Articles

Deliverance from Works-Righteousness or Law-Keeping

Paula White Exposed [video]

THAT’s My King! Pastor Lockridge [video]

Powerful Prayers from Children-This Will Shake You [video]

The Fear of the LORD is to Hate Evil: Pride, and Arrogancy #shorts [video]

“Justified Freely by His Grace”

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; ²⁴Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: ²⁵Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (atoning sacrifice) through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; ²⁶To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. ²⁷Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. ²⁸Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” Romans 3:23-28

A MUST-GET!!! Please share saints……

ANY PERSON who teaches that blood-bought NEW Testament saints, saved by grace through faith, are under the law of Moses is an antichrist! Run!

The law makes no one righteous but only convicts and reveals just how sinful we are and how much we need Christ! (Romans 7; Galatians 2:16; 3:24)

BUT WAIT, Jesus says “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” (Matthew 5:17-18)

WOW! WHEN Jesus says the law will not pass away, He’s speaking of the holy standard and not the way of righteousness! (Matthew 5:17-18) The law is “holy, and just, and good.” (Romans 7:12) and reveals just how wicked we are, bringing us to Christ, the only ONE who ever kept the law perfectly then nailed it to the cross, taking it out of the way-for righteousness! (Galatians 3:24; Colossians 2:14-19) CHRIST is “THE END of the law FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS to every one that believeth” the only One who kept the law perfectly! (Romans 10:4)

Memorize Romans 10:4 and Galatians 3:24 today.

Of this, one disciple writes:

“The law has not gone away but through our death, burial and resurrection with Christ we have died to its tyrannical hold and influence over us. We have been removed from its curse. Rom 7:6 and Gal 3:10-13. Also, the administers of the law, the principalities and powers, tyranny over us, thru the law, has been broken and we have been moved, thru the cross, beyond their evil reach. Col 2:15, 20.

The law however is still for unbelievers who have not died to it and are still slaves to it. 1 Tim 1 lists those still under it i. e. Whores, murderers, thieves (unbelievers), etc.

The true Christian’s spirit and soul has been freed from the law but his physical body is still under it. Therefore, if a believer breaks the speed limit law his physical body will get a traffic ticket but his inner spirit man is not condemned or punished.

The rule of life for the unbeliever is the law. The rule of life for the believer is the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. Rom 8:1-4.

The unbeliever is only capable of conditional (performance-based) love. The believer is capable of unconditional, non-performance-based love. Matt 5:38-48.

The Mosaic law is the STRENGTH of Sin. 1 Cor 15:56. The law AROUSES sinful passions and causes sin to INCREASE. Rom 7:5; 5:20. It leads to sins of self-sufficiency, self-righteousness, arrogance, conditional love (that only loves conditionally based on performance) and religiosity. This is why the very legal and religious Judaizers were ENEMIES of the cross. Philippians 3.”

TORAH KEEPING CHRIST-DENYING ANTICHRISTS EXPOSED! Christ’s apostle Paul warned Titus and us of many judaizer devils! Nothing has changed! Expose them!

“For there are MANY unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision (judaizers):” Titus 1:10

HEAVEN’S SALVATION is all about Heaven’s KING – Jesus – and not you or your foolish little sabbath-idolatry cult or your fake, pretended observance of the whole law! (James 2:10) Repent and believe on the LORD Jesus Christ sinner – before it’s too late!

How any true Christian could read that passage of Scripture above and still think they have to keep any part of the Old Testament law is beyond me. They have been duped and are in jeopardy of hell fire for denying Christ – denying that He paid it all – “It is finished.” (John 19:30)

WHAT good work did the thief on the cross, a life-long rebel sinner, do to help earn his justification? (Galatians 3:3)

“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:42-43

Concerning this fact, Faith Ranger notes: “The thief on the cross wasn’t baptized either. Imagine that, Jesus saved someone without anyone else’s permission.”

You are one deceived individual if you think your vain attempt to “keep torah” is going to save you from hell. You are a sinner who has broken God’s law repeatedly and unless you repent and believe on the only ONE who ever kept the law perfectly, you are as sure for hell as if you were already there. If keeping torah was enough, WHY O WHY did God bother to send His only begotten Son to die for us?! (Galatians 2:21)

Pretending to have always and currently be keeping the 10 Commandments saves no one (James 2:10). Only Jesus can save and He does that by His grace as one repents and believes upon Him (Ephesians 2:8-9). There is no requirement to keep the law to earn righteousness and anyone teaching such a heresy is a devil! Memorize Romans 10:4. Anyone who is justified by the grace of God by faith will be under “the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus” and only then fulfill God’s righteousness (Romans 3:31; 8:2-4; 10:4).

“We abhor the doctrine of justification by works as a most perilous and abominable doctrine. And though no one is a real Christian believer who doeth not good works … yet our works have no part in meriting or purchasing our justification.” John Wesley

The only way to honor God is to honor the truth of His only begotten Son whom He sent to pay in full for the sins of mankind. It really “is finished” which means paid in full! (John 19:30)

Always remember that you are “justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans3:25) The only reason any human being (“ALL have sinned”) is justified – declared righteous – in the eyes of the One who is “Holy, holy, holy,” is due to the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ and not by any goodness or right doing of their own.

“For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. ⁴But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, ⁵Not 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; ⁶Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; ⁷That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:3-7

The old law is not for born again NEW Testament believers to try to keep or live by.

—- “But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; 9 Knowing this, that the law is NOT made for a righteous man…” 1 Timothy 1:8-9

JUSTIFIED BY FAITH? YES! Someone might now say: “But wait a minute, doesn’t God require me to obey Him?” Yes, but not before you are brought to realize your own personal wretchedness, desperate wickedness, and sinfulness, and trust Him in a saving relationship – abide in Him (John 15:1-6). Your obedience is useless to the LORD if you don’t love, worship, and trust Him by faith, relying on the sacrifice He made on that cross for your sins. These are “the weightier matters of the law.” (Matthew 23:23-24) The Bible goes so far as to inform us that even if we give our very bodies to be burned for Christ, it’s all in vain if we don’t have His love in our hearts (1 Corinthians 13:3). If that doesn’t spell it out, what does? The fruit of obedience always follows in the lives of all those who truly know the LORD. Yes, the fruit of good works is important and yet, they save no one – only Christ saves – and all whom He saves and remain saved, bear the good fruit consistent with true repentance and faith (Matthew 3:7-10; Titus 2:11-15; James 2; 1 John 2:3-6, etc.).

If you still somehow think that any goodness of your own or any good works or law keeping of your own make you righteous in God’s holy eyes, you have denied Christ. – “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” (Galatians 2:21) In fact. have no slight clue of who Jesus is, why He came, and the depth of your own sinfulness, not to mention that you are openly denying Christ, calling the Son of God a fool for coming to this earth, as if He came for no reason! It’s time to repent.

What they are doing is trading Jesus in for their own impossible “ability” to keep the old, obsolete law. They have “fallen from grace” and are now unsaved “again.” (Galatians 4:19; 5:4)

WHO are You?

Here’s WHO you are – “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

You are deceitfully acting the part of being a child of God under false pretense – “Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully …” (Jeremiah 48:10)

WHAT Merit do you have with God?

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Isaiah 64:6

WHAT do you have to offer the Almighty?

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” Romans 7:18

Learn Romans. Romans is the ABC’s of the Christian faith. It’s time to grow up! Study Romans right away. Get into God’s Word and have His truth established ever more deeply in your heart for your own salvation and to share with others!

Read Romans and cease believing that law keeping of any kind makes you more righteous or righteous at all in God’s eyes. Then move to the book of Galatians!

There’s no salvation outside of THE ONE MESSIAH … that means the law saves no one and how foolish and dishonest to project that we can keep it perfectly! JESUS is the only One who ever did that and He nailed it to the cross and “took it OUT of the way”! (Colossians 2:14-19) You must choose: Jesus or law?

Jesus fulfilled the Law perfectly yes and He’s the only One who ever did and then took it out of our way praise God!!!!! Read Colossians 2:14-19. To deny this paramount Gospel truth is to reject Christ and to forfeit eternal glory (Galatians 2:21). Please Read Rom. 3:31 and 8:2-4 very closely and prayerfully ….

Perfected/Perfectly Justified by Christ or Our Own “Flesh”?

— DID YOU realize that it’s actually witchcraft to put someone back under law keeping for righteousness?

“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently (clearly) set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Galatians 3:1-3

Our works/fruit don’t make us righteous they simply come out of a relationship with the Righteous One who alone made us righteous. We are made “the righteousness of God” only through the sacrifice of the “only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 1:30) Divine righteousness comes only to those who are born again and remain or continue abiding in Him. What does Galatians 3:3 say to those who have been saved by God’s grace and then go back to relying on their own law-keeping or goodness or good works?

“Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Galatians 3:3

“We are his workmanship” AFTER the fact that He single-handedly saves us by His grace through faith! – “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast. ¹⁰For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)

That Law was perfect and yet it has never and will never be able to be fulfilled by fallen mankind. ONLY Jesus fulfilled it – expired it – and nailed it to the cross, taking it OUT of our way so we can really serve God (Col. 2:14-19). Yes God’s standard/Law is perfect and yet it can only be accomplished in the born again believer as he chooses to walk in the Spirit. Read Rom. 3:31 and 8:2-4 very closely and prayerfully?

THAT diabolical, glory-robbing notion that subtly says we have to keep any part of the law or be good enough in and of ourselves to please God, denies Christ by saying His one sacrifice was not enough. WAS JESUS ENOUGH? Yes, God commands us to obey Him – but that’s only after the truth/fact that we are His by His justification through our faith. Faith is first and foremost in the divine economy, not works. The Bible never says “Without WORKS it’s impossible to please him” but rather “without FAITH it’s impossible to please him”! (Hebrews 11:6)

KILL ALL law or works-righteousness in your heart and mind today! Be established in “the true grace of God.” (1 Peter 5:12; Titus 2:10-12; Rom. 6:1-2, 15) HOW? Read below! Your deliverance is at hand – if you will!

Rid from your thinking EVERY trace of earning or keeping your own salvation – you can’t. The LORD keeps His children as they remain/abide in Him (John 15:1-6). Memorize this today – “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

Okay, here we go …. prayerfully read aloud this following passage every day this week – “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

One disciple writes:

“We are to stand fast in the freedom from the slavery of the law, not deviating from CHRIST, not falling from grace. To deviate from CHRIST to the law is to be entangled in a snare. The yoke of slavery is the bondage of the law, which makes law keepers slaves under a binding yoke. Judaizers made circumcision a condition of salvation. (Gal.2:3-5; Acts 15:1) If believers had received circumcision CHRIST would have profited them nothing! Why? Because by going back to the law is to spontaneously relinquish CHRIST!!! Any believer going back to the law is severing themselves from CHRIST. This separation is falling from grace. The righteousness we hope for is CHRIST HIMSELF!! (1 Cor.1:30)”

——–WAS JESUS’ SACRIFICE ENOUGH OR DID HE LIE TO US? JUST EXACTLY WHAT PART OF THE LAW DID JESUS NOT PERFECTLY FULFILL????? DO YOU SEE THIS EVIL, SATANIC INDICTMENT ALREADY? ANYBODY READY to get a bit more set free by Jesus, the Truth? JESUS CHRIST is “the way” NOT the old law, and to deny such is to brazenly deny Christ and be hell bound (John 14:6).

No (not one) New Testament apostle or Jesus told any NEW Testament Christian to keep the law. The old law, now obsolete righteous “was weak through the flesh” and so Jesus, the Testator of the NEW Covenant came and did away with it for righteousness and it’s only through being made a new creature in Christ and living by the power of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 15 when the apostles of Jesus were establishing what was “necessary” (absolutely essential to salvation), there was no mention of law keeping. Go study this. Did God somehow forget to tell us something we needed to know?

Make no mistake: CHRIST replaced the law and to deny such is to openly deny Christ and forfeit salvation which only comes through Christ.

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:2-4

The law was what? A mere “schoolmaster to bring us to CHRIST.” (Galatians 3:24)

IF you still think you have to keep the law to be right with God, you have openly denied Christ’s perfect sacrifice! (John 19:30; Romans 10:4; Galatians 2:16)

The law had its place and has it’s place until superseded by Jesus Christ who is the only One to ever perfectly keep it. The Father saves the repentant soul, convicted by the razor edge of the law, bringing that sinner into His redemption plan on the basis of Christ’s perfect sacrifice and by no other way. We are “Justified by faith without the deeds of the law” –“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”(Romans 3:24-28)

Don’t be beguiled, God wants your worship and love and the rest will take it’s course to please Him (Matthew 9:13; 22:37-39, etc.).

Men are “justified by faith” and kept “by faith.”

“Justified by faith”

“Therefore we conclude that a man is JUSTIFIED BY FAITH without the deeds of the law.” Romans 3:28

“Kept by faith”

“Who are KEPT by the power of God THROUGH FAITH unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:5

Justified by faith but sanctified by law keeping????

NOT. “The just (those justified by God) shall live by faith.”

Born again New Testament disciples are saved by grace through faith. They are saved, justified, and sanctified by faith. They live by faith and not by law or law keeping. See Hebrews 11:6.

“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith (not law to law): as it is written, The just shall live by faith (not law keeping).” Romans 1:17

“But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live BY FAITH.” Galatians 3:11

“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back (go back to law keeping), my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” Hebrews 10:38

FEEDBACK:

“That’s right and Jesus was the only ONE that could fulfill the law, so why are those under NEW and even better Covenant trying to do the impossible???? “” But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.”

THE LAW DID NOT PROVIDE A WAY OF JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH, BUT THE NEW COVENANT DOES (GAL. 3:10-12; HEB. 7:19). The Law did not bring acquittal, but condemnation, because no one was able to keep it perfectly. Paul states plainly, “Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, ‘The righteous man shall live by faith.’ However, the Law is not of faith” (Gal. 3:11-12a). If you want to be justified by the Law, all you have to do is to keep it perfectly, from birth until death, not just outwardly, but in your heart! The problem is, you are defeated before you begin. THE LAW WAS BASED ON AN INFERIOR PRIESTHOOD, BUT THE NEW COVENANT IS BASED ON THE SUPERIOR PRIESTHOOD OF JESUS (HEB. 7:11-8:6). THE LAW KEPT WORSHIPERS AT A DISTANCE FROM GOD BECAUSE OF HIS HOLINESS AND THEIR SINFULNESS, WHEREAS THE NEW COVENANT INVITES US TO DRAW NEAR (EXOD. 19:12-13, 21-24; HEB. 4:16; 7:19; 10:22).” Thomas L.

Message Received:

“The Ten Commandments are different from the sacrificial laws given to Moses and written by his hand into a book. However the Ten were written by the finger of God on stone symbolizing that they should last forever. Other laws of Oblation written by Moses by God’s inspiration were to be temporary until the death of Christ on the Cross of Calvary.”

Reply:

Are the 10 commandments part of the law? YES and the NEW Testament says that even that part of the law cannot make you righteous and if you are foolishly attempting to keep them and thinking that makes you righteous 1) you cannot keep them perfectly and so are guilty of breaking the whole law (James 2:10), and 2) You are denying Christ – that He nailed the law to the cross and “took it out of the way” (Colossians 2:14-17). You have denied the only way of salvation (John 14:6). DID Jesus, the only One to ever keep the law say that the law what “the way” or that HE is the only “way”? (John 14:6)

The old law serves the purpose of convicting the sinner – showing him just how sinful he is, in order to bring him to CHRIST (Romans 7; Galatians 3:24;

1 Timothy 1).

1 Timothy 1:

“Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
1Ti 1:8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
1Ti 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
1Ti 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
1Ti 1:11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
1Ti 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
1Ti 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
1Ti 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
1Ti 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”
———————–

“RIGHT ON! We are ordained to do good works. Those good works do not ordain us. It is God who ordains us. Christ is our salvation. In Him only have we any escape of hell. We shall then do good works in honor of Him and His glory. For His praises. Please, everyone, read this. Time is short. Be getting ready for the soon coming of the Lord Jesus.” Theodore W.

“This is very common-I encounter Judaizing all over the place…mixing GRACE with OT Laws…LORD told me its just pride—they want to BOAST on “WHAT THEY DO” for GOD, and look down and judge others who “DONT DO WHAT THEY DO’…..some don’t even Understand—THE NEW COVENANT, or read COL. 2-16….maranatha.” Cheryl B.

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

What Did Paul Mean by "I Keep Under My Body"? [podcast]

In spite of all the evil that is me, dear LORD You have been so gracious (Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 7; Titus 3:5-7). If OSAS/eternal security is true, WHY did Paul say he himself that he could be “castaway” from God in the end if he didn’t endure to the end, perpetually keep under his body (the cross life)? “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:27 Here Paul speaks of his own need for […]

7 Questions on Justification [podcast]

7 Questions on Justification How is fallen mankind made righteous, justified in the eyes of a holy God? (Romans 3:21-28; Galatians 2:16) What law makes New Testament believers “free from the law of sin and death”? (Romans 8:2) What could the law not do? (Romans 8:3-4) What is fulfilled in the life of the born again, Spirit-led New Testament follower of Christ? (Romans 3:31; 8:3-4) How does the Law apply to saints? How does it apply to sinners? (1 Timothy 1:9-11) Let’s discuss/Please read and become intimately familiar with Galatians 2:4-5, 16; 3:1-3; 5:4. What is the over-arching divine revelation […]

The Old Man Must be Put Down [podcast]

The correct preaching of the full counsel of God’s WORD creates in us the desire to be set apart to our LORD (holy) and to cease the things, the sins that defile such purity necessary to abide in vital union with our Maker who is our Savior! Colossians 3:1-10 1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 […]

Apostasy

Spiritual Formation—A Dangerous Substitute for the Life of Christ [podcast]

Sometimes we think of spiritual formation as formation by the Holy Spirit. Once again. That’s essential. . . . But now I have to say something that may be challenging for you to think about: Spiritual formation is not all by the Holy Spirit. . . . We have to recognize that spiritual formation in us is something that is also done to us by those around us, by ourselves, and by activities which we voluntarily undertake . . .There has to be method.¹—Dallas Willard

Aside from the fact that Spiritual Formation incorporates mystical practices into its infrastructure (remove the contemplative aspect and you don’t have “Spiritual Formation” anymore), Spiritual Formation is a works-based substitute for biblical Christianity. Let us explain.

When one becomes born again (“that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9-10), having given his or her life and heart over to Christ as Savior, Jesus Christ says He will come in and live in that surrendered heart:

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: (Colossians 1:27)

If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11; emphasis added)

When God, through Jesus Christ, is living in us, He begins to do a transforming work in our hearts (2 Corinthians 3:18). Not only does He change us, He also communes with us. In other words, we have fellowship with Him, and He promises never to leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

This life of God in the believer’s heart is not something we need to conjure up through meditative practices. But if a person does not have this relationship with the Lord, he may seek out ways to feel close to God. This is where Spiritual Formation comes into play. Rather than a surrendered life to Christ (through repentance and faith), the seeking person begins practicing the spiritual disciplines (e.g., prayer, fasting, good works, etc.) with the promise that if he practices these disciplines, he will become more Christ-like.

But merely doing these acts fails to make one feel close to God—something is still missing. And thus, he begins practicing the discipline of silence (or solitude), and now in these altered states of silence, he finally feels connected to God. He now feels complete. What he does not understand is that he has substituted the indwelling of Christ in his heart for a works-based methodology that endangers his spiritual life. Dangerous because these mystical experiences he now engages in appear to be good because they make him feel close to God, but in reality he is being drawn into demonic realms no different than what happens to someone who is practicing transcendental meditation or eastern meditation. Even mystics themselves acknowledge that the contemplative realm is no different than the realm reached by occultists. To understand this more fully, please read Ray Yungen’s book A Time of Departing.

Bottom line, it is not possible to be truly Christ-like without having Christ inside of us because it is His righteousness that is able to change our hearts—we cannot do it without Him. It is His righteousness we need:

Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe. (Romans 3:22)

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. (Philippians 3:9)

It is interesting to note that virtually every contemplative teacher has a common theme—they feel dry and empty and want to go “deeper” with God or “become more intimate” with God. But if we have Christ living in us, how can we go any deeper than that? How can we become more intimate than that? And if going deeper and becoming intimate were so important, why is it that none of the disciples or Jesus Himself ever told us to do this? As Larry DeBruyn states:

Why are Christians seeking a divine presence that Jesus promised would abundantly flow in them? . . . Why do they need another voice, another visitation, or another vision? Why are some people unthankfully desirous of “something more” than what God has already given to us? Why is it that some Christians, in the depth of their souls, are not seemingly at rest?²

Is There a “Good” Spiritual Formation?

One of the most common arguments we hear defending Spiritual Formation is that there is a “good” Spiritual Formation done without contemplative prayer. To that we say, we have never yet seen a Spiritual Formation program in a school or a church that doesn’t in some way point people to the contemplative mystics. It might be indirectly, but in every case, if you follow the trail, it will lead you right into the arms of Richard Foster, Dallas Willard, and other contemplative teachers.

Think about this common scenario: A Christian college decides to begin a Spiritual Formation course. The instructor has heard some negative things about Richard Foster, Henri Nouwen, and Brennan Manning, and he figures he will teach the class “good Spiritual Formation” and leave those teachers completely out. But he’s going to need a textbook. He turns to a respected institution, Dallas Theological Seminary, and finds a book written by Paul Pettit, Professor in Pastoral and Education Ministries. The book is titled Foundations of Spiritual Formation. The instructor who has found this book to use in his own class may never mention Richard Foster or Dallas Willard, but the textbook he is using does. Within the pages of Pettit’s book is Richard Foster, Philip Yancey, N.T. Wright, Dallas Willard, Thomas Aquinas, Lectio Divina, Ayn Rand, Parker Palmer, Eugene Peterson, J.P. Moreland, Klaus Issler, Bruce Demarerst, Jim Burns, Kenneth Boa and Brother Lawrence’s “practicing God’s presence.” You may not have heard of all these names, but they are all associated with the mystical contemplative prayer movement and the emerging church.

Another example of this is Donald Whitney’s book Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. Whitney is former Associate Professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and currently at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. While his book does not promote contemplative mysticism, he says that Richard Foster has “done much good”³ in the area of Christian spirituality (which we believe is blatantly untrue).

Our point is that even if there is a sincere attempt to teach Spiritual Formation and stay away from the mystical side, we contend that it cannot be successfully accomplished because it will always lead back to the ones who have brought it to the church in the first place.

Spiritual formation is sweeping throughout Christianity today. It’s no wonder when the majority of Christian leaders have either endorsed the movement or given it a silent pass. For instance, in Chuck Swindoll’s book So You Want to Be Like Christ: 8 Essential Disciplines to Get You There, Swindoll favorably quotes Richard Foster and Dallas Willard. Swindoll calls Celebration of Discipline a “meaningful work”⁴ and Willard’s book The Spirit of the Disciplines “excellent work.”⁵ In chapter three, ”Silence and Solitude,” Swindoll talks about “digging for secrets . . . that will deepen our intimacy with God.”⁶ Quoting the contemplative poster-verse Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God,” Swindoll says the verse is a call to the “discipline of silence.”⁷ As other contemplative proponents have done, he has taken this verse very much out of context.

Roger Oakland sums it up:

The Spiritual Formation movement . . . teaches people that this is how they can become more intimate with God and truly hear His voice. Even Christian leaders with longstanding reputations of teaching God’s word seem to be succumbing. . . .

We are reconciled to God only through his “death” (the atonement for sin), and we are presented “holy and unblameable and unreproveable” when we belong to Him through rebirth. It has nothing to do with works, rituals, or mystical experiences. It is Christ’s life in the converted believer that transforms him.⁸

“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” Romans 5:10

What Christians need is not a method or program or ritual or practice that will supposedly connect them to God. What we need is to be “in Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:30) and Christ in us. And He has promised His Spirit “will guide [us] into all truth” (John 16:13).

“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:” 1 Corinthians 1:30

In Colossians 1:9, the apostle Paul tells the saints that he was praying for them that they “might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” He was praying that they would have discernment (“spiritual understanding”). He said that God, the Father, has made us “partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light” (vs 12) and had “delivered us from the power of darkness [i.e., power of deception]” (vs. 13). But what was the key to having this wisdom and spiritual understanding and being delivered from the power of darkness? Paul tells us in that same chapter. He calls it “the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints” (vs. 26). What is that mystery? Verse 27 says: “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (emphasis added).

For those wanting to get involved with the Spiritual Formation movement (i.e., contemplative, spiritual direction), consider the “direction” you will actually be going.

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel. (Colossians 1:21-23)

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. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power. (Colossians 2: 8-10)

This article is an extract from the Lighthouse Trails booklet, Is Your Church Doing Spiritual Formation? (Important Reasons Why They Shouldn’t). To order this booklet, click here.

Endnotes:
1. Dallas Willard, “Spiritual Formation: What it is, and How it is Done” (https://dwillard.org/resources/articles/spiritual-formation-what-it-is-and-how-it-is-done).

2. Larry DeBruyn, “God’s Present of His Presence” (https://www.guardinghisflock.org/gods-present-of-his-presence/ ).

3. Donald Whitney, “Doctrine and Devotion: A Reunion Devoutly to be Desired” (http://web.archive.org/web/20080828052145/http://biblicalspirituality.org/devotion.html).

4. Chuck Swindoll, So You Want to Be Like Christ: 8 Essential Disciplines to Get You There (Nashville, TN:W Publishing Group, a div. of Thomas Nelson, 2005), p. 15.

5. Ibid., p. 13.

6. Ibid., p. 55.

7. Ibid.

8. Roger Oakland, Faith Undone (Eureka, MT: Lighthouse Trails Publishing, 2007), pp. 91-92.

This has been an extract from our booklet Is Your Church Doing Spiritual Formation? (Important Reasons Why It Shouldn’t). To order this booklet, click here.

Spiritual Formation Exposed |

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

The Dangers of Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Disciplines

The Dangers of Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Disciplines A Critique of Dallas Willard and The Spirit of the Disciplines by Bob DeWaayPractices called “spiritual disciplines” that are deemed necessary for “spiritual formation” have entered evangelicalism. Recent encounters with this teaching narrated to me by friends caused me to investigate these practices. The first experience involved my friend and co-worker Ryan Habbena who went back to seminary to finish his masters degree. Here is his experience in his own words: I recently took a seminary course on the book of Luke. It was a summer intensive and was one of only […]

SHOCKING List of Spiritual Formation Ministries

More Catholic Witchcraft Infiltrating the Apostate Seminaries, Ministries, and Churches “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” 1 Timothy 4:1-2 WHAT is spiritual formation / contemplative prayer or centering prayer? Spiritual formation/contemplative prayer/spirituality is just another self-centered, Christ-denying, self-righteous, works-based, occultic, pagan lie from hell! Seminaries teach it and now many churches today are practicing new age witchcraft called contemplative prayer, or centering Prayer which is part of spiritual formation. […]

Articles

Mission Mexico Part 32

“So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.” Acts 19:20

See picture below.

I recently, “accidently” drove up this very narrow street only to realize that there was no turn around at the end. As God would have it, this man helped me back out of that street and received the spoken Word and a JESUS tract. Romans 8:28 right?

“Ephesians 3:20 was the very verse I prayed for you and the ministry this morning! And v16 as well. May the Spirit of God manifest His full grace and peace upon you today! And give you fruit, more fruit and much fruit! Amen.” Karen Cochran

(see picture below)

It dawns on me afresh today as it has since arriving here in Mexico, that these precious people so deeply hunger for Christ. Today, upon ministering to Victor and Juan and having Victor incessantly asking me about Christianity, Jesus, and being saved…. this was a fresh reminder of the great hunger and openness of the Mexican people. They want Jesus. Plain and simple. “HOW shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14)

These two men were excited to know that you would be lifting them in prayer.

Victor and I are now connected by phone. So he will now be fed the Word of our God and be introduced to Spanish speaking disciples of our LORD Jesus.

Being limited in Spanish, I preached the Gospel, the Bible truth I am able to in Spanish and that including exhorting them both, today to repent and receive Jesus and did this while pointing to the prayer (oracion) on the back of the JESUS tract.

Would you like to kindly pause to lift these 2 dear men in prayer to our LORD?

Mission Mexico

JUST got a call from sister Teri in FL and had the opportunity to speak with brothers Scott and Jorge who were both recently saved by Jesus. Was also blessed to speak with a brother named Raymond who is a flourishing disciple of Jesus!

Thank you for your prayers and support which include our bless-ed opportunity of helping this group of disciples in FL.

Jesus is coming!

Recently…… Many received God’s Word today.

Brother Mark has recently joined in helping with our LORD’s Gospel in Mission Mexico and was amazed when he saw three grown men walking together who were ministered to and walk away, each of them with the JESUS tract open, as they walked read the message. They are that hungry.

The Mexico people deserve to hear our LORD’s glorious Gospel!

“I bet brother Mark is amazed at the response of the Mexican people when you guys go out and minister to them. To have so many hearts open and poor in spirit would be a shock at first. Total opposite of America—who say ‘I am rich, increased with goods have need of nothing!’ Revelation 3:17.

Praise God for the blessed ones who heard the engrafted word of our Lord, which is able to save their souls.” Karen

REPLY:

Yes He is amazing. They WANT it. They DESIRE it. They are like the woman who desires a man and so he marries her and they have a super blessed marriage for life. Instead of the wicked Jezebel woman who just wants to self-servingly shop for the man she can use to accomplish her selfish agenda.

“I was reading Mathew 21:23 this morning and it went through my mind that is what God said to America! ‘The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.’ And that nation is Mexico!“ Karen

“Truly amazing what God is doing in the hearts of the Mexican people. And now He is raising up disciples to bring into the harvest. He is LORD of the harvest. Have you heard of Chick Publications? I just read that they have sent 200,000 tracts to a Mexico missionary and more being ready to be sent. Southern Mexico. So God is sure flooding Mexico with His Word!” Karen Cochran

While walking over to get a haircut, I happened to spot a JESUS tract someone had placed on this vehicle. No it was not me. I didn’t put that tract there. Someone else did.

Then, 5 minutes later, after arriving at barber and sitting down in the chair, straight ahead in my line of sight, there’s a JESUS tract purposely set on display by the barber.

No matter how high prices get in Mexico, your cost of living will always be MUCH less than the USA. A raise awaits you, soon as you cross the border. Is God prompting you to “Go”? (Mark 16:15)

God is good all the time as you well know and thank you.

Your prayers to the Father in the name of our LORD Jesus are the heavenly fuel He uses to bless and empower and supply His people to do His work.

“For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,” Philippians 1:19

todd

Articles

Chosen for Holiness [podcast]

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” Ephesians 1:4

Holiness comes by the Savior in self denial (death and burial – the cross), not by self will or effort. Surrender is the cross – “NOT my will but thine be done” (Lk. 22:42) and “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46). We surrender to Christ by saying “Not my will but thine be done” dear Lord, by Your grace and the deliberate act of my own will I submit to the cross, the crucified life – where You alone reign supreme in this vessel (Luke 22:42; Galatians 2:20, etc.). I love You LORD Jesus! You must increase but I must decrease! (John 3:30)

Holiness, not happiness, is the divine command, the chief purpose and end of Christ’s salvation.

Of holiness, one disciple writes:

“Holiness speaks more to nature than it does conduct. Good conduct is the spontaneous byproduct of the new nature of the new creation man thru the cross and death to the old nature. We are new creatures in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17-18). To preach holiness as conduct without the new nature thru the cross understanding is legalism. Holiness is actually derived from ‘wholeness’ meaning the thorough transformation of the whole tripartite man (1 Thess 5:23). So many of these ‘holiness’ preachers are preaching nothing but conduct under law. Law arouses sinful passions and causes sin to increase and was given in order to provoke transgressions (Rom 7:5; 5:20; Gal 3:21). They are enemies of the cross!”

Holiness comes by way of the cross, not by way of the flesh. Just as sin was conquered by the cross of Christ, so sin in the life of the saint is conquered by the daily cross – the crucified life (Luke 9:23-24; Romans 6; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3, etc.). It’s time to stop trying harder and to simply die deeper.

NOTICE: When a believer or group of believers backslides, they no longer separate from the transgressors who are unrepentant:

Fornication Defiles

“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have (Gr. possessed and wouldn’t repent) his father’s wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:1-2

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

The Glorious Church Jesus is Returning for [video]

WHAT church/people is Jesus returning for? “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27 “a glorious church” “not having spot (no sin)“ No “wrinkle” “or any such thing” “but that it should be holy and without blemish” WHAT’s the use of talking about end times […]

Can a True Believer Overcome All Sin? [podcast]

Yes. In the church world, there’s an abundance of talk about sin and it comes with the notion, the inflection, the false assumption that somehow, born again believers are relegated to sinning, as if there’s no other choice. Is that true? Is this the biblical perspective? What I want us to do is make sure we are looking at the whole of Scripture and be blessed to gain a godly confidence that our Savior provided a perfect salvation that includes more than just the initial washing away of our sins. This “great grace” that He provided in His “so […]

The Truth about Holiness [podcast]

“Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” Exodus 15:11 As we just read, divine “holiness” is “glorious.” Holiness is not what most of us think it is. Holiness in the divine economy is something of great “beauty” and utterly refreshing (Psalms 96:9). It seems that holiness is not merely a divine attribute but rather the divine nature of the Almighty. Are we ready to allow our LORD, who alone is “Holy, holy, holy,” to define what holiness truly is and how He brings it […]