By Tom Cucuzza
The Simplicity of the Gospel
Words matter. God has seen fit to communicate with us through the words of the Bible. Therefore, it is important to understand and simply believe what He says.
As the debate continues to rage as to what exactly it takes to be saved, I wanted us to think about what distinguishes the true gospel from a false one. What do I mean? There are three aspects to this issue I want to mention.
1. The terms involved. Let’s define some biblical words. The Bible states many times that salvation, in the context of this article I mean eternal deliverance from eternal death to eternal life, comes through believing the gospel. Paul said in Romans 1:
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it (the gospel) is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
a. What is the gospel? It is the truth that Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, died for our sins and came back from the dead. It is well defined in 1 Corinthians 15:
1 Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Luke records this:
Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
In v.10, “good tidings” means “good news” and it is the same root word as “gospel” in Romans 1:16 and 1 Corinthians 15:1. Also in 1 Cor. 9:16 where it says:
1 Corinthians 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
b. What is believing? It is the Greek word “pisteuo” meaning to have faith in, or to trust in. Simply put, when a person understands their need for a Savior, and trusts in Jesus Christ, believing that He paid for their sins on the cross and came back from the dead, that person is saved.
2. The reality of what the believer already possesses. If I already have everlasting life, then it makes no sense that I have to do something more to get what I already have.
Many times in Scripture it tells us that if we will trust or believe in Christ, He saves us that moment. If we are saved that moment, then there is nothing else for us to do to be saved. In other words, you don’t have to do something more to possess eternal life if you already possess eternal life. The transaction has taken place. You have been saved. Millions can testify that when they quit trying to earn salvation, but simply put their faith in Christ, they were born again. If this is enough, and it is, then that is all a person needs to do to be saved. Many scriptures bear this out.
Let me give some examples:
John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
The word “hath” means you have it now. If I have it now, and I received it by putting my faith in Christ, then there is nothing else to do. I am already born again, a child of God, adopted into the family of God, I possess eternal life, I have an inheritance reserved for me, etc, etc.
Put another way, if trusting in Christ “did the job” then the job is done! Look at these verses:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Notice that if you believe you are not condemned. John 5:24 says that passing from death to life is a one way door, and it is only by believing:
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Again, the one who believes “hath” or has, or possesses now, everlasting life. Also, “is passed” means “has passed”. It is a done deal. This is again repeated in John 3:36.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
We see the same truth in Acts 16:31. Paul and Silas could have told the jailer anything when he asked them, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”. They said only one thing: Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved”. They did not say, believe and commit, believe and behave, believe and turn from your sins, believe and follow Christ. All of these things are good to do, but they have nothing to do with saving you.
My point again is simply this: If I can be saved by simply putting my trust in Jesus Christ as my Savior, then why would I have to do anything else to be saved? I am already saved! If this brings salvation, then this is the gospel, the good news. To add commitment, surrender, becoming a follower of Jesus, etc. must be false, because I have already been saved through faith in Christ.
3. The fact that there is only one message that brings salvation. In Romans 1:16, it says that IT (the gospel, singular) is the power of God unto salvation. If there is only one gospel, and by believing the gospel you receive, that moment, everlasting life, then any other message must be false. The letter to the Galatians explains it ever so clearly in chapter 1:
Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
“Another” is the word heteros. It means another of a different kind.
Galatians 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
“Another” in v.7 is the word allos, which means another of the same kind.
What Paul is saying is that the Galatian believers were being led astray by false teachers who did it with a different message. In v.7 Paul says that this different gospel perverts the true gospel. The word “pervert”, metastrepho, means, according to Vine’s Expository Dictionary, to transform into something of an opposite character”.
In other words, the false teachers introduced a “gospel” that could not save but just the opposite- it kept people lost and gave people a false hope. Paul has strong words for those who would add to the true gospel:
Galatians 1:8 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.
9 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.
What was the false gospel? The false gospel that the false teachers brought in added good works to faith in Christ. This is clearly brought out in chapter 2-
Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
How is a person saved? There’s only one way- by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
In conclusion, let me wrap things up by giving a summary: The gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ died to pay for all of our sins and came back from the dead. If I put my faith in Him, that He did that for me, I receive that moment everlasting life as a free gift. If I have everlasting life as a present possession, then there are no other requirements to getting saved, for I already am saved. Therefore, any message that adds to faith alone in Christ alone, is a false, counterfeit message that cannot save.
I can rejoice in the simplicity of the gospel and my eternal security in Christ.
1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Tom Cucuzza Voice of Assurance
Tom,
Thanks, Excellent!
A breath of fresh air and a reminder that we should constantly review the Biblical basics of Salvation by Grace alone, through Faith alone in Christ alone!
In Jesus Christ eternally, Jack
This is a brilliant article. Why do so many denominations wish to complicate what is so easy? I can’t, for the life of me, fathom how any theologian or lay person could read the book of John or Romans and believe any other message than the one explained here. But I know many people who would say, “But what about this verse…” that talks about fruit and doing this and that. I’ve since ceased arguing with these people about it. My dad used to always tell me, “Some people don’t like to be confused by the facts.” Sadly, that is exactly what has happened concerning the simplicity of the Gospel message. It’s no wonder not more “lost” people aren’t interested in the Church, all they see is a bunch of finger-pointing, judgmental people telling them they need to “do, do, do”.
I was listening to a lecture yesterday and my instructor, Dr. H.L. Willmington said it so eloquently, “All other religions say ‘do, do, do;’ Christianity is the only religion that says, ‘done.’” It is finished! Praise God my salvation (or proof of my salvation) is NOT based on my works. If it was, I’d be in BIG trouble! Having been an addict and been involved in the worst of debaucheries, I would surely have been disqualified from being a “true” Christian. But I know the truth. I believed at the age of 4, one time, and have never re-asked Jesus to come in to my heart. I know that I was saved then, despite several years as a prodigal. I know I am saved now, when my life looks more in line with what a “real” Christian should be. BUT, if anyone of those people who believe that “other” gospel had met me during that time of my wandering, they easily would have said I was not a “real” Christian. My testimony complicates their theory. I have even been told that I must have truly accepted Christ after those years of dreadful living (even though I have never done anything except repent of my wickedness). Yes, I was told that when I repented of my “evil” ways was the moment I was really saved. It’s so frustrating feeling like you have to defend your own salvation! But, I know whom I have believed (and WHEN I believed)!
Sorry for the long rant!!!
Yes, this was excellent! Thank you for laying it down, point by point, simply and succintly. And like Jack said, it is a good exercise to frequently review these basics that I never deviate from its beautiful simplicity by even one-hundredth of a degree.
“Believe and behave”…I couldn’t suppress a chuckle here. So true, only they phrase it the other way around, saying “repent (or turn) from your sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ“. That tiny, seeminly innocuous phrase “turn from you sins” is a deadly, vicious cancer.
Great article! Being ever practical, I’m going to print this out & use it &
share this article. With your permission of course?
God bless,
John G.
Hi John,
Thanks for your support and encouragement. By all means, use it any way you would like. May we all be striving together for the faith of the gospel. Phil. 1:27.
Tom
Rebecca – Wonderful testimony and sounds like you have a wise father. In emphasizing “do, do, do”, I believe they distract people from trusting in the “done” as your professor/instructor said it. It’s the tactic of the enemy, “yea hath God said?”
They have no trembling as they rush in to add to the gospel with their wisdom of words, and instead of pointing people to Christ, as you said, they are busy pointing fingers (and making daily Facebook Quotes out of them with their signature at the bottom I might add:) )
Tom, thank you for your clarity and boldness as our dear brother in Christ Jack, we are thankful for you both, and appreciate your defense of the gospel. In Jesus Christ’s love to you all…
Pearl, so true… a cancer… It eats away at you… You can never accomplish what you wish to do, it is impossible for the evil that is still present within us, except for Him, if people would instead point people to their Deliverer, instead of their own man and works centered gospel. I find it odd that the works-based gospel mongers harp on the man-centered gospel, or the seeker friendly gospel, not evidently realizing they are all in the same camp.
What a great posting! And yes the Good News is that simple! Pastors and the church is it not about time to stop the complication? What I have noticed is that the more we have complicated the Gospel, the more abuse in the church is occurring. I wonder why? hmm…
Oh, my heart saddens to see this and know that this complication of God’s Word hinders the lost soul from knowing that God truly loves them and all they have to do is believe and trust Him as their Savior. Wow! if we could truly see how Christ treated those who needed Him with such compassion and such freedom!
Rebecca, cudos to you!! I was nine when I became saved and even though I did not take drugs or live wild, I still was the same as you, a prodigal, in that I stop listening to Christ. I went through clinical depression so that God could wake my slumbering soul with His Holy Spirit. So I have no judgment for those who claim salvation in Him, yet went off the trail.
How good The Lord is, and how faithful! I haven’t been coming here very long, and I think this is about the fourth time that the Lord has confirmed what He has been directing me to all on my own. Today I have been quickened about the Simplicity that is in Christ. Then I came here.
I noticed it first in 2Cor11:3, that the enemy likes to make things complicated and trouble our minds. Simple isn’t ‘stupid’ simple is of a ‘sound mind’ imo.
I discovered that the Strong’s Gk572 means a singleness of thought, the sincerity of mental honesty. Simple is the virtue of one who is free from pretence and hypocrisy, not self seeking but open and generous. Simple isn’t ‘stinted’, quite the opposite, it is ‘bountiful’. The enemy is the thief who wants to steal from us God’s simple and precious Truth.
What must I do to be saved? BELIEVE – what could be simpler, yet so abounding; that is God’s goodness toward us.
This is what jumped out for me in Toms article. John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned:…
When we believe in Christ to save, we are no longer under condemnation for ANY sin – then why this breast beating to induce self condemnation and repentance for Justification.
Thank you Tom and ExP for teaching and confirming God’s living Word to me.
Sue
Sue,
Thanks for your comment. You will find it interesting that one of the verses and concepts I left out of the article because of space was the very passage you included- 2 Cor. 11:3! Thanks for bringing both the verse and concept contained therein to light.
Tom
Tom,
Thanks for the great article.
Rebecca,
I really think you have touched upon something profound with this statement, “It’s no wonder not more “lost” people aren’t interested in the Church, all they see is a bunch of finger-pointing, judgmental people telling them they need to “do, do, do”.” This is also a reason why may young people grow up in church and leave never to come back. If we don’t reach people with the true gospel then we shouldn’t be surprised at the result.
You hit the nail on the head! I grew up in church and because I fell short of “doing” everything I was told to do, I became overwhelmed with shame. I figured if I couldn’t measure up I needed to get out and do my own thing. I started “fooling around” at the age of 16 while my dad was still active in church and successfully lived a double life for awhile until finally I just left the church altogether. It pains me to see so many teens going the same route because they’re being taught the same things I was. They grow up and think they’re not even “real” Christians because they aren’t doing everything “right”. It’s a tragedy.
Tom, thanks for the great article.
Particularly your comment in the summary: “Therefore, any message that adds to faith alone in Christ alone, is a false, counterfeit message that cannot save.”
When churches and ministries “complicate” the Gospel, they have changed it into a counterfeit message that cannot save.
Rebecca,
You said, “They grow up and think they’re not even “real” Christians because they aren’t doing everything “right”. It’s a tragedy.”
I couldn’t agree with you more and I pray that more people start realizing this before it is too late.
Thanks Tom for the terrific article; a wonderful proclamation of the clear, simple, straightforward gospel!
Many people have commented today and other times about how the Christian world has been inundated with the false “gospel” of Lordship “Salvation.” It comes from every corner of “Christianity”—from the pulpits, from popular books, from radio and television, from the blogs, from biased commentaries and biased Bible versions and from “Christian” music. The consensus seems to be that one can hardly attend a church in which LS does not pop up in some form at some time. I once wrote an article in which I stated that standing strongly for the Free Grace Gospel of the Bible against the tsunami of LS propagandizing is like trying to hold back an avalanche with a snow shovel. So how do we combat this onslaught of false doctrine? Tom has the right idea: On a regular basis declare clearly and boldly the Free Grace Gospel, in whatever arena God has placed each of us. Tom does so through the pulpit of his church, through radio broadcasts, through his writing of articles and book, through conference speaking, through blogging and through personal evangelism. Wherever God has placed each of us, we, too can declare the Grace Gospel of the Bible. We’re all doing so on this web site. I am privileged to be able to teach the Bible on Sundays to a group of about fifty adults. It is fulfilling to see people from class “get it” about the Gospel of Grace. It’s also neat to see them distinguish error from truth.
Hi Bruce,
Thanks for the kind words. I am a privileged man to be able to share the truth of the gospel through the many avenues the Lord has opened up for me. I can very much relate to your illustration of trying to hold back an avalanche with a snow shovel. I am amazed at how fast Calvinsm/Reform Theology/lordship salvation is growing. Could this be a large part of the great apostasy prophesied for the last days?
We must all continue by God’s grace to do all we can to reach the seven billion people of this world with the true gospel of grace. An ongoing prayer in our church is that the Lord would show us how we can use our resources in the most effective way to reach as many as we can with the time remaining before the Rapture.
Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation [manner of life] be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Tom
Hello Tom
I truly appreciate your encouragement. Thank you so much.
God bless
Sue x
Tom and Bruce, you both sure hit also on how many of us have felt. Overwhelmed and an avalanche with a lot of big boulders too… When you stand for free grace, you are instantly accused of licentiousness. I have been told that Jack is a heretic who says sanctification is optional. I have been un-friended and blocked and railed against in public and in my emails. Sadly though, I think on one person in particular, and she doubts her salvation, and I feel for her, yet she persists in posting Washer quotes and recommending and referring others to John Macarthur’s teaching and his book on the “Gospel according to Jesus”.
We have seen Calvinism and Lordship in many different churches and we don’t think actually that Arminians are too far from Lordship as basically it’s perseverance of the person vs. being kept by the Lord, so it seems both of those schools of thought have made God a liar (I John 5:9-13)
We have discussed among us (a group of Christian friends) how we believe the very thing you mentioned, that this reformed thinking will indeed be part of the end time apostasy. If the church at Galatia before correction, had preached the gospel, would anyone have been saved? I think not according to Paul’s rebuke about them not being straightforward about the truth of the gospel.
I have seen even the ones who are the seeker friendly churches suddenly profess Calvinism, people like Rick Warren identifying himself as a “Kuyper Calvinist”. Spurgeon is being touted everywhere, sent out from Bible sites as a daily devotional. If you might have a problem with anything he said, there is generally a fairly vicious attack since he is the “prince of preachers”. Augustine also isn’t suspect because of his RC and Manichaeist (sp?) background, he is now given accolades as a “great thinker and teacher” (someone defending Calvinism recently said).
Catholics and Calvinists can certainly agree that they are “the” elect, the only true church. We have people like Missler who are teaching Purgatory, and Jack Van Impe professing Roman Catholicism. We have professing Christians such as Paul Crouch wearing priest collars and being accepted by supposed mainstream evangelicals like David Jeremiah and David Reagan. Popular TV personalities such as Ray Comfort, associating with Word of Faith heretic Joyce Meyers. And youth group leader in all types of churches welcoming free gifts of the MESS-age (new age and occult paraphrase masquerading as a Bible in contemporary language).
So they don’t hear the true Word of God and they don’t believe the right gospel, so how indeed will they be saved?
Dear Jack and all
It is somewhat comforting to realise that I am not the only one getting it in the neck! It has been as a direct result of my contending for the faith against LS that I continue to be slandered (am I worthy to be called ‘persecuted’?) by people who do not know me, only that I have challenged those who teach, in part, an LS gospel of good works being evidence of Salvation and sinful acts as evidence of not being saved.
I suppose some think it debateable that I am saved for ‘only’ having put my faith in Christ to save, minus repentance. I was asked what good I was doing ‘just’ reading the Bible’! (If only)
You know I am not perfect; ok lets call a spade a spade, I am a sinner and I don’t need to persuade you of this, but it is the desire of my heart to walk in the Holy Spirit, and I am constrained from sinning by love of Christ; (where is that verse?) I want to do His will and honour Him by living ‘decently and in order’; but when I fail, I always have an advocate in Heaven constantly pleading my case and cleansing me by the washing of The Word.
Its miserable at times (like right now) but I do pray for the strength to stubbornly refuse to give any margin to LS, or any other false gospel such as Lee E. Thomas who teaches “The lost will not and indeed cannot be saved unless someone prays for them…”
Then there is the ‘Colossian heresy’ still active among the church to this day who find it essential to bind the evil ‘strong man’ over people and cities and loose souls from the power of demons.
Then there is the constant ‘pointing of the finger’ by judgmental Christians who see it their place to accuse others of fault, not recognising their own need to forgive.
How much more and for how much longer? I get so fed up!
Maranatha!
My husband enjoys hunting, shooting and fishing. He went out to get a camouflage jacket, but he couldn’t find one!
Sue
Sue,
You are in good company when you are slandered and “get it in the neck.”
My philosophy — stay away from those web sites which do not understand and honor God’s salvation by Grace through faith in Jesus alone.
You said, “I suppose some think it debateable that I am saved for ‘only’ having put my faith in Christ to save…”
It is best not to pay attention to “friends” who are “fruit inspectors” and instead, rest in your own faith based and placed in Jesus Christ alone.
In Jesus Christ eternally, Jack
Holly,
What you report is not the first time, nor will it be the last, that I have been called an heretic by those who are ignorant of God’s Word — and the list is long.
Therefore I claim God’s promise:
God’s Grace is truly amazing!!!
But as you know, folks who disdain and distort God’s Grace will invent every reason to condemn us — but they will not listen to or believe the Truth.
Keep on earnestly contending for the Faith once delivered to the Saints!!! Jude 1:3
In Jesus Christ eternally, Jack
Holly and All,
The two groups, Arminians and Calvinists, both have their eyes on their own works. The Arminians believe you must perform and be faithful to keep it. Most Calvinists say if you don’t perform you never had it. Some Calvinists even say, although they would deny it, that you can lose it. However, they would say that is a misrepresentation of their position, but it is a true statement nonetheless. As an example, look at this:
John Piper and his staff wrote, “We mean that the saints will and must persevere in the obedience which comes from faith. Election is unconditional, but glorification is not. There are many warnings in Scripture that those who do not hold fast to Christ can be lost in the end.” He continues, “Nevertheless, we must also own up to the fact that our final salvation is made contingent upon the subsequent obedience which comes from faith.” (John Piper and Pastoral Staff, “TULIP: What We Believe about the Five Points of Calvinism: Position Paper of the Pastoral Staff,” Minneapolis, MN (Desiring God Ministries, 1997). Available at his site.
Some might read this and get upset, but I didn’t say it, John Piper and his staff did!
Yes, those who believe in salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone will always be accused of licentiousness. Unfortunately at times it is true. There are believers that use their liberty as a license. But it is wrong.
Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
But this was an issue in Paul’s day as well.
Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Romans 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Notice that there is a choice as to whom we yield ourselves to, but it is also obvious as to who it should be- The Lord.
Something people need to keep in mind: Because there are those who abuse a doctrine found in Scripture is no reason to reject the doctrine. The doctrine is still true. So it is with salvation by grace. The fact that even though we all still sin and yet we are still saved proves its truth, i.e., that it is by GRACE, the unmerited favor, UNDESERVED kindness of God toward us.
Of course we should be careful as believers to live lives that are yielded and obedient to the Lord. But it is in response to what God has freely given to us in grace.
Tom Cucuzza
Amen….Amen!!
Great testimony Rebecca. You are so very right in that all “fruit inspectors” would have written you off as “unsaved” had they seen how you were living.Great to hear how God brought you back into His loving arms. You are precious to Him and He will never loose you. This is the thing,I truly battle to understand how these Arminians can believe that God can or does take back His gift of Salvation. You can never EVER loose your salvation. So many believe in “probation” instead of salvation. Such insecure “believers”.
In Christ always
Kenneth.
Brother Groenewald, You are so right. @ the age of 15 years, I put my trust in Christ. He has never left me! I am now 67. Jesus is still my Savior! Praise His Holy Name, & I know where I’m goin’! Praise Him again!
The Church I that was saved in was a Methodist Church in a small town in Southern Okla. They taught that a person could lose their salvation! It was a young man in my High School whose father was a Southern Baptist preacher that led me to the blessed truth of once I had been born again, I could not lose my relationship with Jesus! That relationship with Jesus is the most important relationship in my live. The knowledge that NOTHING can separate me from the love of Christ is the most precious knowledge that any one can encounter.
God bless all,
John G.
Jack
I am still contending, but your posts here on expreacherman sure seem to stir up a lot of people, and I don’t know why I find that surprising, but I confess at times it does surprise me, as I find your posts Biblically based. So, I press on! 
Praying for you and your ministry to continue to touch others and encourage believers and bring the lost to Christ.
Tom, thank you so much, great article, great comments, I did see Piper say that as well, ““Nevertheless, we must also own up to the fact that our final salvation is made contingent upon the subsequent obedience which comes from faith.””,
This is why the two camps are man-centered to me whether they realize it or not, and like Peter, when we look at our own ability, we will sink in the stormy waters. May we all yield ourselves to Him since it’s the only way to go.
God bless you all this week.
Holly,
I know you are contending.. I read your FB posts and see you have some real “theological” odd-balls harassing you.. but you answer them very well.
Exp belongs to the Lord and all our Gracers who contribute. We love all of you!!
In Jesus Christ eternally, Jack
Jack, I am very thankful to the Lord, to learn from men such as you, Tom, Bruce, and others, very appreciative for your stand for truth. I pray I contend correctly for His doctrine as in the manner of Titus 2:7-8.
In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
May the Lord be magnified!
Hello Jack, Bruce, John, Fred, Pearl et al.
‘Amen’ HollysGarcia
I have this growing feeling of relief to have you to run back to if I venture too far…
Generally I am not adventurous; I don’t have the nerves for it. However, if I find someone caught in an error, I have this huge desire to try and help them see the Truth while praying urgently lest Jesus come and catch them out of fellowship!
In addition, I tremble for their followers being deceived by these well meaning, but equally deceived lambs, in wolfish garb, baring teeth! Concern for these is what draws me into the danger of being doused by buckets full of bitterness and rejection in abundance.
I don’t give up easily, but I do wish I would!
Mostly it makes me sad that the enemy enjoys mocking Jesus as He loses out at our failure to win inheritance rewards to work with Him in the Kingdom and eternity. There seems so little taught about the Bema and rewards – or loss of them. I wonder if it were made more of, it may induce believers to be more faithful and alert to The Word?
Praise The Lord for leading me here to your mature strength and Godly Wisdom.
I want you to know that daily, I am slowly, but surely, working my way through the articles and comments.
Sue
x
Great stuff John G. I have a fair amount of catching up to do. Not quite 67 but 50. Got saved in 1981 not in any Church though. I was reading my Bible when I came across John 6:37 Where Jesus says ” He that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. After reading that verse I simply went to the Lord in prayer and said “Lord according to what I have just read here, you will not cast me away if I come to you. I now come to you Jesus. Make it possible for me to be in Heaven one day with you”. At that point in time I believe I received the new birth. The Bible says “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”, and that’s exactly what I did. I started fellowshipping at a Pentecostal Church. I do not however go along with what’s happening in the Crazymatic Churches and I distance myself from that.
Saved by His grace
Kenneth.
Kenneth, I, too, got saved outside of any church. I first believed in the permanence of salvation, and shortly thereafter learned how I could be saved – only by accepting salvation as a gift.
The concepts go hand-in-hand. If one cannot work his way out of being saved, one cannot work his way into being saved.
By the way – if anyone reading this doubts the permanence of salvation (once saved, always saved), please read the booklet by Dr. Tom Cucuzza “The Permanence of Salvation”, linked below:
http://expreacherman.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/cucuzza-the-permanence-of-salvation.pdf
Thanks for including the link to Tom’s booklet, John. It’s the perfect accompaniment to this post.
OSAS is an irrefutable doctrine, and to say otherwise would be to give more credence to man-made analogies than God’s clear Word, and God knows I’ve allowed myself to be tossed about by the former; what a waste of precious time.
So very true John.
Some doubt that small children know enough to get saved! Well, believe it or not, I was aged between 3-4 years old when God’s Grace was first made known to me.
My 14 year old auntie, who died at 17 years, witnessed to me very simply. She knew her heart wouldn’t hold out for much longer, and I like to think she felt compelled to make sure I was safe in Jesus before she died.
I don’t remember word for word, but I know she spoke of creation and that God, and His home in heaven, were perfect, and that only people who are perfect can go there. I agreed with her that I could be naughty and understood that would stop me from being able to go to heaven.
She told me about God’s son Jesus, who loved me and came from heaven to earth to die on the ‘easter’ cross just for me. She told me to trust Jesus to give me life for ever and later he would take me to heaven. I agreed, yes, that was definitely what I wanted. From then on I always spoke to ‘my dear Lord Jesus’ and would get upset thinking of Him on that cross yet I involved him as my living friend in every area of my life – especially when I was told I was being naughty.
Aged around 8 years, I had read in my tiny KJV Matt 24:7 that there would be earthquakes in divers places. Then came the news on the wireless about an earthquake under the sea and I understood it to be the sign of earthquakes in Divers places – not diverse/different places, but where divers swam under water!
At about 11 years, still fascinated by Matthew 24 I had another eureka moment so I went flying down the stairs to tell my surprised mum that Jesus was coming back again. She doubtfully agreed ‘one day’ but I insisted ‘soon’ in our lifetime. Mum is now a frail 90 years old!
At that time, I only understood about the second coming. I was 30yrs old when I finally understood the Rapture verses, and from the beginning I saw it as a Pre-trib event even though the evangelicals who told me were a mix of partial and mid – I never was.
My faithful teacher, The Holy Spirit, has confirmed this truth to me over and over again. I never tire of the many Biblical confirmations he has led me to. The enemy enjoyed lying to me about me losing my salvation and put me through torments of self condemnation persuading me that my clinical depression (now lifelong) was because I had committed the unforgiveable sin. What a wicked lie that is.
Now aged 67yrs, 68yrs in September, I have come to realise Clinical Depression is the ‘thorn’in my side that pierces through one of my bubbles of hot air pride. I don’t like it – but – His Grace IS sufficient and I stopped begging God to rid me of it years ago.
Instead I aim to recognise that God wastes nothing Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” and Prov3:5,6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Because eternity is coming fast!
I still struggle to ‘count it all joy’ but I am fully persuaded that [family distress, depression, condemnation, arthritis, diabetes, failing sight, hearing and kidneys, heart arrhythmia, painful spinal damage waiting to become a paraplegic, etc] – ‘shall be able to separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord’. (Romans 8)
Maranatha
Sue
x
Wonderful and powerful testimony Sue.
Hi everyone. I have been greatly encouraged by the comments posted on this blog for quite some time, but have been hesitant to respond until now. As a child I was brought up in the cultic teachings of Herbert Armstrong. When my mother left the cult in the late 1970s I was gradually able to break away from that false gospel and wholeheartedly embrace the true Free Grace Gospel which Herbert Armstrong had constantly mocked and ridiculed.
Sadly, today I hear many of the Calvinist and lordship salvation persuasion- many of them fellow Southern Baptists- in the same way mocking those who believe that salvation is through simply believing the Gospel of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. John MacArthur, Fran Chan, David Platt, and Paul Washer are the most obvious examples of this.
Recently, I felt compelled to leave the Southern Baptist church I had been attending because the pastor was deeply enthralled by such lordship salvation teachers, and I noticed that most of the discipleship training programs were developed by Calvinists-”Crazy Love”, “Secret Church”, “The Truth Project”, and “The Gospel Project”-to name a few.
Although I believe Methodists are in error for not believing in eternal security, I am not willing to consign John and Charles Wesley and their followers to the flames of perdition. As I understand Methodism, they teach that persistance in sin erodes faith in Jesus Christ, which can conceivably lead to apostasy. Personally, I don’t believe this is possible, for the LORD chastens believers for their sin and we are kept in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12;5-7, Jude 1). They are in error, but I do not believe that their error rises to the level of the heresy of ‘faith works’ salvation taught by the lordship salvationists.
Alan, as you know, it is not possible to lose your salvation – either through sin or from “losing your faith.”
Eternal life means eternal life. Everlasting life means everlasting life. If Methodism teaches that persistence in sin can lead to loss of eternal life (through apostasy, or for any other reason), they believe a different John 3:16 than I do.
John 3:14-16:
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Please read the booklet “The Permanence of Salvation” by Dr. Tom Cucuzza, linked below:
http://expreacherman.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/cucuzza-the-permanence-of-salvation.pdf
Alan, you said: “Personally, I don’t believe this is possible, for the LORD chastens believers for their sin and we are kept in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12;5-7, Jude 1).”
The chastening of the Lord for sin in the lives of believers is not the basis for our eternal security. It is to help us grow as believers.
We are eternally secure, because God promises that we are eternally secure. Anyone who denies eternal security is calling God a liar.
John,
I agree with you that the LORD’S chastening is not the basis of our eternal security. My point in bringing this up is that the teaching of eternal security does not mean that we can sin with impunity. I often hear the charge of antinomianism leveled against those who hold to the teaching of eternal security. Believers can live in the ‘far country’ if they so chose, but ultimately the call of home leads us back to Him. That is the purpose of His chastisement. His discipline is always redemptive in nature and for our good.
The Lord’s chastening of Christians also negates the teaching of lordship salvation, for it shows it is imposssible in this life to live a life of sinless perfection. Hebrews 12:5-7 indicates that ALL of His children undergo discipline. Who would ever discipline an obedient child? Lordship salvationists however, teach that you must be ‘totally’ surrendered to the lordship of Jesus Christ in order to validate that your faith is ‘genuine saving faith’. If that is the case, how could they have any assurance of salvation at all?
Welcome Alan!
Thank you for the strong warnings about the assurance killer known as Lordship “Salvation,” a.k.a., Lordship Faith, or Lordship Probation. Well said! And I, too, have been accused of promoting antinomianism. This accusation is specious and groundless, for I don’t see anyone, whether Free Grace or LS, promoting or condoning lawlessness or sinful lifestyles among believers, for, after all, that is what antinomianism means. So, again, the LS charge is bogus!
You made the statement, “Believers can live in the ‘far country’ if they so choose, but ultimately the call of home leads us back to Him.”
I would prefer to say, “ultimately the call of God should lead us back to him” (following Ephesians 2:10: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them”). Not all Christians finish their lives living strongly for the Lord. I have seen three instances in past churches in which God took Christians out of this life, I believe, through early deaths, because they lived sinful lives and they would not stop doing so. Two were womanizers. Another was an embezzler. From all appearances, these men were truly saved, but they were bringing shame to the name of the Lord and to the body of Christ. I view 1 John 5:16, “a sin unto death,” as applying to this situation. There are other instances in the Bible in which believers did not finish their lives well: Ananias and Sapphira, both of whom were killed for lying publicly to Peter and to the Holy Spirit—Acts 5; King Solomon, who drifted into idolatry at the end of his life; Lot, a backslider most of his adult life, yet Peter declared him in 2 Peter 2:7 to be just (a believer); Noah, a great man of faith, but whose last recorded act was to get drunk on wine.
Bruce, thank you for this clarification.
Christians may choose to respond to chastening in a variety of ways. The Lord’s desired response is that it will bring us back to Him.
There is a great article by J.O. Hosler entitled “Attaching Personal Righteousness to the Back-side of the Gospel’s Requirements”. The article examines thirty-one different false claims of Lordship salvationists. Following is a pertinent excerpt:
“Argument 16: Some will refine their polemic by allowing temporary lapses and yet qualify themselves by affirming that any more than a temporary lapse would mean that salvation had never occurred in the first place.18 But this assumes that no believer can die in one of these states of failure without first repenting. If this is correct, what do we do with Samson and some of the Corinthians (I Cor. 11:30)? Do we honestly believe that a Christian cannot die in a state of disobedience? If he dies in that condition, it was permanent in regard to his earthly life.”
Alan, 2 Timothy 2 clearly establishes that it is possible to have our faith overthrown, yet still be secure in Christ. This is not meant as a license to sin, but as a warning to avoid false doctrine.
2 Timothy 2:14-18:
“[14] Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
[15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
[16] But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
[17] And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
[18] Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
[19] Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.”
I inadvertently truncated verse 19. The full verse reads:
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
Sue, yours is a precious testimony. How wonderful to have believed at such an early age, thanks to the faithfulness of your dear, departed auntie.
I also appreciated your personal take on Romans 8.
Hello Pearl
Those few words of kindness are precious to me; I shall think of you as our Pearl, she of great price’
Kenneth Groenewald
Thank you for taking an interest.
It’s just a small part of a very ordinary life, in which failure plays the biggest part.
As long as we are all willing to stand on God’s Word and do HIS will, God will teach us through our failures, and those lessons will not fail. Imo
Sue
Yes thank you so much for bringing us back to the simplicity of the Gospel. I have eventually been “in trouble” in a number of churches over this issue. It’s so frustrating because you get to a point where it seems like there is nowhere to go. And also, the arguments of the LS are so strong! It seems like it’s just a tidal wave, and I find that my mustard seed faith makes me sometimes vascillate and stagger between two opinions, especially since there is no one that I know standing with me fully on the side of grace!
I used to think that the great “falling away” that Paul talks about was going to be a departure from Christianity. But I believe it’s a departure/falling away from the Pauline revelation of grace, and Christ in you, our identification with Christ, our being crucified with Him and Christ as our life. In my town I know very few people who are strong on these points, and if they do bring these points up, it’s mixed with law, obligation, commitment, etc.
Honestly it’s quite frightening how strong this tide is, but the Lord is with us and will not let any man pluck us from his hand. Hold fast to what you have and let no one take your crown! And let no one defraud you, judging you unworthy of your prize!
Welcome Seeking.to.know.him!
Thanks for stopping by today and thanks for that admonition to stand strongly for the grace gospel of the Bible and for eternal security in Christ (John 10:27-30). Please drop in again sometime.
Bruce