Beware Of The Heresy Of 'Empty Believism'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

There Is No Such Thing As "Empty Believism"

John 6:28-29, “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”

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

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

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

Here's an explanation with biblical supporting verses: 

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

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

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

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

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

“If you do not put a difference between justification wrought by the man Christ without and sanctification wrought by the Spirit of Christ within, you are not able to divide the Word aright; but contrariwise, you corrupt the Word of God, and cast stumbling blocks before the people.” —John Bunyan (1628-1688)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Throughout the Gospel of John we find the word "believe" mentioned 85 times, without any mention of praying, serving, repenting, calling, confessing, forsaking, following, baptizing or surrendering to Christ to be saved. The people asked Jesus in John 6:28b-29, "What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." The dear Savior's plain answer was to BELIEVE ON HIM. This is the only WORK that a lost sinner can do to be saved, to place one's childlike faith in Christ. Faith is the only righteous thing that I can do.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Is Asking Jesus To Save You A 'Work'?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The New IFB pastors have it WRONG!!!

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

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

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

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

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

Dear reader, what you just read is NOT the Bible way to Heaven. The film Joshua misleads viewers to believe in a counterfeit plan of salvation—a heretical fallacy that cannot produce the new birth required to enter into God's Kingdom. Joshua 3:3, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” In the movie, Kevin fails to mention that Jesus is the Christ, the only begotten Son of God. Kevin fails to mention that we are all guilty sinners. Kevin fails to mention Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, His burial or His bodily resurrection three days later. Nothing Kevin says is how a person gets saved!

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

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

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

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

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

What Does The Bible Mean By “Narrow Is The Way”?

Matthew 7:13-15, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

Kindly, one of the most dangerous false teachers of our generation is Pastor John MacArthur of the Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California. Dr. MacArthur errantly states concerning getting saved:

“The narrow gate is hard to find and hard to go through, because it demands: denial of self, denial of self-righteousness, recognition of sin, full repentance, submission to Christ, commitment to obey Him, and follow Him no matter what the cost!” —Pastor John MacArthur, a quote from his sermon titled, “Saved Or Self-Deceived, Part One” (time: 4:25 in YouTube sermon video)

Let's list the SEVEN requirements for salvation which Mr. MacArthur just mentioned:

1. Denial of self
2. Denial of self-righteousness
3. Recognition of sin
4. Full repentance
5. Submission to Christ
6. Commitment to obey Christ
7. Follow Jesus (no matter what the cost)

Ladies and gentlemen, none of that is THE GOSPEL. Respectfully, John MacArthur is a Gospel pervert! ...

“The worst pervert in America is the Gospel pervert!” —Brother Lester Roloff, from the sermon, “The Gospel Perverts Or Jesus?”

Here is our text passage of Scripture again...

Matthew 7:13-15, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

What does the Bible mean by “ENTER YE IN AT THE STRAIT GATE,” and “NARROW IS THE WAY, WHICH LEADETH UNTO LIFE”? What saith the Scripture? ...

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.”

Carefully notice in the Bible passage we just read, that the apostle Paul teaches: “THE SIMPLICITY THAT IS IN CHRIST.” There is your answer dear friend from the Bible! The reason why the WAY UNTO LIFE IS NARROW, is because getting saved is so SIMPLE that most people complicate and pass right over it! ...

“More people will die and burn in Hell, because they're trusting too much!” —Pastor Jack Hyles, a precious quote from the MP3 sermon, “Yea, Yea, And Nay, Nay!”

“Everything that's hard and complicated about salvation is God's side of it!” —Pastor Jack Hyles, a precious quote from the MP3 sermon, “Yea, Yea, And Nay, Nay!”

What saith the Scripture? The SIMPLICITY THAT IS IN CHRIST is “THE GOSPEL”...

Romans 1:16, ”For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Billions of religious people are going to miss Heaven in eternity, because they unwittingly let some FALSE PROPHET like John MacArthur or Ray Comfort convince them to live the Christian life without ever being born-again! Evangelist Ray Comfort literally teaches an unsaved lady on an airplane, that getting saved involved “LIVING A LIFESTYLE” to be saved. To Ray Comfort I kindly say: “GET THEE BEHIND ME SATAN!!!”

“If you have to look at your life to prove that you are saved, it proves that you're not!” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold; an excellent quote from the awesome YouTube sermon titled, “Why Lordship Salvation is WRONG! | MP3

The “Strait Gate” and the “Narrow Way” Refer to 'THE GOSPEL'

Religion wants to fit us with glasses, but the Lord wants to open our eyes! Thank God for the truth of His precious Word, which is a lamp unto our feet. Psalm 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” America's churches influence the world, so if Satan can corrupt our churches here at home, then he can corrupt the world. The United States sends out more missionaries than any other nation. Sadly, there is MUCH heresy and false teaching circulating on the radio, television and in our churches nowadays concerning what a person must do to be saved.

What exactly is the Gospel? The word “Gospel” means “Good News” or “Glad Tidings.” There is no need to guess what the “Gospel” is because the Bible plainly tells us. The “Gospel” is the Good News of Christ's DEATH on the cross for our sins, His BURIAL and bodily RESURRECTION three days later:

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.”

We are saved by BELIEVING “the Gospel,” which is the power of God unto salvation. Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” 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.” It is that simple to be saved. If you admit that you are a guilty sinner in God's sight, and you receive Christ's sacrifice on the cross as full payment for your sins, believing that He was buried, and bodily resurrected three days later, and that is your only hope for eternal life—YOU ARE IMMEDIATELY, SECURELY AND FOREVER SAVED!!!

“You know the greatest difficulty and hindrance today, is not that people are not good enough. The great hindrance is they're not bad enough, to be saved!” —Pastor J. Vernon McGee, a beautiful quote the MP3 sermon, “Why The Gospel Is Not Preached Today”

God did EVERYTHING, so that we have to do NOTHING, except to get out of the way and submit to God's imputed righteousness through faith alone in Jesus Christ! ...

“He [God] did everything, so that you would have to do nothing, except receive it as a free gift! And God says, 'I love you so much that I gave My Son to pay for your sins. Will you believe it? And if you will (believe/trust, used interchangeably in the Bible), will you simply believe that Jesus Christ died for you? And God says, 'If you'll do that, I'll promise you on the authority of My Word, that you'll never perish, but you'll have everlasting life!'” —Pastor Max D. Younce, a quote from the Bible study titled, “SO GREAT SALVATION,” Part 7 | MP3's

Pastor Ralph “Yankee” Arnold made this tremendous statement...

“There is power in this Gospel message. Most people just don't know how to
present it... The clarity of the Gospel is what makes it easy for them to believe.” —Pastor Yankee Arnold, a quote from the excellent MP3 sermon titled, “WHY GRACE CAN SAVE THE WORST MAN!”

That is one of my favorite quotes! The Devil works relentlessly to OBSCURE the truth of the Gospel. The Devil does this by watering THE GOSPEL down—subtracting from it, adding to it and completely obliterating it at times! Consider, for example, Evangelist Ravi Zacharias, who mentions 12 things in his suggested sinner's prayer, NONE OF WHICH includes any elements of THE GOSPEL. Really, you couldn't make this stuff up! Ravi is a self-professed Gospel minister, yet he teaches everything except THE GOSPEL.

Like today's Satanic counterfeit Bible revisions, Ravi is intentionally vague, so as to not offend the audience; consequently, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2nd Corinthians 11:3b-4). Therefore, kindly said, I wouldn't give you a thin dime for the shallow, ambiguous, substance-lacking, Holy-Spiritless, ecumenical, dead preaching of Ravi Zacharias!!! Somebody say “Amen”! After preaching to a hellbound group of 7,000 Mormons in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2014, here's how they responded to his message, bursting to their feet in applause with a standing ovation!!! Luke 6:26, “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.”

The Gospel is Like a Tiny Town—Easy to Miss! ...

In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus was simply teaching that THE WAY WHICH LEADETH UNTO LIFE is so simple that if you're not careful, you'll pass right over it! The Gospel is like a tiny little town out in the middle of nowhere—If you blink you'll miss it! I was looking for different places I might like to live, and I researched Ainsworth, Nebraska (population 1,728). I found the funny picture to the right: “NOW ENTERING . . . THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.” I love that! If you hiccupped while driving, you might miss the town!

That is what Jesus is saying in Matthew 7:13-14—if you aren't careful, you'll pass right over God's simple plan of salvation! Galatians 3:2, “This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” I love that truth! We are saved BY THE HEARING OF FAITH. Acts 2:41, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” Notice how those 3,000 souls were saved—they “GLADLY RECEIVED HIS WORD”! THE HEARING OF FAITH!!! When you hear the Gospel preached, and you BELIEVE it, you're saved!!!

And then AFTER a person is saved, God wants them to be water baptized as a public profession of their faith. That is why when a preacher baptizes a new convert, he says something like:

“_________ (name), as a PUBLIC PROFESSION of your faith in Jesus Christ, I baptize you my sister (or brother) in the name of Jesus; buried in the likeness of his death (the minister lowers the person UNDER water while saying these words), raised in the likeness of His resurrection (the minister lifts them UP out of the water while saying these words).”

Water baptism is only the “LIKENESS” (Romans 6:5b) of Christ's death, burial and resurrection. Water baptism by immersion (dunked all the way under) symbolizes THE GOSPEL. We are saved BY FAITH alone! My grandmother on my Mom's side was never baptized.

Pastor Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899) wasn't big on baptizing his converts, so they didn't to my understanding. Although not required for salvation, I think getting baptized is important, because it is the first step of obedience for the Christian. Pastor Jack Hyles talks about this truth in his classic sermon called: “Then, Satan!” The Devil knows if he can get you at the very beginning, you're finished. By not getting baptized, it's not a good way to begin one's spiritual journey as a Christian, without obeying the Lord's first commandment for believers (Matthew 28:19-20). I was baptized at age 17, four years after I was actually saved. That's only because I struggled with my assurance, because of the unbiblical requirement in most churches today to “PRAY A PRAYER” as part of the Gospel. That is bad stuff!

Beware of the Devil's popular LIE that says water baptism is necessary for redemption. God only knows the billions of souls burning in Hell today, who foolishly placed their trust in a baptistery instead of solely in the only begotten Son of God. I'm not kidding! You'd be shocked if you knew how many religions require water baptism for salvation (Mormons, Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Jehovah's Witness (JW), Church of Christ, Seventh-Day Adventism (SDA), et cetera). The religious denominations that I just mentioned represent about 1.5 billion people on the planet!

There are an estimated 1,300,000,000 Catholics alone! In comparison there are only 20,000,000 SDA's, and about 8,500,000 JW's, and about 16,000,000 Mormons, et cetera. Anyone who thinks that being water baptized is required to get to Heaven, is not going to Heaven, unless they repent of that heresy and only BELIEVE THE GOSPEL!!! Mark 1:15, “And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” To “repent” (as a verb) simply means TO THINK DIFFERENTLY to believe the “GOOD NEWS” of Christ crucified, buried and risen the third day!

The WAY WHICH LEADETH UNTO LIFE IS NARROW! It is simple, so simple in fact, that most people pass right over it, looking for something more! God will not save anyone who is trying to be saved, He will only save those who are trusting to be saved. Salvation is not doing your best, it is having Christ's best put to your account through receiving Him by faith. Please don't drive past it my friend! The Gospel town is very small. The truth of the Gospel is very basic—Christ died on the cross for our sins, He was buried, and three days later Jesus miraculously resurrected physically from the dead for our justification.

The words “for our justification” simply means that if Christ hadn't resurrected, then our faith could not be justified by a dead Savior. 1st Corinthians 15:17, “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” If Jesus hadn't risen, it would have meant Jesus was only a mere man, and not the virgin born only begotten Son of God. Ah, but Jesus did raise up—CHRIST IS RISEN!!! Jesus died as our SACRIFICE (John 1:29), and He raised up as our heavenly HIGH PRIEST (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 4:14-16).

The Way of Salvation is NOT “Hard”

Pastor John MacArthur errantly says the way of salvation is “HARD” to find, and “HARD” to go through, because he says it requires full repentance, denial of self, a commitment to obey, and to follow Jesus. MacArthur is teaching WORKS for salvation! In Mr. MacArthur's world, salvation is “HARD” because of all the things that he thinks you're required to do to get it. I can understand why he thinks salvation is “HARD,” because he has a corrupted idea of salvation. Whereas the Bible teaches simple LAW and GRACE, MacArthur teaches something completely different. Salvation is not “HARD” dear reader, it is easy, simple and free!

What is “HARD” is getting the idea out of preacher's brains that works aren't necessary to be saved. The religious Jews of Jesus' time had the same dilemma...

Romans 9:31-33, “But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”

The Lord was simply saying in Matthew 7:13-14 that THE WAY WHICH LEADETH UNTO LIFE is very easy to miss, because it is so simple. We have numerous Scripture passages to confirm this widespread problem in Bible times, just as it is a big problem today in 2019. The entire Epistle of Galatians was written to contend with this problem. The local church at Galatia had fallen prey to a works-based salvation cult. The apostle Paul called the Christians at Galatia, “FOOLISH”...

Galatians 3:1-3, “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”

The believers at Galatia had been saved by faith alone. So far so good; but then a local cult infiltrated their church with a works-based doctrine that required circumcision. The apostle Paul rebuked the believers at Galatia for not using better spiritual judgment (as we just read). He wants to know why they allowed these heretics into their church? It was quite a big deal, causing a big stir in town!

Paul asks the Galatian believers a logical question; he says—Since you got saved by THE HEARING OF FAITH, what makes you think that adding WORKS will somehow complete your faith? The idea of works for salvation can crept into any church overnight, so always be on guard! NEVER LET YOUR GUARD DOWN against Satan creeping heresies into the churches!!! I'm talking about the popular heresy of Lordship Salvation. I'm talking about the popular junk theology that Ray Comfort teaches.

These men admittedly make salvation “HARD,” but what did Jesus say? Matthew 11:28-30, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Jesus is saying the EXACT OPPOSSITE of what today's nationally known preachers are saying. Whereas John MacArthur and Ray Comfort are saying that the way which leadeth unto life is “HARD” to find, and HARD to go through; Jesus said His YOKE is easy and His BURDEN is light. What a contrast in attitudes toward salvation! It should be clear to you my friend, that Jesus is easy to get along with. I like Jesus. I love that He is lowly (a low opinion of Himself), humble. I want to be like Him, “esteem other better than themselves” (Philippians 3:).

Salvation Is Of The Lord

I heard a familiar passage today, and noticed a beautiful truth that I never saw before. Isaiah 54:17, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.” Did you see it? The last part of the Scripture mentions the IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD! Isaiah 54:17, “...and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.” I love that!!! I just showed you salvation in the Old Testament. Acts 10:43, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” There has always been only one plan of salvation—through FAITH in the Lord! Isaiah 54:17, “...and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.”

Jonah had fled from God's will. The next thing you know, we find him literally inside the belly of a whale! Some Bible students think Jonah died and God revived him; but I humbly think he lived through the whole ordeal. I have read some articles online, by people who explain what it would be like to be swallowed by a whale; but my friend, only a person who has actually been swallowed by A WHALE can accurately describe such an experience.

Like Job, whose captivity turned when he prayed for his obnoxious friends (Job 42:10); Jonah's captivity turned when he offered up to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving (it requires a sacrifice to be thankful when everything is going wrong). 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. And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.” When Jonah got right with God, humbling himself, thanking God while still covered in the whale's stomach fluids, testifying that SALVATION IS OF THE LORD—God told the great fish to drop off Jonah at the next whale stop! Amen!

Getting saved is simple, easy and immediate! There are no waiting periods. There is no probationary period. When a person receives Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, they can and ought to write down the date, time and place (preferably in their Bible if they have one). 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 (aka, “Born Again”) is Immediate and Permanent

When 3,000 souls were saved in Acts 2:41, they were added to the Church without having to go through any waiting period, initiation or interrogation process. Salvation is a supernatural miracle of God in response to a person's faith in the “GOOD NEWS” (GOSPEL) of Jesus Christ. The GOOD NEWS is that Christ DIED on the cross to pay for our sins, He was BURIED, and then He bodily RESURRECTED the third day (1st Corinthians 15:1-6). BELIEVE IT, Oh sinner, and the work is done! 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.” All the faith God requires to be saved is JUST ENOUGH! If you have “just enough” faith to call upon the name of the Lord, He will save you on the spot! Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” To “call” doesn't mean to PRAY, it simply means to go to the Lord by faith.

What saith the Scripture? John 6:37, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” The Lord can read your thoughts (Proverbs 24:12). So the moment that Jesus sees you've placed your trust (reliance) upon His name, trusting what He did on the cross to pay for your sins, God saves (regenerates) you! This is the new birth (aka, “born again”). I was saved at age 13. I knew I was a sinner. It was on a Sunday morning. The preacher taught about the Holy Spirit. He said that if you can commit sin, but there is no Holy Spirit conviction, you are not saved. I knew I wasn't saved when he said that. I had never known the Holy Spirit in my soul. During the invitation, I was too scared to go forward to the altar, but from my pew with simple childlike faith, for the first time in my life, I called out to Jesus in my soul and I asked Him to save me.

It was that simple childlike faith, GOING TO THE LORD, that saved me. I had grown up in Sunday school, so I knew Jesus was the Son of God Who died on the cross for my sins. I believed in a RISEN CHRIST! I knew in my heart that I was reaching out to a LIVING SAVIOR. Up until that time in my life, I had never PERSONALLY received Jesus as my Savior. From that moment until today, I have known the blessed presence of the Holy Spirit (1st Corinthians 1:16-17). The first thing I remember when I got saved was a hunger for the milk of the Word (1st Peter 2:2). Each night I fell asleep reading my King James Bible. It was called “The Open Bible.” I loved it! I read through Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, but then when I got halfway through Deuteronomy, I did what most people do, I jumped ahead to the New Testament! I admit, I am guilty of doing the same thing...lol. I like what Brother Lester Roloff said about the Old Testament...

“To me, there's not anything that'll put iron in your spiritual blood like the Old Testament.” —Evangelist Lester Roloff, a quote from the awesome needful sermon: “The Devil's Decoys!” (or, “What's Fooling You?”) | MP3

There are some very dangerous heresies circulating in churches today; such as, the one's I shared with you earlier from John MacArthur and Ray Comfort. These men have unwittingly turned the instant new birth into an ongoing process, which they say requires LIVING A LIFESTYLE to prove that you have it. That is of the Devil! The new birth is a second, or spiritual, birth by the Holy Spirit of God. The first, or physical, birth was our human birth when we were born. A changed life is the fruit of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and not a part of the root of saving faith. The “NARROW WAY” is simply THE GOSPEL, by which God has promised “TO SAVE THEM THAT BELIEVE” (1st Corinthians 1:21b).

“Faith is the only righteous thing that I can do!” —Pastor Jack Hyles, a quote from the MP3 sermon titled: “God's Reversal Of Psalm 51”

How To Serve The Lord

Romans 12:6, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;”

When it comes to serving the LORD, every believer should have a great desire to serve Him in the manner He wants us to serve Him. Let me illustrate this thought. When I was a boy, my mother often gave me chores, but she wanted me to do them right. If I didn't do a thorough job, she made me go back and do it thoroughly. In other words, though I did the job, I did not do it in the manner that she wanted. If I griped and complained about doing the job, she would tell me to either do it cheerfully, or she would give me a reason to gripe and complain. My mother wanted me to do right, but she also wanted me to do it in the manner that she desired. God wants us to serve Him, but He also wants us to serve Him in the manner that He desires. Romans 12 shows six expectations for the manner that God expects us to serve Him. Let me share these expectations.

First, we are to serve the LORD with our whole being. The verse above says, let us prophecy according to the proportion of faith. It matters not if what I do for God is more or less than what another does; it only matters if I do it with all of my ability. God does not compare you to another; He compares you to your ability to serve Him.

Second, we are to serve the LORD with faith. To serve God in our own abilities is unacceptable to God. God wants every believer to step out by faith and go beyond their abilities because the life of faith forces the believer to trust Him. You cannot please the LORD if you do not serve Him by faith.

Third, we are to serve the LORD by serving others. Verse 7 says, let us wait on our ministering. The Christian walk is not about what others can do for me, but what can I do to help others. When you get “I” out of your Christian walk is when you can see clearly through the eyes of God to see the needs of others. You will never please the LORD until you make yourself a nonissue with everything you do for Him. Sadly, one of the greatest tasks a pastor must deal with is getting people to get along with each other because most people serve the LORD for themselves. Take yourself out of the equation of serving the LORD and you will be happy to be used to help others.

Fourth, we are to serve the LORD with simplicity. Verse 8 says, let him do it with simplicity. God wants the believer to be careful about becoming double-minded in their service to Him. God wants all of your focus. He understands that you cannot have a dual focus and please Him.

Fifth, we are to serve the LORD with diligence. Verse 8 continues to say, he that ruleth, with diligence. This is doing everything for God with a standard of excellence. Don't just do good enough for God, but accept nothing less than excellence for God. Don't do halfway jobs for God, but go all the way and with all of your being. Be diligent, work hard, and serve the LORD with a standard of excellence for your expectation.

Sixth, we are to serve the LORD with cheerfulness. Verse 8 concludes, he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. God doesn't want His children to serve Him with a bad or negative attitude, but with a cheerful attitude. It is not hard to serve the LORD with a cheerful attitude when you realize it is a privilege that the LORD would let you serve Him.