Charles Finney: False Teacher

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Finney’s Falsehoods

BEWARE: CHARLES FINNEY’S HERESIES LIVE ON TODAY VIA A MOB OF FALSE TEACHERS.

QUOTES FROM CHARLES FINNEY

“Neither is the atonement nor anything in the mediatorial work of Christ, the foundation of our justification, in the sense of the source, moving or procuring cause.” Charles Finney, Lecture 8, “Obedience to the Moral Law” p. 375-76

“It is not founded in Christ’s literally suffering the exact penalty of the law for them, and in this sense literally purchasing their justification and eternal salvation.” Charles Finney, Lecture 8, “Obedience to the Moral Law” p. 373

“There can be no justification in a legal or forensic sense, but upon the ground of universal, perfect, and uninterrupted obedience to law. This is of course denied by those who hold that gospel justification, or the justification of penitent sinners, is of the nature of a forensic or judicial justification. They hold to the legal maxim, that what a man does by another he does by himself, and therefore the law regards Christ’s obedience as ours, on the ground that He obeyed for us.” [Systematic Theology, 362]. Charles Finney

“These and similar passages are relied upon, as teaching the doctrine of an imputed righteousness; and such as these: “The Lord our righteousness” (Phil. 3:9). . . . “Christ our righteousness” is Christ the author or procurer of our justification. But this does not imply that He procures our justification by imputing His obedience to us. . .” [Charles Finney, Systematic Theology (Minneapolis: Bethany), 372-73].

“All who deny this, call it original sin or by any other title, are but heathens still in the fundamental point which differentiates heathenism from Christianity. . . . Or, to come back to the text, is ‘every imagination of the thoughts of his heart evil continually’? Allow this, and you are so far a Christian. Deny it, and you are but a heathen still.”— John Wesley, Works, Vol. V, p. 195.

“Moral depravity cannot consist in any attribute of nature or constitution, nor in any lapsed or fallen state of nature. . . . Moral depravity, as I use the term, does not consist in, nor imply a sinful nature, in the sense that the human soul is sinful in itself. It is not a constitutional sinfulness” [Systematic Theology, 245].

There are many arrogant novices who’ve bought this man’s lies and are peddling them with impunity today. We have them on our friends list. Beware. Salvation is of the LORD, not man. This one statement, no matter the context, clearly reveals that Charles Finney was nothing less than an “accursed” agent of Satan himself, peddling “another gospel.” (Galatians 1:6-9; 2 Corinthians 11:2-5). Finney taught the heresy that man saves himself and that fallen men have no sinful inclinations. Most astoundingly, Finney and many of his cult pawns today, to not teach the original Gospel essential of the daily cross, the necessity of being crucified with Christ (Luke 9:23-24; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20; 5:24, etc.).

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” 2 Peter 2:1

THERE’S A REASON WE HAVE THE BIBLE … SO WE WON’T BE MISLED BY THE TEACHINGS OF MERE MEN (Proverbs 30:5; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, etc.). WHY DO SOME INSIST UPON READING THE DOCTRINES OF MERE MEN WHO WERE NEVER AUTHENTICATED BY GOD TO WRITE DOCTRINE? ISN’T THIS A WASTE OF TIME? YES IT IS. I’M SPEAKING ABOUT MEN LIKE CALVIN AND FINNEY (AND THERE ARE MANY OTHERS) WHO WROTE EXCESSIVE DOCTRINAL VOLUMES. ISN’T THE BIBLE WHERE WE GET GOD’S DOCTRINE? (2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17) MINISTRY IS SERVING – SERVING UP HEAVEN’S BREAD FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION. NEHEMIAH 8:8 GIVES THE PATTERN FOR BIBLICAL MINISTRY THAT GLORIFIES GOD – READ FROM HIS WORD DIRECTLY AND GIVE THE SENSE OF HIS WORD.

THE MINISTRY IS BEING REGULARLY CONTACTED BY THOSE WHO ARE OFF ON THIS “NO-SINFUL-NATURE” KICK THAT THEY LEARNED FROM THE FALSE TEACHINGS OF CHARLES FINNEY OR ONE OF HIS MODERN FOLLOWERS. THEY ARE READING OUR MATERIALS ON THIS SITE AND BECOMING HIGHLY INFURIATED DUE TO STEALING THEIR THUNDER. PERHAPS SOME WANT THE CREDIT FOR THEIR OWN SANCTIFICATION. IN THIS POST WE WILL CONSIDER HOW CHARLES FINNEY TAUGHT SALVATION BY FAITH AND THEN SANCTIFICATION BY OUR OWN PERSONAL WORKS (GALATIANS 3:3). THIS IS “ANOTHER GOSPEL.” (GAL. 1:6-9) FINNEY WAS A FALSE TEACHER. BEWARE OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN READING HIM OR LISTENING TO OTHER DUPES WHO READ HIS GARBAGE INSTEAD OF GOD’S WORD.

SPEAKING OF THOSE WHO ARE TEACHING THESE POISONS IN OUR DAY, ONE DISCIPLE OF JESUS NOTES:

“THE FALSE TEACHERS WHO ARE SPREADING FINNEY’S LIES AND THIS INCLUDES THE PELAGIAN AND OPEN THEISTIC HERESIES ARE JESSE MORRELL, JED SMOCK AND OTHER LUNATIC STREET PREACHERS. KERRIGAN SKELLY AND MIKE DESARIO AND RUBEN ISRAEL ARE ALSO PERPETRATING THESE FALSE DOCTRINES.”

Is Jesus Both Savior and Sanctifier?

Those who read and study Finney and/or those duped by his false teachings are becoming widespread. Beware. This extra-biblical system of theology is producing some harsh, self-righteous followers due to basing it all on us (sanctification). But Romans 8:13; Philippians 1:6; 2:12-13 says differently. Oh and Psalms 138:8.

“The LORD will perfect (sanctify; mature) that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.” Psalms 138:8

There are those who have invested much time in studying Finney’s works and so take great offense to this examination of his teachings. But that’s their own sin – that they would waste their time reading the volumes of doctrinal writings of any mere man, past, present, or future. That’s where they went astray in the first place. Had they simply studied God’s precious precepts, their belief about the LORD and His righteousness would be perfectly intact.

True Christians have their final authority in the Holy Scriptures, period. They do not follow mere sinful men. The earliest believers, just after the church was born at Pentecost, are our example and they “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine,” not the doctrines of other mere men (Acts 2:42). Hence, the concern for those who bother reading volumes of “theology” from mere men. We don’t even know God’s Word that well! Think about the idolatry of this. We refuse to read the words of the God we claim has saved us and yet have ample time to study the works of mere men? If we are going to follow the words of mere men, let’s listen to the words that the LORD inspired Paul, Peter, John, and the other New Testament writers to pen.

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy (the written Word); whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:19-21

You would think one defied Jesus Christ Himself by the way some attack over the questioning and examination of Finney’s teachings. People who have unwittingly made an idol in their hearts of this mere man, Charles Finney, get highly upset at the suggestion that he taught falsely. Well, I certainly am far from being the first one who has pointed Finney’s falsehoods out. Why such a commotion over comparing a mere man’s teachings to Scripture and believing they are contradictory? If there were not the lifting up of a mere man and his teachings, it perhaps would not be a problem.

Please spread this article far and wide as there are many who teach Finney’s lies today. In fact, their whole theology is undergirded by Finney’s false teachings though they may not openly divulge such a fact.

In the face of many Bible passages which reveal fallen mankind’s “desperately wicked” disposition, Charles Finney refused to believe that man has an inherent sinful nature after the fall (Jeremiah 17:9). It is my observation that those who adapt teachings like Finney’s, have an inner propensity to want to feel as though THEY, out of THEIR own goodness and their own good works are earning themselves their salvation. In other words they are in open denial of Christ (antichrist). This is damnable unbelief and rebellion – a refusal to acknowledge their own sinful state and therefore desperate need for Christ’s sacrifice (Hebrews 3-4). Reading Romans 3:21-26 daily for a week can jerk the deceit from that type evil disposition and establish in our heart “the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ.”

“But now the righteousness of God (as opposed to man’s) without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. ” Romans 3:21-26

Have we denied Christ without realizing it? There seems to be something in unsanctified human beings that makes them want to identify with someone no differently than people adopt a certain football, basketball, or baseball team of city, state, or liking. The same seems true among those claiming salvation in Christ and perhaps especially many who actually preach. They hear a quote from an evangelist of old such as Charles Finney and then begin to read more of his stuff and adopt him (a mere sinner) as their hero, all the while rejecting the LORDship of Christ, the only “Head” of His true body (Colossians 2:18-19). Essentially, this is idolatry (Ezekiel 14:3; 1 John 5:20-21; Revelation 21:8). A lot of these preacher guys are strong personalities and so they like men like Finney who made many bold statements, yet there’s a hook beneath the surface of the bait and many have bought his whole package (lure) and are now hooked or have created an idolatrous soul tie (heart idol) with this man of old. There is an evil spirit that comes with the sin of spiritual adultery (idolatry) and that devil has blinded their eyes and causes them to get irate when someone tampers with their mere human, sinful idol – in this case Charles Finney.

Exposing the idol in the hearts of those who have invested (wasted) their time reading Finney, will often strike a chord. Evil spirits that have free access to those who live in the sin of idolatry, will violently manifest at this exposé of the idol of their hearts (Ezekiel 14:3). In this case, that’s Charles Finney. Carol Burke puts it this way:

“When people begin to defend idols, there will be accusations against you (the mere messenger) because of your stand in the truth.”

At that, let’s check into a bit of the teachings of Charles Finney.

Of Finney, one writer notes:

“Finney told sinners to present THEIR righteousness to God. But in the gospel God does some presenting too. He has presented Christ as a propitiation, Romans 3: 25. Finney insisted, that Christ “could not … obey as our substitute”, yet he repeatedly said that Christ’s death was vicarious.” Charles Finney, Lecture 8, “Obedience to the Moral Law” p. 364

The only obedience God requires, in Finney’s view, is the obedience of the one to be justified. Such a person cannot get it from anyone else, including the Lord Jesus Christ. This is a very different view from that of the Reformation, which sees the model as God the judge acquitting and eternally accepting the sinner. This justification is based both on the gift of righteousness from Christ, as well as the full removal of the sinner’s guilt because it was atoned for on the cross. The condition laid upon the sinner is faith, which is a non-meritorious resting upon the work of Another and the receiving of the gospel promise. These are two extremely different views of salvation, the Reformation holding to Christ Alone (Solus Christus), and Finney’s doctrine, a view of “sinner alone”.

For now, we shall treat only the four required of sinners. But let it be clear that Finney explicitly argues against faith as the only condition of salvation. In his sole paragraph in this lecture on faith, never once does he argue for a trust in the work of Christ. Should a good lecture on justification devote only one paragraph to faith as Finney has done, and then spend half of that arguing against “faith alone”? Finney reminds us that true faith is a faith that works (quoting Galatians 5: 6 in the KJV), but there is no teaching on a faith that rests, as in Hebrews 4: 9-11.

The repentance he has in mind is total outward reformation, a “change of moral character.” Repentance “cannot consist in conviction of sin,” “nor sorrow for it” or merely a sense of our need of a Savior.

In order to be justified the sinner must believe and arrive at “present sanctification, in the sense of present full consecration to God”, (condition #4). (By this Finney means “present” vs. “former”.) This perfection in holiness must then be followed by the fifth and last of Finney’s conditions, a perseverance in obedience, which is also “an unalterable condition of justification.” In other words the sinner’s works are as much a condition of justification as faith.

I have found no reference in Finney to a faith that does not work as in the case of Abraham, “to him who does not work but believes…” Romans 4:5. He lists the verse twice, once with no treatment of it, as is his usual custom. In the case where he does, he claims, “Here justification is represented only as consisting in forgiveness of sin…” p. 373. Amazingly, to Finney the words “his faith is credited as righteousness,” teach only forgiveness and do not teach imputed righteousness. That faith works is agreed to. But when faith receives, it does not work. Once justification has been decreed and thus the Spirit given, the fruit of the Spirit comes into play. Thus faith without works moves on to be a faith that does work. The standard Roman confusion of this point is found throughout Finney.

In another chapter Finney says, “…if it be true that Christians are justified without present full obedience. That surely must be a doctrine of devils.” p. 125. He is seeking to avoid antinomianism, and he is arguing for the necessity of repentance — that purpose I do not dispute, but he sees only full obedience in the Christian as a condition of justification, and that is the matter now being disputed in this paper. We do argue for full obedience as the very ground of justification, but it is the obedience of Christ.

What the atonement does not mean. This odd way to begin is customary Finney. His answer for the ground of justification begins: “It is not founded in Christ’s literally suffering the exact penalty of the law for them, and in this sense literally purchasing their justification and eternal salvation.” The Reformation saw the biblical truth that Christ satisfied divine justice by receiving divine wrath in His vicarious death. Finney retains the word “justice” when he says the atonement is to “satisfy public justice,” but it is not “retributive justice.” Retributive justice means that the guilt of sin is actually punished. Finney held that sins may be pardoned, but for those saved, they are not punished; they are merely forgiven. Furthermore, he held that sin cannot be imputed to another person. This is Finney in all his consistency. First, the sinner’s needed obedience comes only from the sinner himself, and now that we look at Finney’s atonement, we learn that sin can fall only on the one committing it, or if forgiven on no one at all. The result is a double denial of the Savior’s work.

He elaborates that the atonement is not “a proper full payment of the debt of the justified.” That to Finney is impossible in the very idea of one dying for another. What Christ suffered is “indefinitely less in amount than was deserved by the transgressors.”Finney’s penchant to quantify both the obedience of Christ, and now His sufferings, shows that he has rejected the representative principle of the Mediator standing in for others. One should not measure the amount of blood, total His pain, nor clock the time hanging on the cross. The New Testament has no embarrassment to report that His death came sooner than the ones beside Him, because a quantification of the physical side is irrelevant to the atonement.

One must remember Finney’s distinction re the atonement as condition and not ground of justification. That leads to what might be his most sweeping statement to detach the cross from justification: “Neither is the atonement nor anything in the mediatorial work of Christ, the foundation of our justification, in the sense of the source, moving or procuring cause.” (I would nominate that as the most wicked thing I have read in Charles Finney.) It means that to find the real procuring cause of justification one must not look to the cross. He will say the ground of justification lies only in the heart of infinite love. If so, justification’s basis does not lie in the divine act of intervention in history in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. For Finney, the gospel has moved away from the redemptive action where “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day.” (1 Cor. 15:3,4) But divine love did act in Christ when God’s reconciliation took the path and principle of not imputing men’s sins to them, because those sins were imputed to the One made sin for them and executed accordingly. But in Finney’s atonement, that labor of love on the cross, procured nothing at all in regard to forgiveness. He has detached love and the cross when the apostle John did the opposite in fusing them, “… he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:10)”

Finney’s supporters will say this is a distortion since God’s love is the cause, and God did provide the atonement as a condition — a true statement of Finney’s position. But that the ground of justification is not in any sense the mediatorial ministry of the Savior, is straight Finney. The love of God is affirmed in Finney, but, for him, love causes what the atonement did not and could not. No, the gracious love of God sent the Son to reconcile in a redemptive activity that is effective. 1 Peter 3:18: “Christ died for sins [Finney differed saying it is not retributive] the righteous for the unrighteous [Finney denies Christ represented anyone], to bring you to God.” [Finney disagrees again since the mediatorial work of Christ never procured anything for us.] This is a small example of the pervasiveness of his denials. If one were to correct his (Finney’s) systematic theology point for point, it would be the writing of an encyclopedia. Finney could not sing, “On the cross He sealed my pardon, paid the debt and made me free,” because those words, three times, affirm that the mediator procured our forgiveness.

There is certainly no propitiation of God in Finney’s systematic theology. The cross has become for Finney, God’s media event so He will not be misunderstood and we will not misunderstand. And that is all the death of the Son of God accomplished, no washing away of sin, just a washing away of our possible misunderstandings. Finney’s god is quite insecure! He has to worry about our view of Him and prepare for our scrutiny, and so resort to the crucifixion of the Son of God to satisfy public justice. I would think that such a crime would do the opposite. If that crucifixion was not a penalty for sin, it is intrinsically unjust. Finney preserves justice by mutilating it. So when he speaks of the “vicarious nature” of the atonement, one should not think he speaks with the same meaning as evangelicals have ordinarily had for those words. His vocabulary is Christian; his content is the leaven of the Pharisees.

Where is Christ in all these conditions Finney would have us meet? Where is His obedience, which is the very heart of the gospel and the foundation of justification? In the gospel, a righteousness that comes from God and not ourselves, has been made known, Romans 1:17. When Finney rejected “justification by imputed righteousness” he was rejecting the righteousness produced in the sinless life of Christ. He says, “It was naturally impossible for Him, then, to obey in our behalf.” Charles Finney, Lecture 8, “Obedience to the Moral Law” p. 363

In effect, Finney also abandoned sola scriptura (the authority and sufficiency of Scripture), as shown by his constant appeal to rationalism in support of his new theology.

Specifically, what were Finney’s most serious errors? At the top of the list stands his rejection of the doctrine of justification by faith. Finney denied that the righteousness of Christ is the sole ground of our justification, teaching instead that sinners must reform their own hearts in order to be acceptable to God. (His emphasis on self-reformation apart from divine enablement is again a strong echo of Pelagianism.)

He derided the concept of imputation as unjust: “I could not but regard and treat this whole question of imputation as a theological fiction, somewhat related to our legal fiction of John Doe and Richard Roe” [Memoirs, 60].

Having decided that the doctrine of imputation was a “theological fiction,” he was forced to deny not only the imputation of Christ’s righteousness to believers, but also the imputation of the sinner’s guilt to Christ on the cross. Under Finney’s system, Christ could not have actually borne anyone else’s sin or suffered sin’s full penalty in their place and in their stead (contra Isaiah 53:6; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:2). Finney therefore rejected the doctrine of substitutionary atonement.

There can be no justification in a legal or forensic sense, but upon the ground of universal, perfect, and uninterrupted obedience to law. …” [Systematic Theology, 362].”

Yet another author notes the following of Charles Finney:

“In his Memoirs, his Lectures on Revival, and his Systematic Theology, what comes through, frankly, is not a man with a high regard for Scripture, but a man with an inflated view of himself. Where Scripture does not suit him, Finney resorts to sophistry to explain it away. Whole sections of his Systematic Theology contain paragraph after paragraph of philosophizing and moralizing—sometimes without a single reference to Scripture for many pages.”

Closing Thoughts

Yes, a person can fall from saving grace after being saved but we are NOT saved except/but by the mercy and grace of God provided through the perfect redemption of Jesus Christ. – “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; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:5-7

Are you “poor in spirit” or prideful in spirit? Jesus says:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit (desperate for Christ): for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3

Are you righteous by faith in Christ or self-righteously trusting in yourself and YOUR own supposed “natural ability” or perfect obedience? Finney taught that men had the “natural ability” to overcome all sin, which is an open denial of Christ and the need for Him to have come to redeem fallen mankind. This heresy is also a denial that when mankind fell that he incurred in himself spiritual death (Romans 5:12, 18-19).

So, the person who is trusting in self’s “natural ability” has denied the need for Christ and is an antichrist who is under the Law. And, we know that if that person morally fails in just one thing, they are guilty of breaking the whole Law and doomed to eternal damnation.

“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2:10

—- BEWARE OF THE SELF-RIGHTEOUS DEVILS IN OUR MIDST: At the return of Christ, what are you looking for? Are you looking for God to tell you just how wonderful and obedient YOU are? OR, are you that “poor in spirit” pauper who is wisely and fully trusting in the merit of Christ alone? …obeying the LORD in taking up the daily cross, being full of His Holy Spirit, and crying, “Be merciful to me Lord, a sinner”?! (Luke 18:10-14; Matthew 5:3)

JESUS CHRIST is the One who originated the story of the two men who went up to pray and clearly said that the man who depended on divine mercy is justified and the self-righteous religionist was condemned of God.

“And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: ¹⁰Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. ¹¹The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. ¹²I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. ¹³And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. ¹⁴I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Luke 18;10-14

“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” Jude 21

Every true, honest-hearted Bible student knows that one who was genuinely saved then can fall from saving grace, and yet no one is saved outside of the grace provided exclusively through the perfect work of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:21-16). In the end, even after we have followed Him fully, we must acknowledge that we are “unprofitable servants” and have nothing good in us except Jesus Christ and His perfect righteousness (Luke 17:10; Romans 7:18).

In his corrupted efforts to expose Calvinism’s obvious heresies, Charles Finney established yet an equally deadly falsehood when he denied imputed righteousness taught in Romans 4. Finney sought to correct Calvinism’s false teaching of “total depravity” where they taught that man has no personal will, no ability to respond to God’s requirement and call to repentance and faith. In attempting to correct this error, Finney erred by denying the biblical doctrine of imputation or transference of Christ’s righteousness – accessed, received by faith, not works (Romans 5:1). The word impute simply means to reckon or to account Christ’s righteousness to the account of all who repent and place their faith in Christ, the one Redeemer.

The Bible uses the word “imputed” and so to say otherwise is to contradict Holy Scripture (Romans 4). If justification is not imputed, accounted from God to man via the perfect sacrifice of Christ alone, then it must be earned or merited by sinful man, which is impossible. I suppose you are a finney-ite. Charles Finney was a fraud, a false teacher.

Now these same street preachers are telling people that justification is NOT by the imputed righteousness of Christ which is rank heresy (Romans 4; 2 Corinthians 5:21, etc.). In other words, Jesus came in vain and man can merit his own righteousness by his own “natural ability.” Beware. This is as antichrist as it gets. These guys are novices who are regurgitating the error of men like Finney from the past. They are not getting these evil, Christ-denying falsehoods from God’s Word.

In Finney’s Christ-denying, demonic theology, the individual’s own personal morality earns his own merit from God. Christ’s atoning sacrifice is brazenly denied.

In light of this, if you have read and espoused or taught others these errors, I want to encourage you to confess them in repentance before the LORD.

You, me, and Finney are all mere men. God’s written Word alone is “a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path” or else we are off His narrow path (Psalms 119:105; Matthew 7:13-29).

Charles Finney’s False Gospel | The Idolatrous Underpinnings of the Stopping all Sinning Focus

No Inherent Sin Nature? | Stop Sinning? Really? | Sin: Man’s Core Problem | The Idiocy of Calvinism

One writer expresses the following concerning Finney:

“Yet Satan’s plot against the organized church actually took shape under the ministry of a preacher called Charles Finney.

Finney was quite a wicked looking man, as you can see the devil all up in his face. The man lived a long time when you consider that in his lifetime, the average life span was from the late forties to about 65. Finney lived to be 83, from 1792-1875. A fiery New York preacher, Finney’s impact on church traditions and practices has been so profound, that his influence is still spreading globally almost two centuries later. Finney’s notoriety is that he is the one who brought the entire church the “make a decision for Christ” through repeating the sinner’s prayer and the altar call. A practicing Freemason for 8 years, Finney eventually disavowed it. Yet Freemasonry is witchcraft. And you just don’t walk away from witchcraft without a struggle.

Anyway, in a nutshell, Finney believed that human beings were capable of choosing whether they would be corrupt by nature or redeemed, referring to original sin as an “anti-scriptural and nonsensical dogma.” In clear terms, Finney denied the notion that human beings possess a sinful nature. Therefore, if Adam leads us into sin, he does so not by our inheriting his guilt and corruption, but by our following his poor example. This position leads logically to the view of Christ as not having died for sins but for some lofty, moralistic reason.

Well, this was the man who started the altar call, invitation to Christian discipleship, “I accept Jesus,” practice that has led to the greatest falling away—the one that Paul himself predicted would transpire. ….”

FEEDBACK:

“I found most big name preachers were put on pedestals by THE HARLOT APOSTATE CHURCH SYSTEM. SO, I DO NOT TRUST OR FOLLOW ANY OF THEM.”

MESSAGE RECEIVED:

“When taken out of context these passages are shocking … But he is making a point in each case that you yourself and many teachers and preachers argue for today. The way he has written it does seem extreme and even as you point out as “heretical” but he isn’t actually saying those things literally. If you believe and I am sure you do in sanctification of the believer. Then this is the point he is making albeit in a very extreme manner. But as I said he was countering an aggressive and extreme Calvinist doctrine.”

REPLY:

Yes beloved brother and the cancer of calvinism must be exploded, busted, exposed. Yet, for the moment, it is my opinion that Finney went too far and entered into error. …. We can observe that calvinism makes salvation “ALL of grace with no involvement required of men” and yet Finney-ism pushes the devilish, Christ-denying (antichrist) error that “salvation is of man”, his “natural ability.” Let us remember that we don’t need anything but the Bible…. seems that some men of old, went on and on and on and on writing large volumes of information that crept away from straight Scripture and their volumes weren’t packed with literal Scripture…. we don’t need man’s tainting on the Word, right? That’s when error enters…. whether that man be myself or you or men like Finney. …. also, the fruit of Finney’s doctrine is very smelly as seen in many today such as Mike Desario (a devil), Kerrigan Skelly, Jesse Morrell, etc… lotsss of self-righteousness and lack of dependence on God with more dependence on “natural ability.” It’s cultic how these men and many others have spend so many hours reading Finney’s writings and not Holy Scripture. If we have all that time to read mere man’s writings, that alone proves we have time to read God’s Word. The error of self-dependence instead of cross-living (crucified life), and grace are replaced by Finney’s falsehoods and self-dependence is fostered. …. It seems to happen often that when men seek to correct one error, they actually carry their audience from that one error into another error which is still error….. Brother how can Finney’s declaration that “Salvation is the work of man” possibly be taken out of context? peace in Christ to you brother. Glad we can be friends in Christ!

—————

The following is from Phillip R. Johnson:

“Charles Grandison Finney was a heretic. That language is not too strong. Though he excelled at cloaking his opinions in ambiguous language and biblical-sounding expressions, his views were almost pure Pelagianism. The arguments he employed to sustain those views were nearly always rationalistic and philosophical, not biblical. To canonize this man as an evangelical hero is to ignore the facts of what he stood for.

See, for example, Lecture 16, “Moral Depravity.” Finney rambles on about “physical” vs. “moral” depravity for several pages (nearly 5 in the Bethany edition) before he ever cites a single verse of Scripture. All his polemic about “physical depravity” is wasted anyway, because not one of Finney’s theological opponents ever argued that human depravity is a physical issue. Again, in the whole of Lecture 10 (“What Constitutes Disobedience to Moral Law?”) Finney cites snippets of only two verses of Scripture—a total of eleven words quoted from the Bible in the entire lecture. Many—perhaps most—pages contain no Scripture references at all. By contrast, the typical evangelical systematic theology textbook contains dozens of references per page. The whole point of “systematic theology” is to start with Scripture and systematize a point-by-point comprehensive theology. A sound systematic theology is therefore biblical to begin with. By contrast, Finney constructed a philosophical system based on legal and logical arguments and relying more on his own instinct and speculation than he did on the Bible. Notice that Finney confused the very terms he was ostensibly keeping distinct, essentially admitting that he regarded the believer’s obedience as a ground of justification.”

Mike Desario Exposed | Angry Street Preacher Warning!

Charles Finney's Justification Heresy [podcast]

Dear Charles Finney defender: You may wish to take a closer look as you decide if you will continue to defend this man. He made some good points for sure and that’s the bait. Gal 5:9 In decrying excuses made for sin, Charles Finney erred in making salvation about man, man saving himself. How could these statements by Finney possibly be true, in any context? Christ alone saves and Christ alone keeps mankind as he abides in Christ according to Christ’s definition (Luke 9:23-24; John 15:1-16, etc.). When we witness the cult following of a mere man, we […]

"Salvation is the Work of MAN!" - Charles Finney

There are some, in their false teachings, who will ax GOD right out of the picture of His own creation and salvation. This is what the “spirit of antichrist” does. Anti means “in place of.” How can Charles Finney’s declaration that “Salvation is the work of man” possibly be taken out of context? “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:4-5 The life we have with Christ is all about […]

The Correlation of Grace and Good Works [podcast]

Confused about how grace, faith, and works correlate? “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.” Ephesians 2:10 We are saved by God through Christ’s perfect sacrifice, by grace through faith, and yet true saving faith ALWAYS produces the fruit of an obedient, holy life. Obedience saves no one and yet is the fruit, the proof one truly knows and is known of God. Anyone teaching otherwise is fulfilling the grace-perverting prophesy of Jude 4. Read James 2; 1 John 2:3-6, chapter 3, etc. FALSE GRACE ALERT. JUDE WARNED US! “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to […]

Abiding

Getting Gospel Grounded [podcast]

Explosive Podcast Featuring Expose’ of the prophesied end times wolves and rich Christology!

Refusing to sit under the false gospel, false doctrines, false teachers, and wolves is not forsaking the assembling of the saints. It’s obedience to the LORD! See 2 Corinthians 6:17-18)

There is a “difference” between the true and the false leaders today. True disciples will always warn and help God’s people distinguish the false teachers and “discern between the unclean and the clean”:

“And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” Ezekiel 44:23

False leaders are to be marked, to be scoped out and labeled in order to protect God’s people.

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly (self-serving carnal appetites); and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:17-18

Beware of the Band aid Bandit Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing!

There are no shortcuts in serving the LORD. One must deny self and take up the cross daily to follow Jesus.

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” Luke 9:23-24

This is what gets to the root of that old man, that iniquitous evil bent, the flesh in us. Read Romans 6 each day this week prayerfully.

Lots of people, lots of fake pastors offering cross-less coping hacks, surface level “solutions” that have done nothing but perpetuate sinners in their sin. This is the same thing the greed-driven false prophets of old did…. in order to gain notice, to gain nickels, noses, and numbers for their own self-serving agenda to make merchandise of the people (2 Peter 2:1-3). A message without the cross is not the Gospel (Galatians 2:20; 6:14. etc.).

“They (the false leaders of Israel) have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.” Jeremiah 6:14; 8:11

They operate by the principle of “coddling them in their sin while you confiscate their cash.”

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily (stealthily) shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” 2 Peter 2:1-3

False Prophets Promise Eternal Security to those Living in Sin. False Prophets give False Promises.

There are conditions to appropriating the promises of God. | Conditional Divine Promises

“They (the false leaders) say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace (with God); and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.” Jeremiah 23:17

In other words, false prophets lead people to believe that they will continue to have peace with God while they are living in sin and that they are judgment proof. Same lie Satan told the man and woman in the Garden which led to their fall into sin (Genesis 2:17; 3:4). Satan told Adam and Eve they would still be eternally secure if they sinned against God! Lie! Read Genesis 2:17 and 3:4 now. | Satan’s First Lie that He is Still Telling Today! [podcast]

What was Satan’s first teaching? Is he really still teaching that same lie?

Like the “many false prophets” of our day, the prophets in Israel were promising “Peace, peace” to the people – peace between them and God – when judgment loomed on the horizon (Jeremiah 23:17; Matthew 24:11). This is exactly what the eternal security wolves do when they promise, they give assurance to those are living in sin. Promising peace to people living in sin and under divine condemnation is criminal and could only be the work of the enemies of Christ. Promising peace to sinful people is a money maker for now and yet will land the liars and their prey in hell. Nothing could be more clear from Holy Scripture. The vast majority of pastors today are wolves who do just this. The wages of sin is still death and all who die in sin will perish….. Wolves entertain goats and condone their temporary trinkets at the costs of their eternal souls….

No one is going to walk in peace and assurance just because they speak of it, claim it, or because they desire to have peace and assurance. No, it’s only when we obey the Word of God that His peace and assurance flood our being. There’s no short cut to obedience (1 John 3:16-18).

Of this, Adam Clarke writes:

“Peace, peace – Ye shall have prosperity – when there was none, and when God had determined that there should be none. Here the prophets prophesied falsely; and the people continued in sin, being deceived by the priests and the prophets.”

The wolves among us stick a band aid on a wound that needs surgery. Surgery would involve painfully cleaning out the infection, the deep cut sin had caused. This would be the only way to bring healing, wholeness. In contrast, false leaders deal only at the surface level…. in fear of losing their audience and money, they withhold the divine truth from the people – because they aren’t concerned about the people but rather themselves (Philippians 3:18-19).

“Jehovah directs him (Jeremiah) to pour . . . out the message of impending doom because of their covetousness, the falsehood of the prophets and priests, and their shamelessness. It is characteristic of false prophets to promise prosperity in a time of spiritual declension… They were covetous and deceitful, and dealt with problems superficially. For their shamelessness they would share in the coming time of punishment.” William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary

Only obedience to Christ, to His cross message, will yield the fruit of freedom from sin.

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, IF ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32

The truth sets no one free from sin – until they obey Him, the Truth.

One man who recently discovered the divine power of the cross life shared:

“I’ve laid all my past sins at the feet of Jesus finally! Porn was 1 that I struggled with…it’s been gone 30 days now..1st time in 30 years…the pills are no more! Feels good to be truly saved my friend…thanks for all you do.”

Jesus forgives and sets free – as only He can do. Every other “source” is a lie.

Christ is Our Foundation

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:11

“And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” 1 Corinthians 10:4

The Sound Doctrine of the Holy Scriptures is the Way God Ordained that We Know Him

“Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. 2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: 3 Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. 4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.” Deuteronomy 32:1-4

The link between sound “doctrine” and being grounded in, knowing and dwelling in the LORD, “the Rock,” are inseparable.

Getting Gospel Grounded = Getting Grounded in Christ

“In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. 5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. 6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” Colossians 2:6-10

The Gospel is all about Jesus and anyone not becoming increasingly grounded in knowing and worshipping Him, is being led astray.

Getting Gospel Grounded is getting grounded in Christ, in studying and knowing Him, the reason He came… not following the latest global gimmick or “global revival gimmick” that some false prophet is pushing to bring attention to himself…. when you are becoming grounded in Christ you will not be lured in by the gimmicks.

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1

3 truths that will greatly increase your grounding in Christ…

1. John 10 – Knowing, following, and hearing the voice of the Great Shepherd of the sheep.
2. John 15 – Abiding in Christ and thereby bearing the fruit that He alone can produce and that glorifies Him.
3. John 17 – Being one with Christ and the Father – prayerfully being brought deeper into that interpenetrational union with the Lord.

Knowing God

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3

Jesus Christ doesn’t need our acceptance, the acceptance of sinners – we are in utter need of His acceptance. We are all sinners and in desperate need of the acceptance of our Maker. Because we are separated from Him in our sin, God “commandeth all men every where to repent,” not to accept Him (Luke 13:3; John 1:12; Acts 17:30, etc.). When we admit we have sinned against Him and receive Jesus into our lives by faith, we are then and only then “accepted in the beloved” (Ephesians 1:6).

“Churching the Un-Churched” is the stated goal of the apostate modern local churches that litter America’s landscape.

False churches today seek to sell families on the need to join their country club where’s there’s fun for the whole family. These beguilers cater to the urban family to build their church business, with no intention of preaching the whole counsel of God’s Word, the cardinal doctrines of the original Gospel (Jude 3-4). Their goal is to entertain and to grow their church enterpri$e and not to ground their prey in Christ (Colossians, etc.). It’s all surface level, cosmetics. There is no repentance, no blood of Jesus, no King James Bible, no cross – no crucified life, no Holy Ghost baptism, no repentance, no personal holiness, no Christology, no readiness for the soon return of Christ, etc. The apostate modern church world exposed.

TODAY: A dear Christian young lady asked me why I am not part of a church group any longer. A gently-communicated litany of doctrines purposely not being taught in the modern churches ensued. Also the fact that that the King James Bible is no where to be found. They only use pitifully lame fake “bibles.” It’s a busine$$ to the modern pastors who refuse to preach cardinal biblical doctrines such as the divinity of Christ (Christology), hell, repentance, judgment to come, confessing and cleansing ourselves of all sin, the return of Christ and being ready for it at all times, the cross – crucified life, etc.

God is Calling Us to Follow Jesus – not Mere Men

Hebrews 6:17 speaks of “the immutability of his counsel.” Because of the immutability of the LORD Jesus Christ, the divine Author and Finisher of our faith, there is no muting His counsel, His Word. It is eternal and unchanging (Psalms 119:89; 146:6; Mark 13:1; John 10:35, etc.). God is eternal divine perfection and therefore His Word, His truth, His counsel cannot be muted, silenced, set aside, or changed.

So many looking for a sign instead of the Savior.

So many looking for a word and not THE Word.

“God forbid”

“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14

The Gospel centric disciple revels in, is immersed in the glory of the Savior. He understands that salvation is about Christ and not himself.

“To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. 3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 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; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:2-7

Paul made a determination.

“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:2

From the very foundation of the world and forever more, the Gospel, salvation has always been and will always be about Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God – the crucified, buried, and raised again Savior of the world.

“And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelation 13:8

Religion is perhaps Satan’s greatest tool to wedge itself between the “one Mediator” and the people – before and after one is saved.

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” 1 Timothy 2:5-6

Abiding Fruit. Light Shining.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Perhaps the greatest spiritual blessing teeming in and overflowing from the lives of believers that allows for powerfully moving evangelism, is the joy of the LORD. Moved men move men. Yes, men filled with the Holy Spirit’s fruit, the love, the joy, and the peace of God, are powerfully used of God to win men to Himself (Galatians 5:16-23). No sinner, no backslider has these treasures but every one of them desires them! The fruit produced by the Holy Spirit in Christ’s saints is a big part of that light Jesus instructed us to let “shine” before men.

Being is more important than doing. Abiding in Christ, rooted and grounded, assures that “fruit,” “more fruit,” and “much fruit” will be produced in our lives (John 15:1-16).

Emanating from the Jesus-worshiping Gospel-grounded disciple will be every dimension of Heaven’s fruit and glorious fragrance

“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:” 2 Corinthians 2:14-15

Gospel Foundation

“If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Psalms 11:3

Is “the foundation of God” being laid in your personal life? (2 Timothy 2:19) If you are not diligently, daily, relentlessly, and perpetually in God’s Word, not only is His foundation not being built, you are backslidden and in utter need of repentance before it’s too late.

Those without the proper, the biblical foundation, will fall instead of flourish – with no exception (Psalm 1). Our LORD taught concerning the absolute necessity of being deeply rooted and grounded in Him.

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? 47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.” Luke 6:46-49

Summation:

Worshiping, trusting, and obeying God are essential.
Abiding in Christ guarantees the fruitfulness that glorifies Him.
Every life not carefully founded, soundly grounded in Christ, on His stated terms, His Word, will be washed away in the coming storms and judgment.
Only those whose lives which are built upon the foundation of obedience to the Word of God will be left standing before the LORD for eternal blessing.
Great shall be the irrevocable ruin in hell of all who refused to do things God’s way in their brief earthly life.

Read Psalm 1 and 92.

In these final days, you can get all scared, sulk, filled and paralyzed with fear, OR you can settle down and get deeper, as you “search the scriptures” (John 5:39-40; Psalms 119:165).

Jesus is washing and sanctifying the bride He’s returning for. Like the five wise virgins, Christ’s true bride is in love with Him, ever and eagerly looking for His soon return, the Marriage of the Lamb, the Great Bridegroom with His true bride and their dwelling place, the New Jerusalem (Matthew 25:1-13; Revelation 21). This remnant body is submitting to Christ (John 13:8; 15:3; Ephesians 5:25-27; Revelation 19:7-10).

“Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” John 15:3

Crisis Management Mode vs Perpetually Dwelling in His Word

The modern church world, run by lightweight seminarians, are perpetually in crisis management mode, never building “the foundation of God” in the lives of God’s people (2 Timothy 2:19).

Perpetual Blessings require perpetual fellowship with Heaven’s coming KING.

“Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.” 1 Chronicles 16:11

Continually seeking the LORD guarantees that you remain full of His strength, His joy, His divine peace.

Running to the LORD continually is essential. Instead of praying and the reading of God’s Word being simply a crisis management reaction, why not make it our meat, our lifestyle – that which we do daily, diligently, and fervently?

“The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10

Are you running to Jesus?

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

If you are going to established in divine peace, if you are going to be “safe,” you must run to and remain grounded at the feet of Christ! Read Philippians 3:1-3.

Get filled, stay full, keep your lamp filled and overflowing (Matthew 25:1-13).

Matthew 7

“Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Matthew 7:19-29

Hindrances to a sound, solid foundation.

“And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. 18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.” Mark 4:16-19

Satan is the great distractor. His job, his work is to “steal, to kill, and to destroy” so as to cheat you out of the abundant life Jesus came to give you.

“The thief (Satan) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” John 10:10-11

Remember how above we spoke about religion wedging between us and our LORD?

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This is like eating trashy, no-nutritional-value snacks, filling up on them and then having no room, no appetite for the steak and potatoes. What happens then? In an hour or less, your body is craving real nutrition. Junk food is a cheap substitute for real food that fills and nourishes the body. In the same way, eating the steak and potatoes of God’s Word fills the mind, the heart, and the life of all who banquet at the table of sound doctrine.

There are so many, the majority of those doing ministry, who have their flashy lures they use to draw you in and yet the shallow content only leaves you remaining in the entanglements, the snares of sin and the world…

What’s the LORD convicting you of friend? Could it be that He’s drawing you aside to Himself, to tuck your feet under His infinitely bountiful table…. drawing you to come and dine, to feast with Him?

These novices issue forth constant promises of God blessing you, of His favor and blessing being upon your life. Yet there’s no mention of any of the divinely stated conditions. This leaves those empty who who are being preyed upon and led astray, wondering what’s missing. These who flash the shiny lures to catch your eye, perhaps do so to gain you as a follower. Yet, what has this ever done to root and ground your heart and life in Christ?

Ever heard the saying, “All that glitters is not gold”?

Satan's First Lie that He is Still Telling Today! [podcast]

WHAT WAS SATAN’S VERY FIRST LIE? Who’s ready for a huge, life-changing revelation? Satan’s First Teaching (below) IN all of God’s creation, which being/beings know exactly what it means to be kicked out, expelled from God’s presence, kingdom, and blessings? (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-19; Luke 10:18; Revelation 12:7-12) HOW can a man teach Satan’s first lie and NOT be a false teacher? Impossible. Eternal security/once saved always saved is Satan’s first teaching. It was a lie and caused the fall of mankind into sin. See Genesis 2:17 and 3:4 for yourself. Open God’s Word and read these 2 verses […]

The Supremacy of Jesus Christ [podcast]

Jesus is Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, Fountain of all wisdom, and Heaven’s coming King. The devil’s game is to remove us from “the SIMPLICITY that is in Christ” and he is using “false apostles, deceitful workers” to carry this out (2 Corinthians 11:1-3, 12-15; Colossians 2:6-10, 18-19, etc.). “Preeminence” belongs of Jesus Christ alone. It is highly doubtful that you can read Colossians 1 and not fall out of your chair…. and raise your hands to Heaven, praising God for the unfathomable gift of His only Son – who is the Preeminent Creator, Sustainer, and God of all that is! (Colossians […]

Those with No Foundation will Fall

If you do not know and are not living and praying and studying the Word to TRUST AND OBEY GOD MORE…. you have no foundation for what’s coming and will be washed away in the flood of judgment (Matthew 7:19-29). There’s no foundation but Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11). “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord (now that He saved you), so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, […]

Apostasy

Beware of the Manipulating Monsters: Spiritual Identity Theft [podcast]

Instead of fostering a deeper love for CHRIST in their hearers, local churches have diverted that loyalty, the faith of their hearers to themselves (1 Corinthians 29-2:5). This is “the spirit of antichrist” at work (1 John 2:18; 4:1-3). Anti in “antichrist” means “in place of” and the vast majority of local churches seek to replace Christ with themselves – to intercept the heart affections of their audience from loving Jesus Christ supremely – to rob Him of His glory for their own self-serving agenda! Beware! This was Paul’s warning of Colossians 1-2. Christ alone is the Supreme Creator, Sustainer, Reconciler, Redeemer, and Savior! Pour prayerfully over Colossians 1 and 2 this week beloved of God.

“…do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10

You cannot and won’t please everyone and such should not be your goal. Please God beloved and in NON-essentials, make your own decisions – void of the undue, unwarranted interference of others! (Read Romans 14.) Some people are operating in witchcraft and don’t realize it. They haven’t repented and learned how to mind their own business. And, so many live under the witchcraft of pleasing family and friends and the whims of others. If that’s you, you are not yet free but you can be. Seek the LORD in special prayer. Repent afresh and ask God to strip off every trace of witchcraft and control over your life. Ask Him to establish your life in His love and truth and all fear shall be vanquished from your life! See 1 John 4:16-18.

Note: Anything that is not specifically named as a sin in the Bible, is a NON-essential and that means that God gives YOU the liberty to conduct yourself as you see fit. Read and get to know Romans 14. | Learning to Mind Our Own Business

Those who insidiously seek to position themselves, to maneuver things to manipulate you, are fully arrogant and that’s why they believe THEY know better than God and you concerning your life, your decisions, your ministry, your direction, etc.. Beware. These are the very enemies of Christ. Like snakes in the grass, people like this are insidiously operating in witchcraft and as sure for hell as if they were already there (Galatians 5:19-21). Beware.

Untold scores of men, all of which had a calling from God, have allowed wicked manipulators to derail, destroy, and waste their lives. Beware.

Beware of those with an agenda….. an agenda that is not God’s agenda/will. With Jesus our LORD, the true disciple declares to God – “NOT my will, but thine be done” (Luke 22:42). All of the unsaved are under the control of Satan, the enemy of all souls.

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:” Ephesians 2:1-2

Most if not all of us have realized that there are lots of manipulators around us who vie for the control of our lives, who attempt to push their agenda, their personal will on us. Solidifying our identity in Christ, becoming increasingly rooted and grounded in Him, is essential to be kept from such witchcraft. The aim, the stated will of God, is to root and ground every one of His saints ever more deeply into Christ. Pour prayerfully, meticulously over Colossians 1 and 2 beloved, and ask the LORD to root your heart and life deeper into Christ in whom alone you are “complete.” Ask the Father that your constitution, your innermost identity would be Christ and Christ alone! (Read Galatians 2:20; 6:14; 1 Corinthians 2:2, etc.)

“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14

If your life is not all about CHRIST, you are in trouble. Stop. Re-turn afresh to the LORD. Declare JESUS CHRIST as the LORD, Savior, Master, First Love of your life in this world! Do it with force! Memorize Galatians 6:14.

Satan is behind every attempt to derail God’s people from walking in His perfect will. Spiritual warfare. In light of the desire to get God’s Word into the hearts of the people, Paul requests prayer to be “delivered from unreasonable and wicked men.”

“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: 2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.” 2 Thessalonians 3:1-3

Escaping the Witchcraft, the Manipulation

ANY person participating in the work of Satan is a child of the devil. Satan’s work is “to steal, to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10). Any questions? Any activity, operation, or plan to steal the freedom or money or anything from another, is the work of Satan himself. So is to killing or destroying people or property unjustly.

May the LORD continue to increase His discernment in us – in order to see the enemy working through people from afar. Once we’ve allowed them in, they are within striking distance, right? Yes. See Matthew 7:6.

“And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.” Ecclesiastes 7:26

Did you see that? Did you see in Ecclesiastes 7:26 how those who obey God will escape the seduction and the clutches of manipulating people?

A careful reading, study, and meditation upon the words of this verse above, will yield important truths concerning spiritual warfare and overcoming through Christ.

“Witchcraft” is a soul damning sin – which means that any person operating in this sin is outside of Christ and as sure for hell as if they were already there (Galatians 5:19-21). Eternal security/once saved always saved is a lie from hell.

Any person who seeks to usurp authority over another person (his will and decisions, etc.) is operating by his own agenda and not the LORD’s. Such a person is rebellious and self-willed and therefore seeks to exert their witchcraft over the lives, the decisions, the will of others.

“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” 2 Timothy 2:24-26

Remember how manipulating Delilah was as she sought to manipulate and derail Samson? Read Judges 16.

There are many examples of manipulation in the Word of God, beginning in the Garden of Eden.

In the Scripture below, notice the interaction with Paul and the false prophet, Elymas. All interference of the Gospel is from Satan. Below is but one example. This man sought to exercise control over Paul and the deputy and how the LORD judged him:

Barnabas and Saul on Cyprus

Act 13:4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
Act 13:5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.
Act 13:6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:
Act 13:7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
Act 13:8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
Act 13:9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
Act 13:10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
Act 13:11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
Act 13:12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

THE DEEDS AND DOCTRINE OF THE NICOLAITANS (Part 1)

(Excerpt from the Deceivers and False Prophets Among Us book) “But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes (means conquer the laity), which I also hate…So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.” Revelation 2:6, 15 Some years ago, after being found and apprehended by God, and saved by the grace of Jesus, I lived in a city where there was a cartel of eight volatile and controlling pastors. These men organized and operated a control ring where they tracked church attendants and their movements and dealings. This intelligence system was […]

Learning to Mind Our Own Business [video]

Hint: If something is not specifically named as a sin in God’s Word, leave others alone about it. MYOB, right? (Mind Your Own Business) “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.” Romans 14:4 You know you are in need of true repentance when you focus on the faults of others and yet spend no time praying sincerely to God for them. “If we would judge” WHO? Read closely: “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not […]

Witchcraft Among Us [podcast]

Those who have control issues simply have not given the control of their own lives over to the LORD and therefore operate in the witchcraft of controlling others – something that God forbids as they usurp HIS place in the lives of others. True repentance needed and to denounce the sin of self-idolatry, spiritual adultery, and witchcraft. Undue control over others is “witchcraft” which is a soul damning sin (Galatians 5:19-21). God has not called us to control others or even seek to but rather allow them the freedom to grow in His grace as they work out their own […]

Ministers who Operate in Witchcraft [podcast]

Attempting to exercise control over another person is witchcraft and it’s always perpetrated by those who don’t even have their own life in order. Jesus calls them hypocrites and if they don’t repent, they are 100% guaranteed to be in hell (Matthew 7:2-5). “Witchcraft” is a soul damning sin (Galatians 5:19-21). All “sorcerers” are as sure for hell and the lake of fire as if they were already there! A sorcerer is anyone who uses drugs or anything else in order to control another person – to kill them, to manipulate them, etc. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and […]

Abiding

“If any man speak, let him Speak as the Oracles of God” [podcast]

The Holy Spirit spoke through the prophet Amos of the day we now live in.

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:” Amos 8:11

“Amos 8:11: A famine in the land – The most grievous of all famines, a famine of the words of Jehovah; a time in which no prophet should appear, no spiritual counsellor, no faithful reprover, none any longer who would point out the way of salvation, or would assure them of the mercy of God on their repentance and return to him. This is the severest of God’s judgments on this side the worm that never dieth, and the fire that is never quenched.” Adam Clarke

Today, we have an epidemic of people in ministry, doing ministry, who’ve never been personally grounded in God’s Word. In many cases, they have followed the convoluted teachings of others, of mere men. Sad yet so true. On social media we see arrogant novices spreading a poisonous mixture, a diatribe of half-truths and heresies (1 Timothy 3:6). Beware and be not one of them. Get soundly grounded in God’s Word for yourself. Begin immediately studying God’s Word for yourself, which is a divine mandate (2 Timothy 2:15). That’s exactly what Paul told Timothy to do and exactly what God tells you to do here in 2 Timothy 2:15.

Deceivers don’t teach you the Bible itself. No, instead they build their brand, their “ministry” on extracting a few verses in order to use to tickle the ears of their prey. These people are charlatans and have no business teaching the body of Christ. Run.

“If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11

“If any man speak, let him – In his whole conversation, public and private. Speak as the oracles of God – Let all his words be according to this pattern, both as to matter and manner, more especially in public. By this mark we may always know who are, so far, the true or false prophets. The oracles of God teach that men should repent, believe, obey. He that treats of faith and leaves out repentance, or does not enjoin practical holiness to believers, does not speak as the oracles of God: he does not preach Christ, let him think as highly of himself as he will.” John Wesley

“In order to explain or enforce God’s word, and edify his neighbor, let him do it as those did to whom the living oracles were committed: they spoke as they were inspired by the Holy Ghost. … should speak as or according to the oracles already delivered, grounding all their exhortations and doctrines on some portion of that revelation already given. This command is sent to every man upon earth in holy orders … Their teaching should be what the oracles of God, the Holy Scriptures, teach and authenticate.” Adam Clarke

“That he may give more precision to his counsel, the Apostle proceeds to speak of gifts under two heads into which they are naturally divided. First come those which St. Paul (Rom_12:6-8) ranges under the head of prophecy, embracing therein teaching and exhortation likewise: “If any man speaketh, speaking as it were “oracles of God.” The first Christian preachers must have gained their knowledge of the life and teaching of Jesus by listening to the narratives of the Twelve, and must have gone forth to give their teaching orally. The training of those who were appointed to minister in the various places whither the apostolic missions penetrated must have been of the same kind. In those first years there was work to be done which would seem more important than the writing of a Gospel history. When such preachers published to the congregations what they had learnt of the Master’s lessons, their sermons would be orally given, and though conveying the same instruction, would be liable to constant modifications of words. It was from such oral teaching that the variations found in the Gospel narratives probably had their origin. The preachers gave the spirit, and as nearly as possible the text, of what they had been taught. Perhaps by memoranda or otherwise, they would refresh their knowledge of the apostolic words, so as to adhere as much as might be to what they had first received. The word logia-oracles-which the Apostle here employs, seems intended to remind such preachers and teachers that they now, as the Jews of old, had received “living oracles,” (Act_7:38) words by which spiritual life was conveyed, to deliver to the Church. Those of them who were Jews would call to mind how God’s prophets had constantly prefaced their message with “Thus saith the Lord” or concluded it with the Divine accrediting, “I am the Lord”; and that the Christian prophet must bear in mind that he is only an ambassador, and must abide by his commission, if he would speak with authority, that as a steward he must ever think of the account to be some day given of “the oracles of God” (Rom_3:2) with which he was entrusted, and must “handle aright the word of truth”. (2Ti_2:15) For all such is St. Peter’s admonition, “If any man speaketh, speaking as it were oracles of God.” Expositor’s Bible Commentary

Ministry has become a performance – where people are performing, seeking to brand themselves, constantly creating endless media productions to increase their followers, their personal popularity…. it’s a fleshly show, a stage for carnality … Paul speaks of this in Philippians 3:18-21.

Have you ever pondered why there is little or no Scripture being used when listening to someone pretending to be speaking about the LORD? You should wonder (Matthew 7:16, 20; 1 John 4:1).

“Preach the word” is the divine mandate, command (2 Timothy 4:2).

Let us cease to pretend that we represent the LORD when everything we say isn’t coming straight out of His Word. Read that again please. He didn’t instruct us to entertain or to tell stories. He commanded us to preach HIS Word. King James Bible.

“If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles (written Word) of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11

Think God is calling you to serve? Good. If He has saved you, He has called you (Ephesians 2:8-10; 4:7). Get lost in His Word every day (Jeremiah 15:16). Read it (Revelation 1:3). Study it (2 Timothy 2:15). Memorize it (Proverbs 4:4). Meditate upon it day and night (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1). THAT’s your prep for ministry, not going to an antichrist seminary. Jesus inducted you into His school of the Holy Ghost and Word the moment He saved you.

Purged, Sanctified, Meet for the Master’s Use, Prepared unto Every Good Work

“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21

The only way the disciple of Jesus can be “prepared unto every good work” of the Gospel, is via the Word of God, by way of a personal knowledge and understanding of the precepts of God and his personal use of that divine truth, wisdom.

“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect (equipped, mature), throughly furnished (with God’s Word) unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:15-17

“But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Hebrews 5:14

Dear minister of Christ:

It is your duty and personal responsibility to study and learn and increasingly know and be filled full of the truth of God. And, this cannot and will not happen outside of diligently, daily study of God’s Word. Memorize 2 Timothy 2:15 and 3:15-17.

“Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. 18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. 19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. 20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, 21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?” Proverbs 22:17-21

How shall a man be prepared to speak the oracles of God other than getting those precepts, those divine truths into his own heart and mind by diligently studying God’s Word?

“Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. 2 So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. 3 And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness. 4 And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.” Ezekiel 3:1-4

How can God’s words possibly get into us unless we get into and stay into His Word?

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” 1 Peter 3:15

If you are a disciple of Christ, your goal should be to have Scripture memorized in order to be equipped to “give an answer to every” single person who you meet who has questions – saved and unsaved.

Every answer to man’s questions and problems are given to us in Holy Scripture. – “ALL things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3-4). Are you learning them for your own life and the lives of others?

If Christ is truly sanctified (set apart as supreme, ultimate priority) in our hearts, we are diligently desiring, studying, learning, memorizing, and communicating His blessed Word. We are being armed for giving an answer from His Precepts to those He blesses us to speak with.

“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:10-11

If you dare speak for God – Let God speak for Himself by speaking, quoting His Word. This necessitates your personal duty to learn, to memorize His Word: “Let thine heart RETAIN my words” (Proverbs 4:4).

Sound Doctrine [podcast]

3 Types of Doctrine in the Bible and the World: 1. “Doctrine of God”, “Sound doctrine” (2 Timothy 3:16; Titus 2:1, 10; 2 John 10-11, etc.). 2. Doctrines of men (Mark 7:6-10). 3. “Doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1). “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: 12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the […]

Teach the Bible [podcast]

JESUS IS COMING AND THE TRUE BODY OF CHRIST IS “HOLDING FORTH (BOLDLY DECLARING) THE WORD OF LIFE” “Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.” Philippians 2:16 WHEN you speak God’s Word, you are speaking divine authority. “These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” Titus 2:15 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all […]

Giving Heed to Seducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils - Apostasy [video]

So you are listening to some slick talker preach and yet he’s not using the essential BIBLE doctrinal words like hell, repentance, holiness, the cross, the blood of Jesus, the return of Christ, etc? Repent and RUN! DOES THIS SOUND LIKE YOUR “CHURCH” OR FAVORITE PREACHER? It’s real simple… if they are not preaching the cardinal doctrines of the original Gospel given to us in the New Testament, they are preaching “another gospel” and are “accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-9). Fresh Start with God | Backsliding | Modern Church | Eternal Security Exposed | Fake Bibles Exposed | Ready for the Return […]

Attend to My Words [podcast]

IF THE WORD isn’t flowing into you daily, you are falling away. Flood and fuel your heart and mind and body with the pure, the holy light of God’s Word daily and you will never famish! All darkness will be vanquished (Psalms 119:130). All who have been saved and yet aren’t in God’s Word and prayer daily – have rejected Christ, with no exception. Re-turn to the LORD prodigal. There’s no good outside of Christ the KING. “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” Psalms 119:130 ALL who are not in God’s written Word […]