, nor does God save anyone because they prayed. 

Personally I don't lead people to pray to get saved, because I've seen too many people get confused. For 7 years as a teenager I struggled to find the assurance of salvation because I kept wondering if I missed something when I prayed. I knew Christ died on the cross for my sins. I believed it! I trusted Jesus because of what He did to pay for my sins through the cross. I believed He rose from the dead, believing that I was appealing unto a risen Savior to save me. I probably prayed 50 times, at least, going through the Roman's Road again and again. 

I knew I was a guilty sinner when I got saved at age 13. But I didn't learn until many years later that I could simply BELIEVE and be saved. That truth solidified my assurance that I was 100% saved. I am against the 1-2-3, follow-me, pray this quick prayer to be saved method, because it obscures the simplicity that is in Christ (which is the Gospel). Please don't misunderstand, you CAN be saved in an instant, and KNOW beyond any shadow of a doubt that you have the complete assurance of salvation. Any theology that does not give you the immediate absolute assurance of salvation is wrong! The true Gospel always points you to Christ; a false gospel always points to you. By being led to pray to be saved at the end of every religious tract that I read, and being led to pray to be saved in every soulwinning class I ever took, and being taught to pray to be saved by every Baptist preacher I had ever heard, I WAS MISLED AND CONFUSED!!!

Again, this is not merely my opinion, this is BIBLE! John 6:47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” I could quote dozens more passages, which simply teach to “believe” to be saved. Thank you for reading my humble words. God bless you!

“Danger,” by Pastor David Breese

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.”

David William Breese (October 14, 1926 - May 3, 2002) was an evangelical Christian pastor and theologian from the mid-20th century to the early 21st century. Pastor Breese authored this excellent defense of the Gospel, refuting the damnable doctrine of Lordship Salvation.

“Danger,” by Pastor David Breese

One of the animated discussions which is now in the evangelical Christian scene surprisingly concerns the very issue of salvation itself. The question, therefore, of “What must I do to be saved?” is now being answered in a more complicated fashion than simply, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved” (Acts 16:31). Traditional fundamentalists and most Evangelicals have long held to the doctrine of salvation by faith alone. The answer has now become more elaborate than that, as Christians newly discuss whether salvation is by faith alone or by faith plus some other things.

Stated very simply, the view that is now called “Lordship Salvation” (a view rarely defined to the satisfaction of anyone) holds that the offer of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone is false, for faith includes good works.

There are a number of deficiencies involved in this view, which should be noted:

1. It improperly understands justification by faith. Justification does not mean to be “made righteous” or to “progressively become righteous.” Rather, it means to be “declared righteous.”

It is improper to define faith as “commitment,” “dedication,” “surrender,” or any other expression which suggests a kinetic response on the part of the soul.

2. It ignores imputed righteousness. We are not saved by imparted, infused, or earned righteousness. No indeed, we are righteous by imputation.

3. It confuses justification and sanctification. To say that progressive sanctification is an “inevitable result” of salvation is evidence of doctrinal confusion. In each Christian, there may be at times a varying degree of affirmation to the leading of the Lord.

4. It misrepresents salvation itself. Salvation is presented in the Scripture in three tenses or three aspects. When I accept Christ, I have instant and eternal salvation in the sense of deliverance from the penalty of sin. As I live my life in commitment to Christ under the leadership and empowering of the Holy Spirit, I am delivered from the power of sin. Some Christians are insufficiently delivered from the power of sin, even to the extent of sickness (1 Cor 11:30) and physical death (1 Tim 1:20).

In the future, I am promised deliverance from the presence of sin. The Christian’s future in heaven is vouchsafed because of salvation by imputation and positional sanctification. When he believes, he is already seated in the heavenlies with Christ (Eph 2:6), and he is promised that he will never perish (John 10:28).

5. Lordship Salvation diminishes the value of New Testament truth for the Christian. A very high percentage of the epistles of the New Testament are written as instructions to believers. These instructions have produced conviction and commitment in millions of Christians down through the history of the Church. Lordship Salvation cancels the value of these admonitions, in that it declares that if one does not obey these instructions, one is not a Christian. Therefore, the answer to Christian imperfection (obvious in the character of many Christians) is that this person was never saved and needs to be saved. So evaporates the value of all instructions to grow in grace.

6. It holds the impossible doctrine of salvation by perfect commitment. The doctrine that one is saved by submission to the Lordship of Christ, cannot admit to the possibility of imperfect commitment. For, from a logical point of view, imperfect commitment is not, in fact, commitment. In that most honest Christians will admit to imperfect commitment, they are thereby admitting that they are not Christians. The impossibility of “perfect commitment” is a troublesome problem to the Lordshipists. So “Semi-Lordship Salvation” is what this notion is at best. We await word as to what percentage of commitment produces salvation. (Hint–the scriptural answer is zero, for salvation is by “unmerited favor,” i.e., the grace of God.)

7. Therefore, Lordship Salvation makes assurance tenuous or impossible. Submission to the Lordship of Christ as the basis of salvation holds open the possibility that at some future date one may be less than perfectly submissive. If one holds to the Lordship Salvation view, one’s basis of assurance of salvation is gone.

8. It diminishes the value of Calvary. In the Lordship view, Christ becomes less the Savior and more the Helper. Under this view, I cannot “cast my helpless soul on Him,” but rather I must cooperate with His helpfulness.

9. It equates discipleship and salvation. The advocates of salvation by commitment to Christ uncritically (and with profound lack of discernment) view the many calls of Christ to His own to come and be His disciples as the call to believe the Gospel. Consequently, the expression “Follow me” becomes the way of salvation. Hence, until one becomes a disciple, he is not a Christian. The call to become disciples of the King, extended to Jewish individuals, is very different from the call to believe and therefore be saved by grace and become a member of the Body of Christ.

10. It misunderstands repentance. To translate metanoia as “repentance” has been most unfortunate. “To do penance” is not its meaning. It means “a change of mind.” Too often this will be thoughtlessly defined as “a turning about,” “sorrow for sin,” “being sorry enough to quit,” “a complete change of character,” or “making restitution”–all such definitions are falsehoods. By these inaccurate definitions, faith in Christ is freighted with burdens impossible to bear. Such defective epistemology has demoralized many a Christian.

11. It disorganizes the Christian mind. Salvation is either by grace or by works. They cannot be mixed (Rom 11:6). Works produce no standing before God or merit for heaven. Mixing grace and works overly strains the Christian mind. With these inchoate ideas (exhumed doubtless from the vicinity of Rome) who can say with assurance “I know whom I have believed” (2 Tim 1:12)? Paul could.

Conclusion

These and many other considerations should be kept in mind when one examines the various ways of salvation being offered on the evangelical scene of our time. Much of the confusion of these days would be instantly resolved if we would remember that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone. To redefine these words is not permitted, for they have real, changeless, and eternal meaning. Let us then remember: “Now to him that works is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that works not, but believes on Him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:4-5).

We know that we are people of eternal consequence because we were made in the image of God. We were redeemed by the most precious substance in the universe, and that is the blood of Jesus Christ. We were called by the Holy Spirit into a life of great purpose.

Romans Chapter 2 Refutes Lordship Salvation

Romans 2:1, “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.”

I was listening to Alexander Scourby read the book of Romans today and this passage struck me. What a great verse to refute the heresy of Lordship Salvation (LS). What is LS? Lordship Salvation is the false teaching that faith in Jesus Christ is not enough to be saved, more is required. LS says you must surrender to Jesus as absolute “Lord” of your life, which means turning away from a lifestyle of sinning, and giving your heart to Jesus.

Lordship Salvation is rooted in the heresy of Calvinism. John Calvin (1509-1964) was a high profile false preacher, who advocated the theological heresy that you cannot merely put your faith in Jesus Christ to be saved. Expressed in simplest terms, John Calvin believed that God chooses (theologically called unconditional election) who gets saved or goes to Hell. If God chooses you, He forces you to get saved (irresistible grace). Calvin believed that Jesus only died for these select few who have been chosen (limited atonement). Calvin taught that the chosen (i.e., the elect) will persevere in holy lives (perseverance of the saints).

Pastor John MacArthur is a devout 5-point Calvinist. Dr. MacArthur is one of the most popular preachers in the world, and a heretical false teacher who denies that Jesus had God's blood flowing in His veins, denies that children can be saved, denies salvation by faith alone, and denies that Jesus' blood is applied to the heavenly Mercy Seat. Sadly, Dr. Steve Pettit (president of Bob Jones University since 2014) is a personal friend and hardcore supporter of John MacArthur, sinfully bidding him Godspeed. BJU teaches Calvinism to their students. So we see that Lordship Salvation is rooted in Calvinism.

I wanted to share that basic information with you, so you'll understand what's going on. The Bible colleges influence thousands of churches. Most people don't see the threat of Bible colleges today. Water flows downhill. If BJU teaches their 2,600 students Lordship

Paul was rebuking the Jews for trying to keep the law to merit salvation. Paul points out to them that they are requiring other men to do something that they cannot even do, KEEP THE LAW. Paul several verses later reinforces his preaching, saying:

Romans 2:21-23, “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?”

Advocates of Lordship Salvation require others to "turn away from sin" (i.e., not steal, not commit adultery, not get drunk, et cetera) as a necessary part of getting saved; yet they all still commit sin. Lordship Salvation is an utter contradiction. It is utter hypocrisy. The same Jews who boasted of keeping the law, broke the law of God, and in so doing dishonored God. In Romans chapter 3 Paul shifts gears and concludes (based on his evidence in chapter 2) that all have sinned and no one can be justified by the works of the law. Romans 3:28, “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”

How To Win A Soul To Jesus

Proverbs 11:30, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” Mark 16:15, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

This tremendous soulwinning lesson is by Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001). This helpful information is taken from chapter 4 of Dr. Hyle's excellent book, “How to Boost Your Church Attendance.”

The purpose of this chapter is not to deal with witnessing in public, but it primarily concerns the winning of souls to Christ in the home. It deals with the proper approach and some practical pointers to help one be a more effective soul winner. I have tried to put these principles into practice for a number of years, and God has blessed them with the salvation of literally hundreds of souls being won to Him in homes. May God use them to bless you and make you a winner of souls for Christ.

Last year alone over three hundred of our people won someone to Christ. Each of them was instructed through the following method, which is simple and easy enough for anyone to understand.

1. Be Clean and Neat. If a person is going to be a soul winner he must not be offensive to the people with whom he talks. It is a definite asset for a soul winner to be careful to bathe often, to avoid body odor. Teeth should be brushed, and the breath should be tested. Carry mints in your pockets or some good flavored chewing gum which will help keep the breath from being offensive. One of the most damaging things in soul winning is the effect of halitosis. By all means, a soul winner should watch this carefully. The soul winner should also be neatly dressed. A lady should be dressed conservatively, and I think it is best for a man to at least wear a shirt with a tie

2. Carry a Testament with You All the Time. One of the most effective methods that we have used is the carrying of two Testaments-one for you to read as you seek to win the person, and one for the unsaved person to read, or follow as you read. After he has given his heart to Jesus, then you may present him with the Testament that he has read from as a gift.

Testaments which are adequate for this type of work may be bought at most bookstores for about twenty-five cents each. It is our suggestion that a Testament is better to use than a Bible because it does not "give you away." As you get out of your car to walk to a house, a person might possibly see you carrying a Bible and immediately think that you are representing some cult or some false "ism" and build a mental barrier against you. Hence, it is usually better to carry a Testament in your pocket.

3. Be Soul Conscious. By this I simply mean to be aware everywhere you go that the people to whom you talk are going to spend eternity somewhere . . . the man who cuts your hair, the boy who shines your shoes, the man who fills your car with gas, the bread man, the milk man, the grocery man, the clerk at the drugstore, and the saleslady at the clothing store are all going to spend eternity somewhere. Make it a habit to ask people if they are Christians. This will be a blessing to you, and will give you a chance to witness to them. It is good to carry gospel tracts with you at all times in order that you may present one to a person who is not a Christian, that he may read it after you leave. This is effective to use when witnessing to people at work, who cannot stop their work for you to give them the plan of salvation.

Recently one of our soul winners was getting a shoe shine. Just before he asked the colored shine boy if he were a Christian, the shine boy looked up and asked the man if he were a Christian. Our church member responded with an affirmative answer, "Yes, you must be a Christian, too."

The colored boy replied, "Yes, sir, one of those Miller Road Baptist members won me to Jesus the other day while I was shining his shoes."

4. Go Two by Two. This is important! There are several reasons why God sent His disciples out in pairs, and certainly we should follow His example. Also, there is strength in numbers, and with another Christian present as a prayer warrior the soul winner is encouraged. How­ever, the most important reasons that another person should go with you, apart from Scriptural reason, are to pave the way for absolute quietness, and to avoid any unnecessary disturbances while the soul winner is talking to the unsaved person. Such things as caring for the children, changing the baby, answering the door, turning the radio or television off can certainly be of value in the winning of souls to Christ.

5. Go with Different People. Many people think it is wise to team up with the same soul winning partner all of the time. However, this discourages the making of new soul winners. It seems advisable for a person who is an active soul winner to take a different person with him periodically so that the new visitor might actually see the winning of a soul. This is better than any study course a Christian can take.

6. Pray and Claim the Spirit Fullness before Going.

Before you go to the field you need to spend a few moments in prayer, simply asking God to bless you and to help you be a blessing to others. Also, claim His Spirit fullness by faith, asking Him to bless you as you go, and to prepare the hearts of those to whom you will talk.

7. Go Believing. The thing that transformed my soul winning life more than anything else was this one thing! Many times I would go to the fields to witness for Christ, not expecting to win anyone. When and if someone was converted I would actually be subconsciously surprised. However, it dawned on me one day that God wants to save people, and that as God was sending me out, He would save people. So, rather than going out defeated, an effort was made to go expecting to see someone saved. The increase that God gave to this attitude of faith was amazing.

8. Be Nice. Remember that the person to whom you are talking did not ask you to come. You are a guest in his home, and many times, an unwanted guest. A soul winner in a home cannot use the same frankness that the preacher can in the pulpit. It is necessary that a soul winner be nice and courteous, kind and understanding, as he goes into someone's home to talk to him about the Lord.

9. Be Careful about Going In. If a person is busy and obviously does not want to be disturbed, many times it is wise to tell him that you will not come in at this particular time, and suggest that you make an appointment for a later date when you may come back and talk to him about the Lord. This has proven effective in many cases.

10. Be Complimentary. As you enter someone's home, it is always good to be complimentary. If the children are sweet, tell them so. If the home is lovely mention it. It is good to be complimentary.

11. Let the One You are Visiting Talk of His Interests for a While. Ask him about his work, about the family, about his home town, and things of that nature. He will enjoy talking with you and speaking of his interests. One of the best points that a person can use is to be a good listener.

12. Have Only One Person Do the Talking. As you seek to win the person to Christ, let only one soul winner do the talking. Do not interrupt with your "two cents." You keep the road clear and keep the way paved for their privacy and pray! Do not pray with your eyes closed, however, as you may miss a chance to be of help by giving a child a drink, answering the door, or other things which might cause the lost person not to be free to listen carefully to the soul winner.

13. Stay on the Subject. Many times as you try to win a person he will ask questions that are irrelevant to salvation. When such a question is asked, it is usually good to say, "That is a good question. Remind me in a moment and I will answer that." Then, continue talking about the plan of salvation. Do not let yourself be side­tracked on less important issues.

14. Stay in the Same Book of the Bible. It seems that it would be confusing to a sinner for a soul winner to go all over the Bible in trying to explain his point. With isolated verses taken from all over the Scriptures anything can be proved; however, when a person stays in the same book of the Bible, near the same pages, the lost person can readily see that you are not trying to confuse him by taking isolated verses to prove your point. A good book to use is John, another one is Isaiah; however, I have found the most effective book to be Romans.

15. Draw a Map in Your Testament. Many people are young Christians and do not have the Scriptures memorized, nor can they find the ones that they must use to deal with the plan of salvation. To aid in this, a plan has been devised of drawing a map in the Bible or Testament one is using. For example, start with Romans 3:10. Then, beside Romans 3:10, write Romans 3:23, the next verse you will turn to. After you have explained Romans 3:23, have written beside this verse Romans 5:12, which shows you where to go from there. Then, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8, and finally Romans 10:9-11.

The lost person will not necessarily see what you have written in your Bible, as he will be looking on from the other Testament which you have handed him to use. This way you can direct yourself to the next Scripture, even though you may not know a single Scripture by heart, or do not know where to find the Scriptures pertaining to the plan of salvation.

16. Three Basic Questions Should Be Asked in the Conversation. First ask, "Are you a Christian?" Second, "Would you like to be a Christian?" Third, "If I were to show you in the Bible how to be a Christian, would you be willing to do what God says?"

The first of these three questions has often been disputed. Some prefer to ask "Are you saved?", or, "Are you born again?", or, "Do you know Jesus?" However, the simple question, "Are you a Christian?" might lead to asking other questions. The way the person answers your question would determine whether or not you should in­quire further as to the sincerity of his profession. Then, if he wants to be a Christian, you may proceed. Remember this-it is God's business to prepare a soul. You cannot argue anyone into being a Christian. He must be ready; if he is not ready, you cannot argue him into it. Then, if he commits himself by saying he would be saved if he knew how, you have a definite committal that he will respond. If he says he will, then proceed immediately to show him the aforementioned Scriptures.

Following is the structure of the conversation that I have found helpful in dealing with most unsaved people with whom I talk:

Soul winner: "First, Mr. Blank, if a person is going to be saved, he needs to be saved from something. Let me show you why a person needs to be saved. Notice in Romans 3:10, `As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.' The word righteous means good; hence, there is none good, no, not one. If there is not one good-then I am not good. Is that right? If there is not one good, then you are not good. Is that right? Now, let us turn to Romans 3:23, `For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.' If all have sinned, then that means that I have sinned. If all have sinned, that means you have sinned. So, you see that all of the people in the world are sinners. There is none that doeth good. We are all gone out of the way; we are together become unprofitable, and we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God.

"Now, Mr. Blank, may I show you where the sin came from? Notice in Romans 5:12, `Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.' You recall that one man brought sin into all the world. You will also remember that this man was Adam in the garden of Eden. God made Adam and Eve. He put them in the garden. He told them that they could eat of every tree in the garden but one, and if and when they ate of that tree, they would die. Do your remember, Mr. Blank, whether or not they ate of that tree?"

Mr. Blank: "Yes, they did."

Soul Winner: "Yes, they did. When they did, they were separated from God. They died spiritually, and they became sinners. So, when they had children, their children were sinners, and their children were sinners, and their children were sinners-until finally, Mr. Blank, one day you were born, and the Bible says that you were born in sin. Though you were not accountable for it until you realized that you were a sinner, you were born going away from God. Mr. Blank, you are still going away from God; hence, you are a child of Adam.

"Now, would you look at and read Romans 6:23, `For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord'?

"Mr. Blank, God, in order to be a just God, must make us pay for our sins. God has said that you will not get by with sin-so, God must make us pay for sin. The price on sin is death. This death is a spiritual death which culminates in the second death, mentioned in Revelation 21:8 and Revelation 20:14, which is the Lake of Fire. Therefore, the ultimate price that man must pay for his sins is to suffer in the Lake of Fire-or to go to hell. That means, Mr. Blank, according to your own statement that you are not a Christian, and according to the Word of God, if you died today you would go to hell. Is that right?"

Mr. Blank: "Yes."

Soul Winner: "Mr. Blank, I am happy to tell you that God does not want you to go to hell. God loves you as you love your children. Just as you would make a way to save any wayward children of yours, even so God has made a plan to save you. Here is His plan. Please read Romans 5:8, `But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.' Mr. Blank, God looked down and saw that you were a sinner, and saw that you were going to hell. He did not want you to go to hell, so He came to earth in the form of a Man. His name was Jesus Christ. For thirty-three years He lived upon the earth-not once did He sin. Mr. Blank, if Jesus had sinned once, and the price of sin finally is the Lake of Fire, where would Jesus have had to go when He died?"

Mr. Blank: "To the Lake of Fire."

Soul Winner: "Exactly so. But He did not sin, did He?"

Mr. Blank: "No."

Soul Winner: "He was perfect. Not once did He have an evil thought, not once did He say a nasty word, not once did He drink a bottle of beer, not once did He do any­thing that was contrary to His Father's will. But Mr. Blank, on the Cross of Calvary Jesus Christ suffered spiritual separation from God, or the same thing that the sinner must suffer in hell. If He was not suffering it for His own sins, then He must have been suffering for someone else's sins. Do you have any idea for whom He was suffering?"

Mr. Blank: "He was suffering for you and me."

Soul Winner: "Exactly so. Now, if He was suffering for you and me, He was paying our debt. Is that right?"

Mr. Blank: "Yes."

Soul Winner: "Mr. Blank, if I went to the bank today, and paid off all of your debts at the bank, they would send a representative out to tell you about my payment. You would have one of two choices. You could say, `No, I will not accept his payment; I will pay my own debts.' If that were your answer, even though I had paid the price, you would still be in debt. However, on the other hand, you could say, `Of course, I will accept payment. I will receive the gift that Mr. Soul Winner gave me.' That moment, Mr. Blank, you would be free of debt. That moment the bank would wipe your debts completely clean. Now, Mr. Blank, you are in debt to God. You have sinned. Your record is in heaven. Jesus Christ went to the bank of heaven, as it were, and paid the full payment for all of your debts. He has paid for all of your sins. He sent me as His representative today to tell you about this. You can say one of two things: You can say, `No, I will pay my own debts. I will go to hell for myself.' Or, you can say, `Of course, I will accept a Saviour like that. I will accept His gift of eternal life, and receive Him as my Saviour.' That moment, Mr. Blank, you be­come a child of God, by receiving Christ as a Substitute for your sin, and taking Him in your heart as your Saviour.

"Now, Mr. Blank, let us sum up what we have said. Do you realize that you are a sinner?"

Mr. Blank: "Yes."

Soul Winner: "Do you realize that if you died today you would go to hell?" Mr. Blank: "Yes." Soul Winner: "Do you realize that Jesus died in your place, and suffered spiritual separation from God in your place?"

Mr. Blank: "Yes."

Soul Winner: "Do you realize that if you were to bow here, and seek God's forgiveness and take Christ as your Saviour today, by faith, God would make you His child?" Mr. Blank: "Yes."

Soul Winner: "Then, Mr. Blank, could we just bow our heads and hearts in prayer, and let me pray for you? While I pray you can consider giving your heart to the Lord Jesus. Shall we kneel?"

(Turn to Romans 10:13-read it to him and have him put his hand on that Scripture. You pray. Pray sincerely, simply and briefly. As you conclude your prayer, do not say "Amen.")

Soul Winner: "With our heads bowed, Mr. Blank, wouldn't you like to ask God to forgive your sins right now? Tell Him that you are sorry for your sins, tell Him you want to receive Christ as your Saviour now. Will you do it?" (Mr. Blank may pray a simple prayer. If not, you might ask him to pray after you sincerely.)

Soul Winner: "Mr. Blank, if you are willing now, the best you know how, to turn from sin, and give your heart to Christ in faith, would you please take my hand as if it were the hand of Jesus as a token thereof?" (Mr. Blank takes the soul winner's hand. The soul winner, while holding the convert's hand, should offer a prayer of thanksgiving to God for saving him.)

Soul Winner: "God bless you, Mr. Blank. Now, let me ask you a question. If the Bible is true-where would you go if you died now?"

Mr. Blank: "I would go to heaven."

Soul Winner: "Isn't that wonderful? Isn't God good to give eternal life to those who will receive him by faith?"

17. Lead Him to a Profession. After the person has been converted, ask him to promise to come to church the next possible service, and walk the aisle and let the pastor tell the people that he has been saved. It seems un­wise to ask him to be baptized until he has made his profession. Then, at the altar, when he is making his profession, or later, the minister can speak with him about baptism.

18. Go by and Get the Convert the Next Sunday. It is an unusual experience for many new converts to come to church. Many of them have not been to church for months, or years. It would be much easier for them to come if you will offer to go by and bring them with you.

19. Sit with the Convert in the Service.

20. At the Close of the Service Offer to Go Down the Aisle with Him.

21. After He Has Made His Profession, United with the Church and Been Baptized, He is Still Your Child. Continue to watch over him, and help him. Ask him over to your house for refreshments. Fellowship with him, and make him feel at home in the service of the Lord.

22. Appoint a Committee to Go by and See the New Converts, as Well as the New Church Members. The week after they join the church, it is good to have a committee to go by and see the new converts and new members.

This group may carry a certificate of baptism, a copy of the church budget, a copy of some book advising young Christians how to grow in grace, any books written by the pastor, etc. These will be helpful and appreciated by the new converts and new church members.

23. Use the "Buddy" System. After the Sunday services each week, call someone who lives near the new convert and "assign" him the new convert. It is good for him to have the new convert over for refreshments, to make a visit into his home, and perhaps have his family over for a meal to try to get him acquainted with some of the church members.

This person's job also would be to help integrate the convert into the church program, and introduce him to as many people as possible.