Category Archives: Religion

Calvinism >> Moderate << Lordship "salvation"

Posted on February 25, 2012 by | 66 comments

While web surfing yesterday I came across a church web site in which the well known Pastor claims he is neither a Calvinist nor a Lordship “Salvation” proponent — yet he promotes both on his web site. He indicates that he is a “moderate,” half way in between MacArthur’s (Calvinist) Lordship “salvation” (LS) and a Calvinist position (or even a Charles Ryrie position on Grace??). Our analyses in previous articles have pointed out that LS feeds on Calvinism and vice versa. But remember Calvinism feeds on “baby” Christians or church attenders (John Piper, John MacArthur, Francis Chan, et al). The Bible speaks of error as “leaven” and explains that a little error spreads and spoils the whole. Halfway between two errors is obviously — Error.

Yesterday, our web friend Jim F and I had a great exchange of emails where I expressed my position regarding Five Point Calvinism; I am a ZERO pointer, non-Calvinist — Jim agrees. We find nothing in God’s Word — in context — that supports any of the five points of the corrupt Calvinist TULIP nor do we find any support for the manipulation of God’s Word into the LS lie. Jim made an astute statement (which I quote without his permission) “There is also too much focus on what men have said about the Bible. Greater emphasis should go to what the Bible has said about itself.”  (Thanks Jim)

2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Just think about that verse. If we were all LS or Calvinists, we would have no need of reproof, correction or instruction in righteousness, because they say such would be “automatic” or granted upon “saving faith” or as long as we “persevere to the end.”

Most of you, our dear friends, have no idea of the words and thoughts we read from supporters of LS and Calvinism. We filter these so, if we find them abusive, they never appear. If someone is earnestly seeking Truth we will discuss the pros and cons of their position.. but we refuse to advertise their error.

In recent comments we have been labeled everything one can imagine including Arminian, Roman Paganism, etc. And this milder error prone statement: You folks need to get a grip! A faith that doesn’t produce obedience isn’t saving faith.

Discussion:

  • Is there a middle ground between LS/Calvinism and God’s Grace teaching?
  • Shall we preach the Truth of God’s Grace and compromise with LS/Calvinism or other error?
  • Is a false definition of Repentance (turn from sin for salvation) acceptable in a Free Grace environment?
  • Share examples (no links) of well known, published, blatant compromise with the Truth possibly outside of areas of any prior discussions.

Please discuss: Is compromise ever acceptable when using God’s Word? Are there any areas where compromise may or may not be acceptable? Let us discuss it amicably.

The Truth of God’s Salvation << Click

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Posted in Assurance of salvation, Bible, Calvinism, Chan, Christian, Christianity, Danger, Faith, Free Grace, Grace, John MacArthur, John Piper, Lordship Faith, Lordship Salvation, Reformed theology, Religion, Salvation

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Was Whitney Houston a Christian? Whitney Houston Sings “I Love the Lord”

Posted on February 18, 2012 by | 30 comments

With the sudden tragic death of Whitney Houston, Christians across the Christian magazines, TV programs and internet sites are asking the question, “Did Whitney Houston know the Lord?”  Of course, this is the most important question, one for which this commenter does not have the answer.  Speculations are swirling on the question.  What we do know, however, is that she was raised in a Christian church, and by many reports, she had a devoted Christian mother.  If she trusted Christ as her Savior in her youth by faith in him alone, then John 10:27-30 promises us that God will never let go of her.  She cut her artistic teeth singing gospel hymns in the church choir.  And, in spite of her oft-troubled life, she continued to sing gospel songs into her adulthood.

I trust that you find this song to be uplifting:   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiCBOXOj9s0

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Posted in Assurance, Assurance of salvation, Calvinism, Christian, Christianity, Conservative, Cross, Eternal Security, Faith, Free Grace, Grace, Hope, John MacArthur, John Piper, Lordship Salvation, Once saved always saved, Reformed theology, Religion, Resurrection, Salvation, Secure salvation, Security of believers, Security of the believer, Thansgiving, Uncategorized

Annual ONE Conference; Proceed with Caution: “ONE” Conference Coming to Miami

Posted on February 8, 2012 by | 97 comments

This is an alert for our readers:

A much-publicized Christian “impact” conference is coming to Miami, FL this weekend, February 10-12.  It is youth-oriented, having rock-style music and fiery preaching.  Some of the keynote speakers are quite well known in the Christian community.  Some come from churches and Christian organizations which have solid grace-oriented statements of faith and salvation.  But please be forewarned that some of the speakers are from churches or ministries supporting Calvinist/Lordship Faith teachings.

Here are some of the speakers speaking at the ONE Conference:

Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham, President of Samaritan’s Purse, a worldwide help organization

Frank Harrison, a Coca Cola executive and well-known Christian conference speaker

Francis Chan, Conference Speaker, Author, radical Lordship Faith promoter (see any of the many articles on the Expreacherman site for more detail on his teaching). 

Bob Coy, Calvary Chapel, Ft. Lauderdale

Brian Houston, Hillsong Church, Sydney; Carl Lentz, Hillsong, NYC.  Hillsong Church has a troublesome LS type statement of faith regarding salvation:  “We believe that in order to receive forgiveness and the ‘new birth’ we must repent of our sins, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and submit to His will for our lives.”  

James MacDonald, Harvest Bible Chapel, Chicago.  The Harvest Bible Chapel statement on salvation is equally troublesome to the Hillsong statement, again, promoting a Calvinist/ Lordship Faith salvation plan.  It reads,

“We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, as the substitutionary atonement in our place, and that salvation is found in none other than Jesus Christ. Before Creation, God chose those who would be saved and granted this unearned grace solely based on His sovereign good pleasure. Jesus Christ’s death on the cross was the sole and complete payment for sins, fully satisfying God’s righteous wrath, for each person that turns from sin in repentance and places their faith in Christ alone by grace alone. At salvation each person is made a new creation by the Holy Spirit, declared righteous before God, and secured as an adopted child of God forever. Genuine faith continues in obedience and love for Jesus Christ with a life eager to glorify God and persevere to the end.”

Rich Wilkerson, The Rendezvous, Miami.  The ministry’s statement on salvation is more toward the Biblical Ephesians 2:8-9:  “This justification is imputed by the grace of God because of the atoning work of Christ, is received by faith alone . . .”  However, “repentance” as a term is used but not defined and fruits of the spirit and a holy life are expected evidences of true salvation.

Britt Merrick, Reality Church, Santa Barbara.  The church is self-described as “missional” in focus, but does not appear to be connected with the neo-Calvinist movement.  Decent statement of belief:  “We Believe in the absolute necessity of regeneration by the Holy Spirit for salvation because of the exceeding sinfulness of the human nature, and that all are justified on the single ground of faith in the shed blood of Christ, and that only by God’s grace through faith alone are we saved.”

Greg Laurie, Harvest Church, Riverside, CA.  Well-known radio Bible teacher and conference speaker (Harvest Crusades).

Scott Harrison, founder of clean water well-building worldwide help organization called, “WATER.”

Ed Young, Fellowship Church, Dallas.  Pretty solid statements of belief on salvation and eternal security:  “Salvation is a gift from God to man.  Man can never make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works.  Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can man be saved from sin’s penalty.  Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.  . . .  Because God gives man eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in that salvation for eternity.  Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God [John 10:27-30], not by the self-effort of the Christian.  It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives this security.”

Pedro Garcia, Calvary Church Kendall, Miami.  Statement of faith looks alright, but, sadly, the web site recommends books by Calvinist or LS writers like John Stott, Francis Chan and Timothy Keller.

Miles McPherson, Rock Church, San Diego.  Web site’s heading on its statement of belief regarding salvation bore the questionable wording, “Repent and Believe.”  But upon downloading the complete statement it presented a grace gospel message.

Christine Caine, Equip and Empower Ministries, Sydney.  Statement on salvation looked fine.   

That’s about it for now.  Feel free to check out these individuals on your own as well.  Please let us know if you have any additional information or warnings about the ONE conference or about any of its speakers.

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

MacArthur Type Lordship Faith Book with Amplified Ferocity: “Crazy Love”

Posted on January 27, 2012 by | 59 comments

From the Vintage Archives of Expreacherman we re-present this article (newly titled) which continues to garner substantial attention since its release in 2009.  As always, your thoughtful comments are welcome.

One of my readers who signs his comments “Stickin’ to the Bible” wrote a couple of comments which deserve more than just a cursory look.

He compared the doctrine of Francis Chan,  author of a new book, “Crazy Love,” to John MacArthur.

I have never read the book but did look up Chan and his ministries and find him to proclaim Calvinist doctrine (as does MacArthur).

My friend, Stickin’ then proceeded to offer another comment with details from the pages of Chan’s book. I will quote some below — so you may be forewarned about Francis Chan.

Stickin’ To The Bible said:

I have also heard that Chan is a graduate of Master’s College and Seminary, both are schools founded and presided over by John MacArthur.  In Chan’s book, “Crazy Love,” David Cook Pub., 2008, pp. 68-78, he creates a list of what he describes as his “Profile of the Lukewarm.”  His descriptions are along these lines:

1. People who say they love Jesus but only include him as a part of their lives; 2. People who are moved by stories about those who do what he calls, “radical things for Christ,” but they themselves do not do such things; 3. People who rarely share their faith with others for fear of rejection; 4. on page 78 he says, “Lukewarm People feel secure because they attend church, made a profession of faith at age twelve, were baptized, come from a Christian family, vote Republican, or live in America.”   After making his list of  what he calls “The Lukewarm,” he then discards them like matchsticks all in one fell swoop on pp. 83-84.  Chan says, “As I see it, a lukewarm Christian is an oxymoron; there’s no such thing.  To put it plainly, churchgoers who are “lukewarm” are not Christians.  We will not see them in heaven.”

Clearly, Stickin’ has pegged Francis Chan as a MacArthur type “Lordship Salvationist.” Chan’s statements above imply that one cannot be a Christian without good works — in direct opposition to multiple scriptures which state that salvation is free and complete apart from good works. Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5, Romans 11:6.

Obviously Francis Chan has interpreted Scripture to suit himself or has never read the Book of First Corinthians about the carnal believers in Corinth.

Thanks to my reader Stickin’;… he has done a great job of research and reporting.

   

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Posted in Assurance, Assurance of salvation, Bible, Calvinism, Chan, Christian, Christianity, Cross, Danger, Easy Believism, Emergent, Eternal Security, Faith, Free Grace, Grace, Hope, John MacArthur, John Piper, Lordship Faith, Lordship Salvation, Once saved always saved, Reformed theology, Religion, Resurrection, Salvation, Secure salvation, Security of believers, Security of the believer, Uncategorized

The Truth LIES Somewhere in Between

Posted on January 22, 2012 by | 45 comments

Author, our regular commenter, John.

All of us have to make compromises in our day to day lives. This is because our interests, and the interests of the people we are trying to influence, are often different. We usually get to what we want through negotiation.

When we go to buy a car, we want the lowest price we can get, while the seller wants the highest price he can get. The way each party goes about this varies, but a typical approach is to try to get the other guy to tip his hand and to try to keep from tipping our hand about what our bottom line really is. The reason that a negotiation is possible in this case, is because each party to the transaction has something with which to negotiate.

I recently read a fascinating article entitled Deal or No Deal – the Art of Negotiation by Drew Stevens, PhD. Here are some excerpts

The most vital idea to comprehend about negotiation is definition. Negotiation is nothing more than an exchange of ideas and values between two or more parties with different interests&

Negotiation would not exist if not for the power and the reciprocity of compromise&

It is not easy to win friends and influence decisions in negotiation, yet if we understand motives, create a thorough plan and expect the unexpected, each negotiation we have becomes easier and more effective.

One thing we must never negotiate or compromise is the purity of the Gospel message. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) We are to be stewards of the Gospel, which does not provide for compromise under any circumstances. Here’s why:

First, the Gospel belongs to God. We do not have any authority to negotiate.

Second, once it is compromised, it is no longer His Gospel. It becomes just another false gospel, which robs us of His power for living and has no saving power for the lost.

Third, it is not in our interest to compromise the Gospel.

And, last, once we compromise, it gets easier to compromise further.

So, who wants to see the Gospel compromised? I ll give you a hint he is very old, loves the art of the deal , is very subtle, wants to devour us and he would make a great used car salesman (my apologies to my Christian brothers and sisters in that profession).

How does he do it? Any way he can! Consider this adage, which I recently saw used in a discussion of faith and works by a well-meaning church (Middletown Bible Church).

“The pendulum swings, ridiculous extreme, bypassing the truth which lieth between.”

And this from Middletown Bible Church’s quote “The so called “free grace” position and the Lordship salvation position are two extreme positions. The truth is to be found somewhere in between. This is common in theology. With most areas of doctrine, there are usually extreme and unbalanced views on both sides of the truth.”

The trick here is to make us feel like outliers, or extremists, for defending the purity of the Gospel. If the truth lies between, where in between does it lie?

Here are some thoughts on the art of compromise from the word of God

Matthew 7:13-15 (NKJV) Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Luke 12:51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division.

John 7:43 So there was a division among the people because of him.

Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.  (Note: you will be accused of causing division and dissension by refusing to compromise – and this verse will be thrown in your face. But note that this refers only to people who cause divisions by teaching things that are contrary to sound doctrine – that is, the compromisers).

Here is a closing thought, from the article The Baptismal Regeneration/Believer’s Baptism Debate by Dr. J.O. Hosler

This ideal of oneness cannot be even properly attempted except through a consensus on the clarity of the saving gospel. Otherwise, we are not speaking of spiritual unity, but of mere uniformity based upon an apostate version of the gospel.

“The truth LIES somewhere in between” is just one more of Satan’s lies!

The Truth of God’s Salvation << Click

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

Latest John Piper News: John Piper Speaks to 42,000+ Youth, Redefining the Plan of Salvation; Latest on John Piper

Posted on January 13, 2012 by | 299 comments

Source:  The Christian Post, Jan. 5, 2012

Posted by CalifGracer 

John Piper, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minn., stood before more than 40,000 Christian college students Wednesday and told them that some of them might not be saved.

  • John Piper addresses the crowd at the Passion 2012 conference in Atlanta, Ga.
    (Photo: Andrew Shepherd)
    John Piper addresses the crowd at the Passion 2012 conference in Atlanta, Ga.
While speaking at the Passion 2012 conference in Atlanta, Ga., an event which was also broadcast on the Internet, Piper said some people might be deceived into believing they have received salvation because they made a “decision” when they were young, yet they still haven’t “waved the white flag of surrender” to Jesus Christ.
 
Piper continues:
 

“Believing in Jesus is a soul coming to Jesus to be satisfied in all that he is. That is my definition of faith on the basis of John 6:35. This is not…a decision,” he said.  Piper gave his definition of salvation, explaining one concept in three different ways. He said that saving faith is “Seeing and savoring Jesus, being satisfied with all that God is for us in Jesus, and trusting Jesus,” and that those three things are “equivalent realities.”  But those realities should also be apparent in our actions, Piper said, because “God did not come into the world in Jesus or create the world in order to be glorified invisibly.”

COMMENT:

It seems that John Piper knows something more about the plan of salvation than the Bible itself!  He clearly promotes a Lordship Faith salvation plan which demands complete and immediate surrender along with a call to action (works-based salvation) to prove or to guarantee one’s eternal life.  This is formula for a life of doubt, fear and a decimation of a believer’s assurance of salvation.

The Bible makes the way of salvation so simple, so straightforward, so clear—We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone!:

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.”

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.”

Romans 4:5:  “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” 

Ephesians 2:8-9:  “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.”

Titus 3:5:  “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”

Your comments are welcome . . . .

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

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The Savior Whom I Cursed For Years!!

Posted on December 24, 2011 by | 8 comments

By Jack Weaver

Can the God of the universe rescue a man who, for years, cursed and ridiculed His Son, Jesus Christ?

This is a special time of year for me — not necessarily the day of celebrating Christmas but the season of remembering the Birth of the Christ, the God Man, the only Savior, God in the Flesh whom, for years, Jack Weaver the atheist, proudly and openly cursed and blasphemed.

I thank God when at Christmas in 1964 someone cared enough to share with me the Gospel of God’s Grace and Salvation in Jesus Christ alone. It was Good News to me — which I had never heard. That night I understood the Gospel and without hesitation I trusted Jesus Christ as my Savior and passed from the deserved sentence of eternal death to the blessings of eternal life.

Looking back I realize that even while I was verbally abusing Him, He loved me and had me in His mind. I was part of that “world” for whom He gave Himself to be crucified on the cross of Mount Calvary. Then Jesus was buried and rose from the grave for me, thereby inviting me to choose to believe in Him alone as my Savior — securing my eternity with Him in Heaven. (John 3:16)

“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

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. Ephesians 2:8-9

And I look back and remember cursing God and Jesus Christ, He is the one who now, by His Word and my decision, has rescued me from an eternity in Hell. I am grateful beyond any words I can muster. No one deserves such Love, especially me — but His undeserved yet free Gift of Love is still available to you and anyone.

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation [substitute atonement] for our sins. 1 John 4:10

Dear friend, as you read this you may not be sure of your eternal destination. Please simply put your trust in Jesus Christ, God in the Flesh, believing His sacrifice for your sins at Calvary and His resurrection from the grave is all sufficient to satisfy God’s demands upon you. If you do so Scripture says you have everlasting Life. (John 3:16). God’s Gift, your decision.

We pray you will have a blessed Christmas time all the time — and thanks so much for your friendship and the opportunity you give us to fellowship with you..

Eternal Life – The Greatest Gift Ever << Click

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Posted in Bible, Christian, Christianity, Christmas, Faith, Free Grace, Grace, HELL, Religion, Resurrection

Peace on Earth or Personal Peace — Without The God of Peace? Reference: Lordship “Salvation” and Christmas.

Posted on December 17, 2011 by | 19 comments

Updated:  I am indebted to good friend bro. David Wyatt who, early on, caught an erroneous statement at the beginning of this article. I have edited my error. Of course our Savior, Jesus Christ is addressed as the Prince of Peace in the beautiful prophecy in Isaiah 9:6, one of the greatest OT prophecies in God’s Word of the birth of the Messiah, The Savior, Jesus Christ:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Jesus is also addressed as The God of Peace, The Lord of Peace, the Prince of life and the Prince of the kings of the earth. And we know from Scripture that Jesus Christ brings eternal Peace to any and all who trust Him alone for their eternal life. Do you have that Peace?

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. […] Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:11,14

Jesus said:
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:3

Now, what Peace have we here???

  • Lordship Salvation,
  • Commitment Salvation,
  • Bi-Lateral Contract “Salvation,”
  • Calvinism,
  • Arminianism,
  • the “Social Gospel,” etc.

These are all UNCERTAIN messages with no Peace, no root of a Free Grace Gospel, no Grace life and no future. Most are “feel good” poor imitations of the True Gospel and more than likely are inventions in the minds of unknowing, deluded or devious teachers.

We must be aware. Their dangerous lies are here in brief – there are more. I encourage you to comment or elaborate:

Lordship Salvation, [If I am not living the “Christian life” according to “my teacher’s” prescription or satisfaction, I have no salvation, no peace.]

Commitment Salvation,  [If I haven’t turned from my sin, turned my life over, given my life, committed my life, etc to Christ according to “my teacher’s” conditions, I am not “saved” and have no peace according to his definition.]

Bi-Lateral Contract “Salvation,”  [God makes a Bilateral (two way) Contract with me for my salvation. My end of the deal is — I agree with Him that I will keep that contract in order to secure my salvation. If I break my part of the contract, all HOPE is gone, I have no peace.]

Calvinism, [If I happen not to be “chosen, predestined or elected” by God for salvation, I am condemned to Hell for all eternity. I have no choice to believe in the Savior, Jesus Christ. My eternity is already determined, I have no peace.]

Arminianism… [I may believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior but I can never really, really be sure I am indeed “saved” or maybe I need to get “saved” again and again — until eventually I end up in either heaven or hell — no peace. (That’s probation, not Salvation).]

The “Social Gospel,” [We drill water wells in foreign places and bake yummy pies and cookies for little old ladies. We feel good and they feel good. (But we don’t know — that we can never be as “good” as we can possibly be. Without the Gospel of God’s Grace alone by Faith alone in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, we can never be “good enough.” Hell is our eternal destination. No Peace.]

And the way of peace have they not known: Romans 3:17

With such false beliefs, how is it possible anyone can ever have the Peace that Passes all understanding

Just maybe this is the reason we witness so many depressed, un-peaceful and unhappy people at this glorious time of year when we celebrate the marvelous Birth of our Savior.. The Only Savior, the God of Peace, Jesus Christ.

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Romans 5:1

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Colossians 3:15

Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all. 2 Thessalonians 3:16

How You May Have that Peace of God Which Passes All Understanding. << Click

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Posted in Atheism, Bible, Calvinism, Christian, Christianity, Christmas, Faith, Free Grace, Grace, HELL, Lordship Salvation, Reformed theology, Religion, Salvation

Helpful Sinners, Helpless Sinners and Help for Sinners

Posted on December 14, 2011 by | 96 comments


Below is an insightful article, written by John, an occasional writer and frequent commenter on this web site. John is a successful gentleman with a wonderful family who was trapped in the Lordship “salvation” mess for many, many years — but finally, about a year ago, it dawned on him that God’s salvation “is a Gift!” He then trusted Jesus Christ alone as his Savior.

~~~~~~~~00~~~~~~~

 Romans 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God
When we are confronted with the fact that we are guilty sinners, accountable to God for our sins, there are a variety of common, inappropriate responses that stand in the way of salvation.  Among them are attempts at denial, rationalization and compensation.  Each of these responses inhibits the receipt of God’s provision for salvation, set forth clearly in Romans 3:24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

 Helpful Sinners

Perhaps the most beguiling of these is compensation.  Compensation is the attempt by the helpful sinner to restore his broken relationship with God.  I will use the following definition of compensation from Dictionary.com:
3. something given or received as an equivalent for services, debt, loss, injury, suffering, lack, etc.; indemnity: The insurance company paid him $2000 as compensation for the loss of his car. 
Compensation, not Christ, is the cornerstone of the faith for much of the professing Christian community.  The forms of compensation range from the performance of works, to the promise of works or to the evidence of works being brought into the equation of eternal salvation.
But, the Bible tells us that God will not accept our help in saving us:
Isaiah 64:6  But we are like an unclean thing, and all of our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.…
Following is some of the non-Biblical compensation jargon of false gospels for the helpful sinner:
  • The Lord helps those who help themselves
  • Salvation is free, but it will cost you everything
  • Surrender all or not at all
  • Repent of your sins to be saved
  • Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior
  • Turn your life over to Jesus
  • Put Christ on the throne of your life
  • Turn from your sins to God
  • Get on the straight and narrow
  • Confess Christ publicly
  • Make a personal commitment to Christ
  • Count the cost
  • Give your life to Jesus
  • Take up your cross and follow Jesus to be saved
God does not want our help in saving us.  He does not need our help.  He will not accept our help.  Neither does he want, need, require nor accept our help in keeping ourselves saved.
Helpless Sinners
The only appropriate response to the conviction that we are alienated from God by sin is to realize that we are helpless sinners.  The jailer in Acts 16 knew he was helpless:
Acts 16:29-30  Then he called for a light and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out and said.  Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
Note that in their response to the jailer, neither Paul, nor Silas introduced any of the false aphorisms set forth above.  Instead, they told the jailer only this:
Acts 16:31  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Until one realizes that God does not require, want, need, nor accept his help in saving or keeping him saved, he does not apprehend God’s Free Grace.

 Help for Sinners

Once we realize we are helpless sinners, there is help.  Everything necessary for our salvation has already been done.  We need only to trust in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross.

The Only Way of Salvation in its Simplicity << Click

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Posted in Atheist, Bible, Christian, Christianity, Free Grace, Grace, Hope, Lordship Salvation, Reformed theology, Religion, Salvation

Why a “Good Boy – Bad Boy” Lordship “Salvation” Is a Lie

Posted on November 28, 2011 by | 217 comments

………By Jack Weaver……….

Does Lordship "salvation" (LS) teaching deter folks from trusting Christ as Savior? I believe so. If one must work, work, work to gain "salvation" and then work, work, work to keep it.. there's no wonder that kind of "salvation" would be rejected — it is asking the impossible.

I remember hearing this phrase while growing up in Calvinism: "Good boys go to Heaven and bad boys go to Hell.” Therefore, I pose a question: Is Lordship “salvation” simply a twisted manifestation of that old phrase preached for so long in so many religions?

“Salvation is for those who are willing to forsake everything.” (MacArthur, The Gospel According to Jesus, p. 78.) [Be a good boy/girl or else — my comment]

“Let me say again unequivocally that Jesus’ summons to deny self and follow him was an invitation to salvation, not . . . a second step of faith following salvation.” (Dr. John MacArthur, The Gospel According to Jesus What is Authentic Faith? pp. 219.)  [Be a good boy/girl or else — my comment]

“As I see it, a lukewarm Christian is an oxymoron; there’s no such thing.  To put it plainly, churchgoers who are “lukewarm” are not Christians.  We will not see them in heaven.” (Crazy Love, Francis Chan, pp. 83-84.) [Be a good boy/girl or else — my comment]

Those are quotes from Pastors who appear to be sophisticated pushers of the same old lie, “Good boys go to Heaven and Bad Boys go to Hell.”

How can anyone who honestly studies the Bible in context:

  • believe the “good boy, bad boy” syndrome to be true?
  • have any doubt about their salvation — that God freely gives eternal life when by Grace, through faith we believe in the Savior Jesus Christ — He is all sufficient. He has done it all!!

The only answer to those questions is, “They are victims of a lie.”

This Bible verse is one of the first and most thrilling that I studied in depth not long after trusting Christ as my Savior. Here, Christ is speaking:

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

Even on the surface, it is comforting, but let’s dig a little deeper. Read this and rejoice with me!

The word “Never” is one word made up of a Greek compound adverb comprised of five Greek words: ou me, eis, ho, aion. (These are from Strong’s Greek/Hebrew to English Dictionary)

Ou me – a double negative strengthening the denial; not at all,  by no means, neither, not at all, in no case (no wise).

Eis – for any intent, purpose, never perish, any place, time or purpose.

Ho – Male, female, neuter, anyone, he, she or it,

Aion – any age; in perpetuity,  by implication the world; eternal, forever more, from the beginning of the world, without end.

Review: “Shall NEVER PERISH, not at all, by any means, never, not (at all), in no case (no wise), any place, time or purpose, whether male, female, neuter, anyone, he, she or it, at any age; in perpetuity; by implication the world; eternal, forever more, from the beginning when the world began, without end”  POWERFUL !!

Perish is the Greek word, apollumi, meaning — to destroy fully (reflexive to perish, or lose),destroy, die, lose, mar, perish.

NEVER PERISH!!

That was an exegesis of only one single Bible verse out of hundreds in which God promises Free eternal life. Now, we who have trusted Jesus Christ alone as our Savior can take further comfort knowing that we:

Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:5

How can any “honest” Lordship “salvation” proponent believe in their own lie, or in anything less than the total, eternal sufficiency of our Salvation in Jesus Christ alone?

Amazing IS God’s Grace.

Heaven Is Absolutely Free! << Click

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Posted in Assurance, Assurance of salvation, Bible, Calvinism, Chan, Christian, Christianity, Conservative, Cross, Danger, Easy Believism, Eternal Security, Faith, Free Grace, Grace, Hope, John MacArthur, John Piper, Lordship Faith, Lordship Salvation, Once saved always saved, Reformed theology, Religion, Resurrection, Salvation, Secure salvation, Security of believers, Security of the believer

Am I Thankful?

Posted on November 23, 2011 by | 13 comments

Yes, I am thankful to the Lord for much.

  • That my eternal life does not depend upon my behavior before, during or since my decision to trust Christ alone as my Savior.
  • That by God’s Grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone as my Savior is wholly sufficient for Eternal Life..
  • That I have wonderful friends who visit and join together in this ministry to challenge and encourage us.
  • That someone cared enough about me that he explained the Gospel so clearly that even I could understand and trust in Christ for my salvation.
  • That, in spite of my health and age, I am still able to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
  • That the Lord invites us to serve Him by His Grace — not by threats, force or intimidation.
  • For my Sweetheart wife Shirley, whom the Lord provided to me 8 1/2 years ago.

And too much more.. Thanks to all of you.

If you wish please share that for which you are thankful. Duplicates as well as original thoughts are welcome.

Eternal Life is God’s Free Gift,

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Posted in Bible, Christian, Christianity, Faith, Free Grace, Grace, Hope, Religion, Salvation, Thansgiving

Calvinism and the Sovereignty of God, Calvinism’s “god” of Limited Sovereignty!

Posted on November 7, 2011 by | 81 comments

posted by Califgracer

In his 1986 book, Inside The Tulip Controversy:  Calvinism Rebuked and Revisited, author Kent Kelly lays out a convincing argument for the blatant hypocrisy of Calvinism (on page 59) in that, although Calvinists pride themselves on believing in and boldly declaring an “all-sovereign God” [a term that is not even found in the King James Bible, although the concepts of God’s being all-knowing and all-powerful are certainly declared], Calvinist theology itself inherently and duplicitously DENIES the sovereignty of God that they so vociferously proclaim.  Kelly explains:

“Rather than magnifying the sovereignty of God, the Calvinist denigrates His sovereignty.  A sovereign God has the power to overcome total depravity [a Calvinist term shown by the “T” of their favorite acronym “TULIP”] and provide an opportunity for rational choice if He wills to do so.  The Calvinist denies Him that sovereignty.  A sovereign God could provide an atonement that is legitimately available to every sinner.  The Calvinist would deny Him that sovereignty.  A sovereign God can desire the salvation of every sinner and see that desire unfulfilled, for His own reasons, without being a failure.  The Calvinist would deny Him that sovereignty.”

Kelly goes on to describe (p. 59) the false, unloving, mean-spirited god of Calvinist invention:

“The sovereign god of the Calvinist planned in a past eternity that billions of men, women, and children would be tormented in the Lake of Fire forever.  he had no desire that any of them would be saved.  This god was well aware that because of the sin nature received at conception, they could do nothing but become Hell-deserving sinners by the very fact of their existence.  This same god said that the basis for their condemnation would be a failure to believe in the Saviour and His atoning work.  But this god provided no Saviour for them, and no atonement was made available in which they could believe.  he sent forth people into all the world to command these billions of men, women, and children to believe in a Saviour who was not their Saviour.  he commanded them to repent knowing that he had personally selected them to burn in Hell before they ever received their sin nature.  This god of the Calvinist created billions of vessels of wrath fitted for destruction—commanded them to do what he had willed them to be unable to do—then sent them to Hell for not doing it.  If this is your god, you have my sympathy.”

Kelly delineates above the dark dark side of Calvinism!

Your comments are welcome.

81 Comments

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

The God of Calvinism: Calvinism’s “god”: All Loving or a Misanthrope?

Posted on November 3, 2011 by | 25 comments

by Califgracer

One of the top ten excuses that I have heard from individuals who reject Christianity and the God of the Bible goes as follows:

“I just can’t understand how a loving God could send people by the millions or billions to a place of torment called ‘hell’.”

How would you answer that question?  Listen to the following story of how a Calvinist might respond (the following is a brief excerpt from the book “Inside the Tulip Controversy,” by Kent Kelly, 1986, p. 10):  [this brief citation is not intended to be a blanket endorsement of the entire book]:

“A Calvinist once said to a preacher—‘I would like to explain why I believe as I do.  Suppose a man went to an orphanage.  He had predetermined by his grace that he would adopt a certain boy and a certain girl and take them into his family.  Could anyone reasonably accuse the man of being unjust or unfair because he chose these two and left the others’?”

“The preacher replied to the Calvinist—‘Certainly not!  As you have explained the situation I would find no problem of any kind with the man’s purpose and his choice.’  Then the preacher said—‘But suppose the man went to the orphanage and sent word to all the children saying, ‘WHOSOEVER WILL may come!’ and then refused to take any but the two he had originally intended to take.  With that I have a problem which Calvinism cannot resolve’.” (from Harold Mackay)

Now, allow me to intensify Kelly’s story in order to truly view the darker side of Calvinism:

Suppose that the same man came to the orphanage and warned the children and staff that in one hour the orphanage will burn down and that anyone remaining in the building will become burned alive in the fire; again, he makes the initial offer that anyone who will come with him may come and will be rescued.  Then, having given the warning and announced the promised blanket invitation, he then proceeds to choose only two of the children to adopt, to take with him and thereby to rescue them from the fire.  The rest would all be left behind to suffer.

THAT is the dark side of Calvinism!

Your comments and Scripture citations are welcome.

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

Why I Use the King James Version

Posted on October 28, 2011 by | 191 comments

king james bible

This article, sent to me today by my friend Dr. Tom Cucuzza, is used with his permission. It is an important treatise on reasons why he, I and others write and teach using passages from the King James Bible. While I understand some scholars use other versions of the Bible, this article outlines doctrinal and common sense reasons why the KJV Bible is Tom’s and my choice for teaching. I also find that modern “translations” of the Bible tend to favor and encourage Calvinism and the Lordship “Salvationist” teaching

On this Blog, we have written articles exposing errors in various Bibles but Tom’s thoughts here are well reasoned and much more comprehensive. We will appreciate your comments. Jack

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Why I Use the King James Version

Dr. Thomas M. Cucuzza

Northland Bible Baptist Church

Note: Several of the following points are based on the article A Creationist’s Defense of the King James Version by Dr. Henry Morris. Also, the following article is not an exhaustive study but merely study notes used for preaching a message.

The KJV was first printed in 1611 and for almost 400 years it stood without a competitor. It was seen and accepted by people all over the world, including the best Bible Scholars of the day, as the Word of God. But since 1900 we have had well over a hundred or more new English translations of the Bible. This fact of so many new Bibles and the reason for them all has to be questioned by anyone who seriously loves the verbally inspired Word of God. Each new Bible promises that it is the best, most accurate, and easily understood. If each one that has come out over the past 30 years is the best and most accurate, then what does it say for the last “best and most accurate” that the newest one replaces?

1. I use the KJV because of  its proven track record. It is still quoted more than any other.

For 400 years the King James has been used for great revivals, great churches have been built, hundreds of thousands, maybe millions, have been won to Christ while using the KJV. People use other Bibles today and think it is impressive that their Bible has been used for 20 years, etc. But think of 400 years! Why would the Lord use it so mightily if there was something wrong with it?

2. I use the KJV because it is, as much as possible, a literal, word for word translation.

Whatever Bible you use, you should want one that is as much as possible a word for word translation of the original. While the KJV is not perfect, it IS word for word. The NIV IS NOT WORD FOR WORD, but a free translation.

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Inspiration: Without impairing the intelligence, individuality, literary style, or personal feelings of the human authors, God supernaturally directed the writing of Scripture so that they recorded in perfect accuracy His comprehensive and infallible revelation to man. If God Himself had done the writing, the written Word would be no more accurate and authoritative than it is. New Scofield Reference Bible

3. I use the KJV because people need a standard Bible they can be sure they can trust. We are dealing with the Word of God. The KJV has proven more than trustworthy.

4. I use the KJV because words that are not there in the original are italicized in the KJV.

The NIV adds many words and doesn’t say one word about it. In other words, you often are not even reading the actual Word of God, but added words that have no Biblical basis whatsoever, but were simply added to make the reading easier.

5. I use the KJV because it is based on the textus receptus, and not the vaticanus or sinaiticus/eclectic text. While 30 years ago those promoting the new Bibles said that the base text they were using for translation was superior, this is in serious doubt today. As a matter of fact, the sinaiticus and vaticanus are often in disagreement with each other! Westcott & Hort were not sound in theology. This is a matter of record.

The only major new Bible that has its New Testament based on the Textus Receptus is the New King James Version.

6. I use the KJV because it is easier to memorize than the modern translations. The flow of the language lends itself to memorizing. Along with that, what Bible do you decide to memorize when ‘scholars’ can’t agree on what the text says?

7. I use the KJV because so many Bibles produce tremendous confusion. You can’t follow along. What could be a greater ploy of Satan than to cast doubt on the most fundamental possession we have, the very Word of God?

8. I use the KJV because it is translated true to the great doctrines of the Bible. You want translators who are spiritual men who know the Word and have the highest respect for it. Their doctrinal positions will show up in the translating. We need to be honest about this and not be naive! What a man believes will come out in how he translates it. Let’s look at some examples:

a. the virgin birth and the deity of Christ. Ex. Matthew 1:23

Matthew 1:23  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

The word here ‘virgin’ in v.23 is parthenos, always translated in the New Testament as ‘virgin’, never as young woman. Not only that, the Septuagint, which is a Greek translation of the Old Testament written some 200 years before Christ, uses the word ‘parthenos‘ in translating Isaiah 7:14.

Isaiah 7:14 Compare this with the ASV, based on Westcott and Hort, which says “young woman”. Even the NRSV says this. The virgin birth is a fundamental truth.

KJV: 1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

NIV: 1 Tim. 3:16 Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.

Who is the “He” in v.16?

KJV: Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

NIV: Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

There is a big difference between everlasting and ancient times.

KJV: John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

NIV: John 6:47 I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.

Believes what? Believes in simply God? Believes in creation? The NIV and related Bibles are confusing.

NASB: John 6:47 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.

KJV: Acts 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

NIV: There is nothing there! This is common in the NIV because the Westcott Hort text is missing whole verses at times. Yet this verse is vital to the passage.

b. eternal security.

KJV: 2 Timothy 2:11-13 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

NIV: 2 Tim. 2:11-13 Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

The NIV says “disown.” Heresy! God does not abandon even rebellious children! See John 3:16 and John 5:24. The denial here in the context is a denial of honor and reward in the future.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 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.

These passages are just a sample.

9. I use the KJV because of the way the KJV deals with the unfortunate reality of sin in the life of the Christian.

KJV: 1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

NIV: 1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.

NASB: 1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

The NIV says we will not continue to sin. But this is a contradiction to 1 John 1:5-9 and 2:1. The NSAB says “practice”, but this is a contradiction to Romans 7:19 where it says that we DO still practice sin as believers.

KJV: 1 John 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

It is clear that the text is saying that when one does what is wrong, or hates his brother, this sort of behavior does not have its source in God. But look at the way the NIV interprets it:

NIV: 1 John 3:10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

If this is true then none of us are children of God!!!!!!!!!!!

10. I use the KJV because of the vast treasures of study aids available to the user of the KJV. The commentaries of all the great Bible teachers and preachers are based on the KJV. This is a tremendous advantage. The most valuable and classic of all the study tools for the Bible are based on the KJV. Ex. Strong’s Concordance and Lexicon. Ex. Vine’s Expository Dictionary  Ex. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. You do not have to swap words or figure out what corresponds to what.

The old scholarship is for the most part better and more doctrinally sound than the new scholarship. They had a keen sense of separation and fundamentalism, contrasted to neoevangelicalism. Some may say, “You’re just old fashioned and prejudice.” No, I dare you to compare. Most of what is offered up today is Biblically “anemic” and “spiritual fast food”. They seldom focus on purity of life and speak out about separation.

11. The KJV is royalty free. It is free to used as much as you want without cost. The modern translations charge you if you want to use their translation to any large extent, even if you own one of their Bibles. If these people care as much as they say, then why don’t they let you use their Bibles for free? After all, it is suppose to be GOD’S WORD, isn’t it?

I believe these are good reasons to use the KJV. No, it isn’t the easiest to read, but what you read will not lead you astray, and you can be sure that you can trust it.

Dr. Thomas M. Cucuzza

Visit Dr. Cucuzza at Northland Bible Baptist Church

The Truth About Eternal Life << Click

191 Comments

Posted in Bible, Christian, Christianity, Conservative, Faith, Free Grace, Grace, Religion, Salvation

Lordship “Salvation” Deception: Tricks and Lies of Lordship “Salvation” and Other Perversions of Free Grace

Posted on October 24, 2011 by | 132 comments

This is an excellent article by our friend John, on the perversions of God’s Free Grace.
Many of us in the grace community have spent a considerable amount of time and energy trying to refute the more obvious perversions of Grace.  Some common forms of perversions of Grace are set forth below (note that I borrowed heavily from Ron Shea’s “The Four Perversions of Grace”)

Before salvation

1.  Basic salvation by works – examples include water baptism and public confession of Christ
2.  Bilateral contract salvation – examples include “repent of your sins in order to be saved”, “make Christ the Lord of your life in order to be saved”, “make a personal commitment to Christ in order to be saved”

After salvation

3.  Arminianism (denial of eternal security) – salvation, once attained, must be maintained by adherence to God’s laws.
4.  The Perseverance of the Saints (denial of assurance) – maintains that genuine saving faith will always produce visible and lasting results in a person’s life; therefore, serious or habitual sin would constitute proof that true conversion was never experienced – that the person was never really saved

I have seen these perversions used in a wide variety of ways, as I am sure you have.  While it is critical that we continue to fight these obvious errors, I would like to discuss some more colloquial lies.

If it Seems Like it Should be True, it is True

The “seems  likes” are situations in which a person substitutes his sense of justice for God’s justice.  I encounter this one a lot.  It is popular, because it appeals to our humanism.  Some of the common forms are:

It just seems like a person who is saved would be more radical in his devotion; or
It just seems like a person who is saved would not do this, that or the other

I think that people often fall into this trap because they are afraid that someone will abuse Grace (that is, get by with something).  The most ironic thing about this is that perversion of Grace is the ultimate abuse of Grace.

Believing to Avoid Hell is Not Legitimate Salvation

I have heard pastors and others say that someone can’t be saved if his motive is simply to be saved from going to Hell.  If this is the case, then there would be little purpose in mentioning Hell in the Bible.  This is the old “my motive is better than your motive argument.”  The Bible is silent as to motives for being saved.  There is no room for boasting before God.

Someone Must Desire a Relationship with Jesus to be Saved

I hear this one a lot.  It is often espoused by those who confuse loving Jesus and serving Jesus with belief in Jesus for salvation.  But,  the eternal destiny of someone who is saved, but has nothing to show for it (1 Corinthians 3) versus the eternal destiny of someone who has not trusted in Jesus as Savior (Matthew 7: 21-23) is different.  The “worst” Christian goes to heaven.  The most committed “Christ follower” who never puts his faith in Him alone does not go to Heaven.

One Version of the Bible is as Good as the Next

I’m going to let you in on something:  Satan plays dirty!  There is no rule that prevents him from perverting scripture.  I hesitate to do this, because I don’t want to bring attention to rogue versions of the Bible.  But, here goes:

James 2:24

KJV  Ye see then how that by works a man is justified , and not by faith only.
NLT  So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.

The NLT “translation” totally violates God’s Gospel of salvation by Grace through faith.

Jonah 3:10

KJV  And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did [it] not.
NIV   When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.

The NIV translation will not call turning from evil ways “works”.  This error would help confuse the matter as to whether turning from sins is a work  The NIV also has removed all Old Testament references  to God repenting.  This would help in pushing the error that repentance always means repenting from sins

Luke 13:3

KJV  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent , ye shall all likewise perish .
NLT  Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God

The NLT version reduces the Gospel to a straight-up gospel of works.

It’s OK to Read and Study Stuff by Guys Who Pervert the Gospel

The theory of  “eat the meat and spit out the bones” could be roughly translated as “aside from that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play”.

This lie helps keep books such as “The Hole in the Gospel” and “Radical” in publication.  The only logical outcomes of such books would be to cause the faithless to exercise more faith in their own works, or to cause the poorly grounded babe in Christ do be deterred or distracted from his faith.   The mature faithful should be sufficiently discerning to know these books are destructive.

Its OK to Trust in Christ Plus Something Else for Eternal Life

This is for the fence riders who would like to think that salvation is by Grace through faith, but they want to hold onto “turning from sins for salvation” and the like, just in case they are wrong.  Faith in Christ plus something else is not the same thing as faith in Christ.

Church Tradition is Sacred

This one includes “if it is old, it must be right.”  Nothing could be further from the truth. This is usually used in reference to old-time preachers who have gone on to their reward and who promoted LS, Calvinism and  the like.  Its companion lie is that salvation by unmerited Grace, appropriated by simple faith in Christ is some newfangled notion being promulgated by latter-day apostates.

All of the Nice People are Saved

It is hard to swallow that so many of the kind, considerate, gentle (among the many positive attributes that I don’t consistently possess or display) people who are wrapped-up in these lies may by unsaved.  It is also hard to fathom how one can obtain post-graduate degrees in theology and miss the central theme of Christianity!  It is hard to believe that people would dedicate their lives in churches teaching lies.

But, as the songwriter Bob Dylan said  – “the executioner’s face is always hidden.”

Conclusion
Many of the mainline denominations, evangelicals and writers use these lies, in different measures and combination, in coming up with their deadly cocktails.  These are just a few that I could think of.  There are lots more.  Be on the lookout for them.

No Tricks — The Truth About  Heaven

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Posted in Calvinism, Christian, Christianity, Faith, Free Grace, Grace, Hope, Lordship Salvation, Reformed theology, Religion, Salvation

Andy Stanley’s Catalyst “Leadership” Now in SoCal with Rick Warren

Posted on October 20, 2011 by | 55 comments

As if Andy Stanley’s big Catalyst Leadership shindig a few weeks ago in Atlanta, featuring speakers Cornell West, Mark Driscoll, et al was not enough, Andy has expanded his CatalystOneDay Leadership Conference to Orange County, California. meeting with Rick Warren in Rick’s Saddleback Church.

Another Andy Stanley Catalyst Meeting: Now with Rick Warren

After this, they move to South Barrington, IL in November then from one venue to another monthly – My dear friends, this is simply indicative of Creeping “fundamental” Ecumenism.

Here’s our Article On the Catalyst Leadership Conference in Atlanta October 6, 2011. If you have not read it, please do.

Beware: Catalyst Conference 2011, Chan, Driscoll, et al.

With this latest bash being held at Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church, we see “fundamental Christian” ecumenism at its worst. If you are unaware of the “Rick Warren problem,” we have written extensively about him and his jaunts into various errors.

Here are just a few articles — but Warren’s errors are too many to mention here:

Rick Warren, Tony Blair, John Piper – Togetherness?

Beware Rick Warren’s New Age Daniel Plan. It sounds so good, but… POISON

Rick Warren Speaks to Islam Muslims – No Gospel

This is terribly sad — so many are falling for the Emergent ecumenical error. Where have the proponents of Biblical Discernment gone?

The True Biblical Free Grace Gospel << Click

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Posted in Calvinism, Christian, Christianity, Danger, Daniel Plan, Emergent, Emerging, Faith, Free Grace, Grace, New Age, Reformed theology, Religion, Rick Warren, Salvation

Testing Lordship “salvation” Advocates

Posted on October 15, 2011 by | 75 comments

Our friend John made a revealing comment on another Page which is not widely distributed — so with his permission I wish to post it here so all of our subscribers will get the benefit of this wonderful  Biblically based teaching.

From John:

[A]s I read these comments, [from those who have been deceived by Lordship “salvation, Commitment salvation teaching], I am saddened by how many souls are damaged by bad teaching, such as turn from sins for salvation, commit for salvation, or work for salvation. If one applies any of these teachings to clear Biblical doctrine, they cannot survive. I like to think of it this way:
1. Is it consistent with salvation by grace through faith? [Ephesians 2:8-9 and many more]
2. Is it consistent with eternal security?[John 10:28 and many more]
3. Is it consistent with the doctrine of assurance? [2 Timothy 1:12 and many more].

None of the works-based systems of salvation pass these tests. If one believes he must modify his behavior (or promise to modify his behavior) or do anything as a requirement to becoming saved or staying saved, he is trusting in works and not trusting in Christ.

Moreover, if one believes that acts of righteousness are in any way evidential of saving faith, he would always look to himself and his works to justify himself.

[These few verses above were added by Jack.. There are many, many more Scripture passages which prove beyond a doubt John’s wonderful Biblical assertion.]

These are amazingly simple statements yet full of Biblical Truth and they cover the lie of Lordship or Commitment “salvation,” Calvinism, cults and false doctrinal statements from many “main-line” denominational churches.

Thank you, John for expressing so clearly your insight into Biblical Truth.

Biblical Salvation As It Really Is

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Posted in Chan, Christian, Christianity, Faith, Free Grace, Grace, John MacArthur, Lordship Salvation, Religion, Salvation

Beware: Catalyst Conference 2011, Chan, Driscoll, et al.

Posted on October 6, 2011 by | 88 comments

Well, just received a note from a friend who is attending the Catalyst Conference Atlanta 2011 with the comment, “WOW, Fantastic!” Shocking!!!

This conference was apparently started in 1999 by Pastor Andy Stanley, Reggie Joiner and other young ministers, presumably to reach and teach leaders under the age of 40. They opined that church leadership was stuck in a forty to sixty year old mindset and medium. This team was convinced that this needed to change.

The Conference is meeting in Atlanta as I write this.

To get an idea of the direction of this conference we need only look at the speakers list — of which I will name a few:

Mark Driscoll, Pastor of Mars Hill Church, Washgton State. AKA “The Sexpert Pastor,” New Age and Contemplative advocate whose sermons and videos sport the warning, “Mature Content.”

Francis Chan, Author of “Crazy Love” (of which much has been written on this web site), Lordship Salvationist, former associate of John MacArthur, terrible “theology” etc, etc.

Cornell West, Princeton Professor, Radical Black Activist, former confidant and friend of President Obama, now leading an effort to replace Obama with a more “Progressive” (read Socialist) candidate in 2012. Author of “Race Matters” and prominent member of the Democratic Socialists of America. West has described himself as a “non-Marxist socialist” (partly due to Marx’s opposition to “religion,” via Wikipedia). One wonders why there would be a Christian Leadership conference with West as a Speaker. West worked with such public figures as Louis Farrakhan(Nation of Islam head) and Al Sharpton,(Race Hustler) whose 2004 presidential campaign West advised. (*plus so much more*)

Dave Ramsey, OK guy and promoter of personal financial responsibility (not sure why he would go to this affair, much less speak)

And other assorted speakers. The event is sponsored by a plethora of organizations, ecumenical in that some sponsor members are Assemblies of God, Indiana Wesleyan University (Methodist),  Monvee Advisers (recommended by John Ortberg, Contemplative Author) and others some of whom are OK but others questionable.

Seems Andy Stanley has no discernment for Biblical Christian principles – at least in this big event.

Eternal Life is FREE!!! <<Click

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Posted in Atheism, Atheist, Chan, Christian, Christianity, Communism, Conservative, contemplative, Emergent, Emerging, Faith, Grace, Marxism, New Age, Obama, Religion, Socialism

Lordship “salvation” Equals a Bi-Lateral Contract “Salvation”

Posted on October 2, 2011 by | 66 comments

Our friend John brought to my attention (the first time I’d heard it) the description of Lordship “salvation” (LS) as being a Bi-Lateral Contract Salvation. What a wonderful description of the lie of LS. Thank you, John. I am not a lawyer but I think I can explain how it relates to salvation and the LS lie. If I fall short, please back me up.

A Bi-Lateral Contract  is an agreement in which each of the parties to the contract makes a promise or set of promises to the other party or parties. Think about it! This IS Lordship “salvation.

Whereas, in a Uni-Lateral Contract,  only One Party to the contract makes a promise and the second party may accept or reject the contract along with all the provisions and benefits therein. A Uni-Lateral Contract is God’s Salvation by Grace alone through Faith alone in Christ alone. A person may take it or reject it.

God has made His salvation an offer that is absolutely a Uni-Lateral Contract. God sees man as imperfect, a sinner and incapable of ever reaching, on his own, the perfection God requires for Heaven. The requirement for eternal life is TOTAL PERFECTION!! Man himself is absolutely incapable of that, so God provided Himself in the person of Jesus Christ, God in the Flesh, Absolute Perfection to come to earth, live a perfect life and give Himself in death to pay the sin-death penalty for all mankind. Jesus Christ arose from the grave, thereby guaranteeing His Uni-Lateral Contract with mankind.

Now, God’s Uni-Lateral Contract is this — He  has done all the work required for Heaven and offers it Freely to any an all who will take it — There is no obligation on the part of the taker, before, during or after, as it is God’s FREE Gift, a Uni-Lateral Contract to mankind. You simply make the decision to take His Gift by Faith, believing what He has done on that Cross applied to you and could never be accomplished by your good works (Ephesians 2:8-9). You simply believe/trust in Jesus Christ for what God has promised in His Contract. The result is Everlasting, Eternal Life with Him for whosoever believes.

Then we see the counterfeit, “Lordship salvation” whose lie IS a Bi-lateral Contract.. where the proponents say that Christ has “done it” for us but we must do our part, before, during or after “salvation” or, by their rules, we “may not” be saved. There is always that smoldering, lingering doubt. “Have I done enough.” Their theory is such that we must be willing or promise to commit to “follow” Jesus, to work for Jesus and learn the LS subset of rules for their conditional system of eternal life. If we accomplish all their requirements, then maybe someday we will have done enough to qualify for Heaven. We’ve seen that impossible and nebulous teaching proclaimed by the prince of Lordship Salvationists, John MacArthur. Here is one, among many, of his quotes:

“Let me say again unequivocally that Jesus’ summons to deny self and follow him was an invitation to salvation, not . . . a second step of faith following salvation.” (Dr. John MacArthur, The Gospel According to Jesus What is Authentic Faith? pp. 219.)

That, my friends, is a perfect example of the awful lie of Lordship “salvation” or Bi-Lateral Contract salvation. They say that Christ has done His work but in order to gain salvation you must do your part of the Bi-Lateral Contract, “deny self and follow him.” What an horribly absurd distortion of sound Biblical Doctrine!!

“Then said they unto Him [Jesus], What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
“Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe [Gr. pisteuo = trust] on Him whom He hath sent.” John 6:28-29

The Work of God is complete in His Uni-Lateral Contract. We may either believe on Christ and have eternal life or neglect/reject Christ in God’s Uni-Lateral Contract and suffer eternal separation/death. Either one is a choice one must make, our individual, personal choice. To ignore, put off, refuse or neglect to make a choice IS a choice.

“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 [Jesus].” John 3:18

Complete Answer — How to NOT Be Eternally Condemned.

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

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

Israel, Global Jihad and the Bible

Posted on September 15, 2011 by | 10 comments

This is a very interesting take on the up-coming September 20th UN resolution for Palestinian statehood.

Ye’or asks. “Given the immense territories conquered and Islamized over thirteen centuries of expansion and war,” she writes, “why would Muslim countries keep plotting to destroy Israel?” And further: “Why does the immense oil wealth of Muslim nations nourish a flood of hatred that poisons the heart of humanity against such a small nation? Why is Israel considered so alarming?”

Rather than believing all the propaganda about Palestinian’s desire for a nation of their own, their rights in the area, etc, Bat Ye’or’s new book rejects those liberal regurgitations and platitudes, by emphatically stating the Global Muslim Jihad wants “[w]hat Israel possesses,” Ye’or explains, “… the Bible.”

This is a fascinating article from which I have grabbed excerpts. Ye’or explains that history recorded in the Bible contradicts and overshadows Muslim Jihadists Koran, therefore the goal of Global Jihad is to destroy all vestiges and history of the Land of the Bible and our Savior Jesus Christ.

=========0==========

By Diana West

Beyond the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks looms another signal date in the annals of global jihad. That date is Sept. 20, when the Palestinian Authority’s Mahmoud Abbas is expected to petition the United Nations for statehood.

What would a U.N.-ordained Palestinian state have to do with global jihad? Practically everything, because such statehood would mark a major victory in the long war on Israel’s existence. And, whether unadmitted or unimagined, it is Israel on which the axis of Islamic jihad turns.

I’ve never been more convinced of this than after reading four, clarifying pages of Bat Ye’or’s new book, “Europe, Globalization, and the Coming Universal Caliphate” (

In a first-chapter primer on the relationship between the European Union and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, much of which revolves around mutual animus toward Israel, Ye’or revisits the hateful perversion that passes for political normal: the relentless mission of the Islamic world, with EU encouragement, “to appropriate a tiny piece of land” — Israel — as a political and religious cause despite the fact, as she reminds us, no town, village or hamlet of Israel is mentioned in the Koran or early biographies of Muhammad.

Why Israel? Ye’or asks. “Given the immense territories conquered and Islamized over thirteen centuries of expansion and war,” she writes, “why would Muslim countries keep plotting to destroy Israel?” And further: “Why does the immense oil wealth of Muslim nations nourish a flood of hatred that poisons the heart of humanity against such a small nation? Why is Israel considered so alarming?”

The well-read global citizen might regurgitate something about land, modern Zionism and the post-1948 “plight of the Palestinians,” but these are stock narratives overwriting the age-old reason. “What Israel possesses,” Ye’or explains, “is the Bible.”

[…]

Continue reading the amazing details from Bat Ye’or:

The Jewish World Review << Click

How to KNOW you have Eternal Life << Click

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Posted in Christian, Christianity, Faith, Grace, Islam, Israel, Jews, Muslim, Reformed theology, Religion, Salvation, Shariah law

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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