Articles

QUOTES FROM OSAS TEACHERS

Paula White Exposed [video]

THAT’s My King! Pastor Lockridge [video]

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

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

OSAS Leaders Exposed! Caught Red Handed!

Quotes from the “Eternal Security” and Calvinist Beguilers of Our Day

Might the LORD be asking the following question to many today who recognize this unconditional security teaching for what it is?

“Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?” Psalms 94:16

To illustrate just how widespread this unconditional eternal security teaching is, let’s look at some quotes from leaders who have influence over millions of souls.

Charles Stanley:

“As we begin our study of eternal security, we must keep two definitions very clearly in mind: Salvation—Deliverance from eternal death, and possession of eternal life. Eternal Security—That work of God, which guarantees God’s gift of salvation, once received, is possessed forever and can never be lost.

“What you believe and know about these two terms is vital to your hope and confidence as a Christian, as well as to your witness for Christ. Confusion about how you were saved leads to confusion about how a person might remain saved.” Intouch.org

With no biblical authority whatsoever, Charles Stanley says that “salvation, once received, is possessed forever and can never be lost.” So he begins with an unbiblical and therefore false premise – that one can never forfeit the gift of salvation once he has truly received it. This he says in utter contradiction to the Word of God. Then Stanley says that what a person believes about his (Stanley’s) version of unconditional eternal security is “vital to your hope and confidence as a Christian, as well as your witness for Christ.” In actuality the “once saved always saved” message clearly robs the fear of God from the hearts of men, as it did with the first man and woman, so it is error to suppose that such a security is built on a false idea. This lie led to their sin and fall. The Word says, “In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge” (Prov. 14:26). So Charles Stanley opposes the clear message of the Bible – which states that when we fear the LORD instead of living on the false presumption that we are “eternally secure,” we have “strong confidence.” “Strong confidence” or assurance and deep peace come from fearing God and not from adopting a doctrine that gives one’s heart a false hope and false sense of security.

Stanley also writes:

“If you believe that your salvation came about by anything other than simply believing in what Jesus Christ did for you on the cross, then you believe that your salvation was in some way related to your own will and to your own works. If you believe that your salvation is related to your will and your works, then you will believe that your will and your works can in some way ‘undo’ or negate your salvation.

“On the other hand, if you believe that your salvation was based solely on what Jesus did for you and what the Holy Spirit has done in you, then you believe that your salvation was a sovereign work of God. Your part was simply to believe and receive what God provided and what God promised. The person who believes this must therefore conclude that since he did absolutely nothing to transform his old sin nature into a new spiritual nature, he cannot do anything to cause his new spiritual nature to revert to his old nature.” www.Intouch.org

Charles Stanley, in a classic Calvinistic way, supposes that one gets saved without his own will involved. This is in blatant contradiction to volumes of Scripture. He also attempts to smokescreen his false grace message by insinuating that one who believes he has the choice automatically seeks to gain salvation by his own works. Then he says that nothing one can do after being truly saved can “negate” his salvation. Jesus said sin will lead one to hell – no matter what his previous experience with God (Mk. 9:43-49). Who shall we believe, Jesus Christ or Stanley (a mere man)? Paul the apostle of Christ told us that any one of 17 specific “works of the flesh” would pre-empt one from entering the kingdom of God. In fact, he was speaking to the Galatian believers, not unsaved people, when he told them that “they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21).

On his website, Charles Stanley further states:

“…Since he (the saved person) did absolutely nothing to transform his old sin nature into a new spiritual nature, he cannot do anything to cause his new spiritual nature to revert to his old nature.”

In stark contrast, the LORD Jesus tells us:

“The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Rev. 21:8

Paul told us, “For there is no respect of persons with God” (Rom. 2:11).

Also, in this excerpt from his website, Stanley continues to insert his false assumptions by speaking of “what God promised.” In this he is speaking of unconditional eternal security as if God ever “promised” that a person can live in sin, depart from Him, and still remain in His grace and be “promised” to go to His holy Heaven. An absurd and unscriptural insinuation at best!

“It is NOT lying, cheating, stealing, RAPING, murdering, or BEING UNFAITHFUL that sends people to hell.” [emphasis ours] Charles Stanley, Eternal Security: Can You Be Sure? Oliver-Nelson Books, 1990, p. 70.

“Neither do we become unsaved by acting unsaved.” Ibid., p. 71. Charles Stanley

John MacArthur:

“The point is not that God guarantees security to everyone who will say he accepts Christ, but rather that those whose faith is genuine will prove their salvation is secure by persevering to the end in the way of righteousness.” John MacArthur, The Gospel According to Jesus, 1988, (Chap. 8, p. 97)

“Yes, someone says, but can’t Christians put themselves outside God’s grace? What about those who commit ABOMINABLE SINS? Don’t they nullify the work of redemption in themselves? Don’t they forfeit the love of God? CERTAINLY NOT … it’s preposterous to think that we can forfeit it [salvation] BY ANYTHING WE DO.” [emphasis ours] John MacArthur, The Love of God, Word Publishing, 1996, p. 159

“True believers will persevere. If a person turns against Christ, it is proof that person was never saved.” John MacArthur, The Gospel According to Jesus, 1988, p. 98

MacArthur here says that a Christian can never do anything that would put him “outside God’s grace.” What saith God’s Word?

“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” Galatians 5:4

“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” Hebrews 12:14-15

“Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” Revelation 16:15

John MacArthur here shows his brazen disregard for the holiness and full-counsel of the LORD. We have already addressed how the Word tells us plainly that sin does separate us from the LORD God, who is “Holy, holy, holy” and how that sin not repented of is still on the record and testifies against that person who refused to acknowledge and turn from sin (Isa. 6:3; 55:6-7; Heb. 2:1-3). The LORD “will by no means clear the guilty” (Exod. 34:7). He says here that He will not clear the guilty without that person touching the blood of the only sacrifice He granted us – of His beloved and only begotten Son (1 John 1:9). The LORD delights to show mercy yet will only do such as there is the fear of God and authentic repentance (Exod. 34:7; Ps. 103:11).

John Ankerberg:

“But CHRISTIANS may still lose rewards in heaven. Indeed, we can only wonder what some Christians will feel like and experience on that day when they lose those heavenly rewards because of the spiritually numbing and other consequences of FORNICATION or ADULTERY while on earth. It will certainly be an infinitely poor exchange — losing eternal rewards in heaven for a few fleeting moments of sexual pleasure on earth.” [emphasis ours] The Ankerberg Theological Research Institute, News Magazine (Vol. 2, No. 6), June 1995, p. 4.

What does God’s Word state?

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (feminine men), nor abusers of themselves with mankind (homosexuals), Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Erwin W. Lutzer:

“Recently I spoke to a HOMOSEXUAL who believes he accepted Christ at the age of twenty, only to plunge into a life of WANTON IMMORALITY …. Whether or not he was a child of God during those days of heedless carnality (who of us knows for sure?), he lost fellowship with his Father.” [emphasis ours] Erwin W. Lutzer, How You Can Be Sure That You Will Spend Eternity With God, Moody Press, 1996, pp. 131, 132

See 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 above.

“But I’m convinced that those who have trusted Christ are in heaven today even if they die with the sin of murder on their conscience.” (How You Can Be Sure That You Will Spend Eternity With God, Chicago: Moody Press, 1996, p. 101)

God says:

“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” 1 John 3:14-15

John R. Rice:

“David committed sins of murder and ADULTERY. We must condemn his sins. They were bad. But David’s sins were under the blood of Christ, and in the fifty-first Psalm, the prayer of David shows that HE HAD NOT LOST HIS SALVATION, BUT THE JOY OF SALVATION.” [emphasis ours]. John R. Rice, Can a Saved Person Ever Be Lost?, Sword of the Lord Publishers, 1943, p. 16

The LORD says differently. Will we believe Rice or the Almighty?

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication…of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21

Of Rice’s assertion of Psalm 51, Alan Burns writes:

“This author (White) is not reading and quoting this passage found in Ps. 51:10-12, in its entire context. A text of scripture taken out of context is a pre-text and is no text at all! He only quotes verse 12 and builds a theological pre-supposition on one verse alone, and is breaking a very important rule of interpreting Holy Scripture. I believe it is to justify this false concept of eternal security. In my opinion and in all reality, he left out the two most important verses in this chapter, which incidentally are the two previous verses–verses 10 and 11.

“‘Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.’ V 10, 11

“Why would David pray something this radical unless he knew he could very well lose his salvation as a result of committing his gross sins of murder and adultery? Furthermore, he knows that if God doesn’t give him a stedfast and faithful spirit; he would continue to go morally astray and then be eternally lost. (if indeed he died in that sinful condition). It just shows you that David knew and understood enough of the holiness and character of God that he feared this very thing could happen.” Pastor Alan Burns

Charles Ryrie says:

“…Sin does not cause us to lose our salvation.” Charles Ryrie, So Great Salvation, Victor Books, 1989, p. 143

The LORD says:

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.” Exodus 32:33

Arthur Pink

“Eternal Security is the teaching that God shall with no uncertainty bring into their eternal inheritance those who are actually justified—delivered from the curse of the law and have the righteousness of Christ reckoned to their account—and who have been begotten by the Spirit of God. And further it is the teaching that God shall do this in a way glorifying to Himself, in harmony with His nature and consistent with the teaching of Scripture concerning the nature of those who are called saints. Why is this important? Why is it important for every Christian to know that once God has taken him for His own, He will never let him go? Arthur W. Pink gives many reasons for this in this book on Eternal Security. For one thing, it is necessary in order to strengthen young and fearful Christians in their faith—by safeguarding the honor and integrity of God and His Word. And it is also necessary in order to preserve one of the grand and distinctive blessings of the Gospel, which to deny is to attack the very foundations of the believer’s comfort and assurance.” From the Foreword in the book entitled Eternal Security, by Arthur W. Pink

“The theme of this present series of articles is far more than a theological dogma or sectarian tenet: it is an essential portion of that Faith once for all delivered to the saints, concerning which we are exhorted to ‘contend earnestly’. In it is displayed, respectively, the honor and glory of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and therefore they who repudiate this truth cast a most horrible aspersion upon the character of the triune Jehovah. The final perseverance of the saints is one of the grand and distinctive blessings proclaimed by the Gospel, being an integral part of salvation itself, and therefore any outcry against this doctrine is an attack upon the very foundations of the believer’s comfort and assurance. How can I go on my way rejoicing if there be doubts in my mind whether God will continue to deal graciously with me and complete that work which He has begun in my soul? How can I sincerely thank God for having delivered me from the wrath to come if it is quite possible I may yet be cast into Hell?” Eternal Security, Chapter 2, Arthur W. Pink

Did you note that Pink never once mentions the holiness of God, sin, the utter depravity of men, the cross, the necessity of initial and ongoing repentance, the fear of the LORD or the need to trust God fully in all things? His words are very insidiously arranged and not reconcilable with the words of our LORD and His apostles. His framing of words fits what Paul said of those who are to be marked – “by good words and fair speeches (they) deceive the hearts of the simple” (Rom. 16:17-18). In looking at Pink’s words, I scratch my head at the deceitful and superfluous polemics he uses with very little Scripture included. Pink’s words seem to be an attempt to utilize flowery speech in order to lure people into the intoxicating lie of the ages.

Following Jesus vs The False Prophets He So Often Warned Would “Deceive Many”

“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” Matthew 24:11

Many today, in this hour of great apostasy, rest their eternal souls on the so-called “reformers” and “church fathers.” They are no different than the pagan Roman Catholic who bases his false faith on faulty mere sinful men. In essence, those are the mere men they follow in lieu of following Christ. They relish John Calvin, Charles Spurgeon, and others, of which all combined, were given zero divine, kingdom authority. Christ is the only Rock upon which His true remnant church stands and all who have genuinely repented and are trusting Him unto eternal life live by His words alone and those which He gave His holy apostles. They never once taught OSAS or unconditional eternal security. Keep reading if you aren’t afraid of the truth.

“And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, say unto her, Thou art the land (people) that is not cleansed, nor rained upon (shown mercy) in the day of indignation. There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof. Her priests (leaders) have violated my law (Word), and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they showed difference between the unclean and the clean…” Ezekiel 22:23-26

Jude and 2 Peter 2-3 feature lists of historical accounts where the LORD Almighty severely judged those of and among His own covenant people who made the choice to live in sin after knowing Him. There are angels, nations, peoples and individuals included in the list of those damned to hell for their disobedience to the LORD who is holy. In the face of such clear knowledge concerning the unchanging God, some still dare teach the eternal security heresy.

Today there are frightening scores of leaders who are teaching this license-for-sin doctrine. Some of the most popular teachers today are believers in the heresy of OSAS (“once saved always saved”). Perhaps they have been made popular by the demand of the populace to hear ear tickling messages which deal only with surface issues and never probe and penetrate to the depths of the heart. Though posing as Christians, these deluded leaders are ignorant of an intimate and personal knowledge of the LORD who is holy. They are violating the Word of God by not recognizing that the LORD is “Holy, holy, holy” and making a clear division between “the holy and profane” and showing the “difference between the unclean and the clean.” See also Psalms 51:10; 139:23-24, Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 4:8.

Sin has separated mankind from his Creator (Gen. 2-3). Our LORD Jesus came to this earth because God is holy! Yes, Christ came to the world because God is holy and cannot fellowship with sin (Gen. 6:5; Isa. 59:2; 64:6; Rom. 3:23; 6:23; Eph. 2:1-7). Without Christ man was helpless to regain his place of relationship with His Maker (Tit. 3:4-7).

Is the LORD Still Holy OR did He Change?

The LORD is “Holy, holy, holy” and man is sinful. Any man in leadership who does not hold this cardinal truth (man’s utter depravity and God’s absolute holiness) in utmost importance and prominence is thoroughly deceived at best. According to the whole record of Holy Writ, the whole reason Jesus Christ came was that we might know God and be washed from that which separated us from Him – sin. He left the glory of His Father and came “In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight” (Col. 1:22).

Making the holiness of the LORD a light thing and therefore the sins that violate His holiness, is an extremely fatal endeavor and being perpetrated by the blind leaders who are leading many astray in this late hour (Matt. 15:14).

To illustrate the prevalence of the lie of lawlessness, one need only observe that most Bible commentaries come from proponents of this antinomian heresy and are therefore skewed across the board in their doctrines. Beware!

Personally, when I am checking out a ministry, there are a couple of initial things I look for in discerning where they are coming from. One of those things is whether or not there is an underlying belief in OSAS. If so, all their other doctrine will be amiss. Specifically concerning doctrine, the apostle Paul said “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump” (Gal. 5:9). When someone has embraced a falsehood, their whole body of belief will be permeated with that error. The Bible imagery using leaven and bread is that it takes but a sprinkle of leaven to infuse, pervade, affect, and expand the whole loaf of bread. So, it takes but a sprinkle of falsehood to tilt or skew a person’s whole belief system.

As we see in Ezekiel 22, with all errant camps, their leaders build upon one another’s false doctrines and gain momentum doing so – “There is a conspiracy of her prophets” (Ezek. 22:25). The “conspiracy” of these false prophets is against the LORD and such is discerned by what they teach which is contrary to the biblical revelation.

Micah 3

As we see in Micah 3, so many leaders today are leading people into destruction by misrepresenting the LORD. Concerning “the prophets that make my people err” the LORD says they “hate the good, and love the evil…that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity. They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity”(Micah 3:2, 5, 9, 10).

Note that these false prophets who make the people err by loving evil and hating His holiness “build up…Jerusalem with iniquity.” In other words they infuse the people of God with the justification of sin and “iniquity” and then even have the audacity to “lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us”(Micah 3:11).

“There is a conspiracy of her prophets” (Ezek. 22:25). False teachers and prophets are self-driven and directed (Phil. 3:17-19). They are doing their own thing and have a natural affinity with others in their profession who are building their own kingdoms in lieu of the kingdom of God. True servants of Jesus Christ are all His – they are not purpose-driven or self-driven, but rather Holy Spirit led and obedient to the eternal Word above all else. These who live in the fear of God resolutely recognize that they have nothing good in themselves but all holy good is in Christ Jesus and His Word (Jn. 3:30; Acts 20:24; 2 Cor. 3:5; 4:5). These men, of whom the world is not worthy, are agents of the King and declare His truth relentlessly, leaving nothing out which might make them unpopular. In the fear of the LORD they have died to their own reputation among men. True men of God uncompromisingly esteem Christ as their sole and ultimate riches (Heb. 11:26). As He did with His prophet Ezekiel, the LORD is able to instruct those leaders who truly know Him as He fills their mouths with His truth (Ezek. 3:4). Take note to what the LORD says to Ezekiel:

“And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them…Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Now, thou son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the bloody city? yea, thou shalt show her all her abominations…” Ezekiel 3:4; 22:1-2

As all of the LORD’s prophets and apostles do, so Ezekiel exposed the sins of God’s people in obedience to Him. The people were consequently able to know where they really stood with the LORD and were given the opportunity to repent (Isa. 1:18-20; Rev. 2-3).

Those true to the LORD “show difference between the unclean and the clean…” (Ezek. 22:26). Consider the message of Ezekiel and compare it to those who lead your life. Such will reveal whether you are being led into the true way of the LORD or into the ditch of darkness by a blind leader.

“Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.” Ezekiel 14:6

“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” Ezekiel 18:30-32

The LORD is holy and is going to judge His own people for their sins. Those true to Him warn men unceasingly to repent and be cleansed (1 Cor. 11:31-32). Those in the house of the LORD who die in sin will suffer eternal “ruin.”

Of the false shepherds of His day Jeremiah said “For ye have perverted the words of the living God” (Jer. 23:36).

While those leaders who remain true to the LORD call men to repent, counterfeit leaders refuse to. God-fearing leaders communicate His sin-exposing truth unceasingly, false teachers embrace and espouse doctrines that justify sin and downplay the holiness of the living God while claiming to glorify Him.

“For we are not as MANY, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:17

As the biblical revelation makes plain, Satan is very subtle. He is evil and insidious. Those who teach people the unconditional eternal security lie (OSAS), do it subtly in most cases. To come out too quickly with something so contrary to the Scriptures, would set off an alarm in the minds of those who read their Bibles. So, such a teaching is usually rolled out gradually, perhaps in a sequence. Let’s look at this a little further.

In his booklet entitled The Eternal Security Teaching, J. L. Stauffer shows the steps utilized by the eternal security teachers to entice people to embrace this falsehood:

“Three Steps in the Eternal Security Doctrine: The eternal security teaching is presented in about three steps, occurring in logical sequence. No one who accepts the first step or presentation of the issue can avoid the other two that follow, unless he is awakened to its error. For the believer who has been reading his Bible and yet has not heard of the eternal security claims, to be approached with the full eternal security teaching at once, would be a shock that would result in their rejection. Evidently for this reason, the eternal security teaching is unfolded a step at a time. The three steps in their order of presentation to a convert to eternal security are as follows:

“If a person is truly born again by the Spirit of God, he will not want to go out into sin, carrying on in that which separates him from God (1 John 3:1-10). He is:

1. kept by God and is eternally secure.

2. If a person is truly born again by the Spirit of God, he may go out into sin, but since he is born again, God will certainly bring him to repentance again before He allows him to die.

3. If a person is truly born again by the Spirit of God, he is saved eternally, no matter how he lives and how he dies.

“Christian people who are satisfied to abide by the Word of God will have very little criticism for the first step as stated above. The man who does not want to sin and trusts in the keeping power of Christ is certainly secure. The weakness in the first step is the fact that no conditions are admitted in connection with our keeping.

“The second step is unscriptural because it throws the responsibility of the sinning saint’s recovery on the Lord. Incidents will be given later on to show that man’s free will enters in, and that God will do nothing in the salvation of sinners and the recovery of sinning saints that violates this God-bestowed attribute of personality.

The last step is the ultimate one that believers in eternal security will hold, if they are consistent with their avowed principles. Newly won converts do not get the ‘third step teaching’ in the beginning. The very thought that a saved man is secure in sin would be repelling to a new disciple. As one grows in knowledge concerning the favorite arguments of the eternal security teachers and their mode of Biblical interpretation, he becomes reconciled to the third and final form in which this doctrine manifests itself.” The Eternal Security Teaching by J. L. Stauffer, copyright 1933 by J. L. Stauffer, second edition (revised).

“For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 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.” 2 Peter 2:18-21

The Holy Spirit inspired Jude to write concerning those false teachers who mock at the holiness of God and are “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness.” (Jude 3-4) He cites these wolves in sheep’s clothing for using “great swelling words” to allure and deceive their hearers with a message of “grace” that promises a home in Heaven no matter what vileness and depravity one practices after being saved. Jude also warns us what to watch for:

“These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage (self-gain). But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.” Jude 16-18

PRAYER: Jesus please grant me ears to hear what Your precious Holy Spirit is saying to Your Church. Grant Your holy fear and grace to this heart to live a life void of offense toward You and others. Bless my life to bring forth fruit to Your eternal glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Will Everyone Jesus Saved be in Heaven? | Lie of the Ages (the book)

Lie of the Ages | John Calvin Exposed | The Idiocy of Calvinism | Eternal Security Dialogue| Eternal Security-Once Saved Always Saved

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Grace vs Holiness [podcast]

ARE THE BELIEVER’S PRESENT AND FUTURE SINS AUTOMATICALLY FORGIVEN? [podcast]

Can You Forfeit Salvation by Living in Sin? [podcast]

John MacArthur Examined

Can A Homosexual Go To Heaven? Ask Charles Stanley

Abiding

Knowing the Word of God and also the God of the Word [podcast]

The highest priority of the true disciple is knowing God.

So many strive to know God’s will.

It’s only when you know God that you will know His will.

We all know people who are now away from God. They backslid. They no longer serve Him as they once did. Well, were they truly serving Him, or the church? They had some kind of a departure from the local church they were so fond of and consequently have no semblance of a life with Christ presently. Could this be due to them putting their energy and affections into the local church friends they met and the festivities? Yes. They were in love with the externals and not Christ.

“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:11

“God’s greatest desire is for us to have a relationship with Him. We were created for His great pleasure. Revelation 4:11” Karen Cochran

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” Philippians 3:10

Kingdom Priority

KNOWING and LOVING, WORSHIPPING God. Read Matthew 4:10; 22:37-39; John 17:3.

Pinnacle Revelation

Knowing God is the paramount divine purpose for which He sent His only begotten ….. and for which He created, made us.

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

Knowing God is the reason He sent His only begotten Son—to bring us to Himself in a present and eternal relationship (Exodus 25:8;Psalms 27:4, 8; Philippians 3:10, etc). One of Satan’s tricks is to get the elders to intercept that heart affection worship.

“It has always been about Jesus. Before Christ came to save us from our sins, the Bible was pointing to Jesus. Now after Christ came, we still look to Jesus. It has always been about knowing and trusting in Jesus. Before He came people just did not know His name, but now we do!” Serena Wagner

It’s not about elders, bishops. or pastors—Christ’s eternal kingdom is all about Jesus and no other. Read John 1; Colossians 1-2; Hebrews 1; Revelation 1.

WHAT will you say to the nail scarred risen LORD on Judgment Day when you made it about something else other than Him?

“Christianity can quickly become ‘Do this and Don’t do that.’ Jesus is quickly forgotten. Instead, repent and fall in love with JESUS, and through the power of the Holy Spirit you will live a life that pleases Him. When You are filled with the Holy Spirit You will hate the sin you once loved.” Alan Brayshaw

WHO is “known of” God as opposed to those He will tell “I never knew you”? (Matthew 7:21)

“But if any man love God, the same is known of him.” 1 Corinthians 8:3

“Those are the most frightening and terrifying words anyone could ever hear! That is why I always ask Jesus, ‘Do you know me?’ I want to be with my Lord and Savior for eternity! But I do not want to be so arrogant and prideful as to believe that God doesn’t have every right to spue me out. Or I that I am safe! I deserve hell. The only reason I have been spared is because of Jesus’ saving work for me on the cross! He redeemed me! But there are many conditions to be eternally with Jesus. We are to have a healthy fear of God knowing He has the power to determine the fate of our very soul! Matthew 10:28 It means nothing to Jesus if all we have is head knowledge of the Bible without any heart. He told the Pharisees they knew scriptures but they didn’t know Him in their heart (John 5: 38-47). It’s not based on what we know it’s based on knowing Him in an abiding relationship (John 15). The cross is the way to a real intimate relationship with Jesus. Through the dying of self He becomes your first love. And you begin to love Him with your whole soul, heart and mind (Matthew 22:37). I ask God daily ‘increase my hunger for Your Word.’ I want the hunger and love for God’s Word that David had! Just read and study Psalm 119. He cried out for more understanding even in the midst of persecution! That was his whole priority in life! David loved God, therefore he loved God’s Word as evidenced in Psalm 119. Every word is filled with love, devotion, respect, rejoicing and delighting in God’s words, pleading with the Lord that He might learn His statues and he might not err from God’s judgements. Psalm 119 is a treasure chest of David’s love for God’s word! If you want to truly fall in love with all of God’s word read, study and memorize Psalm 119!” Karen Cochran

Knowing the Facts and the Father

Recently, in order “to provoke unto love and to good works” I posted the meme above this paragraph and as has happened before, was confronted about how the Pharisees knew God’s Word but rebelled against Jesus (Hebrews 10:24). Let’s cross examine this position against the counsel of Scripture.

While it’s clear that we must know not only the Word of God but the God of the Word, the God revealed in His Word, how does that negate the need for Bible knowledge? It simply doesn’t.

Just because the Pharisees of Christ’s day knew His Word but didn’t choose to turn their hearts to Him, how does that mean that believers today should neglect knowing His Word? Such logic is not only bad, it’s un-scriptural and evil.

“When you fall in love don’t you want to shout it from the rooftops? He, the man you are in love with, is all you talk about! Should be the same with Jesus! You want to tell everyone about this man, the Savior who saved your life! Just as the woman at the well did. She told the whole city ‘Come, and see a man, which told me all the things that ever I did: is this not the Christ’ John 4: 28-29.” Karen Cochran

Beware of anyone who discourages learning God’s Word in any form, including memorizing Scripture. This is a novice error and it could only be coming from the evil one. Because the Jews knew the Bible and rejected Jesus, novices reason that this means that New Testament saints, saved by grace, are not to intimately know or memorize God’s Word. Nonsense!

Is the primary responsibility of the disciple of Jesus to:

A. Follow the instructions of God’s Word? or

B. Don’t be like the Pharisees (false leaders)?

A. is the correct answer.

The fact that the LORD cited the false religionists of His day for not coming to Him, for not opening their hearts to Him, in no way communicates that those who are His should not learn His Word too well. That would be like saying that just because the false leaders of Jesus’ day knew His Word and yet didn’t turn their hearts to Jesus, anyone who learns His Word too well (as if that’s even possible) will automatically not turn their hearts to Jesus.

Let’s look at the passage that is being taken out of context:

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” John 5:39-40

“And isn’t that just what Jesus told the Pharisees? You know scriptures but you don’t know me in your heart! John 5: 38-47. It means nothing to Jesus if we only know of Him. We must know Him in Spirit and in truth! John 4:24.” Karen Cochran

Did Jesus rebuke them for knowing His Word? No.

Notice, Jesus says that His people are to “Search the scriptures” and the Scriptures “are they which testify of” (reveal) Him.

“Even the Pharisees knew the scriptures and knew of Jesus, but they did not know Him. Jesus told them they did not have Him in their hearts and therefore did not have eternal life . John 5: 38-47. Head knowledge means nothing to Jesus. We need to know Him in our hearts in a relationship with Him. Digesting His words! Getting to know Him. We should be emulating the sweet savour of Christ. 2 Corinthians 2: 15. How can you be like someone that you don’t know?” Karen Cochran

The Gospel message is “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).

In fact, it’s the seed of God’s “incorruptible” Word that is the instrument of His regeneration in our lives.

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” 1 Peter 1:23-25

The very way God ordained and orchestrated that we learn about and know Him, repent and believe upon Christ, is through the knowledge we get from “the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” Listen to the apostle Paul instruct Timothy:

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

The man of God cannot be perfected, matured, “throughly furnished unto all good works” without a deep knowledge of the Scriptures which the apostle reveals here is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

So the first of the 4 stated reasons God gave us His Word, the Bible, are for…

“doctrine”

Must know the facts and the Father!

Must know the Word and the God of the Word.

How are God’s people going to learn His Word if they don’t study and memorize and meditate upon it? How are God’s people going to be sanctified by the truth and washed by the water of the Word if they’re not in that Word daily and engaged in learning and obeying God’s Word?

So if the Pharisees did not know God’s Word would they not have also rejected him? How can knowing God’s Word be negative in any way? It’s simply can’t.

Is trying not to be like a Pharisee more important than actually following Christ?

In John 5:39-40 Jesus said nothing negative about the Pharisees knowing His Word but rather about them refusing to come to Him. Let us rightly divide saints and correct those who bear false witness (2 Timothy 2:15). In fact, in another place Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for not knowing His Word: “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God“ (Matthew 22:29). God’s people need to know “the scriptures” and walk in “the power of God.” Only Satan could be behind the attempt to hinder either!

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” John 5:39-40

There will be those who come and go who know the words of God but not the God of the Word. Beware saints. Many times they know all the right things to say and yet have not truly repented and are living in sin, darkness, pride, and deep-seated rebellion.

On this note, sister Karen Cochran writes:

“Modern Pharisees know the Scriptures but like the Pharisees of old they don’t know Jesus. Just like Jesus told them in John 5:38- 42. They knew the Scriptures but they didn’t know Him. What good is it if we don’t know Jesus? We can know of Him but not know Him. We must love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Matthew 22:37- 38”

These counterfeits are saying that God’s people shouldn’t know God’s Word too well, we shouldn’t memorize it, because then we may become like the Pharisees and not come to Jesus. Foolishness at best.

To the contrary, the Bible teaches us to read, to “study,” to “retain,” and “meditate upon God’s Word ….

Did the apostle Paul correct the biblically astute Bereans for diligently, meticulously searching the scriptures to see if he was telling the truth? No! (Acts 17:10-11)

They are saying that knowing God’s Word in your God-given mind will keep you from knowing Him in your heart. Nonsense. By divine design, information is contacted, first enters our minds before it can be processed and received in our heart.

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17

“Most people in the churches of today prefer to follow and believe the men/pastors and their words over the Word of God at their peril. This is because they are too lazy to study and read the Bible for themselves, sadly. Biblical illiteracy is the norm and not the exception today.” B.

Concerning ruling over the masses that have been kept ignorant of God’s Word, one disciple writes:

“Lacking of knowing God’s Word, memorizing it, is the direct reason the catholic church grew to so much power in the middle ages, and others down the ages. It was only the ‘priest’ that could read the Bible. So it meant what they said it meant and not what God meant. RUN!”

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” Hosea 4:6

Checking your ignorance at the door!

Those who are ignorant of truth are so willingly (Hosea 4:6). They “willingly are ignorant” (2 Peter 3:5).

He gave us His truth, and those who reject His knowledge, His Word, will be “destroyed.”

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because THOU HAS REJECTED KNOWLEDGE, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law (Word) of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” Hosea 4:6

“There was a time when churches were teaching the whole counsel of God and most Bible believers in Bible teaching churches could carry on intelligent biblical conversations if they had been saved for five years or so. In the last ten years, I have found that most Christians today have become biblical illiterates. Due to the constant tendency toward all kinds of new experiences ( 2 Timothy 4:3-4), many are influenced to the extreme, and they settle for simply repeating various phrases that they hear without true, biblical understanding. That, then, becomes the focal point of their Christian life rather than conforming to the teachings of Scripture which they are not taught. It is getting harder and harder to find people in a local church who have even a very basic knowledge of Scripture, let alone any in-depth knowledge. The false teachers are going to have a lot to answer for in this area, but so will pastors who have encouraged this in their people rather than taking on the discipline of learning how to do a proper exegesis and expository teaching.” 1980 Dr. Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum

To a man who recently sought to discourage God’s people from memorizing His Word due to the fact that the Pharisees knew His Word and yet crucified Him.

I asked him if what the Pharisees did cancelled and negated the need for God’s people to know His Word in their minds and trust and love Him in their hearts? To this man I also wrote:

“Perhaps you should cease discouraging God’s people from learning and submitting to His Word…. there’s NO sense in which learning God’s Word is anything but a good thing…. and of course coming to Him in our hearts via His Word and Holy Spirit ….”

Our GOD-given brain is the passage way to the heart…. is it not? “Come now, and let us reason together…” (Isaiah 1:18).

God gave us a brain to “reason” with and a heart to believe upon Christ with (Romans 10:9-10). “COME now, and let us reason together” He said to His people (Isaiah 1:18).

Did Jesus memorize Scripture? Yes, beginning as a young boy. And this is how He grew in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:52). In fact, He knew where things were in the Bible—“He FOUND the place” in the Word He wanted to read—“And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written” (Luke 4:17).

Jesus quoted God’s Word verbatim to the enemy during the temptation in the wilderness (Luke 4).

ARE YOU “BLESSED”?

If you aren’t reading God’s Word daily, you are not “blessed.” Read Psalm 1.

“Blessed is he that readeth…” (Revelation 1:3).

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