Ecumenism
Jim Butler
Exegesis
Exegesis is a theological term used to describe an approach to
interpreting a passage in the Bible by critical analysis. Proper
exegesis includes using the context around the passage, comparing it
with other parts of the Bible, and applying an understanding of the
language and customs of the time of the writing, in an attempt to
understand clearly what the original writer intended to convey. In
other words, it is trying to “pull out” of the passage the meaning inherent
in it. and; Hermeneutics
Hermeneutics is the technical term for the process of careful,
analytical interpretation of the meaning of passages in the Bible. The
Bible is not just one document, a narrative written by one author at
one point in history. It is a collection of writings by numerous authors,
created over a period of over 1000 years. These writings include
history, narrative description, guidance for daily living, poetry,
revelation, symbolic dreams and visions, and more. In order to
understand clearly what a biblical writer was attempting to convey to
the reader, a number of factors must be considered. Is the passage
intended to be a literal description of events, or a symbolic
representation of something? Is the passage declaring a principle
applicable for all time for all people, or was it intended to be
relevant to just a certain group of people at a certain time and place?
These and many other considerations need to be incorporated into the
effort to understand how the passage may apply to the Bible student of
the 21st century.
What do faiths such as “Charismatics, Mormon’s, Jehovah’s Witnesses,
Roman Catholicism” and the like use?
Eisegesis
The word eisegesis is a theological term used to describe an approach
to interpreting a passage in the Bible by “reading into” the passage a
meaning that is not evident at all by the passage itself, or the
context in which it appears in the Bible. Thus eisegesis is usually perceived
as a negative term, and indicates that the person using the method of
eisegesis is not being intellectually honest. Instead, they are coming
to the passage with a pre-conceived notion on a particular doctrinal
matter, and wishing to force the passage to fit that preconceived
notion. Often you hear them say “it’s in the bible!” with no scripture
reference mentioned.
and;
The Traditions Of Men
Thus with Eisegesis and man make traditions we have the foundation for
the “One World Church to begin it’s work.”
The Great Man rose to his feet. A swelling silence rolled over the
immense crowd as an ocean wave over the sand of the seashore. The
silence rose in a crescendo of anticipation as he motioned to the high
priest. The priest slowly lifted his staff, and a mountain of fire fell
from the sky, exploding into a raging inferno. The huge crowd stood
mesmerized as the prepared sacrifice was incinerated in the flames. The
silence then erupted into choruses of praise as every individual fell
prostrate to the earth in worship of the Great Man. Is this not the
long-anticipated Holy One? Is this not the Second Coming of Christ to
the Christian, Crishna to the Hindu, Maitreya to the Buddhist, Imam
Mahdi to the Muslim, Hiram Abiff to the Mason, and Messiah ben David to
the Jew? Is he not the fulfillment of the ancient prophecies concerning
each of these and others? After all, he alone accomplished what all
before failed to achieve: he became the provider of world peace,
established himself as the rightful priest-king of all mankind, and
provided both spiritual and political direction for the entire planet.
With all the dissenters humanely removed to rethink their positions, he
successfully blended the common values of all religions into a new,
syncretistic, all-encompassing faith. The long-awaited “Golden Age” has
at last arrived. WELCOME TO THE ONE WORLD CHURCH.
This Super Church will not appear out of thin air, as the plans for
this organization are as old as the present antediluvian civilization
itself. It will not result from a direct frontal assault on established
religion; but rather, will be built piece by piece, as the mending of
subplots in a complex mystery novel. The pieces are now falling into
place, and the subplots are rushing headlong to the climax the Rapture
of the Church and subsequent appearance of Antichrist. Tragically, many
well-meaning, sincere individuals are falling prey to the vast
deception of Satan’s plan for the Super Church. This includes many Christians
and Christian organizations who are becoming unwitting accomplices to the
impending One World Church.
How could any Christian be so naive? How could God possibly allow His
children to contribute to the plans of Satan? The problem lies in a
lack of adherence to the doctrines of the Word of God. When a man is
born-again, he does not mystically become immune to deception. It is
the man’s responsibility to “draw nigh unto God” (James 4:8). This is
accomplished by studying and taking heed to the precepts of the Word of
God. A Christian must study to become established in Bible Doctrine (II
Tim. 2:15). DOCTRINE is the key to discernment and fighting deception.
Curiously, even the “Evangelical Church” of today is subordinating the
teaching of doctrine to social issues, psychological development,
cultural crises, worship and praise, and practically every other
pseudo-spiritual “ism” or study imaginable. This course of events has
resulted in a generation of Christians who have no clue as to what they
believe or how to recognize heresy. Since so many are facing this
dilemma, they have become easy prey for deception which comes
“gift-wrapped” in a religious package. To fully understand the
ramifications of this deception, the building of the One World Church,
and the organizations involved in its establishment, one must look back
to the year, 1948.
The modern downward spiral to religious apostasy began with two very
significant events in 1948. On May 14,1948, the nation of Israel was
reborn. Never before in the history of mankind has any dispersed nation
been re-established in the same territory after an absence of in excess
of 1000 years. The rebirth of Israel can only be attributed to the
direct working of the hand of God. This rebirth signaled the start of
the final countdown to the “end of the age”. In his book, Jerusalem, a
Cup of Trembling, Dave Hunt explains that the last days prior to the
return of Christ will be marked by the following:
Israel in the ‘Promised Land’
The Church in decline, Growing apostasy, The Church finally removed”
(1) If this line of reasoning is followed through to fruition, the
influence of the nation of Israel on world events must increase, while the
influence of the Church must decrease.
This scenario has been aided by the second significant event of
1948 the formation of the World Council of Churches. The WCC was formed in
Amsterdam with 147 protestant denominations (today there are 307) (2). The organization’s goal was clearly stated at its inaugural meeting
(August 1948) by General Secretary of the WCC, W.A. Visser’t Hooft :
“…there can be and there is finally only one church of Christ on
earth…we are aware of the situation, that we do not accept it
passively, that we move forward towards the manifestation of the ONE HOLY CHURCH.” (3)
(Lest any misunderstand, the Universal Church certainly does exist.
This is the “Body of Christ”, consisting of all those who have been redeemed
by the blood of Jesus. However, this Universal Church DOES NOT include
every member of every church and/or religion. This “Body” also DOES NOT
include those who merely claim Christianity but have never experienced
the new birth.) The opposite view of the WCC has been correctly
conveyed by Dr. David Cloud:
“We could describe the error of the WCC under a number of categories.
We could speak of its Doctrinal Heresy, its Modernism….Universalism. The
simple fact is that the WCC fails every Biblical test which could be
applied. It is patently and grossly unscriptural.” (4)
Though the Roman Catholic Church is not officially a member of the WCC,
the Vatican has worked very closely with the WCC since the “Ecumenical
Movement” of the 1960s (The Ecumenical Movement was a failed effort to
reunite mainline protestants with the “Mother Church”). Dr. Edward
Panosian, chairman of the Department of History at Bob Jones
University, stated,
“Rome’s conception of the ecumenical movement is the joining of all
churches- eventually all religions- to Rome. Rome does not join the
WCC. She invites the WCC to join her….” (5)
The member churches of the WCC have been sliding into an ever-deepening
chasm of doctrinal apostasy. They have turned their backs on the
fundamental doctrines of the faith. Many member churches deny the
Inerrancy of Scripture, the Virgin Birth, the Bodily Resurrection, and
the Deity of Christ. They have been quick to endorse Marxist causes,
gays and lesbians, feminism, and even promote goddess worship. While
many true “blood-washed” believers may be members of this body, they
are certainly supporting the building of the One World Church.
After the failure of the Ecumenical Movement of the 1960s, the 1970s
brought forth the second wave of the “Charismatic Movement”. The
Charismatics actively seek unity on the basis of (supernatural)
manifestations, many times at the expense of doctrinal truth. They have
taken the position that differences in doctrine can be overlooked “as
long as those with whom we seek unity confess the name of Jesus and
appear to exhibit the gifts of the Spirit particularly speaking in
tongues . . .” (6). This has led many Charismatics into Dominion
Theology (see page 6 for explanation), and has also given Roman
Catholics the opportunity to regain credibility with many protestants
(7). (“The ‘gift of tongues’ was received spontaneously by many
Catholics as they were engaged in prayer to Mary.”) (8) Many
influential Charismatic leaders have begun to embrace unity with Roman Catholics.
This includes such well-known men as Pat Robertson, Paul Crouch, and
Oral Roberts. Meetings between Catholic and Evangelical Charismatics
have expanded to up to 80,000 participants (9). This scenario is the
direct result of the call for Charismatic Unity.
The two major common denominators of the Ecumenical and Charismatic
Movements are: 1) the forsaking of biblical truth for the sake of
unity, and 2) the influence of the Church of Rome. The forsaking of biblical
truth is obviously the most tragic mistake an ecclesiastical body can
make. Yet, so many have been willing to compromise truth for the sake
of unity. As a result, the idea that theological teaching is dull, boring,
or irrelevant for today’s society is creeping into even the more
conservative churches. Churches (influenced mainly by high profile
media ministries) are starting to cater to emotional, psychological, or
social teachings. This reaction to the compromise by the high profile
ministries is paving the way to find that “set of common values” with
those of every religion. This is the groundwork for the One World
Church.
The influence of the Church of Rome in these movements is obvious. One
need not be a great historian to understand the desire of the Vatican
to
garner ecclesiastical control of the entire planet. From its earliest
days, the intent of the Church of Rome has been to “establish the
Kingdom of God on earth under the headship of the pope” (10). The
Bible
is very explicit in its description of the One World Church. The
Apostle
John, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, records in Revelation 17
the image of a harlot riding a beast:
“And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven
mountains which the woman sitteth.” (11)
This is a very clear reference to Rome. The entire passage not only
accurately describes the Catholic Church, but many (including this
author) believe the pope to be the “False Prophet” of Antichrist as
described in Revelation 13. Pope John Paul II has been quoted by
Catholic Priest, Malachi Martin and others, regarding his rulership of
the planet. In an interview with the National Research Institute,
Martin revealed the following:
“According to Malachi Martin, John Paul II is anxiously awaiting the
reappearance of Mary, which will be seen by all on earth and will
authenticate John Paul II as her’s and God’s personal ambassador to
RULE THE WORLD AND SOON . . . John Paul eagerly awaits this event, since it
will confirm his claim to geo-political world dominion. It will be part
of a great disaster which will transform minds and catapult humanity
into chaos (from which John Paul will rescue it) . . . This event will
particularly involve the sun and will be seen as ‘the glory of the
woman clothed with the sun and giving birth to the child who will rule the
nations with a rod of iron.’ (Malachi Martin, Keys of This Blood) . .
.
Malachi Martin told NRI, ‘The sign will be so potent you will have to
(believe) . . . Your own conscience will scream out that THIS IS GOD!”
(12)
As if the thoughts of the pope are not convincing enough, the Roman
Catholic Church has now taken steps beyond the Ecumenical and the
Charismatic Movements. In 1986, the Church of Rome sponsored the
Vatican Interfaith Conference. This was not another effort to bring rebellious
protestants back into the fold of the “Mother Church.” This was a
council of world RELIGIONS. The conference included Catholics,
Protestants, Buddhists, Hindus, Zoroastrians, Native Americans, African
Animists, and Aboriginal Snake Worshippers (13). This was an effort to
find common ground, common values, and learn tolerance the building
blocks of the One World Church.
Since 1986, many other groups have begun similar efforts. In 1993,
Chicago hosted the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions.
This meeting generated a proclamation for a Declaration of Human Values
(14). This declaration included those values common to all religions.
Also in 1993, Rev. William Swing (Episcopal) announced the formation of
the United Religions (UR). The UR is to be fully functional by the year
2000, and will serve as a ngo (non-governmental organization) to the
UN.
One goal of the UR is the establishment of a “Value Bank” that will
allow people to invest their money to “promote the values of the UR.”
The UR also desires to be a “symbol of unity in a world of disunity”
(15). The World Conference of Religion and Peace, organized in 1970,
gathered at Melbourne, Australia, in July 1997. This organization
stressed “Acceptance, Tolerance, and Collaberation” among all religions
EXCEPT those who hold to any form of exclusivity (i.e. “no man cometh
to the Father but by me”) or absolutism (i.e. absolute truth). They also
endorsed the UR and sought the common values found in all religions
(16).
The One World Church is nearing fruition. The UR and similar
organizations are aggressively seeking to bond all world religions. The
leaders of world religions are actively seeking common ground, common
beliefs, and common values. The World Council of Churches is determined
to participate in and aid these efforts. The pope and Church of Rome
are “seizing the moment” to finally grasp their goal of establishing the
so-called “Kingdom of God” on earth. Absolutism and exclusivity are
rapidly becoming labeled as intolerance and bigotry.
This certainly reveals the serious threat of ecumenism to Bible-based
Christianity. Yet, many Christian leaders are busy making their own
overtures of unity. In May of 1994, the document Evangelicals and
Catholics Together (ECT) was authored by Charles Colson of Prison
Fellowship and R. J. Neuhaus, a Catholic priest [former Lutheran]. The
document “laid the groundwork for Evangelicals to set aside their
distinctive doctrines and unite with the Catholic Church and other
religions which are coming together by the year 2000 A.D.” (17). The
ECT document was also signed by such notable Evangelicals as Bill Bright,
Pat Robertson, and Mark Noll. Other Christian leaders have also been
making statements that link them to this train of thought. The
following are some prime examples:
“I found that my beliefs are essentially the same as those of Orthodox
Roman Catholic.” –Dr. Billy Graham (18)
“We (Catholics and Evangelicals ed) have differences, but on the
ancient creeds and core beliefs of Christianity, we stand together.”
–Charles Colson (19)
“I don’t know anyone more dedicated to the great doctrines of
Christianity than the Catholics.” –W. A. Criswell (20)
“I am eradicating the word ‘protestant’ from my vocabulary . . .
it’s time for Catholics and non-Catholics to come together as one.” –Paul
Crouch (21)
“In all the Pope’s writings…he has hundreds and hundreds of Bible
verses. If I dare to say there are less [sic] than seven to ten
thousand Bible verses in the new catechism, backing everything they say, I
wouldn’t be exaggerating. And he makes a statement and backs it with
the Word of God. ” –Jack Van Impe (22)
Why would these “Evangelical Leaders” praise the Catholic Church? Was
the Reformation simply a misguided mistake? Were the millions murdered
at the hands of the Office of the Inquisition really heretics? While
only God knows the heart, these men do not pass the test of scrutiny
when evaluated according to the principles of the Word of God.
Scripture DEMANDS SEPARATION, NOT UNITY:
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness . . . light with darkness . . . Christ with Belial . . . he that believeth with an infidel . . . the temple of God with idols? . . . Wherefore COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM AND BE YE SEPARATE saith the Lord.” (23)
Do these Evangelical leaders accept Apostolic Succession, Papal
Infallibility, Transubstantiation, Mary as Intercessor, Salvation only
of the Catholic Church, and/or the doctrine of Pergatory? Are any one
of these found in the Bible? How can they possibly follow the commands of
Scripture and unite with those who hold these unscriptural doctrines?
The tragic truth of the matter is this: Whether intentional or not,
these “leaders” are leading unsuspecting, undiscerning Christians into
promoting the plans of Satan for the One World Church.
In 1990, an organization was formed that has the potential to ignite
the flames of ecumenism already present in the “evangelical community” into
a raging inferno. This organization is Promise Keepers. Promise Keepers
(PK) was birthed into existence by former University of Colorado
football coach, Bill McCartney. PK has as its basic premise “to see men
become the spiritual leaders in their homes and make a moral impact on
their communities” (24). The book, The Seven Promises of a Promise
Keeper, goes even further to declare that the book is “for any male who
wants to: know his Creator better, be closer to his wife and children,
tear down the walls of division, see the entire world come to know
God’s love” (25). This all sounds very pious and spiritual. However, based on
the rampant ecumenism of our time, red flags should immediately be
raised concerning “tear down the walls of division” and “see the entire
world come to know God’s love.” What are these walls of division? At
what point in time is this reference to seeing “the entire world come
to know God’s love?”
Found within these two goals of Promise Keepers is a conduit to connect
many “evangelicals” and other conservative Christians to the effort to
build the One World Church. The second goal, “to see the entire world
come to know God’s love,” needs to be addressed first. While the Lord
Jesus Christ did indeed command His disciples to “go into the whole
world and preach the gospel . . .” (Mark 16:15), nowhere does the Bible
state that the entire world will know God’s love prior to the
Millennial Reign of Christ. There exists a theological belief system among some
Evangelicals and Charismatics known as Dominion Theology. This
theological system, led by notable Charismatics Pat Robertson, Kenneth
Copeland, Kenneth Hagin, and others declares the earth will be ruled by
or come under the dominion of the Church.
Some Dominionists believe this will happen prior to the Rapture of the
Church, while others believe a Postmillennial concept a “Spiritual
Millennium” rather than a literal 1000 year reign of Christ on earth
(as clearly taught by Scripture). For the purposes of this discussion, the
primary danger of Dominion Theology is the embracing of ecumenical
movements as the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. This is a major cause
for concern with the PK organization. As a matter of fact, while
interviewing Bill McCartney, “Pat Robertson suggested that PK is a
fulfillment of Bible prophecy” (26). Furthermore, the upper echelons of
the PK organization are filled with those from the largely Dominionist,
Charismatic Vineyard movement. The current PK president Randy Phillips
is a member of the Boulder, Colorado Vineyard Fellowship. The pastor of
this church, James Ryle, is a PK Board of Directors member. Bill
McCartney is also a member of this fellowship (27). This dangerous
Dominionist connection to PK is clearly seen by the goal of to “see the
entire world know God’s love.” According to Scripture, this goal will
not be reached in this present age. Furthermore, this is also the goal
of those who seek to build the One World Church (it is not clear which
“god” they desire to reveal).
Returning now to the first question (What are these walls of
division?), nestled within the answer to this question are the same common
denominators previously noted the Church of Rome and the forsaking of
biblical truth for the sake of unity. Therefore, red flags of warning
quickly turn to alarm as one continues to inspect the Seven Promises.
Promise One refers to a man’s relationship to God. This chapter,
written by Jack Hayford, speaks of this relationship. Under the subtitle,
“Redeeming Worship,” Mr. Hayford relates:
“Redeeming worship centers on the Lord’s Table. Whether your
tradition celebrates it as communion, Eucharist, the Mass, or the Lord’s
Supper, we are all called to this centerpiece of Christian worship.” (28)
This statement reveals the “walls of division” are the walls that
separate the Church of Rome and the Orthodox Church from the balance of
Christendom. The truth is that the Eucharist and Mass are not
equivalent to the Lord’s Supper. The Church of Rome and the Orthodox Church
teach that this sacrament is efficacious in and of itself. Furthermore, they
believe the bread and wine became the literal body and blood of Christ
via an act of alchemy performed by the priest (this is called
transubstantiation). The commemoration of the Lord’s Supper is simply
what Scripture demands a memorial service (“this do in remembrance of
Me”) (29). The Lord’s Supper is IN NO WAY EFFICACIOUS forgiving no
sin of the partaker.
This exposes an attitude of unity at the expense of doctrine. Again,
this is a direct violation of Scripture. The PK organization is willing
to sacrifice Biblical truth for unity with the Roman Catholic Church.
PK also includes Roman Catholics on the PK Board of Directors. Mike
Timmis, a Catholic PK board member, prayed at the 10/4/97 Washington rally:
“We recognize that we do have doctrinal differences . . . but Father,
we will not let these differences destroy our unity.” (30)
This statement echoes the Ecumenical and Charismatic Movements “Do not
let doctrine prevent unity.” PK takes the call for unity even further.
They have extended their hand to the CULT of Mormonism. They contend
that the Mormons believe in Jesus Christ. However, who is the Jesus of
Mormonism? Mormonism teaches that Jesus was the elder brother of
billions of spirit children born to a god and his wives in some spirit
realm. Furthermore, all of humanity consists of his younger brothers
and sisters. THIS IS NOT THE JESUS OF THE BIBLE! Yet PK is willing to
exercise tolerance in ignoring these “insignificant, petty, miniscule,
irrelevant doctrinal differences” in order to join into the bond of
unity with Mormons. Lest anyone feel ignored, Reuters News Service
reported the PK call for unity was also extended to Louis Farrakhan and
his Nation of Islam in the form of an invitation to join the 1997 PK
rally in Washington, D.C. (31).
Promise Keepers has many merits. Men certainly need to be the spiritual
leaders of their homes and churches. There are those who have become
better husbands, fathers, and leaders due to their association with PK.
PK does present the gospel, and the gospel needs to be preached to all
who will listen. However, the “encounter group psychotherapy” methods
and unity at any cost are not biblical principles. The policy of
blindly embracing other religious groups that simply “name the name of Jesus”
is not sufficient. Jesus himself related that all who call “Lord, Lord”
will not enter into heaven (32). In the final analysis, TRUTH MUST BE
THE ULTIMATE GOAL NOT TOLERANCE. M. K. Reynolds, in Foundation
magazine noted:
“Separation from, not reconciliation with false teachers is God’s way
of preserving the purity and power of the Church.”(33)
In the spirit of the Ecumenical and Charismatic Movements, PK has
sacrificed doctrine for unity. Doctrine will always divide because
truth divides. Hugh Latimer, while burning at the stake, cried out, “Unity
must be ordered according to God’s Word, or else it be better war
than peace” (34). As the end of the age approaches, this PK policy of unity
is creating a bridge from the “Evangelical Community” to the One World
Church.
Jesus Christ will return. He will establish His Millennial Kingdom on
the earth. Prior to that time, however, the inhabitants of the earth
will witness the strongest deception in all of history. The One World
Church is a key ingredient to that deception. All religions will
worship Antichrist as God (35). The stage is now being set and the siren song
of unity is invading every of established religion. Born-again Christians
must pray for discernment to fight, not tolerate the ecumenical
philosophies of the time. The Church is facing guerilla warfare, and
the enemy is not easily identifiable.
The book of Jude instructs the Church “to earnestly contend for the
faith” because “there are certain men crept in unawares” (36). I
Timothy predicts “that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith”
(37). II Timothy warns “that in the last days perilous times shall come
. . . (men will have) a form of godliness but denying the power
thereof” (38). These passages speak of the deception from within the ranks of
the professing Church in the latter days. There is warning here of
deceptive “wolves in sheep’s clothing” that will infiltrate the body of
believers to turn them from the faith. Jude instructs the true believers to
contend for the faith. Does contending for the faith include tolerance
of and cooperation with those who deny fundamental doctrines? The
conclusion of the matter can be summed up in the simple statement of
Timothy: “FROM SUCH TURN AWAY.” (39)
Born-again Christians are obligated to obey the Great Commission. This
includes not only evangelization but also TEACHING:
“Go ye therefore, an TEACH all nations…TEACHING them to observe all
things whatsoever I have commanded you…” (40)
The ECT document prevents evangelization of Roman Catholics. Promise
Keepers forbids the teaching of doctrinal truth to Catholics and
Mormons so as not to threaten their unscriptural bond of unity. The bridge of
the gospel, supported by the foundation of doctrinal truth must be
extended to those trapped in false religious systems, while the bridge
of unscriptural ecumenical unity must be burned. These are simply the
requirements of the Word of God. May God give us courage and
discernment to stand for the truth in these perilous times.
The scripture says “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
Preach the truth and the self seeking will run in horror as the spirit of
error guides them. Tickle men’s ears make a friend, tell the truth
friendship ends.
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ENDNOTES
1. Hunt, Dave. Jerusalem, a Cup of Trembling, Harvest House Publishers,
Eugene, OR., 1995, p.350.
2. “ENI News Highlights,” Ecumenical News International, World Council
of Churches, December, 1997, http://www.wcc_coe.org/eni.
Ibid.
Cloud, David. Way of Life Encyclopedia, (as quoted by) Aho, Barbara,
Watch Unto Prayer Ministries, http://www.watch.pair.com/pray.html
Ibid.
Dager, James Albert. “Kingdom Now,” Media Spotlight Newsletter, Vol. 7,
No.3, July-December, 1986, p.18.
Ibid.
Hunt, Dave. A Woman Rides the Beast, Harvest House Publishers, Eugene,
OR., 1994, p.431.
“Religion in Politics,” Political Christianity,
http://www.isrp.org/PolChrs.html., p. 12.
Dager. P. 45.
Revelation 17:9.
Hayes, Kathleen. National Research Institute Trumpet, May, 1991, p.1.
Kah, Gary. The Demonic Roots of Globalism, Huntington House Publishers,
Layfeyette, LA., 1996, p.140.
The Council,for a Parliament of the World’s Religions brochure,
Chicago,
IL, 1993.
Swing, William. “Invitation to Share the Vision,” United Religions, San
Francisco, CA., p.3.
Howard, W.B. “World Conference of Religion and Peace,” Despatch
magazine, August 8, 1997, http://www.cth.com.au.
Aho, Barbara. “Evangelicals and Catholics Together,” Watch Unto Prayer
Ministries, http://www.watch.pair.com/pray.html.
A Woman Rides the Beast, p.389.
Ibid. p.347.
Ibid. p.388
Ibid. p.411
“Van Impe Accused of Bias,” Personal Freedom Outreach,
http://www.pfo.org/vanimpe.html.
II Corinthians 6:14-17.
McMahon, T.A. “Compromise Keepers,” The Berean Call, November, 1995,
p.1.
Philips, Randy. The Seven Promises of a Promise Keeper, Focus on the
Family Publishing, Boulder, CO., 1994, Cover Fly Leaf.
Hunt, Dave. “Unity and Truth,” The Berean Call, April, 1998, p.1.
Randles, Bill. “An Open Letter to Bill McCarthy,” August 22, 1995, p.5.
Hayford, Jack. The Seven Promises of a Promise Keeper, p.19.
I Corinthians 11:24.
“Unity and Truth,” p.1.
Meyer, David. “Promise Keepers and Farrakhan,” The Last Trumpet
newsletter, June, 1997.
Matthew 7:21.
Reynolds, M.H. “Promise Keepers is Dangerous,” Foundation newsletter,
vol. XVI, issue 1.
Hangraaf, Hank. Counterfeit Revival, Word Publishing, Dallas TX., 1997,
p.248.
Revelation 13:8.
Jude 3-4.
I Timothy 4:1.
II Timothy 3:1-5.
II Timothy 3:5.
Matthew 28:19-20.
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Abiding
The Lying Vanity of “Eternal Security” [podcast]
WHY was Satan expelled from God’s presence, from Heaven? What happened the last time sin was found in Heaven? Did God coddle it or kick it out? Jesus told us:
“And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” Luke 10:18
Oh and will we lose the ability to choose in Heaven? One man recently stated: “Even if you are in Heaven you do not have eternal security.” Interesting and apparently true…. because as I am sure you were alluding to, lucifer and a third of the angels still had choice in Heaven, they chose sin and were expelled (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:13-19; Luke 10:18).
Those who deal with the eternal securists know that it’s observable that these self-serving idolaters, counterfeits, want the assurance of salvation via lies instead of obedience. They campaign, promote, and defend their “eternal security” idol doctrine. If they spent the same time and energy seeking and obeying the LORD they claim to serve, there would be great fruit born.
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).
The assurance of salvation, of eternal glory with Christ, abides only in those who obey God. The OSAS wolves speak nothing of obeying the LORD. No, instead they spend all their time indoctrinating people with the heresy that they are eternally secure no matter what they do after being saved. Those who give more than cliche’s and lip service to God, enjoy the assurance of His salvation.
“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby (by obedience) we know that we are of the truth, and shall ASSURE our hearts before him. 20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.” 1 John 3:18-21
Assurance of salvation in our hearts comes from abiding in and with Christ, from obeying Him – not sitting around convincing ourselves and others that we are “eternally secure” (John 14-15). Such is the occupation of moral coward counterfeits who are lost hell-bound souls.
Convincing people who aren’t abiding in Christ that they are eternally secure is criminal, sinful, and perpetrated by the grace-perverting “ungodly men” Jude warned us about (Jude 3-4). Instead of teaching them that God requires that they love and obey Him, they sidestep this unpopular truth and evilly, insidiously tickle the ears of their prey (2 Timothy 4:2-4).
Of 1 John 3:19, Adam Clarke writes:
“Hereby we know that we are of the truth – That we have the true religion of the Lord Jesus, and shall assure our hearts – be persuaded in our consciences, that we have the truth as it is in Jesus; as no man can impose upon himself by imagining he loves when he does not: he may make empty professions to others, but if he loves either God or man, he knows it because he feels it; and love unfelt is not love, it is word or tongue. This the apostle lays down as a test of a man’s Christianity, and it is the strongest and most infallible test that can be given. He that loves feels that he does love; and he who feels that he loves God and man has true religion; and he who is careful to show the fruits of this love, in obedience to God and humane acts to man, gives others the fullest proof that he has the loving mind that was in Jesus.”
The crux concerning the eternal security counterfeits is that they simply refuse to die – to deny self, take up the cross daily, and follow the Savior they claim is their Savior.
Believing that God requires man to participate in an abiding relationship with Him is not works salvation, it’s Bible 101. The only people who call an abiding walk with Christ “works salvation” are those who are vainly thinking they’re going to use Jesus to get them to Heaven, out of hell, without engaging in a relationship with the Great Bridegroom. These are antichrists. They teach contrary to Christ. Read John 15:1-6. Doesn’t their reasoning, their doctrine sound like the foolish virgins who were shut out of Christ’s kingdom? Yep. Read Matthew 25:1-13.
Instead of using that energy to lay down their lives, to be truly crucified with Christ, the OSAS defenders have endless energy to argue to justify sinning. Why? They simply do not love the LORD. They love self and they love their life in this world and will perish with it (1 Corinthians 2:9b; 1 John 2:15-17).
Eternal securists preach “grace, grace, grace” and yet they have more faith in sin, in sinning, than they do in God’s grace to keep them…. free from sin. They are “(…the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things)” (Philippians 3:18-19).
“For he that is dead is freed from sin.” Romans 6:7
Let me get this straight …… Jesus’ grace was enough to save you but is not strong enough to keep you from the sin He died and rose again to deliver you from?
MESSAGE RECEIVED:
“Romans 14:1-3. This post (exposing the heresy of OSAS) continues division among God’s people. God has chosen not to reveal all of Himself to any person. We are all in a broken state of incomplete revelation.”
REPLY:
Not true. You are quoting Romans 14 which is speaking of NON-essentials, not essential doctrine of the original Gospel given to us by Christ and His holy apostles. Those who do not continue in sound doctrine, in the teaching of Christ and His apostles, “hath NOT God” and are to be exposed (2 John 7-11).
The only one causing division is you – a false teacher who is perpetrating the same lie of Satan himself from the Garden of Eden, the original doctrine of devils (1 Timothy 4:1).
Believers are specifically mandated to “earnestly contend” against “ungodly men” who are “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness” such as Satan’s first lie, his first teaching – OSAS/eternal security.
Jude 1:3-5
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.”
Divisions are needed – the divining between the truth-loving remnant of Christ and the counterfeits who espouse falsehoods (Romans 16:17-18). See also Matthew 10:34.
God has clearly, plainly revealed to us the OSAS/eternal security is a lie from His arch enemy and actually led to the fall of mankind in the Garden (Proverbs 22:17-21; Genesis 2:17; 3:4). The warnings against this heresy exist throughout His Word. You may wish to cease using the cop-out position.
Brother Raphael King writes:
“If once saved always saved is correct, then why does Satan tempt saved Christians? What is the aim of the tempter if not to entice the saved ones to sin?
If once saved always saved is correct, why did Jesus tell the man he healed of his infirmity to go and SIN NO MORE? John 5:14
Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
I need your views on these if you think once saved always saved is correct, or you have believed a lie all long!”
According to man’s school of thought, eternal security (also known as “once saved, always saved”) is the belief that from the moment anyone becomes a Christian they will be saved from hell and will not lose their salvation.
But according to the Bible, someone that was once saved can still fall into sin, die in their sins and go to hell!
2 Peter 2:20-22: “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.”
Let’s analyze some examples:
Judas was once saved! One cannot fall away from a place he has never been. So, accepting this falling away as truth, the conclusion is that one can be saved and then “fall away” or lose his salvation. How can a fallen man fall again if he was never saved at first?
Acts 1:25: “That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.”
Judas Iscariot was standing in the Lord, and a follower of Christ before he fell into transgression.
Demas was once saved…
Colossians 4:14: “Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.”
Philemon 1:24: “Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers…” These are saved laborers that Paul referred to.
But Demas later backslid to love the world….
2 Timothy 4:10: “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.”
1 Corinthians 5 was written to believers who had fallen into fornication. “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 his father’s wife.” Paul would not be preaching like this to those that are not yet saved.
The seven churches in Revelation were saved believers before they fell. The Bible recorded their good works. The remedy for them was repentance. Mind you these happened after Pentecost. The church at Ephesus backslid and left its first love. God out of His infinite mercy, sent a message of warning to them. Can you then say that these Churches are not truly saved at first? Then read Revelation 2:1-5 and see their stand before they fell.
Revelation 2:5: “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”
David once fell into sin, Saul once fell into sin, Solomon once fell into sin, Ananias and Sapphira once fell into sin, Lucifer once fell into sin! The lists are endless. These people were saved but somewhere along the line they fell into sin. Some had the grace to repent and utilized it while others wasted it, some didn’t have the grace to repent.
Those that said these people were not truly saved at first should bring evidence from the Bible and not self-assumption. You don’t assume the Bible, you believe it!
If once saved forever saved is true, why did the apostles write to believers that they should not commit sin and warned them to flee from fornication? The Bible talks about repentance in various chapters.
Eternal salvation is for those who always obey God. Once you disobey God, you will lose it just like King Saul in the Bible. The only way to reclaim it is through repentance.
Hebrews 5:9: “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;”
Saved by Grace to Obey God
The OSAS counterfeits want to say that any obedience or good works for Jesus mean you are seeking to earn your own salvation. But the Bible tells us that we are saved by grace through faith which will always produce the fruit of good works. In fact we are created in Christ to do them!
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For 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
He saved us by His grace to be “his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Any questions?
Jesus requires that we overcome in order to reign with Him.
“And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:” Revelation 2:26
Those who keep His works to the end are those who trust and worship Christ and not self – He is their “first love.” (Revelation 2:4-5) Their works do not save them and yet they clearly prove they are His.
“Unto the end” is a requirement for eternal glory, otherwise you will be vanquished into the bowels of eternal damnation irrevocably. Faith is required by God to receive Christ’s salvation, and true saving faith always produces good works (Ephesians 2:8-10).
Isn’t our obedience to Jesus our LORD an expression of our love for Him?
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15
What did Jesus say concerning our lights shining and “good works”?
“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
“Be careful to maintain good works”
“This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.” Titus 3:8
O the endless stream of cowards who seek to evade personal accountability ….. In dealing with yet another heretic, I recently wrote concerning a man who believes he has no personal responsibility to worship, walk with, obey, and engage in an intimate abiding relationship with the Savior He claims saved him (John 15:1-6). He assumes no accountability because he seeks to use Jesus to get him to Heaven but has no interest in the cross Jesus says one must take up daily to truly follow Him-otherwise such a counterfeit is not following Him (Luke 9:23-24). Repent now sinner.
Moral cowards migrate to the “eternal security” heresy because they simply do not want to genuinely repent, to change. They want the crown but not the cross. They vainly believe they are going to use the Savior to get them out of hell yet want nothing to do with a worship-filled, engaged, abiding, fruit-bearing, obedient relationship with the Son of God while on earth. These are the rebels who will hear the LORD declare to them “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” (Matthew 25:4. Read John 15.)
In the biblical model of salvation, you’re not free to sin, you’ve been saved from sin, blessed to live free from sin.
“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:14
You are now the servant of God, not sin.
“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” Romans 6:22
Those who go back to sin after being saved, are in danger of hell fire – unless they repent and return to the LORD:
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23
The wages of sin is STILL death (Ezekiel 18:4; Romans 6:23). God’s grace never changed His definition of sin. God will judge, will damn the souls of every person who dies in sin – whether they were saved in the past or not (Ezekiel 33:12-13; Revelation 22:11, etc.).
Lawless Workers of Iniquity
This warning below from Christ clearly tells us that “MANY” today who call Jesus “Lord”, who claim they are saved, are not.
“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 (lawlessness).” Matthew 7:21-23
Joe Mann writes:
“When a person does what CHRIST JESUS HIMSELF tells them to not do or do…. it’s not their own work’s…..is it???
Besides a person is not in the PROCESS of being SAVED BY & until BELIEF in WHO & WHAT?
Luke 6:46-49
46 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.”
Simply put, those who teach OSAS/eternal security/Calvinism, are sin-justifying, grace-perverting heretics.
The 5 points of Calvinism are utterly false, each and every one of them. Personally, I wear the scorn of the wicked eternal security and calvinist hereticks, as a badge of honor. According to the Holy Spirit’s warning through Jude, these have perverted the faith of the original Gospel of Christ and call it “the doctrines of grace” while they specifically pervert the grace of God. These are “ungodly men” who are “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness” (license for sin) (Jude 4). We are to “earnestly contend” against them (Jude 3).
You could openly curse the Son of God and they’d say little or nothing. Yet, soon as you expose the lying falsehoods they hide behind and use to justify their sins, those devils behind those “doctrines of devils” manifest (1 Timothy 4:1-2).
Calvinist/osas heretics insist that one is devaluing the perfect payment of Christ on the cross for our sins…. are they?
Jesus’ work was perfect and this same JESUS gave conditions for man to appropriate His salvation. To say otherwise would be to say that everyone is going to Heaven, not matter what which is the heresy we call universalism. Yet some wish to ignore those conditions, those things God requires of anyone who will know and walk with Him. Many have bought lies, half-truths and aren’t being honest with the whole counsel of God’s Word. Jesus told His own 12 they had to “endure to the end” to be “saved” (Matthew 10:22; 24:13).
“Saved by grace through faith. Lets break this down for those who don’t understand… Its by Gods grace we’re offered the gift of salvation; yet that gift of salvation is activated through faith!! Without faith no man can please God. And if people think for one second they’re forced to abide or remain in the faith, they better get back in the word. Jesus even said that he is the true vine, and if we don’t remain in him, we are cut off… OSAS teaching is a lie! We must work out our salvation in fear and trembling before the Lord daily!! Endure unto the end!” Cristina
Specifically speaking to HIS own, Jesus says they must “abide” in Him or they will be cast into the fire (John 15:6).
“If a man abide not in me (does not remain with me), he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” John 15:6
Response to a proponent of OSAS:
Please explain to all of us why EVERY person in the world isn’t automatically saved…. after all, Jesus paid the full price for their sin…. And, show us all in God’s Word how men don’t have free will. “Doctrines of grace” to you are actually the corruption of God’s saving grace and Jude warned us about vile wolves, “ungodly men” like you who turn the saving grace of God in Christ into a license for sin.
“For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness (license to sin), and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 4
Here’s a Scripture text on true saving grace that you are allergic to and that your phony “grace teachers” never mentioned….
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;” Titus 2:11-12
Every false teacher is going to hell (2 Peter 2:1-3).
Calvinists speak of “doctrines of grace” while intentionally ignoring and evading Bible passages on grace such as Titus 2:11-12. Calvinists are con men. They are fulfilling the Holy Spirit’s prophecy through Jude as they over emphasize grace while deliberately evading certain grace Scriptures and mountains of truth (Jude 4). What about holiness – God’s holiness, and the truth that He said “Be ye holy for I am holy”? See 1 Peter 1:15-16. You purposely ignore it because you simply don’t want to die, to lay down your life in this fleeting world, to be crucified with Christ. Counterfeit. | Grace vs Holiness
Much more explosive truth on the topic of the mythical “eternal security” |
Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison Ministry | Mexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates | Eternal Security/OSAS | Calvinism Exposed | Accounted Worthy to Escape [podcast] |Sealed? | The Return of Christ | Support | Lie of the Ages [podcast] | 10 Questions about Eternal Security | Is Salvation Eternal? | The Damning Myth of Unconditional Eternal Security [podcast] | The Essential of Fearing God | The KING is Coming [podcast] | Lie of the Ages (Blockbuster book exposing OSAS and calvinism) | Lukewarm is Hell Bound!
Abiding
WHAT’S On Jesus’ Prayer List? [podcast]
What Did Jesus Pray for His People?
John 17 – knowing Him. Being one with Him and the Father and one another.
Jesus prayed the highest priorities of the Father for His people as is recorded in John 17.
Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer – John 17
“Jesus’ prayer in John 17, often called the “High Priestly Prayer,” is a profound discourse to God before His crucifixion, focusing on His own glorification, the protection and unity of His disciples, and the future unity of all believers, emphasizing eternal life through knowing God and Christ, and asking for believers to be set apart in truth and one, just as He and the Father are one.
Having offered His precious, sinless blood to the Father for the redemption of the fallen race, Jesus Christ is now seated at the right hand of the Father making intercession for all of His saints.”
“But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;” Hebrews 7:24-26
Due to His perfect sacrifice and redemption of fallen mankind, we who are His, are invited to “come boldly…”
“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16
As we “come boldly unto the throne of grace” the LORD is going to fill us with His grace and love.
Those most powerfully used by God to help others, are those who are set apart to Him, crying out to the LORD to be filled with His gracious Holy Spirit and to be made more and more one with Him.
Debbie Lord writes:
“GOD is our sustaining force via prayer:
The Holy Spirit praying for us from within,
Jesus, our risen Savior and High Priest praying for us at the right hand of God, Brothers and Sisters in Christ praying for us on this earth, and us praying for believers everywhere,
even those we’ve never met. Ephesians 6:18
Each member of Christ’s body should be assured of the constant prayer of other believers as well as lifting up in prayer other believers themselves.”
Memory Truth:
“For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” James 1:20
We grow in Christ’s grace to realize that our own misguided, unwarranted, self-righteous attitudes and actions of wrath on sinners, is not of God.
Pray to “grow in grace” (2 Peter 3:18). When we are growing in His grace in that abiding oneness, His ministry of grace will flow through us. It has been wisely stated that “We can never lead someone else to a place we aren’t ourselves walking in.”
“For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace…” Hebrews 13:9
WHEN we see something in God’s Word, such as the verse above, let us pray it – pray He will bring it fully into our lives.
WHO has God Used to Truly Minister to Us?
Did God use vessels of self-righteous wrath?
Or, has the LORD used crucified vessels who were full of His love?
Can we not reflect back on how God used others to minister to us? Who did He use? It wasn’t the harsh self-righteous ones He used but rather the vessels of His love – who when they spoke His truth, did it out of His concern and desire for us to truly come to Him… right?
There is so much evil in this fallen world. We are bombarded with words, attitudes, and images daily with the iniquity of fallen mankind. That will not change till Jesus returns. For now, we must abide in Christ, to seek Him to make us one with Him and the Father who are one in agreement, unison, etc. It’s only in being made one with the Father and Jesus that God’s love will fill and flow from us. May God settle us at His feet, truly.
YOUR PRAYER: Holy Father in Heaven, I come to You in the name of my LORD Jesus Christ. Please teach me Your ways and make me, and Your body, one with You. In Jesus’ holy Name, amen.
Pouring prayerfully over the prayer of our LORD Jesus recorded in John 17 would greatly benefit us saints.
John 17: Jesus’ Prayer, the Real “LORD’s Prayer”
The High Priestly Prayer of Our Savior: Beholding the Highest Divine Priorities in the Prayer of Jesus
“1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
The Gospel key to walking in God’s love is the cross. The Bible teaches us that “God is love” and it’s only the crucified vessel that will be full of God’s love and used effectively by the LORD.
“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:16-18
Ministry from Heaven can only come out of a crucified vessel.
“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:10-12
Love is at the top of the divine list of priorities and can only come out of the oneness our Father desires us to have with Him (1 Corinthians 13). Are we asking Him to be made one with Him? (See John 17.)
“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” 1 John 4:7-8
Sister Debbie Lord offers us the opportunity to pray this Scriptural prayer: “Lord, I pray for your saints world over, that You would draw us closer and closer (increasingly) to Yourself as time grows short. Please help us give up and let go so that You can live in us fully and minister to us, in us and THROUGH us. I ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
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Articles
Rejecting the Swine: Swine Among Us! [podcast]
Jesus’ Protocol, and Parameters are for Our Protection
What does the Bible say concerning allowing a departed person to come back into your life or into a group of believers?
God only forgives those who repent and when they repent, they will acknowledge their sin and make restitution to those they’ve harmed. They will “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for (consistent with) repentance” (Matthew 3:7-10). True repentance is proven by good fruit demonstrated to prove it, or not. If there’s no honest, open admission and restitution, there’s no true sorrow or repentance.
“Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and IF he repent, forgive him. 4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.” Luke 17:3-4
If a brother sins against you, you are commanded to rebuke him. And forgive him and yet, only if he chooses to repent.
Forgive him yes, yet only “if he repent(s).”
v4 notice that the sinning person is required to repent each and every time he sins.
This appears to be a protective protocol or parameter to follow in order to ascertain or prove someone has or has not truly repented. Personally, I’ve see many times where people who’ve done wrong to a member of Christ’s body try to just come lolly gagging back into that person’s life or fellowship only to have the opportunity to wreak havoc once again because they weren’t made to prove they truly repented. Let us couple this with what Jesus teaches concerning dogs and swine. As we are going to see in a moment, Jesus commands His people not to closely associate with anyone who would be in close range of you and be able to rend or rip, tear, stab you (Matthew 7:6). So, if someone who has committed offense returns without coming with true repentance, they are to be considered a swine, a dog to whom the believer is not to give place lest this person “turn AGAIN and rend you” (Matthew 7:6).
GOD IS BEGGING NO ONE TO COME TO HIM AND HE ALSO INSTRUCTED YOU NOT TO BEG ANYONE ALSO. GOD NEEDS NO ONE. ALL MEN NEED GOD. THE LORD HONORS EVERY MAN’S RIGHT TO GO TO HELL (Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:15; 1 Kings 18:21; 2 Peter 3:9; Revelation 21:8, etc.).
The LORD told you to send em packing if they don’t want to change to conform to His truth….. Did you know that? Read and memorize Matthew 7:6 and Titus 3:10 now.
“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” Matthew 7:6
Force Feed? NO! THE UNREPENTANT are willingly blind and these are the very “dogs” and “swine” Jesus commanded us to abandon! Matthew 7:6 is a command saints!
PERHAPS we should today consider that God is attempting to protect His children. Following His wisdom, His Word, will do just that (Proverbs 30:5). Those who allow a swine, a heretic, to remain in close range, will again be stabbed in the back by that swine (Matthew 7:6; Titus 3:10). Swine—unrepentant evil doers—are to be rejected (Titus 3:10). In this life, there are people you will have to forgive and also, to get out of your life, to keep them at a distance. Beware of the Swine
Have you ever had anyone stalk your posts on social media? Seems like this is nearly always what happens when you allow unrepentant heretics stay around. They become a liability.
NO soul shall be argued into Christ’s glorious kingdom. This is one reason Jesus tells us not to give the precious jewels of His Word to “swine.” In part, “swine” are those who’ve heard and still refuse to believe. Some were saved and yet are no longer saved due to having “an EVIL heart of unbelief” (Hebrews 3:12-14). Jesus warns that “swine” will simply turn the truth against you and stab, rip you! Pour over Matthew 7:6.
Jesus told you to NEVER waste your time on swine-who will only use everything they learn about you against you (Matthew 7:6). Are you obeying Jesus?
They continue saying things that contradict Scripture. The LORD mandates that His people “reject” heretics…. after they’ve been confronted the first and second time and still remain in the lie, refusing to be corrected by God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16). This is the whole issue: They are biblically illiterate and refuse to only believe and operate according to the Word and are not repenting:
“A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.” Titus 3:10-11
Note what Paul instructs Titus to do concerning heretics—those who reject the truth when shown it. Notice in v. 11 how the Holy Spirit gives us insight into the hearts and minds of heretics—“such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.”
Of Titus 3:10-11, Stacy Strother writes:
“Their own conduct condemns them, as verse 11 will explain. Titus is told in no uncertain terms not to have any association with someone who tries to cause divisions within the church.”
When Paul faced false teachers he said this:
“And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: 5 To whom WE GAVE PLACE BY SUBJECTION, NO NOT FOR AN HOUR; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.” Galatians 2:4-5
False teachers are to be allowed “the first and second admonition” and then rejected if they do not repent and conform to the doctrine of God’s Word.
Rejecting the Swine: Swine Among Us!
“Neither give place to the devil” nor his servants (Ephesians 4:27; Matthew 7:6; 10:14; Titus 3:10).
Having dealt with thousands of naysayers, caught in the grip of sin and Satan, I do not continue throwing pearls to swine as is Christ’s command (Matthew 7:6). If they refuse to humble themselves, seek the LORD and His truth, and believe, they are to be rejected, namely if they are openly casting doubt upon and spurning God’s Word (John 8:47; Titus 3:10). Swine
WHEN we deal with someone in error, the key to remember is whether or not the person in error is teachable or prideful. “God resisteth (sets Himself against) the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6). Watch what David prayed in Psalms 141:5:
“Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.” Psalms 141:5
RED FLAG DISCERNMENT: You know you are dealing with a devil when he/she dwells among believers and yet demonstrates no love, no edification, and no mercy toward you and yet then when they see an opportunity, they lower the boom to condemn you. Swine (Matthew 7:6).
Their condemnation with no edification of the body of Christ is completely unlike how Jesus addresses the churches of Asia in Revelation 2 and 3. For example, Jesus edified and commended the believers at Ephesus and only then did He correct them. Go take a look for yourself in Revelation 2:1-7.
QUESTION:
“You deal with a lot of people. Do you ever get tired with people’s problems lol?”
REPLY:
Yes and there is simply no time to waste on people who have a Bible and all the opportunity in the world to seek God and don’t and then want to blame God and you …. never themselves.
“The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against (blames) the LORD.” Proverbs 19:3
Did you catch that? Men pervert their own way and instead of admitting their own sin, seeking the LORD and repenting, some of them want to tear away at, attack His children as if to get to Him, the LORD whom they are blaming.
The wicked sin against God and then turn around and blame the Almighty who is holy, for their own sin.
There are those like these we are to help and those who do not truly want help and will steal God’s resources (time, energy, etc) while you could be giving those resources to a cause more fruitful … including people who truly want help and are willing to deal honestly, receiving the LORD’s Word. May God grant us His wisdom in each situation as He promised He would if we simply ask Him.
Here are some passages to guide us in divine wisdom:
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:5
“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
“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” Matthew 7:6
Remember how Jesus departed from cities where the people didn’t receive Him? Here’s an example and a nugget of truth to live by.
“And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.” Matthew 10:14
Jesus instructed us to “shake off the dust” from our feet when His Word is not received, right?
We must learn to cease to waste the LORD’s time that He gave us, on people who do not truly want Him.
Saints, let us be reminded that God needs no one—no man—but all men need the LORD. Having this revelation, you will hear me tell folks “God is God and He doesn’t need you. You need Him.”
If someone is not going to repent of a heresy after being shown Scripture that exposes it for the lie it is, “reject (block)” them. That’s what Jesus commanded (Matthew 7:6; Titus 3:10-11).
“Reject” the “Heretick”
“Keep your pearls for whom the Lord directs. Being a ‘sweet’ Christian who ends up shredded by the pigs taught me a great lesson. More discernment Lord, please and thank You. He did and He will. It’s a new day and we need it now.” Julie Thompson
When you allow a deceiver to hang around, you are facilitating their misleading of others.
WHO, other than Satan and his human agents, came to put people in bondage “to steal, and to kill, and to destroy”? See John 10:10. Wisdom: If you think someone can lie to people and go so far as to lead them into bondage God never intended…. and that person still be a good brother in Christ, you have something coming to you. It will always end up bad. You are keeping a devil around…. allowing them to lurk and when the chance arises, out of the blue, they will turn and rend / rip you. “They lie in wait (lurk) to deceive.”
“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” Ephesians 4:14
“These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;” Jude 1:12
Think about these words in light of letting devils hang around.
“And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; 14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:” 2 Peter 2:13-14
When you are communicating divine truth in love and the person you are dialoguing with is not buying it (Proverbs 23:23), it’s time to begin considering to cut them off – to “reject” them. Listen to the divine wisdom given to us in this matter and notice closely also how he inserts the element of “foolish questions.”
“But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.” Titus 3:9-11
Greek for Heretick
G141
αἱρετικός
aihretikos
hahee-ret-ee-kos’
From the same as G140; a schismatic (choice). (“heretic” is the Greek word itself.): – heretic [the Greek word itself].
Total KJV occurrences: 1
By definition, the Bible word “heretick” involves a choice—a decision made by the individual to choose error, falsehood over truth.
In Titus 3:11 here the word “subverted” refers to those who dare to undermine the power and authority of God who has spoken to us in His Word (Psalms 33:11; 119; Isaiah 40:8; Mark 13:31; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21, etc.). Those who pervert or corrupt the Scriptures out of a deceived, depraved heart by an undermining of morals, allegiance, or faith. See 2 Corinthians 2:17.
Those who make the choice to disregard, to refuse to be honest with God’s Word and not walk in sound doctrine, are not continuing in the original Gospel, “the doctrine of Christ”, and will be damned (2 John 9; Galatians 1:6-9; 2 Peter 2:1-3).
“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth (remains) in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” 2 John 7-11
Believers are to scope out, identify, and “mark” (scope out and identify) those who cause divisions by their adherence to falsehoods.
“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 (carnal appetites and self-serving agenda); and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:17-18
No sinner ever has or ever will be begged into Christ’s kingdom. That is a false posture. Holy Scripture will define and strengthen our perspective toward the lost.
In most cases, the swine we deal with are professing Christians who are in error and unrepentant. Concerning this reality, Charles Pray writes:
“It is so sad to be hated by the world and all those who do not know JESUS as Lord and Savior in their life as we do. But it is even much more sad to be hated by all those who profess to be Christians also, right? Jesus promised: Matthew 5:43 Matthew 5:44 Matthew 6:24 Matthew 10:22 Matthew 24:9 Matthew 24:10 Mark 13:13 Amen!”
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