I cannot tell you how many times I have walked into a restroom of a private business and found “gospel” tracts strategically placed for the patrons of that business. In addition to violating the property rights of the business owner, the tracts I have found and read have more often than not violated the gospel as well.
Among the more popular of the so-called gospel tracts are those published by Chick Publications. Consider the following excerpts from their tract entitled “God’s Plan of Salvation”:
Trust Jesus Christ today! Here’s what you must do:
- Admit you are a sinner. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23) ”Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12) ”If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:10)
- Be willing to turn from sin (repent). Jesus said: “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:5) ”And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:” (Acts 17:30)
- Believe that Jesus Christ died for you, was buried, and rose from the dead. “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 3:16) ”But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) ”That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
- Through prayer, invite Jesus into your life to become your personal Saviour. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:10) ”For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
My comments: No one can be saved by following the false plan of salvation set forth in this tract. This is not God’s plan of salvation. It is one of Satan’s counterfeits. Turning from sin is a work. Being willing to turn from sin is an IOU for a work. In addition, praying for Jesus to come into your life is not how you become saved. Believing in Christ ALONE as Savior results in one receiving eternal life.
Next, we will review excerpts from “Steps to Peace with God” from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Organization:
To receive Christ you need to do four things:
1. ADMIT your spiritual need. “I am a sinner.”
2. REPENT and be willing to turn from your sin.
3. BELIEVE that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross.
4. RECEIVE, through prayer, Jesus Christ into your heart and life.
CHRIST says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in” (Revelation 3:20).
The BIBLE says, “Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).
My comment: This is the same accursed “works for salvation” message we found with the above tract from Chick publications. One is not saved by being willing to turn from sin, nor by asking Jesus into your heart and life through prayer. One can receive eternal life only one way – by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
And, finally, we have this “gem” entitled “Got Fruit?” from Pinpoint Gospel Tracts:
Jesus said in Matthew 7:16 that you will know a person by their “fruit.” A person isn’t a Christian just because he says he is, prays a little prayer, gets baptized or “asks Jesus into his heart.” For someone to become a Christian, the Bible says that he must Repent of his sins and put his Faith/Trust in Jesus alone! Now read these scary words of Jesus in Matthew 7:21-23: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'” Will YOU be one that Jesus says, “Depart from me”? Yes, a person IS saved by GRACE, but do YOU truly have the Grace of God? This is the Biblical description of someone who has the Grace of God: “For the Grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and Godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”(Titus 2:11-14) Do YOU have the Grace of God according to the Bible? Here’s the “good fruit” of the True Christian: the fruit of the spirit (Gal 5:22-23); the fruit of repentance (Matt 3:8); they will obey God (John 14:15); they will know Christ intimately (John17:3, Matt 7:23) and they will evangelize (Mark 16:15, 1 Cor 9:16). Do YOU have the fruit of a Christian? Are YOU A CHRISTIAN ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE? 2 Corinthians 13:5
My comment: This attack on God’s gospel of grace requires works to become saved (front door Lordship “salvation”) and works to prove that you are saved (back-door Lordship “salvation”). Both are unbiblical and turn the gospel into just another worthless religion.
The above sample of tracts is just a reflection of the pervasive religion of Lordship “salvation” masquerading as Christianity. Due to their brief content, these tracts can’t hide behind mission trips, humanitarian relief efforts, or celebrity testimonials. They have to cut to the chase – salvation by works.
The next time you see someone distributing a gospel tract, it might be worth letting him go over it with you. You might be talking to someone who has never understood or believed the gospel.
Notes From A Retired Preacher 
Emerald, thanks for the heads up.
Please note that I have not reviewed the tracts and therefore I’m unable to endorse them.
I don’t know if it’s already been mentioned, but InGrace is now offering great Gospel tracts FREE.
So much for Chick being anti-ecumenical
Phil, the Chick tract was almost indistinguishable from one put out by the Graham folks.
Chick tracts seem to be favorites of Pentacostals as well as Dake Bibles.
I just picked up a false gospel tract from Chick publications at the dry cleaners. Same old false gospel of works. It was in a box labeled “Faith.” The box was falsley labeled. It should have said “Works.”
emeraldleafministries, you can print this one off here, it is in PDF form and he has tracts also.
Click to access how_to_be_sure_you_are_going_to_heaven_with_cover.pdf
Pastor Cucuzza did this on eternal security.
http://northlandchurch.com/content.cfm?id=316&download_id=9#attached_content
Here is an assortment of six tracts from Ralph Yankee Arnold for $1 and free ship
http://www.calvaryoftampa.org/store/index.php?rt=product/product&product_id=127
Here’s 100 of the ‘How to go to heaven’ tracts by him also.
http://www.calvaryoftampa.org/store/index.php?rt=product/product&product_id=129
As stated above I recommend the tract, “God’s Way of Salvation” by Alexander Marshall. They may be in some Christian bookstores, but there are a couple of sites you could search online and order these tracts. This tract is a pure grace alone, faith alone gospel tract.
Might anyone here have some recomendations for resources of good Gospel tracts for purchase? I’m always on the lookout. Thanks
Ben, I’m sorry about your PC ligament, and will pray for your healing.
I would recommend avoiding false doctrine as much as possible. In case you haven’t already read it, you might like the article linked below:
https://expreacherman.com/2014/10/11/helping-a-new-believer-find-an-oasis-of-grace-in-a-desert-of-lordship-salvation/
If you want a good, extensive resource on repentance, please see below:
http://old.cleargospel.org/topics.php?t_id=27
Hey Holly, John, Curtis and anyone else who posted a comment.
Thank you for ministering to me.
Yesterday, I think, it dawned on me that trusting that I’m a sinner in need of salvation and that Jesus died for my sins in order to give me eternal life was actually believing the Gospel. I’d been worrying – and this is no guarantee that I won’t worry again in five minutes – that I had believed the Gospel but hadn’t trusted Jesus to save me through it. I finally realised that believing the Gospel (sinner, He died for them all, was buried, rose again to give me a free gift of eternal life) WAS me trusting Him to save me.
I believe I did this three years ago. I am believing it now, meaning that I have believed and therefore received eternal life. I shall never perish.
If I stop believing the Gospel, I will lose confidence that I am saved but will be kept by the faithfulness of God to His promise to never leave me, nor forsake me.
As soon as I came to that revelation and began to feel comfortable again, a Baptist pastor e-mailed me and tried to convince me that repentance meant a desire, willingness to turn from sin (my way, he called it) plus godly sorrow and then trusting Jesus’ gospel for salvation. He input a verse from Isaiah about turning from the wicked way and one’s thoughts. He e-mailed Jonah 3:10 (not realising that God saw their works). I e-mailed back, finally fully assured of my position, then went for a surf. I then snapped my PC Ligament in my knee, or so I believe (this happened two hours ago).
Usually this event would lead me to question that I was right and that God was chastening me for preaching a false Gospel (and that did go through my mind) but for the first time for a long time I’m convinced that I am right and not shaken by this man or his teachings. They are food for thought on how to interpret the verses properly, rather than believing the interpretations of someone who is accursed.
I don’t know why the Lord would allow me to snap my PCL, but I do believe that I’m His eternally because I have believed in His Gospel.
I thank you all. Your comments are invaluable. Your love is obvious. And I hope to keep fellowshipping with you via this site. I apologise in advance for my volatile emotions. Maybe God is slowly teaching me not to place any hope for assurance in them 🙂
Journalistic Mistake. I for one am happy as I sit here in the hospital, to have something to read and relate to. It’s amazing how many I have heard talk about that frustration too, in being in a church then finding out the error. Worse, the responses they receive when they bring it to the pastor’s attention. I think that people need several mature, strong individuals in those situations, because they can really make you doubt yourself. I’ve been through it a number of times over the years, it’s sad, but some hear, most others, not so much. I’m thankful the Lord is showing you clarity in all these things and you are not having your mind corrupted by the simplicity that is in Christ.
Thanks John. I will read that, God willing, tomorrow.
JM, reading and listening to bad stuff can really undermine assurance.
If the tract that you referenced has something that doesn’t sit right with you, it is probably because of some subtle perversion of grace.
I don’t like being exposed to false doctrine either. I try to avoid it whenever I can.
I would rather stick with something that I think squarely reinforces the freeness of the gift of eternal life by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
If you have not already done so, I would highly recommend that you read “The Gospel” by Ron Shea. In particular, the section on assurance, and his advice on becoming grounded in the truth of the gospel.
See link below:
Click to access the-gospel.pdf
Ok. Praise the Lord.
Sorry to inundate with comments, but I’m filled with revelations when reading this site.
I was saved, I now am convinced, three years ago. I saw I was a sinner and that my works were filthy. I needed to be saved and Jesus died for me to do so. I trusted Him to do so and He did. There was no appeal to works or promise of them. It was simple faith.
A few months later I started to attend a Baptist church and although this one seemed to be ok, the others that were linked to it preached the “turn from sin, be willing or pray a prayer and be saved” version of salvation. It never sat right with me, yet it led me to calling on the Lord daily for eternal life, because I was beguiled into thinking my trust in the Lord and His work alone on that night wasn’t enough. I didn’t confess, so I hadn’t believed – or so I thought.
I just revisited some of the statement of faiths and tracts that these churches have and use and finally I understand what I was confused by before – these people are preaching a false Gospel. It’s Lordship salvation!
I can’t believe this. I’m angry, relieved and compelled to shout from the hills about this! I knew these people were immersed in vain religion – thus their focus on dress standards, tithing and guilt tripping everyone all the time.
I am now convinced – as much as someone like me can be – that the Lord has indeed been showing me the entire time that something was wrong with this movement!
Thanks for helping me come to that realisation!
I know a baptist pastor who believes that anyone who reads his tract is almost guaranteed to be saved, does someone (John, perhaps) mind if I send this tract to them for their personal opinion of it?
Feel free to tell me to stop posting comments! It’s been an awesome ride the past three of four days!
Both are missing conveniently the condition for receiving eternal life…
the Navigators still have not figured out the “Truth of The Gospel ”
My wife and I went through The Navigators course about 20 years ago
from their website
‘ Then I invite Jesus Christ to live in me and be the Lord of my life, accepting His free gift of eternal life with Him.
The prayer can go something like this:
“Dear Jesus,
I know that I am a sinner and that I need You to forgive me. I know that You died a painful death so that my sins could be washed clean. Thank you. I want to make You the Lord of my life, and I will trust and follow You. Everything I have is Yours now.
In Your name, Lord.
Amen.”
My wife found an old “Navigators” gospel tract today from 1969.
It used Revelation 3:20 as a salvation verse.
Then, the appeal for asking for salvation.
How does a person receive Jesus Christ?
Jesus said, “You may ask Me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:14)
Therefore, if you pray sincerely, asking Him this:
Lord Jesus, please come into my life
and be my Savior and Lord.
Please forgive my sins,
and give me the gift of eternal life.
He will do it now.
My comment: I have never heard John 14:14 used as part of a gospel presentation. This includes asking for salvation, asking HIm to come into one’s life, and asking Him to be your Lord and Savior. This is a very confusing appeal.
Phil he has a ton of printable tracts, so I will be definitely checking them out, thank you.
Since this is on tracts, one of the clearest free grace tracts I have ever seen is entitled “God’s Way of Salvation” by Alexander Marshall. ( I still have a couple of these tracts). I know little about Marshall’s background, but his gospel presentation is pure grace plus nothing else. I think you can access this tract on-line also and see for yourself. He presents this in a seeker format where various people are asking questions about salvation and presenting their erroneous assumptions like good works, repenting, or the “no one can presume to be saved” and other false arguments. To each argument Marshall gives God’s plan for salvation from the Bible and assurance of salvation.
I believe this tract or any gospel tract is not meant for restroom stalls: they are meant to be used as an aid in leading people to believe the good news of their salvation.
I used to have a friend years ago who was Assembly of God who had some of the “Chick Tracts” he would bring to work. He liked the “Alberto” ones about the Catholic priest and his struggles with his faith. Like all Pentecostal this friend of mine, I discovered, had the faith-works baggage that is taught in their churches.
We were talking about something similar on our Thurs. women’s Bible study. There really isn’t a difference. They are not agreeing (homologeo – confess) with the fact that Jehovah saves (Jesus). Jesus is God come in the flesh, and that encompasses what He says about Himself. That He is the way, the truth and the life. They are preaching that He is the strait gate, and the narrow way is their works. So they deny Him, they aren’t agreeing that He is the only Saviour. It’s Jesus + and they deny Jesus Christ come (descended) in the flesh.
Same as every other religion in the world. Some god + works.
I went out for a run today. At the front of the trailhead were Jehovah’s Witnesses with a mobile magazine rack spewing their false gospel under the pretense of “What You Should Know About Mental Health”, or something to that effect.
Then, I went to get gas, and found a gospel tract from another organization that gave the “good news” that all one had to do was repent and make Jesus the Lord of their lives in order to be saved.
So, what is really the difference between the cults and the Lordship “salvationists”? For both, it is works, works, works for salvation.
Beholdason, I agree with John’s post and would like to add the encouragement of the overcomers in each church as seen in the same writer, in 1 John 5:4-5.
Genevieve, I am so sorry, yet I am always hopeful in the Lord’s goodness, forbearance and longsuffering with us. I pray for your husband’s change of mind through study in the Word. The Word is powerful, so keep studying together and trust the Lord for the outcome. Arm yourself as I know you are doing. I pray your husband might see soon, so he won’t regret lost time as I have, yet I trust Him to work on the outcome for my benefit and the benefit of others. In Him.
Thanks for explaining that John.
Thanks for that scripture John & for the prayers.
beholdason, yes, I think “repent” in Revelation 2:5 and 2:16 means “a change of mind.”
Following are explanations of each from Clear Gospel Campaign:
Revelation 2:5:
Subject Called to Repentance: The church of Ephesus
Object of Repentance: The object of repentance is not expressly stated, but can be inferred, to an extent, from the context. The church of Ephesus is said to excel in works and labor and patience, in intolerance of evil, and standing strong against men who pretend to be apostles. However, they are accused of “leaving their first love.” Although honest men disagree on the meaning, it appears that that they church of Ephesus had gone into an “automatic mode” and developed good habits in both doctrine and practice, but has lost some spark for their “first love.”
Consequence of Failing to Repent: “I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place” (vs. 5). The nature of the judgment is poetic, but is plainly dealing with temporal judgment of the local church at Ephesus, not eternal judgment.
Revelation 2:16:
Subject Called to Repentance: The church in Pergamos
Object of Repentance: The object of repentance is not expressly stated, but can be inferred, to an extent, from the context. The church is commended for holding fast to the name of Jesus, and not denying the faith. They are compared to the faithful martyr Antipas. Whatever their failings, they are plainly saved. Therefore, the repentance required of them is not unto eternal salvation, but something else. The criticism of the Church of Pergamos references two specific objections. Interestingly enough, both are “doctrines.” They are “the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication” and “the doctrine of the Nicholatians.” Various interpretations have been given to the meaning of these accusations. However, the principle issue under consideration is that they were “doctrines,” and that they did not relate to coming to a saving faith, but to addressing weaknesses in their Christian walk.
Consequence of Repentance and of Lack of Repentance: The language is poetic. Those who repent are equated to “overcomers.” Those who refuse to repent are warned, “I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.” It appears that both temporal judgment, and eternal rewards, are both in view.
Genevieve, I’m sorry about your husband’s reaction to “The Gospel” booklet. I am praying for peace in your family.
You said: “He also didn’t like him saying that believe means to trust.”
My comment: See Ephesians 1:12-13:
[12] That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
[13] In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
John and Holly, last night I was reading Revelation. The words Repent in 2:5 and 2:16 bothered me. Do you think these words mean a change of mind? I’m certain my friends would see this as a change/turn from evil deeds.
Holly,I’ve skimmed through that before,I’ll have to have a good read of it.My aunty just accepted my friend request on facebook,she’s been a Jehovahs witness since the 70s & she’s got heaps of kids & they are all Jehovahs witnesses except one,he left it.I gave my husband Tom’s gospel booklet & he ripped it up.He didn’t like the bit about making Jesus Lord is a work,he thinks it’s not a work & he thought Tom was being pedantic.He also didn’t like him saying that believe means to trust.
Genevieve, It also includes Lordship and Repentance, haven’t read about 20th century protestantism, but that might include some helpful passages
F O R E WO R D…………………………………………………….. 2
INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………. 2
CHAPTER I – The Message: God’s Plan of Salvation…… 5
CHAPTER II – Eternal Security ………………………………. 13
CHAPTER III – Chastening and Rewards………………….. 16
CHAPTER IV – The Messenger……………………………….. 23
CHAPTER V – The Opening and the Close……………….. 30
CHAPTER VI – Repentance…………………………………….. 40
CHAPTER VII – “Lordship Salvation”………………………… 44
CHAPTER VIII – Faith without Works ……………………….. 49
CHAPTER IX – Water Baptism ………………………………… 53
CHAPTER X – Evolution ………………………………………… 59
CHAPTER XI – The Atheist and Agnostic ………………….. 66
CHAPTER XII – The Jew ……………………………………….. 72
CHAPTER XIII – The Roman Catholic ………………………. 82
CHAPTER XIV – 20th Century Protestantism……………… 89
CHAPTER XV – Jehovah’s Witnesses……………………….. 93
CHAPTER XVI – Seventh-Day Adventism………………….. 101
CHAPTER XVII – Christian Science and Unity …………… 105
CHAPTER XVIII – Mormonism………………………………….. 110
CHAPTER XIX – Understanding the Two Natures………. 112
CHAPTER XX – Understanding Predestination …………. 114
CHAPTER XXI – Helpful Hints ………………………………… 116
CHAPTER XXII – Illustration Illustrated ……………………. 121
Click to access personal-evangelism-handbook.pdf
Genevieve, your husband might very well be right in mine not making sense, if it was my words, likely not just for the pain from my accident, and being kind of bushed from maybe the antibiotic or infection, not sure, and no offense taken of course. On here, there is Ray Stanford’s witnessing handbook, it does a very good job of taking people through the Scriptures who are Jehovah’s witnesses regarding his God head. I was privileged to lead a Jehovah’s witness (who is a friend now) to an understanding and belief that Jesus is God, through it, I’ll go get the link, she is a believer now.
Sorry Holly,it was probably because I edited it,I’ll write out the whole explanation & give him Tom’s repentance booklet.
Well he didn’t understand what Holly said.I just wrote out your explanations & let him read them,instead of trying to explain it.
It’s a miracle that we are saved,with all of Satan’s deception out there.It’s a long story about how I came to believe in the Gospel,but I do now & it’s a wonderful thing that’s for sure.What a powerful God we have.Anyway I think I am of topic,the topic’s about tracts.Well I have been handing a few out lately,just ones I’ve printed out,I want some of Yankee Arnolds tracts to hand out,but I have to set up a paypal account to buy them.Have to get some one day,or I can just buy ink for my printer & continue to print them out.
Genevieve, I’m pretty sure Holly and I are on the same page with respect to the meaning of “repentance.”
In an eternal salvation context “repentance” ALWAYS means “a change of mind.”
& keep praying for them John,there’s hope for them.The witnessing would be planting seeds too.God would be working in them,then they can choose whether they want to believe or not.
Yeah I was one John,never got baptized by them,but I wanted too. My uncle was an elder,I loved him,he died of a heart attack,he would be in hell now,I’ve been trying to get in contact with my aunty so I can tell her the Gospel,but she hasn’t accepted me on facebook. She knows I’m a christian,because my mum would’ve told her.I showed my husband your explanations on repentance,he seem to agree with you explanation John,not yours but Holly.
Genevieve, I didn’t know that you had grown up as a Jehovah’s Witness. There are two JW women who work at the retirement home where my mother-in-law lives. They have been to our house to proselytize a couple of times. My wife spent quite a bit of time trying to witness to them, so they have quit coming back. We still pray for them.
I have noticed changes in my husband lately,he doesn’t get as cranky,when I talk to him ,for starters.I can see God working.I’m pretty sure I can.I can see him working in others too.Also I gave my brother the Gospel & asked him if he read it & he did,that’s a good start,he doesn’t believe Jesus is God though, that’s because we were Jehovah’s witnesses when we were kids ,we thought the cross was evil.
Genevieve, i have prayed that God will lead your husband away from the church that he attends.
You are right that it is good he isn’t going right now.
John,I didn’t know repent in the old testament may also mean,feel compassion,sorrow,or relent.
Thanks Holly & John.I have read Tom’s pdf on repentance,I’ll have to read it a few times,I’m a bit slow,I’m afraid. I’ve been studying a fair bit.It’s something that is very important to me,but it takes time.At least my husband hasn’t been going to church lately,because it’s winter here,so he sleeps in,the Anglican church that he goes to would be filling him up with more lies. He also reads a lot of so called christian books too,he’s reading one from Boice at the moment,I’ve told him that he is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.What would I do without God & you people,I feel so blessed when I see people still stuck in Satan’s lies,God pulled me out of all that & He used this website,it’s helped a lot.So thanks so much.I feel a bit worn out sometimes,when I go to bed at night I feel drained,but got to soldier on & I always think of Galatians 6:9.I think you people will be greatly rewarded when you get to heaven.Myself I can’t live without working for Him,it’s hard but I love it.I know He’s looking after me & I hope I will be strong through the trials.I feel like i have a lot to learn.By the way my husband did a course from a college that gave you a Boice book to learn from,I did it too,back when I was lost,so that’s not good.They had Don Carson as as a speaker there one night.Hope this isn’t too long.
Did you download this yet Genevieve? Maybe study by yourself with some highlighters and make notes, and cross reference. Just a little each day. Maybe he’ll want to be involved, if not, do it yourself.
Click to access cucuzza-repentance-booklet-pdf.pdf
Sometimes it can just be too much at one time Genevieve, which is why I thoroughly recommend you study, read the Word, take notes, be a student in this area, so that you will be ready with an answer. 🙂 I don’t know if Ron’s site is back up, but believe you can still access the old.
Genevieve, you said: “He also believes repent means to feel sorry & sometimes change of mind. He says God can’t change His mind because He is perfect.”
My comment: Every time the word “repent” is attributed to God in the OT, it is translated from one of the tenses of the Hebrew root “Nacham.” The word “Nacham” appears to have a range of meanings, which are implied by the context. “Nacham” can mean “a change of mind.” However, it may also mean”feel compassion,” “sorrow”, or “relent.”
In Numbers 23:19, for example. “repent” seems to mean “a change of mind.”
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
In the New Testament, “repent” is translated from one of three Greek Words. Below is an explanation from Clear Gospel Campaign:
Within the New Testament, there are three Greek words that are translated as some form of the word “repentance” at some point in the English
New Testament, or could be translated “repentance”: metanoia, metamelomai and strepho.
“Metanoia” (noun) and its verb form “metaneo” do not mean “to turn from.” It means “to change one’s mind.” “Metamelomai” means “to regret” or
“to care afterward,” and “strepho” means to turn, or to return.
Genevieve, I think you may have already been over this with your husband. I know it must be difficult to contend for the truth of scripture with him, as he seems to be having trouble letting go of the doctrine of men.
Genevieve, did the adulterer want to stop sinning? There are two words in the a passage seen in 2 Cor 10 translated into repent. One is metanoia, and other is metamelomai, meaning ‘to care to one afterward’ or ‘to repent one’s self’, back to change of mind, and God repents, and the word is used, so when He has ‘repented’, we see it is used as an example of He was going to do something and then because the people turned from the sins, wickedness (which was listed as a WORK-Jonah 3:10) then God REPENTED of the ‘evil’ or calamity that He was going to do. What does that mean. Did God change His mind in our own understanding? Did He have a different thought than He had before? Maybe your husband can explain it. Why is the word repent used with God if God is perfect, because your husband is equating it with ‘stop sinning’ or ‘feeling sorry’.
Keep praying, read and study up yourself, both at cleargospel.org, and Tom Cucuzza’s pdf on this. You must know for yourself, so you are ready/prepared with your own answer.
Why would God feel sorry when He already knows what’s going to happen? Men try to explain these things and cannot except by their own wisdom of words. The Greek word itself is what is the question here. Ron Shea says this regarding Greek scholar’s in general, well before the Roman Catholic influence on the word being translated to repent/repentance vs. transliterated into a new word as it should have been done, so people wouldn’t be equating it from the RC words it was taken from, i.e., penance, penitence, penitent….
RON SHEA: “One can even repent from goodness to sin! Plutarch, the Greek historian, writes of two criminals who “spared a child, and then afterwards, repented and sought to slay it.” This is not repenting from sin, it is repenting to sin! The very opposite meaning so often ascribed to “repentance” in common culture.”
Holly & Jim,I’ve told him about the Corinthians.He believe’s that we still sin,but he believes that we will want to stop sinning when we are saved.He also believes repent means to feel sorry & sometimes change of mind. He says God can’t change His mind because He is perfect.
Genevieve, maybe ask him about the incestuous adulterer spoken of in 1 Cor 5 who was given over to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, although his soul would be saved. Did he manifest good works?
Genevieve,
Just ask him then, Why did the Corinthian believers act the way they did? If their good works were automatic then why did Paul have to rebuke and instruct them?
They say you can lead a horse to water but you cant make them drink
Oh Yea ? put a little salt in their mouth and they will drink
as I ought to speak.
seasoned with salt
Col 4:3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
Col 4:4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
Col 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
Col 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Just as a soul can trust Jesus as Savior and continue to live their own way and or struggle with besetting sin their entire life die and go to heaven.
A believer person can as well be saved by trusting Jesus as Savior and continue in their own righteousness their entire life and still be saved.
It is a privileged to simply keep pointing souls to Jesus , The cross of Jesus, the blood of Jesus
2Ti 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
2Ti 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
2Ti 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Genevieve, “yes” and “yes, but…” are not the same answer.
Nowhere in the Bible does it suggest that good works automatically follow salvation. Many places in the Bible there is instruction in
righteousness, and exhortation to do good works. If it were automatic, those things need not to have been written.
So, “yes, but…” is not in line with scripture.
“Yes, but…” is also illogical.
Consider the following positions:
Position one:
All Christians have good works.
Person A is a Christian.
Therefore, person A has good works.
Position two:
All Christians have good works.
Person A is a Christian.
Person A has no good works.
Person A is still a Christian.
The first position is logical, but not Biblical. The statement “all christians have good works” cannot be substantiated Biblically. This position would be consistent with an answer of “no” to the question you posed to your husband.
The second position is illogical, and not Biblical. Can you see how the
second position cannot be accurate? That is what “yes, but…” means.
So, “yes, but…” is not in line with scripture, nor does it make any sense logically.
John, he said yes.But he still thinks works automatically follow salvation.
Genevieve, it can be difficult to explain to someone why believing that good works automatically follow salvation is an affront to the gospel.
Just ask him this:
Do you believe that if you have trusted in Christ as Savior and never manifest even one good work, will you still get into heaven?
If he says “yes”, case closed. Works need not automatically follow faith in Christ.
If he says “no”, he is trusting in his works in addition to Christ. Grace and works cannot be mixed as the basis for receiving eternal life.
My husband says that he believes in grace.But then he says works automatically follow salvation, but says that he’s not trying to save himself by believing this.How do I explain that he is believing in faith plus works.
Note to all commenters:
We’ve had some great discussion above, albeit some rather lengthy. I would ask that anyone who is not familiar with our “Guest Rules – Disclaimer” section to read and follow the comment guidelines.
We would like to generally limit comments to one or two paragraphs – total of less that 300 or so words.
Thanks. John
Interesting comments.
I have been comparing bible verses with the original texts and notice that the Jay Green and King James seems to be the more reliable.
Darby and the modern versions miss out many words that are clearly there when you check the OG.
I read the KJV and check online with the original.
It’s concerning and bothers me greatly that many Christians read versions which distort the Scriptures.
Scary.
The KJVO movement is pretty intense (I’m being generous) and I’ve found that even the very suggestion that the KJ is not preserved, inspired, pickled, stirred and shaken makes them froth at the mouth.
So we just keep our knees bent and ask them to pray for our salvation.
Thanks Preston,
Only a quick note — nothing very deep. I am still having to defer most comments to the capable and wonderfully Biblical mind and hands of our dear friend and co-Administrator, John!!
Thanks so much, John!!!
In Jesus Christ eternally Jack
Preface to Jay P. Green’s Interlinear Greek-English New Testament – states: “
***
What then is the evidence these Bible-alterers offer to persuade you to give up the precious words they have removed from their versions? Mainly, they cite two manuscripts, admittedly old, but also admittedly carelessly executed. The Sinaiticus was …was discarded, found in a wastebasket fourteen centuries after it was executed. The Vaticanus manuscript lay on a shelf in the Vatican library at Rome until 1431, and was considered so corrupt that none would use it (Erasmus, the noted Roman Catholic scholar, refused to consider it as a source when he formed the Received Text)…”
***
But let them be known by their fruits. What are these words which they have so freely removed from their version of the Scriptures?
***
(g) in Luke 24: 3, 6, 12, 37, 40, 51, 52, they have systematically removed Luke’s witness to the ascension of Christ – and of course they have done away entirely with Mark’s witness to the ascension, simply because these last twelve verses do not appear in those two corrupt manuscripts, the Vaticanus and the Sinaiticus (yet the scribe of the Vaticanus has left an empty space exactly large enough to contain those twelve verses – he must have seen them in older manuscripts, else how would he know how much space to leave? And the last 12 verses of Mark in the Sinaiticus manuscript are written in much larger letters, very loosely, to fill up the space which would contain these last twelve verses if the same size letters had been used throughout.
***
I, too, am King James Bible “preferred” and use same “primarily” rather than being KJVO. I strongly believe that the Holy Spirit has been and is still leading me in a variety of ways to this preference.
Thanks for the heads up Jan ,
really out in the world what translation of scripture someone uses I avoid.
Its all about Jesus I just keep pointing people to Jesus , the cross , the blood sin paid for.
.
All, our beliefs regarding the inerrancy and completeness of scripture are stated in the first item under “Statement of Faith”.
Hmmm…
Another long one.
@ John, Curtis and Holly: Thank you for your kind words.
Yes, I think KJVP [as in King James Version Preferrer] is a good term, but King James Bible Believer is a term the KJVOnlyists have hijacked as well.
@ Preston: I appreciate your thoughts about this subject, but you are mistaken about what KJVO means to the proponents of the
KJVO movement like Ruckman, Riplinger, Chick, etc. mean KJVO to mean that the King James Bible is not just superior to any other English bible translation, not just superior to any other bible translation in other languages, but also superior to the Textus Receptus and Masoretic Text as well as the older bibles it also was based upon and even superior to the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek texts of the originally inspired word of God that the prophets and apostles wrote down.
Ruckman and other KJVO proponents claim that there are advanced revelations in the “PERFECT” KJV that weren’t in there in the originals and their subsequent copies, which those who don’t adhere to their theory view as mistakes on the behalf of the KJV translators.
Mistakes like translating the Hebrew “hyll” in Isaiah 14:12 into Lucifer (which is Vulgate Latin for lightbearer), while its actual meaning is morning star and is correctly translated as such in the Statenvertaling (the Dutch reformation bible and equivalent to the KJV) and the Lutherbibel (the Germand reformation bible and also equivalent to the KJV).
The KJVO proponents claim that Lucifer is not just a perfect translation, but an advanced revelation about the name of Satan and that each other bible is wrong for having morning star there instead of Lucifer.
They believe that bibles with morning star there were translated that way to make believers think that Satan and Jesus (the Morning Star) are the same.
There is also the case of seven times the Hebrew “YHWH” being translated into Jehovah instead of LORD, having J instead of Y as consonant pronunciation and taking the vowel pronunciation from Adonai, which means Lord.
But I don’t know what the KJVO proponents make of that.
Then there is the case of translating names of Greek gods from Greek into the Latin names for those gods instead of transliterating those Greek names of those idols.
Acts 14:12, 13; Acts 19:24, 27, 28, 34, 35 are illustrative of that and could hint of a Latin source for the translators.
Also in Acts 19:37 robbers of churches should be translated as robbers of temples, if the translation would be literal.
The KJVO proponents claim that these mistakes are advanced revelation about the Roman Catholic church and the occult things behind it.
So it can be seen that the KJV is not error free.
Yet it is the best bible in English, trustable and dependable.
But it is not perfect and does not contain advanced revelations.
As you say, there are bad bible translation since Westcott and Hort, two heretics, compiled their Greek New Testament from the Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, Alexandrinus and other minority manuscripts.
Those are provably corrupt.
One example is Colossians 1:14, which reads “In whom we have redemption through his blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins:”, where “through his blood” is missing from Sinaiticus, Vaticanus and Alexandrinus, and thus in the W&H Greek NT and also in many modern new bible translations, be it English, Dutch or any other language.
I have a fascilime printed copy of a comparison book of the KJV with the Vaticanus, Sinaiticus and Alexandrinus from 1869 by Constantine Tischendorf, a VSA minority text proponent.
I got it from my now former congregation, so in that sense I do thank them.
And it does show that KJVO proponents perfectly know that the new versions are an attack on the KJV.
But the KJVO proponents are totally wrong about the double inspiration, preservation, advanced revelation of the KJV, which makes them as dangerous to claim the validity and trustability of the KJV and other god translations in other languages.
@ John and Jack: It may be a good idea to include Peter Ruckman, Gail Riplinger and some of the other big name KJVO proponents on the Wiki-Index, they are THAT influential and dangerous.
I know from personal experience with the European version of this cult.
HEY JACK!!!!
Good to hear from you!!!!
Preston,
Good observations. We at ExP are not officially KJVO but most of us do prefer the KJV because it is the most accurate, searchable translation from the original scripts.
Our friend Dr. Tom Cucuzza wrote a fine article on why we prefer the KJV:
https://expreacherman.com/2011/10/28/why-i-use-the-king-james-version/
I believe he speaks for most of us.
You might search the search bar on the right column for NIV and find many foul NIV renditions of precious KJV verses. Search the comments also.
Each new translation has its own axe to grind. ESV – Calvinism for example.
In Jesus Christ eternally, Jack
Good day,
I will only bring this up ONCE so that the “conundrum” can be seen; not to start a debate. I am NOT currently KJV only. HOWEVER, there is ONLY ONE reason why I am not. I know several people who are going to heaven when they die who use other versions. IF it wasnt for this reason I would be KJV ONLY.
Why?
I have debated/discussed the bible with hundreds over the past couple of years. I have been asked my opinion on many passages. you know “OK Preston explain this one”. I would look at the passage in my KJV and the verses WERE different. There have been so many. I didnt keep a record of them as I would explain them from a KJV perspective. Below IS ONE that I remember (there are many, many, many more). It is one of my favorite verses.
2 Cor 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 (KJV)
2 Cor 11:3 – But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ (NIV)
these verses are saying 2 completely DIFFERENT things. One definitely implies works! Why the confusion??? (I will touch on that later).
APOLOGETICALLY
Does any one get into debates/discussions with muslims, JW’s or atheist. I do. Here is a question that can possibly come up. “OK Preston, I can see why you think the bible is of the supernatural; SO which bible is correct?”
– most would say they are ALL the same
– I can NOT say that because I know I would be lying – they are not all the same. (see above).
– I had a JW’s respond to me after I said “Pick up a few copies from different decades and you will see the many changes to fit the doctrine.
Their response “Well your bible gets changes too; look at all the versions you have”
– A muslim would say “We have one true book; you have 50”. –
Again this causes confusion ( I will touch on that later).
PERSONALLY
I am no scholar. I dont know Hebrew and I only know 5 words of greek (2 from the yankee video on 1 John). Since I am not smart, I asked my self this question? Why are ALL these new versions coming out? ALL but one came AFTER 1950. What was the english speaking world using for 300 years prior?
– I figured, if the KJV was good enough for 300 years without ALL of the other 50 versions; I am using the KJV.
Confusion – Look at ALL the confusion that the different versions produce. 1. Saying different things in different versions;
2. to a non bible believer; what does it say to him/her
3. if a person becomes a believer they would have to ask “which version do I pick; there are soooo many”
4. It hinders christianity apologetically (50 different bibles—really?)
5. Look at the discussion from people commenting here.
– (Thes – a letter that was NOT written by Paul caused much confusion)
ALL these version only cause confusion. Everyone here knows God is not the author of confusion. We also know who is the author of confusion – for he was a liar from the beginning.
Again, I wont comment again on this BUT I am sooooo close to being KJV only; it is unbelievable. The ONLY thing stopping me is witnessing saved people using the “other” versions.
Confusion….uuuugh!!!!! I just want the SIMPLICITY that is in Christ (2 Cor 11:3 KJV)
God Bless,
I appreciate your testimony Jan, and know some who have escaped from the cult of KJVO, unfortunately the movement as I said, attacking probably the best English translation out there, most here are KJV preferred. But certainly no KJVOnlyist that I know of.
I am thankful for what we have available to us, and that we have the Spirit indwelling us, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Thankful for the power of His Word and the truth that sets us free and instructs us and guides us, giving us counsel, lighting up our path, sanctifying us as we are given wisdom and understanding of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, the more we know Him. May more people just dig into His Word and abide in it. How long I neglected His Word…
Amen Jan , Thank you for your testimony and posting
what you posted is why I choose not to identify with KJVO crowd.
I am a King James Bible believer.
I also choose not to make it an issue or adopt someone else’s dogma over it.
I truly believe the bible i read is the word of God and there is still enough preserved in modern translations for souls to be saved.
Even with all of creation mankind is without excuse
1Co_1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
the foolishness of preaching
1Co_1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
One addition to my previous post: Benjamin G. Wilkinson was a staunch 7th Day Adventist and that fact was not disclosed by those who quoted his work in their works, at least those who referenced him.
John, while I have never read or heard anything by Ruckman himself preaching anything contrary to the biblical gospel with regards to the church age, the whole endorsement of Chick by Ruckman and vice versa seems very devious and insidious to me.
Ruckman and his followers endorse Chick tracts and in such let their accursed gospel of lordship salvation creep in through the backdoor.
It’s really disgusting and vile, and those are the supposed “true” and “conservative” defenders of the faith, don’t make me laugh…
In many ways these men and their destructive false gospel and heresies deceive thousands in ways worse than the less subtle (neo-)calvinists, evangelicals, lordshippers, (neo-)conservatives do.
I was suckered in as well, I thank the Lord He freed me from this nasty mess now using you and others here to shine some light and give me good and helpful tips.
Thank you very much.
Jan, Jack Chick does appear to be a big Ruckman advocate. We see, from the Chick tract referenced in the above article, that Chick teaches a false gospel of salvation by works.
So, irrespective of his views on the KJV, Chick teaches an accursed, false gospel.
@ Everyone, especially moderators, this is gonna be a longer post of mine, but it’s mostly information about the cult of English Ruckmanism I discovered in the past days and some info I know about the non-English European part, edit it to your hearts content.
Peter Ruckman, Gail Riplinger, Sam Gipp, Jack Chick (to a part) and a host of other KJVO proponents in the US are the center pieces of a growing network of KJVO bible believers that is gaining momentum among conservative christians and who influence even some detractors into modified KJVO movements, like with David Cloud and the people that endorse him.
They actually believe that the KJV is superior to all English bible translations and all other bible translations in other languages, including the reformation bibles in Europe and even the Textus Receptus (TR) [The Greek compilation of Greek manuscripts of the New Testament] and the Masoretic Text (MT) [The Hebrew compilation of the Hebrew/Aramaic manuscripts of the Old Testament].
Double inspiration, infallibility, preservation and even advanced revelation of the KJV over the preserved TR and MT and the inspired yet lost and gone originals is claimed and “proven” via a bad interpretation of Psalm 12:6-7, seeing the KJV as the 7th refinement in several series of refinements via 6 predecessing English bibles and 6 predecessing other language bibles. [If it would be inspired, wouldn’t the KJV have no need of predecessors and not be partly derived from a catholic influenced predecessing bible?]
They claim that each other bible in English after the completion of the KJV is a false bible and especially those after 1880, when Westcott and Hort compiled a Greek NT text based upon the TR and ~3 main minority text lines (The Vatican Vulgate lends most of its corruption from these 3) and some other minority manuscripts~ [which are provably corrupted, the KJVO proponents do have point here.] and made it possible for corruption to sneak in via the corrupted minority texts into modern bibles, ushering in the so called Laodicean age of the church.
While being right on many claims about many modern bibles that provably take away, distort and even add words, entire verses with regards to the TR and MT and in some cases even add the catholic apocrypha, Ruckman and his followers are not just flat out wrong, provably so, they are sectarian, cultic and I dare say even occultic, heavily standing on the shoulders of Benjamin G. Wilkinson and those of J. J. Ray, David Otis Fuller and others, who fully stand on Wilkinson’s shoulders as well.
There are enough descriptions of Ruckman’s brash, weird, hidden racist, etc. attitude and I have observed many of his followers to be really caustic on the web.
Riplinger seems to be involved in the occult, I have found out on a site that is off as well, but documents some weird symbolism going on in her book “In awe of thy Word.”
I myself don’t have this book, but I do have a copy of “New Age Bible Versions”of her and after skimming it, it felt off and weird.
I found it weird that a few years ago I read her name on a list of people whose materials the “Prophecy Club” sold in 2006, she also spoke there at some year at least, the videos can be found easily.
The Prophecy Club is proven to be false and I don’t trust any of the people that are on the 2006 list I found by searching [prophecy club hoggard exposed], Michael Hoggard being proven a false (most likely unsaved) preacher/teacher/expositor.
Now to the people I know, Henk Thomassen and Nico Verhoef, both of which have connections to Ruckman, Riplinger and Chick.
I know of Verhoef that he has attended Ruckman bible school at Pensacola in Florida, Thomassen did not do this, but did an at home study course.
They teach “a pure bible in one’s own language onlyism”, which sound great and better, but is riddled with other problems.
Thomassen told me that Ruckman and Riplinger did back this initiative.
Given the documentation of Ruckman’s behaviour and his advocation of silent omission with regards to students of his that want financial backing of people that reject Ruckman, and the evidence that Riplinger may be an occultist, I doubt that is actually the case and they are duped.
But given what I have observed from them personally and from Ruckmanites in the US that have gone into even more heresy and apostasy, I cannot rule out that to some extent I was lied to from them and deceived by them as well, the deceived leadership deceiving the deceived followers.
While they do teach a lot of good stuff, it is the KJVO and “a pure bible in one’s own language onlyism” that is the portal into even bigger heresies they also teach and bring in subtil and privily.
2 Corithians 11:2-3, 2 Peter 2:1-3, Romans 16:17-18, 1 Timothy 6:3-6
I denounce Ruckmanism and KJVOnlyism and their derivates as heresies harmful to all us believers.
I denounce the infallibility, double inspiration, any supposed advanced revelation of the KJV, Statenbijbel (the Dutch reformation bible), Lutherbibel (the German reformation bible) and any other translation of the TR & MT.
Yet I do believe the TR & MT to be the preserved text of the inspired and God breathed originals and I do encourage the use of reformation bibles and other bibles that are based the TR & MT and are a good literal translation, though some of the reformation bibles do have a few catholic and calvinistic readings in them.
I am very skeptical of new translations, because of the influence of Westcott and Hort’s Greek NT and the Septuagint on the overwhelming majority of them, but I will not forbid anyone to read them, yet I will warn them, like I implicitly do now.
The Lord bless you all, your brother in Christ,
Jan.
Jim Floyd, You said,
“Ruckman should be avoided indeed.
Ruckman taught that the KJV had authority over the greek and hebrew originals. He also taught multiple methods of salvation. Obviously he was very confused theologically and his doctrine had many inconsistencies. He was also very degrading to anyone that disagreed with him. To me that is a sure sign of his insecurity.”
Gail Riplinger should be avoided too for the same reasons. Many are enamored with her ‘teachings’ regarding the KJV and get snookered into repeating some of the things she says which have no basis or foundation, and in doing that, the KJV itself is ridiculed, as is the Word of God as a whole.
She wrote “New Age Bible versions” and of course there is truth to a lot of what she says, which is typical of the enemy. She uses Dan 11:39 to make her point on page 125 (just flip anywhere to see). She takes the word ma`owz, which is translated once as forces, this verse. She ridicules any who use the word ‘fortresses’, citing an Aquarian gospel using the phrase the “God of Forces”. But Strongs H4581 states this:
place or means of safety, protection, refuge, stronghold
place of safety, fastness, harbour, stronghold
refuge (of God) (fig.)
human protection (fig.)
And the interesting part? It is translated most often as strength or strengthen (almost 30 times in the KJV).. So would she make an argument about the God of strength being a greek god?
It’s these kinds of silly statements that weaken people’s trust in God’s Word, and she should be booted out of any trulfree grace church.
bahahahahahaha!!!
you know anyone who reads this is going to go…..”huh”????
John,
me too. I figure I did NOTHING to earn salvation, why not try to take a few folks with me.
edit –Jesus paid it ALL at the cross and rose again!!!!! (NOT rose again????)…sorry.
John, feel free to edit punctuation before posting. 🙂
Preston, very powerful!
I have prayed that the gentleman to whom you sent this will answer yes to the ultimate question.
Eric,
not sure why I am posting this. However, I have been discussing the bible with a Lordship Salvationist—one who actually commented a while back on this blog. anyway, the last email I sent to him (the last half) was this…..
SINCE this is talking about doctrine, lets just see what Jesus said MANY times in the book of John concerning everlasting life.
JESUS SAID – That whosoever BELIEVETH in him should not perish, but HAVE eternal life (John 3:15)
JESUS SAID – 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 3:16)
JESUS SAID – 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 (John 3:18)
JESUS SAID – 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. (John 5:24)
JESUS SAID – Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. (John 6:29)
JESUS SAID – And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that BELIEVETH on me shall NEVER thirst (John 6:35)
JESUS SAID – And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and BELIEVETH on him, may HAVE everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day (John 6:40)
JESUS SAID – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that BELIEVETH on me HATH everlasting life (John 6:47)
JESUS SAID – He that BELIEVETH on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of LIVING water.(John 7:38)
JESUS SAID – Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that BELIEVETH in me, though he were dead, yet shall he LIVE: (John 11:25)
I think you get the point. Jesus cannot contradict himself. He who believes (trusts in) Jesus (NOT themselves) will have everlasting life. NOW. I personlly think you are an HONEST guy. While I obviously dont agree with anything that adds to the gospel, I would like you to answer this question FROM Jesus “internally”. I dont want an answer, it is for your own benefit (in my eyes).
Jesus asked this question. I would like you to PRETEND that he is asking YOU this question.
Jesus asked (said) – And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this??? (John 11:26)
– Do you believe this OR would you say “NO, i dont believe this as belief is NOT enough; even the devils believe and tremble?
– (NOTE – any born again believer is “in Him” OR placed into the body of Christ). So yes – the carnal church of Corinth was “in Him”. THUS – living “in me”.
end email——
to anyone who says belief is not enough……John 11:26 —-Believest thou this????
Jesus paid it ALL at the cross and rose again!!! Simply believe (trust in) that Jesus did it for YOU.
Thank you everyone for responding . It has been a blessing!
beholdason
to me the Clear Gospel Campaign booklet is one of the best. The Gospel and doctrine all contained in one booklet. It is very well made
Actually, I need to add that the last tract is from Pinpoint Gospel Evangelism, who are pelagianists and who do not believe that us humans are born with a sin nature and this are only sinful by choice.
They are huge proponents of a works salvation gospel and works dependent security In Christ and sinless perfection holiness doctrine.
They openly and brazenly preach that people have to reform themselves and trust Jesus and then can and need to be sinless in order to stay saved, essentially deceiving themselves.
Here in the Netherlands we have one such individual, who travels to different cities and hollers tens of minutes into the public to garner attention, be it a crowded market or a near empty park, often so long and loud that he gets into trouble with the police.
He stresses that the unsaved need to stop sinning and consider Christ.
When telling the supposed gospel, he affirms especially works and becoming sinless to the unsaved, which often does garner opposition from christians.
If he thinks that there are muslims, homosexuals, etc. out in the public, he will attack their religion/specific sin to taunt them to become antagonistic with him.
If people do agree with his false message, he tells them that they’re vile, disgusting sinners whom God hates in order to antagonize them.
He also tends to often edit his videos, sometimes severely misrepresenting people who disagree with him, as he did with me when I argued with him for about at least 20 minutes over year ago, butting that down to about 2 minutes of me in the beginning.
He also pickets churches and even one time a mosque.
He records everything with a strapped on video camera.
His great examples in the US do similar things and in some ways they are even worse, because they gather together and much more affront and harsh.
Beholdason.
Since the gospel is everything, I would include…
Romans 1:16 (gospel is the power of God unto salvation)…..then….1 Cor 15:1-4.(declares and defines the gospel)….then……Eph 1:13 (what happens to a person who trusts the gospel)
John,
I have a few minutes. That was it.
REPOST —-
There are two clauses offered in verse 18. In them, the “Fool” (the imaginary disputer of James) invokes a debate with “you,” The term “you” may refer back to James (as if the disputer is debating with James), or the imaginary disputer may be creating his own imaginary disputer (“Disputer 2″)…
Firstly, it appears that these are the words of the fool, since it is not until the next verse that James resumes his reply, which begins by addressing the fool. The words of a fool are hardly the foundation on which to build a doctrine of eternal salvation.
Secondly, demons can’t be saved since Jesus never died for their sins. Those who seek to apply this verse to eternal salvation seem to be unaware of the role that the death of Christ played in our redemption. Faith’s inability to save demons is not due to the sinfulness of demons, but that Jesus did not pay for their sins through his death. He paid for the sins of Adam’s race. Jesus never died for the sins of any demon.
Thirdly, Scripture teaches that to redeem someone, the redeemer must be a kinsman of the redeemed. Mankind is a race. That is, we are all fallen descendents of Adam.
Therefore, Jesus, by being born into Adam’s race, became the kinsman redeemer for all of Adam’s race. In this way, he was able to redeem all of mankind. In contrast to Adam’s race, angels and demons are not a race. They do not reproduce and have offspring. Each angel was a separate creation of God. They are unrelated by blood. Therefore, even if Christ were to decide to redeem fallen angels, he would have to take on the flesh of each demon separately, dying countless times for countless demons.
Fourthly, since demons can’t reproduce, there is no way for Jesus to be born as a descendent of any demon. And without a kinsman redeemer, demons cannot be saved. In short, demons are beyond redemption.
Fifthly, unregenerate minds who seek to formulate some bizarre argument for salvation by works from verse 19 clearly don’t understand the gospel…
For at least these five reasons, only a fool would look to James 2:19 to formulate their doctrine of eternal salvation.”
Preston would ADD…
1. devils were NOT born/created with a sin nature like the rest of us. With the exception of Adam and Eve. we are ALL born with this problem—thats why it is FREE!!!
beholdason, “The Gospel” booklet from Clear Gospel Campaign has illustrations. If you haven’t yet checked it out, you might find it worthwhile – if not for the illustrations, then for the verse references.
I’m really truly thankful I found this website, and that post was confirming what I have found to be a huge problem. I have a secret stash of grubby tracts in my spare room that I keep and I think I’ll add them to my “curious arts bonfire”. hehe.
As I read the comments, so much of what I read mirrors my own experience and thought. This post is truly timely. A month ago I contacted a Christian printing house (linked with an IFB church) in my country, to post me one of their John Romans booklets. I was mortified to read their “How to be saved” at the back. (I thought their JR booklet would be safe from error) 😦
So sad.
On another note: I have been thinking about getting some Gospel tracts made for distribution where I live, but as I want to include illustrations along with some verses (I like watercolours 😀 ), it’s best to just start from scratch then print off an existing one. I want to keep them “minimal” in content but without reducing the Gospel message.
Can you please suggest what verses are best to include? I’ll put a web link on the tract so further info will be online regarding how to grow in faith etc.
Preston, I looked back at old comments. I think it was a comment that I posted on September 1, 2013 under the article “A Lordship Salvationist’s Prayer for His Prodigal Son”.
John/Eric,
Hey Eric!!! don’t have a lot of time this morning. but…James didn’t say that. am imaginary man that James created did…THEN James calls the man vain for saying it in verse 20.
John,
you posted maybe the best post I have seen on “even the devils believe” about a year ago. You hit it from 4 different perspectives. I think it is a good post for Eric to read.
Can you find it for him?
God Bless,
I thank God for you Jan that you see the error of the ruckmanites and the error of chick publishers . few very few come out of indoctrination
I myself personally prefer the KJV but I am not a KJV only person one of several reasons is because of being pigeon holed with the ruckmanites.
Welcome to Expreacherman Eric
also Eric if someone says Believing is not enough more than not they are mixing Justification and Sanctification , They must remain separate or scripture starts contradicting itself .
Justification has everything to do with Sanctification but Sanctification has nothing to do with Justification.
A big help to me was adopting a personal doctrinal statement like the one on Expreacherman and study the THE Gospel
Jan,
Ruckman should be avoided indeed.
Ruckman taught that the KJV had authority over the greek and hebrew originals. He also taught multiple methods of salvation. Obviously he was very confused theologically and his doctrine had many inconsistencies. He was also very degrading to anyone that disagreed with him. To me that is a sure sign of his insecurity.
.
Eric, welcome and thanks for your question.
I am going to give a brief quote from Dr. Thomas Cucuzza regarding what it means to believe. The quote comes from a booklet entitled “How to Be Sure You Are Going to Heaven”. I have provided a link below.
What does it mean to believe on His name? The name “Jesus” means God who is our Savior. When you put your faith in Jesus Christ, you are trusting in Him to save you. When you do, at that very moment, He gives you the free gift of everlasting life.
Click to access how-to-be-sure-you-are-going-to-heaven-with-cover.pdf
Eric, when someone tells you that faith in Christ is not enough to be saved because “even demons believe”, they are denying the gospel. This is one of the most common proof texts of Lordship “salvationists” who DO NOT believe the gospel message. That phrase “even the demons believe” comes from James 2:19. But Eric, Jesus didn’t die to save demons. He died to save people. If you would like to find out more about what this verse means, please see the booklet “Faith Without Works is Dead” linked below:
Click to access cucuzza-faith-without-works-is-dead.pdf
Please come back with any more questions.
Thanks. John
Jan, I hadn’t heard of the Ruckmanite group until just now. Based on what you have written, it sounds like something to avoid.
What does it mean to “believe”? I believe that Jesus came born of a virgin, lived perfect fulfilling the law. Crucified buried & raised from the dead. But I continually I’m told that it’s not enough because even demons believe. I feel insecure about my salvation.
johninnc, as I was in a Ruckmanite congregation, I can only sternly warn anyone who is a follower of Ruckman or in a Ruckmanite congregation to get out of that teaching system and separate yourself from Ruckamn and his followers a.s.a.p.
I have only found out in the past few days how the wool was pulled over my eyes with regards to biblical teaching by Ruckmanite teaching.
It’s only thanks to the Lord using faithful and steadfast brethren like you, John, that I was able to break free from this accursed movement.
Accursed, because it does teach a different definition of repentance and in such corrupts the pure gospel that it also teaches.
And also the different ways of being saved, that in some dispensations people are not saved by faith alone in Christ alone.
It might be a good thing to do a bit of exposition of the nasty mess that is Ruckmanism, but maybe not.
been pondering and praying for you Jan since reading your posts last couple days
we all pretty much know what you are about to go through I have separated from 3 assemblies since 2010 over the clarity of the Gospel.
I can say for me every-time I have turned away yes it hurts but it has always got better for me personally and emotionally. I would wake up in the mornings angry after church service and not know why all along it was because of bad doctrine.
My wife and I are together in the assembly we are currently attending which is a big deal to me. We have not attend church together since 2010. She said she would never set foot in a church again after going through a split of John Mac’s version of Calvinism LS.
I am praying God grant you the wisdom to speak as you ought to in talking to the leaders and God would open their eyes. The snag is leaders sat down and put down in words a doctrinal statement they are bound to live and lead by. They in their own ignorance bound the word of God. Also the leaders have been indoctrinated themselves.
Also Praying you are an Original Voice of who YOU are in Christ Jesus and not a copy of anyone else and or their teaching
1Jn 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
God is not a system of thought
there is a 2 page article i would recommend reading to anyone before they join up with a group goggle “Manipulating Christians through Group Dynamics”. If moderators allow this
Also good information how mind control tactics are used to bind souls and keep souls bound up.
(Administrator’s note: I have read through the article referenced by Curtis. It is almost 8,000 words, in two parts. I think there is some good information in the article, but I know nothing of the authors or organization behind it and, therefore, do not endorse either. Thanks. John)
The number one lesson I have learned and continue to learn is We must read the word of God The Bible for ourselves. I was at a place in my walk were I had to learn to even trust myself reading scripture and studying scripture again. The most dangerous person on the planet is another soul with a bible. that’s why you got to study for yourself as the Holy Spirit is the master teacher. some of the same verses of scripture that had me bound are the same that set me free. Absolutely incredible alive and powerful the word of God is . The proud indoctrinated mind a snare yet freedom with simple humble mind.
2Ti 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
Thank you very much for praying for me.
I thank the Lord for having found this site a few years ago with loving brothers and sisters that tel the truth in love and hold up the pure gospel and who defend it valiantly.
I wrote the two e-mails, now let’s what the fallout will be.
Jan, I have just prayed for you again. My wife, Jane, said that they will try to convince you that you are “on the same page.”
Following is advice on separation from Clear Gospel Campaign:
We believe, however, that any area of doctrine even remotely affecting the integrity of the gospel is inherently serious (Galatians 2:11-14), that Scripture calls us to draw the line at the earliest point, and to yield not one inch on matters that jeopardize the integrity of the gospel, a compromise that jeopardizes the eternal life of every man, woman and child on this planet who has not yet heard the gospel message (Galatians 1:6-9, 2:5).
I would add to the above statement that compromising the gospel “jeopardizes the eternal life of every man, woman and child on this planet who has not yet BELIEVED the gospel message.” Compromising the gospel also results in disastrous consequences for Christians, although loss of eternal life for a Christian is not possible.
Thank you for your prayers, my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.
I will still need them in the coming days.
I will need to inform one pastor that I will not be coming to a conference he will hold at the church where he is the pastor off in North-West Germany and another pastor/evangelist in Switzerland that I will not be translating parts 4 to 6 of the Alberto comics.
My pastor, Henk has called me in the morning and we talked a bit.
Johninnc, you said “Regardless of any explanations that you provide, you will likely find them trying to “smooth over” doctrinal differences.” and yes, he tried that as well and asked me if I was willing to meet with him in the future, but he hasn’t specified any date yet.
So, things might still heat up.
Please pray that this goes well too.
Jan, I have prayed for you to be strong in The Lord in your determination to break from your (now) former place of worship and fellowship. I went though it for more or less the same reasons (and similar circumstances) almost 14 months ago.
Like John’s experience, it was not easy and draining. I found myself walking through my house on the verge of tears several times in the few days leading up to my last service attended. I can tell you in my case the pastor and associate pastor were not mad at all, so maybe you’ll have a similar “not as bad as it COULD have been” experience. In my case they were incredibly gracious.
But if you DO get your proverbial head handed to you, count it all joy for you are blessed when persecuted for the cause of Christ and the gospel. And there are some who regularly post here who I’m sure will be more than happy to share how they survived similar trials and came out on the other end all the stronger because of it.
Let us know how it goes . . .
Howard, there was a time I wasn’t very hungry for God’s Word. I was very tired. I was exhausted as a matter of fact. I was sad and had so much to do. I had to support a family and take care of a husband who was ill. I am not saying I even desired the Word before that. But when I got to the point where I was completely out of fellowship with Him and any believers, I told Him I’d start to obediently read if He’d help. And He did. I didn’t make any promises, this was a part of what I knew I should do, but in truth was afraid I would fail because of being just so worn. And so I just said I would try, and kept asking for His help. What a difference His Word made and prayer, and His help in it all.
Because of people saying things about their own experience, i.e, some just were ‘so hungry for the Word’ or some talking of their tremendous testimony or feats, and pastors speaking of testing your faith by your fruits, I would have been certain I was unsaved. I had one thing to cling to, trust in the fact He said. Thank the Lord for He said and I still had glimmers of hope, and as I began to obediently get into the Word, I began o love it over time, I cannot tell when or how, I felt like everything was slow as a turtle in my life (yet another reason to doubt my salvation). Praise God that He is faithful, and He is true to His Word. He told us what we must do, and we must believe on what He has done for us, in our place. And as for the work afterwards, we must cooperate or we will not just miss out in rewards in the life to come, but we will miss so much. I wish I had not lived my life that way and missed out on so much, but I was still His, contrary to popular opinion, thank the Lord the only opinion that mattered was His.
Howie, there is certainly nothing wrong with your experience of desiring to grow in the Word. What happens many times though is that people make a rule that says if you are not hungry for God’s Word as a believer then you better check to see that you are saved in the first place. It is the same principle as if your are not faithfully attending church then maybe you aren’t saved. If you practice any given sin then maybe you aren’t saved etc.
Jim F
Howard, welcome and thanks for your comment.
As Christians, we should read the Bible. We should do good works. But the key word is “should”. Following is short quote from Tom Cucuzza that may help clarify this matter:
Now, shouldn’t Christians live right? Yes! Yes, Christians should live right. That’s what James is all about. But, not to get to heaven. It’s because we have the gift of salvation, and we’re going to heaven. That’s grace.
Don’t put the cart before the horse! You’ll end up in hell!
Grace. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Not “must” – that would be works. Not “will” – that would be Calvinism. No, it’s should. We should.
I’m not quite sure I’m understanding all of this as is new to me.When I got saved I had an unquenchable desire for reading the word,I just couldn’t get enough of it. And to this day I’m still hungry for the word of God, so according to you guys I guess I’m guilty of works,if I’m misunderstanding what you are saying please correct me as I’m open to understand the gospel correctly. Thanks Howie <
Kenneth – How great you are doing that, i pray the Lord will strengthen you and give you increase. God bless you!
Holly, very sad about Pinpoint. I think the verse that you select is right on point.
Kenneth,
I commend you for your work in the prison. I know it can be difficult in there. There is so much falsehood passed around in those places.
Jan,
I will pray for you as you go through the process of leaving the current fellowship that you are in. It is a hard thing and I know by experience. I am also glad now though that I am not in a place that compromises the gospel truth.
John,
Thanks for writing this. Good Biblical tracts are hard to come by. Just a few months ago I was handed a Chick tract at a local mall. I supposed the guy there thought he was doing some good but the track I received would not have pointed anyone to place their faith alone in Christ alone for salvation. It was full of the kinds of errors that you described above.
LS and it’s works additions to the gospel is just as offensive in tract form. I think we need to remember that that type of gospel is more common to everyone than our free and clear grace gospel. Don’t be surprised if people don’t get it right away.
Jim F
John – a friend of mine pointed out that the Pinpoint tract sounded just like Paul Washer-isms.
So I thanked him and did a little research.
The reason Pinpoint ‘created’ their gospel tracts?
“I started listening to a preacher named Paul Washer. He preached examine yourself to see if your are in the faith, test yourself. The Holy Spirit changed my heart through these messages and I then knew how to be saved. It was not walking an aisle, it was not the sinners prayer, it was to repent and believe the gospel. Every since then I want no one to be a false convert in the modern day church system. I want everyone to here the true gospel of Jesus Christ and know how to be saved. This page will have some good tips and resources on how to reach the lost. Please don’t just sit on the pew! There are many people out there like me.”
Isn’t that sad? And Jesus said something to the Pharisees that is what has happened here.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Matt 23:15
Genevieve, Tom’s booklet is great, as a tract. Plus, your testimony of full confidence of eternal life through Christ is very powerful. The assurance section of “The Gospel” by Ron Shea should help dispel the unbiblical notion that “fruit automatically follows salvation.”
Jan, the last church I separated from was in 2011. It was very difficult, and emotionally draining. I am still certain that it was the right thing to do. May God bless you as you contend for the gospel! I have prayed for you just now.
Kenneth, thanks for sharing about your prison ministry.
How sad it is that MacArthur and others have wormed their way into the prison to spread their false gospels.
And how beautiful it is that there are some sound preachers, such as yourself, to give them the hope of the gospel.
Romans 10:15: And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
I just sent them an e-mail that I won’t be coming tomorrow and why won’t.
I hope and pray they will understand and won’t be too mad about it.
It just tears at my heart, because I do know them quite well now and I’m breaking off from them for the sake of the pure gospel.
Just pray for me, it’s the secondly time I really consciously have left a congregation, the last time was in February 2012.
Pray that the Lord will lead me and other lone christians, who hold on to the unadulterated gospel, together.
Yes John, I experience the corrupted gospel every time I evangelise in the prisons here by me. There is a barrage of “works plus grace” gospel tracts in the Chapel. There are even books by John MacArthur that were donated by someone that makes my job and every other evangelist very difficult. I have some of the prisoners withstand my message of “free grace”. I had one prisoner interrupt me while delivering the gospel message and tell me that he disagrees as he was reading this book by John MacArthur and JMac says…… Unfortunately “Prison Fellowship” is interdenominational and even members of my team consist of Calvies who oppose my message but I speak it boldly anyway. I distribute “The Gospel booklets” by Ron Shea. Excellent gospel tract for evangelising. I put this gospel booklet in the hands of every prisoner I get to talk to. All praise to God.
Holly,I’ve been using Tom Cuccaza’s Gospel booklet too,as a tract.I’ve sent them to some people.They are really beautiful.I love reading them through the eyes of the people I send them too,an exciting discovery,great treasure,a gift from God.Sometimes its a toss up between them & the Clear Gospel Campaign,for the people that think they are saved but believe that fruit automatic follows salvation,I’m not sure which ones to give to them. Clear Gospel Campaign cleared up a lot of confusion for me on that subject & the subject of repentance.Sometimes I print out shorter versions of the Gospel I get from Jim Scudders website & Focus evangelistic ministries website,they are good too.
Looking forward to Galatians study Tom.Just watched part two of understanding salvation series.It shed a lot of light on the subjects of sanctification & justification & the first one was good learnt a lot from it too,like the bit about what Grace means,still got the third one to go. Holly I am glad I’ve been set free by the truth too.
Holly and Tom, thanks for affirming that there is only one way to be saved – faith alone in Christ alone.
I will give just a short list of verses that could not be true if there were, or were to be, periods of human history in which works play(ed) any part in receiving or retaining eternal life:
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. John 20:31: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
5. Acts 4:12: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
6. Romans 4:3: For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
7. Revelation 21:6: And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
I think that the belief that works play a part in one’s salvation outside of the present age is extremely dangerous and can undermine the gospel message.
Trusting in Christ plus works for heaven in the present age will cause someone to be left behind by the rapture. Thereafter, why would trusting in Christ plus works result in receiving eternal life?
I agree John, no believer will take the mark, nor will there be any ‘repentance’ from the mark as John MacArthur has suggested.
But since this article is about how the gospel is maligned/changed/ and added to in so many tracts, this is an excellent subject one that we need to really look into what His Word says regarding it.
We cannot be apart of any accursed gospel, or we too are under that curse. We have to separate, we cannot participate by funding those ministries, or by doing anything to help.
I believe we could also print off Tom Cucuzza’s PDF’s into smaller files as the print is a nice size. And we could give them with a printed gospel of John which as we all know the KJV is not copyrighted so we can print as we will and share the gospel.
Tom, thanks, I was hoping it was clear enough without being too lengthy. I hope many take your study. Galatians is like the Magna Carta of the law of liberty, the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus. Praying many will get out their notebooks and Bibles and really delve into it with you.
Genevieve. I am so glad you now know as the Bible tells us we can, yet so many of them do not know, and for good reason. Every one who trusts in any of their own work or performance, before, during or after as part of what they must do to be saved has reason to be worried. And those who believed the simple gospel and were ensnared for awhile, or bewitched, so glad we have been set free by the truth.
Prayerfully others will too.
Jan, no believer will take the mark.
Please note that we will not be allowing further comment as to different plans of salvation in different dispensations.
As far as separation issues, I would separate as soon as practicable. Regardless of any explanations that you provide, you will likely find them trying to “smooth over” doctrinal differences.
@ johninnc: Well, I talked to the Lord about this and I come to the same conclusion as you and Holly, to leave the church over the issues with the gospel, the tracts and the associations with Chick Publications, Peter Ruckman and Gail Riplinger.
While Henk, our pastor, does give the biblical gospel of salvation in preaching and teaching, his definition of repentance is flawed and the translation of Chick tracts into Dutch hasn’t really changed their dangerous flawed gospel.
Shall I attend service for the last time tomorrow or shall I send them an e-mail with a short explanation of why I will not be coming tomorrow?
That does mean I will send notice to another pastor in Germany that I will not be attending the conference that is planned for the beginning of August and will have to tell an evangelist that is a pastor in Switzerland that I will not be translating the Alberto comics into Dutch, which I did agree to.
I’ll see what kind of responses I will get for that.
Prayer for this would be welcome.
I don’t want our responses to become a battle between different views regarding how to be saved in different dispensations, I am willing to learn, yet I do have some questions regarding eternal salvation in the 70th week of years for Israel.
First only one of them: We know the promise of eternal life to anyone who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, in that time as well, John 3:14-16, 36; 4:13-14; 5:24; 6:40; 9:27-30; 1 John 5:18-20.
But in that time there will be the antichrist/beast, if anyone would worship him and take his mark on his/her right hand or forehead, then that person will fall under God’s wrath and be thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 13:8, 12, 16-18; 14:9-11; 15:2-3; 20:4
So, what will happen to a believer in Jesus Christ who would be so foolish as to worship the beast and take his mark?
My guess is that that believer in Jesus Christ will forfeit his/her eternal life and will come under God’s wrath again.
Currently there is no mark of the beast and our behavior will never be able to cost us eternal life, because we are sealed with the Holy Spirit.
But in the 70th week of years only certain elect, like the 144000, seem to be the only ones who are sealed, because the Holy Spirit will be taken from earth in the pre-70th week rapture.
That’s how I interpret it, I’m open for correction.
As always, well thought out and
To the point! Great article!
Thanks again,
John H. Gregory
L. Vandre, you make a great point.
I find the fruit inspectors (Lordship “salvationists”) to be very adept at explaining how James 2:14-26 is to be used for determining who the “true Christians” are, how “fruits” in Matthew 7:16-20 refer to one’s works, how 2 Corinthians 13:5 means to evaluate your works to test whether or not you are a “true believer”, and how the entire book of 1st John is a test of whether or not one is really a Christian.
But, I don’t find them very adept at explaining away the 160 or so clear passages in the Bible that teach that one receives eternal life by believing in Christ alone as Savior. I don’t find them very adept at explaining assurance passages, such as John 5:24, that tell us that one can know he has eternal life the moment he believes in Christ as Savior.
I think the people discussed in Matthew 7:21-23 may include some very busy “evangelists”, authors, preachers, teachers, missionaries, and humanitarians.
Jonathon, I agree that repent means “a change of mind”, not “turn from sin.” I showed each of the three examples as departing from the true gospel message. So, I agree with you that the first one is in error, as are the other two.
The last part of your comment is a little confusing. You said: “…in effect, we turned our back against sin.”
My comment: Accepting Christ as Savior does not entail “turning our back against sin.” Accepting Christ as Savior means accepting His payment for all of our sin – past, present, and future. Turning from sin is a work (see Jonah 3:10), and is not an automatic result of one trusting in Christ as Savior. For a Christian, turning from sins is the result of Christ working in his life, with his cooperation.
Following is how we explain repentance in our statement of faith:
17. Repent (metanoeo) means a change of mind. Repentance is absolutely essential in salvation and the word “repent” in the Greek means a change of mind — from any idea of religion that man may have, to an acceptance of God’s way of salvation in Jesus Christ alone. Repentance does not in any sense include a demand for a change of conduct or “turning from sin” to gain or keep, before or after salvation as that would entail a works salvation message. Acts 20:21; Matthew. 21:32.
There is also a great resource on repentance, by Tom Cucuzza, linked below:
Click to access cucuzza-repentance-booklet-pdf.pdf
Its interesting that in Matthew 7 the unbelievers call Jesus “Lord” and make their appeal based on their own works…
Holly,
You have explained it very well. There has never been any other way to salvation but through faith in the Savior. In the O.T. they didn’t know His name but looked for Him. We know Him now and His name is Jesus. Works have never been a part of saving us or keeping anyone saved.
We have just started a study in Galatians verse by verse in our church. It should show up on our website within a few weeks. Hopefully it will be of some help to those struggling with the message of salvation by grace.
Tom Cucuzza
Yes!!!!
Genevieve said – Now I know for a fact I am going to heaven.
YES – the fruit of salvation….its what comes out of the mouth…..or keyboard. 🙂
Oh boy, that was a good post.I was one of them people handing out tracts, like these in the past & I am ashamed of myself.I needed to hear the true gospel myself.I don’t know if I ever did back then, but I thought I was saved, even though I also didn’t feel secure & was scared of going to hell at the same time.Now I know for a fact I am going to heaven.Great thanks to God for opening my eyes to the true Gospel.
I am not sure if you made a mistake on #1:
“Be willing to turn from sin (repent). Jesus said: “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:5) ”And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:” (Acts 17:30)”
Repent means a change state of mind, not to turn nor forsake sin:
“The word in the New Testament usually translated “repent” is the Greek word “metanoeo”. It means “to change your mind; reconsider; or, to think differently.” Granted, if a person changes his mind (repents) toward certain sins in his life, he may become very sorrowful and may even stop committing those sins, but this would be a result of repenting, not repentance itself.”
(Note: Link removed by administrator)
Nowhere, actually, did Paul and Silas told the Jailer to repent of their sins to be saved? No, he told them to believe (according to 1 Corinthians 15:4 KJV).
When we believe in Jesus Christ that he came to Earth to die for our sins on the cross (tree), was buried, and rose on the third day – all our sins are forgiven (past, present and future), in effect, we turned our back against sin. That’s the effect of believe, and trusting in Jesus Christ for the payment of our sins in full.
Excellent work as always, John.
The examples you provide are very offensive. Thank you for exposing them in the light.
Jan,
There is only one plan of salvation, that is “the just shall live by faith”. Jesus, There is no other name under heaven whereby we must be saved. The OT saints, had faith in the promise of the Seed, which came into effect from before the foundation of the world, spoken of in Gen 3:15, the promise of the blessing to all nations again, in Gen 12, and it continued through the Word. Just because time in the prophecy of Daniel, stopped for a gap to allow for the ‘fullness of the Gentiles’, does not mean that suddenly there was a new form of salvation, and that salvation was not by Grace through faith.
But now, Emmanuel was revealed, His time of visitation was at hand. We could accept or reject His sacrifice in our place. What changed was temporal forgiveness of sins, which came through the Levitical priesthood, was now replaced by the promise that was made before the law. The law was added because of transgression. This is why there was of necessity a change of Priesthood. Jesus is the only mediator, the only sacrifice, and it is once for all (Heb 10:10,14), so our forgiveness is forever. It will not somehow (as some wrongly believe) revert to faith plus works, which has never been the way of salvation. Remember once again, the just have always LIVED by faith.
No one has ever been made righteous by works of the law. And no one ever will be made righteous by works of the law, this is not what is being taught in ‘enduring to the end’. Enduring to the end (in the Olivet discourses) speaks to a physical salvation, and those will be the ones who will reproduce in the Millennial kingdom..
Hope that helps clarify a little.
Jan, Calvinists call themselve ‘free grace’ when they don’t even believe that way, John MacArthur is a classic example, his church, ‘Grace to you’…. I’m afraid that is deception in advertising…
I would not go to a church that confuses the gospel either, we can’t, it’s accursed, and we are playing the hypocrites and not straightforward if we put up with it if for even an hour. Plus, when we put up with it, we are possibly being responsible for the truth of the gospel not remaining with others (Gal 2). I am afraid we have to come out from among them, and expose the unfruitful deeds of darkness to the light.
John, what a good job, something that has been on my mind. As I bought some gospels of John and Romans awhile back from a printing company, not realizing it had a false gospel printed in it. I was too busy marking the verses, and just not realizing…. I can only pray some read the Word I marked and believed that before they saw the lies.
So many ‘tracts’ that preach a false gospel.
Jan, I can’t get there on a grace plus plan of salvation after the rapture. Grace means gift. What would someone be trusting in, in any dispensation, if they had to trust in their ability to endure to the end? There will be no boasting in heaven, and as far as I know, there is only one heaven.
In addition, Jesus told people that whoever endured to the end would be saved before His crucifixion and resurrection. At that time, both the church age and the rapture were mysteries that had not been revealed. So, I don’t see any way that “enduring to the end” could pertain to receiving eternal life.
If someone has a flawed understanding of the timing of the rapture (let’s say they think it is post-tribulation), then teaching that there are different plans of salvation in different dispensations wouldn’t make any sense to them. In other words, the false teaching that salvation is by faith in Christ plus works after the rapture could cause people in this day and age to reject the gospel.
As far as churches are concerned, I won’t have anything to do with a church that distorts the gospel. I don’t attend a church in my area for that reason.
Great article, you point out what I already knew about Chick tracts
Chick tracts, the house church I go to uses some titles translated into Dutch that have this false gospel brought more to the side of the true gospel, but still the message all in all is a mixed bag.
Our pastor is free grace, but there already is some leaven of a bad repentance definition involved and he is to some extent a follower of Peter S. Ruckman and Gail Riplinger.
I do agree with my pastor that the KJV is the pure word of God for the English speaking people and that in Dutch that is the Statenbijbel 1637 and in German it’s the Lutherbibel 1545 and for each language there is one pure bible in that language and I also agree that one should not force that pure bible, just use it oneself and encourage its use, YMMV on this one.
I do agree with the notion that there are different plans of salvation with different groups of people for different times, meaning that there are instances where people will have to endure to end and doing works, which does put me at odds with the majority here, but I’m still doing research with regards to that.
But I do agree that at least in this dispensation of the grace of God it is so that people are saved by grace alone through faith in the crucified and resurrected Son of God, Jesus Christ, Who saves us through His blood and keeps us safely sealed unto the day of redemption with the Holy Spirit.
What bothers me about the house church I attend is that I disagree with the use of Chick tracts when we go preaching and distribute tracts, even if they are translated and partly de-leavened.
I also know about the bad reputations of Ruckman and Riplinger, though I do think that to some part may be because their antagonists may be playing dirty.
Yet I do think Ruckman is foul-mouthed and does a disservice to dispensationalism and to the adherence to the pure bible that the Lord provided us with in each of our respective mother tongues.
It takes too far here to describe the teaching that there is an proven unbroken line of pure bibles from the Greek, Aramaic and Hebrew of the bibles the early church had up until the reformation bibles and current pure word bibles, but I summed it up herewith.
I am not here to cause a quarrel, I could have done that previously.
I just seek truth and wisdom.
In this particular matter what I should do with regards to this home church.
Other than them, a family of 5 and an elderly man in his late 60s and me, nobody goes there.
Yet there is no viable alternative for me and other than the mentioned issues, there aren’t really other doctrinal issues.
They do believe in grace through faith in Christ alone and in unconditional eternal security.
What should I do?
Amen! You nailed it brother– excellent observations. Blessings to you.