Category Archives: Free Grace

Hope Defined, Hope Declared: What is Hope? (Vintage Expreacherman)

Posted on September 30, 2011 by | 20 comments

by Jack Weaver (reposted article)

For centuries man has misunderstood or misinterpreted many words in God’s Holy Scripture. “Scholars” debate the meanings of Biblical words and we must determine whether such interpretations are errors or truth. If errors, whether they are accidental or deliberate. Let’s take the wonderful and exhilarating word “Hope” and see if we can understand it. Of course this writing will be an abbreviated explanation of the word but it is a start.

One may say, “I hope it will not rain today.” “I hope my car will start when I have an emergency.” “I hope my children will grow up to be great citizens.” “I hope. I hope. I hope.”

The standard dictionary definition, and one that is generally accepted by most of the world is “to FEEL that something desired MAY happen:” The words “feel” and “may” are two very indefinite and vague words, but such a definition of “hope” exemplifies the thinking of most people.

The dictionary definition of the word “hope” is NOT the Biblical Hope of which we speak.

Let us investigate the Old and New Testament meanings of the word “Hope.”

Psalm 33:22

“Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.”

Hope in this verse is the Hebrew word, “yachal” meaning “trust.”

Psalm 130:7

“Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption.”

Again this is the same Hebrew word, “trust.”

Psalm 39:7

“And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.”

Here we see a slightly different Hebrew word “towcheleth“ but with the same root but meaning “expectation.” These and many, many more verses illustrate the Psalmist’s reliance upon the trustworthiness of the Lord. The Lord CAN be trusted. He WILL keep His promises.

Now, in the New Testament we see the word “Hope” in several verses. This word “Hope” is an absolute, a guarantee without a doubt. It is the Greek word “elpis” meaning “to expect or anticipate with pleasure.”

Romans 5:2

“By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

We rejoice in the glory of God, not with uncertainty but with joyful anticipation — guaranteed.

Colossians 1:5

“For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;“

The Hope of Heaven is not a maybe — but an absolute and definite guarantee by the Word of the Truth of the Gospel.

Titus 1:2

“In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;”

Eternal life — guaranteed and promised by the God of the Universe. He cannot lie.

Titus 2:13

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”

Every believer in Jesus Christ may look with confidence to the glorious appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ. No doubt!

Titus 3:7

“That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

We are Justified by God’s grace, guaranteed — Rendered innocent or free by God’s Grace, eternal life guaranteed!

As you read this, I want you to have that Hope or guarantee personally. God offers you this by His Grace.

Just briefly, no one deserves to live in Heaven or have eternal life with the Righteous God (Revelation 21:27). We are all sinners by nature and deed. Simply put, we have all sinned and come short of the mark of God’s righteousness (Romans 3:23). All sin requires a payment that must be paid — and that penalty is spiritual death, being apart from God in Hell (Romans 4:23).

By God’s Grace and Love He provided a Sin Bearer in the person of Jesus Christ who was crucified for our sin, was buried and rose again. This Grace is available to the whole world — including you personally (John 3:16). It is not determined by how good you are — or how hard you try — or by your good works, but by Grace alone, which means “undeserved mercy.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

How can we KNOW that Hope is real?

1 John 5:13

“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

You can KNOW. God promises Heaven, the Hope (guarantee) of eternal life is when you trust that Jesus paid the death penalty in your place. He promises — and all you need do is to trust Jesus as your Savior. Believe His Word — He died for you.

If you have never trusted Jesus alone as your Savior, do that right now. Believe His promises of eternal life which are yours the very moment you trust Jesus as YOUR Savior.

Remember and believe this:

Jesus died — That is history. Jesus died for ME — that is salvation.

When you make that simple decision, your eternity in Heaven is secure in Jesus Christ. It is God’s guarantee, thus your HOPE of Heaven is guaranteed eternal. You are immediately declared righteous before a Holy God with no possibility of losing His Gift of salvation. Eternal life is ETERNAL — without end, beginning the moment you trust Christ as your personal Savior.

Romans 1:16

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

Please, trust Jesus Christ as your Savior NOW! God has no strings attached! Claim that wonderful HOPE.

Learn How to Have Eternal Life.

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Posted in Assurance, Assurance of salvation, Christian, Christianity, Cross, Easter, Easy Believism, Eternal Security, Faith, Free Grace, Grace, Hope, John Piper, Joy, Love of God, Once saved always saved, Peace, Religion, Resurrection, Salvation, Secure salvation, Security of believers, Security of the believer, Thansgiving

Similarities Re: Dominionism, Calvinism, Replacement “theology,” and Lordship “salvation”

Posted on September 20, 2011 by | 62 comments

I propose a few questions based on observations and comments on some of our more popular recent posts. Shall we discuss Questions and Similarities Regarding Dominionism, Calvinism, Replacement “theology,” and Lordship “salvation” (LS)?

1) Can we blame any or all of these four errors on a lack of clear Dispensational teaching of God’s Word?

2) Aren’t Old Testament verses taken out of context, in many cases, to justify virtually every one of these four philosophies?

Example for Dominionism: “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.” Psalm 72:8

Many use this and other  verses to justify a Dominionist “theology” — but due to a lack of dispensational teaching and understanding — they wrongly assume that verse and many more apply to today. One can see how they take verses about God’s earthly Dominion in the future and misplace them into today. This teaching  also seems to be similar to certain versions of “Kingdom Now” teaching.

3) Or, are these teachings deliberately pushed to glorify a selfish teacher or church rather that God’s Salvation by Grace through Faith in Jesus Christ alone?

4) Could we say that Calvinist/Reformed “theology” is the teaching which holds the greatest responsibility for Replacement “theology“?

5) Aren’t all Lordship “salvationists”  — Calvinists? Are there any exceptions? Is it not true that LS, Dominionism and Calvinism use the Calvinist catchword “Sovereignty” to justify their theory of God’s Sovereign Dominion today and likewise the Replacement “theology” of today?

I have posed these as questions, as I believe most are true. We will be interested in your respectful comments. Thanks

Eternal Life — No Cost to You! << Click

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Posted in Atheist, Calvinism, Chan, Christian, Christianity, Danger, Dominionism, Emerging, Faith, Free Grace, Grace, John MacArthur, Lordship Salvation, Reformed theology, Religion, Replacement theology, Rick Warren, Salvation

Is The Charge of “Christian Dominionism” a Foil of The Left?

Posted on September 6, 2011 by | 22 comments

We have seen the charge of Christian Dominionism raised against Christians and Conservative political groups. No doubt there are some Christian leaders who promote the idea of an immediate man-made dominion theology over all the earth. Some would call that a “Theocracy.” I have written about some of them — they are the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), Emergent Church, Word of Faith movement and many more. In a previous article, our visitor/commenter Glenn brought out that Dominionists are usually post-millennial Christians — or those who believe in a “Kingdom Now” on earth teaching — which is counter to good Bible doctrine.

My point in this short article is this: I believe honest people have falsely accused sincere Conservative Christians and Christian candidates of “Dominionism.” In my research I have also found that Liberal blogs, Liberal “Christians” and politicians are using the Dominionism charge as a “foil” against honest people (Christians and others) — to make them fall back and hesitate to take a position on political candidates for fear of the charge of being or supporting a “Christian Dominionist.” This was the argument against GW Bush’s second term, especially by Liberal Jewish organizations. Their charge was that Bush would install a Christian Theocracy. A Jewish atheist friend wrote and asked me about that. I assured her that the composition of the Bush administration did not resemble any idea of Biblical Theocracy — his friends and appointees came from every religion one can imagine. No chance of a Christian Theocracy from Bush.

I use the verb “Foil” which means to  thwart; impede, hamper, to defeat; check or repulse. That is the purpose of liberals opposing Christian candidates who are pro-life, who stand against abortion, same sex marriage, homosexual indoctrination in schools, etc. In other words these Liberals (posing as Conservatives) oppose Values Candidates with the false charge of “Dominionism”.

Some charge that the Tea Party is an arm of the Christian Dominionist movement. I see that charge on the liberal blogs on the Internet (Huffington Post, Daily Beast, et al) — but I find no indication of that in reality. We see Catholics, Baptists, atheists, Mormons and all shades of “Christians” and non-Christians participating in the Tea Party movement. Tea Party means, “Taxed Enough Already.” Its original purpose was to organize against big government tax-and-spend liberal candidates and support those who believe in true limited Constitutional government and sound values.

In Liberal minds, the charge against a candidate is sufficient to smear, whether or not the facts support the charge. The problem for Christian Conservatives is discerning the truth and then finding and supporting candidates who most closely reflect their own Christian values. There’s nothing wrong with that. Such is NOT “Christian Dominionism.” Don’t be intimidated.

True Bible believing Christians are not looking for a Christian Theocracy/Dominion on this earth but simply a continuing and peaceable environment enabling us to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost without restraint — until He returns for His Believers at the Rapture.

We will appreciate your kind comments and opinions.

The Truth of Eternal Life

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Posted in Atheism, Atheist, Calvinism, Christian, Christianity, Conservative, contemplative, Emergent, Emerging, Faith, Free Grace, Jews, Reformed theology, Religion, Salvation, Socialism

A Gospel With a Hole or a WHOLE Gospel? Does the Gospel of the Bible Really Have a Hole in it?

Posted on August 28, 2011 by | 62 comments

A Brief Look at the Book, The Hole in Our Gospel, Nashville:  Thomas Nelson, 2009, 2010, by Richard Stearns

Recently, I was given a copy of a best-selling “Christian” book entitled, The Hole in Our Gospel:  The Answer that Changed My Life and Might Just Change the World.  The author is Richard Stearns, President of World Vision U.S.A.  My instant reaction upon reading the title, “The Hole in Our Gospel,” was OUTRAGE!  How dare this author declare that the beautiful saving gospel of Christ Jesus, of God’s magnificent magnanimous loving offering of his only begotten Son to die IN OUR PLACE FOR OUR SINS ON THE CROSS, the good news of salvation, the blessed hope declared in the Bible could in any way be deficient?  What a slur, what a terrible affront, I thought!  I read on to see if some way, somehow, I could be mistaken.  Perhaps Stearns didn’t really mean it that way.  Perhaps he just used the title simply to kindle some attention.  Maybe he will explain his way out of the title.  Sadly, he meant what he said and he expanded upon his position. 

I will cite a few quotations from the book to demonstrate the objective of the author, but first let me state that as a relief organization, World Vision has done much good around the world in helping to alleviate starvation, illiteracy and poverty.  I have no beef with that organization.  I have a number of family members who have supported World Vision children.  Second, let’s look at how the Bible defines the Gospel and later we can compare Stearns’ “gospel” with the Biblical Gospel.

The Gospel of the Bible

Ephesians 2:8-9:  (We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.)  “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.”

John 3:16-17:  “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.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

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

1 Corinthians 15:1-8 “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures; and that he was seen of Cephas [Peter], then of the twelve; after that he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.  After that, he was seen by James; then of all the apostles; and last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.”

Richard Stearns’ Lordship Salvation/Social Welfare “gospel”:

Quotations from the book The Hole in Our Gospel:

P. 1 “I am a Christian—perhaps you are too.  But what does that mean exactly?  To even be Christians, we must first believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  That in itself is no small idea.  If it is true, it changes everything, because if Christ is God, then all that He said and did is deeply significant to how we live our lives.  So we believe.  But God expects more.  . . .  What is God asking for, really from you and me?  Much more than church attendance.  More than prayer too.  More than belief, and even more than self-denial.  God asks us for everything.  He requires a total life commitment from those who would be His followers.”  [My comment:  This brand of justification is called “commitment salvation.”  It is characteristic of many lordship salvation teachers like Francis Chan.]

P. 2  “The idea behind The Hole in Our Gospel is quite simple.  It’s basically the belief that being a Christian, or follower of Jesus Christ, requires much more than just having a personal and transforming relationship with God.  It also entails a public and transforming relationship with the world.  If your personal faith in Christ has no positive outward expression, then your faith—and mine—has a hole in it.”  [My comment:  Standard addition of works added to faith to truly be saved, common to all lordship faith teaching.]

p. 3 “Belief is not enough.  Worship is not enough.  Personal morality is not enough.  And Christian community is not enough.  God has always demanded more.”

P. 5 “The whole gospel is a vision for ushering in God’s kingdom—now, not in some future time, and here, on earth, not in some distant heaven.”  [A “Kingdom Now” gospel]

P. 15 “So how can our gospel have a hole in it?  As I mentioned in the prologue, the word gospel literally means glad tidings, or good news.  It is shorthand, meant to convey the coming of the kingdom of God through the Messiah.  . . .  The amazing news of the gospel is that men and women, through Christ’s atoning death, can now be reconciled to God.  But the good news Jesus proclaimed had a fullness beyond salvation and the forgiveness of sins; it also signified the coming of God’s kingdom on earth.  This new kingdom, characteristics of which were captured in the Beatitudes, would turn the existing world order upside down.”  [Comment:  Stearn’s reveals his perceived deficiency in the true Gospel of the Bible]

p. 17 “More and more, our view of the gospel has been narrowed to a simple transaction, marked by checking a box on a bingo card at some prayer breakfast, registering a decision for Christ, or coming forward during an altar call.  . . . we just had to get them to pray the ‘sinner’s prayer’ and then move on to the next potential convert.  In our evangelistic efforts to make the good news accessible and simple to understand, we seem to have boiled it down to a kind of ‘fire insurance’ that one can buy.  Then, once the policy is in effect, the sinner can go back to whatever life he was living—of wealth and success, or of poverty and suffering.  As long as the policy is in the drawer, the other things don’t matter as much.  We’ve got our ‘ticket’ to the next life.  There is a real problem with this limited view of the kingdom of God; it is not the whole gospel.  Instead, it’s a gospel with a gaping hole.”  [My comment:  It only has a gaping hole because you misdefine and caricaturize the TRUE GOSPEL of the Bible, as laid out at the beginning of this article.  Mischaracterizing and belittling the Christian gospel is the standard operating procedure of lordship faith teachers.  John MacArthur, in particular, frequently caricaturizes and berates the biblical Christian gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.  His book The Gospel According to Jesus is chock-full of such slanderous false statements.]

p. 21 “When we talk today about proclaiming the gospel, we typically mean evangelism, a verbal proclamation of the good news of salvation and how it can be received by anyone by asking God’s forgiveness and committing his or her life to Christ.  But this is not the whole gospel.”  [My comment:  This statement of Stearns’ is stunning!  I am left in disbelief and his callous disregard for and rejection of the Biblical gospel.]

Final note:  I could go on and on with more quotations from this unbiblical book, this declaration of a false gospel, but I think that you have seen enough to get the point!  Your comments, as always, are welcome.

Bruce

 

 

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Posted in Assurance, Assurance of salvation, Bible, Chan, Christian, Christianity, Cross, Danger, Dominionism, Easy Believism, Emergent, Emerging, Eternal Security, Faith, Francis Chan, Free Grace, Grace, HELL, Hope, John MacArthur, John Piper, Joy, Lordship, Lordship Faith, Lordship Salvation, Love of God, Once saved always saved, Peace, Reformed theology, Religion, Resurrection, Salvation, Secure salvation, Security of believers, Security of the believer

Campus Crusade Gone Awry

Posted on August 25, 2011 by | 17 comments

One of our dear readers and friends, Marcella posted on a previous article, a comment about Campus Crusade for Christ International (CCCI) .

With her permission I reprint and comment on it here.. but first I must make a few quick points.

1) INTENT: Perhaps the original intent of CCCI founder Bill Bright was honorable.

2) DISCLAIMER:  Maybe you are one who trusted Christ as your Savior through that ministry. That is good. It is possible in spite of their erroneous message. However, we do not recommend CCCI or Cru at all.

3) FELLOWSHIP: CCCI has given high school and college students a place of fellowship.. but unfortunately it was not a fellowship in the True Gospel of Jesus Christ.

4) SALVATION: The original “salvation” message of Bill Bright and CCCI (especially on their tracts) was: The problem with mankind is that we have “put ourselves on the throne of our life.” Then their solution is to “take self off and put Jesus on the throne of our life.” That sounds almost like an early version of Lordship “salvation” doesn’t it? I hear that their more recent tracts have a slightly different message…

Here I quote Marcella’s note and then I will give my experiences with Bill Bright and with some dear friends, who came to Bible College having previously been steeped in Bill Bright’s “throne” message.

From Marcella:

I’m afraid Campus Crusade for Christ has fallen away from the gospel. In early 2012, their new name will be “Cru.” It’s because people are offended by Christ in their name, so Campus Crusade is going for a short name that will appeal to people. Here’s what Campus Crusade says, “There’s only one reason we’d change. We want to do a better job of connecting people to God’s love and forgiveness. It’s all about helping people experience the good news that Jesus offers.” Removing Christ is sad, but it’s even more sad when He’s entirely removed from the gospel. It reminds me of the Emergent churches. If you don’t agree with Campus Crusade’s new name, be prepared to be banned! I used to support them, but stopped doing that a few years ago due to their law filled gospel. There’s much on the internet about Campus Crusade’s association with the charismatic movement and Roman Catholic Church.

http://www.ccci.org/about-us/donor-relations/our-new-name/press.htm

Thanks Marcella.

In the late 1960s I became friends with several young men who, even though avid CCCI members, decided to attend Florida Bible College in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. After being there for a semester they began to see the Truth of the Gospel and realized that through their affiliation with CCCI, they had learned and been preaching a false “gospel.” They were extremely excited to see and learn the Truth — that in order to be saved, one does not “take self off the throne and put Jesus on,” but simply trust Jesus Christ as one’s Savior. (John 3:16-18) They all became great soulwinners while in college and after.

At some time in the late 60’s or early 70’s, the usually very discerning President of the Bible College announced he was having Bill Bright visit the college for a series of speeches to the students.

At that time I sat on the Advisory Board of Florida Bible College and was an Elder in the affiliated Florida Bible Church. I was not happy about the President’s decision to invite Bill Bright. However I was pleased that those students who were former CCCI promoters were also very upset and disappointed that Bright was to speak to the student body  — because NOW they  realized the lie of CCCI.

I spoke with the President, expressing my concern, disbelief and sorrow that he would invite a person like Bright. I explained that Bright was a very appealing and charming speaker who would influence the students — but with a false “gospel” message. I felt he would mislead these young minds. I expressed my belief that he should cancel Bright. Shortly after, several of the former CCCI men formed a student committee and visited the President. They presented their case against Bright and CCCI, pleading that the President should cancel Bright’s visit. Thankfully, we were later notified that Bright would not be visiting or speaking at the Bible College. I must assume Bright’s motivation for visiting was to increase his influence and membership in CCCI. I applauded and thanked the President’s decision to cancel Bright.

A young friend, who trusted Christ as his Savior at an early age, joined CCCI while in college — against my advice. He cannot be convinced that their message is wrong. His ecumenical CCCI fellowship (sponsored by a Presbyterian church) included and accepted students from many different brands of un-Biblical “Christian” religions. They were taught NO Biblical doctrine nor discernment at all. Such is dangerous and it distresses me to see that.

We will appreciate your comments about CCCI/Cru or your experiences with them. Please comment whether you agree or disagree about their message as well as their determination to remove “Christ” from their name.

The Real Salvation Message

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Posted in Campus Crusade, CCCI, Christian, Christianity, Conservative, contemplative, CRU, Danger, Emergent, Emerging, Faith, Free Grace, Grace, Lordship Salvation, Reformed theology, Religion, Salvation

Calvinism: Futile Hope and “Christian” Despair

Posted on August 21, 2011 by | 129 comments

I received an email today from a very dear, long time personal friend, Richard, with whom I have been sharing my faith continuously for probably 15 or more years. As yet, he has not made the decision to trust Jesus Christ alone as his Savior. He is a brilliant man, conservative politically and former military. We have had some wonderful personal conversations (at our home) and by email for years. I will share his email (with his permission – anonymously, of course) and let you, my readers, comment on it for his benefit.

Hi, Jack,

I need help in understanding the appeal of Calvinism, please.

I don’t see what its inherent appeal is.  Ok, I get it if I can sign on to a doctrine that says the Elect can be saved, PROVIDED I know that I’m for sure one of the Elect.

As I understand it, however, a Calvinist DOESN’T know that he’s saved.  All he knows is that he might be.  Why sign on to that?  It’s like enlisting in the Army in the hope that one MIGHT be paid and fed but having no guarantee.

There appears to be or have been a kind of frantic or, at least, anxiety-ridden, life that the Calvinist then leads not knowing his fate.  Apparently, as a way to deceive oneself, the Calvinist then works hard to achieve material success in life to kid himself that success is God’s way of saying, “Don’t worry.  You’re one of the ones I’ve chosen.”

But this apparently isn’t sanctified by official Calvinist doctrine.

Even before one embraces and embarks upon a hamster-in-the-wheel life, the new or would-be convert is still faced with the stark doctrine that the Elect are on a list that only God can see, which list, at least official/doctrinally, he may not be on at all.

Why would anyone jump on that initially?  If it’s unknowable what gets one onto God’s list, you live a life of Christian despair.

Do I have this right?

Stay warm!

Richard

Richard, you have nailed one of many problems of Calvinism, “Election.” I am so happy to read that you see the inherent errors in that teaching and will not fall for it. Obviously, by your question, you have done some serious thought and reading about Calvinism.

It is clear to any serious student of the Bible that the Calvinists have manufactured their teaching by taking God’s Word out of context and by building a religion based on men such as; John Calvin and Augustine of old days, and then the more modern purveyors, John MacArthur, John Piper, R.C. Sproul, Francis Chan and many more. Their words seem convincing to the naive or the dedicated followers until they honestly investigate the teaching in light of a contextual study of God’s Word. It is no wonder that this theology so often morphs into a commitment or lordship type “salvation” message.

Calvinism seems to be growing by leaps and bounds which is not understandable since it has NO appeal to an honest, dispensational student of the Bible. From my experience it seems most folks who become Calvinists have either been raised in it or perhaps they trusted Christ in a Biblical environment and then chose the “appeal” of Calvinism as an easy way to shun any personal responsibility for themselves.

I will limit my comments for now as I am anxious to see what our discerning and faithful readers will have to say. We have covered this subject in several ways in past posts but this one is unique and personal to both of us Richard, and as you know Shirley and I pray daily that you will see and believe the Truth.
“And ye shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free. … If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:32, 36

That word “free” in the original Greek means “exempt (from obligation or liability) :- free (man, woman), at liberty.” One who is under the uncertain yoke of Calvinism can never be sure they are “elect” (their definition of the word) and thus they can never honestly say, “I am free (and secure) for all eternity.”

We can be FREE when we decide to believe that Jesus Christ, God in the Flesh, died on the cross for every sin of mine for all eternity.. History confirms He was buried and arose from the grave. Scripture confirms that and Jesus is alive today as an advocate for every one who has put their trust in Him for eternal life.

Richard, thanks for your note and the idea for this post.

Eternal Life IS FREE!!!

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Posted in Assurance, Assurance of salvation, Bible, Calvinism, Chan, Christian, Christianity, Conservative, contemplative, Cross, Danger, Emergent, Emerging, Eternal Security, Faith, Francis Chan, Free Grace, Grace, HELL, Hope, John MacArthur, John Piper, Joy, Lordship, Lordship Faith, Lordship Salvation, Love of God, Once saved always saved, Peace, Reformed theology, Religion, Salvation, Secure salvation, Security of believers, Security of the believer

Exploited Kid “Preacher” – A lie and NOT Biblical !!

Posted on August 18, 2011 by | 67 comments

We watched in horror yesterday as FOX news featured a 4 year child, Kanon Tipton, being interviewed as a “gospel preacher”

We were horrified and amazed that FOX would stoop so low as to demean true Biblical preaching and evangelism with this side-show… but they did.

I will not put the video here to advertise it further but it almost  made me sick to watch it and see videos of him “preaching” to an audience who gave him “amens” and applause. The kid can neither read nor speak intelligibly nor describe what he is “preaching.” He has simply learned the movements of and emulated his father, a Pentecostal preacher of the United Pentecostal Church in Mississippi.

A friend, James, gave me a “heads up” about this poor, exploited child a few minutes ago.. Thanks James.

“Speaking of the 4 year old interview on Fox news, his family are members of an anti-Trinitarian organization. UPC [United Pentecostal Church] His father is the District Superintendent for the UPC Church of Mississippi. I thought the JW’s were bad in their attacks on the Trinity, the UPC are just as bad. Info on Kanon’s dad: http://thepog.cc/#/our-team
Blessings, James
We will appreciate comments from our wonderful readers.

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Posted in Christian, Christianity, Danger, Faith, Free Grace, Grace, Religion, Salvation

False Repentance, Perseverance and Lordship “salvation”

Posted on June 26, 2011 by | 173 comments

False Repentance, Perseverance and Lordship “salvation”

These are the Big Three of theological errors in the modern day church. (there are more).

  • False Repentance, telling folks you must turn from sin to be saved or stay saved.
  • Perseverance, the Calvinist idea that if you don’t persevere until the end, you are not among the “chosen” to be saved. Perseverance-ites say the same thing but in a fancier and more exotic language. Sometime you may even see them speak in Romanist Latin. (Sola, sola)
  • Lordship “salvation,” the theory that you must live righteously and do good works in order to be “saved” and if you don’t continue living righteously according to their rules, you obviously made a false profession of your faith and never were saved.

As we briefly state those obvious lies, we see that all three of these false doctrines are reading from the same pages of the same authors and all have merged into a “works” salvation message..

“Lordship salvation”, “Turn From Sin for salvation” and “Persevere for salvation” seem to be a convergence of “theologies” into one ecumenical mishmash. This uniting of false “theology” is simply a propagation of Galatianism, adding works to be saved, stay saved or persevere long enough to maybe be saved (never sure). None offer any real assurance of an eternity in Heaven with our Savior.

As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Believing Church in Galatia:

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

Paul’s message is to those believers in the church in Galatia who formerly understood God’s Grace but, still saved, had turned to “another gospel” of works which we understand clearly when we read further in the book of Galatians. This “another gospel” was “of man” not God. While these are addressed as believers, we see today, many unbelievers tricked into believing the Lie of one of the Big Three or maybe all three.

There we have an explanation of how the “Lordship Salvation,” “Turn From Sin for salvation” and “Calvinist perseverance” teachers have veered (or run headlong) into a false message of works to be saved and/or stay saved.

Let’s discuss it…

Eternal Life For You << Click

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Posted in Calvinism, Chan, Christian, Christianity, Conservative, contemplative, Cross, Danger, Emergent, Emerging, Faith, Free Grace, Grace, John MacArthur, Lordship Salvation, Reformed theology, Religion

Free Grace Theology and “Easy Believism”: Free Grace Does Not Equal Easy Believism

Posted on June 18, 2011 by | 114 comments

Free Grace Theology and “Easy Believism”:

Is There Really Any Connection?

by Bruce Bauer

  A Harmless Non-derogatory Term?  You be the judge. 

“Easy Believism”  At first glance and in one’s initial thoughts, the term might seem innocuous enough to the average Christian.  After all, he might say, it should be easy to believe; it shouldn’t be difficult to become saved.  Christ died on the cross for our sins, he was buried and on the third day he rose from the grave—believe this gospel, believe in this Jesus of the Bible and you’ll be saved!  Take caution, however, for some in the evangelical world employ the term “easy believism” to mean something completely different than you might think.

For the advocate of Lordship Salvation teaching, the appellation “easy believism” takes on an entirely different connotation with strikingly defamatory undertones.  Listen to the way that John MacArthur utilizes the designation “easy believism” to slander Free Grace theology in his book, “The Gospel According to Jesus,” 1988, 2008 (Grand Rapids:  Zondervan), p. 20:  “Thus the good news of Christ has given way to the bad news of an insidious easy-believism that makes no moral demands on the lives of sinners.”  Other similar slurs have been employed regularly by Lordship Faith advocates such as, “sloppy agape” and “greasy grace.”

The whole thrust of MacArthur’s accusation, of course, is that belief in Christ alone (by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone—the gospel message of Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 4:5) for salvation, if not accompanied by a whole array of outwardly visible works, is not good enough (it’s not meritorious enough to save [or keep saved] the sinner); to MacArthur, simply trusting the gospel of 1 Cor. 15:1-8, John 3:16, Acts 16:30-31, et. al., is not sufficient, i.e., it is not genuine saving faith.

As Dr. Tom Cucuzza declared in his book “Secure Forever: God’s Promise or Our Perseverance” (St. Cloud, MN:  Xulon, 2008) about MacArthur’s unbiblical teaching (p. 89:  see Jack’s link above, right column, to purchase the book), “Is he [MacArthur] not saying that there must be perseverance to be eternally secure?  Perseverance has to do with ‘our faithfulness and works.’  This man is saying that you and I must persevere, or work, to be saved.  This is why, in the same article, MacArthur calls lordship salvation, ‘working-faith salvation.’  This is clearly mixing works with faith.”

“Believism”

Words have meaning.  Words have impact; they can edify or they can bring harm.  I personally abhor this non-word “believism!”  The suffix “ism” in itself is a very thinly-veiled slam against Free Grace theology.  It implies strongly that Free Grace is no better than any prevailing cult or “ism” on the scene today.  False movements or belief systems such as Hinduism, Darwinism, Mormonism, or fanaticism come quickly to mind.  In my opinion, this implication is no coincidence.  Furthermore, setting aside the cultic connection, when one tacks on the often “tacky” suffix “ism,” the insertion can sometimes negate, weaken or alter the thrust of the original word.  Take the word “true,” for instance.  Attach the suffix “ism” and what do you end up with?  The word “truism,” meaning, having the general appearance of truth, or being accepted by the masses as being true, as in a politician’s rhetorical platitudes, yet in actuality or in common practice, it may or may not prove to be reliable or verifiably true at all!  Similarly, “believism” could be inferred to mean, “that which has a general appearance or a facade of true belief but in reality is not real or genuine belief at all!”

Is True Belief Really Easy?

“Easy”

 In exploring and parsing the meaning of the term “easy,” I feel somewhat like a grand juror at the Clinton/ Lewinsky hearings attempting to wade through the morass of Bill Clinton’s infamous convoluted testimony:  “It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is.  If the—if he—if ‘is’ means is and never has been, that is not—that is one thing.  If it means there is none, that was a completely true statement.”  Say what??  Let’s look at some options below:

Easy, meaning uncomplicated, simple, straightforward, clear, not hard, not harsh, painless, not having to work for something:  When applied to the basic biblical gospel of salvation through faith alone in Christ alone, the synonyms above definitely apply.  Coming to Jesus to become saved is not a complicated arduous task.  Even a child can comprehend and accept the simple message of salvation.  Acts 16:30-31 says, “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”  Jesus beckons and welcomes all who will come to him by faith placing their trust in him alone for salvation:   “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:  and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).  The open invitation is for everyone—2 Peter 3:9.

Easy, meaning carefree, comfortable, gentle, tolerant, soft, mild, lenient, permissive, serene, lax, benign:  This is a false picture of the Christian gospel which Lordship Faith proponents wrongfully thrust upon Free Grace theology.  It implies a false theology of universalism (popularized recently by the vast publication of the heretical book “Love Wins”).  Free Grace rejects universalism outright!  The typical accusation is that Free Grace teaches that salvation comes simply by raising a hand, reciting a formulaic prayer, accepting a few innocuous facts about the historical Jesus, walking an aisle or coming forward at a Crusade.  The Bible says nothing about any of these actions as being salvific; it says instead, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.”

Are There Any Reasons for Ever Saying that Belief Unto Salvation is Not Easy?

  1.    Uncomplicated?  Straightforward?  Simple?  Clear?  Absolutely!  . . .  Easy?  Listen to Charles Ryrie from his book “Balancing the Christian Life,” (Chicago:  Moody, 1969, 1994), pp. 188-189 about the problematic quality of the word “easy” when speaking of Christian belief:  “The content of our faith involves unbelievable demands.  We are asking people to trust this unseen Person about forgiveness of sins and eternal life on the basis of the death of that Person which is said to be substitutionary.  Is that easy?”
  2.    Stubborn unbelief.  For those who, for a lifetime have obstinately and repeatedly spurned the gracious invitation of the gospel and the wooing of the Holy Spirit, for them, saving belief is not easy.  Pharaoh was a prime example of this.  God’s repeated calls through Moses for Pharaoh to repent were spurned over and over, not because the concepts of belief in the true God and repentance were too complicated for him to understand, but because of his unyielding, unrepentant, pigheaded will.  Eventually, God firmed him up in his (Pharaoh’s) own willful long-term rejection of God’s grace (Romans 9).

 A Few Pertinent Questions for Lordship Faith Advocates

The simple clear-cut gospel message of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone is unmistakably biblical, as cited above (many additional texts could be shown—the Gospel of John in particular throughout declares this gospel).  So for the Lordship Faith advocate who loves to slander Free Grace theology with the false nomenclature “easy believism,” I pose the following salient questions:

  1. The Bible clearly presents an uncomplicated plan of salvation; why do you want to make it so difficult for a person to become saved?  Why do you invent so many practical and theological hoops through which the seeking unbeliever must leap?   Are you desirous of limiting salvation only to a handful of elite superchristians, the chosen few?
  2. Since you declare that true saving faith must be accompanied by a lifetime of strong commitment to God evidenced by a collection of clearly visible “good works,” how many good works must one do?  For how many years?  Are any periods of backsliding allowed?  For how long are they permitted?
  3. If visible good works must accompany true saving faith, how can one know whether she has truly made it (to heaven)?  Can there ever be any real assurance of salvation?
  4. How do you explain clear Bible examples of long-term or lifetime backslidden believers, such as Lot (called by Peter a righteous man, 2 Peter 2:7), or the Corinthian church whom Paul called brothers in the Lord, or what about the Laodicean Church of Revelation 3, clearly believers whom Jesus loved, rebuked and disciplined (cf. Hebrews 12:5-6).

(For a more detailed development of some of these thoughts, see, for one example, the article “Grace Baiting,” at Expreacherman: http://www.expreacherman.wordpress.com/2010/09/02/macarthur-grace-baiting-an-article-bt-bruce-bauer/   OR  http://www.freegracealliance.com/pdf/baiting.pdf

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Easy Believism, “Cheap Grace,” Lordship “Salvation”

Posted on June 14, 2011 by | 100 comments

Easy Believism, “Cheap Grace,” Lordship Faith.

By Jack Weaver

Wow!! That title describes a large platform upon which to start a discussion.

Several times I have been accused of “Easy Believism” and “Cheap Grace” when explaining God’s Amazing Grace in Salvation.

The pejorative term “Easy Believism” and “Cheap Grace” are most notably shouted by Calvinists and Lordship Salvation (C-LS) proponents such as  John MacArthur, R.C Sproul (Monergism.com), Francis Chan, et al.

C-LS folks deny the clear dispensational teaching of Scripture. (Dispensationalists rightly divide the Word of Truth, [2 Timothy 2:15] understanding that God deals with (governs) man in different ways in different ages, even though in every age His salvation is always freely given by trusting in God’s promises through faith, believing the available and revealed knowledge of Jesus Christ, the Savior/Messiah).

Several years ago I was sharing my faith in Jesus Christ with a stranger. I noticed someone watching me carefully. Shortly afterward the stranger departed, this watcher derided me by saying, “You were teaching him Easy Believism.” I regret that I never had  a chance to follow up that topic with him.

Many times we see a very subtle statement by proponents of Lordship Salvation, using Ephesians 2:8-10, that “Salvation is by Grace, but true salvation results in good works.”

Yes, Salvation IS by God’s Grace through our faith but the second half of that statement, while it sounds good, is absolutely un-Biblical. Ephesians 2:10 clearly says,“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we SHOULD walk in them.” How tricky it is for C-LS “scholars” to read that word “should” as MUST! 

John MacArthur – Master’s Seminary Journal

TMSJ 4/1 (Spring 1993) 5-24

Excerpt (John MacArthur)

Though elsewhere I have employed the expression “lordship salvation” for the sake of argument, here I am using the more accurate expression “working-faith salvation” (cf. Jas 2:17) A faith that is void of submission is a merely intellectual faith, sometimes appropriately called “easy believism.” “Easy believism” is the view that saving faith is a solely human act. Those who adopt such a view must then scale back the definition of faith so that believing is something that even depraved sinners are capable of.

(See also Bruce Bauer’s excellent review of JMAc’s latest book, “Slave.”)

Unbelievable statements by the “respectable Bible Scholar,” John MacArthur. Being a Calvinist, JMac apparently does not believe Christ died for sinners. Despicable thoughts by JMac!!

These are a couple of words from C-LS folks that emerge from their imagination, but do not appear in a search of God’s Word;  “sovereignty” and “depraved.”

Name calling, pejoratives and verbal persecution are not unusual occurrences if/when we share the free Grace of Jesus Christ… Salvation is FREE without the requirement of works before, during or after. Yes as believers in Christ, we SHOULD do good works because we are saved and belong to our Savior — but God never places any requirements to do good works to be saved or stay saved.

I believe that Jesus Christ is the True and Only Savior of the world. He died personally for your sins and mine — those sins that would separate us from God for all eternity. He was buried and arose from the grave, proving He is God. He is alive today. [1 Corinthians 15:1-4]

Now the simple part.. God simply asks you to trust (believe in) Jesus Christ for your eternal life. He paid the death penalty price and all He asks of you is that you will believe in Him. [John 3:16] That is the very essence of God’s salvation and it is forever.

Isn’t that easy to believe??

God’s Eternal Hope for You

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Posted in Atheism, Atheist, Calvinism, Chan, Christian, Christianity, Conservative, Danger, Faith, Free Grace, Grace, John MacArthur, Lordship Salvation, Reformed theology, Religion, Salvation

Dismantling the Calvinist Tulip: “TULIP” De-Petaled

Posted on May 25, 2011 by | 56 comments

petals

I appreciate this quote excerpt from a wonderful Blog friend. It is priceless… I have taken the liberty to emphasize some words and phrases.

Excerpt from Major Ian Thomas’ book “Mystery of Godliness”:

FREEDOM OF CHOICE

By: Major W. Ian Thomas

Never allow anyone to deceive you into believing that God has placed an arbitrary limitation upon the efficacy of the blood of Christ, or that there are those who cannot repent [change their mind], even if they would, simply because God has deliberately placed them outside the scope of His redemptive purpose! This blasphemes the grace, the love and the integrity of God, and makes Him morally responsible for the unbelief of the unbeliever, for the impenitence of the impenitent, and saddles Him squarely with the guilt of the guilty as an aider and abettor of their sin.

Such is not the teaching of the Bible, for the Lord Jesus Christ made it abundantly clear that the reluctance is on man’s part, not on God’s!

Without freedom of choice it is equally impossible to obey or to disobey to be commended for the one or to be condemned for the other!

Some would have you believe that only those can obey the Gospel and accept Christ as their Saviour, to whom God has given the ability to obey as a purely arbitrary, mechanical act on His part, leaving no option in the matter to any individual either way! On the basis of this strange hypothesis, the fearful judgment of God is to fall upon those who have remained in their rebellious state of unbelief, only because they have been unable to exercise an ability to obey the Gospel, which only God can give, and which He has refused to give them! Needless to say, such an idea can only serve to bring the righteousness and judgment of God into contempt and disrepute.

The revelation that God has given to us by His Holy Spirit through the apostles is delightfully clear: “if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world“ (I John 2:2); “Who gave himself a ransom for all“ (I Timothy 2:6); “... that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (Hebrews 2:9).

It is your inherent right to choose which is at the very heart of the mystery, both of the mystery of godliness and of the mystery of iniquity.

From: The Mystery of Godliness. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House. ©1964.

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Posted in Calvinism, Chan, Christian, Christianity, Conservative, Faith, Free Grace, Grace, Reformed theology, Religion, Salvation

What?? A Permanent Salvation?? Are You Serious?

Posted on May 14, 2011 by | 86 comments

Dr. Tom Cucuzza has granted me permission to post this sampling of his wonderful pamphlet, The Permanence of Salvation. Although a scholarly and eloquent treatise, it is easy to read, simple to comprehend and one of the best I have ever seen detailing God’s Grace in Salvation. It effectively destroys all the “isms,” like Calvinism, Arminianism, Lordship Salvationism, Catholicism, etc. Below are some of my favorite quotes from the article. Tom has included a plethora of Scripture references to illustrate the Truth he presents:

“Salvation is permanent because the Eternal God does not give birth to temporary children.” Priceless!!

“If everlasting life could cease, then it would not be everlasting!  It would be temporary.”

 “Salvation is an event that happens only once in a person’s lifetime.”

“Jesus said, ‘Ye must be born again.’  He did not say, ‘Ye must be born again, and again, and again.’  Once you become a child of God, you are henceforth and forevermore a child of God!”

 “This is an amazing fact!  The believer is already seen [by God] as being in Heaven with the Lord.”

A believer “Being ‘sealed’ with the Holy Spirit can best be illustrated by examining the historical function of a king’s signet ring.  …..”

 “So it is evident that the entire Trinity is involved in keeping the believer saved.  He is held in the Son’s hand, enclosed by the Father’s hand, and sealed by the Holy Spirit.”

“The thought of [The Body of Christ] parts ‘coming and going’ is inconceivable and even preposterous”

“[E]verlasting life is a gift–not a reward.”

“[I]t is God who keeps us saved.”

“And so it is clear that when you put your faith in Jesus Christ you are saved forever.  You are safe and secure for all eternity.  This is God’s way of salvation and His promise to you. “

“[I]f it were up to each of us to keep ourselves ‘preserved’ for Heaven, then we are in very feeble–even impossible hands”

You may obtain the entire pamphlet when you go to the link below. Download the PDF file, read it and print it out. Give it to your friends so they may see how simple and permanent God’s Salvation in Jesus Christ really is. Tom will be using this as a bound pamphlet handout for his church members.

By Dr. Thomas M. Cucuzza
3686 County Road 8 S.E.
St. Cloud, MN 56304
Phone: 320.252.5677
 Copyright © 2009 by Thomas M. Cucuzza
All rights reserved.  St. Cloud, MN 56301
 All Bible quotations are taken from
the Authorized King James Version
 
UPDATE*** Just heard from Tom and the finished product is also available from their church in a beautiful booklet form for a $3.00 donation. This includes shipping and handling. 
For the printed booklet, Call Northland Bible Baptist Church 
320.252.5677 ext 0
 

 The Permanence of Salvation PDF << Click here

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Posted in Atheism, Atheist, Calvinism, Chan, Christian, Christianity, Conservative, contemplative, Cross, Emergent, Emerging, Faith, Free Grace, Grace, Islam, Jews, John MacArthur, Lordship Salvation, Mormonism, Muslim, New Age, Reformed theology, Religion, Rick Warren, Salvation

Is “Lordship” Salvation by MacArthur, Chan, et al Error?

Posted on April 28, 2011 by | 19 comments

Dear readers,

This is about theologians who would teach that a believer in Christ WILL be obedient or WILL do good works. (Washer, MacArthur, Chan, et al. I suggest some of my links with further details – footnotes below)

Just to be clear, yes, I agree with the Bible that by all means a believer in Christ SHOULD be obedient, but….

If we teach or preach that just because one is saved there “will be” obedience and good works, this assumption is contradicted by over half of the New Testament which urges, beseeches, begs and implores believers to be obedient and do good works befitting a believer in Christ.

God’s Grace provides us the means whereby we are empowered and enabled (but never forced) to be obedient.
1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all:yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

A few examples of the Apostles Paul and Peter begging believers in Christ to obey Scriptures:
Beseech = Greek, Parakaleo = invoke or implore, beg.
Ephesians 4:1
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, [As believers in Christ we are called to be witnesses for Christ]

1 Peter 2:11
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

1 Thessalonians 4:1
Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

1 Corinthians 1:10
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Ephesians 4:24
And that ye put on [you array yourself – something you do] the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Romans 13:12
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off [something we do in obedience] the works of darkness, and let us put on [something we do in obedience] the armour of light.

We believers should enjoy and relish the Lord leading and discipline (teaching) us by His Grace into obedience to Him — but our disobedience never puts our salvation in doubt in God’s eyes, only man’s. And because the unsaved see believers and (right or wrong) judge Christ by us, we SHOULD be obedient to our Savior, because we ARE saved eternally — but thankfully not to be or stay saved.

Footnotes:

1. Lordship salvation Calvinism and One-naturism <<Click

2. Lordship Salvation [Chan] teaches Confusion. << Click (A pitiful true story)

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Posted in Atheism, Atheist, Calvinism, Chan, Christian, Christianity, Communism, Conservative, Cross, Danger, Emergent, Emerging, Faith, Free Grace, Grace, John MacArthur, Lordship Salvation, New Age, Reformed theology, Religion, Salvation

The Resurrection? What’s That?

Posted on April 21, 2011 by | 10 comments

The Resurrection (Greek “Anastasis” = raised to life again) of Jesus Christ is the bedrock of Biblical Christianity – if missing and not true, as so many New Age, Contemplative leaders declare, our faith is void and useless. The Resurrection truth is the very reason so many left-leaning “theologians” and new paraphrases of God’s Word try to downplay and ignore it.

However, Jesus Christ is God in the Flesh, the Savior. After He was resurrected from the dead, He was not an apparition, nor a phantom nor a ghost. He was/is the Messiah, Jesus Christ in the Flesh.

The Truth from God’s Word, KJV:
“In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. HE IS NOT HERE: FOR HE IS RISEN, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” Matthew 28:1-6

HE IS RISEN!! The resurrection of Jesus is not only Biblical fact but is also recorded in secular history. One such historian is Josephus, a Jewish Pharisee and possible a near contemporary of Jesus testifies to the reality of Jesus and His resurrection. (Jewish Antiquities, 18.3.3 §63 )

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope [guarantee] by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,“ 1 Peter 1:3

The Gospel: “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:” 1 Corinthians 15:1-5

“And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain [useless]. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.” 1 Corinthians 15:14-18

Without the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, we as well as all believers in Jesus throughout history have no hope, no Heaven, no fellowship with Christ and no eternal life.

But YES!!
“And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.” 1 Corinthians 6:14

The Resurrection of Jesus is real, factual and not to be denied or minimized. We thank God for His promise of eternal life. We all deserve to be eternally separated from God but Christ paid that death penalty for everyone and said that all who Believe or Trust in Him alone (without works of righteousness, not joining, not “following”) HAVE eternal life. Then we who have trusted Jesus Christ as our Savior will likewise be with Him eternally in Heaven!

“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8

Jesus died and arose, that’s history.

Jesus died and arose for ME and I believe it, that’s Salvation.

Click here — Find out how to be absolutely sure of Heaven.

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Discussing Lordship Salvation and Calvinism is Not Theater.

Posted on April 16, 2011 by | 45 comments

Please forgive my laxity in posting.. I have had some serious problems with my lungs and my last “good” eye.. but will continue to post as long as I am able, Lord willing.

~~~~~~~~

I have noted recently that some proponents of Lordship Salvation and
different shades of Calvinism seem to think opposition to their position is
simply theological theater, a lark, a passing fancy, a nuisance.

We must realize that what we discuss here is not theater but reality with dire consequences, especially for those who hold the theory that God’s Gift of Eternal life can, in any way, be gained or kept by behavior, good works or simply “because God chose me to be saved.” Such teaching is false and contrary to God’s Word. God says, “Whosoever believeth,” and it is a choice!

“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

And likewise, I grieve for anyone who embraces the theory that God’s Gift of
Eternal life is merely a temporal probation (“salvation” — but not really) that can be removed, lost, thrown away or abandoned. There are some who contend that salvation can be lost by any person who at one time received God’s Free Gift of salvation by choice, made the honest, one-time, personal decision to simply trust exclusively in Jesus Christ alone for his salvation. The Biblical word for
Eternal Life is from the Greek aionios “perpetual (also used of past
time, or past and future as well) :- eternal, for ever, everlasting, world
(began).” Strong’s Greek 166

It is bordering on blasphemy for such famous proponents of Lordship Salvation, Calvinist John MacArthur to teach: “Salvation is for those who are willing to forsake everything.” (MacArthur, The Gospel According to Jesus, p. 78.)

Please, never allow anyone to convince you that your salvation, present or future depends on “forsaking everything … giving your all to Jesus .. following Him in service, Jesus is Lord of all or not Lord at all, etc.” These are lies, straight from the Great Deciever.

Trusting Jesus Christ alone as your Savior means you simply decide to believe and rely completely on His death and resurrection as being totally sufficient to have paid the death penalty price for the sin debt that you owe (we all do). That means you no longer rely upon any of your good works, nor your church, your
Pastor, your mentor — nothing or no one but Jesus Christ and Him crucified for you. That is God’s Grace.

As the Apostle Paul said to the carnal Christians, believers in Christ at
Corinth:

“And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:1-2

Let us speak the Truth, words easy to be understood. We are talking about God’s irrevocable contract to every believer, sealed with the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ, testified by God’s Holy Spirit indwelling and sealing every believer eternally. This
contract is dependent completely upon God Himself keeping His promise, His Covenant. Christ Himself said:

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish,
neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:28

God will keep His promise and once you decide to trust Jesus Christ for your Eternity, it is out of your hands — and completely in His — eternally.

Aren’t you glad it depends upon Him and His faithfulness and not upon you?

The Lord is faithful, we rarely are.

How to be absolutely sure of
Heaven.

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Posted in Atheism, Calvinism, Christian, Christianity, Conservative, Danger, Faith, Free Grace, Grace, John MacArthur, Lordship Salvation, New Age, Reformed theology, Religion, Salvation

John MacArthur’s New Apostate Book: Slave

Posted on January 9, 2011 by | 171 comments

This review by Bruce Bauer is from: Slave: The Hidden Truth About Your Identity in Christ (Hardcover), by John MacArthur
The back paper jacket to the book caught my attention: “A COVER-UP OF BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS: Centuries ago, English translators perpetrated a fraud in the New Testament, and it’s been purposely hidden and covered up ever since. Your own Bible is probably included in the cover-up!”

WHAT? Are we to understand that Bible translators for centuries, hundreds if not thousands of highly-trained knowledgeable men of God, have kept a well-guarded secret about the true meaning of the Bible that only NOW Dr. MacArthur will be the one scholar who will bring us the real scoop?

Yes, this is exactly what the book would have us to believe, that the common Greek term “doulos” has been mistranslated in every major version of the Bible since the earliest of printed Bible translations. According to MacArthur, “doulos” should be translated primarily if not exclusively as “slave.” Most modern translators (NASB, NIV, KJV, NKJV, ESV) as well as common Greek-English lexicons interpret the term in a variety of ways as, “servant,” “slave,” “bond servant,” “bondman,” or “attendant.” MacArthur also states on pp. 29-30 that the proper meaning of the Old Testament’s nearest equivalent term, “‘ebed” has also been hidden by modern translators:
“The King James Version, for example, never translates ‘ebed as ‘slave’—opting for ‘servant’ or ‘manservant’ the vast majority of the time. But contrast that with the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Old Testament from before the time of Christ. It translates ‘ebed with forms of ‘doulos,’ or ‘slave’ more than 400 times!”
WHAT?? The LXX translated the Old Testament from Hebrew to Greek, NOT to English! So MacArthur is leaping to an inappropriate conclusion about the meaning of the Hebrew in this case.

My greatest problem with the book was that the author, MacArthur, took the ancient images of slavery and superimposed them onto modern Christianity with the intent to create the notion that our normative relationship with God and our service to God should be that of a slave to a master, instead of that of a child of God responding out of love and gratitude to an omnibenevolent (all loving) Father God. Romans 8:15 says, “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba,” Father.”

With this slave-to-master representation set into place, the author proceeded to promote his standard lordship salvation doctrine dressed in new clothes, slave garb. He even used much of the same argumentation that he used in “The Gospel According to Jesus.” And, once again, he freely denigrated and caricaturized Free Grace theology, especially in chapter five.

Eternal Life For You

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Lordship Salvation’s Hidden Secret: Grace Under Fire: The Fallout of Lordship Salvation Teaching

Posted on January 5, 2011 by | 34 comments

This is a wonderful expose’ of “Lordship Salvation,” by my friend Bruce Bauer. He  exposes the lie and strips the false teaching down to its barren roots. [Excerpt]: “Some Christians live in a constant state of tension and dread, always ill at ease, restless, uncertain, never knowing when they’ve done enough; they’re never quite able to get a grasp on assurance.” Read on and be enlightened.

 

By: Bruce Bauer,  Lancaster, CA

 

 

Introduction

 

Recently I attended the funeral of an elderly Mormon lady, a dear friend of mine and of my family’s for several decades.  I’ll refer to her as “Jane.”  In one of the eulogies given the speaker commented that in her dying days Jane had expressed fears that her church tithes might not have been paid up to date.  As I pondered what had just been said, I thought, how tragic, how sad that a person should have to live in such bondage, doubt and fear right up to the point of death.  I silently felt grateful to God that at least we, as evangelical Christians, don’t have to live our lives in such enslavement to duty shrouded by panic and uncertainty of salvation.  My thoughts raced to John 10:27-30:  “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  I and the Father are one.” [NIV as are all refs.][i] I rejoiced in the warm snuggling grasp of our Lord’s hands, saving and preserving each and every person who comes to salvation by faith in Christ alone.  But, I reflected, don’t many Christians live out their lives under precisely the same cloud of insecurity, apprehension and angst experienced by Jane?  Do all evangelicals really act so differently than she?

What, then, is the defining distinctive hallmark that sets evangelical Christianity apart from Mormonism, the JWs, Roman Catholicism, and indeed, every other religious belief system?  Free Grace theology states it best:  “We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone” (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Every other religious structure has a works-based salvation plan at its core.  But aren’t many evangelical writers and pastors guilty of promoting a similar type of works-for-salvation system of their own?  Certainly, proponents of Lordship Salvation have been accused of teaching just such a salvation plan despite their vehement denials. Much has been written on this debate.  I will not rehash it here; however, this paper will describe some of the pernicious fallout of Lordship Salvation teaching on the lives of believers especially and on some unbelievers as well.  For additional study of the Lordship debate, I refer the reader to some of the best works that I have read on the subject:  1. Charles C. Bing, Lordship Salvation:  A Biblical Evaluation and Response, GraceLife Edition (Burleson, TX:  GraceLife Ministries, 1992, 1997).  2. Fred Chay and John P. Correia, The Faith that Saves:  The Nature of Faith in the New Testament (Phoenix, AZ:  Grace Line, Inc., 2008).  3. Charles C. Ryrie, So Great Salvation (Chicago:  Moody Press, SP Publications, 1989, 1997).  4. Fred R. Lybrand, Back to Faith:  Reclaiming Gospel Clarity in an Age of Incongruence (San Antonio, TX:  Fred R. Lybrand, Xulon Press, 2009).  5. Thomas M. Cucuzza, Secure Forever!  God’s Promise or Our Perseverance? (St. Cloud, MN:  Thomas M. Cucuzza, Xulon Press, 2007).  6. Lou Martuneac, In Defense of the Gospel:  Biblical Answers to Lordship Salvation (LaVergne, TN:  Lou Martuneac, Xulon Press, 2006, 2010).

The Fallout of Lordship Faith Teaching

Battered! The Father Serra Syndrome

 

Father Junipero Serra was an 18th century Franciscan priest who is famous for founding the Roman Catholic mission system throughout western Mexico and California.  He is known to have been a flagelist, that is, one who would regularly pummel himself with a whip in order to exorcise his personal demons (sinful thoughts and attitudes).  In a California history course in college, I learned that on more than one occasion Father Serra had to be physically restrained by his assistants to prevent him from flogging himself to death.

Do some Christians today beat themselves up as Father Serra did?  Oh, maybe they don’t do so physically, but do they torment themselves mentally and emotionally over their struggles with sin?  Listen to the following composite of one who is caught up in such a pattern of conflicted self-deprecating thinking:  “James is a young man with a different set of problems, the greatest one being lust.  Though he has never actually committed fornication, James struggles continually with impure thoughts.  He lives in dread that his Christian friends will discover what is happening inside his brain.  Attached to this mental impurity is a sense of deep shame, a shame that permeates his feelings about himself and his position before God.”[ii] James desperately needs a regular healthy dosage of the preaching of God’s abundant awesome gift of grace in the believer’s life.  He also would benefit tremendously by the warm understanding embrace of fellow Christian brothers and sisters.

The teaching and preaching of Lordship Salvation can foster a tremendous state of anxiety and doubt for some believers because its precepts demand a high level of purity of thought and lifestyle undergirded by the constant threat of not having been blameless enough or virtuous enough to merit salvation.    Recently I witnessed a heart-wrenching testimony from a young Christian man whose assurance of salvation was decimated by the reading of a best-selling book which promulgates a very condemning form of Lordship Salvation doctrine.  Out of respect  for the young man I’ll share just a brief portion of what he said without giving his name:  “there is no hope for most of us to ever be like the one who is not lukewarm.  There is no hope for me anymore, for I thought I was a Christian for over 15 years, but I am according to the scriptures ‘lukewarm’ and will not be accepted into heaven . . . .  May God have mercy on us all . . . .”  Hearing a sad profession such as this reminds me of why it is so crucial for Free Grace teachers and writers to proclaim strongly the message of God’s grace and to counter the harmful repercussions of Lordship Faith preaching.  I wonder if any of these popular Lordship pastors and writers ever pause to consider the fallout, the damage and pain that they might potentially inflict through preaching and publishing their judgmental diatribes.  Who will pick up the broken pieces of shattered lives?

Driven! When is Enough Enough?

 

Some Christians live in a constant state of tension and dread, always ill at ease, restless, uncertain, never knowing when they’ve done enough; they’re never quite able to get a grasp on assurance. One of the consistent marks of Lordship Faith teaching is that it sets very lofty (some would say unattainable) standards of normative Christian achievement.  After all, their teachers might say, didn’t Jesus establish the ideals for us in the Sermon on the Mount?  Pity the average churchgoer who may not appear to be very dedicated to God or to be very active in serving him.  She might find herself listed among the ranks of the half-hearted or, dare I say, the “lukewarm”; if so, certain Lordship Faith leaders would almost certainly brand her as unsaved.  But who sets the criteria for Christian attainment and who gauges the hearts and motivations of the congregation?  How many years must one actively serve God?  Ten, twenty, thirty, fifty?  Must good works be obvious to men or can they be quietly noticeable before God?  Are any periods of failing allowed?  For how long?  Is working in a secular job acceptable or must one quit her job and go to the mission field?  Do true “on-fire” believers have to sell their fancy cars and houses and live like paupers?  The questions are endless and the answers are few.  And, one of the saddest questions of all is, how many unbelievers are put off by Lordship teachers’ unreasonable up-front demands of commitment, surrender and change of lifestyle in order for one to be allowed into the kingdom?  Rather, shouldn’t Christians be giving them the good news, the grace news of John 3:16, Acts 16:30-31 and Ephesians 2:8-9?

Listen to the story of a driven believer:  “Betty is as reliable as Mother Teresa, as dedicated to Christ as one can be.  . . .  But no matter how much Betty does, she always feels she’s not doing enough, because she also feels that somehow she isn’t quite pleasing God.  This haunting sense of God’s disapproval drives her from Bible study to prayer group, from buying each ‘New and Improved System for Personal Devotions’ at her local Christian bookstore and joining every church outreach program to standing at every opportunity to recommit her life to Christ.  In spite of her ‘gold-medal performance’ as a Christian, Betty continues to feel that God considers her a failure.”[iii] Is this really the way that God wants Christians to live?  Wouldn’t God want us to live lives characterized by confidence, freedom and grace?….

[…]

Read the balance of this excellent free article in PDF format Click here: >> “ Driven ” at Free Grace Alliance web site.
 
 

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