OSAS/Eternal Security and the Deceived Who Defend It
Beware of this Garden Variety Lie and Satan’s Agents Who Defend It
Who’s Behind this OSAS Lie?
God Says:
“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof (sin) thou shalt surely die.” Genesis 2:17
Satan Says:
“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall NOT surely die:” Genesis 3:4
The “Ye shall NOT surely die” lie is the message of the enemy of all souls to every generation. Millions have bought it and are now and forever will be in hell and the lake of fire for rebelling against God. The “Ye shall NOT surely die” lie simply means that “you have no personal responsibility to obey the LORD and there will be no consequence for disobeying Him.”
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption (eternal destruction); but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Galatians 6:7-8
Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, were ejected from God’s presence upon sinning against Him. The human race had fallen and was corrupted and sinful (Genesis 3; 6:5, 12; Romans 1-3, etc.).
“Once saved always saved” (OSAS) is the lie Satan told the first man and women and it is the very one which led to their fall from saving grace. He told them that they would “not surely die” or suffer separation from God if they sinned against Him. Satan has thousands of agents who stand behind pulpits every week, telling those gullible listeners that they are eternally secure while refusing to speak of the necessity of obeying Christ in daily denying self, taking up the cross, and following Jesus (Luke 9:23-24). While many revel in Christ’s “goodness” – His righteousness and gift of everlasting life – a miniscule number of leaders speak about the “severity of God” as Paul put it. The LORD has instructed us to “behold” (look closely at) both His “goodness” and “severity” and He was referring to how He harshly judged His own covenant people who did not fear Him (Numbers 16). He promises to do the same to all those whom He has saved under the New Covenant who do not fear Him and His “severity.”
“Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches (Jews), take heed lest he also spare not thee (Gentile Christians). 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” Romans 11:20-22
There seems to be a gross lack attention given to the “severity of God.” In the absence of “severity” or judgment preaching, many leaders are leading their listeners to believe they have no personal responsibility to truly follow Christ. They are being led to believe and/or told that they are eternally secure, no matter what they do after Jesus saves them. All true Bible believers know that such is not true. The false idea that Christians have no responsibility to obey God and will suffer no consequence (judgment) for not doing His will.
God is holy and this is why the great apostle continually warned His people of divine judgment coming on all who die in sin. Here’s an sampling:
“Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.” 2 Corinthians 5:11
In the modern gospel (another gospel), the biblical concept that God is holy may be mentioned occasionally in theory, but it never translates into the personal life of those who have believed upon Him who is “Holy, holy, holy.” (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8) Yet, His Word warns those who are His that without personal holiness “NO MAN shall see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14)
“Ye shall NOT surely die” is Satan’s lie and anyone teaching this heresy, whether they know it or not, is teaching the lie of the serpent, Satan. The Bible calls them “ungodly men” who have “crept in unawares” or undetected and are “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness”, which is a license for sin. By teaching this contrary heresy, these men are “denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
“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.” Jude 3-4
Here, we are told to “earnestly contend” against these liars and the serpent’s lie they are peddling. Beloved saints, this most critical issue is black and white. Those who teach Satan’s “ye shall NOT surely die” lie identify themselves as his agents and enemies of the Most High God. Paul the apostle informs us that Satan’s “ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:12-15) While posing as Christ’s representatives, they misrepresent Christ by teaching contrary to what He taught. Those who teach any form of this unconditional eternal security lie do just that. If OSAS were something Jesus wanted to convey to us, why didn’t He? Did He forget to tell His people something He wanted them to know or something they needed to know? Did the Alpha and the Omega, the God and Creator and Sustainer of all that is somehow have a lapse of memory, or are these wolves perpetrating another gospel on their audiences? True Bible believers know such would clearly contradict what the Son of God taught about the necessity of enduring to the end or being lost.
WHAT Is Really Behind those who Defend this Satanic Lie?
It’s obvious to the truth-seeker that the OSAS adherents and calvinists begin with the end in mind. The Word of God means nothing to them other than to try to use it to peddle their fairytale wares. These cross-rejecting moral cowards refuse to take God at His Word. They are of the same evil, “seducing spirit” as were the false leaders (pharisees) of Christ’s day who set aside God’s Word and let their false tradition take precedence (Mark 7:6-9; 1 Timothy 4:1). This makes them false and unsaved according to Jesus who stated “He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” (John 8:47). Christ makes it more than obvious here that those who are saved – “of God” – put HIS Word as highest authority. Those who don’t identify themselves as being “NOT of God.”
“Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment (written Word) of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” Mark 7:6-9
Those who spread and defend this serpentine doctrinal cancer are leading souls to deception, falling away, and damnation (as it did in the Garden). They are not teaching, arguing for, and defending such a lie due to it being in the Bible, but rather because they do not want to come out of their mythical fairytale. This tragic tradition has entrenched them in a state of lukewarmness and deception and they can’t see it because God Himself has turned them over to this lie (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12). They are intoxicated by the lure, lucrativity, and appealing nature of this lie and do not wish to be roused or woken from this dreamy state. They do not wish to stop the flow of funds and acceptance from the many who want their ears to continue to be tickled with a no-personal-responsibility false gospel.
The leaders that teach this heresy do so to continue in an un-biblical tradition that we are commanded to beware of (Colossians 2:8). This false teaching is clearly “not after Christ,” because Jesus taught that those saved must “endure to the end” or they will not be saved (Matthew 10:22; 24:13). This lie is an ear tickling money maker and very lucrative lie.
OSAS: WHY do so many violently defend this false teaching? – It’s simple: They are fighting for their life. Think about that statement – They are fighting for THEIR life. That is, they are fighting to reserve the right to run their own life – to reign as king over their own life, in lieu of Christ reigning in their personal life. They do not want to die to self as Jesus requires. All they want is their “ticket” to Heaven but don’t want to be bothered with knowing Him which would mean setting themselves aside. Make no mistake about this truth. This is a brazen, open denial of Jesus Christ and it will result in the eternal damnation of millions of souls.
**OSAS is never taught in Holy Scripture. Rather, it’s the invention of Satan himself and perpetrated by Christ-denying, willingly deceived men who want salvation and also the freedom to live outside of the true, Lordship of Christ. They are using Jesus to get what they want out of Him which is the definition of taking His holy name in vain. They want the heavenly crown while refusing the daily cross Jesus commanded.
Didn’t Jesus teach that in order to gain one’s life eternally, that individual must lose his life? Was the Son of God just kidding?
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” John 12:24-25
Jesus is saying to you that you must lose your life. Losing your life in this world is an essential according to the only One who can save you. This must mean that true, saving faith in Christ, without fail, brings a life that is lost in Christ and not spent serving self. Those who do not want to lose their lives in oneness with Christ, flock to hear ear-tickling, soul-damning wolves who hold leadership positions and write books in today’s apostate modern church world.
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves … lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power (the authority of Christ in their personal lives) thereof: from such turn away. … For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 3:1-7; 4:3-4
The love of self is clearly at the root of those who teach and defend this grace-perverting heresy of “once saved always saved” (OSAS).
Saving faith involves losing one’s life in this fleeting, sinful, fallen world. Those who love this world are the very enemies of God and will not inherit His eternal kingdom (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15). God’s Word – the whole counsel of it – defines exactly what God requires. The problem is, that so many who claim to be saved, do not love Christ enough to diligently study His written Word to find out what He says (John 8:31-32, 47; 2 Timothy 2:15).
NO, you cannot go to God’s holy Heaven your own way.
NO, you cannot and will not go to God’s holy Heaven any other way than that which He alone prescribes in His Word.
NO, you cannot work your way to Heaven.
NO, you cannot be good enough to know the LORD and go to Heaven (Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:23; 6:23; Philippians 3:9-10, etc.).
NO, you do not merit God’s righteousness.
So many who while claiming to be serving Christ, are actually serving their own “best” interest and revel in John 3:16, while refusing to explore and learn the rest of what Christ said. They therefore have an impartial and erroneous view of what saving faith really is. They are quick to quote John 3:16 and the “justified by faith” verses in Romans. Those are truth and yet, if presented by themselves, they can paint an erroneous picture of God’s intentions for His people. That being said, let’s look at what Jesus says elsewhere, words that are as equally divinely inspired as John 3:16.
“But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.” Luke 19:27
So what did Jesus say in these words above? Read His words again and carefully please.
The following in an excerpt from the book Lie of the Ages:
“Consider the words of the LORD when asked if there are few who will be saved:
“Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.” Luke 13:23-28
When asked “are there few that be saved?” Jesus answered “Strive (agonize) to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” It seems clear from these words that many who believe they are going to Heaven will not be permitted to enter. When they in shock “begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets” the LORD will answer “I know you not whence (where) ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.”
Apparently, these are people who ate and drank in God’s presence which dwells among His people. They communed and partook of Him and yet died outside of a relationship with Him due to not continuing to agonize or strive to enter into His eternal presence (and so they fell away). This should be considered alongside the many Scriptures where Christ warns us to “watch and pray lest ye enter into temptation.” (Matt. 26:41; Lk. 21:34-36) He warns that we will enter into temptation if we do not vigilantly and diligently watch and pray. The neglect of our relational fellowship with the LORD can be eternally fatal. See Luke 21:34-36.
Saints of the LORD, there is not one promise to be found in Holy Scripture assuring the salvation of any person who is not currently living in communion and obedience to Christ. Only those who love their darkness rather than light are teaching this, Satan’s first lie. They are counterfeits who refuse to truly repent, to lay down their life in this sinful world, and to obey Jesus Christ by denying self/sin, taking up the cross daily, living the crucified life (John 3:19-21; Philippians 3:18-19).
“All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters. Ephraim (God’s covenant people) is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb. My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations.” Hosea 9:15-17
Either Christ is reigning supreme in our daily lives, are we are counterfeits. Eternal security heretics are allergic to personal responsibility, to obedience – because they love their darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil (John 3:19-21).
Unlike the prophets and apostles of our LORD, so many leaders today want people to feel comfortable, even if it is in their own sin and at the expense of their own eternal souls. These men serve themselves and not Christ and therefore they do not issue forth His clear truth and warning of judgment to come upon all who do not obey Him – regardless of any past relationship (2 Cor. 5:11; Phil. 3:17-21). Deceivers who hold positions in the church world do not want to suffer the persecution associated with preaching the original Gospel, so they carefully select Holy Scripture passages out of context so that they do not offend their hearers. Such a deceitful presentation of God’s Word is completely foreign from the Holy Spirit anointed ministries of Christ, John the Baptist, and the original apostles of our LORD.
Everything in God’s kingdom economy works through His divine mercy, grace and man’s faith and obedience. When coupled or enjoined with a man’s unwavering faith, God’s grace makes all things possible (Mk. 10:27).” Excerpt from Lie of the Ages, p. 457 Lie of the Ages
The bottom line, tragically, is that many of those who embrace the OSAS lifestyle lie, are simply lazy, moral cowards who refuse to take personal responsibility to put the LORD who bled first in their personal lives (Luke 21:34-36). They do not want the rest of what Jesus said and have fallen away. They are the foolish virgins in Jesus’ parable who have run out of oil due to neglecting Christ as first and supreme priority – “first love.” (Matthew 25:1-13). They are those deceived, miserable, “lukewarm” and “at ease in Zion” apostates who are deluded into thinking they are going to the King’s Heaven while they deny Him the reign of their personal, daily lives (Amos 6:1; Revelation 3:15-16). They adore the wolves who have taught them that “Christianity” equals being a good, faithful church-going, church member. Yet the Son of God told us that if we are not daily denying self, taking up the cross, and following Him, we are not His (Matthew 16:24-26; Mark 8:34-38; Luke 9:23-24, etc.).
“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:17-20
In the divine economy, an honest heart is indispensable and essential. This passage cannot be ignored. This truth must be synthesized with the whole message of God’s Word. If it’s ignored and set aside and treated as if it’s not important or conflicts with other Scriptures, error will occur without exception. All of this points to the absolutely critical necessity of having an “honest” and sincere heart. Jesus told us that there are four types of hearts/ souls His Word falls upon and the only good one is the one that out of “an honest and good heart, having heard the word (the whole matter), keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.“ (Luke 8:12-15)
Honest.
Yes, honest!
Being “honest” would include refusing to ignore any part of God’s Word and refusing to draw a conclusion on any truth before studying the whole of what the Holy Scriptures say on that topic.
Why?
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16
So, according to the FULL counsel of God’s truth, not a bit of which can be ignored, what is saving faith? The Bible makes it clear that there is a belief or faith that will not save and so we must apprehend what true, saving faith is, lest we be among the “many” who will hear “depart from me.” (Matthew 7:21-23)
The Greek word for “faith” is pistis and it simply means to trust in, cling to, and rely upon Christ. Those who cling to, trust in, and truly rely upon Christ, love, worship, and obey Christ as the very Ruler, the very LORD of their personal lives. He is the very supreme priority of their lives, their “first love.” (Revelation 2:4-5) They live to please Him alone, saying with Him,” not my will, but thine, be done” and “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” (Luke 22:42; 23:46)
Concerning faith as God’s Word defines it, Brian Stokes writes:
“The FAITH that SAVES (James 2:19-24). Faith (pistis) and belief (pisteuo) are rooted in obedience (peitho) and is everything that embodies the ‘will of God’ (Matt. 7:21-24). Biblical faith is more than intellectual belief. It is the reaction of ones whole being: Mind, heart and soul….”
– FAITH PROPERLY DEFINED: Faith is everything that embodies the ‘will of God’ (Matt. 7:21-24, Heb. 10:36, Rom. 12:1-2)
~ Belief is faith trusting (Mark 16:16)
~ Confession is faith speaking (Acts 8:35-37)
~ Repentance is faith turning (Acts 2:38)
~ Baptism is faith obeying (Acts 10:48)
~ Discipleship is faith following (John 6:56-66)
If any of these elements are missing then it is a worldly demonic faith that cannot save (2Cor. 7:10, James 2:19-24). The faith that saves is one rooted in obedience that produces FAITHFULNESS (Acts 5:32, Heb. 5:9, 1 Peter 1:22, Heb. 11:8, Romans 1:5 and 16:26) <——–<< IMPORTANT. PLEASE READ.”
We must conclude, after reading more than what Christ stated in John 3:16, that saving faith includes the full and heartfelt involvement of the recipient of His salvation. Saving faith begins at one point and yet, God requires an ongoing faith – to the end of one’s life – or all is lost. Salvation is a relationship with Jesus Christ and not a one-time, get-out-of-hell-free event. It’s an ongoing experience with Christ and relationship (John 17:3; Philippians 3:9-14). That would include loving God with all of one’s heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:37-40). That would include the spirit, soul, and body of the individual (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
No true born again, honest-hearted, Bible studying, truth-embracing disciple of Christ could possibly believe in an “at ease in Zion,” “lukewarm,” “once saved always saved” gospel because that’s a false gospel and those who teach it are “accursed” for teaching another gospel (Amos 6:1; Revelation 3:15-16; Galatians 1:6-9). There is no excuse for setting aside and despising God’s Holy Word and teaching this “doctrine of devils” and this evil “tradition of men.” (Mark 7:6-9; Colossians 2:8) There’s a “seducing spirit” behind those who teach such and this teaching itself (1 Timothy 4:1). It’s simply an age-old lie from hell (Genesis 2:17; 3:4).
SEVERE WARNING
“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. 21 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.” 2 Peter 2:20-21
God’s salvation is conditional. It’s an initial and ongoing choice (Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:15; Romans 6:16). Men must meet His requirements to procure and to keep His salvation. Though it be eternal, the possession of it is not un-forfeitable as is clear from a mountain of warnings and Scripture truth (Luke 8:13; Hebrews 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39; Revelation 2-3, etc.). An un-conditional eternal security is never found in Scripture. The LORD Jesus taught that those who are His disciples must “endure to the end” or be lost (Matthew 10:22; 24:13). His holy apostles taught the same and never once taught or are heard saying to God’s people that they are “once saved always saved.” See Acts 13:43; 14:22; Romans 6:1-2, 15; 1 Corinthians 9:27; 2 Peter 2:20-21, etc. Such a teaching is not a component of “the apostle’s doctrine” that the true remnant of Christ is continuing in (Acts 2:42). In fact, this OSAS teaching clearly violates plainly set forth truth and is therefore a heresy to be exposed as a “doctrine of devils.” (1 Timothy 4:1)
“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” Luke 6:46
Those who do Christ’s will are those who know Him. Those who do not do His will in their daily lives and yet believe they are Christ’s are fully deceived. If they do not repent and truly lay down their lives (that’s saving faith), then they will be a part of the “man” whom Jesus promised would hear “Depart from me ye workers of iniquity (lawlessness).”(Matthew 7:21-23)
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22
Those who say they know Christ and do not obey Him but rather obey self, are liars before God and will be found wanting/lacking His righteousness in the end.
“He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:4
“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” Titus 1:16
Who or what one yields to clearly proves who or what they are serving and therefore whether or not they are in right standing with God, or not.
“What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Romans 6:15-16
Obedience to Him is the proof that you are truly trusting Jesus in a true, saving faith relationship.
The OSAS adherent has bought Satan’s “ye shall NOT surely die” package and believes he is secure no matter what. He wants to redefine saving faith to fit his love for this world and hate for any personal responsibility in following Christ. The faith that saves is clearly defined by the whole of Scripture states and always produces the fruit of good works (Eph. 2:8-10; Tit. 2:11-14; 1 John 2:3-5). The OSAS pastor refuses to teach and preach the full counsel of God’s Word as Paul did and spoke of (Acts 20:20-32). So, his hearers are shallow and refuse to study the whole of God’s Word and are therefore deceived by half-truths. They are “not valiant for the truth” and will be “destroyed for lack of knowledge.”(Jeremiah 9:3; Hosea 4:6). They refuse to truly repent and lay down their lives. They will have none of that cross Jesus commanded to be taken up daily. No, No, No! “I want my OSAS lie so I can still live as I I I I I please and still believe I’m going to God’s holy Heaven! Get away from me with that fear of the LORD and His truth! I will have none of it!”
Were we not warned of this evil-hearted, last hour generation?
“There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.” Proverbs 30:12
Moral cowards want no personal responsibility in their divinely-required participation in their walk of abiding with Christ who told us that all who are in Him and then do not abide or continue with Him, will be cast into the fires of hell (John 15:1-6).
To Christians, the apostle Paul wrote:
“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For IF ye live after the flesh, ye shall die (be separated from God): but IF ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live (have eternal life).” Romans 8:12-13
IF IF IF – the two letter BIBLE death nail to Calvinism and OSAS. Who are we debtors to? (Romans 8:12) How is the flesh subdued? (Romans 8:13) Must we “suffer” to be ultimately “glorified together” with Him? Yes – “IF IF IF so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Romans 8:13) This paints a different picture than the Scripture-denying, out of context OSAS/Calvinism many are taught by deceivers, doesn’t it? Verse 13 says – “For IF IF IF ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”
If you CHOOSE to remain ignorant, thinking that it is a blessing, you better stop reading this truth. The mask is coming off those deceiving wolves who have taught you this false, soul-damning doctrine. If you want to enjoy this life and spend eternity in the lake of fire for believing the doctrine of demons, go right ahead. By God’s grace I will not be joining you!
Being “at ease in Zion” and “lukewarm” are both evidence of an apostate (departed) heart that is no longer right with God (Amos 6:1; Revelation 3:15-16). Those who are taking it easy and disinterested in seeking the face of the LORD Jesus want no suffering or to die to self, taking up the daily cross Jesus commanded in denying self and letting Him reign (Matthew 16:24-25; Luke 9:23-24; John 12:23-25; 2 Corinthians 1:9; 4:10-12). In many of His statements, Jesus makes it clear that no man will be with Him eternity that does not choose to love and worship Him supremely. For example, Jesus says: “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.” (Matthew 7:21) Also, our LORD said: “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:33). Christ defines His “enemies” as those who do not allow Him to “reign” in their daily lives:
It all boils down to the one true God and Christ, the Messiah and the daily cross and whether or not the individual is choosing to love Jesus supremely – above self. If he does authentically love God, it is plainly manifest in that he is dying daily to self and letting Christ truly reign supreme in his personal life, ever crying out “He must increase, but I (self) must decrease,” for “I am crucified with Christ.” (Matt. 16:24-25; Jn. 3:30; Gal. 2:20). In his dishonestly sinful heart, the Calvinist likes the idea of having no responsibility, so he migrates to spineless pulpiteers who teach the doctrines of ease, and he purposely evades and rejects the true disciples who teach what the Bible plainly reveals – that we must die by personally participating in Christ’s death in order to have God’s eternal life (Rom. 6; 2 Tim. 4:3).
Why does the Calvinist heaps to himself false teachers who tell him what he wants to hear instead of the Gospel truth? Why does he migrate to the damnable doctrines of John Calvin? Because they teach him that he has no personal responsibility. So he commits spiritual fornication via the self-serving teachings of reformed theology, forsaking the living God for his own temporal convenience and ease. The bottom line is that the Calvinist, after reading and hearing God’s Word – which teaches anything but Calvinism – rejects it for the doctrines of OSAS ease. He is a moral coward who refuses to come clean in sincere honesty before a holy God and therefore cannot prosper (Proverbs 28:13). He remains entangled in his sins while vainly believing his is still “secure.” A rude awakening with eternal consequences lies just ahead if he does not repent. On the Day of Judgment soon and certain to come, he will be lost and without the saving grace of the One he called “Lord, Lord” while he lived lawlessly (according to his own dictates). The hypocritical Calvinist rejects, hates, and denies the truth but will face it at his judgment, when it is too late. Because the rebel has freely chosen to live outside of the Savior in his personal life, God has chosen him alright but not for that which he vainly thinks – God has chosen and elected him to be cast into the flames of eternal damnation (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 14:33; 17:33; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Titus 1:16; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8, 27).
The very first class of rebels to be cast into the lake of fire are “the fearful.” (Rev. 21:8) The Greek word from which “fearful” is translated into English, is deilos which means faithless, fearful, timid as in those who don’t fear God. – They “did not choose the fear of the Lord.”(Prov. 1:29) They are those who serve self instead of the LORD Almighty and are therefore moral cowards without a clear, open confession and testimony of the transforming blood and grace of Jesus Christ whereby they could otherwise be overcomers, truly saved to Heaven in the end (Revelation 2-3; 12:11). To those who teach OSAS or anything contrary to God’s Word, the Holy Spirit warns:
“But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” 2 Corinthians 11:12-15
Many today have time, money, energy, and the wherewithal to study the so-called reformers and heretics like John Calvin, but little or no time to seek the face of the LORD by studying HIS Word. They are willing and able to study what these mere sinful men had to say about the Bible, and yet find little or no time to study to show their own selves approved unto God by getting deeply into His written Word daily (2 Timothy 2:15). Sad!
Only Christ and His holy apostles and prophets have been divinely sanctioned to record God’s Word of truth. All else is to be subservient. All the words of mere men are infinitely inferior and carry no divine authority. Those who truly follow Christ, and destined for Heaven, honor His Word and walk according to it (John 8:47). So let’s just stick with Holy Writ. Go straight to the prophets, our LORD Jesus, and His apostles. And yes, He demands, requires, and enables holiness without which no man shall see Him (Matthew 5:8; Luke 21:34-36; Ephesians 5:25-27; Hebrews 12:14-15; Revelation 21:8, 27; 22:14-15, etc.).
Will Everyone Jesus Saved be in Heaven?
Lie of the Ages | John Calvin Exposed | The Idiocy of Calvinism | Eternal Security Dialogue
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FEEDBACK:
To a man who refused to listen to (hear) and hearken to God’s Word when it plainly contradicted his false, Calvinistic beliefs, I wrote:
“No matter what Scripture says, you refuse to believe it or take God at His Word. Just like the false leaders/Pharisees of Christ’s day, you set aside the commandment/Word of God in order to keep your diabolical tradition (Mark 7:6-9). Jude 4 tells us that you are a grace-perverting ‘ungodly man.’ It’s obvious that you have espoused extra biblical teachings and are far apart from the Word of God. You are defending a position, a false tradition. All de-formed theology contradicts Holy Scripture. That’s obvious to any true Bible believer.”
Message Received:
”‘Christ-denying, willingly deceived men.’ Not the way to talk about those who claim to be brothers and sisters.”
Reply:
Michael, claiming to be a true disciple of Christ does not make one such. What does Titus 1:16 say? How about “heresies” being 1 of the 17 soul-damning sins list in Galatians 5:19-21?
Message Received:
“God saved us and he will not lose one of his own.”
Reply:
Those whom He saved and who endure to the end, abiding in Christ, will be with Him eternally (Matt. 10:22; 24:13; Jn. 15:1-6; Col. 1:22-23; Heb. 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39, etc.).
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Apostasy
Richard Foster Exposed
Wait, WHAT, WHO are Christ’s disciples to celebrate?
“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14
A Biblically based commentary on current issues that impact you
Richard Foster—Celebration of Deception
by Bob DeWaay
Christianity Today ran a glowing cover story about Evangelicalism’s recent embrace of medieval Roman Catholic mysticism entitled The Future lies in the Past.1 The article traced the beginning of the movement as follows: “The movement seems to have exploded in a 24-month period in 1977-1978, which saw the publication of Richard Foster’s bestselling Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth and Robert Webber’s Common Roots: A Call to Evangelical Maturity.”2
The article views Foster as one who continues to guide the movement: “From Dallas Willard, Richard Foster, and living practicing monks and nuns, they [those going back to Roman Catholic mysticism] must learn both the strengths and the limits of the historical ascetic disciplines.”3 So Foster was instrumental in starting a movement that is still growing 30-plus years later.
The irony about this particular CIC regarding Foster’s 1978 book is that in 1978 I myself was living in a Christian community committed to practicing much of what he promotes in Celebration of Discipline (even though we had not learned it from him directly). So I am not criticizing a practice about which I know nothing (or one in which I have no experience). I am criticizing a practice I foolishly allowed to deceive me for a significant portion of my early Christian life. When it comes to being deceived by mysticism, I have had abundant involvement. The only way I escaped it was through discovering and adopting the Reformation principle of sola scriptura.
In this article I will show that Foster’s “journey inward” is unbiblical and dangerous. I will show that most of the spiritual disciplines that he calls “means of grace” are no means of grace at all—but a means of putting oneself under spiritual deception.
The Journey Inward
The Bible nowhere describes an inward journey to explore the realm of the spirit. God chose to reveal the truth about spiritual reality through His ordained, Spirit-inspired, biblical writers. What is spiritual and not revealed by God is of the occult and, therefore, forbidden. We have discussed this in many articles and have produced DVD seminars on the topic. But the concept of sola scriptura is totally lost on mystics such as Richard Foster. They, like the enthusiasts that Calvin and Luther warned against, believe they can gain valid and useful knowledge of spiritual things through direct, personal inspiration.
Foster describes the idea of the disciplines that are the topic of his book: “The classical Disciplines of the spiritual life call us to move beyond surface living into the depths. They invite us to explore the inner caverns of the spiritual realm.”4 So Foster has conceptually repudiated sola scriptura on page one to replace it with a journey inward to explore the realm of spirits. Something must have been seriously amiss in evangelicalism already in 1978 to render this book a bestseller! It ought to have been repudiated on the spot. In a footnote to that statement Foster writes, “In one form or another all of the devotional masters have affirmed the necessity of the Disciplines” (Foster: 1). The devotional “masters,” by the way, are mostly Roman Catholics who never were committed to the principle of sola scriptura. It is not surprising that they looked for spirituality through experimentation. But as an “inner light” Quaker, Foster never was committed to sola scriptura either.
Forgetting that the Bible forbids divination, Foster explains what he is after:
[W]e must be willing to go down into the recreating silences, into the inner world of contemplation. In their writings, all of the masters of meditation strive to awaken us to the fact that the universe is much larger than we know, that there are vast unexplored inner regions that are just as real as the physical world we know so well. . . . They call us to the adventure, to be pioneers in this frontier of the Spirit. (Foster: 13)
Realizing that his readers would likely take this as an endorsement of Eastern religions, he makes a disclaimer that it is not Transcendental Meditation (TM) or something of that ilk: “Eastern meditation is an attempt to empty the mind; Christian meditation is an attempt to empty the mind in order to fill it” (Foster: 15). But what Foster wishes us to fill our minds with are personal revelations from the spirit realm that we naively are to think are the voice of God. This sort of meditation is not meditating on what God has said, but uses a technique to explore the spirit world. In other words, it is divination.
What we learn about the spirit realm either is revealed by God (once for all in Scripture) or gleaned by man-made techniques. That distinction is the difference between Christianity and paganism. Only Bible believers know what God has said about Himself and what He wishes to reveal about the unseen spirit world. Foster’s material continues to be popular because we live in an age where being spiritual pioneers on a journey into the unseen realm of the spirits is the essence of popular piety. It is the spirituality of secular talk shows.
To fully understand the degree of Foster’s deception, he even calls these techniques to the inner journey “means of grace”: “They [the Disciplines] are God’s means of grace” (Foster: 6). As with all who teach spiritual disciplines, there are no boundaries to these false “means.” For example, consider this recommended practice: “After you have gained some proficiency in centering down, add a five- to ten-minute meditation on some aspect of the creation. Choose something in the created order: tree, plant, bird, leaf, cloud, and each day ponder it carefully and prayerfully” (Foster 25). This after he had just taught breathing exercises (a means of “centering down”). Then he makes a startling claim: “We should not bypass this means of God’s grace” (Foster: 25). And there we have it: meditating of a leaf can be a means of grace!
Foster’s journey inward is to discover a spirit world that is available for any who search for it: “How then do we come to believe in a world of the spirit? Is it by blind faith? Not at all. The inner reality of the spiritual world is available to all who are willing to search for it” (Foster: 18). He claims that this spiritual search is analogous to scientific experimentation. Never mind that every pagan culture that has existed has believed in the “spiritual world.”
Spirituality of the Imagination
The Bible does not have anything good so say about the imagination. For example: “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are leading you into futility; They speak a vision of their own imagination, Not from the mouth of the Lord'” (Jeremiah 23:16). A search of the KJV for “imagination” yields 14 verses, and in each case it is a bad thing. According to the Bible, the imagination is where people go when they do not want to listen to God.
However, for Foster the imagination is central: “The inner world of meditation is most easily entered through the door of the imagination. We fail today to appreciate its tremendous power. The imagination is stronger than conceptual thought and stronger than the will” (Foster: 22). Some of the authorities he cites on this point are C. G. Jung, Ignatius of Loyola, and Morton Kelsey. Jung is famous for his concept of the collective unconscious, and Kelsey was an Episcopal priest committed to Jungian principles. Kelsey wrote many books promoting mysticism. The advice Foster gleans from these teachers is that we must learn to think in images and take our dreams to be a possible doorway into the spirit world. Foster claims that dreams are something we already have and can help us develop the use of the imagination. He says, “Keeping a journal of our dreams is a way of taking them seriously” (Foster: 23).
There is, Foster warns, a danger to this process: “At the same time [that we ask for dreams to be God speaking to us], it is wise to pray a prayer of protection, since to open ourselves to spiritual influence can be dangerous as well as profitable” (Foster: 23). I would say that is asking God to protect us as we use various techniques to go where He does not want us to go (into the world of the spirits to gain information). The danger he warns of is far greater than Foster imagines. Those who take the journey inward will be deceived—every time! We are not equipped to gain spiritual information from that realm. That is why God speaks to us through His ordained mediators (the inspired Biblical writers); otherwise we would be fishing in the dark in a medium we are not suited for.
Foster teaches his readers to use their imaginations to experience Biblical stories with the five physical senses. Here is what he claims will happen:
As you enter the story, not as a passive observer but as an active participant, remember that since Jesus lives in the Eternal Now and is not bound by time, this event in the past is a living present-tense experience for Him. Hence, you can actually encounter the living Christ in the event, be addressed by His voice and be touched by His healing power. It can be more than an exercise of the imagination; it can be a genuine confrontation. Jesus Christ will actually come to you. (Foster: 26)
Showing that Foster’s ideas are still influential in our day, Greg Boyd cites some of Foster’s words here to support what he calls “cataphatic prayer” which uses the imagination and images as a means to contact God and gain spiritual information.5 Those who endorse this practice assume they are not being deceived by spirits, but I cannot see on what grounds.
Foster prescribes a practice using one’s imagination that mimics astral projection to the degree that he actually includes a footnote disclaimer stating that it is not astral projection (Foster 28). It begins by telling his readers to imagine themselves going out into nature into a beautiful place (Boyd describes how he practices this, as well as its results6). After enjoying the sights and smells (in your imagination) these are the next steps:
In your imagination allow your spiritual body, shining with light, to rise out of your physical body. Look back so that you can see yourself lying in the grass and reassure your body that you will return momentarily. Imagine your spiritual self, alive and vibrant, rising up through the clouds and into the stratosphere. . . Go deeper and deeper into outer space until there is nothing except the warm presence of the eternal Creator. Rest in His presence. Listen quietly, anticipating the unanticipated. Note carefully any instruction given. With time and experience you will be able to distinguish readily between mere human thought that may bubble up to the conscious mind and the True Spirit which inwardly moves upon the heart. (Foster: 27, 28)
I must ask how one knows whether “True Spirit” is not a deceiving one? Mysticism’s fatal flaw is that it naively assumes that Christians having subjective religious experiences must therefore be having Christian experiences that are truly from God—even if the experiences were provoked through unbiblical practices similar to those used by pagans.
Mental Alchemy
Foster’s approach to prayer is laced with mysticism as well. He claims that prayer needs to be learned from people who have the right experiences and are “masters” who know what they are doing. Foster does not teach ordinary prayer, whereby we bring our needs and requests to the Lord and know that He hears us (because He promised that He does). Here is why he thinks such prayer fails:
Often people will pray and pray with all the faith in the world, but nothing happens. Naturally, they were not contacting the channel. We begin praying for others by first centering down and listening to the quiet thunder of the Lord of hosts. Attuning ourselves to divine breathings is spiritual work, but without it our praying is vain repetition (Mt. 6:7). Listening to the Lord is the first thing, the second thing, and the third thing necessary for successful intercession. (Foster: 34)
Of course this means we have to become mystics if we want to pray.
He teaches that we first must hear personal revelations from God, using meditation techniques such as he teaches, before we pray. He says: “The beginning point, then, in learning to pray for others is to listen for guidance . . . This inner “yes” is the divine authorization for you to pray for the person or situation” (Foster: 35). No! Foster is wrong! The only authorization we need to pray is the Biblical command to pray—not personal revelations.
For Foster, meditation (mystical style) is necessary but not sufficient. He also brings the imagination into the process: “As with meditation, the imagination is a powerful tool in the work of prayer” (Foster: 36). He credits Agnes Sanford7 for helping him see the value of using the imagination in praying. Foster writes, “Imagination opens the door to faith. If we can ‘see’ in our mind’s eye a shattered marriage whole or a sick person well, it is only a short step to believing it will be so” (Foster: 36). Sanford got her ideas from Theosophy, New Thought, Jung, and Emmet Fox. These ideas, echoed by Foster, come from the unbiblical “mind over matter” thinking of that era. That kind of thinking uses creative visualization to change reality or channel spiritual power. Foster suggests, “Imagine the light of Christ flowing through your hands and healing every emotional trauma and hurt feeling your child experienced that day” (Foster: 39).
In his 1985 book, The Seduction of Christianity, Dave Hunt labeled creative visualization such as what Foster promotes, “mental alchemy.”8 Hunt warned the church that Foster promoted such mental alchemy in Celebration of Discipline, and as we have shown, he, in fact, does. So how is it that 24 years after Hunt’s warning Foster is more popular than ever with Evangelicals? The answer is end times deception. Now, a huge movement that claims to be a reformation promoting Foster, Willard and their versions of mysticism does exist (i.e., The Emergent Church). Things have gotten so very much worse.
Spiritual Directors
Once mysticism and the supposed need to gain personal revelations from God are embraced, there arises a need for new “masters” who are better at navigating the spirit world. Pagan societies have always had such persons. They are called “shamans.” Eastern religion calls them “gurus.” Deceived Christians call them “spiritual directors.” Foster explains, “In the Middle Ages not even the greatest saints attempted the depths of the inward journey without the help of a spiritual director” (Foster: 159). The problem, according to Foster, is that the churches (in 1978) lacked “living masters”:
No doubt part of the surge of interest in Eastern meditation is because the churches have abrogated the field. How depressing for a university student, seeking to know the Christian teaching on meditation, to discover that there are so few living masters of contemplative prayer and that nearly all of the serious writings on the subject are seven or more centuries old. No wonder he or she turns to Zen, Yoga, or TM. (Foster: 14)
Foster’s dream has come true. Today people can even practice Yoga in a Christian church. We have Christian TM; it is called contemplative prayer. Yes, Eastern religion has come right into the church, and Foster has helped usher it in.
But what about “living masters” or spiritual directors? In 1972 Morton Kelsey lamented their lack: “Indeed I would suggest that everyone who is serious about relating to the spiritual realm find himself a spiritual director, if there were more men trained and experienced in this way.”9 That “problem” has been solved in a huge way. Evangelical theology schools are now offering masters degrees in “spiritual formation” in order to equip people to be “spiritual directors.” Here is what Biola University says about its program: “This degree is designed to equip men and women for the ministry of spiritual direction, discipleship, formation and soul care in the local church and for further academic training in spiritual formation.”10 Spiritual Directors International will help you find a spiritual director regardless of your religion.11 Richard Foster’s own Renovare, which purports to “encourage renewal in the Christian church,” has a list of spiritual direction programs.12
Foster explains the purpose of the spiritual director: “He is the means of God to open the path to the inward teaching of the Holy Spirit” (Foster: 160). Apparently, in a full-blown rejection of sola scriptura where the Holy Spirit’s teaching is mediated to the church through the Biblical writers only, we need mediators for personal revelations beyond scripture.
Foster explains how spiritual directors lead: “He leads only by the force of his own personal holiness” (Foster: 160). In Roman Catholicism the Pope is called “his holiness” and in Tibetan Buddhism the Dalai Lama is called “his holiness” but now evangelicals are developing a class of people who evidently deserve the title. How exactly are we to judge when someone has gained “personal holiness” sufficient to be a spiritual director and mediate spirituality to others? Foster says, “Though the director has obviously advanced further into the inner depths, the two [master and disciple] are together learning and growing in the realm of the Spirit” (Foster: 160). Foster cites Roman Catholic mystic Thomas Merton about how this works: “The spiritual director was something of a ‘spiritual father who begot the perfect life in the soul of his disciple by his instructions first of all, but also by his prayer, his sanctity and his example. He was . . . a kind of ‘sacrament’ of the Lord’s presence in the ecclesiastical community” (Foster: 161).
End Times Delusion
When it comes to end times deception, Foster is on the cutting edge of embracing it. Consider what he wrote: “In our day heaven and earth are on tiptoe waiting for the emerging of a Spirit-led, Spirit-intoxicated, Spirit-empowered people. . . . Individuals can be found here and there whose hearts burn with divine fire” (Foster: 150). Such inclinations have led to massive deception. They smack of the Latter Rain deception, now embodied in such false teachers as Rick Joyner and Mike Bickle. They are elitist. They are in line with the beliefs of the Emergent Church as well. He also says: “Our century has yet to see the breaking forth of the apostolic church of the Spirit” (Foster: 150). Now we have the New Apostolic Reformation claiming to be just that. Foster’s ideas now embody the massive apostasy and end times deception that characterize our age.
Foster’s teachings have taken the church as far away from the Reformation principle of sola scriptura as the Roman Catholic Church ever was. The only thing left is for them to bring us all the way back to Rome. Christianity Today praises Foster for pointing us in that direction.
In early 2008 I wrote a CIC article about how abandoning the principle of sola scriptura would lead evangelicals back to Rome.13 It was partly a response to the CT article praising mysticism. The response I received was rather unexpected. I was contacted by former evangelicals who had rejected sola scriptura and had gone back to Rome! They wanted to debate me about sola scriptura. Sadly, my point was proven. As a response to their misguided challenge our church hosted a seminar on sola scriptura, called Faith at Risk 4.14 In the seminar Gary Gilley and I defended the scriptures as the sole authority for the church.
The aforementioned CT article discusses a new monasticism, former evangelical leaders converting to Roman Catholicism, and mystical practices like lectio divina—and they call all of it a good and hopeful thing. Chris Armstrong, the author of the article, concluded, “That they [evangelicals] are receiving good guidance on this road from wise teachers [Foster and Willard] is reason to believe that Christ is guiding the process. And that they are meeting and learning from fellow Christians in the other two great confessions, Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox, is reason to rejoice in the power of love.”15
Who is left to defend the principles of the Reformation? One would think Reformed theologians are, but they aren’t doing their job. In the last CIC article we mentioned Reformed theologian Donald Whitney who wrote: “Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline has been the most popular book on the subject of the Spiritual Disciplines in the last half of the twentieth century. The great contribution of this work is the reminder that the Spiritual Disciplines, which many see as restrictive and binding, are actually means to spiritual freedom.”16 That from a teacher in a Reformed seminary?
If a book that teaches Christian TM, Christian astral projection and mental alchemy by means of the imagination is a “great contribution,” then something is seriously wrong here. The delusion is so widespread that I see no other explanation for it than the end time deception predicted by Paul: “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,” (1Timothy 4:1). Another passage warns: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths” (2Timothy 4:3, 4).
That time now is here. We are accountable to God for what we believe and practice. Those who wish to persevere in the faith in this age of delusion must base their beliefs and practices only on the truths found in Scripture. Foster’s journey into the world of the spirits will deceive all who enter it.
Issue 112 – May / June 2009
End Notes
-
- Chris Armstrong, “The Future lies in the Past” in Christianity Today, February 2008.
- Ibid. 24.
- Ibid. 29.
- Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth (New York: Harper & Row, 1978) 1. All subsequent citations from this book will be bracketed within the text in this fashion: (Foster: 1).
- Greg Boyd, Seeing is Believing, (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2004). Boyd cites Foster to prove that the Lord will actually come to us through our use of “imaginative meditation.” I deal with this issue more fully in CIC issue 83 July/August, 2003: HTTP://CICMINISTRY.ORG/COMMENTARY/ISSUE83.HTM
- Ibid. 111-125.
- I write about Sanford’s inner healing theories in CIC Issue 96: HTTP://CICMINISTRY.ORG/COMMENTARY/ISSUE96.HTM
- Dave Hunt and T. A. McMahon, The Seduction of Christianity (Eugene: Harvest House, 1985) 138.
- Morton Kelsey, Encounter With God, (Bethany Fellowship: Minneapolis, 1972) 179.
- http://www.biola.edu/spiritualformation/programs/ SEE PDF
- HTTP://WWW.SDIWORLD.ORG
- HTTP://WWW.RENOVARE.ORG/JOURNEY_TRAINING_DIRECTION.HTM
- CIC Issue 105; March/April 2008: HTTP://CICMINISTRY.ORG/COMMENTARY/ISSUE105.HTM
- Watch this seminar HERE
- Armstrong, Future
- DONALD S. WHITNEY, SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES FOR THE CHRISTIAN LIFE (COLORADO SPRINGS: NAVPRESS, 1991) 23.
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Articles
Sinlessly Perfect? I Doubt it [podcast]
Yes the LORD commands His people to “Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16) Yet we should ask whether or not His desire is for His people to tout to others that they are “sinlessly perfect” or does His Word rather reveal that His people are to be dependent upon Him through the humility of Christ and crucified life He ordained us to walk in? Did the apostles walk around telling people they were sinlessly perfect? No. Didn’t Paul confess his own utter poverty of spirit outside of the saving, present grace of Christ? Yes. (Romans 7:18, 24, etc.) Are there biblical warnings about claiming that one is sinlessly perfect? Yes. (Job 9:20; Proverbs 20:9)
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16
Saints, would it be accurate to observe that we cannot possibly begin to appreciate this “so great salvation” that is Christ until we understand how lost, helpless, and alienated we were in our sin? (Ephesians 2:1-10; Hebrews 2:3) We must pray and study to understand the biblical doctrine of inherent sin, fallen mankind, and the holiness of God …. in order to begin to be able to appreciate the redemption that is in Jesus Christ.
“If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.” Job 9:20
Solomon said:
“Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” Proverbs 20:9
Speaking of king David’s imperfections, even nearing the end of his life on earth, one commentator writes:
“Surely there can be little ground for the doctrine of perfectionism, otherwise David, whose religion was so earnest and so deep, would have been nearer it now than this chapter shows that he was.” Expositor’s Bible
“For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Ecclesiastes 7:20
I am not a good person, neither are you – “There is none righteous, no, not one“ (Romans 3:10). Admit it. The sooner we become HONEST with that which is more than obvious, announcing freely and transparently – that there is “NOOOO good thing” in us except CHRIST, the sooner God will begin a new, deeper work in us! (Romans 7:18, 24) The Cross!
God is able to establish our hearts in His grace and to multiply His grace to us (Hebrews 13:9; 2 Peter 3:18)
ALL of our deeds are not perfect (1 John 1:8-10). “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life” (Proverbs 6:23). The truly righteous remain humble, teachable, and repentant. Note verse 21 saints:
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” John 3:19-21
Saved by Divine Grace and Yet Now Made Perfect by Your Flesh?
“Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Galatians 3:3
The Galatian believers had begun their walk with Christ by responding to the conviction of the Spirit, repenting, putting their faith in Christ, and being regenerated. Yet, now they were allowing false teachers to seduce them back under the law, law-keeping for righteousness – to attempt to please God by their own self-will and performance.
Jesus’ disciples must live a set apart life. Living sinless? Well, it can be done: Here’s the key – “In him (Jesus) is no sin. He that abideth in him sinneth not” (1 John 3:5-6). We whom Jesus has saved must “cleanse ourselves from ALL filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). Yet, the only way to be sinless is in presently abiding in Him and that begins with the essential of announcing our own poverty in self which is being poor/desperately dependent on Him in spirit (Matthew 5:3, 6). Yet some insist that they are perfect by their own will, ability, and doing. This is the exact error of the Galatians which caused them to fall from saving grace (Galatians 5:4). They left Christ for something else – law keeping. Leaving Christ, departing from faith, and casting off trusting fully in HIS saving grace, is deadly. Realizing there is “NO good thing” in us except Christ, is essential to abiding saved in Him (Romans 7:18, 24; John 15:1-6). Galatians 3:3 says it all – “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3). The great apostle of Jesus was desperate for the LORD, ever seeking His holy face and dreadfully not wanting “to be found having mine own righteousness which is of the law” (Philippians 3:9-10).
“The great secret of abiding in Christ is the deep conviction that we are nothing, and He is everything.” Andrew Murray, Abide in Christ
Heart purity and a sinless life emanate only from intimate union and abiding with a holy God. This occurs as we consent to the cross and not by human effort alone. Jesus raises up those who are truly bowed down – crucified with Christ (Psalms 145:14; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3, etc.). One cannot possibly “stop sinning” until they come to Jesus and He saves them, making them new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). Only then can the regenerated disciple “put off the old man” and “put on the new man” (Colossians 3:9-10). There MUST be something to “put off” …. that inherent sinful nature, otherwise no such language would be in Scripture (Colossians 3).
Beware of the sinless perfectionists who speak of overcoming sin outside of the daily cross and the saving, enabling grace of God. It’s only possible by God’s enabling grace in and through a true abiding relationship.
If we claim we are sufficient in and of ourselves and because of our own “natural ability” to do right, and can be perfect (which God requires) without Christ and our total trust IN HIM, we are apostate. Memorize Romans 4:4-5.
We cannot be “made perfect BY the flesh” or by means of our own self-will and effort alone. If that were possible WHY then did Jesus come? We are only perfect in the sense of Christ’s perfection AS we abide in Him (John 15:1-6). As we do, we will “walk in the light, as he is in the light … and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Here’s the whole verse:
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7
Yes, we are “new creatures” in Christ and must humble ourselves before Him, put off the old man, put on the new man, and walk in the Spirit with Him. Yet, the victory Christ has wrought and ordained for us to walk in daily all begins with acknowledging instead of denying that there is something to deny and die to and “put off” (Colossians3:5; 2 Corinthians5:17-18). Denying that we have inclination toward sin is not the answer. Crucifying the deeds of the body by the power of the Holy Spirit is the answer (Romans 8:12-14). Many are getting hoodwinked by this self-righteous “I can do it with my own ‘natural ability’” spirit. This is a Christ-denying devil-exalting heresy, doctrine of devils (1 Timothy 4:1-3). Many who are not grounded in the grace and Word of Christ are adopting this error of Pelagianism which fosters self righteousness. They are aggressively teaching this sinless perfectionism (in the flesh) error to others. These people seem to have one common denominator – they have studied the teachings of Charles Finney or Mike Desario. Beware!
Many of those who preach sin without saving, rescuing, enabling, overcoming divine grace are perhaps still trapped in their own sins. They have no answer for others and therefore we should wonder if they have the LORD’s answer for and in their own lives. If they did, would they not be full of His great joy and sharing with others how to be delivered? Why are they content with condemning others in sin? Is God willing that ANY should perish? See 2 Peter 3:9.
Never forget to make a decision to be deepened in the essential truth that it’s “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.”
“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
WHEN we realize that God is “Holy, holy, holy,” we will no longer wrongly condemn others if they sin, just because the flavor of their sin differs from that sin which we’ve committed, knowing that the sin we committed was no less evil in the eyes of He alone who is “Holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8).
G.R.A.C.E. = God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense
It’s only by God’s grace that we are found and saved by Him and kept and enabled to please Him which includes participating in holiness, separated unto the LORD, as He is holy (Hebrews 12:14-15; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:8, etc.).
Titus 2 tells us that we are only saved by divine grace and only kept to the end by His enabling grace.
“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; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” Titus 2:11-15
Deliverance from sin/sinning is only possible through faith, loving, worshiping, and obeying our LORD, that is, moment-by-moment abiding in Christ, the crucified life, being raised up by His Spirit (Romans 6; 8:13-14, etc.).
“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” 1 John 3:3-6
Perfection is the perfect forgiveness and justification of the LORD which God brings about by His Spirit and our faith which always brings our adherence to the daily cross (Philippians 2:12-13). It’s divine perfection worked out in the abiding disciple as he walks in the Spirit abiding in Christ (Galatians 5:16, 25, etc.).
True OR Feigned Holiness? | Saving, Enabling Grace | Have We Ourselves Become Pharisees? | The Spirit of Holiness |
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